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ARTAXERXES
437…359 B。C。
by Plutarch
translated by John Dryden
THE first Artaxerxes； among all the kings of Persia the most
remarkable for a gentle and noble spirit； was surnamed the
Long…handed； his right hand being longer than his left； and was the
son of Xerxes。 The second； whose story I am now writing； who had the
surname of the Mindful； was the grandson of the former； by his
daughter Parysatis； who brought Darius four sons； the eldest
Artaxerxes； the next Cyrus； and two younger than these； Ostanes and
Oxathres。 Cyrus took his name of the ancient Cyrus； as he； they say；
had his from the sun； which； in the Persian language； is called Cyrus。
Artaxerxes was at first called Arsicas； Dinon says Oarses； but it is
utterly improbable that Ctesias （however otherwise he may have
filled his books with a perfect farrago of incredible and senseless
fables） should be ignorant of the name of the king with whom he
lived as his physician； attending upon himself； his wife； his
mother； and his children。
Cyrus； from his earliest youth； showed something of a headstrong and
vehement character； Artaxerxes； on the other side； was gentler in
everything； and of a nature more yielding and soft in its action。 He
married a beautiful and virtuous wife； at the desire of his parents；
but kept her as expressly against their wishes。 For King Darius；
having put her brother to death； was purposing likewise to destroy
her。 But Arsicas； throwing himself at his mother's feet； by many
tears； at last； with much ado； persuaded her that they should
neither put her to death nor divorce her from him。 However； Cyrus； was
his mother's favourite； and the son whom she most desired to settle in
the throne。 And therefore； his father Darius now lying ill； he；
being sent for from the sea to the court； set out thence with full
hopes that by her means he was to be declared the successor to the
kingdom。 For Parysatis had the specious plea in his behalf； which
Xerxes on the advice of Demaratus had of old made use of； that she had
borne him Arsicas when he was a subject； but Cyrus； when a king。
Notwithstanding； she prevailed not with Darius； but the eldest son；
Arsicas； was proclaimed king； his name being changed into
Artaxerxes； and Cyrus remained satrap of Lydia； and commander in the
maritime provinces。
It was not long after the decease of Darius that the king； his
successor； went to Pasargadae； to have the ceremony of his
inauguration consummated by the Persian priests。 There is a temple
dedicated to a warlike goddess； whom one might liken to Minerva；
into which when the royal person to be initiated has passed； he must
strip himself of his own robe； and put on that which Cyrus the first
wore before he was king； then； having devoured a frail of figs； he
must eat turpentine； and drink a cup of sour milk。 To which if they
superadd any other rites； it is unknown to any but those that are
present at them。 Now Artaxerxes being about to address himself to this
solemnity； Tisaphernes came to him； bringing a certain priest； who；
having trained up Cyrus in his youth in the established discipline
of Persia； and having taught him the Magian philosophy； was likely
to be as much disappointed as any man that his pupil did not succeed
to the throne。 And for that reason his veracity was the less
questioned when he charged Cyrus as though he had been about to lie in
wait for the king in the temple； and to assault and assassinate him as
he was putting off his garment。 Some affirm that he was apprehended
upon this impeachment； others that he had entered the temple and was
pointed out there； as he lay lurking by the priest。 But as he was on
the point of being put to death； his mother clasped him in her arms；
and； entwining him with the tresses of her hair； joined his neck close
to her own； and by her bitter lamentation and intercession to
Artaxerxes for him； succeeded in saving his life； and sent him away
again to the sea and to his former province。 This； however； could no
longer content him； nor did he so well remember his delivery as his
arrest； his resentment for which made him more eagerly desirous of the
kingdom than before。
Some say that he revolted from his brother； because he had not a
revenue allowed him sufficient for his daily meals； but this is on the
face of it absurd。 For had he had nothing else； yet he had a mother
ready to supply him with whatever he could desire out of her own
means。 But the great number of soldiers who were hired from all
