in their demands; but, unless corruption can assume a more convenient form than the cumbrous one of talents, must lie under difficulties in transacting with those who are disposed to gratify them. The little dealings of that sort, to which the necessity of the king's service has obliged me, were attended with awkward circumstances; and if the sum was considerable, great caution was required in the conveyance of it. I make no doubt, but the wisdom of posterity will introduce new refinements into this subject; or else vice, out of mere concern of its own interests, must stop short in its career, and the kingdom of AHRIMAN be destroyed, before the season appointed in the book of destiny.

VOL. II.

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IT T is probable, thou hast already received advice, that ARTAPHERNES has been detained at Eione by the Athenian collector of the tribute in those parts; and therefore the news of his arrival at Athens will not surprize thee, so much as it did myself who was ignorant of what had befallen him in his passage through Thrace.

Judge of my astonishment, potent lord, when going down yesterday morning to the Piraeus, I was told by a friend whom I met, on the way, that a Persian satrap of distinguished quality was just arrived on board an Athenian galley. "What, (returned I hastily,) "hath ARTAXERXES sent a publick minister hither? Surely it must "be a commission of singular importance, which could require so "much secrecy, as that a more formal notification of the embassy "should not be first given." My friend was unable to give me any further light into the matter; and we continued our walk to the port, but in the way fell in with a great multitude of people, in the midst of whom a band of soldiers, with the archon POLEMARCH at their head, were conducting an old man of a grave aspect, and majestick appearance, to the Prytaneum. I had the curiosity to press as near this venerable stranger as I could, and was amazed beyond measure to discern, in his countenance, all the features of my old patron and friend ARTAPHERNES. I hastened out of the crowd, that nobody might observe the concern I was under; and impatient to have my doubts cleared up, went instantly to Cleon's house,

but

but was some time before I could see him, because several of the magistrates and ruling members of the assembly were that morning in close consultation with him. As soon as they were departed, he came to me, and prevented what I was going to say, by telling me that an accident had happened, which, though it might seem to prognosticate a rupture with Persia, and appear inconsistent with the respect which the republick had always professed for the great king, might yet, he hoped, by prudence and temper on both sides, be so managed, as to produce a perfect good understanding, and a closer "that friendship betwixt them. He then proceeded to acquaint me, "ARISTIDES, (grandson of the great ARISTIDES) the collector of "the tribute at Eione, having strong reasons to imagine, that a "Persian satrap travelling through his jurisdiction was sent to nego"tiate with the enemies of this state, had ventured, without any "orders from the people, to stop both him and his retinue; and being on his departure out of the country, had brought them That he had likewise inspected in his squadron to Athens. "the papers of this embassador, which entirely confirmed his suspicions; for amongst them he found a letter from ARTAX"ERXES to the Lacedæmonians, empowering the bearer of it, to "make propositions in his name, and receive their's in return, and "instructions to enter into a treaty with the Spartan republick on "conditions therein specified. This conduct of your court, (added CLEON,) is the strongest justification of our commissioners proceedings; for if they may be thought irregular, and a violation "of the law of nations, surely the part Persia has taken to amuse us " with overtures, in order to sell her alliance dearer to the Lacedæ"monians, cannot deserve a much gentler name; and one extraordinary step may serve to excuse the other." He concluded, however, by assuring me, that "such were the real dispositions of his "countrymen to prefer the friendship of Persia to all other conside

6.6

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"rations,

"rations, and such his own desire to acknowledge the favours he "had received from the king, that the magistrates would give "orders for the entertainment of ARTAPHERNES in a manner suitable "to his rank, and the dignity of the prince he represented; and it was likewise resolved to call an assembly in a few days, where"in he intended to move the nominating of a solemn embassy to "the court of Susa; and that ARTAPHERNES should be desired to accompany those who were chosen for the employment. In the mean time, he said, we might in private conferences bring the project (mentioned in my former letters) to some maturity, and "consequently ripen and prepare things for a more publick negotiation."

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I heard him to the end of his discourse without interruption, and then replied briefly, that " as I had no orders from the king on this unexpected event, I could only speak my own sense of the mat"ter, which was, that so notorious a breach of the law of nations, "as stopping the person of a publick minister, and examining his papers, could no otherwise be repaired or softened, than by a "severe and speedy punishment inflicted on ARISTIDES, and an 66 open disavowal of his behaviour: that I wondered to hear him "aim at justifying the seizure of ARTAPHERNES, from his being "sent to the Lacedæmonians; as if the war between them and the Athenians deprived the king of his liberty to transact business "with either of the parties by his embassadors, who had an indispu"table right to a free passage over the dominions of every state "with whom their master maintained a friendship, and were not to "be stopped upon bare surmises." I observed also, that "he him"self tacitly supposed the injustice of the action considered apart, by putting it as a retaliation for the insincerity of the Persian "court in their dealings with Athens. But I little expected to

46

"hear

"hear reproaches of that nature come from one, towards whom the

king had expressed so singular a confidence, and given already "several proofs of his regard. And as to the papers, upon which "he laid such stress, I ventured to affirm, that, upon a more accu"rate consideration of them, nothing else would appear, than that "ARTAXERXES, like a prince careful of his own interest, and of "that of his subjects, was determined, that those should reap the advantages of his alliance, who shewed most readiness in acknow"ledging his just claims, and proved their title to his protection by "the goodness of their cause. In respect to the last point, viz. the continuing of our conferences, I remembered thy orders, that I should not be over forward in bringing matters to an issue; and therefore contented myself with alleging the propriety of deferring them, till we heard in what manner the king received the news of ARTAPHERNES's journey being stopped, lest we should spend time to no purpose, if violent measures on the part of Persia were the consequences of it.

This is the substance, potent Lord, of my conversation with CLEON, who embraced me at parting, and said, "Do no ill office, CLEAN"DER, and, I will answer for it, this affair will be amicably adjusted." I replied, "I should do my duty by giving a faithful account of "what passed upon this occasion, but that the king, whom I had "the honour to serve, was too wise a prince, to want any suggestions "from me, by which to regulate his affairs.'

I have since found means to procure a private admittance to ARTAPHERNES, who is lodged in the Prytaneum, and entertained in a more splendid and honourable manner, than the ministers from any foreign state whom I ever saw here. I refer thee to his letters, which he dispatches this night by an Astanda, for the particulars of

his