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when he had done so； a little after he took her from him。 For he
consecrated her priestess to Diana of Ecbatana； whom they name
Anaitis； that she might spend the remainder of her days in strict
chastity； thinking thus to punish his son； not rigorously； but with
moderation； by a revenge checkered with jest and earnest。 But he
took it heinously； either that he was passionately fond of Aspasia； or
because he looked upon himself as affronted and scorned by his father。
Teribazus； perceiving him thus minded； did his best to exasperate
him yet further； seeing in his injuries a representation of his own；
of which the following is the account： Artaxerxes； having many
daughters； promised to give Apama to Pharnabazus to wife； Rhodogune to
Orontes； and Amestris to Teribazus； whom alone of the three he
disappointed； by marrying Amestris himself。 However； to make him
amends； he betrothed his youngest daughter Atossa to him。 But after he
had； being enamoured of her too； as has been said； married her；
Teribazus entertained an irreconcilable enmity against him。 As
indeed he was seldom at any other time steady in his temper； but
uneven and inconsiderate； so that whether he were in the number of the
choicest favourites of his prince； or whether he were offensive and
odious to him； he demeaned himself in neither condition with
moderation； but if he was advanced he was intolerably insolent； and in
his degradation not submissive and peaceable in his deportment； but
fierce and haughty。
And therefore Teribazus was to the young prince flame added upon
flame； ever urging him； and saying； that in vain those wear their hats
upright who consult not the real success of their affairs； and that he
was ill…befriended of reason if he imagined； whilst he had a
brother； who； through the women's apartments； was seeking a way to the
supremacy； and a father of so rash and fickle a humour； that he should
by succession infallibly step up into the throne。 For he that out of
fondness to an Ionian girl has eluded a law sacred and inviolable
among the Persians is not likely to be faithful in the performance
of the most important promises。 He added； too； that it was not all one
for Ochus not to attain to； and for him to be put by his crown；
since Ochus as a subject might live happily； and nobody could hinder
him； but he； being proclaimed king； must either take up his sceptre or
lay down his life。 These words presently inflamed Darius： what
Sophocles says being indeed generally true：…
〃Quick travels the persuasion to what's wrong。〃
For the path is smooth； and upon an easy descent； that leads us to our
own will； and the most part of us desire what is evil through our
strangeness to and ignorance of good。 And in this case； no doubt；
the greatness of the empire and the jealousy Darius had of Ochus
furnished Teribazus with material for his persuasions。 Nor was Venus
wholly unconcerned in the matter； in regard； namely； of his loss of
Aspasia。
Darius； therefore； resigned himself up to the dictates of Teribazus；
and many now conspiring with them； a eunuch gave information to the
king of their plot and the way how it was to be managed； having
discovered the certainty of it； that they had resolved to break into
his bed…chamber by night； and there to kill him as he lay。 After
Artaxerxes had been thus advertised； he did not think fit； by
disregarding the discovery； to despise so great a danger； nor to
believe it when there was little or no proof of it。 Thus then he
did： he charged the eunuch constantly to attend and accompany the
conspirators wherever they were； in the meanwhile； he broke down the
party…wall of the chamber behind his bed； and placed a door in it to
open and shut； which he covered up with tapestry； so the hour
approaching； and the eunuch having told him the precise time in
which the traitors designed to assassinate him； he waited for them
in his bed； and rose not up till he had seen the faces of his
assailants and recognized every man of them。 But as soon as he saw
them with their swords drawn and coming up to him； throwing up the
hanging； he made his retreat into the inner chamber； and； bolting
the door； raised a cry。 Thus when the murderers had been seen by
him； and had attempted him in vain； they with speed went back
through the same doors they came in by； enjoining Teribazus and his
friends to fly； as their plot had been certainly detected。 They；
therefore； made their escape different ways； but Teribazus was
seized by the king's guards； and after slaying many； while they were
laying hold on him； at length being struck through with a dart at a
distance； fell。 As for Darius； who was brought to trial with his
children； the king appointed the royal judges to sit over him； and
because he was not himself present； but accused Darius by proxy； he
commanded his scribes to write down the opinion of every one of the
judges； and show it to him。 And after they had given their
sentences； all as one man； and condemned Darius to death； the officers
seized on him； and hurried him to a chamber not far off。 To which
place the executioner； when summoned； came with a razor in his hand；
with which men of his employment cut off the heads of offenders。 But
when he saw that Darius was the person thus to be punished he was
appalled and started back； offering to go out； as one that had neither
power nor courage enough to behead a king； yet at the threats and
commands of the judges who stood at the prison door； he returned and
grasping the hair of his head and bringing his face to the ground with
one hand； he cut through his neck with the razor he had in the
other。 Some affirm that sentence was passed in the presence of
Artaxerxes； that Darius； after he had been convicted by clear
evidence； falling prostrate before him； did humbly beg his pardon；
that instead of giving it； he rising up in rage and drawing his
scymetar； smote him till he had killed him； and then； going forth into
the court； he worshipped the sun； and said； 〃Depart in peace； ye
Persians； and declare to your fellow…subjects how the mighty Oromasdes
hath dealt out vengeance to the contrivers of unjust and unlawful
things。〃
Such； then； was the issue of this conspiracy。 And now Ochus was high
in his hopes； being confident in the influence of Atossa； but yet
was afraid of Ariaspes； the only male surviving； besides himself； of
the legitimate offspring of his father； and of Arsames； one of his
natural sons。 For indeed Ariaspes was already claimed as their
prince by the wishes of the Persians； not because he was the elder
brother； but because he excelled Ochus in gentleness； plain dealing；
and good…nature； and on the other hand Arsames appeared； by his
wisdom； fitted for the throne； and that he was dear to his father
Ochus well knew。 So he laid snares for them both； and being no less
treacherous than bloody； he made use of the cruelty of his nature
against Arsames； and of his craft and wiliness against Ariaspes。 For
he suborned the king's eunuchs and favourites to convey to him
menacing and harsh expressions from his father； as though he had
decreed to put him to a cruel and ignominious death。 When they daily
communicated these things as secrets； and told him at one time that
the king would do so to him ere long； and at another； that the blow
was actually close impending； they so alarmed the young man； struck
such a terror into him； and cast such a confusion and anxiety upon his
thoughts； that； having prepared some poisonous drugs； he drank them；
that he might be delivered from his life。 The king； on hearing what
kind of death he died； heartily lamented him； and was not without a
suspicion of the cause of it。 But being disabled by his age to
search into and prove it； he was； after the loss of this son； more
affectionate than before to Arsames； did manifestly place his greatest
confidence in him； and made him privy to his counsels。 Whereupon Ochus
had no longer patience to defer the execution of his purpose； but
having procured Arpates； Teribazus's son； for the undertaking； he
killed Arsames by his hand。 Artaxerxes at that time had but a little
hold on life； by reason of his extreme age； and so； when he heard of
the fate of Arsames； he could not sustain it at all； but sinking at
once under the weight of his grief and distress； expired； after a life
of ninety…four years； and a reign of sixty…two。 And then he seemed a
moderate and gracious governor； more especially as compared to his son
Ochus； who outdid all his predecessors in blood…thirstiness and
cruelty。
THE END