s;
and one of them uttered this saying: "Why, O Persians, do ye remain
sitting here, and not depart? For then only shall ye capture us, when
mules shall bring forth young." This was said by one of the Babylonians,
not supposing that a mule would ever bring forth young.

152. So when a year and seven months had now passed by, Dareios began
to be vexed and his whole army with him, not being able to conquer the
Babylonians. And yet Dareios had used against them every kind of device
and every possible means, but not even so could he conquer them, though
besides other devices he had attempted it by that also with which Cyrus
conquered them; but the Babylonians were terribly on their guard and he
was not able to conquer them.

153. Then in the twentieth month there happened to Zopyros the son of
that Megabyzos who had been of the seven men who slew the Magian, to
this Zopyros, I say, son of Megabyzos there happened a prodigy,--one of
the mules which served as bearers of provisions for him produced young:
and when this was reported to him, and Zopyros had himself seen the
foal, because he did not believe the report, he charged those who
had seen it not to tell that which had happened to any one, and he
considered with himself what to do. And having regard to the words
spoken by the Babylonian, who had said at first that when mules should
produce young, then the wall would be taken, having regard (I say) to
this ominous saying, it seemed to Zopyros that Babylon could be taken:
for he thought that both the man had spoken and his mule had produced
young by divine dispensation.

154. Since then it seemed to him that it was now fated that Babylon
should be captured, he went to Dareios and inquired of him whether he
thought it a matter of very great moment to conquer Babylon; and hearing
in answer that he thought it of great consequence, he considered again
how he might be the man to take it and how the work might be his own:
for among the Persians benefits are accounted worthy of a very high
degree of honour. 132 He considered accordingly that he was not able to
make conquest of it by any other means, but only if he should maltreat
himself and desert to their side. So, making light esteem of himself, he
maltreated his own body in a manner which could not be cured; for he cut
off his nose and his ears, and shaved his hair round in an unseemly way,
and scourged himself, and so went into the presence of Dareios.

155. And Dareios