nd make it rest
alone its whole extent upon the river, when the Persians passed him and
resumed the position which they had occupied at the beginning of the
battle. They were then about to attack, when once more the Greeks
anticipated them and charged. The effect was again ludicrous. The
Persians would not abide the onset, but fled faster than before. The
Greeks pursued them to a village, close by which was a knoll or mound,
whither the fugitives had betaken themselves. Again the Greeks made a
movement in advance, and immediately the flight recommenced. The last
rays of the setting sun fell on scattered masses of Persian horse and
foot flying in all directions over the plain from the little band of
Greeks.

The battle of Cunaxa was a double blow to the Persian power. By the
death of Cyrus there was lost the sole chance that existed of such a
re-invigoration of the Empire as might have enabled it to start again
on a new lease of life, with ability to held its own, and strength to
resume once more the aggressive attitude of former times. The talents of
Cyrus have perhaps been overrated, but he was certainly very superior
to most Orientals; and there can be no doubt that the Empire would have
greatly gained by the substitution of his rule for that of his brother.
He was active, energetic, prompt indeed, ready in speech, faithful in
the observance of his engagements, brave, liberal--he had more foresight
and more self-contro than most Asiatics; he knew how to deal with
different classes of men; he had a great power of inspiring affection
and retaining it; he was free from the folly of national prejudice,
and could appreciate as they deserved both the character and the
institutions of foreigners. It is likely that he would have proved a
better administrator and ruler than any king of Persia since Darius
Hystaspis. He would, therefore, undoubtedly have raised his country
to some extent. Whether he could really have arrested its decline, and
enabled it to avenge the humiliations of Marathon, Salamis, and the
peace of Callias, is, however, exceedingly doubtful. For Cyrus, though
he had considerable merits, was not without great and grievous defects.
As the Tartar is said always to underlie the Russ, so the true Oriental
underlay that coating of Grecian manners and modes of thought and act,
with which a real admiration of the Hellenic race induced Cyrus to
conceal his native barbarism. When he slew his cousins for an act which