LIFE OF CYRUS THE ELDER.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume IV, Issue 2, 15 June 1857, Page 4

LIFE OF CYRUS THE ELDER.

NO. 11. When Cyrus had defeated his grandfather Astyages, he did all he could to establish the government upon good laws, and to put down rebels. But there was a relation of j Astyages' living on the Western Coast of; Asia Minor in a country called Lydia ; and he was very angry with Cyrus for dethroning Astyages, and he thought that he would attack Cyrus and conquer Persia. His name was Croesus. He was the richest monarch of his age, and his name has become a proverb for wealth. This man had great faith in magiciansand wizards like IheMaori priests—and he believed that these wizards could foretel future events, and could make things turn out just as tbey like. So he sent messengers with large presents lothe heathen god Apollo, who had a temple and oracle at Delphi in Greece ; and he asked the priests and priestesses of this false god, whether he would do -well to attack Cyrus or not. The priests and priestesses were cunning people like the Maori lohunga ; and they look care always to give a doubtful answer, -which would serve any purpose, just as it fell out. So they sent back word to Crcesus that *if he crossed the River Halys (which flows down the middle of Asia Minor), he would destroy a great kingdom.' He thought that the words meant that he would destroy the Persian empire. So he iuvaded Persia, and was utterly defeated by Cyrus, So the Delphic lohunga laughed at him and said thai the words meant that he would destrov

his own kingdom. After ihe bailie, Cyras; went to the capital city of Lydia, called j Sardis, and look il by storm. j Some years before this, a wise man from |. Greece, whoscname was Solon, had come lo j Sardis- Craesus received him very kindly* and shewed him all <his treasures. Then Ckesus asked him, Who was the happiest man he had seen in all his travels? Solon answered "Tellus the Athenian." Crcesus asked " Why?" Solon replied: "Because his children were good, his country prosperous, his property large enough ; and he died in the moment of victory, fighting for his country; and he was loved and respected by all." Crcesus then asked whom he thought the happiest next to him, and he thought Solon must say,—it was " Croesus King of Lydia;"" but, to his great surprise, j the wise .man-named two young men, who died while in the -act of doing a dutiful service for their mother, and were thus at once rewarded by being taken from the evHs of this world in their youth. Croesus was surprised and disappointed, and asked Solon if he really thought these men were happier than he \vas,.a great king living in splendour? But Solon answered, 4< 0 King, what man shall be called happy in this changing world, before his death?" Crcesus was very angry, and Solon went away from Sardis in disgrace. But the great king could not forget the wise man's warning- Not long afterwards his favourite son died and he felt how true were those warning words, for his greatness could not save him from sorrow. W r hen Cyrus, King of Persia, had conquered the Lydians, he took possession of the City of Sardis, and all its riches, and Croesus himself was made prisoner. As he was led out to die in the sight of Cyrus and the Persian army, he remembered again the wise man's words, and he called out, " O So!on ; Solon." Cyrus asked who he called

upon, and Croesus lold liitn, how Solon hnd warned him, in ihe days of his greatness and splendour, and how he thought of his words now. Cyrus felt at once that ihe words were as true about himself-as about Creeses in the lime of his wealito and power; so he spared the life of the fallen king, and stopped the Persians from destroying and robbing the rich City of Sardis, and he treated the conquered people kindly. Croesus lived long at the Court of Cyrus, and even outlived his conqueror, but lie never wished to be* king again.