The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [124]
Chapter 29
1. While Cambyses, son of Cyrus, still lingered in Egypt, two brothers of the Magus tribe revolted against him.
2. One of them, Patizeithes, had been left in Persia by Cambyses as comptroller of his household; it was he who began the revolt.
3. Aware that Smerdis was dead, and that his death was hidden and known to few Persians, while most believed that he was still alive, Patizeithes laid his plan, and made a bold stroke for the crown.
4. His brother happened greatly to resemble Smerdis, and not only was this brother like Smerdis in appearance, but he was also called Smerdis.
5. Patizeithes, having persuaded his brother to the plan, sat him on the royal throne, and then sent heralds through the land,
6. To Egypt and elsewhere, to make proclamation to the troops that henceforth they were to obey Smerdis the son of Cyrus, and not Cambyses.
7. The heralds made proclamation as they were ordered, and likewise the herald who was sent to Egypt.
8. When the herald reached Ecbatana in Syria, finding Cambyses and his army there, he went straight into the middle of the host, and standing before them made the proclamation which Patizeithes the Magus had commanded.
9. Cambyses no sooner heard him, than believing that what the herald said was true, and imagining that he had been betrayed,
10. He turned his eyes on Prexaspes, and said, ‘Is this the way, Prexaspes, that you did my errand?’
11. ‘O! my liege,’ answered the other, ‘there is no truth in the tidings that Smerdis your brother has revolted against you,
12. ‘Nor have you to fear any quarrel, great or small, with that man. With my own hands I killed him, and with my own hands I buried him.
13. ‘If the dead could leave their graves, expect Astyages the Mede to rise and fight against you; but if the course of nature be the same as always, then no ill can come from this quarter.
14. ‘Call that herald, and strictly question him who it was that charged him to bid us obey King Smerdis.’
15. Cambyses approved Prexaspes’ words, and the herald was brought before the king.
16. Prexaspes said to him, ‘Sirrah, you say that your message is from Smerdis, son of Cyrus. Now answer truly, and you will be allowed to go unharmed.
17. ‘Did Smerdis have you in his presence to give you your orders, or did you have them from one of his officers?’
18. The herald answered, ‘Truly I have not set eyes on Smerdis son of Cyrus, since the day when King Cambyses led the Persians into Egypt.
19. ‘The man who gave me my orders was the Magus that Cambyses left in charge of the household; but he said that Smerdis son of Cyrus sent you the message.’
20. Then Cambyses said to Prexaspes, ‘You are free from all blame, Prexaspes, since you did not fail to do what I commanded.
21. ‘But tell me, which of the Persians can have taken the name of Smerdis, and revolted against me?’
22. ‘I think, my liege,’ he answered, ‘that I understand the whole business. The men who have risen in revolt are Patizeithes, who was left comptroller of your household, and his brother, named Smerdis.’
23. Cambyses no sooner heard this than, smarting with vexation at his troubles, he sprang hastily onto his horse, meaning to march his army quickly to Susa against the rebels.
24. But as he did so, the button of his sword-sheath fell off, and the bared point pierced his thigh, wounding him sorely.
25. Then Cambyses, feeling that he had got his death-wound, called to his presence all the chief Persians who were with the army, and addressed them as follows:
26. ‘Persians, I must tell you now what I have hitherto striven with the greatest care to keep secret.
27. ‘I, in my folly, sent Prexaspes to Susa to put my brother to death, because I feared that he would revolt against me, and seize the crown.
28. ‘When this great crime was accomplished I lived without fear, never imagining that, after Smerdis was dead, I need fear revolt from any other.
29. ‘But I was mistaken,