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out to go in person to the place； and commanded Artasyras to conduct
him where he lay。 But when there was a great noise made about the
Greeks； who were said to be in full pursuit； conquering and carrying
all before them； he thought it best to send a number of persons to
see； and accordingly thirty men went with torches in their hands。
Meantime； as he seemed to be almost at the point of dying from thirst；
his eunuch Satibarzanes ran about seeking drink for him； for the place
had no water in it and he was at a good distance from his camp。
After a long search he at last met one of those poor Caunian
camp…followers； who had in a wretched skin about four pints of foul
and stinking water； which he took and gave to the king； and when he
had drunk all off； he asked him if he did not dislike the water； but
he declared by all the gods that he never so much relished either
wine； or water out of the lightest or purest stream。 〃And
therefore；〃 said he； 〃if I fail myself to discover and reward him
who gave it to you； I beg of heaven to make him rich and prosperous。〃
Just after this； came back the thirty messengers； with joy and
triumph in their looks； bringing him the tidings of his unexpected
fortune。 And now he was also encouraged by the number of soldiers that
again began to flock in and gather about him； so that he presently
descended into the plain with many lights and flambeaux round about
him。 And when he had come near the dead body； and； according to a
certain law of the Persians； the right hand and head had been lopped
off from the trunk； he gave orders that the latter should be brought
to him； and； grasping the hair of it； which was long and bushy； he
showed it to those who were still uncertain and disposed to fly。
They were amazed at it； and did him homage； so that there were
presently seventy thousand of them got about him； and entered the camp
again with him。 He had led out to the fight； as Ctesias affirms；
four hundred thousand men。 But Dinon and Xenophon aver that there were
many more than forty myriads actually engaged。 As to the number of the
slain； as the catalogue of them was given up to Artaxerxes； Ctesias
says； they were nine thousand； but that they appeared to him no
fewer than twenty thousand。 Thus far there is something to be said
on both sides。 But it is a flagrant untruth on the part of Ctesias
to say that he was sent along with Phalinus the Zacynthian and some
others to the Grecians。 For Xenophon knew well enough that Ctesias was
resident at court； for he makes mention of him； and had evidently
met with his writings。 And； therefore； had he come； and been deputed
the interpreter of such momentous words； Xenophon surely would not
have struck his name out of the embassy to mention only Phalinus。
But Ctesias； as is evident； being excessively vainglorious and no less
a favourer of the Lacedaemonians and Clearchus； never fails to
assume to himself some province in his narrative； taking
opportunity； in these situations； to introduce abundant high praise of
Clearchus and Sparta。
When the battle was over； Artaxerxes sent goodly and magnificent
gifts to the son of Artagerses； whom Cyrus slew。 He conferred likewise
high honours upon Ctesias and others； and； having found out the
Caunian who gave him the bottle of water； he made him… a poor； obscure
man… a rich and an honourable person。 As for the punishments he
inflicted upon delinquents； there was a kind of harmony betwixt them
and the crimes。 He gave order that one Arbaces； a Mede； that had
fled in the fight to Cyrus and again at his fall had come back；
should； as a mark that he was considered a dastardly and effeminate；
not a dangerous or treasonable man； have a common harlot set upon
his back； and carry her about for a whole day in the market…place。
Another； besides that he had deserted to them； having falsely
vaunted that he had killed two of the rebels； he decreed that three
needles should be struck through his tongue。 And both supposing that
with his own hand he had cut off Cyrus； and being willing that all men
should think and say so； he sent rich presents to Mithridates； who
first wounded him； and charged those by whom he conveyed the gifts
to him to tell him； that 〃the king has honoured you with these his
favours； because you found and brought him the horse…trappings of
Cyrus。〃
The Carian； also； from whose wound in the ham Cyrus died； suing
for his reward； he commanded those that brought it him to say that
〃the king presents you with this as a second remuneration of the
good news told him； for first Artasyras； and； next to him； you assured
him of the decease of Cyrus。〃 Mithridates retired without complaint；
though not without resentment。 But the unfortunate Carian was fool
enough to give way to a natural infirmity。 For being ravished with the
sight of the princely gifts that were before him； and being tempted
thereupon to challenge and aspire to things above him； he deigned
not to accept the king's present as a reward for good news； but
indignantly crying out and appealing to witnesses； he protested that
he； and none but he； had killed Cyrus； and that he was unjustly
deprived of the glory。 These words； when they came to his ear； much
offended the king； so that forthwith he sentenced him to be
beheaded。 But the queen mother； being in the king's presence； said；
〃Let not the king so lightly discharge this pernicious Carian； let him
receive from me the fitting punishment of what he dares to say。〃 So
when the king had consigned him over to Parysatis； she charged the
executioners to take up the man； and stretch him upon the rack for ten
days； then； tearing out his eyes； to drop molten brass into his ears
till he expired。
Mithridates； also； within a short time after； miserably perished
by the like folly； for being invited to a feast where were the eunuchs
both of the king and of the queen mother； he came arrayed in the dress
and the golden ornaments which he had received from the king。 After
they began to drink； the eunuch that was the greatest in power with
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