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one of his own two daughters； and that he concealed and checked his
passion chiefly for fear of herself； though； if we may believe some
writers； he had privately given way to it with the young girl already。
As soon as Parysatis suspected it； she displayed a greater fondness
for the young girl than before； and extolled both her virtue and
beauty to him； as being truly imperial and majestic。 In fine she
persuaded him to marry her and declare her to be his lawful wife；
overriding all the principles and the laws by which the Greeks hold
themselves bound； and regarding himself as divinely appointed for a
law to the Persians； and the supreme arbitrator of good and evil。 Some
historians further affirm； in which number is Heraclides of Cuma； that
Artaxerxes married not only this one； but a second daughter also；
Amestris； of whom we shall speak by and by。 But he so loved Atossa
when she became his consort； that when leprosy had run through her
whole body； he was not in the least offended at it； but putting up his
prayers to Juno for her； to this one alone of all the deities he
made obeisance； by laying his hands upon the earth； and his satraps
and favourites made such offerings to the goddess by his direction；
that all along for sixteen furlongs； betwixt the court and her temple；
the road was filled up with gold and silver； purple and horses；
devoted to her。
He waged war out of his own kingdom with the Egyptians； under the
conduct of Pharnabazus and Iphicrates； but was unsuccessful by
reason of their dissensions。 In his expedition against the
Cadusians； he went himself in person with three hundred thousand
footmen and ten thousand horse； and making an incursion into their
country； which was so mountainous as scarcely to be passable； and
withal very misty； producing no sort of harvest of corn or the like；
but with pears； apples； and other tree…fruits feeding a war…like and
valiant breed of men； he unawares fell into great distresses and
dangers。 For there was nothing to be got； fit for his men to eat； of
the growth of that place； nor could anything be imported from any
other。 All they could do was to kill their beasts of burden； and
thus an ass's head could scarcely be bought for sixty drachmas。 In
short； the king's own table failed； and there were but few horses
left； the rest they had spent for food。 Then Teribazus； a man often in
great favour with his prince for his valour and as often out of it for
his buffoonery； and particularly at that time in humble estate and
neglected； was the deliverer of the king and his army。 There being two
kings amongst the Cadusians； and each of them encamping separately；
Teribazus； after he had made his application to Artaxerxes and
imparted his design to him； went to one of the princes； and sent
away his son privately to the other。 So each of them deceived his man；
assuring him that the other prince had deputed an ambassador to
Artaxerxes； suing for friendship and alliance for himself alone；
and； therefore； if he were wise； he told him； he must apply himself to
his master before he had decreed anything； and he； he said； would lend
him his assistance in all things。 Both of them gave credit to these
words； and because they supposed they were each intrigued against by
the other； they both sent their envoys； one along with Teribazus；
and the other with his son。 All this taking some time to transact；
fresh surmises and suspicions of Teribazus were expressed to the king；
who began to be out of heart； sorry that he had confided in him； and
ready to give ear to his rivals who impeached him。 But at last he
came； and so did his son； bringing the Cadusian agents along with
them； and so there was a cessation of arms and a peace signed with
both the princes。 And Teribazus； in great honour and distinction；
set out homewards in the company of the king； who； indeed； upon this
journey made it appear plainly that cowardice and effeminacy are the
effects； not of delicate and sumptuous living； as many suppose； but of
a base and vicious nature； actuated by false and bad opinions。 For
notwithstanding his golden ornaments； his robe of state； and the
rest of that costly attire； worth no less than twelve thousand
talents； with which the royal person was constantly clad； his
labours and toils were not a whit inferior to those of the meanest
persons in his army。 With his quiver by his side and his shield on his
arm； he led them on foot； quitting his horse； through craggy and steep
ways； insomuch that the sight of his cheerfulness and unwearied
strength gave wings to the soldiers； and so lightened the journey；
that they made daily marches of above two hundred furlongs。
After they had arrived at one of his own mansions； which had
beautiful ornamented parks in the midst of a region naked and
without trees； the weather being very cold； he gave full commission to
his soldiers to provide themselves with wood by cutting down any；
without exception； even the pine and cypress。 And when they
hesitated and were for sparing them； being large and goodly trees； he；
taking up an axe himself； felled the greatest and most beautiful of
them。 After which his men used their hatchets； and piling up many
fires； passed away the night at their ease。 Nevertheless； he
returned not without the loss of many and valiant subjects； and of
almost all his horses。 And supposing that his misfortunes and the
ill…success of his expedition made him despised in the eyes of his
people； he looked jealously on his nobles； many of whom he slew in
anger； and yet more out of fear。 As； indeed； fear is the bloodiest
passion in princes； confidence； on the other hand； being merciful；
gentle； and unsuspicious。 So we see among wild beasts； the intractable
and least tamable are the most timorous and most easily startled；
the nobler creatures； whose courage makes them trustful； are ready
to respond to the advances of men。
Artaxerxes； now being an old man； perceived that his sons were in
controversy about his kingdom； and that they made parties among his
favourites and peers。 Those that were equitable among them thought
it fit； that as he had received it； so he should bequeath it； by right
of age； to Darius。 The younger brother； Ochus； who was hot and
violent； had indeed a considerable number of the courtiers that
espoused his interest； but his chief hope was that by Atossa's means
he should win his father。 For he flattered her with the thoughts of
being his wife and partner in the kingdom after the death of
Artaxerxes。 And truly it was rumoured that already Ochus maintained
a too intimate correspondence with her。 This； however； was quite
unknown to the king； who； being willing to put down in good time his
son Ochus's hopes； lest； by his attempting the same things his uncle
Cyrus did； wars and contentions might again afflict his kingdom；
proclaimed Darius； then twenty…five years old； his successor； and gave
him leave to wear the upright hat； as they called it。 It was a rule
and usage of Persia； that the heir apparent to the crown should beg
a boon； and that he that declared him so should give whatever he
asked； provided it were within the sphere of his power。 Darius
therefore requested Aspasia； in former time the most prized of the
concubines of Cyrus； and now belonging to the king。 She was by birth a
Phocaean； of Ionia； born of free parents； and well educated。 Once when
Cyrus was at supper； she was led in to him with other women； who； when
they were sat down by him； and he began to sport and dally and talk
jestingly with them； gave way freely to his advances。 But she stood by
in silence； refusing to come when Cyrus called her； and when his
chamberlains were going to force her towards him； said； 〃Whosoever
lays hands on me shall rue。 it；〃 so that she seemed to the company a
sullen and rude…mannered person。 However； Cyrus was well pleased；
and laughed； saying to the man that brought the women； 〃Do you not see
to a certainty that this woman alone of all that came with you is
truly noble and pure in character？〃 After which time he began to
regard her； and loved her； above all of her sex； and called her the
Wise。 But Cyrus being slain in the fight； she was taken among the
spoils of his camp。
Darius； in demanding her； no doubt much offended his father； for the
barbarian people keep a very jealous and watchful eye over their
carnal pleasures； so that it is death for a man not only to come
near and touch any concubine of his prince； but likewise on a
journey to ride forward and pass by the carriages in which they are
conveyed。 And though； to gratify his passion； he had against all law
married his daughter Atossa； and had besides her no less than three
hundred and sixty concubines selected for their beauty； yet being
importuned for that one by Darius； he urged that she was a free…woman；
and allowed him to take her； if she had an inclination to go with him；
but by no means to force her away against it。 Aspasia； therefore；
being sent for； and； contrary to the king's expectation； making choice
of Darius； he gave him her indeed； being constrained by law； but
when he had done so； a little after he took her from him。 For he
consecrated her priestess to Diana of Ec