merely
regarded him as unduly severe and selfish. A dispassionate consideration
of all the evidence on the subject leads to the conclusion that Cambyses
lived and died in the possession of his reason, having neither destroyed
it through inebriety nor lost it by the judgment of Heaven.

The death of Cambyses (B.C. 522) left the conspirators, who had
possession of the capital, at liberty to develop their projects, and
to take such steps as they thought best for the consolidation and
perpetuation of their power. The position which they occupied was one
of peculiar delicacy. On the one hand, the impostor had to guard against
acting in any way which would throw suspicion on his being really
Smerdis, the son of Cyrus. On the other, he had to satisfy the Magian
priests, to whom he was well known, and on whom he mainly depended for
support, if his imposture should be detected. These priests must have
desired a change of the national religion, and to effect this must have
been the true aim and object of the revolution. But it was necessary to
proceed with the utmost caution. An open proclamation that Magism was
to supersede Zoroastrianism would have seemed a strange act in an
Achaemenian prince, and could scarcely have failed to arouse doubts
which might easily terminate in discovery. The Magian brothers shrank
from affronting this peril, and resolved, before approaching it, to
obtain for the new government an amount of general popularity which
would make its overthrow in fair fight difficult. Accordingly the new
reign was inaugurated by a general remission of tribute and military
service for the space of three years--a measure which was certain to
give satisfaction to all the tribes and nations of the Empire, except
the Persians. Persia Proper was at all times exempt from tribute, and
was thus, so far, unaffected by the boon granted, while military service
was no doubt popular with the ruling nation, for whose benefit the
various conquests were effected. Still Persia could scarcely take
umbrage at an inactivity which was to last only three years, while
to the rest of the Empire the twofold grace accorded must have been
thoroughly acceptable.

Further to confirm his uncertain hold upon the throne, the
Pseudo-Smerdis took to wife all the widows of his predecessor. This is
a practice common in the East; and there can be no doubt that it gives a
new monarch a certain prestige in the eyes of his people. In the present
case, howeve