|
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."
|
|