these orders, in spite of the physicians, had been
obeyed, Cambyses was raised into an upright sitting position, and began,
in a voice which could be heard at a considerable distance:

"The time to reveal my great secret has arrived, O ye Persians. Deceived
by a vision, provoked and annoyed by my brother, I caused him to be
murdered in my wrath. Prexaspes wrought the evil deed by my command, but
instead of bringing me the peace I yearned for, that deed has tortured me
into madness and death. By this my confession ye will be convinced, that
my brother Bartja is really dead. The Magi have usurped the throne of the
Achaemenidae. Oropastes, whom I left in Persia as my vicegerent and his
brother Gaumata, who resembles Bartja so nearly that even Croesus,
Intaphernes and my uncle, the noble Hystaspes, were once deceived by the
likeness, have placed themselves at their head. Woe is me, that I have
murdered him who, as my nearest kinsman, should have avenged on the Magi
this affront to my honor. But I cannot recall him from the dead, and I
therefore appoint you the executors of my last will. By the Feruer of my
dead father, and in the name of all good and pure spirits, I conjure you
not to suffer the government to fall into the hands of the unfaithful
Magi. If they have obtained possession thereof by artifice, wrest it from
their hands in like manner; if by force, use force to win it back. Obey
this my last will, and the earth will yield you its fruits abundantly;
your wives, your flocks and herds shall be blessed and freedom shall be
your portion. Refuse to obey it, and ye shall suffer the corresponding
evils; yea, your end, and that of every Persian shall be even as mine."

After these words the king wept and sank back fainting, on seeing which,
the Achaemenidae rent their clothes and burst into loud lamentations. A
few hours later Cambyses died in Croesus' arms. Nitetis was his last
thought; he died with her name on his lips and tears of penitence in his
eyes. When the Persians had left the unclean corpse, Croesus knelt down
beside it and cried, raising his hand to heaven: "Great Cyrus, I have
kept my oath. I have remained this miserable man's faithful adviser even
unto his end."

The next morning the old man betook himself, accompanied by his son
Gyges, to the town of Barene, which belonged to him, and lived there many
years as a father to his subjects, revered by Darius and praised by all
his contemporaries.