nent as Cythera, and the other islands, belonged to the Argives. They prepared to defend the part of their territories which had been attack

follow in the rear of the camels, and his own | All that tract of country which extends from cavalry' closed the order of the attack. Having Argos, westward, to Malea, as well the contithus arranged his forces, he commanded that no quarter should be granted to the Lydians, but that whoever resisted should be put to death, Croesus himself excepted, who, whatever op-ed; but the parties coming to a conference, it position he might make, was at all events to was agreed that three hundred men on each side be taken alive. He placed his camels in the should decide the dispute, and that Thyrea van, knowing the hatred which a horse has to should be the reward of victory. Both the this animal," being neither able to support the armies, by agreement, were to retire to their smell nor the sight of it. He was satisfied that respective homes, lest remaining on the field the principal dependence of Croesus was on his of battle either should be induced to render cavalry, which he hoped by this stratagem to assistance to their party. After their departure, render ineffective. The engagement had no the men who had been selected for the purpose sooner commenced, than the horses seeing and came to an engagement, and fought with so smelling the camels, threw their own ranks into little inequality, that out of six hundred but disorder, to the total discomfiture of Croesus. three remained, when night alone had termiNevertheless the Lydians did not immediately nated the contest. Of the Argives two sursurrender the day: they discovered the strata-vived, whose names were Alcenor and Chrogem, and quitting their horses, engaged themius: they hastened to Argos, and claimed Persians on foot; a great number of men fell on both sides; but the Lydians were finally compelled to fly, and, retreating within their walls, were there closely besieged.

LXXXI. Croesus, believing the siege would be considerably protracted, sent other emissaries to his different confederates. The tendency of his former engagements was to require their presence at Sardis within five months. He now entreated the immediate assistance of his other allies, in common with the Lacedæmonians.

LXXXII. At this crisis the Spartans themselves were engaged in dispute with the Argives, concerning the possession of a place called Thyrea; of which, although it really constituted a part of the Argive territories, the Lacedæmonians had taken violent possession.

1 His own cavalry.]-Xenophon remarks, book the seventh of the Cyropædia, at the beginning, that the cav.

alry with which Cyrus proceeded on his march against

Croesus, were covered on their heads and breasts with

mails of brass. This may serve perhaps as an explana

tory comment on Jeremiah, chap. li. verse 27, "Cause the horses to come up as a rough caterpillar;" that is, perhaps, with mails of brass on their heads and necks.

Locusts are compared to horses and horsemen, in the book of Joel, chap. ii. verse 4.-"The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and like horsemen shall they run."-T.

2 Horse has to this animal.]—This natural antipathy of the horse for the camel is affirmed by the ancients; but it is disproved by daily experience, and derided by the best judges, the Orientals.—Gibbon.

3 Called Thyrea.]-Thyrea was, from its situation, a place of infinite importance to the Argives, as they obtained by it a communication with all their other possessions on that side.-Larcher.

the victory. The Lacedæmonian was called Othryades, who, plundering the bodies of the slaughtered Argives, removed their arms to the camp of his countrymen, and then resumed his post in the field. On the second day after the event, the parties met, and both claimed the victory, the Argives, because the greater number of their men survived; the Lacedæmonians, because the Argives who remained had fled, but their single man had continued in the field, and plundered the bodies of his adversaries. Their altercations terminated in a battle, in which, after considerable loss on both sides, the Lacedæmonians were victorious. From this time and incident the Argives, who formerly suffered their hair to grow in full length, cut it short, binding themselves, by a solemn imprecation, that till Thyrea should be recovered no man shall permit his hair to increase, nor Argive woman adorn herself with gold. The Lacedæmonians, on the contrary, issued an edict, that as they formerly wore their hair short, it should henceforth be permitted to

4 Terminated in a battle.]-Plutarch, on the contrary affirms, that the Amphictyons coming to the spot, and bearing testimony to the valour of Othryades, adjudged the victory to the Lacedæmonians. He makes no mention of a second battle.-Larcher.

5 Formerly wore their hair short.]-All the Greeks formerly wore their hair very long, which is evident from the epithet so repeatedly given them by Homer, of long-haired. Xenophon, in contradiction to the passage before us, remarks, that the Lacedæmonian custom of suffering the hair to grow, was amongst the institutions of Lycurgus. Plutarch also denies the fact here intro. duced.-Larcher.

This battle necessarily brings to mird the contest of

grow. It is reported of Othryades, the survi- | round that which is opposite to mount Tmolus, vor of his three hundred countrymen, that ashamed to return to Sparta, when all his comrades had so honourably died, he put himself to death at Thyrea.

