the history-第56章
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his army back； he would have done the wisest thing that he could after the mistake made at the outset； but as it was； he took no manner of heed； but continued to march forwards。 So long as the earth gave them anything； the soldiers sustained life by eating the grass and herbs； but when they came to the bare sand； a portion of them were guilty of a horrid deed： by tens they cast lots for a man； who was slain to be the food of the others。 When Cambyses heard of these doings； alarmed at such cannibalism； he gave up his attack on Ethiopia； and retreating by the way he had come； reached Thebes； after he had lost vast numbers of his soldiers。 From Thebes he marched down to Memphis； where he dismissed the Greeks； allowing them to sail home。 And so ended the expedition against Ethiopia。 The men sent to attack the Ammonians； started from Thebes； having guides with them； and may be clearly traced as far as the city Oasis； which is inhabited by Samians； said to be of the tribe Aeschrionia。 The place is distant from Thebes seven days' journey across the sand； and is called in our tongue 〃the Island of the Blessed。〃 Thus far the army is known to have made its way； but thenceforth nothing is to be heard of them； except what the Ammonians； and those who get their knowledge from them； report。 It is certain they neither reached the Ammonians； nor even came back to Egypt。 Further than this； the Ammonians relate as follows：… That the Persians set forth from Oasis across the sand； and had reached about half way between that place and themselves when； as they were at their midday meal； a wind arose from the south； strong and deadly； bringing with it vast columns of whirling sand； which entirely covered up the troops and caused them wholly to disappear。 Thus； according to the Ammonians； did it fare with this army。 About the time when Cambyses arrived at Memphis； Apis appeared to the Egyptians。 Now Apis is the god whom the Greeks call Epaphus。 As soon as he appeared； straightway all the Egyptians arrayed themselves in their gayest garments； and fell to feasting and jollity： which when Cambyses saw； making sure that these rejoicings were on account of his own ill success； he called before him the officers who had charge of Memphis； and demanded of them… 〃Why； when he was in Memphis before； the Egyptians had done nothing of this kind； but waited until now； when he had returned with the loss of so many of his troops？〃 The officers made answer； 〃That one of their gods had appeared to them； a god who at long intervals of time had been accustomed to show himself in Egypt… and that always on his appearance the whole of Egypt feasted and kept jubilee。〃 When Cambyses heard this； he told them that they lied； and as liars he condemned them all to suffer death。 When they were dead； he called the priests to his presence； and questioning them received the same answer； whereupon he observed； 〃That he would soon know whether a tame god had really come to dwell in Egypt〃… and straightway； without another word； he bade them bring Apis to him。 So they went out from his presence to fetch the god。 Now this Apis； or Epaphus； is the calf of a cow which is never afterwards able to bear young。 The Egyptians say that fire comes down from heaven upon the cow； which thereupon conceives Apis。 The calf which is so called has the following marks：… He is black； with a square spot of white upon his forehead； and on his back the figure of an eagle； the hairs in his tail are double； and there is a beetle upon his tongue。 When the priests returned bringing Apis with them； Cambyses； like the harebrained person that he was； drew his dagger； and aimed at the belly of the animal； but missed his mark； and stabbed him in the thigh。 Then he laughed； and said thus to the priests：… 〃Oh！ blockheads； and think ye that gods become like this； of flesh and blood； and sensible to steel？ A fit god indeed for Egyptians； such an one！ But it shall cost you dear that you have made me your laughing…stock。〃 When he had so spoken； he ordered those whose business it was to scourge the priests； and if they found any of the Egyptians keeping festival to put them to death。 Thus was the feast stopped throughout the land of Egypt； and the priests suffered punishment。 Apis； wounded in the thigh； lay some time pining in the temple； at last he died of his wound； and the priests buried him secretly without the knowledge of Cambyses。 And now Cambyses； who even before had not been quite in his right mind； was forthwith； as the Egyptians say； smitten with madness for this crime。 The first of his outrages was the slaying of Smerdis； his full brother； whom he had sent back to Persia from Egypt out of envy； because he drew the bow brought from the Ethiopians by the Icthyophagi （which none of the other Persians were able to bend） the distance of two fingers' breadth。 When Smerdis was departed into Persia； Cambyses had a vision in his sleep… he thought a messenger from Persia came to him with tidings that Smerdis sat upon the royal throne and with his head touched the heavens。 Fearing therefore for himself； and thinking it likely that his brother would kill him and rule in his stead； Cambyses sent into Persia Prexaspes； whom he trusted beyond all the other Persians； bidding him put Smerdis to death。 So this Prexaspes went up to Susa and slew Smerdis。 Some say he killed him as they hunted together； others； that he took him down to the Erythraean Sea； and there drowned him。 This； it is said； was the first outrage which Cambyses committed。 The second was the slaying of his sister； who had accompanied him into Egypt； and lived with him as his wife； though she was his full sister； the daughter both of his father and his mother。 The way wherein he had made her his wife was the following：…It was not the custom of the Persians； before his time； to marry their sisters； but Cambyses； happening to fall in love with one of his and wishing to take her to wife； as he knew that it was an uncommon thing； called together the royal judges； and put it to them； 〃whether there was any law which allowed a brother； if he wished； to marry his sister？〃 Now the royal judges are certain picked men among the Persians； who hold their office for life； or until they are found guilty of some misconduct。 By them justice is administered in Persia； and they are the interpreters of the old laws； all disputes being referred to their decision。 When Cambyses； therefore； put his question to these judges； they gave him an answer which was at once true and safe… 〃they did not find any law；〃 they said； 〃allowing a brother to take his sister to wife； but they found a law； that the king of the Persians might do whatever he pleased。〃 And so they neither warped the law through fear of Cambyses； nor ruined themselves by over stiffly maintaining the law； but they brought another quite distinct law to the king's help； which allowed him to have his wish。 Cambyses； therefore； married the object of his love； and no long time afterwards he took to wife another sister。 It was the younger of these who went with him into Egypt； and there suffered death at his hands。 Concerning the manner of her death； as concerning that of Smerdis； two different accounts are given。 The story which the Greeks tell is that Cambyses had set a young dog to fight the cub of a lioness… his wife looking on at the time。 Now the dog was getting the worse； when a pup of the same litter broke his chain； and came to his brother's aid… then the two dogs together fought the lion； and conquered him。 The thing greatly pleased Cambyses； but his sister who was sitting by shed tears。 When Cambyses saw this； he asked her why she wept： whereon she told him； that seeing the young dog come to his brother's aid made her think of Smerdis； whom there was none to help。 For this speech； the Greeks say； Cambyses put her to death。 But the Egyptians tell the story thus：… The two were sitting at table； when the sister took a lettuce； and stripping the leaves off； asked her brother 〃when he thought the lettuce looked the prettiest… when it had all its leaves on； or now that it was stripped？〃 He answered； 〃When the leaves were on。〃 〃But thou；〃 she rejoined； 〃hast done as I did to the lettuce； and made bare the
