The Cyropaedia, or, Institution of Cyrus, and the Hellenics, or Grecian history. Literally translated from the Greek of Xenophon

Preface

The present forms the second volume of the "Classical Library" edition of Xenophon's "Works, and contains the Cyropsedia and Hellenics.

Of former versions of the Cyropsedia the best is that of the Hon. Maurice Ashley Cooper, who studied to give the sense of his author with honesty and fidelity, but his pages are frequently disfigured by inelegant phraseology.

Of the Hellenics the best previous version is that of Dr. Smith, who, though he sometimes mistakes the sense, gives in general a correct representation of his author. But he is too fond of subdividing the sentences of the original, which breaks the current of the narrative, and often produces lameness.

The present versions are, it is believed, as verbally exact as is consistent with neatness'and perspicuity. Some conjunctions, which, if preserved, would but offend the general reader, without being of any profit to the student, have been omitted ; and the present tense has sometimes been changed into the past, as most suitable to English style.

The text of Dindorf has been followed both in the Cyropsedia and Hellenics ; and on all obscure passages the best commentators, Morus, Schneider, Weiske, Bornemann, and Dindorf, have been consulted.

The Cyropaedia is translated exclusively by the Rev. J. S. "Watson, as are also the last five books of the Hellenics. The first two books of the Hellenics are by the Rev. Henry Dale, the translator of Thucydides, whose avocations, conjoined with indisposition, prevented his completing the task he had undertaken.

H. G. B.

Contents

PAGE

Biographical Notice of Χενογιιον v

Cyrop.edia, Book I. ..... 1

Book I.— Chapter I

Remarks on the several forms of government. On the government of inferior animals, and the difficulty of governing men. The great power of Cyrus, and his excellence as a ruler.

i. The reflection once occurred to me, how many democracies have been dissolved by men who chose to live under some other government rather than a democracy ; how many monarchies, and how many oligarchies, have been overthrown by the people ; and how many individuals, who have tried to establish tyrannies, have, some of them, been at once entirely destroyed, while others, if they have continued to reign for any length of time, have been admired as wise and fortunate men. I had observed, too, I thought, many masters, in their own private houses, some indeed having many servants, but some only very few, and yet utterly unable to keep those few entirely obedient to their commands. 2. 1 considered also that herdsmen are the rulers of oxen, and horse-feeders of horses ; and that, in general, all those called overseers of animals may properly be accounted the rulers of the animals of which they have the charge. I thought that I perceived all these herds more willing to obey their keepers than men their governors ; for the herds go the way that their keepers direct them ; they feed on those lands to which their keepers drive them, and ι

THE INSTITUTION OF CYRUS. [b.

abstain from those from which they repel them ; and they suffer their keepers to make what use they please of the profits 1 that arise from them. Besides, I never saw a herd conspiring against its keeper, either with a view of not obeying him, or of not allowing him to enjoy the advantages arising from them ; for herds are more refractory towards strangers than they are towards their keepers, and those who make profit of them ; but men conspire against none sooner than against those whom they perceive attempting to rule them. 3. While I was reflecting upon these things, I came to this judgment upon them ; that to man, such is his nature, it was easier to rule every other sort of creature than to rule man. But when I considered that there was Cyrus the Persian, who had ren- * dered many men, many cities, and many nations, obedient to him, I was then necessitated to change my opinion, and to think that to rule men is not among the things that are impossible, or even difficult, if a person undertakes it with understanding and skill./ 1 knew that there were some who willingly obeyed Cyrus, that were many days' journey, and others that were even some months' journey, distant from him ; some, too, who had never seen him, and some who knew very well that they never should see him ; and yet they readily submitted to his government ; 4. for he so far excelled all other kings, as well those that had received their dominion from their forefathers, as those that had acquired it by their own efforts, that the Scythian, for example, though his people be very numerous, is unable to obtain the dominion over any other nation, but rests satisfied if he can but continue to rule his own ; so it is with the Thracian king in regard to the Thracians, and with the Illyrian king in regard to the Illyrians ; and so it is with other nations, as many as I have heard of ; for the nations of Europe, at least, are said to be independent and detached from each other. But Cyrus, finding, in like manner, the nations of Asia independent, and setting out with a little army of Persians, obtained the dominion over the Medes by their own choice, and over the Hyrcanians in a similar manner; he subdued the Syrians, Assyrians, Arabians, CappadoeLns, both the Phrygians, the Lydians, Carians, Phoenicians, and Babylonians ; he had under his rule the Bactrians, Indians,

