because their own heads were held only at the king's pleasure, which caused them to frame all their doings to his will, whatsoever it were, or they could conjecture it to be. Cyrus therefore being settled in Lydia, began to consider with himself the interest that he had in the kingdom; the small assurance of his brother's love, held only by his mother's intercession; the disgrace endured by his late imprisonment; and the means which he had by love of his own people, and that good neighbourhood of the Lacedæmonians, whom he had bound unto him, to obtain the crown for himself. Neither was it expedient that he should long sit idle, as waiting till occasion should present itself; but rather enterprise somewhat whilst yet his mother lived, who could procure a good interpretation to all his actions, if they were no worse than only questionable. Hereupon he first began to quarrel with Tissaphernes, and seized upon many towns of his jurisdiction, annexing them to his own province, which displeased not Artaxerxes at all, who (besides that he was of condition somewhat simple) being truly paid by Cyrus the accustomable tributes out of those places, was well contented to see his brother's hot spirit exercised in private quarrels. But Tissaphernes, whose base conditions were hated, and cowardice despised, although he durst not adventure to take arms against Cyrus, yet perceiving that the Milesians were about to give up themselves into the hands of that young prince, as many other towns of the Ionians had done, thought by terror to preserve his reputation, and keep the towns in his own hands. Wherefore he slew many, and many he banished, who flying to Cyrus were gently entertained, as bringing fair occasion to take arms, which was no small part of his desire. In levying soldiers he used great policy, for he took not only the men of his own province, or of the countries adjoining, whose lives were ready at his will, but secretly he furnished some Grecian captains with money, who being very good men of war, entertained soldiers therewith, some of them warring in Thrace, others in Thessaly, others elsewhere in Greece; but all of them ready to cross the seas at the first call of

Cyrus, till which time they had secret instructions to prolong their several wars, that the soldiers might be held in continual exercise, and ready in arms upon the sudden. Cyrus, having sent a power of men to besiege Miletus, forthwith summoned these bands of the Greeks, who very readily came over to his assistance, being thirteen thousand very firm soldiers, and able to make head (which is almost incredible) against the whole power of Artaxerxes. With this army, and that which he had levied before, he could very easily have forced Miletus, and chased away Tissaphernes out of Asia the Less; but his purpose was not so to lose time in small matters, that was to be employed in the accomplishment of higher designs. Pretending therefore that the Pisidians, a people of Asia the Less, not subject to the Persian, had invaded his territory, he raised the siege of Miletus, and with all speed marched eastward, leaving Tissaphernes much amazed, who had no leisure to rejoice that Cyrus had left him to himself, when he considered that so great an army and so strong was never levied against the rovers of Pisidia, but rather against the great king his master. For which cause, taking a band of five hundred horse, he posted away to carry tidings to the court of this great preparation.

SECT. III.

How Cyrus took his journey into the higher Asia, and came up close to his brother.

THE tumult which his coming brought was very great, and great the exclamations of the queen Statira against Parysatis the queen-mother, whom she called the author and occasioner of the war. But whilst the king in great fear was arming the high countries in his defence, the danger hastened upon him very fast. For Cyrus made great marches, having his numbers much increased by the repair of his countrymen, though most strengthened by the access of seven hundred Greeks, and of other four hundred of the same nation, who revolted unto him from the king. How terrible the Greeks were to the Barbarians, he found by trial in a muster, which (to please the queen of Cilicia, who

had brought him aid) he made in Phrygia, where the Greeks by his direction making offer of a charge upon the rest of his army, which contained a hundred thousand men, the whole camp (not perceiving that this was but a bravery) fled amain, the victuallers and baggagers forsaking their cabins, and running all away for very fear. This was to Cyrus a joyful spectacle, who knew very well that his brother was followed by men of the same temper, and the more unlikely to make resistance, because they were pressed to the war against their will and dispositions, whereas his army was drawn along by mere affection and good-will. Nevertheless he found it a very hard matter to persuade the Greeks to pass the river of Euphrates. For the very length of the way which they had trodden wearied them with conceit of the tedious return. Therefore he was driven, being yet in Cilicia, to seek excuses, telling them that Abrocomas, one of the king's principal captains, and his own great enemy, lay by the river, against whom he requested them to assist him. By such devices, and excessive promise of reward, he brought them to Euphrates, where some of the Greeks considering that whoso passed the river first should have the most thanks, and might safely return, if the rest should refuse to follow them, they entered the fords, whereby were all finally persuaded to do as some had begun, and, being allured by great hopes, they resolved to seek out Artaxerxes wheresoever he was to be found. The king in the mean time having raised an army of nine hundred thousand men, was not so confident upon this huge multitude as to adventure them in trial of a plain battle. Abrocomas, who with three hundred thousand men had undertaken to make good the straits of Syria, which were very narrow, and fortified with a strong wall and other defences of nature and art, which made the place to seem impregnable, had quitted the passage and retired himself toward the king's forces, not daring to look Cyrus in the face, who despairing to find any way by land, had procured the Lacedæmonian fleet, by the benefit whereof to have transported his army. I do not find that this cowardice of

