FROM WORLD-DOMINION TO SUBJECTION. 



123 



Marcheswan. The capital's calm was disturbed for a few days 

 less, and would have resumed its course a few days earlier but 

 for the crowds of petitioners seeking the new ruler's presence. 



Naturally, this was a wonderfully rapid conquest, and it was 

 carried out, as the Babylonian Chronicle indicates, with a 

 minimum of disturbance to the conquered. It has often been 

 said that Xenophon's Cyropeclia is a romance, and this may be 

 true ; but one thing is certain, and that is, that Xenophon 

 lived much nearer to the time when the events recorded therein 

 took place than we do, and must have known — certainly from 

 Persian sources, and perhaps from the Babylonians themselves 

 — what really happened. 



Xenophon also tells of the reputation Cyrus had for clemency, 

 and the most noteworthy instance of it is that in which {Gyrop. 

 V, p. 85, in Nimmo's series) he proposes that labourers (agricul- 

 turists) should be left by both sides to pursue their daily 

 work, in order that, after the war, want and famine might be 

 avoided, and to this the Assyrian king consents. 



In Xenophon's account of the taking of Babylon, the well- 

 known story of the entering of the city through the river-bed 

 whilst a festival was in progress is given. It was apprehended 

 that the Babylonians might try to drive back the invaders by 

 attacking them from the house-tops, but Cyrus pointed out that 

 this could easily be stopped by setting fire to the porches, as 

 the doors were of palm-wood, painted over with bitumen. The 

 entry into the city was duly effected, and by a ruse they got 

 the people within the palace to open the gates. The King 

 (Belshazzar) was found with his sword in his hand, surrounded 

 by his friends, eager to defend him. Overpowered by numbers, 

 he died fighting for his life and his throne ; as for saving his 

 country, that was past hoping for. 



The castles — that is, the palaces of Xabopolassar and N'ebu- 

 chadrezzar — having been given up by their now demoralized 

 defenders, the people were commanded to deliver up their arms, 

 which they did. The Magi (evidently the Babylonian priest- 

 hood) were then ordered to choose for the gods the first-fruits 

 of certain lands owned by them, in accordance with the usage 

 in conquered countries ; and houses, palaces, and property were 

 delivered to Cyrus's followers as rewards for their services. 

 The Babylonians were then directed to cultivate their lands, 

 pay their taxes, and serve those to whom they were severally 

 given. 



Cyrus, having let it be known that people might seek his 

 presence, either to pay homage or to consult with him, they 