1 Milk, wool, labour in the plough, and any other profits that men can derive from them.

OH. 2.] BIRTH OF CTRCS. 3

and Cilicians, as well as the Sacians, Paphlagonians, and Magadidians, and many other nations of whom we cannot enumerate even the names. He had dominion over the Greeks that were settled in Asia ; and, going down to the sea, over the Cyprians and Egyptians. I• These nations he ruled, though they spoke neither the same language with himself nor with one another ; yet he was able to extend the fear of himself over so great a part of the world that he astonished all, and no one attempted anything against him. He was able to inspire all with so great a desire of pleasing him, that they ever desired to be governed by his opinion ; and be attached to himself so many nations as it would be a labour to enumerate, which way soever we should commence our course from his palace, whether towards the east, we*t, north, or south, β. With respect to this man, therefore, as worthy of admiration, I have inquired what he was by birth, what qualities he possessed from nature, and with what education he was brought up, that he so eminently excelled in gov* rning men. Whatever, accordingly, I have ascertained, or think that I understand, concerning him, I shall endeavour to relate.

Chapter II

ί

Birth of Cjtu•. Hit excellent qualities of mind and body 1 1 υ education among tne Pertiana. Account of their Law• and institution*, and mod• of training youth.

l. Ctrus is said to have had for hie father Cambyaes, king of the Persians. Cambyses was of the race of the Perseide, who were so called from Perseus. It is agreed that he wae born of a mother named Mandane ; and Mandane was the daughter of Astyages, king of the Medes. Cyrus is described, and is still celebrated by the Barbarians, as having been most handsome in person, most humane in disposition, most eager for knowledge, and most ambitions of honour ; so that he would undergo any labour and face any danger for the sake of obtaining praise. 2. Such is the constitution of mind and body that he is recorded to have had ; and he was educated in conformity with the laws of the Persians.

■ 2

4 TBI INSTITUTION OF CTIU'S. [B. I.

These law9 seem to begin with a provident care for the common good; not when* they begin in most other governments ; lor most governments, leaving each individual to educate his children as be pleases, and the advanced in age to live as the/ plea.se, enjoin their people not to steal, not to plunder, not to enter a house by violence, not to strike any one whom it is wrong to strike, not to be adulterous, not to disobey the magistrates, and other such things in like manner ; and, if people transgress any of these precepts, they imjiose punishments upon them. *. lint the Persian laws, by anticipation, are careful to provide from the beginning, that their citizens shall not be such as to be inclined to any action that is bad and mean. This care they take in the following manner. They an Agora, 1 called The Free, where the king's palace and other house- for magistrate! arc built; all thing- for sale, and the dealers in them, their erics and coarsenesses, are banished from hence to some other place | that the disorder of these may not interfere with the regularity of those who are under instruction. 4. This Agora, round the public courts, is divided into four parts ; of these, one i- for the boys, one for the youth, one for the full-grown men, and one for those who are beyond the jtm - for military service. Each of these

divisions, according to the law, attend iti their several quarters ; the boys and full-grown men as soon as it is day; the olden when they think convenient, except upon aj>|>ointed days, when they are obliged to 1*• present The youth pass the night round the courts, in their light arm-, except such as are lor these are not required to do so, unless orders have bei η previously given them ; nor is it becoming in them to U* often absent. r >. Over each of the classes there are twelve presidents, for there are twelve distinct tribes of the

Pen over th<• boys are chosen from amongst the

•IderS, ami are such as are thought likely to make them the best 1 boy» ; those over the youth are chosen from amongst the full-

grOWD men, and are such as are thought likely to make them Ithj and over the full-grown men, such as are

