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Parysatis thus speaks to him： 〃A magnificent dress； indeed； O
Mithridates； is this which the king has given you； the chains and
bracelets are glorious； and your scymetar of invaluable worth； how
happy has he made you； the object of every eye！〃 To whom he； being a
little overcome with the wine； replied； 〃What are these things；
Sparamizes？ Sure I am； I showed myself to the king in that day of
trial to be one deserving greater and costlier gifts than these。〃 At
which Sparamizes smiling； said； 〃I do not grudge them to you；
Mithridates； but since the Grecians tell us that wine and truth go
together； let me hear now； my friend； what glorious or mighty matter
was it to find some trappings that had slipped off a horse； and to
bring them to the king？〃 And this he spoke； not as ignorant of the
truth； but desiring to unbosom him to the company； irritating the
vanity of the man； whom drink had now made eager to talk and incapable
of controlling himself。 So he forbore nothing； but said out； 〃Talk you
what you please of horse…trappings and such trifles； I tell you
plainly； that this hand was the death of Cyrus。 For I threw not my
darts as Artagerses did； in vain and to no purpose； but only just
missing his eye； and hitting him right on the temple； and piercing him
through。 I brought him to the ground； and of that wound he died。〃
The rest of the company； who saw the end and the hapless fate of
Mithridates as if it were already completed； bowed their heads to
the ground； and he who entertained them said； 〃Mithridates； my friend；
let us eat and drink now； revering the fortune of our prince； and
let us waive discourse which is too weighty for us。〃
Presently after； Sparamizes told Parysatis what he said； and she
told the king； who was greatly enraged at it； as having the lie
given him； and being in danger to forfeit the most glorious and most
pleasant circumstance of his victory。 For it was his desire that every
one； whether Greek or barbarian； should believe that in the mutual
assaults and conflicts between him and his brother； he； giving and
receiving a blow； was himself indeed wounded； but that the other
lost his life。 And； therefore； he decreed that Mithridates should be
put to death in boats； which execution is after the following
manner： Taking two boats framed exactly to fit and answer each
other； they lay down in one of them the malefactor that suffers；
upon his back； then； covering it with the other； and so setting them
together that the head； hands； and feet of him are left outside； and
the rest of his body lies shut up within； they offer him food； and
if he refuse to eat it； they force him to do it by pricking his
eyes； then； after he has eaten； they drench him with a mixture of milk
and honey； pouring it not only into his mouth； but all over his
face。 They then keep his face continually turned towards the sun：
and it becomes completely covered up and hidden by the multitude of
flies that settle on it。 And as within the boats he does what those
that eat and drink must needs do； creeping things and vermin spring
out of the corruption and rottenness of the excrement； and these
entering into the bowels of him； his body is consumed。 When the man is
manifestly dead； the uppermost boat being taken off； they find his
flesh devoured； and swarms of such noisome creatures preying upon and；
as it were； growing to his inwards。 In this way Mithridates； after
suffering for seventeen days； at last expired。
Masabates； the king's eunuch； who had cut off the hand and head of
Cyrus； remained still as a mark for Parysatis's vengeance。 Whereas；
therefore； he was so circumspect； that he gave her no advantage
against him； she framed this kind of snare for him。 She was a very
ingenious woman in other ways； and was an excellent player at dice；
and； before the war； had often played with the king。 After the war；
too； when she had been reconciled to him； she joined readily in all
amusements with him； played at dice with him； was his confidant in his
love matters； and in every way did her best to leave him as little
as possible in the company of Statira； both because she hated her more
than any other person； and because she wished to have no one so
powerful as herself。 And so once when Artaxerxes was at leisure； and
inclined to divert himself； she challenged him to play at dice with
her for a thousand darics； and purposely let him win them； and paid
him down in gold。 Yet； pretending to be concerned for her loss； and
that she would gladly have her revenge for it； she pressed him to
