Adventure and adventurers > New Cyropaedia, or The travels of Cyrus

THE TRAVELS OF CYRUS. tjs
it was always fuppos’d that he fell into;them by fur-
prize , or through ignorance; &the Minifters, who
had given him evil counfels, or had difguis'd the
truth, were loaded with imprecations. [After the
prayer & the facrifice , they read to him the a&ions
of the Heroes and great Kings, that the Monarch
might imitate their example, & maintain the Laws
] which had render'd his predeceilbrs illultrious, and
j their people happy.]
[j What might not be hop’d for from Princes ac-
Icuftom’d , as an eflential part of their Religion , to
hear daily the ftrongeft and moll falutary truths ?
Accordingly, the greater number of them were fo
dear to their people, that each private man bewail’d
their death like that of a Father.
The fecond Law related to Polity, & the fub-
ordination of ranks. The lands were divided into
i three parts. The firh was the King's domain; the
*1 fecond belong’d to the Chief Priefts; &the third to
1 the Military men. For it feem’d abfurd to employ
1 Troops for the defence of a country, who had'no
(I intereft in its prefervation.
i The common people were divided into three
H clafles. Husbandmen, Shepherds, & Artizans. They
(if made great improvements, each in their profeflions";
ad being brought up to them from their infancy they
ro made advantage of the experience of their ancdlors,
« each family trahfmitting their knowledge & skill to
di their Children. No perfon was allowed to go out
m.of his rank, or to forfakehis paternal employment,
h By this means arts were cultivated & brought to a
nj great perfedion; & the troubles occafion’d by the
rti ambit;ion of thofe who feek to rife above their na-
r tural condition, were prevented.
; That no man might be asham’d of the lownefs
m of his Hate & degree, Arts were held in honour.
P Jn