Discovering the murders of Artabanes, and detesting his treachery and bloody deeds, Artaxerxes arrested him in his and put him to death.

career,

B. C. 473-Artaxerxes, whom histo→ rians have surnamed Longimanus, was now king of Persia, but there were dangers abroad as well as enemies at home. The current of success continued to flow against the Persians in Greece; and Egypt was again attempting so shake off the yoke of foreign power. The people solicited aid from the Athenians, and chose for their leader and king Inarus the prince of Lybia. To oppose these movements Artaxerxes raised an army of 300,000 men, and placed it under the command of his brother Achemenides. The Athenians in the interest of Egypt overcame the Persians at sea, and sailed into a branch of the Nile. Acting in concert with the Egyptians, they attacked the army of Persia, slew

< Prideaux, lib. 5, vol. ii, p. 6.

their general Achemenides, and left dead upon the field many thousands of his men. The rest fled to Memphis, and till reinforcements arrived from Persia, they defended themselves in a strong part of the town. The tide of affairs now turned against the Egyptians; and, Inarus with his army submitted to the Persians. The Egyptians who were taken in battle were treated as rebels; but the rest stipulated expressly, at their surrender, that they should be treated as prisoners, and not put to death. The resolution and courage of the Greeks procured them honourable terms of surrender. Thus Egypt, after a bloody struggle of several years, sunk again under the oppression of the Persians. We have observed that Achemenides, the brother of Artaxerxes, was slain in the Egyptian wars, and the queen mother demanded vengeance for her son. Her far spreading wrath included in the vow of destruction prince Inarus, and the whole of the Egyptian prisoners: but

the faith of Megabysus, who had taken them in war, was pledged for their safety; and the law of nations, joined to the principles of humanity had drawn around them the protection of united strength. But as the rock which repels with disdain the proud dashings of the raging billows, is gradually worn by the constant oozings of the dropping bank, so Artaxerxes, with the firmness of a prince, and the feelings of man, resisted for a while the attempts of his mother, but at last was overcome, and the prisoners were led forth to death, but Inarus to crucifixion.

Megabysus, wounded in [his honour, as well as in his feelings, retired into Syria, where he erected the standard of rebellion. Repeatedly, but in vain, did Artaxerxes attempt to overcome him; and he was induced to effect by promises and treaty, what he could not accomplish by force. Artaxerxes died after a reign of considerable length; and his character may be thus shortly expressed.

-It is a compound of firmness and irresolution; a mixture of weakness and virtuous inclination, including a desire of doing good, frequently rendered abortive by the feebleness of the foundation upon which it rested. Artaxerxes had many sons, but only one by his queen; for in Persia as well as in Abyssinia, and other places in the east, there may be many concubines, or inferior wives, but only one who, by the laws of the country, could be held in chief honour." The queen's son, who was called Xerxes, succeeded his father, but his reign was only a few weeks; for, upon a festival day, when he returned to his chamber, overcome with wine, he was murdered by his brother Sogdianus. This unfeeling youth wrenched the sceptre from the grasp of the dying king; but was soon in his turn deprived of sovereign power. Ochus, one of his brothers, rose

d Esther, ch. ii, v. 17; Tennant's Indian Recreations, vol. i, p. 312.

up against him with a powerful army; and the attending multitude proclaimed him king. Sogdianus sued for mercy, and crouched with dastardly submission, but the triumphant Ochus put him to death.

B. C. 423.-Ochus assumed the name of Darius, but because he was the son of a concubine, he is called in history Darius Nothus, or the bastard. In this feeble state of Persia, shaken to its foundations by provincial revolts and bloody changes, Amyrteus, who lurked in the fens of the Delta in Egypt, took courage in this state of public affairs, and openly appeared with numerous attendants: multitudes flocked to his standard; and he was publicly saluted king.

B. C. 414.-In the midst of his successes he drove the Persians out of Egypt, and pursued them to Phoenicia. Here he was joined by the Arabians, who were jealous of the Persian power; but Darius collecting a numerous army