Makers of History

Darius the Great

BY

JACOB ABBOTT

WITH ENGRAVINGS

NEW YORK AND LONDON

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

1904

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand
eight hundred and fifty, by

Harper & Brothers,

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District
of New York.

Copyright, 1878, by Jacob Abbott.

Darius crossing the Bosporus.

PREFACE.

In describing the character and the action of the personages whosehistories form the subjects of this series, the writer makes noattempt to darken the colors in which he depicts their deeds ofviolence and wrong, or to increase, by indignant denunciations, theobloquy which heroes and conquerors have so often brought uponthemselves, in the estimation of mankind, by their ambition, theirtyranny, or their desperate and reckless crimes. In fact, it seemsdesirable to diminish, rather than to increase, the spirit ofcensoriousness which often leads men so harshly to condemn the errorsand sins of others, committed in circumstances of temptation to whichthey themselves were never exposed. Besides, to denounce or vituperateguilt, in a narrative of the transactions in which it was displayed,has little influence in awakening a healthy sensitiveness in theconscience of the reader. We observe, accordingly, that in thenarratives of the sacred Scriptures, such denunciations are seldomfound. The story of Absalom's undutifulness and rebellion, of David'sadultery and murder, of Herod's tyranny, and all other narratives ofcrime, are related in a calm, simple, impartial, and forbearingspirit, which leads us to condemn the sins, but not to feel apharisaical resentment and wrath against the sinner.

This example, so obviously proper and right, the writer of this serieshas made it his endeavor in all respects to follow.

CONTENTS.