the history-第55章

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n　race　to　rise　up　in　arms　against　him。　Thus　they　were　convinced　that　it　was　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus　who　had　rebelled　and　now　sate　on　the　throne。　For　Prexaspes　stoutly　denied　that　he　had　slain　Smerdis；　since　it　was　not　safe　for　him；　after　Cambyses　was　dead；　to　allow　that　a　son　of　Cyrus　had　met　with　death　at　his　hands。　　　　　Thus　then　Cambyses　died；　and　the　Magus　now　reigned　in　security；　and　passed　himself　off　for　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus。　And　so　went　by　the　seven　months　which　were　wanting　to　complete　the　eighth　year　of　Cambyses。　His　subjects；　while　his　reign　lasted；　received　great　benefits　from　him；　insomuch　that；　when　he　died；　all　the　dwellers　in　Asia　mourned　his　loss　exceedingly；　except　only　the　Persians。　For　no　sooner　did　he　come　to　the　throne　than　forthwith　he　sent　round　to　every　nation　under　his　rule；　and　granted　them　freedom　from　war…service　and　from　taxes　for　the　space　of　three　years。　　　　　In　the　eighth　month；　however；　it　was　discovered　who　he　was　in　the　mode　following。　There　was　a　man　called　Otanes；　the　son　of　Pharnaspes；　who　for　rank　and　wealth　was　equal　to　the　greatest　of　the　Persians。　This　Otanes　was　the　first　to　suspect　that　the　Magus　was　not　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus；　and　to　surmise　moreover　who　he　really　was。　He　was　led　to　guess　the　truth　by　the　king　never　quitting　the　citadel；　and　never　calling　before　him　any　of　the　Persian　noblemen。　As　soon；　therefore；　as　his　suspicions　were　aroused　he　adopted　the　following　measures：…　One　of　his　daughters；　who　was　called　Phaedima；　had　been　married　to　Cambyses；　and　was　taken　to　wife；　together　with　the　rest　of　Cambyses'　wives；　by　the　Magus。　To　this　daughter　Otanes　sent　a　message；　and　inquired　of　her　〃who　it　was　whose　bed　she　shared；…　was　it　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus；　or　was　it　some　other　man？〃　Phaedima　in　reply　declared　she　did　not　know…　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus　she　had　never　seen；　and　so　she　could　not　tell　whose　bed　she　shared。　Upon　this　Otanes　sent　a　second　time；　and　said；　〃If　thou　dost　not　know　Smerdis　son　of　Cyrus　thyself；　ask　queen　Atossa　who　it　is　with　whom　ye　both　live…　she　cannot　fail　to　know　her　own　brother。〃　To　this　the　daughter　made　answer；　〃I　can　neither　get　speech　with　Atossa；　nor　with　any　of　the　women　who　lodge　in　the　palace。　For　no　sooner　did　this　man；　be　he　who　he　may；　obtain　the　kingdom；　than　he　parted　us　from　one　another；　and　gave　us　all　separate　chambers。〃　　　　　This　made　the　matter　seem　still　more　plain　to　Otanes。　Nevertheless　he　sent　a　third　message　to　his　daughter　in　these　words　following：…　〃Daughter；　thou　art　of　noble　blood…　thou　wilt　not　shrink　from　a　risk　which　thy　father　bids　thee　encounter。　If　this　fellow　be　not　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus；　but　the　man　whom　I　think　him　to　be；　his　boldness　in　taking　thee　to　be　his　wife；　and　lording　it　over　the　Persians；　must　not　be　allowed　to　pass　unpunished。　Now　therefore　do　as　I　command…　when　next　he　passes　the　night　with　thee；　wait　till　thou　art　sure　he　is　fast　asleep；　and　then　feel　for　his　ears。　