Histories

“Although I am the mother of such children, Cyrus dishonors me and honors his new woman from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.” So she spoke in her bitterness against Nitetis; and Cambyses, the eldest of her sons, said,

“Then, mother, when I am grown up, I will turn all Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt upside down.” When he said this, he was about ten years old, and the women were amazed; but he kept it in mind, and it was thus that when he grew up and became king, he made the campaign against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.

It so happened, too, that something else occurred contributing to this campaign. There was among Amasis' mercenaries a man who was a Halicarnassian by birth, a clever man and a good soldier, whose name was Phanes.

This Phanes had some grudge against Amasis, and fled from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt aboard ship, hoping to talk to Cambyses. Since he was a man much admired among the mercenaries and had an exact knowledge of all Egyptian matters, Amasis was anxious to catch him, and sent a trireme with his most trusted eunuch to pursue him. This eunuch caught him in +Lycia (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lycia but never brought him back to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, for Phanes was too clever for him.

He made his guards drunk and so escaped to Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia. There he found Cambyses prepared to set out against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, but in doubt as to his march, how he should cross the waterless desert; so Phanes showed him what was Amasis' condition and how he should march; as to this, he advised Cambyses to send and ask the king of the Arabians for a safe passage.