historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)
holy man；〃 says Ormuzd in the Zend… avesta； 〃who has built a dwelling on
the earth； in which he maintains fire； cattle； his wife； his children； and
flocks and herds； he who makes the earth produce barley； he who
cultivates the fruits of the soil； cultivates purity； he advances the law of
Ahura Mazda as much as if he had offered a hundred sacrifices。〃
To reclaim the waste； to till the land； to make a corner of the earth
better than they found it； was to these men to rescue a bit of Ormuzd’s
world out of the usurped dominion of Ahriman； to rescue it from the spirit
of evil and disorder for its rightful owner； the Spirit of Order and of Good。
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For they believed in an evil spirit； these old Persians。 Evil was not
for them a lower form of good。 With their intense sense of the difference
between right and wrong it could be nothing less than hateful； to be
attacked； exterminated； as a personal enemy； till it became to them at last
impersonate and a person。
Zarathustra； the mystery of evil； weighed heavily on them and on their
great prophet； Zoroastersplendour of gold； as I am told his name
signifieswho lived； no man knows clearly when or clearly where； but
who lived and lives for ever； for his works follow him。 He； too； tried to
solve for his people the mystery of evil； and if he did not succeed； who has
succeeded yet？ Warring against Ormuzd； Ahura Mazda； was Ahriman；
Angra Mainyus； literally the being of an evil mind； the ill…conditioned
being。 He was labouring perpetually to spoil the good work of Ormuzd
alike in nature and in man。 He was the cause of the fall of man； the
tempter； the author of misery and death； he was eternal and uncreate as
Ormuzd was。 But that； perhaps； was a corruption of the purer and older
Zoroastrian creed。 With it； if Ahriman were eternal in the past； he would
not be eternal in the future。 Somehow； somewhen； somewhere； in the
day when three prophetsthe increasing light； the increasing truth； and the
existing truthshould arise and give to mankind the last three books of the
Zend…avesta； and convert all mankind to the pure creed； then evil should
be conquered； the creation bee pure again； and Ahriman vanish for
ever； and； meanwhile； every good man was to fight valiantly for Ormuzd；
his true lord； against Ahriman and all his works。
Men who held such a creed； and could speak truth and draw the bow；
what might they not do when the hour and the man arrived？ They were
not a BIG nation。 No； but they were a GREAT nation； even while they
were eating barley…bread and paying tribute to their conquerors the Medes；
in the sterile valleys of Farsistan。
And at last the hour and the man came。 The story is half legendary… …
differently told by different authors。 Herodotus has one tale； Xenophon
another。 The first； at least； had ample means of information。 Astyages
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is the old shah of the Median Empire； then at the height of its seeming
might and splendour and effeminacy。 He has married his daughter； the
Princess Mandane； to Cambyses； seemingly a vassal…king or prince of the
pure Persian blood。 One night the old man is troubled with a dream。
He sees a vine spring from his daughter； which overshadows all Asia。 He
sends for the Magi to interpret； and they tell him that Mandane will have a
son who will reign in his stead。 Having sons of his own； and fearing for
the succession； he sends for Mandane； and； when her child is born； gives it
to Harpagus； one of his courtiers； to be slain。 The courtier relents； and
hands it over to a herdsman； to be exposed on the mountains。 The
herdsman relents in turn； and bring the babe up as his own child。
When the boy； who goes by the name of Agradates； is grown； he is at
play with the other herdboys； and they choose him for a mimic king。 Some
he makes his guards； some he bids build houses； some carry his messages。
The son of a Mede of rank refuses； and Agradates has him seized by his
guards and chastised with the whip。 The ancestral instincts of mand
and discipline are showing early in the lad。
The young gentleman plains to his father； the father to the old king；
who of course sends for the herdsman and his boy。 The boy answers in a
tone so exactly like that in which Xenophon’s Cyrus would have answered；
that I must believe that both Xenophon’s Cyrus and Herodotus’s Cyrus
（like Xenophon’s Socrates and Plato’s Socrates） are real pictures of a real
character； and that Herodotus’s story； though Xenophon says nothing of it；
is true。
He has done nothing； the noble boy says； but what was just。 He had
been chosen king in play； because the boys thought him most fit。 The boy
whom he had chastised was one of those who chose him。 All the rest
obeyed： but he would not； till at last he got his due reward。 〃If I
deserve punishment for that；〃 says the boy； 〃I am ready to submit。〃
The old king looks keenly and wonderingly at the young king； whose
features seem somewhat like his own。 Likely enough in those days；
when an Iranian noble or prince would have a quite different cast of
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plexion and of face from a Turanian herdsman。 A suspicion crosses
him； and by threats of torture he gets the truth from the trembling
herdsman。
To the poor wretch’s rapture the old king lets him go unharmed。 He
has a more exquisite revenge to take； and sends for Harpagus； who
likewise confessed the truth。 The wily old tyrant has naught but gentle
words。 It is best as it is。 He has been very sorry himself for the child；
and Mandane’s reproaches had gone to his heart。 〃Let Harpagus go home
and send his son to be a panion to the new…found prince。 To…night
there will be great sacrifices in honour of the child’s safety； and Harpagus
is to be a guest at the banquet。〃
Harpagus es； and after eating his fill； is asked how he likes the
king’s meat？ He gives the usual answer； and a covered basket is put
before him； out of which he is to takein Median fashionwhat he likes。
He finds in it the head and hands and feet of his own son。 Like a true
Eastern he shows no signs of horror。 The king asks him if he knew what
flesh he had been eating。 He answers that he knew perfectly。 That
whatever the king did pleased him。
Like an Eastern courtier； he knew how to dissemble； but not to forgive；
and bided his time。 The Magi； to their credit； told Astyages that his
dream had been fulfilled； that Cyrusas we must now call the foundling
princehad fulfilled it by being a king in play； and the boy is let to go
back to his father and his hardy Persian life。 But Harpagus does not
leave him alone； nor perhaps； do his own thoughts。 He has wrongs to
avenge on his grandfather。 And it seems not altogether impossible to the
young mountaineer。
He has seen enough of Median luxury to despise it and those who
indulge in it。 He has seen his own grandfather with his cheeks rouged；
his eyelids stained with antimony； living a womanlike life； shut up from all
his subjects in the recesses of a vast seraglio。
He calls together the mountain rulers； makes friends with Tigranes； an
Armenian prince； a vassal of the Mede； who has his wrongs likewise to
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avenge。 And the two little armies of foot…soldiersthe Persians had no