a great expedition against the Kyrenians, met with correspondingly
great disaster; and the Egyptians considering him to blame for this
revolted from him, supposing that Apries had with forethought sent them
out to evident calamity, in order (as they said) that there might be a
slaughter of them, and he might the more securely rule over the other
Egyptians. Being indignant at this, both these men who had returned
from the expedition and also the friends of those who had perished made
revolt openly. Hearing this Apries sent to them Amasis, to cause them
to cease by persuasion; and when he had come and was seeking to restrain
the Egyptians, as he was speaking and telling them not to do so, one of
the Egyptians stood up behind him and put a helmet upon his head, saying
as he did so that he put it on to crown him king. And to him this
that was done was in some degree not unwelcome, as he proved by his
behaviour; for as soon as the revolted Egyptians had set him up as king,
he prepared to march against Apries: and Apries hearing this sent to
Amasis one of the Egyptians who were about his own person, a man of
reputation, whose name was Patarbemis, enjoining him to bring Amasis
alive into his presence. When this Patarbemis came and summoned Amasis,
the latter, who happened to be sitting on horseback, lifted up his leg
and behaved in an unseemly manner, bidding him take that back to Apries.
Nevertheless, they say, Patarbemis made demand of him that he should
go to the king, seeing that the king had sent to summon him; and he
answered him that he had for some time past been preparing to do so, and
that Apries would have no occasion to find fault with him, for he
would both come himself and bring others with him. Then Patarbemis both
perceiving his intention from that which he said, and also seeing his
preparations, departed in haste, desiring to make known as quickly as
possible to the king the things which were being done: and when he came
back to Apries not bringing Amasis, the king paying no regard to that
which he said, but being moved by violent anger, ordered his ears and
his nose to be cut off. And the rest of the Egyptians who still remained
on his side, when they saw the man of most repute among them thus
suffering shameful outrage, waited no longer but joined the others in
revolt, and delivered themselves over to Amasis. Then Apries having
heard this also, armed his foreign mercenaries and marched against the
Egyptians: n