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Original Copyright 1850 by Jacob Abbott 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS CAMBYSES ...................................................................... 4 THE END OF CAMBYSES ............................................... 11 SMERDIS THE MAGIAN ................................................. 17 THE ACCESSION OF DARIUS ........................................ 23 THE PROVINCES ........................................................... 28 THE RECONNOITERING OF GREECE ............................ 35 THE REVOLT OF BABYLON .......................................... 41 THE INVASION OF SCYTHIA ......................................... 47 DARIUS CROSSING THE BOSPORUS THE RETREAT FROM SCYTHIA .................................... 53 THE STORY OF HISTIAEUS ........................................... 59 THE BATTLE OF MARATHON ....................................... 66 THE DEATH OF DARIUS ................................................ 74 Original Copyright 1850 by Jacob Abbott 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 Cyrus, it seems, felt some misgivings in respect to the CHAPTER I result of his enterprise; and, in order to insure the tranquility of his empire during his absence, and the secure transmission of his power to his rightful successor in case he should never CAMBYSES return, he established his son Cambyses as regent of his realms before he crossed the Araxes, and delivered the government of About five or six hundred years before Christ, almost the empire, with great formality, into his hands. This took the whole of the interior of Asia was united in one vast empire. place upon the frontier, just before the army passed the river. The founder of this empire was Cyrus the Great. He was The mind of a father, under such circumstances, would originally a Persian; and the whole empire is often called the naturally be occupied, in some degree, with thoughts relating Persian monarchy, taking its name from its founder's native to the arrangements which his son would make, and to the land. difficulties he would be likely to encounter in managing the Cyrus was not contented with having annexed to his momentous concerns which had been committed to his charge. dominion all the civilized states of Asia. In the latter part of The mind of Cyrus was undoubtedly so occupied, and this, his life, he conceived the idea that there might possibly be probably, was the origin of the remarkable dream. some additional glory and power to be acquired in subduing His dream was, that Darius appeared to him in a vision, certain half-savage regions in the north, beyond the Araxes. with vast wings growing from his shoulders. Darius stood, in He accordingly raised an army, and set off on an expedition the vision, on the confines of Europe and Asia, and his wings, for this purpose, against a country which was governed by a expanded either way, overshadowed the whole known world. barbarian queen named Tomyris. He met with a variety of When Cyrus awoke and reflected on this ominous dream, it adventures on this expedition, all of which are fully detailed in seemed to him to portend some great danger to the future our history of Cyrus. There is, however, only one occurrence security of his empire. It appeared to denote that Darius was that it is necessary to allude to particularly here. That one one day to bear sway over all the world. Perhaps he might be relates to a remarkable dream which he had one night, just even then forming ambitious and treasonable designs. Cyrus after he had crossed the river. immediately sent for Hystaspes, the father of Darius; when he To explain properly the nature of this dream, it is came to his tent, he commanded him to go back to Persia, and necessary first to state that Cyrus had two sons. Their names keep a strict watch over the conduct of his son until he himself were Cambyses and Smerdis. He had left them in Persia when should return. Hystaspes received this commission, and he set out on his expedition across the Araxes. There was also departed to execute it; and Cyrus, somewhat relieved, perhaps, a young man, then about twenty years of age, in one of his of his anxiety by this measure of precaution, went on with his capitals, named Darius. He was the son of one of the nobles of army toward his place of destination. Cyrus's court. His father's name was Hystaspes. Hystaspes, Cyrus never returned. He was killed in battle; and it besides being a noble of the court, was also, as almost all would seem that, though the import of his dream was nobles were in those days, an officer of the army. He ultimately fulfilled, Darius was not, at that time, meditating accompanied Cyrus in his march into the territories of the any schemes of obtaining possession of the throne, for he barbarian queen, and was with him there, in camp, at the time made no attempt to interfere with the regular transmission of when this narrative commences. Original Copyright 1850 by Jacob Abbott 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 the imperial power from Cyrus to Cambyses his son. At any influence at the Persian court. At last he contrived a mode of rate, it was so transmitted. The tidings of Cyrus's death came revenging himself on the Egyptian king for having exiled him to the capital, and Cambyses, his son, reigned in his stead. from his native land. The king had a daughter, who was a lady The great event of the reign of Cambyses was a war of great beauty. Her father was very strongly attached to her. with Egypt, which originated in the following very singular The physician recommended to Cyrus to send to Amasis and manner: demand this daughter in marriage. As, however, Cyrus was already married, the Egyptian princess would, if she came, be It has been found, in all ages of the world, that there is his concubine rather than his wife, or, if considered a wife, it some peculiar quality of the soil, or climate, or atmosphere of could only be a secondary and subordinate place that she could Egypt which tends to produce an inflammation of the eyes. occupy. The physician knew that, under these circumstances, The inhabitants themselves have at all times been very subject the King of Egypt would be extremely unwilling to send her to to this disease, and foreign armies marching into the country Cyrus, while he would yet scarcely dare to refuse; and the are always very seriously affected by it. Thousands of soldiers hope of plunging into extreme embarrassment and distress, by in such armies are sometimes disabled from this cause, and means of such a demand from so pow- erful a sovereign, was many are made incurably blind.