the reign of Artaxerxes. Megabysus was in the deepest affliction because Inarus and his Athenians has been delivered up to the king's mother, contrary to the articles of the treaty, as he had promised that no injury should be done them. But this inhuman princess, without regard to the faith of solemn treaties, caused Inarus to be crucified, and beheaded all the rest. Megabysus left the king's court, and withdrew to Syria, where he was chosen governor. His discontent was so great that he raised an army and revolted openly.
The king sent Osiris, who was one of the greatest lords of the court, against him with an army of two hundred thousand men. Megabysus engaged Osiris, wounded him, took him prisoner, and put his army to flight. Artaxerxes sending to demand Osiris, Megabysus generously dismissed him, as soon as his wounds were cured.
The next year Artaxerxes sent another army against him, the command of which he gave to Menostanes, son to Artarius the king's brother, and governor of Babylon. This general was not more fortunate than the former. He also was defeated and put to flight, and Megabysus gained as signal a victory as the former.
Artaxerxes finding he could not reduce him by force of arms, sent his brother Artarius and Amytis his sister, who was the wife of Megabysus, with several other persons of the first quality, to persuade the latter to return to his allegiance. They succeeded in their negotiation; the king pardoned him, and he returned to court. Ahasuerus, the king, had a favorite named Haman, whose mind was filled with pride and cruelty; being enraged because Mordecai, a noble Jew, would not pay homage, as the rest of the people did, he formed the design of destroying all the Jews in the Persian dominions on a certain day.
But Esther, being informed by Mordecai of the plot laid for their destruction, took an opportunity of informing the king of his treacherous designs, and of unveiling to him the real character of Haman: upon which the king ordered him to be put to death, and he was hanged on the very gibbet which he had erected with the hope of destroying Mordecai. In commemoration of this event, the feast of Purim was instituted.