begin a new game for a eunuch； to which he consented。 But first they
agreed that each of them might except five of their most trusty
eunuchs； and that out of the rest of them the loser should yield up
any the winner should make choice of。 Upon these conditions they
played。 Thus being bent upon her design； and thoroughly in earnest
with her game； and the dice also running luckily for her； when she had
got the game； she demanded Masabates； who was not in the number of the
five excepted。 And before the king could suspect the matter； having
delivered him up to the tormentors； she enjoined them to flay him
alive； to set his body upon three stakes； and to stretch his skin upon
stakes separately from it。
These things being done； and the king taking them ill； and being
incensed against her； she with raillery and laughter told him； 〃You
are a comfortable and happy man indeed； if you are so much disturbed
for the sake of an old rascally eunuch； when I； though I have thrown
away a thousand darics； hold my peace and acquiesce in my fortune。〃 So
the king； vexed with himself for having been thus deluded； hushed up
all。 But Statira both in other matters openly opposed her； and was
angry with her for thus； against all law and humanity； sacrificing
to the memory of Cyrus the king's faithful friend and eunuch。
Now after that Tisaphernes had circumvented and by a false oath
had betrayed Clearchus and the other commanders； and； taking them； had
sent them bound in chains to the king； Ctesias says that he was
asked by Clearchus to supply him with a comb； and that when he had it；
and had combed his head with it； he was much pleased with this good
office； and gave him a ring； which might be a token of the
obligation to his relatives and friends in Sparta； and that the
engraving upon this signet was a set of Caryatides dancing。 He tells
us that the soldiers； his fellow…captives； used to purloin a part of
the allowance of food sent to Clearchus； giving him but little of
it； which thing Ctesias says he rectified； causing a better
allowance to be conveyed to him； and that a separate share should be
distributed to the soldiers by themselves； adding that he ministered
to and supplied him thus by the interest and at the instance of
Parysatis。 And there being a portion of ham sent daily with his
other food to Clearchus； she； he says； advised and instructed him；
that he ought to bury a small knife in the meat； and thus send it to
his friend； and not leave his fate to be determined by the king's
cruelty； which he； however； he says； was afraid to do。 However；
Artaxerxes consented to the entreaties of his mother； and promised her
with an oath that he would spare Clearchus； but afterwards； at the
instigation of Statira； he put every one of them to death except
Menon。 And thenceforward； he says； Parysatis watched her advantage
against Statira and made up poison for her； not a very probable story；
or a very likely motive to account for her conduct； if indeed he means
that out of respect to Clearchus she dared to attempt the life of
the lawful queen； that was mother of those who were heirs of the
empire。 But it is evident enough； that this part of his history is a
sort of funeral exhibition in honour of Clearchus。 For he would have
us believe that； when the generals were executed； the rest of them
were torn in pieces by dogs and birds； but as for the remains of
Clearchus； that a violent gust of wind； bearing before it a vast
heap of earth； raised a mound to cover his body； upon which； after a
short time； some dates having fallen there； a beautiful grove of trees
grew up and overshadowed the place； so that the king himself
declared his sorrow； concluding that in Clearchus he put to death a
man beloved of the gods。
Parysatis； therefore； having from the first entertained a secret
hatred and jealousy against Statira； seeing that the power she herself
had with Artaxerxes was founded upon feelings of honour and respect
for her； but that Statira's influence was firmly and strongly based
upon love and confidence； was resolved to contrive her ruin； playing
at hazard； as she thought； for the greatest stake in the world。
Among her attendant women there was one that was trusty and in the
highest esteem with her； whose name was Gigis； who； as Dinon avers；
assisted in making up the poison。 Ctesias allows her only to have been
conscious of it； and that against her will； charging Belitaras with
actually giving the drug； whereas Dinon says it was Melantas。 The
two women had begun again to visit each other and to eat together； but
though they had thus far relaxed their former habits of jealousy and
variance； s