by them with Crœsus--70--74 Preparations and commence-
ment of the expedition--75 Passage of the River Halys--
76 Indecisive engagement with Cyrus in the Pterian plain
--77 His return to Sardis, and negotiations for assistance
from the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Lacedæmonians--
78 Mysterious prodigy, and its explanation--79 Advance of
Cyrus to Sardis--80 Engagement and defeat of the Lydian
army--81--85 Siege and capture of Sardis--86--92 Con-
tinuation of the history of Crœsus--93, 94 Brief view of the
manners and customs of the Lydians--95 The author now
proceeds to the review of Cyrus, and the kingdoms of As-
syria and Media: revolt of the Medes from the Assyrian
yoke--96--98 After a long period of anarchy the Medes
choose Deioces to be their king--99--101 Sketch of his
reign--102 His death, and the succession of his son Phra-
ortes: his conquests and death--103--106 His son and suc-
cessor Cyaxares having repelled the incursions of the Scy-
thians, subjugates Assyria: his death--107--121 His son
Astyages on succeeding to the throne gave his daughter
Mandane in marriage to Cambyses, a Persian; but in-
fluenced by a dream, he delivers their first-born child, Cy-
rus, to Harpagus, a person in his confidence, with orders
that it should be destroyed: his orders are evaded, and the
child is brought up by a herdsman, but is recognised by his
grandfather Astyages when in his tenth year, and is by
him sent to Persia in safety: cruel punishment of Harpa-
gus for his conduct in sparing the child--122--124 Harpa-
gus, indignant at the injuries heaped on him by Astyages,
prompts Cyrus to rebel against his grandfather's authority
--125, 126 Cyrus excites the Persians to rebel--127, 128 Cy-
rus defeats the Medes, and taken Astyages prisoner--129, 130
Deposition and imprisonment of Astyages: Cyrus subdues
Crœsus as described in chapters 79--85--131--140 Descrip-
tion of the manners and customs of the Persians--141 Reply
of Cyrus to the overtures of the Ionians and Æolians--
142 Sketch of Ionia--143--148 Account of the origin, man-
ners, and institutions of the Ionians--149--151 Sketch of
Æolia--152 The Ionians and Æolians make an unsuccessful
attempt to enlist the Lacedæmonians in their cause--153
Careful preparations by Cyrus--154--161 He again quells
another revolt of the Lydians--162--170 He sends Harpa-

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