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It was the grandfather of the Artayctes, one Artembares by name,
who suggested to the Persians a proposal which they readily embraced,
and thus urged upon Cyrus: "Since Jove," they said, "has
overthrown Astyages, and given the rule to the Persians, and to thee
chiefly, O Cyrus! come now, let us quit this land wherein we dwell
- for it is a scant land and a rugged - and let us choose ourselves
some other better country. Many such lie around us, some nearer,
some further off: if we take one of these, men will admire us far more
than they do now. Who that had the power would not so act? And when
shall we have a fairer time than now, when we are lords of so many
nations, and rule all Asia?" Then Cyrus, who did not greatly
esteem the counsel, told them, - "they might do so, if they liked
- but he warned them not to expect in that case to continue rulers,
but to prepare for being ruled by others - soft countries gave birth to
soft men - there was no region which produced very delightful fruits,
and at the same time men of a warlike spirit." So the Persians
departed with altered minds, confessing that Cyrus was wiser than
they; and chose rather to dwell in a churlish land, and exercise
lordship, than to cultivate plains, and be the slaves of others.
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