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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 not my
darts as Artagerses did； in vain and to no purpose； but only just
missing his eye； and hitting him right on the temple； and piercing him
through。 I brought him to the ground； and of that wound he died。〃
The rest of the company； who saw the end and the hapless fate of
Mithridates as if it were already completed； bowed their heads to
the ground； and he who entertained them said； 〃Mithridates； my friend；
let us eat and drink now； revering the fortune of our prince； and
let us waive discourse which is too weighty for us。〃
Presently after； Sparamizes told Parysatis what he said； and she
told the king； who was greatly enraged at it； as having the lie
given him； and being in danger to forfeit the most glorious and most
pleasant circumstance of his victory。 For it was his desire that every
one； whether Greek or barbarian； should believe that in the mutual
assaults and conflicts between him and his brother； he； giving and
receiving a blow； was himself indeed wounded； but that the other
lost his life。 And； therefore； he decreed that Mithridates should be
put to death in boats； which execution is after the following
manner： Taking two boats framed exactly to fit and answer each
other； they lay down in one of them the malefactor that suffers；
upon his back； then； covering it with the other； and so setting them
together that the head； hands； and feet of him are left outside； and
the rest of his body lies shut up within； they offer him food； and
if he refuse to eat it； they force him to do it by pricking his
eyes； then； after he has eaten； they drench him with a mixture of milk
and honey； pouring it not only into his mouth； but all over his
face。 They then keep his face continually turned towards the sun：
and it becomes completely covered up and hidden by the multitude of
flies that settle on it。 And as within the boats he does what those
that eat and drink must needs do； creeping things and vermin spring
out of the corruption and rottenness of the excrement； and these
entering into the bowels of him； his body is consumed。 When the man is
manifestly dead； the uppermost boat being taken off； they find his
flesh devoured； and swarms of such noisome creatures preying upon and；
as it were； growing to his inwards。 In this way Mithridates； after
suffering for seventeen days； at last expired。
Masabates； the king's eunuch； who had cut off the hand and head of
Cyrus； remained still as a mark for Parysatis's vengeance。 Whereas；
therefore； he was so circumspect； that he gave her no advantage
against him； she framed this kind of snare for him。 She was a very
ingenious woman in other ways； and was an excellent player at dice；
and； before the war； had often played with the king。 After the war；
too； when she had been reconciled to him； she joined readily in all
amusements with him； played at dice with him； was his confidant in his
love matters； and in every way did her best to leave him as little
as possible in the company of Statira； both because she hated her more
than any other person； and because she wished to have no one so
powerful as herself。 And so once when Artaxerxes was at leisure； and
inclined to divert himself； she challenged him to play at dice with
her for a thousand darics； and purposely let him win them； and paid
him down in gold。 Yet； pretending to be concerned for her loss； and
that she would gladly have her revenge for it； she pressed him to
begin a new game for a eunuch； to which he consented。 But first they
agreed that each of them might except five of their most trusty
eunuchs； and that out of the rest of them the loser should yield up
any the winner should make choice of。 Upon these conditions they
played。 Thus being bent upon her design； and thoroughly in earnest
with her game； and the dice also running luckily for her； when she had
got the game； she demanded Masabates； who was not in the number of the
five excepted。 And before the king could suspect the matter； having
delivered him up to the tormentors； she enjoined them to flay him
alive； to s