§9.1At rex, quod implacabile odium in Datamen susceperat, postquam bello eum opprimi non posse animadvertit, insidiis interficere studuit: quas ille plerasque evitavit.
But the king, because he had conceived an implacable hatred against Datames, after he realized that he could not be crushed by war, strived to kill him by treachery; most of these plots he avoided.
§9.2sicut, cum ei nuntiatum esset quosdam sibi insidiari, qui in amicorum erant numero (de quibus, quod inimici detulerant, neque credendum neque neglegendum putavit), experiri voluit, verum falsumne sibi esset relatum.
For example, when it had been reported to him that certain persons, who were in the number of his friends, were plotting against him (concerning whom, because enemies had reported it, he thought he should neither believe it nor neglect it), he wished to test whether the report brought to him was true or false.
§9.3itaque eo profectus est, in quo itinere futuras insidias dixerant.
And so he set out for that place, on which route they had said there would be an ambush.
sed elegit corpore ac statura simillimum sui eique vestitum suum dedit atque eo loco ire, quo ipse consuerat, iussit; ipse autem ornatu vestituque militari inter corporis custodes iter facere coepit.
But he chose one very like himself in body and stature, gave him his own clothing, and ordered him to go in that position where he himself had been accustomed to go; he himself, however, in military attire and dress, began to make the journey among the bodyguards.
§9.4at insidiatores, postquam in eum quem insederant locum agmen pervenit, decepti ordine atque vestitu impetum in eum faciunt, qui suppositus erat.
But the ambushers, after the column arrived at that place which they had occupied, deceived by the order and the clothing, made an attack on him who had been substituted.
praedixerat autem iis Datames, cum quibus iter faciebat, ut parati essent facere, quod ipsum vidissent.
Now Datames had previously instructed those with whom he was making the journey to be ready to do what they saw him himself do.
§9.5ipse, ut concurrentes insidiatores animum advertit, tela in eos coniecit.
He himself, as soon as he noticed the ambushers rushing together, hurled weapons at them.
hoc idem cum universi fecissent, priusquam pervenirent ad eum quem aggredi volebant, confixi conciderunt.
When all the others had done this same thing, before they could reach him whom they wished to attack, they fell, pierced through.