quarters and maintained； as Xenophon informs us； for his service； by
his friends and connections； is in itself a sufficient proof of his
riches。 He did not assemble them together in a body； desiring as yet
to conceal his enterprise； but he had agents everywhere； enlisting
foreign soldiers upon various pretences； and； in the meantime；
Parysatis； who was with the king； did her best to put aside all
suspicions； and Cyrus himself always wrote in a humble and dutiful
manner to him； sometimes soliciting favour； and sometimes making
countercharges against Tisaphernes； as if his jealousy and contest had
been wholly with him。 Moreover； there was a certain natural
dilatoriness in the king； which was taken by many for clemency。 And；
indeed； in the beginning of his reign； he did seem really to emulate
the gentleness of the first Artaxerxes； being very accessible in his
person； and liberal to a fault in the distribution of honours and
favours。 Even in his punishments； no contumely or vindictive
pleasure could be seen； and those who offered him presents were as
much pleased with his manner of accepting； as were those who
received gifts from him with his graciousness and amiability in giving
them。 Nor truly was there anything； however inconsiderable； given him；
which he did not deign kindly to accept of； insomuch that when one
Omises had presented him with a very large pomegranate； 〃By city
Mithras；〃 said he； 〃this man； were he intrusted with it； would turn
a small city into a great one。〃
Once when some were offering him one thing； some another； as he
was on a progress； a certain poor labourer； having got nothing at hand
to bring him； ran to the river side； and； taking up water in his
hands； offered it to him； with which Artaxerxes was so well pleased
that he sent him a goblet of gold and a thousand darics。 To
Euclidas； the Lacedaemonian； who had made a number of bold and
arrogant speeches to him； he sent word by one of his officers。 〃You
have leave to say what you please to me； and I； you should remember；
may both say and do what I please to you。〃 Teribazus once； when they
were hunting； came up and pointed out to the king that his royal
robe was torn； the king asked him what he wished him to do； and when
Teribazus replied； 〃May it please you to put on another and give me
that；〃 the king did so； saying withal； 〃I give it you； Teribazus；
but I charge you not to wear it。〃 He； little regarding the injunction；
being not a bad； but a lightheaded； thoughtless man； immediately the
king took it off； put it on； and bedecked himself further with royal
golden necklaces and women's ornaments； to the great scandal of
everybody； the thing being quite unlawful。 But the king laughed and
told him； 〃You have my leave to wear the trinkets as a woman； and
the robe of state as a fool。〃 And whereas none usually sat down to eat
with the king besides his mother and his wedded wife； the former being
placed above； the other below him； Artaxerxes invited also to his
table his two younger brothers； Ostanes and Oxathres。 But what was the
most popular thing of all among the Persians was the sight of his wife
Statira's chariot； which always appeared with its curtains down；
allowing her country…women to salute and approach her； which made
the queen a great favourite with the people。
Yet busy； factious men； that delighted in change； professed it to be
their opinion that the times needed Cyrus； a man of great spirit； an
excellent warrior； and a lover of his friends； and that the
largeness of their empire absolutely required a bold and
enterprising prince。 Cyrus； then； not only relying upon those of his
own province near the sea； but upon many of those in the upper
countries near the king； commenced the war against him。 He wrote to
the Lacedaemonians； bidding them come to his assistance and supply him
with men； assuring them that to those who came to him on foot he would
give horses； and to the horsemen chariots； that upon those who had
farms he would bestow villages； and those who were lords of villages
he would make so of cities； and that those who would be his soldiers
should receive their pay； not by count； but by weight。 And among
many other high praises of himself； he said he had the stronger
soul； was more a philosopher and a better Magian； and could drink
and bear more wine than his brother； who； as he averred； was such a
coward and so little like a man； that he could neither sit his horse
in hunting nor his throne in time of danger。 The Lacedaemonians； his
letter being read； sent a staff to Clearchus； commandi