Diodorus Siculus

BOOK XV - The Library of History



Page 413 freed from absolute Slavery, enter'd into a League, upon Conditions that he should pay a Yearly Tribute to the King, and be Sovereign Lord of Salamis, and Subject to the King no otherwise than as one King to another. And thus ended the Cyprian War which was spun out near Ten years, though most of that time was only spent in Preparation, and not above two Years of it in actual War.

But Gaius, the Vice-Admiral of the Fleet, who had marry'd the Daughter of Terabazus, was in great pain lest he should suffer something or other out of suspicion of his being Familiar and Conversant with Terabazus: Therefore he resolv'd to be before hand with the King, and to that end being well furnish'd with a brave Navy, and having the Love of the Sea-Captains and Officers, he began to advise and consider of a Defection; and forthwith without any further stop enter'd into a League with Acoris, King of Aegypt, against the great King of Persia. He stirr'd up likewise the Lacedaemonians by his Letters, and amongst other large and glorious Promises, he engag'd he would assist them in settling their Affairs in Greece, and maintaining and supporting their Sovereignty. And in truth the Spartans had sometime before been contriving how to recover the Sovereign Power over the Graecians, and at that time had given clear indications (by their disturbances) of their design to Enslave the Cities. And that which further'd the Matter was, they repented of the Peace made with Artaxerxes, because they were Charg'd and Accus'd to have betray'd all the Graecians in Asia by that League with the King, therefore they were very ready to catch at an Opportunity to renew the War; and to that end very chearfully made a League with Gaius.

After Artaxerxes had ended the War with the Cadusians, he brought Terabazus to his Trial, and referr'd the Cognisance of his Cause to Three Honourable Persons. Near this time some Corrupt Judges were flead alive, and their Skins spread round the Judgment-Seats, that those that sate there might always have an Example before their Eyes of the Punishment due to Injustice, to deterr them from the like.

The Accusers therefore of Terabazus produced against him the Letters of Orontes, earnestly pressing them as sufficient Evidence to convict him. On the other hand, Terabazus, that he might make it evidently appear that the Accusation was a meer Scandal, contriv'd between Orontes and Evagoras, produc'd the Agreement between them, whereby Evagoras was to obey the King as a King himself, and no otherwise; and that the Terms upon which Terabazus would have made Peace, were, That Evagoras should be observant to the King as a Servant to his Master. And as to the Oracle, he brought all those Graecians that were at that time present, to testify, That the God return'd not any Answer relating to the Death of any Person. And as to the good Correspondence between him and the Lacedaemonians, he declar'd that he enter'd into a League with them not for any private Advantge of his own, but for the Profit and Advantage of the King. For by this means (he told them) the Graecians in Asia being divided from the Lacedaemonians were made better Subjects and more Obedient; and going on with his Defence, he put the Judges in mind of his former remarkable Services to the Crown.

Amongst those which clearly manifested his Faith and Loyalty to the King, and which deserv'd the greatest Commendation, and chiefly (as was said) wan the King's Heart, was this, That when the King was one day in his Chariot a Hunting, two Lions ran fiercely upon him, and tearing the two Chariot-Horses in pieces, they made at him, at which instant Therabazus came fortunately in, kill'd both the Lions, and so rescu'd the King. It's likewise reported of him, that he was a Person of extraordinary Valour, and of so sound and solid a Judgment in Council, that the King never miscarry'd when he follow'd his Advice.

When Terabazus had ended what he had to say in his own defence, all the Judges with one Voice acquitted him, and pronouc'd him Innocent of all the Crimes and Offences laid to his Charge. But the King afterwards sent for the Judges to him severally, and examined every one by himself, upon what Grounds of Law they pronounc'd the Accus'd, Innocent. To whom the first answer'd, That the Matter of the Accusation was Uncertain and Dubious, but his good Services were Clear, Apparent and Manifest to all. Another said, That thô those things objected against him were true, yet that all his Faults were over-ballanced by his Deserts. The Third justify'd his Vote to discharge him, by declaring, That he had no regard to his Merits, because the King had rewarded them above their Deserts, but upon strict Examining the Nature of every particular Charge, it did not appear to him that the Party accus'd was guilty of any of them. Upon which the King commended the Judges, as Just and Upright Men, and advanc'd Terabazus to the highest Places of Honour. But as to Orontes, he discarded him as a False Accuser, and noted him with all the Marks of Ignominy and Disgrace. And thus stood Affairs in Asia at this time.




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