without further examination. But that was not the custom with the Persians. By an anciently established regulation, to which among other privileges, they had a right by birth, no person was ever to be condemned, without being first heard and confronted with his accusers. This was granted to Tiribasus, who answered to all the articles of the letter. As to his connivance with Evagoras, the treaty itself concluded by Orontes was his apology; as it was absolutely the same that prince had proposed to him, except a condition which would have done honour to his master. As to his intelligence with the Lacedemonians, the glorious treaty he had made them sign sufficiently explained, whether his own, or the king's interest were his motives for it. He did not deny his credit in the army; but apprehended it had not been long a crime to be beloved by the officers and soldiers; and concluded his defence, by representing the long services he had rendered the king with inviolable fidelity; and especially his good fortune in having formerly saved his life, when he was hunting, and in great danger of being devoured by two lions. The three commissioners were unanimous in declaring Tiribasus innocent. king restored him to his former favour; and, justly enraged at the black design of Orontes, let the whole weight of his indignation fall upon him. A single example of this kind against informers convicted of falsehood, would for ever shut the door against calumny. How many innocents have been destroyed for want of observing this rule, which even the pagans considered as the basis of all justice, and the guardian of the public tranquillity! The THE EXPEDITION SECTION VII. OF ARTAXERXES AGAINST THE CADUSIANS. HISTORY OF DATAMES THE CARIAN: WHEN Artaxerxes had terminated the Cyprian war," he entered upon another against the Cadusians, who it is probable had revolted, and refused to pay the customary tribute; for authors say nothing as to the occasion of this war. Those people inhabited part of the mountains situated between the Euxine and Caspian seas in the north of Media. The soil is there so ungrateful, and so little proper for cultivation, that no corn is sowed upon it. The people subsist almost entirely upon apples, pairs, and other fruits of that kind. Inured from their infancy to a hard and laborious life, they looked upon dangers and fatigues, as nothing, and for that reason made excellent soldiers. The king marched against them in person at the head of an army of three hundred thousand foot, and ten thousand horse. Tiribasus was with him in this expedition. Artaxerxes had not advanced far into the country, when his army suffered extremely by famine. The troops could find nothing to subsist upon, and it was impossible to bring provisions from other places, the ways being difficult and impracticable. The whole camp were reduced to eat their carriage beasts; which soon became so scarce that an ass's head was valued at sixty drachms, and was very hard to be got at that price. The king's table itself began to fall short, and only a few horses remained, the rest having been entirely consumed. "Plut. in Artax. p. 1023, 1024. VOL. 3. 30 livres. In this melancholy conjuncture, Tiribasus contriv ed a stratagem which saved the king and army. The Cadusians had two kings, who were encamped sepa rately with their troops. Tiribasus, who took care to be informed of all that passed, had been apprized, that there was some misunderstanding between them, and that their jealousy of each other prevented their acting in concert, as they ought to have done. After having communicated his design to Artaxerxes, he went himself to one of the kings, and dispatched his son to the other. They each of them informed the king to whom they applied, that the other had sent ambassadors to treat with Artaxerxes privately, and advised him to lose no time, but to make his peace directly, in order that the conditions of it might be the more advantageous; promising to assist them with their whole credit. The fraud succeeded. The pagans thought it no crime to use it with enemies. Ambassadors set out from both princes with Tiribasus and his son in their company. W As this double negociation lasted some time, Artaxerxes began to suspect Tiribasus; and his enemies taking that opportunity, forgot nothing to his prejudice that might ruin him in the king's opinion. That prince already repented the confidence he had reposed in him, and thereby gave room for those who envied him to vent their calumnies and invectives. Upon what does the fortune of the most faithful subjects depend with a credulous and suspicious prince! Whilst this passed, arrived Tiribasus on his side, and his son on the other, each with ambassadors from the Cadusians. The treaty being concluded with both parties, and the w Dolus, an virtus, quis in hoste requirat? Virgil. peace made, Tiribasus became more powerful than ever in his master's favour, and returned with him. The king's behaviour in this march was much admired. Neither the gold with which he was covered, his purple robes, nor the jewels that glittered all over him, and were worth thirty six millions of livers,* prevented his having an equal share in the whole fatigue with the meanest soldier. He was seen with his quiver at his back, and his shield on his arm, to dismount from his horse, and march foremost in those rugged and difficult countries. The soldiers observing his patience and fortitude, and animated by his example, became so light, that they seemed rather to fly than to walk. At length he arrived at one of his palaces, where the gardens were in admirable order, and there was a park of great extent and well planted, which was the more surprising, as the whole country round about was entirely naked, and bore no kind of As it was the depth of winter, and excessively cold, he gave the soldiers permission to cut down the wood in this park, without excepting the finest trees, either pines or cypresses. But the soldiers not being able to resolve to fell timber of such exceeding beauty and stateliness, the king took an axe, and began by cutting the finest and largest tree himself; after which the troops spared none, cut down all the wood they wanted, and kindled as many fires as were necessary to their passing the night without any inconvenience. When we reflect how much value great persons génerally set upon their gardens and houses of pleasure, we must confess Artaxerxes's generosity in making this sacrifice, which argued a very laudible goodness of * 12,000 talents. heart, and a sensibility for the distresses and sufferings of his soldiers. But he did not always support that character. The king had lost in this enterprise a great number of his best troops, and almost all his horses; and as he imagined that he was despised upon that account, and the ill success of his expedition, he became very much out of humour with the grandees of his court, and put to death a great number of them in the emotions of his wrath, and more out of distrust, and the fear of their attempting something against him : for fear in a suspicious prince is a very destructive and bloody passion; whereas true courage is gentle, humane, and averse to all jealousy and suspicion. One of the principal officers that perished in this expedition against the Cadusians, was Camisares, by nation a Carian, and governor of Leuco Syria, a province enclosed between Cilicia and Cappadocia. His son Datames succeeded him in that government, which was given him in consideration of the good services he had also rendered the king in the same expedition. He was the greatest captain of his time; and Cornelius Nepos, who has given us his life, does not prefer Amilcar and Hannibal to him amongst the barbarians. It appears from his history of it, that no one ever excelled him in boldness, valor, and ability in inventing schemes. and stratagems, in activity in the execution of his designs, in presence of mind to resolve in the heat of action, and to find resources upon the most desperate occasions; in a word, in every thing that regards military knowledge. It seems that nothing was wanting to his having acquired a more y Corn. Nep, in vit. Datamis. |