LXXXIII. Whilst the Spartans were in this situation, the Sardian messenger arrived, relating the extreme danger of Croesus, and requesting their immediate assistance. This they without hesitation resolved to give. Whilst they were making for this purpose preparations of men and ships, a second messenger brought intelligence, that Sardis was taken, and Croesus in captivity. Strongly impressed by this wonderful calamity, the Lacedæmonians made no farther efforts.

from the persuasion that its natural strength ren-
dered all modes of defence unnecessary. Here,
however, the Mardian had the preceding day ob-
served a Lydian descend to recover his helmet,
which had fallen down the precipice. He
revolved the incident in his mind.
He at-
tempted to scale it; he was seconded by other
Persians, and their example followed by greater
numbers. In this manner was Sardis stormed,'
and afterwards given up to plunder.

LXXXV. We have now to speak of the fate of Croesus. He had a son, as we have before related, who though accomplished in other respects, was unfortunately dumb. Croesus in his former days of good fortune, had made every attempt to obtain a cure for this infirmity. Amongst other things, he sent to inquire of the Delphic oracle. The Pythian returned this answer.

Wide ruling Lydian, in thy wishes wild,
Ask not to hear the accents of thy child;
Far better were his silence for thy peace,
And sad will be the day when that shall cease.
During the storm of the city, a Persian meet-

LXXXIV. Sardis was thus taken :-On the fourteenth day of the siege, Cyrus sent some horsemen round his camp, promising a reward to whoever should first scale the wall. The attempt was made, but without success. After which a certain Mardian, whose name was Hyræades," made a daring effort on a part of the citadel where no centinel was stationed; it being so strong and so difficult of approaching Croesus, was, through ignorance of his peras seemingly to defy all attack. Around this place alone Meles had neglected to carry his son Leon, whom he had by a concubine, the Telmessian priests having declared, that Sardis should never be taken, if Leon were carried round the walls. Leon, it seems, was carried by his father round every part of the citadel which was exposed to attack. He omitted taking him

the Horatii and Curiatii, which decided the empire of Rome. The account which Suidas gives of Othryades, differs essentially. Othryades, says he, was wounded, and concealed himself amongst the bodies of the slain; and when Alcenor and Chromius, the Argives who survived, were departed, he himself stripped the bodies of the enemy, erected thus a trophy, as it were, of human blood, and immediately died.-T.

6 Hyræades.]-Of this person Xenophon does not give ns the name. According to him, a Persian who had been the slave of a man on military duty in the citadel, served as guide to the troops of Cyrus. In other respects, his account of the capture of Sardis differs but little from that of our Historian.-Larcher.

By means of this very rock, and by a similar stratagem, Sardis was a long time afterwards taken, under the conduct of Antiochus. The circumstances are described at length by Polybius. An officer had observed, that vultures and birds of prey gathered there about the offals and dead bodies thrown into the hollow by the besieged; and inferred that the wall standing on the edge of the precipice was neglected, as secure from attack. He scaled it with a resolute party, while Antiochus called off the attention both of his own army and of the enemy, by a feint, marching as if he intended to attack the Persian gate. Two thousand soldiers rushed in at the gate opened for them, and took their post at the theatre, when the town was plundered and burned.---T.

son, about to kill him. The king overwhelmed by his calamity, took no care to avoid the blow or escape death; but his dumb son, when he saw the violent designs of the Persian, overcome with astonishment and terror, exclaimed aloud, "Oh man, do not kill Croesus !"" This was the first time he had ever articulated, but he retained the faculty of speech from this event as long as he lived.

7 In this manner was Sardis stormed.]—Polyænus relates the matter differently. According to him Cyrus availed himself of a truce which he had concluded with Croesus, to advance his forces, and making his approach by night, took the city by surprise. Croesus still remaining in possession of the citadel, expected the arrival of his Grecian succours: but Cyrus putting in irons the relations and friends of those who defended the citadel, showed them in that state to the besieged; at the same time he informed them by a herald, that if they would give up the place he would set their friends at liberty; but that if they persevered in their defence, he would put them to death. The besieged chose rather to sur. render, than cause their relations to perish.-T.

8" Do not kill Crœsus!"]—Mr Hayley, in his Essay
on History, reprobating the irreligious spirit of Mr Gib
bon, happily introduces this incident.
My verse, says the Poet,

-Breathes an honest sigh of deep concern,
And pities genius, when his wild career
Gives faith a wound, and innocence a fear.
Humility herself, divinely mild,
Sublime Religion's meek and modest child,
Like the dumb son of Croesus, in the strife
Where force assail'd his father's sacred life,
Breaks silence, and with filial duty warm,
Bids thee revere her parent's hallowed form.