If　thou　findest　him　to　have　ears；　then　believe　him　to　be　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus；　but　if　he　has　none；　know　him　for　Smerdis　the　Magian。〃　Phaedima　returned　for　answer；　〃It　would　be　a　great　risk。　If　he　was　without　ears；　and　caught　her　feeling　for　them；　she　well　knew　he　would　make　away　with　her…　nevertheless　she　would　venture。〃　So　Otanes　got　his　daughter's　promise　that　she　would　do　as　he　desired。　Now　Smerdis　the　Magian　had　had　his　ears　cut　off　in　the　lifetime　of　Cyrus　son　of　Cambyses；　as　a　punishment　for　a　crime　of　no　slight　heinousness。　Phaedima　therefore；　Otanes'　daughter；　bent　on　accomplishing　what　she　had　promised　her　father；　when　her　turn　came；　and　she　was　taken　to　the　bed　of　the　Magus　（in　Persia　a　man's　wives　sleep　with　him　in　their　turns）；　waited　till　he　was　sound　asleep；　and　then　felt　for　his　ears。　She　quickly　perceived　that　he　had　no　ears；　and　of　this；　as　soon　as　day　dawned；　she　sent　word　to　her　father。　　　　　Then　Otanes　took　to　him　two　of　the　chief　Persians；　Aspathines　and　Gobryas；　men　whom　it　was　most　advisable　to　trust　in　such　a　matter；　and　told　them　everything。　Now　they　had　already　of　themselves　suspected　how　the　matter　stood。　When　Otanes　therefore　laid　his　reasons　before　them　they　at　once　came　into　his　views；　and　it　was　agreed　that　each　of　the　three　should　take　as　companion　in　the　work　the　Persian　in　whom　he　placed　the　greatest　confidence。　Then　Otanes　chose　Intaphernes；　Gobryas　Megabyzus；　and　Aspathines　Hydarnes。　After　the　number　had　thus　become　six；　Darius；　the　son　of　Hystaspes；　arrived　at　Susa　from　Persia；　whereof　his　father　was　governor。　On　his　coming　it　seemed　good　to　the　six　to　take　him　likewise　into　their　counsels。　　　　　After　this；　the　men；　being　now　seven　in　all；　met　together　to　exchange　oaths；　and　hold　discourse　with　one　another。　And　when　it　came　to　the　turn　of　Darius　to　speak　his　mind；　he　said　as　follows：…　〃Methought　no　one　but　I　knew　that　Smerdis；　the　son　of　Cyrus；　was　not　now　alive；　and　that　Smerdis　the　Magian　ruled　over　us；　on　this　account　I　came　hither　with　speed；　to　compass　the　death　of　the　Magian。　But　as　it　seems　the　matter　is　known　to　you　all；　and　not　to　me　only；　my　judgment　is　that　we　should　act　at　once；　and　not　any　longer　delay。　For　to　do　so　were　not　well。〃　Otanes　spoke　upon　this：…　〃Son　of　Hystaspes；〃　said　he；　〃thou　art　the　child　of　a　brave　father；　and　seemest　likely　to　show　thyself　as　bold　a　gallant　as　he。　Beware；　however；　of　rash　haste　in　this　matter；　do　not　hurry　so；　but　proceed　with　soberness。　We　must　add　to　our　number　ere　we　adventure　to　strike　the　blow。〃　〃Not　so；〃　Darius　rejoined；　〃for　let　all　present　be　well　assured　that　if　the　advice　of　Otanes　guide　our　acts；　we　shall　perish　most　miserably。　Some　one　will　betray　our　plot　to　the　Magians　for　lucre's　sake。　Ye　ought　to　have　kept　the　matter　to　yourselves；　and　so　made　the　venture；　but　as　ye　have　chosen　to　take　others　into　your　secret；　and　have　opened　the　matter　to　me；　take　my　advice　and　make　the　attempt　today…　or　if　not；　if　a　single　day　be　suffered　to　pass　by；　be　sure　that　I　will　let　no　one　betray　me　to　the　Magian。　I　myself　will　go　to　him；　and　plainly　denounce　you　all。