ή μ forum or square, fires from buyer• and teller•. Ariacity iliould have such a forun \XvOLi ώνιων πάντων. He aliu tafi

- tly ; hut Muretut i up pptsi that ne

thought likely to render thera the most expert in performing their appointed duties and in executing the orders given by the chief magistrate. Inhere are likewise chosen prvsn lents over the elders, who take care that these also perform their duties What it is prescribed to each age to do, we shall relate, that it maybe the better nnderttood how the rVi>ians take precautions that excellent citizen, may ha pro**

β The boys attending the public schools, pass their time in learning justice; and say that they go for thfc purpose, as those with us say who go to learn to read. 1 heir presidents gpend the most part of the day in .li r ..M.,^ ju>tnv amongst them • for there an» among the boys, as among the men, accusations for theft, robbery, violence, doeeit, calumny, and other such things as naturally occur ; and such as they convict of doi η - wrong, in any of these respeoO, U*J plttial they punish Likewise such as they lad guilty ot false accusation; thev apj>eat to justice fin i" Λ * a crime for which neo hate one toother exceerireiy, bat for which they never go to law, that is, ingratitude; and whomsoever the? find able to return a benefit, and not returning it, thev punish severely. For they think that the ungrateful aw with regard to the g<*k thek parent-, their country, end their friends ; and upon ingratitude seems ekeeij to follow >hame- Isjsoess, which appears to be the principal conductor of mankind into all that is dishonourable.

S. They also teach the boys self-control ; and it contributes much tow'ards their learning to control thcm>el\es, that they see everv day their elders behaving themselves with discretion. They teadi them also to obey their ofl pd it contributes much to thil end, that they see their constantly obedient to their officers. They teach theni temperance with reapeet tO eating and drinking | and it contributes much to this object, that they see that their eiders do not quit their station- to seusfj their appetltee, until their officer• dismiss them, and that the hoys themselves do not eat with their mothers, but with their teachers, and when the officers give the signal. Thev bring from home with them bread, and a sort of cresses' to eat with it ; and a cup to drink from, that, bread.

'Οώον ?i «Ίηϊαμον.Λ 7)ψον signine* anything that was eaten with id Κά^αμον was either the herb which we call cresses, or one

« τπε ηίβτιτΓτιοχ or cntus. [β. ι

if any are thirsty, thoy may take water from the river • They ίΐ? beside,, to shoot with the bow, and to throw the jare- Ito Tbeee exercises the boy» practice till they are sixteen or ecventeen ye*rs of age, when they enter the class of young .

Τ The young men pass their time thus: For ten yean • after they go from the class of boys, they pass the night round the courts, as I have said bef..re. »",fh for the recur. ™ y and guard of the city, and for the sake of practising selfritraint ; for this age seem* ex* to n-ed «upcnntendenoe. During the day they keep themselves at the ^",η-ηά *f their officers, in caie tbey want them for any public senrice; and wheTh is necessary they all wait at the courts But when- Tver the king goes out to hunt, he take, hetf the guard ou tnth him, and tare• half of it behind ; and this he doe. several times every month. Those that go out must have their bow, S.Ser, a biU or small sword in a sheath, a light shield, 3ΓΛΪ javelins, one to throw and the other, .f necessary, to use at hand. ie. They attend to hunting as a matter of public interest, and the king, as in war, is their 1*^*»*; Sng himself, and seeing that others do eo ; because »•««■* them to be the most efficient exercise for all such thing, ae relate to war It accustoms them to rise early in the morning, and to bear heat and cold ; it exercises them in long marcher, and in running ; it necessitates them to use their bow agamrt the beast that they hunt, and to throw their javelin, wherever be falls in their way , their courage must, of necessity be otteo sharpened in the hunt, when any of the strong and vigorou. heaete present themselves ; for they must come to blow, with the animal if he come, up to them, and niu.t be upon their «niard as he approache. ; eo that it i. not easy to find what single thing, of all that i. practised in war is not to be found in hunting. II. They go out to hunt provided with a dinner krger, indeed, as is but right, than that of the boys, but w other reepecte the same ; and during the hunt prrhapr they may not eat .t ; but if it be necessary to remain on the ground to watch for the beast, or if for any other reason they wi.h to spend more time in the hunt, they .up upon thin dinner, and wry.imilar to it; the expression κά^αμον flXiwnr .ignified to fa» •*?!•£ AraxXon which PenepoU• ■*»«• <*"* *•# »• «Μ.

