Page:Hume - Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects - 1809 - Vol. 1.djvu/549



taken it for granted, according to the supposition of Machiavel, that the ancient Persians had no nobility; though there is reason to suspect, that the Florentine secretary, who seems to have been better acquainted with the Roman than the Greek authors, was mistaken in this particular. The more ancient Persians, whose manners are described by Xenophon, were a free people, and had nobility. Their  were preserved even after the extending of their conquests and the consequent change of their government. Arrian mentions them in Darius' time, ''De exped. Alex.'' lib. ii. Historians also speak often of the persons in command as men of family. Tygranes, who was general of the Medes under Xerxes, was of the race of Achmaenes, Herod. lib. vii. cap. 62. Artachaeus, who directed the cutting of the canal about mount Athos, was of the same family. Id. cap. 117. Megabyzus was one of the seven eminent Persians who conspired against the Magi. His son, Zopyrus, was in the highest command under Darius, and delivered Babylon to him. His grandson, Megabyzus,