Selecta ex Aeliano

IV. (Book I, 32.)

There is also this Persian story. They say that a Persian man named Sinaites, being far from his homestead, happened upon Artaxerxes, who is called Mnemon. He was left behind and became flustered out of fear of the law and reverence for the king. Not knowing what he should do in that moment, and unable to bear being bested by the other Persians or seeming dishonorable by not giving a gift to the king, he went with haste to the nearby river that flows by—which is named Cyrus—and stooped down, scooping up water in both his hands. "King Artaxerxes," he said, "may you reign for an eternity. For now, I honor you in whatever way I am able, so that you might not pass by without receiving a gift, at least from me and as far as I am concerned. I honor you with water from the river Cyrus. But when