Polynesian., 1852-03-06
Qbe polpnesian.
For the Polynesian.
HISTORY OF CYRUS THE GREAT. BY
~. . JACOB ABROTT

l For the Polynesian
HISTORY OF CYRUS THE GREAT. BY
. JACOB ABBOTT.
This Is one of series of histories written by
4 MIR. Abbott He informs us in the preface that
zone special object which he has had in view. has
been to adapt the volumes of the series to the pur
poses of textbooks in schools This is surely a
worthy object, and one would suppose that Mr. A.
with such an object in view, would have been
scrupulously careful in examining authorities and
weighing evidence, that he might present truthful
and well-arranged histories to his young readers.
| In the preface to his history of Queen Eliza
beth, which was written, if I mistake not, be-
fore that of Cyrus, he uses the following language
"The author of this series has made it his spe-
cial object to conine himself very strictly, even in
the most minute details which he records, to his
toric truth. The narratives are not tales founded
upon history but history ITSELF without any embel-
ishment any deviation from the strict truth. SO
far as 1t can now be discovered by attentive ex-
animation Of the annals written at the time when
the events themselves occurred. Nothing is stated
not even the most minute and apparently imagin-
airy details, without what was deemed good histor-
ical authority"
Again in the preface to the History of Cyrus he
mentions some of the advantages which may be
expected to accrue to the young from studying his
histories, one of which advantages is, that they
enjoy the real and true pleasure which constitutes
the charm of historical study for minds that are
mature; and they acquire taste for truth instead
of felton, which will tend to direct their reading
into proper channels for all future years."
| The sentiment In these quotations from Mr.. A.
seems to harmonize with that of Lord Brougham,
that, g nertto fidelity. patient investigation is The
chief merit of history :" what then are we to think
of the opinion, with which the first chapter of the
History of Cyrus concludes? After intimating
that he belongs to that 'more calm and better
balanced class of minds, by whom it has been gen.
orally supposed that the narratives of Herodotus
are substantially true;" and after informing us
that ''Xenophons account of Cyrus is sort of ro-
nance or tale," he goes on to say that "The ques-
ton how far the stories which Herodotus and Xeno
phon have told in relating the history of the great
Persian King are true is of less importance than
one would at first imagine; for the case is one of
those numerous instances in which the narrative
ITSELF which genius has written has had far greater
influence on mankind than the events themselves
excrted which the narrative processes to record
1t is now far more important for us to know what
the story is which has, for eighteen hundred years
been read and listened to by every generation of
men, than what the actual events were, in which
the tale thus told had its origin. This consdera-
ton applies very extensively to history and espe
cially to ancient history. The events themselves
have long since ceased to be of any great interest
or importance to readers of the present day: but
the accounts, whether they are fictitious real,
partial or impartial, honestly true or embellished
and colored, since they have been so widely circu
lated In every age and in every nation, and have
manently in the mind and memory of the whole
human race, and have penetrated into and colored
the literature of every civilized people, 1t becomes
now necessary that every well-lntorned man
should understand. In word, the real Cyrus is
now far less important parsonage to mankind
than the Cyrus fHerodotus and Xenophon,and 1t Is,
accordingly, the latter story which the author pro-
poses to relate in this volume The reader will
understand, therefore, that the end and aim of the
work is not to guarantee an exact and certain ac-
count of Cyrus as he actually lived and acted but
only to give true and faithful summary OF the
story, which, for the last two thousand years, has
been in circulation respecting him among man
kind" Now what does Mr.. A. mean by all this!
Are these good and sufficient reasons for rldding
himself of the duties of the historian, and for
palming off upon his youthful readers, under the
name Of history, series of fictions !? Does he
thus help them to regain taste for truth instead
of fiction 2"
More important to kno,c ,chat the story IS,
than ,chat The actual erents ,cere, an Uhtch the
tale thus told had its origin Is this true or
even consistent with regard to truth! Medium
and Arnold did not act on this principle, in writing
their histories of Rome.
And what does Mr.. Abbott mean by .the latter
story" and the story which for the last two thou
sand years has been in circulation respecting him
among mankind ?" Xenophon's account OF Cyrus
certainly does not SO coincide with that OF Hero
dotus as to make it proper to speak OF them both
together as the story of Cyrus.
We should naturally suppose that MIR. A. would
have passed over Xenophon's account OF Cyrus,
after having decided thatit " is sort OF romance,
and have followed the account of Herodotus which
is more sober and, probably, more trustworthy"
But instead of this, he follows sometimes Herodo-
tus and, sometimes, Xenophon; nor is the reason
of his preference very apparent: perhaps ne pre-
fers the more romantic account. And, although
he saws that, "the guidance Of these two authorl-
ties, conflicting as it is, furnishes all the hight
which we have to follow yet he makes some
statements, which agree with neither OF them and
so little regard does he manifest for consist ency and
probability that we are often reminded of the
:. Humane eapiti cerricen Picfor equsndm" OF
Horace.
Suppose painter to a human head i
Should Join horses neck, and wildly spread
The various plumage of the feathered KIND /
Der limbs of different beasts, absurdiy joined
Or if he gave to view beauteous maid * II |
Above the waist with every charm arrayed,
Should q foul fish her lower parts enfold,
Would YOU not laugh such pictures to behold 2 -
!. Such is the book, that like sick mans dreams,
Varies all shapes, and mixes all extremes
We subioin a few specimens of Mr.: As disre.
gard to probability and consistency. On pages ~
: 96, he states that, = When Cyrus was aooul |
Is or l6 years old, his uncle Cyaxaress was mar
.:aa and In Celebrating his nupflais. he torneo a