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though they had thus far relaxed their former habits of jealousy and
variance； still； out of fear and as a matter of caution； they always
ate of the same dishes and of the same parts of them。 Now there is a
small Persian bird； in the inside of which no excrement is found； only
a mass of fat； so that they suppose the little creatures lives upon
air and dew。 It is called rhyntaces。 Ctesias affirms； that
Parysatis； cutting a bird of this kind into two pieces with a knife
one side of which had been smeared with the drug； the other side being
clear of it； ate the untouched and wholesome part herself； and gave
Statira that which was thus infected； but Dinon will not have it to be
Parysatis； but Melantas； that cut up the bird and presented the
envenomed part of it to Statira； who； dying with dreadful agonies
and convulsions； was herself sensible of what had happened to her； and
aroused in the king's mind suspicion of his mother； whose savage and
implacable temper he knew。 And therefore proceeding instantly to an
inquest； he seized upon his mother's domestic servants that attended
at her table and put them upon the rack。 Parysatis kept Gigis at
home with her a long time； and though the king commanded her； she
would not produce her。 But she； at last herself desiring that she
might be dismissed to her own home by night； Artaxerxes had intimation
of it； and lying in wait for her； hurried her away； and adjudged her
to death。 Now poisoners in Persia suffer thus by law。 There is a broad
stone； on which they place the head of the culprit； and then with
another stone beat and press it； until the face and the head itself
are all pounded to pieces； which was the punishment Gigis lost her
life by。 But to his mother； Artaxerxes neither said nor did any
other hurt； save that he banished and confined her； not much against
her will； to Babylon； protesting that while she lived he would not
come near that city。 Such was the condition of the king's affairs in
his own house。
But when all his attempts to capture the Greeks that had come with
Cyrus； though he desired to do so no less than he had desired to
overcome Cyrus and maintain his throne； proved unlucky； and they；
though they had lost both Cyrus and their own generals； nevertheless
escaped； as it were； out of his very palace； making it plain to all
men that the Persian king and his empire were mighty indeed in gold
and luxury and women； but otherwise were a mere show and vain display；
upon this all Greece took courage and despised the barbarians； and
especially the Lacedaemonians thought it strange if they should not
now deliver their countrymen that dwelt in Asia from their
subjection to the Persians； nor put an end to the contumelious usage
of them。 And first having an army under the conduct of Thimbron；
then under Dercyllidas； but doing nothing memorable； they at last
committed the war to the management of their King Agesilaus； who； when
he had arrived with his men in Asia； as soon as he had landed them；
fell actively to work； and got himself great renown。 He defeated
Tisaphernes in a pitched battle； and set many cities in revolt。 Upon
this； Artaxerxes； perceiving what was his wisest way of waging the
war； sent Timocrates the Rhodian into Greece； with large sums of gold；
commanding him by a free distribution of it to corrupt the leading men
in the cities； and to excite a Greek war against Sparta。 So Timocrates
following his instructions； the most considerable cities conspiring
together； and Peloponnesus being in disorder； the ephors remanded
Agesilaus from Asia。 At which time； they gay； as he was upon his
return； he told his friends that Artaxerxes had driven him out of Asia
with thirty thousand archers； the Persian coin having an archer
stamped upon it。
Artaxerxes scoured the seas； too； of the Lacedaemonians； Conon the
Athenian and Pharnabazus being his admirals。 For Conon； after the
battle of Aegospotami； resided in Cyprus； not that he consulted his
own mere security； but looking for a vicissitude of affairs with no
less hope than men wait for a change of wind at sea。 And perceiving
that his skill wanted power； and that the king's power wanted a wise
man to guide it； he sent him an account of his projects； and charged
the bearer to hand it to the king； if possible； by the mediation of
Zeno the Cretan or Polycritus the Mendaean （the former being a
dancing…master； the latter a physician）； or； in the absence of them
both； by Ctesias； who is said to have taken Conon's letter； and
foisted into the contents of it a request； that the king would also be