hunt Again the next day till supper-time, and reckon tin κ two day» a* Dut one > because they eat the food of but - This abstinence they practise to accustom themselves to it that, should it be necessary in war, they may be able to observe it. Those of this age have what they catch for meat with their bread ; or, if they catch nothing» their Cl easel. And, if anyone think that they cat without pleasure when thev have creese* only with their bread, and that they drink without pleasure when they drink only water, let him π collect how pleasant barley cake or bread is to eat to one who is hungry, and how pleasant water is to drink to one who is thirty.

12. The parties that remain at home pass their time in practising what they learned while they were boys, as well as other things, such as using the bow and throwing the javelin ; and they pursue these exercises with mutual emulation, as there are public contests in their several accomplishing and prizes offered; and in whichsoever of the tribes there are found the most who excel in skill, in courage, and in oU-dience, the citizens applaud and honour, not only the pn commander of them, but also the person who had the instruction of them when they were l>oys. The magistrates likewise make use of the youth that remain at home, it they want them, to keep guard upon any occasion, to search tor malefactors, to pursue robbers, or for any other business that requires strength and agility. In these occupations the youth an ltd.

But when they have completed their ten years, they enter into the class of full-grown men ; 13. who, from the time they leave the class of youth, pass five and twenty years in the following manner. First, like the youth, they keep themselves at the command of the magistrates, that they may use their services, if it should be necessary, for the public good, in whatever employments require the exertions of such as have discretion, and are yet in vigour. If it be necessary to undertake any military expedition, they who are in this state of discipline do not march out with bows and javelins, but with what are called arms for close fight, a corslet ov r the breast, a shield in the left hand, such as that with which the Persians are painted, and, in the right, a large sword or bill. All the magistrates are chosen from this class, except the teachers of the boys; and, when they have completed five and twenty years in this class, they will then be something more than

8 THE INSTITUTION ΟΓ CTR18. t> «•

fiftv years of aee, and pass into the class of such as are elders. «J ST« "cSTed. .4. The* older* no longer go on any ϊ®£ ^abroad, but, remaining ^hn »»

SnSnof public and private ju-k, j * 7 taU oogum». t

wtnt'eSers iar the «OK, and p~ aentvnee upon ,ii» anJ the Vrsou that is comh-mned n,na,ns mtamous for th.

ahown more clear.v. 1 «hall g. 1-,-k • HA^ J^jJJ

"ho^ btto^inlain their ^iMnn without P u, = them Ilw^k send them to these school*; they who are unable, do to work, send "*™ «\ h educate.! under the pub-

not send them. 1» . ** » ho are ^ rf

which the, think tl... they «- *J «»' "ZfSa^ There eerohin U the l'«'*nt d., iMtr * <**~ f J ■„

„, el~•. .deo.t.d h. th- ••> hete de.cr.bed.

tob e mo going wide to make water, 01 for any similar cause ; andtoth^• habits they could not possibly adhere, u. thov *ed a very temperate diet, and exhausted the,r mowture b/exerci* it it may pass • -" J«* «-•'>••

These particulars 1 had ... etate «mcernmg «I»• 1 ersians m mwaL I will now relate the actions of Cyras, upon whose account this narrative was undertaken, beginning from hia boyhood.

CHAPTER HI.

