Another motive is contempt, as in the case of Sardanapalus, whom
some one saw carding wool with his women, if the storytellers say
truly; and the tale may be true, if not of him, of some one else. Dion
attacked the younger Dionysius because he despised him, and saw that
he was equally despised by his own subjects, and that he was always
drunk. Even the friends of a tyrant will sometimes attack him out of
contempt; for the confidence which he reposes in them breeds contempt,
and they think that they will not be found out. The expectation of
success is likewise a sort of contempt; the assailants are ready to
strike, and think nothing of the danger, because they seem to have the
power in their hands. Thus generals of armies attack monarchs; as, for
example, Cyrus attacked Astyages, despising the effeminacy of his
life, and believing that his power was worn out. Thus again, Seuthes
the Thracian conspired against Amadocus, whose general he was.
And sometimes men are actuated by more than one motive, like
Mithridates, who conspired against Ariobarzanes, partly out of
contempt and partly from the love of gain.
Bold natures, placed by their sovereigns in a high military
position, are most likely to make the attempt in the expectation of
success; for courage is emboldened by power, and the union of the
two inspires them with the hope of an easy victory.
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