the history-第18章
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murderer。 He willed thy death； remember； to the gods and to me thou owest that thou art still alive。 I think thou art not ignorant of what he did to thee； nor of what I suffered at his hands because I committed thee to the cowherd； and did not put thee to death。 Listen now to me； and obey my words； and all the empire of Astyages shall be thine。 Raise the standard of revolt in Persia； and then march straight on Media。 Whether Astyages appoint me to command his forces against thee； or whether he appoint any other of the princes of the Medes； all will go as thou couldst wish。 They will be the first to fall away from him； and joining thy side； exert themselves to overturn his power。 Be sure that on our part all is ready； wherefore do thou thy part； and that speedily。〃 Cyrus； on receiving the tidings contained in this letter； set himself to consider how he might best persuade the Persians to revolt。 After much thought； he hit on the following as the most expedient course： he wrote what he thought proper upon a roll； and then calling an assembly of the Persians； he unfolded the roll； and read out of it that Astyages appointed him their general。 〃And now；〃 said he； 〃since it is so； I command you to go and bring each man his reaping…hook。〃 With these words he dismissed the assembly。 Now the Persian nation is made up of many tribes。 Those which Cyrus assembled and persuaded to revolt from the Medes were the principal ones on which all the others are dependent。 These are the Pasargadae； the Maraphians； and the Maspians； of whom the Pasargadae are the noblest。 The Achaemenidae； from which spring all the Perseid kings； is one of their clans。 The rest of the Persian tribes are the following： the Panthialaeans； the Derusiaeans； the Germanians； who are engaged in husbandry； the Daans； the Mardians； the Dropicans； and the Sagartians； who are nomads。 When； in obedience to the orders which they had received； the Persians came with their reaping…hooks； Cyrus led them to a tract of ground； about eighteen or twenty furlongs each way； covered with thorns； and ordered them to clear it before the day was out。 They accomplished their task； upon which he issued a second order to them； to take the bath the day following； and again come to him。 Meanwhile he collected together all his father's flocks； both sheep and goats； and all his oxen； and slaughtered them； and made ready to give an entertainment to the entire Persian army。 Wine； too； and bread of the choicest kinds were prepared for the occasion。 When the morrow came； and the Persians appeared； he bade them recline upon the grass； and enjoy themselves。 After the feast was over； he requested them to tell him 〃which they liked best； to…day's work； or yesterday's？〃 They answered that 〃the contrast was indeed strong： yesterday brought them nothing but what was bad； to…day everything that was good。〃 Cyrus instantly seized on their reply； and laid bare his purpose in these words： 〃Ye men of Persia； thus do matters stand with you。 If you choose to hearken to my words； you may enjoy these and ten thousand similar delights； and never condescend to any slavish toil； but if you will not hearken； prepare yourselves for unnumbered toils as hard as yesterday's。 Now therefore follow my bidding； and be free。 For myself I feel that I am destined by Providence to undertake your liberation； and you； I am sure； are no whit inferior to the Medes in anything； least of all in bravery。 Revolt； therefore； from Astyages； without a moment's delay。〃 The Persians； who had long been impatient of the Median dominion； now that they had found a leader； were delighted to shake off the yoke。 Meanwhile Astyages； informed of the doings of Cyrus； sent a messenger to summon him to his presence。 Cyrus replied； 〃Tell Astyages that I shall appear in his presence sooner than he will like。〃 Astyages； when he received this message； instantly armed all his subjects； and； as if God had deprived him of his senses； appointed Harpagus to be their general； forgetting how greatly he had injured him。 So when the two armies met and engaged； only a few of the Medes； who were not in the secret； fought； others deserted openly to the Persians； while the greater number counterfeited fear； and fled。 Astyages； on learning the shameful flight and dispersion of his army； broke out into threats against Cyrus； saying； 〃Cyrus shall nevertheless have no reason to rejoice〃； and directly he seized the Magian interpreters； who had persuaded him to allow Cyrus to escape； and impaled them； after which； he armed all the Medes who had remained in the city； both young and old； and leading them against the Persians； fought a battle； in which he was utterly defeated； his army being destroyed； and he himself falling into the enemy's hands。 Harpagus then； seeing him a prisoner； came near； and exulted over him with many jibes and jeers。 Among other cutting speeches which he made； he alluded to the supper where the flesh of his son was given him to eat； and asked Astyages to answer him now； how he enjoyed being a slave instead of a king？ Astyages looked in his face； and asked him in return； why he claimed as his own the achievements of Cyrus？ 〃Because；〃 said Harpagus； 〃it was my letter which made him revolt； and so I am entitled to all the credit of the enterprise。〃 Then Astyages declared that 〃in that case he was at once the silliest and the most unjust of men： the silliest； if when it was in his power to put the crown on his own head； as it must assuredly have been； if the revolt was entirely his doing； he had placed it on the head of another； the most unjust； if on account of that supper he had brought slavery on the Medes。 For； supposing that he was obliged to invest another with the kingly power； and not retain it himself； yet justice required that a Mede； rather than a Persian； should receive the dignity。 Now； however； the Medes； who had been no parties to the wrong of which he complained； were made slaves instead of lords； and slaves moreover of those who till recently had been their subjects。〃 Thus after a reign of thirty…five years； Astyages lost his crown； and the Medes； in consequence of his cruelty； were brought under the rule of the Persians。 Their empire over the parts of Asia beyond the Halys had lasted one hundred and twenty…eight years； except during the time when the Scythians had the dominion。 Afterwards the Medes repented of their submission； and revolted from Darius； but were defeated in battle； and again reduced to subjection。 Now； however； in the time of Astyages； it was the Persians who under Cyrus revolted from the Medes； and became thenceforth the rulers of Asia。 Cyrus kept Astyages at his court during the remainder of his life； without doing him any further injury。 Such then were the circumstances of the birth and bringing up of Cyrus； and such were the steps by which he mounted the throne。 It was at a later date that he was attacked by Croesus； and overthrew him； as I have related in an earlier portion of this history。 The overthrow of Croesus made him master of the whole of Asia。 The customs which I know the Persians to observe are the following： they have no images of the gods； no temples nor altars； and consider the use of them a sign of folly。 This comes； I think； from their not believing the gods to have the same nature with men； as the Greeks imagine。 Their wont； however； is to ascend the summits of the loftiest mountains； and there to offer sacrifice to Jupiter； which is the name they give to the whole circuit of the firmament。 They likewise offer to the sun and moon； to the earth； to fire； to water； and to the winds。 These are the only gods whose worship has come down to them from ancient times。 At a later period they began the worship of Urania； which they borrowed from the Arabians and Assyrians。 Mylitta is the name by which the Assyrians know this goddess； whom the Arabians call Alitta； and the Persians Mitra。 To these gods the Persians offer sacrifice in the following manner： they raise no altar； light no fire； pour no libations； there is no sound of the flute； no putting on of chaplets； no consecrated barley…cake； but the man who wishes to sacrifice brings his victim to a spot of ground which is pure from pollu
