the history-第54章
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gyptians are so strong。 The Persians； on the other hand； have feeble skulls； because they keep themselves shaded from the first； wearing turbans upon their heads。 What I have here mentioned I saw with my own eyes； and I observed also the like at Papremis； in the case of the Persians who were killed with Achaeamenes； the son of Darius； by Inarus the Libyan。 The Egyptians who fought in the battle； no sooner turned their backs upon the enemy； than they fled away in complete disorder to Memphis； where they shut themselves up within the walls。 Hereupon Cambyses sent a Mytilenaean vessel； with a Persian herald on board； who was to sail up the Nile to Memphis； and invite the Egyptians to a surrender。 They； however； when they saw the vessel entering the town； poured forth in crowds from the castle； destroyed the ship； and； tearing the crew limb from limb； so bore them into the fortress。 After this Memphis was besieged； and in due time surrendered。 Hereon the Libyans who bordered upon Egypt； fearing the fate of that country； gave themselves up to Cambyses without a battle； made an agreement to pay tribute to him； and forthwith sent him gifts。 The Cyrenaeans too； and the Barcaeans； having the same fear as the Libyans； immediately did the like。 Cambyses received the Libyan presents very graciously； but not so the gifts of the Cyrenaeans。 They had sent no more than five hundred minx of silver； which Cambyses； I imagine； thought too little。 He therefore snatched the money from them； and with his own hands scattered it among his soldiers。 Ten days after the fort had fallen； Cambyses resolved to try the spirit of Psammenitus； the Egyptian king； whose whole reign had been but six months。 He therefore had him set in one of the suburbs； and many other Egyptians with him； and there subjected him to insult。 First of all he sent his daughter out from the city； clothed in the garb of a slave； with a pitcher to draw water。 Many virgins； the daughters of the chief nobles； accompanied her； wearing the same dress。 When the damsels came opposite the place where their fathers sate； shedding tears and uttering cries of woe； the fathers； all but Psammenitus； wept and wailed in return； grieving to see their children in so sad a plight； but he； when he had looked and seen； bent his head towards the ground。 In this way passed by the water…carriers。 Next to them came Psammenitus' son； and two thousand Egyptians of the same age with him… all of them having ropes round their necks and bridles in their mouths… and they too passed by on their way to suffer death for the murder of the Mytilenaeans who were destroyed； with their vessel； in Memphis。 For so had the royal judges given their sentence for each Mytilenaean ten of the noblest Egyptians must forfeit life。〃 King Psammenitus saw the train pass on； and knew his son was being led to death； but while the other Egyptians who sate around him wept and were sorely troubled； he showed no further sign than when he saw his daughter。 And now； when they too were gone； it chanced that one of his former boon…companions； a man advanced in years； who had been stripped of all that he had and was a beggar； came where Psammenitus； son of Amasis； and the rest of the Egyptians were； asking alms from the soldiers。 At this sight the king burst into tears； and weeping out aloud； called his friend by his name； and smote himself on the head。 Now there were some who had been set to watch Psammenitus and see what he would do as each train went by； so these persons went and told Cambyses of his behaviour。 Then he； astonished at what was done； sent a messenger to Psammenitus； and questioned him； saying； 〃Psammenitus； thy lord Cambyses asketh thee why； when thou sawest thy daughter brought to shame； and thy son on his way to death； thou didst neither utter cry nor shed tear； while to a beggar； who is； he hears； a stranger to thy race； thou gavest those marks of honour。〃 To this question Psammenitus made answer； 〃O son of Cyrus； my own misfortunes were too great for tears； but the woe of my friend deserved them。 When a man falls from splendour and plenty into beggary at the threshold of old age； one may well weep for him。〃 When the messenger brought back this answer； Cambyses owned it was just； Croesus； likewise； the Egyptians say； burst into tears… for he too had come into Egypt with Cambyses… and the Persians who were present wept。 Even Cambyses himself was touched with pity； and he forthwith gave an order that the son of Psammenitus should be spared from the number of those appointed to die； and Psammenitus himself brought from the suburb into his presence。 The messengers were too late to save the life of Psammenitus' son； who had been cut in pieces the first of all； but they took Psammenitus himself and brought him before the king。 Cambyses allowed him to live with him； and gave him no more harsh treatment； nay； could he have kept from intermeddling with affairs； he might have recovered Egypt； and ruled it as governor。 For the Persian wont is to treat the sons of kings with honour； and even to give their fathers' kingdoms to the children of such as revolt from them。 There are many cases from which one may collect that this is the Persian rule； and especially those of Pausiris and Thannyras。 Thannyras was son of Inarus the Libyan； and was allowed to succeed his father； as was also Pausiris； son of Amyrtaeus； yet certainly no two persons ever did the Persians more damage than Amyrtaeus and Inarus。 In this case Psammenitus plotted evil； and received his reward accordingly。 He was discovered to be stirring up revolt in Egypt； wherefore Cambyses； when his guilt clearly appeared； compelled him to drink bull's blood； which presently caused his death。 Such was the end of Psammenitus。 After this Cambyses left Memphis； and went to Sais； wishing to do that which he actually did on his arrival there。 He entered the palace of Amasis； and straightway commanded that the body of the king should be brought forth from the sepulchre。 When the attendants did according to his commandment； he further bade them scourge the body； and prick it with goads； and pluck the hair from it； and heap upon it all manner of insults。 The body； however； having been embalmed； resisted； and refused to come apart； do what they would to it； so the attendants grew weary of their work； whereupon Cambyses bade them take the corpse and burn it。 This was truly an impious command to give； for the Persians hold fire to be a god； and never by any chance burn their dead。 Indeed this practice is unlawful； both with them and with the Egyptians… with them for the reason above mentioned； since they deem it wrong to give the corpse of a man to a god； and with the Egyptians； because they believe fire to be a live animal； which eats whatever it can seize； and then； glutted with the food； dies with the matter which it feeds upon。 Now to give a man's body to be devoured by beasts is in no wise agreeable to their customs； and indeed this is the very reason why they embalm their dead； namely； to prevent them from being eaten in the grave by worms。 Thus Cambyses commanded what both nations accounted unlawful。 According to the Egyptians； it was not Amasis who was thus treated； but another of their nation who was of about the same height。 The Persians； believing this man's body to be the king's； abused it in the fashion described above。 Amasis； they say； was warned by an oracle of what would happen to him after his death： in order； therefore； to prevent the impending fate； he buried the body； which afterwards received the blows； inside his own tomb near the entrance； commanding his son to bury him； when he died； in the furthest recess of the same sepulchre。 For my own part I do not believe that these orders were ever given by Amasis； the Egyptians； as it seems to me； falsely assert it； to save their own dignity。 After this Cambyses took counsel with himself； and planned three expeditions。 One was against the Carthaginians； another against the Ammonians； and a third against the long…lived Ethiopians； who dwelt in that part of Libya which borders upon the southern sea。 He judged it best to despatch his fleet against Carthage and to send some portion of his land army to act against the Ammon
