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 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。〃
Suc