THE PERSIAN SHEPHERDS. 55 



he had the pleasure of hearing iEsop tell some of his 

 own fables. He was anxious that his capital should 

 form part of the grand tour which had already become 

 the fashion of the Greek philosophers, and that they 

 should be able to say when they returned home, that 

 they had not only seen the pyramids of Egypt and 

 the ruins of Troy, but also the treasure-house of 

 Croesus. When he received a visit from one of these 

 sages in cloak and beard he would show him his heaps 

 of gold and silver, and ask him whether, in all his 

 travels he had ever seen a happier man ; to which 

 question he did not always receive a very courteous 

 reply. 



After long wars, peace was established between the 

 Babylonians, the Lydians, and the Medes, on a lasting 

 and secure foundation. The royal families were united 

 by marriage ; alliances, defensive and offensive, were 

 made and ratified on oath. Egypt was no longer able 

 to invade ; and there was a period of delicious calm in 

 that stormy Asiatic world, broken onty by the plaintive 

 voices of the poor Jewish captives who sat by the 

 waters of Babylon and sang of the Holy City that was 

 no more. 



In the twinkling of an eye all this was changed. A 

 band of hardy mountaineers rushed out of the recesses 

 of Persia, and swept like a wind across the plains. 

 They were dressed in leather from top to toe ; they 

 had never tasted fruit nor wine ; they had never seen 

 a market ; they knew not how to buy or sell. They 

 were taught only three things — to ride on horseback, 

 to hurl the javelin, and to speak the truth. 



All Asia was covered with blood and flames. The 

 allied kingdoms fell at once. India and Egypt were, 

 soon afterwards added to this empire, the greatest that 



