Histories

Megabazus easily persuaded Darius, who believed that his vision of the future was correct. Presently the king sent a message to Myrcinus which read as follows: “ Histiaeus, these are the words of Darius the king: my thoughts can show me no man who is more devoted to me and my affairs. Not words but deeds have proven this to me.

Now, therefore, let nothing prevent you from coming to me so that I may inform you of certain great purposes which I have in mind.” Trusting these words, and proud, moreover, that he would be the king's counsellor, Histiaeus came to Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis.

When he had come, Darius said to him, “Histiaeus, I will tell you the reason why I sent for you. As soon as I returned from Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia and you were gone from my sight, there was nothing which I longed for so much as seeing you and speaking with you, for I knew that the most precious of all possessions is a wise and loyal friend. That you are such I can bear witness to as regards my affairs.

Now, since you have done well in coming here, I make you this proposal. Leave Miletus [27.3,37.5] (Perseus) Miletus and your newly founded Thracian city and follow me to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, where you will have all that is mine, sharing my table and my counsels.”

This, then, is what Darius said, and after appointing Artaphrenes, his father's son, to be viceroy of Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis, he rode away to Shush [48.333,32.2] (inhabited place), Khuzestan, Iran, AsiaSusa, taking Histiaeus with him. First, however, he made Otanes governor of the people on the coast. Otanes' father Sisamnes had been one of the royal judges,[*](Cp. Hdt. 3.31.) and Cambyses had cut his throat and flayed off all his skin because he had been bribed to give an unjust judgment. Then he cut leather strips of the skin which had been torn away and with these he covered the seat upon which Sisamenes had sat to give judgment.

After doing this, Cambyses appointed the son of this slain and flayed Sisamnes to be judge in his place, admonishing him to keep in mind the nature of the throne on which he was sitting.