LXXXVI. The Persians thus obtained by his interpreters to know who it was that he possession of Sardis, and made Croesus captive, invoked. They approached, and asked him, when he had reigned fourteen years, and after but he continued silent. At length, being a siege of fourteen days; a mighty empire, compelled to explain himself, he said, "I namagreeably to the prediction which had deluded ed a man with whom I had rather that all kings him, being then destroyed. The Persians should converse, than be master of the greatest brought him to the presence of Cyrus, who riches." Not being sufficiently understood, he ordered him to be placed in chains upon the was solicited to be more explicit; to their resummit of a huge wooden pile,' and fourteen peated and importunate inquiries, he replied to Lydian youths around him. He did this, this effect: That Solon, an Athenian, had foreither desirous of offering to some deity the merly visited him, a man who, when he had first fruits of his victory, in compliance with seen all his immense riches, treated them with some vow which he had made; or, perhaps, disdain whose sayings were at that moment anxious to know whether any deity would verified in his fate; sayings which he had apliberate Croesus, of whose piety he had heard, plied not to him in particular, but to all manfrom the danger of being consumed by fire. kind, and especially to those who were in their When Croesus stood erect upon the pile, al- own estimation happy. While Crœsus was though in this extremity of misery, he did not thus speaking the pile was lighted, and the flame forget the saying of Solon, which now appeared began to ascend. Cyrus being informed of of divine inspiration, that no living mortal could what had passed, felt compunction for what he be accounted happy. When the memory of had done. His heart reproached him, that bethis saying occurred to Croesus, it is said, that ing himself a mortal, he had condemned to a rousing himself from the profoundest silence cruel death by fire a man formerly not inferior of affliction, he thrice pronounced aloud the to himself. He feared the anger of the gods, name of Solon." Cyrus hearing this, desired and reflecting that all human affairs are precarious and uncertain, he commanded the fire to

1 A huge wooden pile.]-The cruelty of this conduct

of Cyrus is aggravated from the consideration that Crosus was his relation. See chap. 73.-T.

2 Fourteen Lydian youths.]—Achilles, in the Iliad, sacrifices twelve Trojan youths at the funeral pile of Patroclus:

Again,

And twelve sad victims of the Trojan line
Sacred to vengeance, instant shall expire,
Their lives effus'd around thy funeral pyre.

Then last of all, and horrible to tell,

Sad sacrifice, twelve Trojan captives feil.

The reader will, doubtless, agree with me, that the

word sad is in both these places very ill and feebly ap

plied by Mr Pope in his version. The expression of

Homer is aλaa 72a,-illustrious youths or sons.-T.

3 The name of Solon.]-It seems in this place not improper to introduce from Plutarch the following parti

culars, with respect to Croesus and Solon. That Solon, says Plutarch, should converse with Croesus, seems to some not consistent with chronology; but I cannot for this reason reject a relation so credible in itself, and so well attested. Plutarch, after this remark, proceeds to give an account of the conversation betwixt Croesus and Solon, nearly in the same words with Herodotus: "The felicity of that man," concludes the philosopher, to the king, "who still lives, is like the glory of a wrestler still within the ring, precarious and uncertain." He was

then dismissed, having vexed but not instructed Croesus But when Croesus was conquered by Cyrus, his city taken, and himself a prisoner, he was bound, and about to be burned on a pile; then he remembered the words of SoJon, and three times pronounced his name. The explanation given at the request of Cyrus, preserved the life of Croesus, and obtained him respect and honour with his conqueror. Thus Solon had the glory, by the same saying, to instruct one prince and preserve another.-Plutarch's life of Solon.

be instantly extinguished, and Croesus to be saved with his companions. The flames, however, repelled the efforts of the ministers of Cyrus.

