Histories

So spoke the herald, telling the whole truth; and Cambyses said, “Prexaspes, having done what you were told like a good man you are free of blame; but who can this Persian be who rebels against me and usurps the name of Smerdis?”

Prexaspes replied, “I think, sire, that I understand what has been done here; the rebels are the Magi, Patizeithes whom you left steward of your house, and his brother Smerdis.”

The truth of the words and of a dream struck Cambyses the moment he heard the name Smerdis; for he had dreamt that a message had come to him that Smerdis sitting on the royal throne touched heaven with his head;

and perceiving that he had killed his brother without cause, he wept bitterly for Smerdis. Having wept, and grieved by all his misfortune, he sprang upon his horse, with intent to march at once to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa against the Magus.

As he sprang upon his horse, the cap fell off the sheath of his sword, and the naked blade pierced his thigh, wounding him in the same place where he had once wounded the Egyptian god Apis; and believing the wound to be mortal, Cambyses asked what was the name of the town where he was.

They told him it was +Hamadan [48.583,34.766] (inhabited place), Hamadan, Iran, Asia Ecbatana. Now a prophecy had before this come to him from +Kawm al-Farain [30.733,31.2] (deserted settlement), Kafr ash-Shaykh, Lower Egypt, Egypt, Africa Buto, that he would end his life at +Hamadan [48.583,34.766] (inhabited place), Hamadan, Iran, Asia Ecbatana; Cambyses supposed this to signify that he would die in old age at the Median +Hamadan [48.583,34.766] (inhabited place), Hamadan, Iran, Asia Ecbatana, his capital city; but as the event proved, the oracle prophesied his death at +Hamadan [48.583,34.766] (inhabited place), Hamadan, Iran, Asia Ecbatana of +Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria.

So when he now inquired and learned the name of the town, the shock of his wound, and of the misfortune that came to him from the Magus, brought him to his senses; he understood the prophecy and said: “Here Cambyses son of Cyrus is to die.”