but his natural goodness made him often too easy, and his propensity to pleasure had brought the Medes into the taste of luxury and effeminacy. Cyrus, soon after his arrival at the court of Ecbatana, gave proofs of a wit and judgment far beyond his age. Astyages put divers questions to him concerning the manners of the Persians, their laws, and their method of educating youth. He was struck with astonishment at the sprightly and noble answers of his grandson. Young Cyrus was the admiration of the whole court, insomuch that he began to be intoxicated with praise; a secret presumption stole into his heart; he talked a little too much, and did not hearken enough to others; he decided with an air of self-sufficiency, and seemed too fond of it. Mandane, to remedy this fault, contrived to set before him his own picture by certain passages of history; for she proceeded in his education upon the same plan of which she had begun it. She related to him the story of Logis and Sygeus.

"My son, said she, it was formerly the custom at Thebes in Boeotia to raise to the throne, after the death of the king, him of all his children who had the best understanding. When a prince has fine parts, he can choose able ministers, make proper use of their talents, and govern those who govern under him; this is the great secret of the art of reigning. Among the king's sons there were two who seemed of a superior genius. The elder, named Logis, loved talking; the younger, who was called Sygeus, was a man of few words.— The first made himself admired by the charms of his wit; the second made himself loved by the goodness of his heart. Logis shewed plainly, even while he endeavored to conceal it, that he spoke only to shine; Sy

geus hearkened readily to others, and looked upon conversation as a sort of commerce, where each person ought to furnish something of his own. The one made

the most thorny and perplexed affairs agreeable by the lively and shining strokes of wit he intermixed in all he said; the other threw light upon the obscurest points, by reducing every thing to simple principles. Logis affected mystery without being secret, and his politics were full of stratagems and artifice; Sygeus, impenetrable without being false, surmounted all obstacles by his prudence and courage. The one never displayed his talents, but to serve his ambition; the other frequently concealed his virtues, that he might taste the secret pleasure of doing good for its own sake.

Twelve

"After the king's death, all the people got together in haste to choose a successor to the throne. old men presided at the assembly to correct the judgment of the multitude, who seldom fail to be 'carried away by prejudice, appearances, or passion. The eloquent prince made a long, but fine harangue, wherein he set forth all the duties of a king, in order to insinuate, that one who was so well acquainted with them would undoubtedly fulfil them. Prince Sygeus, in a few words, represented to the assembly the great hazards in the exercise of sovreign authority, and confessed an unwillingness to expose himself to them. It is not, added he, that I would shun any difficulties or dangers to serve my country, but I am afraid of being found unequal to the task of governing. The old men decided in favor of Sygeus; but the young people, and those of superfficial understandings, took the part of the elder brother, and raised by degrees a rebellion, under pretext that injustice had been done to Logis.

Troops were levied on both sides; Sygeus proposed to yield his right to his brother, in order to hinder the effusion of the blood of his countrymen, but his army would not consent to it.

"The chief men of both parties, seeing the miseries with which the state was ready to be overwhelmed, proposed the expedient of letting both the brothers reign, each a year, by turns. This form of government has many inconveniences, but it was preferred before a civil war, the greatest of all calamities. The two brothers applauded the proposal for peace, and Logis ascended the throne. He changed in a little time all the ancient laws of the kingdom; he was always listening to new projects; and to have a lively imagination was sufficient to raise a man to the highest employments. That which seemed excellent in speculation, could not be executed without difficulty and confusion; his ministers, who had no experience, knew not that precipitate changes, how useful soever they may appear, are always dangerous. The neighboring nations took advantage from this weak administration to invade the country; and had it not been for the prudence and bravery of Sygeus, all had been lost, and the people must have submitted to a foreign yoke. His brother's year being expired, he ascended the throne, gained the confidence and love of his people, re-established the ancient laws, and by his wise conduct, even more than by his victories, drove the enemy out of the country. From that time Sygeus reigned alone, and it was decided in the supreme council of the old men, that the king to be chosen for the future should not be the person who gave proofs of the quickest parts, but the soundest judgement. They were of opinion, that to

talk eloquently, or to be fruitful in expedients and stratagems, were not talents so essential to a good governor, as a just discernment in choosing, and a steadiness and courage in pursuing the best and wisest counsels."

Cyrus usually confessed his faults without seeking to excuse them. He listened to this story with attention, perceived the design of Mandane in telling it, and resolved to correct himself.

Soon after this, he gave a notable proof of his genius and courage. He was scarce sixteen years of age when Merodac, son of Nabuchodonosor, king of Assyria, assembled some troops, and under pretence of a great hunting, made a sudden irruption into Media. He marched in person with twelve thousand men towards the first strong place belonging to the Medes, encamped near them, and from thence sent out detachments every day to scour and ravage the country. Astyages had notice of it, and having given the necessary orders for assembling his army, he set out with his son Cyaxares and young Cyrus, followed only by some troops levied in haste, to the number of eight thousand men. When he was come near the borders of his own country, he encamped upon a rising ground, from whence he could discover the plain which the detachments of Merodac were laying waste. Astyages ordered two of the general officers to go and observe the enemy; Cyrus desired leave to accompany them, in order to inform himself of the situation of the country, the advantageous posts, and the strength of the Assyrian army. Having made his observations, he came back, and gave an exact account of all he had seen.

The next day Merodac left his camp, and advanced towards the Medes; whereupon Astyages assembled

a council of war to deliberate upon the motions he should make. The general oflicers, fearing the numbers of the enemy, thought it most advisable to retire, or at least to suspend all action till the arrival of fresh troops. Cyrus, who was impatient to engage, heard their opinions with uneasiness, but observed a profound silence, out of respect to the emperor, and so. many experienced commanders; at length Astyages ordered him to speak. He then rose up in the midst of the assembly, and with a noble and modest air, said, “Merodac is now in full march, but he cannot come up with us without passing between a wood to his right, and a morass to his left. Let the army advance to attack him in that place, where he will not be able to extend his troops and surround us. In the mean time, I will convey myself, with five hundred young Medes, through this deep narrow valley, and line the wood. I have just caused it to be viewed, and find that the enemy have neglected this post."

He said no more, blushed, and feared to have spoken too much. All admired his genius for war at such tender years; and Astyages, surprised at his ready thought and judgment, immediately commanded that his counsel should be followed. Cyaxares marched straight to meet the enemy, while Cyrus, accompanied by Hystaspes, filed off with a body of volunteers, and without being discovered, seized an angle of the wood. The prince of the Medes attacked the Assyrians in the narrowest part of the pass, and while Astyages advanced to sustain him, Cyrus sallied out of the wood, fell upon the enemy in flank, and with his voice animated the Medes, who all followed him with ardor; he covered himself with his shield, pierced into the thickest of the