LXXXVII. In this extremity the Lydians affirm, that Croesus, informed of the change of the king's sentiments in his favour, by seeing the officious efforts of the multitude to extinguish the flames, which seemed likely to be ineffectual, implored the assistance of Apollo, entreating, that if he had ever made him any acceptable offering,' he would now interpose, and deliver him from the impending danger. When Croesus, with tears, had thus invoked the god, the sky, which before was serene and tranquil, suddenly became dark and gloomy, a violent storm of rain succeeded, and the fire of the pile was extinguished. This event satisfied Cyrus that Croesus was both a good man in himself, and a favourite of heaven: causing him to be taken down from the pile, "Croesus," said he, addressing him, “what could induce you to in

4 Ever made him any acceptable offering.]-Larcher is of opinion, that in this passage Herodotus must have had in his eye the following lines of Homer:

Thou source of light, whom Tenedos adores,
And whose bright presence gilds thy Chrysa's shores;
If e'er with wreaths I hung thy sacred fane,

Or fed the flames with fat of oxen slain,

God of the silver bow, &c.—

Iliad, Book i. v. 55. of Pope's Translation.

vade my territories, and become my enemy in the manner recommended by Croesus, whom rather than my friend?" "Oh king," replied he soon after thus addressed. "Crœsus, your Croesus, "it was the prevalence of your good conduct and your words mark a princely charand of my evil fortune which prompted my at- acter, I desire you, therefore, to request of me tempt. I attacked your dominions, impelled whatever you please, and your wish shall be inand deluded by the deity of the Greeks. No stantly gratified." "Sir," replied Croesus, "you one can be so infatuated as not to prefer tran- will materially oblige me, by your permission quillity to war. In peace children inter their to send these fetters to the god of Greece," parents; war violates the order of nature, and whom, above all others, I have honoured; and causes parents to inter their children. It must to inquire of him, whether it be his rule to dehave pleased the gods that these things should lude those who have claims upon his kindness." so happen." When Cyrus expressed a wish to know the occasion of this implied reproach, Crœsus ingenuously explained each particular of his conduct, the oracles he had received, and the gifts he had presented; declaring, that these induced him to make war upon the Persians. He finished his narrative with again soliciting permission to send and reproach the divinity which had deceived him. Cyrus smiled: "I will not only grant this," said he, but whatever else you shall require.” Croesus accordingly despatched some Lydians to Delphi, who were commissioned to place his fetters on the threshold of the temple, and to ask if the deity were not ashamed at having, by his oracles, induced Croesus to make war on Persia, with the expectation of overturning the empire of Cyrus, of which war these chains were the first fruits : and they were farther to inquire, if the gods of Greece were usually ungrateful.

LXXXVIII. Cyrus immediately ordered him to be unbound, placed him near his person, and treated him with great respect; indeed he excited the admiration of all who were present. After an interval of silent meditation, Croesus observed the Persians engaged in the plunder of the city. "Does it become me, Cyrus," said he, "to continue silent on this occasion, or to speak the sentiments of my heart?" Cyrus entreated him to speak without apprehension or reserve. "About what," he returned, "is that multitude so eagerly employed?" "They are plundering your city," replied Cyrus, "and possessing themselves of your wealth." "No," answered Croesus, "they do not plunder my city, nor possess themselves of my wealth, I have no concern with either; it is your property which they are thus destroying."

XCI. The Lydians proceeded on their journey, and executed their commission; they are said to have received the following reply from the Pythian priestess: "That to avoid the determination of destiny" was impossible even for

5 God of Greece.]-The heathens in general believed that there was but one God, but they believed or rather

LXXXIX. These words disturbed Cyrus ; desiring therefore those who were present to withdraw, he asked Croesus what measures he would recommend in the present emergence. "The gods," answered Croesus, "have made me your captive, and you are therefore justly entitled to the benefit of my reflections. Nature has made the Persians haughty but poor. If you permit them to indulge without restraint talked of a multitude of ministers, deputies, or inferior this spirit of devastation, by which they may gods, as acting under this supreme. The first may be become rich, it is probable that your acquies-called the philosophical belief, and the second the vulgar cence may thus foster a spirit of rebellion belief of the heathens.-Spence. against yourself. I would recommend the following mode to be adopted, if agreeable to your wisdom: station some of your guards at each of the gates, let it be their business to stop the plunderers with their booty, and bid them assign as a reason, that one tenth part must be consecrated to Jupiter. Thus you will not incur their enmity by any seeming violence of conduct; they will even accede without reluctance to your views, under the impression of your being actuated by a sense of duty."

6 Determination of destiny.]—There were two fates,

the greater and the less: the determinations of t
were immutable; those of the latter might be
The expression in Virgil, of "Si qua fata as
is certainly equivocal, and must be underst

to the less fates. This subject is fully disenss
in his notes to Horace, Epist. book 2.
facta," proposes to read "ingentle
book iv. canto ii. stanza 51 :

For what the fates do once d

Not all the gods can change Several writers suppose, the has declared his own sentine saying of the historian. Spenser.

It was a common notion a

XC. Cyrus was delighted with the advice, and immediately adopted it; he stationed guards Esch. Prometh. 516. Ovid. Met.