rs
cut off by Cyrus the son of Cambyses when he was king, for some grave
offence. This Phaidyme then, the daughter of Otanes, proceeding to
perform all that she had undertaken for her father, when her turn
came to go to the Magian (for the wives of the Persians go in to them
regularly each in her turn), came and lay down beside him: and when the
Magian was in deep sleep, she felt his ears; and perceiving not with
difficulty but easily that her husband had no ears, so soon as it became
day she sent and informed her father of that which had taken place.

70. Then Otanes took to him Aspathines and Gobryas, 59 who were leading
men among the Persians and also his own most trusted friends, and
related to them the whole matter: and they, as it then appeared, had
suspicions also themselves that it was so; and when Otanes reported this
to them, they readily accepted his proposals. Then it was resolved
by them that each one should associate with himself that man of the
Persians whom he trusted most; so Otanes brought in Intaphrenes, 60
Gobryas brought in Megabyzos, and Aspathines brought in Hydarnes. When
they had thus become six, Dareios the son of Hystaspes arrived at
Susa, having come from the land of Persia, for of this his father was
governor. Accordingly when he came, the six men of the Persians resolved
to associate Dareios also with themselves.

71. These then having come together, being seven in number, gave pledges
of faith to one another and deliberated together; and when it came to
Dareios to declare his opinion, he spoke to them as follows: "I thought
that I alone knew this, namely that it was the Magian who was reigning
as king and that Smerdis the son of Cyrus had brought his life to an
end; and for this very reason I am come with earnest purpose to contrive
death for the Magian. Since however it has come to pass that ye also
know and not I alone, I think it well to act at once and not to put the
matter off, for that is not the better way." To this replied Otanes:
"Son of Hystaspes, thou art the scion of a noble stock, and thou art
showing thyself, as it seems, in no way inferior to thy father: do not
however hasten this enterprise so much without consideration, but take
it up more prudently; for we must first become more in numbers, and then
undertake the matter." In answer to this Dareios said: "Men who are here
present, if ye shall follow the way suggested by Otanes, know that
ye will perish miserably; for some