Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/443

 ARTAXERXES. 435 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 for the good news told him ; for first Artasyras, and, next to him, you assm-ed him of the decease of Cyrus." Mithri- dates retii'ed without complaint, though not without resent- ment. 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 cry- ing 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 oftended the king, so that forth- with 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, Mithridates, is this which the king has given you ; the chains and bracelets arc