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I pass by now, that having represented Croesus as
foolish, vain-glorious, and ridiculous in all things, he makes
him, when a prisoner, to have taught and instructed Cyrus,
who seems to have excelled all other kings in prudence,
virtue, and magnanimity.1 Having testified of the same
Croesus nothing else that was commendable, but his honoring the Gods with many and great oblations, he shows
that very act of his to have been the most impious of all.
For he says, that he and his brother Pantoleon contended
for the kingdom while their father was yet alive; and that
Croesus, having obtained the crown, caused a companion
and familiar friend of Pantoleon's to be torn in pieces in a
fulling-mill, and sent presents to the Gods from his estate.2
Of Deïoces also, the Median, who by virtue and justice
obtained the government, he says that he got it not by
real but pretended justice.3
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 4.
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