with soldiers, he pardoned the captive monarch; and upon receiving his quota of auxiliaries, and the payment of his customary tribute, he restored him to his kingdom and withdrew.

When the Assyrians and their allies, and the Medes and Persians with their allies, had occupied three years in making preparations for the war, both armies took the field.* Cyrus finding his troops full of ardour, and ready for action, prepared to commence hostilities, by leading them at once into the enemy's country. Accordingly, after the customary sacrifices had been offered to the gods-who yet were no gods-and after Cyrus had invoked them to be favourable to his undertaking-to inspire his army with courage,

A still greater instance, perhaps, of the luxury of the Babylonians than any we have yet mentioned, is found in a passage of Herodotus, related at this place :- The great king, in his warlike expeditions, is provided from home with cattle, and all other necessaries for his table. There is also carried with him water of the river Chaospes, which flows near Susa, for the king drinks of no other; wherever he goes he is attended by a number of four-wheeled carri ages, in which the water of Chaospes being first boiled, is disposed in vessels of silver."-Herodotus, vol. 1, p. 188.

skill, and prudence, and to guide, conduct, and bless them, he began his march. And in thus acting, this illustrious heathen has left an example on record which may put to the blush many a distinguished European, who, professing to believe in the true God, have gone forth to the battle without once propitiating by prayer or supplication the Lord of Hosts, who alone giveth the victory, and who have often shewn less reverence to his great and holy name, and evinced less dependence on his omnipotence, than the Roman soldier to his eagle, or the Persian to the rising sun.

When the armies arrived in view of each other, both prepared for battle. The Assyrians were encamped in the open country, and had surrounded and fortified their camp with a ditch. But Cyrus, to conceal the smallness of his army, covered his troops with several little hills and villages. For some days both armies remained inactive. At length a large body of Assyrians moving out of their intrenchments, Cyrus advanced to meet them. Before he approached within reach of the enemy, Cyrus gave as the

rallying word to his troops,-Jupiter, Protector and Conductor; he then caused the customary hymn to be sung in honour of Castor and Pollux, to which his army, fall of superstitious ardour, answered with a loud voice.*

* Xenophon here calls the Persian gods by the names of the Roman idols. But we remark once for all, that Jupiter had no place among the deities of Persia, till a much latter period than that referred to in the text. The Persians adored the sun, particularly the rising sun, which they worshipped with profoundest veneration. To this god they sacrificed horses; he was known among them by the name of Mithra. They had likewise two other gods -Oromasdes and Arimanes-the first, they considered the author of all good; the latter, of all evil. The following remarks of Porter upon the primitive religion of te Persians, will illustrate the passage in the text:

"The simplest principles and rites of the Mithratic religion, appear to have prevailed in Persia till the Assyrian conquerors overran the country, and encumbered it, first, with the polytheism of the moon and stars; and secondly, with a train of graven images. The union of the simple and manly Persians with the gay and luxuriant Medes, and afterwards by conquest with the magnificence of Babylon, gradually increased the splendour of the Mithratie rites, and laid them open to the corruptions of the more

enemy

The Assyrian troops armed with slings, stones, and darts, spent great part of their missiles before the Persians were near enough to be injured by them. These, however, animated by the courage of their leader, soon came into close contact with them, and bore down upon the with such a tremendous shock, that they were obliged to give way and disperse. The cavalry of the Medes next attacked the Assyrian horse, who were routed, and their flying squadrons were pursued even to the camp. The slaughter was immense, Neriglissar the king of Babylon was slain; and the victory would have been complete had not Cyrus, finding himself too weak to force their intrenchments, sounded a retreat, and called off his army.

The Assyrians seeing their king slain, and the flower of their forces cut off, were thrown into utter confusion and despair. Croesus king of Lydia fled, and the rest of the allies considering all was lost, and that their situation was hopeless,

extended paganism, which, in after ages, profaned the land of the sun with many strange altars, long before the invasion of Alexander claimed one for the Jupiter of Greece."

took advantage of the night to make their escape.* Crœsus, who had sent away his wives in the evening, that they might travel in the cool air of night, followed them himself with a troop of horse.

Cyrus who had foreseen this, prepared to follow them, but as he could not do so without cavalry, and the Persians had none, he requested Cyaxares to let him have as many of the Median horsemen as would accompany him. Upon receiving this permission, he immediately commenced the pursuit, followed by most of the Median soldiery. He marched all night before he came up with the enemy. At last overtaking him, the Assyrians were thrown into disorder and despair. Those who fled being hotly pursued were slain; and those who remained in the camp surrendered to the conqueror. The victory was now finally achieved, and the spoil was immense. Cyrus who had so long desired to have a body of Per

Crasus, whose name, on account of his great wealth, is another word for riches, was king of Lydia; and being next in dignity to Neriglissar, commanded the vanquished army after he was slain.