Darius and Zopyrus

Use in the book

In II.95 Zopyrus mutilates himself, wins the Babylonians’ trust by appearing to be the king’s injured enemy, and delivers their city to Darius. The king nevertheless declares that he would prefer Zopyrus unharmed to ten Babylons. Asked what he would wish to possess in the number of a pomegranate’s seeds, he answers with Zopyruses.

The story illustrates an ascending movement of gratitude. The greater the inheritance restored by Christ, the more intensely the redeemed person should love the redeemer. The gift’s magnificence does not eclipse its giver; it teaches the recipient to value him more highly. Traherne concludes that one saviour exceeds innumerable worlds. His analogy concentrates on costly fidelity and the beneficiary’s answering love, rather than proposing military deception or self-injury for imitation.

II.96 then carries both figures into the pomegranate image. Zopyrus exemplifies fidelity, Darius the love that recognizes it, and the enjoyed world becomes fertile with comparable virtues. The historical anecdote thus performs two connected tasks: it measures gratitude for redemption and generates an account of the virtues that conscious enjoyment can awaken.

Places to read

1. II.95Retells the conquest story and the pomegranate answer, making the faithful benefactor more precious than the acquired dominion.
2. II.96Names both figures within the world’s seeds of virtue.

In this edition

The supplied 2026 notes compare differing ancient versions. Traherne says ten Babylons; other reported numbers should not silently replace his text. His Latin phrase means as many Zopyruses, and the anecdote’s transmission is not evidence of direct consultation of any one ancient work.