I. Cyrus, than whom a greater monarch we hardly find in story, is more famous for his virtue than his power; God calls him his shepherd. Now let us see the principles of his conduct and life. So temperate was he in his youth, that when Astyages, urged him to drink wine, he answered, "I am afraid lest there should be poison in it, having seen thee reel and sottish after having drunk thereof." And so careful was he to keep the Persians from corruption of manners, that he would not suffer them to leave their rude and mountainous country, for one more pleasant and fruitful, lest through plenty and ease, luxury at last might debase their spirits. And so very chaste was he, that having taken a lady of quality, a most beautiful woman, his prisoner, he refused to see her, saying, "I have no mind to be a captive to my captive." It seems, he claimed no such propriety; but shunned the occasion of evil. The comptroller of his household asking him one day what he would please to have for his dinner; "Bread," said he; "for I intend to encamp nigh the water:" a short and easy bill of fare: but this shows the power he had over his appetite as well as his soldiers; and that he was fit to command others, that could command himself: according to another saying of his, "No man," saith he, "is worthy to command, who is not better than those who are to obey." And when he came to die, he gave this reason of his belief of immortality; "I cannot," said he, "persuade myself to think that the soul of man, after having sustained itself in a mortal body, should perish when delivered out of it, for want of it;" a saying of perhaps as great weight, as may be advanced against Atheism, from more enlightened times. II. Artaxerxes Mnemon, being upon an extraordinary occasion reduced to eat barley bread, and dried figs, and drink water, "What pleasure," saith he, "have I lost till now, through my delicacies and excess!" III. Agathocles becoming king of Sicily, from being the son of a potter, always to humble his mind to his original, would be daily served in earthen vessels upon his table: an example of humility and plainness.