The Medes care not for gold, but for blood, though it be the blood of boys and infants.
(Sir E. Strachey, Bart.)
The Medes and gold
“Ye Medes and others who now hear me, I well know that you have not accompanied me in this expedition with a view of acquiring wealth.”--Speech of Cyrus to his army. (Xenophon, Cyrop. V.)
The Medea
The worst terror that can assail us is the terror of forces, whose character we cannot fathom, who will not stop to parley, who do not understand our language nor our bribes. It was such a power with which the resourceful and luxurious Babylon was threatened. With money the Babylonians did all they wished to do, and believed everything else to be possible. They had subsidised kings, bought over enemies, seduced the peoples of the earth, The foe whom God now sent them was impervious to this influence. From their pure highlands came down upon corrupt civilisation a simple people, whose banner was a leathern apron, whose goal was not booty nor ease but power and mastery, who came not to rob but to displace. (Prof. G. A. Smith, D. D.)