pleased to send over Ctesias to him； who was likely to be of use on
the sea…coast。 Ctesias； however； declares that the king； of his
accord； deputed him to his service。 Artaxerxes； however； defeating the
Lacedaemonians in a sea…fight at Cnidos； under the conduct of
Pharnabazus and Conon； after he had stripped them of their sovereignty
by sea； at the same time brought； so to say； the whole of Greece
over to him； so that upon his own terms he dictated the celebrated
peace among them； styled the peace of Antalcidas。 This Antalcidas
was a Spartan； the son of one Leon； who； acting for the king's
interest； induced the Lacadaemonians to covenant to let all the
Greek cities in Asia and the islands adjacent to it become subject and
tributary to him； peace being upon these conditions established
among the Greeks； if indeed the honourable name of peace can fairly be
given to what was in fact the disgrace and betrayal of Greece； a
treaty more inglorious than had ever been the result of any war to
those defeated in it。
And therefore Artaxerxes； though always abominating other
Spartans； and looking upon them； as Dinon says； to be the most
impudent men living； gave wonderful honour to Antalcidas when he
came to him into Persia； so much so that one day； taking a garland
of flowers and dipping it in the most precious ointment； he sent it to
him after supper； a favour which all were amazed at。 Indeed he was a
person fit to be thus delicately treated； and to have such a crown；
who had among the Persians thus made fools of Leonidas and
Callicratidas。 Agesilaus； it seems； on some one having said； 〃O the
deplorable fate of Greece； now that the Spartans turn Medes！〃 replied；
〃Nay； rather it is the Medes who become Spartans。〃 But the subtlety of
the repartee did not wipe off the infamy of the action。 The
Lacedaemonians soon after lost their sovereignty in Greece by their
defeat at Leuctra； but they had already lost their honour by this
treaty。 So long then as Sparta continued to be the first state in
Greece； Artaxerxes continued to Antalcidas the honour of being
called his friend and his guest； but when； routed and humbled at the
battle of Leuctra； being under great distress for money； they had
despatched Agesilaus into Egypt； and Antalcidas went up to Artaxerxes；
beseeching him to supply their necessities； he so despised；
slighted； and rejected him； that finding himself； on his return；
mocked and insulted by his enemies； and fearing also the ephors； he
starved himself to death。 Ismenias； also； the Theban； and Pelopidas；
who had already gained the victory at Leuctra； arrived at the
Persian court； where the latter did nothing unworthy of himself。 But
Ismenias； being commanded to do obeisance to the king； dropped his
ring before him upon the ground； and so； stooping to take it up；
made a show of doing him homage。 He was so gratified with some
secret intelligence which Timagoras the Athenian sent in to him by the
hand of his secretary Beluris； that he bestowed upon him ten
thousand darics； and because he was ordered； on account of some
sickness； to drink cow's milk； there were fourscore milch kine
driven after him； also； he sent him a bed； furniture； and servants for
it； the Grecians not having skill enough to make it； as also
chairmen to carry him； being infirm in body； to the seaside。 Not to
mention the feast made for him at court； which was so princely and
splendid that Ostanes； the king's brother； said to him； 〃O
Timagoras； do not forget the sumptuous table you have sat at here；
it was not put before you for nothing；〃 was indeed rather a reflection
upon his treason than to remind him of the king's bounty。 And indeed
the Athenians condemned Timagoras to death for taking bribes。
But Artaxerxes gratified the Grecians in one thing in lieu of the
many wherewith he plagued them； and that was by taking off
Tisaphernes； their most hated and malicious enemy； whom he put to
death； Parysatis adding her influence to the charges made against him。
For the king did not persist long in his wrath with his mother； but
was reconciled to her； and sent for her； being assured that she had
wisdom and courage fit for royal power； and there being now no cause
discernible but that they might converse together without suspicion or
offence。 And from thenceforward humouring the king in all things
according to his heart's desire； and finding fault with nothing that
he did； she obtained great power with him； and was gratified in all
her requests。 She perceived he was desperately in love with Atossa；
one of his own two daughters； and that he concealed and checked his
passion