therefore speak the truth and go away in peace. I ask thee whether
Smerdis himself appeared before thine eyes and charged thee to say this,
or some one of those who serve him." He said: "Smerdis the son of Cyrus
I have never yet seen, since the day that king Cambyses marched to
Egypt: but the Magian whom Cambyses appointed to be guardian of his
household, he, I say, gave me this charge, saying that Smerdis the son
of Cyrus was he who laid the command upon me to speak these things to
you." Thus he spoke to them, adding no falsehoods to the first, and
Cambyses said: "Prexaspes, thou hast done that which was commanded thee
like an honest man, and hast escaped censure; but who of the Persians
may this be who has risen up against me and usurped the name of
Smerdis?" He said: "I seem to myself, O king, to have understanding
of this which has come to pass: the Magians have risen against thee,
Patizeithes namely, whom thou didst leave as caretaker of thy household,
and his brother Smerdis."

64. Then Cambyses, when he heard the name of Smerdis, perceived at once
the true meaning of this report and of the dream, for he thought in his
sleep that some one had reported to him that Smerdis was sitting
upon the royal throne and had touched the heaven with his head: and
perceiving that he had slain his brother without need, he began to
lament for Smerdis; and having lamented for him and sorrowed greatly for
the whole mishap, he was leaping upon his horse, meaning as quickly as
possible to march his army to Susa against the Magian; and as he leapt
upon his horse, the cap of his sword-sheath fell off, and the sword
being left bare struck his thigh. Having been wounded then in the same
part where he had formerly struck Apis the god of the Egyptians, and
believing that he had been struck with a mortal blow, Cambyses asked
what was the name of that town, and they said "Agbatana." Now even
before this he had been informed by the Oracle at the city of Buto that
in Agbatana he should bring his life to an end: and he supposed that he
should die of old age in Agbatana in Media, where was his chief seat of
power; but the oracle, it appeared, meant in Agbatana of Syria. So when
by questioning now he learnt the name of the town, being struck with
fear both by the calamity caused by the Magian and at the same time by
the wound, he came to his right mind, and understanding the meaning of
the oracle he said: "Here it is fated that Cambyses the son of