〃　　　　　Otanes；　when　he　saw　Darius　so　hot；　replied；　〃But　if　thou　wilt　force　us　to　action；　and　not　allow　a　day's　delay；　tell　us；　I　pray　thee；　how　we　shall　get　entrance　into　the　palace；　so　as　to　set　upon　them。　Guards　are　placed　everywhere；　as　thou　thyself　well　knowest…　for　if　thou　hast　not　seen；　at　least　thou　hast　heard　tell　of　them。　How　are　we　to　pass　these　guards；　I　ask　thee？〃　answered　Darius；　〃there　are　many　things　easy　enough　in　act；　which　by　speech　it　is　hard　to　explain。　There　are　also　things　concerning　which　speech　is　easy；　but　no　noble　action　follows　when　the　speech　is　done。　As　for　these　guards；　ye　know　well　that　we　shall　not　find　it　hard　to　make　our　way　through　them。　Our　rank　alone　would　cause　them　to　allow　us　to　enter…　shame　and　fear　alike　forbidding　them　to　say　us　nay。　But　besides；　I　have　the　fairest　plea　that　can　be　conceived　for　gaining　admission。　I　can　say　that　I　have　just　come　from　Persia；　and　have　a　message　to　deliver　to　the　king　from　my　father。　An　untruth　must　be　spoken；　where　need　requires。　For　whether　men　lie；　or　say　true；　it　is　with　one　and　the　same　object。　Men　lie；　because　they　think　to　gain　by　deceiving　others；　and　speak　the　truth；　because　they　expect　to　get　something　by　their　true　speaking；　and　to　be　trusted　afterwards　in　more　important　matters。　Thus；　though　their　conduct　is　so　opposite；　the　end　of　both　is　alike。　If　there　were　no　gain　to　be　got；　your　true…speaking　man　would　tell　untruths　as　much　as　your　liar；　and　your　liar　would　tell　the　truth　as　much　as　your　true…speaking　man。　The　doorkeeper；　who　lets　us　in　readily；　shall　have　his　guerdon　some　day　or　other；　but　woe　to　the　man　who　resists　us；　he　must　forthwith　be　declared　an　enemy。　Forcing　our　way　past　him；　we　will　press　in　and　go　straight　to　our　work。〃　　　　　After　Darius　had　thus　said；　Gobryas　spoke　as　follows：…　〃Dear　friends；　when　will　a　fitter　occasion　offer　for　us　to　recover　the　kingdom；　or；　if　we　are　not　strong　enough；　at　least　die　in　the　attempt？　Consider　that　we　Persians　are　governed　by　a　Median　Magus；　and　one；　too；　who　has　had　his　ears　cut　off！　Some　of　you　were　present　when　Cambyses　lay　upon　his　deathbed…　such；　doubtless；　remember　what　curses　he　called　down　upon　the　Persians　if　they　made　no　effort　to　recover　the　kingdom。　Then；　indeed；　we　paid　but　little　heed　to　what　he　said；　because　we　thought　he　spoke　out　of　hatred　to　set　us　against　his　brother。　Now；　however；　my　vote　is　that　we　do　as　Darius　has　counselled…　march　straight　in　a　body　to　the　palace　from　the　place　where　we　now　are；　and　forthwith　set　upon　the　Magian。〃　So　Gobryas　spake；　and　the　others　all　approved。　　　　　While　the　seven　were　thus　taking　counsel　together；　it　so　chanced　that　the　following　events　were　happening：…　The　Magi　had　been　thinking　what　they　had　best　do；　and　had　resolved　for　many　reasons　to　make　a　friend　of　Prexaspes。　They　knew　how　cruelly　he　had　been　outraged　by　Cambyses；　who　slew　his　son　with　an　arrow；　they　were　also　aware　that　it　was　by　his　hand　that　Smerdis　the　son　of　Cyrus　fell；　and　that　he　was　the　only　person　privy　to　that　prince's　death；　and　they　further　found　him　to　be　held　in　the　highest　esteem　by　all　the　Persians。　So　they　called　him　to　them；　made　him　their　friend；　and　bound　him　by　a　promise　and　by　oaths　to　keep　silence　about　the　fraud　which　they　were　practisin