Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/432

 424 ARTAXERXES. wholly with him. Moreover, there was a certain natural dilatoriness in the king, which was taken by many for clemency. And, indeed, in the beginning of his reign, he did seem really to emulate the gentleness of the first Artaxerxes, being very accessible in his person, and liberal to a fault in the distribution of honors and fiivors. Even in his punishments, no contumely or vindictive pleasure could be seen ; and those who offered him presents were as much pleased with his manner of accepting, as were those who received gifts from him with his graciousness and amiability in giving them. Nor truly was there any thing, however inconsiderable, given him, which he did not deign kindly to accept of; insomuch that when one Omises had presented him with a very large promegran- ate, " By Mithras," said he, " this man, were he intrusted with it, would turn a small city into a great one." Once when some were oflering him one thing, some another, as he was on a progress, a certain poor laborer, having got nothmg at hand to bring him, ran to the river side, and, taking up water in his hands, offered it to him ; with which Artaxerxes was so well pleased that he sent him a goblet of gold and a thousand darics. To Euclidas, the Lacedsemonian, who had made a number of bold and arrogant speeches to him, he sent word by one of his ofl&cers, " You have leave to say what you please to me, and I, you should remember, may both say and do what I please to you." Teribazus once, when they were hunt- ing, came up and pointed out to the king that his royal robe was torn; the king asked him what he wished him to do ; and when Teribazus replied " May it please you to put on another and give me that," the king did so, saying withal, " I give it you, Teribazus, but I charge you not to wear it." He, little regarding the injunction, being not a bad, but a lightrheaded, thoughtless man, immedi- ately the king took it off, put it on, and bedecked himself