several years; and to recover its former glory he adopted wise regulations; repaired many injuries which had been done; and kept a correspondence with the Greeks. To prevent idleness, and maintain order, he required every person in the state to shew, by a register, how he lived, and from what resources he derived his support. Solon about this time visited Egypt; and, having admired this arrangement, he introduced a similar regulation at Athens. Thus the court of Areopagus inquired into the conduct of the citizens, and punished those who lived in idleness, or pursued no honourable employment.

Alfred the Great, of England, upon his accession to the throne, found the country so irregular and licentious, that he pursued similar measures to restore order and produce security. He divided the whole kingdom into counties; the counties into hundreds, consisting of as many families; and the hundreds into tythings, each consisting of ten fami

lies. Thus the householders were accountable to the tythings; the tythings to the hundreds; the hundreds to the counties; and the counties to the go

vernment.

About 530 years before Christ, the celebrated Cyrus died, and his son Cambyses, known in Scripture by the name of Ahasuerus, ascended the throne of Persia. Scarcely had he grasped the reins of government, when he resolved to make war upon the kingdom of Egypt. Different reasons have been assigned for this hasty and important resolution; but the true cause remains in darkness.

It is mentioned in history, that Cyrus subdued Egypt; and if Amasis, as a tributary king, threw off his dependence when Cyrus died; the young and ambitious mind of Cambyses might be roused to action, and speedy revenge. The armies of Persia and Egypt met at Pelusium; but the arms of Cambyses were victorious; and the whole of Egypt

f

yielded to his power. Before this event Amasis had paid the debt of nature; and his eyes beheld not the miseries of the kingdom. His son and successor, Bammenitus, was put to death; and the steps of Cambyses were marked with blood. Thus Egypt fell: no independent native prince bound up its wounds; but the tyranny of Persia oppressed the people.

f Just. lib. i, c. 9, edit. 12mo, Hage 1663.

BOOK III.

CHAP. I.

Cambyses.... His attempt on Ethiopia and the temple of Jupiter Ammon.... His cruel and imprudent conduct in Egypt.... His death

Of Darius and Xerxes.... Of Amyrteus, Pansiris, Psammeticus, Nephereus, Achoris, Psammuthis, Tachos, and Nectanebus, on the throne of Egypt.

CA

AMBYSES had now added to the em

pire of Persia a rich and extensive country. He had blotted out from the list of independent nations, a monarchy of high antiquity, and proud of its race of ancient kings. By his far spreading power he had destroyed the glory of

Egypt; but he had not satisfied his own ambition. In this temper of mind he projected expeditions against Carthage, the Ammonians, and the people of Ethiopia. The first of these designs he was obliged to abandon, because the people of Phœnicia, upon whom he depended for naval aid, refused to lift a spear against the Carthaginians. The people of that colony were descended from Phoenicia, and the blood of Tyre flowed in their veins. But his own armies were entirely at his command, and them he instantly put in motion. To gain information, and prepare the way, he sent spies into Ethiopia ; but he loaded them with presents, and dignified them with the name of ambassadors. The disguise, however, was too thin to conceal from the Ethiopian king the real intention of their arrival. Frowning with disdain, he delivered to the spies an Ethiopian bow, commanding them to give it to their master, and forbid him to attempt an invasion, till the men of Persia could