Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/459

ARTAXERXES. 451 However, to make him amends, he betrothed his young- est daughtei* Atossa to him. But after he had, being enamored of her too, as has been said, married her, Teribazus entertained an irreconcilable enmity against him. As indeed he was seldom at any other time steady in his temper, but uneven and inconsiderate ; so that whether he were in the number of the choicest favorites of his prince, or whether he were offensive and odious to him, he demeaned himself in neither condition with moderation ; but if he was advanced he was intolerably insolent, and in his degradation not submis- sive and peaceable in his deportment, but fierce and haughty. And therefore Teribazus was to the young prince flame added upon flame, ever urging him, and saying, that in vain those wear their hats upright who consult not the real success of their afiairs, and that he was ill befriended of reason if he imagined, whilst he had a brother, who, through the women's apartments, was seeking a way to the sujDremacy, and a father of so rash and fickle a humor, that he should by succession infallibly step uji into the throne. For he that out of fondness to an Ionian girl has eluded a law sacred and inviolable among the Persians is not likely to be faithful in the performance of the most important promises. He added, too, that it was not all one for Ochus not to attain to, and for him to be put by his crown ; since Ochus as a subject might live happily, and nobody could hinder him ; but he, being pro- claimed king, must either take up his sceptre or lay down his life. These words presently' inflaiued Darius : what Sophocles says being indeed generally true : — Quick travels the persuasion to what 's wrong. For the path is smooth, and upon an easy descent, that