the history-第57章
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the leaves were on。〃 〃But thou；〃 she rejoined； 〃hast done as I did to the lettuce； and made bare the house of Cyrus。〃 Then Cambyses was wroth； and sprang fiercely upon her； though she was with child at the time。 And so it came to pass that she miscarried and died。 Thus mad was Cambyses upon his own kindred； and this either from his usage of Apis； or from some other among the many causes from which calamities are wont to arise。 They say that from his birth he was afflicted with a dreadful disease； the disorder which some call 〃the sacred sickness。〃 It would be by no means strange； therefore； if his mind were affected in some degree； seeing that his body laboured under so sore a malady。 He was mad also upon others besides his kindred； among the rest； upon Prexaspes； the man whom he esteemed beyond all the rest of the Persians； who carried his messages； and whose son held the office… an honour of no small account in Persia… of his cupbearer。 Him Cambyses is said to have once addressed as follows：… 〃What sort of man； Prexaspes； do the Persians think me？ What do they say of me？〃 Prexaspes answered； 〃Oh！ sire； they praise thee greatly in all things but one… they say thou art too much given to love of wine。〃 Such Prexaspes told him was the judgment of the Persians； whereupon Cambyses； full of rage； made answer； 〃What？ they say now that I drink too much wine； and so have lost my senses； and am gone out of my mind！ Then their former speeches about me were untrue。〃 For once； when the Persians were sitting with him； and Croesus was by； he had asked them； 〃What sort of man they thought him compared to his father Cyrus？〃 Hereon they had answered； 〃That he surpassed his father； for he was lord of all that his father ever ruled； and further had made himself master of Egypt； and the sea。〃 Then Croesus； who was standing near； and misliked the comparison； spoke thus to Cambyses： 〃In my judgment； O son of Cyrus； thou art not equal to thy father； for thou hast not yet left behind thee such a son as he。〃 Cambyses was delighted when he heard this reply； and praised the judgment of Croesus。 Recollecting these answers； Cambyses spoke fiercely to Prexaspes； saying； 〃Judge now thyself； Prexaspes； whether the Persians tell the truth； or whether it is not they who are mad for speaking as they do。 Look there now at thy son standing in the vestibule… if I shoot and hit him right in the middle of the heart； it will be plain the Persians have no grounds for what they say： if I miss him； then I allow that the Persians are right； and that I am out of my mind。〃 So speaking he drew his bow to the full； and struck the boy； who straightway fell down dead。 Then Cambyses ordered the body to be opened； and the wound examined； and when the arrow was found to have entered the heart； the king was quite overjoyed； and said to the father with a laugh； 〃Now thou seest plainly； Prexaspes； that it is not I who am mad； but the Persians who have lost their senses。 I pray thee tell me； sawest thou ever mortal man send an arrow with a better aim？〃 Prexaspes； seeing that the king was not in his right mind； and fearing for himself； replied； 〃Oh！ my lord； I do not think that God himself could shoot so dexterously。〃 Such was the outrage which Cambyses committed at this time： at another； he took twelve of the noblest Persians； and； without bringing any charge worthy of death against them； buried them all up to the neck。 Hereupon Croesus the Lydian thought it right to admonish Cambyses； which he did in these words following：… 〃Oh！ king； allow not thyself to give way entirely to thy youth； and the heat of thy temper； but check and control thyself。 It is well to look to consequences； and in forethought is true wisdom。 Thou layest hold of men； who are thy fellow…citizens； and； without cause of complaint； slayest them… thou even puttest children to death… bethink thee now； if thou shalt often do things like these； will not the Persians rise in revolt against thee？ It is by thy father's wish that I offer thee advice； he charged me strictly to give thee such counsel as I might see to be most for thy good。〃 In thus advising Cambyses； Croesus meant nothing but what was friendly。 But Cambyses answered him； 〃Dost thou presume to offer me advice？ Right well thou ruledst thy own country when thou wert a king； and right sage advice thou gavest my father Cyrus； bidding him cross the Araxes and fight the Massagetae in their own land； when they were willing to have passed over into ours。 By thy misdirection of thine own affairs thou broughtest ruin upon thyself； and by thy bad counsel； which he followed； thou broughtest ruin upon Cyrus； my father。 But thou shalt not escape punishment now； for I have long been seeking to find some occasion against thee。〃 As he thus spoke； Cambyses took up his bow to shoot at Croesus； but Croesus ran hastily out； and escaped。 So when Cambyses found that he could not kill him with his bow； he bade his servants seize him； and put him to death。 The servants； however； who knew their master's humour； thought it best to hide Croesus； that so； if Cambyses relented； and asked for him； they might bring him out； and get a reward for having saved his life… if； on the other hand； he did not relent； or regret the loss； they might then despatch him。 Not long afterwards； Cambyses did in fact regret the loss of Croesus； and the servants； perceiving it； let him know that he was still alive。 〃I am glad；〃 said he； 〃that Croesus lives； but as for you who saved him； ye shall not escape my vengeance； but shall all of you be put to death。〃 And he did even as he had said。 Many other wild outrages of this sort did Cambyses commit； both upon the Persians and the allies； while he still stayed at Memphis； among the rest he opened the ancient sepulchres； and examined the bodies that were buried in them。 He likewise went into the temple of Vulcan； and made great sport of the image。 For the image of Vulcan is very like the Pataeci of the Phoenicians； wherewith they ornament the prows of their ships of war。 If persons have not seen these； I will explain in a different way… it is a figure resembling that of a pigmy。 He went also into the temple of the Cabiri； which it is unlawful for any one to enter except the priests； and not only made sport of the images； but even burnt them。 They are made like the statue of Vulcan； who is said to have been their father。 Thus it appears certain to me； by a great variety of proofs； that Cambyses was raving mad； he would not else have set himself to make a mock of holy rites and long…established usages。 For if one were to offer men to choose out of all the customs in the world such as seemed to them the best； they would examine the whole number； and end by preferring their own； so convinced are they that their own usages far surpass those of all others。 Unless； therefore； a man was mad； it is not likely that he would make sport of such matters。 That people have this feeling about their laws may be seen by very many proofs： among others； by the following。 Darius； after he had got the kingdom； called into his presence certain Greeks who were at hand； and asked… 〃What he should pay them to eat the bodies of their fathers when they died？〃 To which they answered； that there was no sum that would tempt them to do such a thing。 He then sent for certain Indians； of the race called Callatians； men who eat their fathers； and asked them； while the Greeks stood by； and knew by the help of an interpreter all that was said … 〃What he should give them to burn the bodies of their fathers at their decease？〃 The Indians exclaimed aloud； and bade him forbear such language。 Such is men's wont herein； and Pindar was right； in my judgment； when he said； 〃Law is the king o'er all。〃 While Cambyses was carrying on this war in Egypt； the Lacedaemonians likewise sent a force to Samos against Polycrates； the son of Aeaces； who had by insurrection made himself master of that island。 At the outset he divided the state into three parts； and shared the kingdom with his brothers； Pantagnotus and Syloson； but later； having killed the former and banished the latter； who was the younger of the two； he held the whole island。 Hereupon he made a contract of friendship with Amasis the E