Abrocomas, or of his soldiers, who arrived not at the camp till five days were past after the battle, received either punishment or disgrace; for they, toward whom he withdrew himself, were all made of the same metal.

Therefore Artaxerxes was upon the point of retiring to the uttermost bounds of his kingdom, until by Teribazus, one of his captains, he was persuaded not to abandon so many goodly provinces to the enemy, who would thereby have gathered addition of strength, and (which in the sharp disputation of title to a kingdom is most available) would have grown superior in reputation. By such advice the king resolved upon meeting with his brother, who now began to be secure, being fully persuaded that Artaxerxes would never dare to abide him in the field. For the king having cast up a trench of almost forty miles in length, about thirty foot broad, and eighteen foot deep, intended there to have encamped; but his courage failing him, he abandoned that place, thinking nothing so safe as to be far distant from his enemies.

SECT. IV.

The battle between Cyrus and Artaxerxes.

THE army of Cyrus having overcome many difficulties of evil ways and scarcity of victuals, was much encouraged by perceiving this great fear of Artaxerxes, and being past this trench, marched carelessly in great disorder, having bestowed their arms in carts, and upon beasts of carriage, when on the sudden one of their vaunt-couriers brought news of the king's approach. Hereupon with great tumult they armed themselves, and had ranged their battles in good order upon the side of the river Euphrates, where they waited for the coming of their enemies, whom they saw not till it was afternoon. But when they saw the cloud of dust raised by the feet of that huge multitude which the king drew after him, and perceived by their near approach how well they were marshalled, coming on very orderly, in silence, whereas it had been expected, that rushing violently with loud clamours they should have spent all their

force upon the first brunt; and when it appeared that the fronts of the two armies were so unequal in distent, being all embattled in one body and square, that Cyrus taking his place (as was the Persian manner) in the midst of his own, did not, with the corner and utmost point thereof, reach to the half breadth of Artaxerxes' battle, who carried a front proportionable to his number, exceeding nine times that of Cyrus; then did the Greeks begin to distrust their own manhood, which was not accustomed to make proof of itself upon such excessive odds. It was almost incredible that so great an army should be so easily chased: nevertheless it quickly appeared, that these Persians, having learned (contrary to their custom) to give charge upon their enemies with silence, had not learned (for it was contrary to their nature) to receive a strong charge with courage. Upon the very first offer of onset made by the Greeks, all that beastly rabble of cowards fled amain, without abiding the stroke, or staying till they were within reach of a dart. The chariots armed with hooks and scythes (whereof Artaxerxes had two hundred, and Cyrus not twenty) did small hurt that day, because the drivers of them, leaping down, fled away on foot. This base demeanour of his enemies gave so much confidence to Cyrus and his followers, that such as were about him forthwith adored him as king. And certainly the title had been assured unto him that day, had not he sought how to declare himself worthy of it, ere yet he had obtained it. For perceiving that Artaxerxes, who found that part of the field which lay before him void, was about to encompass the Greeks, and to set upon them in the rear, he advanced with six hundred horse, and gave so valiant a charge upon a squadron of six thousand which lay before the king, that he brake it, slaying the captain thereof, Artagerses, with his own hands, and putting all the rest to flight. Hereupon his whole company of six hundred, very few excepted, began to follow the chase, leaving Cyrus too ill attended, who perceiving where the king stood in troop, uncertain whether to fight or leave the field, could not contain himself, but said, "I see the man!" and presently