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period of their empire, it is fortunate for the credit of history that 

 we have the advantage of referring, as we proceed, for the truth of 

 the extraordinary facts related in it, to two Greek writers of the 

 highest honour and veracity, who were successively eye-witnesses 

 of the facts which their pens describe, and on whose relation we can 

 rest with the fullest confidence, Thucydides and Xenophon. The 

 former was as distinguished for his abilities as a profound politician 

 and statesman, as for his elegance and authenticity as an historian : 

 the latter attended the younger Cyrus in that memorable, but fruit- 

 less expedition to the plains of Babylon, which his pen so elegantly 

 relates, and which, as still farther inflaming the hatred of the two 

 nations, it is necessary for us cursorily to notice. The despotic 

 cruelty with which that haughty young prince acted in his satrapy 

 of Sardis, added to his assumption of honours scarcely less than 

 imperial, occasioned his recall to the court of his incensed father, 

 where, however, the unbounded influence of Parysatis, his mother, 

 over Darius, procured not only his pardon, but a bequest in per- 

 petuity of the government which he had relinquished. During his 

 stay at Susa, Darius Nothos died, and was succeeded by the second 

 Ardeshir, the elder brother of Cyrus, called by the Greeks, from 

 his uncommon strength of memory, Artaxerxes Mnemon. The 

 violent temper and ambition of the prince urging him to make an 

 attempt at once on the life and throne of the new monarch ; on the 

 fortunate discovery of the conspiracy almost at the moment when 

 it was to have been executed, Cyrus was seized and condemned to 

 death for the intended fratricide ; but here again parental affection 

 interfered in his behalf, and he was not only pardoned, but, with 

 glaring impolicy, sent to take possession of the government be- 

 queathed him by his deceased father. The soul of Cyrus, instead of 

 overflowing with gratitude to so benevolent a king and brother, 

 was inflamed with revenge at the design of taking away his justly- 



