than they now have. In the days of Cyrus the Persians were freemen as well
as lords of others, and their soldiers were free and equal, and the kings
used and honoured all the talent which they could find, and so the nation
waxed great, because there was freedom and friendship and communion of
soul. But Cyrus, though a wise general, never troubled himself about the
education of his family. He was a soldier from his youth upward, and left
his children who were born in the purple to be educated by women, who
humoured and spoilt them. 'A rare education, truly!' Yes, such an
education as princesses who had recently grown rich might be expected to
give them in a country where the men were solely occupied with warlike
pursuits. 'Likely enough.' Their father had possessions of men and
animals, and never considered that the race to whom he was about to make
them over had been educated in a very different school, not like the
Persian shepherd, who was well able to take care of himself and his own.
He did not see that his children had been brought up in the Median
fashion, by women and eunuchs. The end was that one of the sons of Cyrus
slew the other, and lost the kingdom by his own folly. Observe, again,
that Darius, who restored the kingdom, had not received a royal education.
He was one of the seven chiefs, and when he came to the throne he divided
the empire into seven provinces; and he made equal laws, and implanted
friendship among the people. Hence his subjects were greatly attached to
him, and cheerfully helped him to extend his empire. Next followed Xerxes,
who had received the same royal education as Cambyses, and met with a
similar fate. The reflection naturally occurs to us--How could Darius,
with all his experience, have made such a mistake! The ruin of Xerxes was
not a mere accident, but the evil life which is generally led by the sons
of very rich and royal persons; and this is what the legislator has
seriously to consider. Justly may the Lacedaemonians be praised for not
giving special honour to birth or wealth; for such advantages are not to
be highly esteemed without virtue, and not even virtue is to be esteemed