τ™, whm ho i< t* -vUv ran ©M, weaeptine• hi« mother on a vi.it to hi*

ι. curs till twelve years of age, or a Ktt» ™re, wa« educated under this discipline, and evidently excelled eU ha equals, both in quickly learning what was nee. «sary, ι am in doing everything in a becoming and manly way. Μ that IbaAstyages sent for bis daughter and bcr «or. ; for he was desirous to μ e bin», having heard that be was a luiud-,,..• ;....1 excellent chili Accordingly Mandane went to her father,

and took her son Cyrus with ber. ». \ η a« »be armed,

and Cyrus knew Astyages to be his njothers father, he instantly, as being a boy naturally affectionate, embraced bun, Seifhehad been previoudy brought up vnthhKsfld hadlong loved him ; and, observing bin adorncd^th paint about hi, eyes' and colour' applied to bis face,aftd with aruficial hair. 'tl.i.,-- that are customary amongst the Medea, (tor purple coats, cloaks, collars ah.,», the neck, and braeetottx» the wrists, are all Median decorations! but amongst toe rer•

. The Mede• .... -1 to tinge the lower Dart of *•«*** fej the propriety of the «Ord ! - '•. " ' '"',;,.*. " he

hadan'ai.tnn K .„t «..d contracting quality, and thus ">•«»• eye..eem l.rtr.-r than they would naturally have appears* J and leg. ftdl eye• were accounted a beaul N

'(>».«; white lead, to give whiten*•• to Um Λιβ, 1 lm ν xxiv.54; and «.A—, s bind ... herb, to give itwdne•», PhnjH. N. xxii. 20. S. ι. -1 I He..phr. II. P. vu. », p- Mfc **»»•

See viii. 1 41.

10 THI INSTITUTION OF CTBUS. [b. L

sians At home, even at this day, their habits are much coarser, and their diet more simple,) observing this dress of his grand• father, and fixing his eyes on him, he said, " Ο mother, how handsome my grandfather is ! " His mother thin asking him which he thought the more handsome, hie father or his grandfather, Cyrus answered, " Of the Persians, mother, my father is much the most handsome ; but of all the Medes that I have seen, either upon the road or at the gates of the palace, my grandfather is far the most handsome." 3. Astyages, theu, embracing Cyrus in return, put on him a fine robe, did him honour, and decorated him with collars and bracelets ; and, whenever he went abroad, took him with him on a horse with a bridle of gold, just as he himself used to go about. Cyrus, being a boy fond of what was fine and honourable, was pleased with the robe, and extremely delighted at learning to ride ; for, amongst the Persians, from its being difficult to breed horses, and difficult even to ride in a country so mountainous, it is a rare thing to see a horse.

4. Astyages, when he was supping with his daughter and Cyrus, and wished the boy to sup as agreeably as possible, that he might the less regret what he had left at home, 'had several dishes set before him, with sauces and meats of all kinds ; when, as they relate, Cyrus said, " How much trouble, grandfather, you hare at your meals, if you must stretch out your hands to all these dishes, and taste of all these kinds of meat!" " What, then," said Astyages, M do you not think this entertainment much finer than what you have in Persia ?" To this question Cyrus is said to have replied, " No, grand• father ; for with us the way to be satisfied is much plainer and straighter than with you ; since among us plain bread and aeat conduct us to that object ; you indeed pursue the same object with us, but, after rambling in many windings up and down, you at last scarcely reach the point at which we have arrived long before you." a. " But, child," said Astyages, " it is not with pain that we ramble through these windings; if yon taste," said he, " you will find that these things are pl e as a n t" " But, grandfather," said Cyrus, " I observe yoe

1 The men of the court were accustomed to attend at the gates, that they might be ready, if the king wished to use their services in any way. So Mordecai sat at the kings gate, E»th. ii. 19. Hutch- ■ssssv

CH. 3.] onus's talk WITH tfTTAOl 11

yourself show an aversion t<> tin μ dishes*" M From what do you gueas," inquires! Aatyagea, u thai yon express inch an opinion?" "Became I remark," wM be, M thai when you touch your bread, you do not wi|*• your band Upon anything, but, when you touch any one of these dishee, you immediately wipe your hand u|*>n your napkin, a* it' y<»u were Quite uneasy that it ha<l touched them• ' • . < ha recdving this answer Astyapt-s said, "If you thii k so, then, al least «at heartily of

