noise. Let us hold a
council of war, drunken as we are, and consider what answer we ought to
give the Massagetae. Hystaspes, you are the eldest, give us your opinion
first."

[Herod. I. 134. The Persians deliberated and resolved when they
were intoxicated, and when they were sober reconsidered their
determinations. Tacitus tells the same of the old Germans. Germ,
c. 22.]

Hystaspes, the father of Darius, was an old man. He answered: "It seems
to me, that the messengers of this wandering tribe have left us no
choice. We cannot go to war against desert wastes; but as our host is
already under arms and our swords have lain long in their scabbards, war
we must have. We only want a few good enemies, and I know no easier work
than to make them."

At these words the Persians broke into loud shouts of delight; but
Croesus only waited till the noise had ceased to say: "Hystaspes, you and
I are both old men; but you are a thorough Persian and fancy you can only
be happy in battle and bloodshed. You are now obliged to lean for support
on the staff, which used to be the badge of your rank as commander, and
yet you speak like a hot-blooded boy. I agree with you that enemies are
easy enough to find, but only fools go out to look for them. The man who
tries to make enemies is like a wretch who mutilates his own body. If the
enemies are there, let us go out to meet them like wise men who wish to
look misfortune boldly in the face; but let us never try to begin an
unjust war, hateful to the gods. We will wait until wrong has been done
us, and then go to victory or death, conscious that we have right on our
side."

The old man was interrupted by a low murmur of applause, drowned however
quickly by cries of "Hystaspes is right! let us look for an enemy!"

It was now the turn of the envoy Prexaspes to speak, and he answered
laughing: "Let us follow the advice of both these noble old men. We will
do as Croesus bids us and not go out to seek an enemy, but at the same
time we will follow Hystaspes' advice by raising our claims and
pronouncing every one our enemy, who does not cheerfully consent to
become a member of the kingdom founded by our great father Cyrus. For
instance, we will ask the Indians if they would feel proud to obey your
sceptre, Cambyses. If they answer no, it is a sign that they do not love
us, and whoever does not love us, must be our enemy."

"That won't do," cried Zopyrus. "We must have war at any pric