used himself to be acknowledged
sovereign. The first business of this new monarch was to write the
following letter to the King of Persia:

"I have defeated and overcome Caesar,[2] I have conquered his
dominions, I have mounted his throne, and have been acknowledged the
sovereign of his whole empire. As soon as this letter is delivered to
you, defer not a moment to send me the tribute due for seven years: if
you make the least difficulty to pay it me, you must submit to the
same fate as Caesar."

[Footnote 2: In the East they always give that name to the Emperors of
Greece.]

This letter, with great reason, provoked the King of Persia beyond all
the bounds of moderation. Without loss of time he assembled his
troops; but before he put himself at their head to march towards the
confines of Greece, he returned this answer to Dakianos:

"Can a man so despicable as thou art have possibly conquered Greece?
Thou hast betrayed me--I, who am thy King, and who am seated upon the
golden throne of my ancestors. Thou hast attacked me, notwithstanding
the gratitude and fidelity thou owest to me. I am upon my departure to
cause even the very memory of thee to perish, to restore Greece to her
former situation, and to deliver her to her lawful sovereign!"

This daring answer of the King of Persia threw Dakianos into the most
dreadful rage: he immediately formed a detachment of two hundred
thousand men from his army to advance and give battle to the King of
Persia. Those troops were not long without meeting him. The combat was
bloody and obstinate; but at length the King of Persia was defeated,
taken prisoner, and conducted to Dakianos.

When that Prince was in his presence, "Wretch!" said he to him, "how
canst thou bear my sight, thou most ungrateful of mankind?"

"I ungrateful?" replied Dakianos. "I have levied troops at my own
expense; I have spent the greater part of my immense treasures; I
have, therefore, bought this conquest. I have done more: I have
fought; I have revenged thy quarrel. What canst thou reproach me
with?"

"I have loved thee," returned the King.

It is hard for those in power to bear a well-founded reproach. The
only answer of Dakianos was to command his head to be struck off, and
immediately to send troops to seize on his dominions. He chose Ephesus
to fix his residence in; but, not thinking that city magnificent
enough, he caused it to be rebuilt with the utmost elegance, and gave
all his care to the