Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/456

 448 ARTAXERXES. wings to the soldiers, and so lightened the journey, that they made daily marches of above two hundred furlongs. After they had arrived at one of his own mansions, which had beautifid ornamented parks in the midst of a region naked and without trees, the weather being very cold, he gave full commission to his soldiers to provide themselves with wood by cutting down any, without ex- ception, even the pine and cypress. And when they hes- itated and were for sparing them, being large and goodly trees, he, taking up an axe himself, felled the greatest and most beautiful of them. After which his men used theu' hatchets, and piling up many fires, passed away the night at their ease. Nevertheless, he returned not with- out the loss of many and valiant subjects, and of almost all his horses. And supposing that his misfortunes and the ill success of his expedition made him despised in the eyes of his people, he looked jealously on his nobles, many of whom he slew in anger, and yet more out of fear. As, indeed, fear is the bloodiest passion in princes ; confidence, on the other hand, being merciful, gentle, and unsuspicious. So we see among wild beasts, the intrac- table and least tamable are the most timorous and most easily startled ; the nobler creatures, whose courage makes them trustful, are ready to respond to the advances of men. Artaxerxes, now being an old man, perceived that his sons were in controversy about his kingdom, and that they made parties among his favorites and peers. Those that were equitable among them thought it fit, that as he had received it, so he should bequeathe it, by right of age, to Darius. The younger brother, Ochus, who was hot and violent, had indeed a considerable number of the cour- tiers that espoused his interest, but his chief hope was that by Atossa's means he should win his father. For he flattered her with the thoughts of being his wife and part-