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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 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