plain meat, that you may return home a stout VOUtb ;" and as

he said this he directed various kind- of Beeh, both of tame

and wild animate, to !>«' presented to him. Cyrus, whan he

saw this vari«'t\ "I KM ported to have -aid, M And do

you give me all these meats, grandfather, to d«> with them

what 1 j t. "Yee, indeed»" mid Aatyageej "1

make you a present of them." Then Cynis, taking of the

several meat.-, ii mid to have distributed them to the servants

about hi* grandfather, saying to < «ch, u 1 give thi* to yon,

because you take pleasure in teaching me t«» ride ; this to you,

because you gave me a javelin, for 1 have it still; thi

because you serve my grandfather #efl ; this to yt o, because

you honour my mother ;" and to have proceeded thus, till he

had distributed all the meat that be had received a. Λ

ages then said, "And d»> yon give nothing t<> this Sedan, my

cup-bearer, whom I valoe above all?" This Sedan was a

handsome |>or*on, and bad the hononr to introduce to I

any that wanted to lee him, and to exclude MsCli ^ he { ^ not

think it seasonable to admit. Cyras Upon thi- i* *aid to have

answered rather flippantly, as a boy ft .wn bashful,

"For what r e ifcop is it, grandfather, that yon value this

Sacian so much f n A replied, jestingly, " IX> you not

see," said he. "how property and gracefully he j>ours out my

winer" For these cup-bearers to kingi perform their business

very lrverlv; they pour in thr wine without spilling, and

give the cup, holding it on three Angers, and presenting it In

such a manner as to pot it moat conveniently into the hand of

the person who is to drink. <*. M Hid the Sacian give me the

cup, grandfather," said Cyrus, "that I aba, by gracefully

pouring in w im* for you to drink, may gain your favour if I

can." Astyages bade the Sedan give him the cup; and

1 "Or» rXia σοι άπ αντύν iy'tvtro.] Μ That it wai full for you from them." Full, in the aen§e of dauUed, be*mcar§d.

12 Tin•: INSTITUTION 01 CTJ [ιι. ι.

Cyrus, taking it, rinsed the cup wo well, a-> be had observed the Saeian to d<., settled hie countenance so gravely, and brought and presented the cup to hi•* grandfather so prettily, as to afford much laughter to his mother and Am Cyrus then, laughing out, leaped up to his grandfather, and, kissing him, cried out, M Ο Saeian, you an• undone] I will turn you out of your office; for I will j>our out wine better tluin you in other respects, and I will not drink the wine myself." For these cup-hearers to kings, when they give the cup, dip a little out with a smaller cup, which they potir into their left hand and swallow ; so that, in case they mix poison in the cup, it may be of no profit to them. Lo. Γροη this, •Astyages said, joking, "And why, Cyrus, win η you imitated the Saeian in everything else, did not you swallow some of the wine?*' M Because, to say the truth," said he, " I was afraid there might have been poison mixed in the cup ; for, when you entertained your friends ιΐ|κ>η your birth-day, I plainly perceived that he had poured in poison for you all." "And how, child," said be, "did you know this?" "Hecause," said be, M I saw you all disordered both in mind and body; for, in tin* first place, what you do not allow us boys to do, that you did yourselves ; for you all cried out together, and yet could not understand each other; next you fell to singing very ridiculously; and, without attending to the singer, you swore that lie sung admirably ; then, though each told stories of his own strength, when you rose up and fell to dancing, you were not only unable to danoe properly, but were unable even to 'stand upright; at length, you all entirely forgot yourselves, you, that you were king, and they, that yon were their ruler; and then, for the first time, I discovered that it was equal liberty of speech that you were practising; for you never ceased to speak." π. Astyages then said, "Is your father, child, never intoxicated when he drinks ?" "No, indeed," said he. " What does he, then ?" " Why, he quenches his thirst, and suffers no further harm ; for I believe, grandfather," says he, " it is not a Saeian that pours out wine for him." His mother then said, " But why, child, do you thus make war upon the Saeian ? " Cyrus is said to have replied, "Why, indeed, because I hate him; for, very often, when I am desirous to run to my grandfather, this disagreeable fellow hinders me. But pray, grandfather," .-aid he, cetJ.] ctBue dtvited το way wtra lsttaqes. 13