taxerxes, and he found an asylum in the Persian kingdom.

The reign of Artaxerxes Mnemon was drawing toward a conclusion, and its course had often been disturbed by violence and revolts. He was of a mild disposition; and his desire of doing good to the people was often frustrated by the wicked designs of those about him. Sunk upon the couch of eastern luxury, he afforded to those who had the management of public affairs, an easy opportunity of oppressing the people, and galling them with the yoke. In the prospect of the king's death, there were many intrigues and much clamour about the succession to the throne. Darius, the eldest son of the queen, had been previously declared to be successor, but he plotted against his father, and was put to death.a

B. C. 360. Ochus, the third son of the queen, upon the death of his father, stept

• Diod. Siculus, vol. i, p. 506 & 507.

To

upon the throne, but he had nothing to contemplate but plots at court, and rebellion in the provinces. Violent in his temper, and impelled by the dangers of his station, he committed deeds of cruelty which disgraced his reign. The blood of princes, kindred, and statesmen, flowed in one undistinguished stream. be included in the list of prescriptions, it was sufficient to be possessed of power or allied to the royal house. The terror of his name was spread throughout the whole of the provinces, and many of those who had rebelled hastened to return with profound submission.

General tranquillity having been restored, Ochus determined to visit Egypt, and unite it again to the Persian kingdom. On his way to that country he quelled a rebellion in Phoenicia, took Sidon, and subdued Cyprus. Assisted by Grecian troops, he over-ran Egypt, which was in a state of disaffection to the existing government, and drove Nectanebus into Ethiopia. He amply re

warded his friends, but he enriched them from the pillage of cities and the spoils of temples. As the Persians adored the sun, they detested the worship of idols; and Xerxes when he entered Greece destroyed also the temples of that country, as appearing to prescribe bounds to the divinity. But in the conduct which Cambyses and Ochus pursued in Egypt, we cannot discern the power of principle, but indiscretion, profligacy, and

violence.

d

In the 23 year of his reign, Ochus was cut off by poison, and Bagoas, who prepared and administered it, was compelled by Darius Codomanus to swallow a deadly draught which he had also prepared for that king. Bagoas pretended that he had cut off Ochus for the injuries which he had inflicted on Egypt, and the insults which he had offered to its altars. Bagoas was a native of Egypt, and might have been attached to his country; yet if nothing but patriotism had glowed in his breast, he would not

have attempted, by murderous deeds, to ascend deceitfully the throne of Persia. The sons of Ochus he destroyed; and Codomanus, who was a prince of the royal blood, he raised to the government as a blind to the nation, but was preparing to have him also cut off, when the king, whom he had appointed, and who had assumed the name of Darius, rid the world of the ambitious and blood-thirsty Bagoas.

CHAP. II.

Alexander the Great.... Goes to the temple of Jupiter Ammon... Builds Alexandria... His successors.... Ptolemy Lagus acquires the sovereignty of Egypt.

B. C.

336.

IT

T was during the reign of Darius Codomanus that Alexander the Great burst victorious into the empire of Persia. He was the son of Philip king of Macedon, who raised that country from obscurity to eminence and power. By his skill and rising influence, he acquired the ascendency over Greece, and was appointed generalissimo of their united forces. In the 47th year of his age, amid vast and splendid preparations for war, he was cut off by the hand of an assassin. His son Alexander was but 20 years of age, but his mind was formed by the precepts of the celebrated Aristotle, and the whole bent of