The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 04 : $b Greece to the Roman Conquest
World history
“O Greeks! it is not from any want of Barbarians, that I make use of
you as my Auxiliaries, but because I look upon you as superior to
great Numbers of them; for that reason I have taken you also into my
Service: Shew yourselves therefore worthy of that Liberty you enjoy,
in the possession of which I think you extremely happy; for be assur’d
that I would prefer Liberty before all things I possess. But, that you
may understand what kind of Combat you are going to engage in, I shall
explain it to you: Their Numbers are great, and they come on with mighty
Shouts, which if you can withstand, for the rest I am almost asham’d
to think what kind of Men you will find our Country produces. But you
are Soldiers; behave yourselves with Bravery, and, if any one of you
desires to return home, I will take care to send him back the Envy of his
Country; but I am confident that my Behaviour will engage many of you
rather to follow my Fortunes, than return home.”
Here Gaulites, a banish’d Samian, a Man of Fidelity to Cyrus, being
present, spoke thus: “It is said by some, O Cyrus! that you promise many
things now, because you are in such imminent Danger, which, upon any
Success, you will not remember; and by others, that, though you should
remember your Promises, and desire to perform them, it will not be in
your power.”
Cyrus hearing this, said: “Gentlemen! my paternal Kingdom to the South,
reaches as far as those Climates that are uninhabitable through Heat,
and to the North, as far as those that are so through Cold: Every thing
between is under the Government of my Brother’s Friends; and, if we
conquer, it becomes me to put you, who are my Friends, in possession of
it; so that I am under no apprehension, if we succeed, lest I should not
have enough to bestow on each of my Friends; I only fear, lest I should
not have Friends enow on whom to bestow it. But to each of you Greeks,
besides what I have mention’d, I promise a Crown of Gold.” The Officers,
hearing these things, espous’d his Cause with greater Alacrity, and
made their Report to the rest. After this the Greek Generals, and some
of the private Men came to him to know what they had to expect, if they
were victorious; all whom he sent away big with hopes: and all who were
admitted, advis’d him not to engage personally, but to stand in the Rear.
And then it was that Clearchus put this Question to Cyrus: “Are you of
Opinion, O Cyrus! that your Brother will hazard a Battle?” “Certainly,”
answered Cyrus: “If he is the Son of Darius and Parysatis, and my
Brother. I shall never obtain all this without a stroke.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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