History of the Persians

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1850 edition. Excerpt: ... privy to the plot, discovered it to the king, and the conspirators were seized as they were entering the palace, and put to death. A contest now arose between Ariaspes and Ochus, the legitimate Sons, and Arsames, a favourite natural son of the king, about the succession. Ochus, however, contrived the death of both his brothers, and by these atrocious acts secured for himself the possession of the throne. He soon ascended it, for these domestic tragedies broke the old king's heart in the ninety-fourth year of his age, and the forty-sixth of his reign. Artaxerxes was a mild and generous prince. and governed with great wisdom, clemency, and justice; whence he was honoured, and his authority respected throughout his empire. The following anecdotes, says Dr. Hales, as recorded by Plutarch, seem to mark his character, and to confirm the treason of Cyrus, his brother, before his open rebellion. " At first," says Plutarch, " Artaxerxes Mnemon seemed entirely to imitate the mildness of the first Artaxerxes. whose name he bore, by behaving affably to all who addressed him, and by distributing honours and rewards to persons of merit with a lavish hand. He took care that punishments should never be embittered with insult. If he received presents, he appeared as well pleased as those who offered them, or rather " as those who received favours from him; and in conferring favours, he always kept a countenance of benignity and pleasure. There was not any thing, however trifling, brought to him by way of present, which he did not receive kindly. Even when one Omisus brought him a pomegranate of uncommon size, he said, ' By the light of Mithra, this man, if he were made governor of a small city, would 'make it a great one.' When he was once upon a...