eep, and this so restored his strength, that on waking he
called for Croesus and required an exact relation of the events that had
passed during the last few years.

His old friend and adviser obeyed; he felt that Cambyses was still
entrusted to his care, and in the hope, faint as it was, of bringing
him back to the right way, he did not suppress one of the king's acts of
violence in his relation.

His joy was therefore great at perceiving, that his words made a deep
impression on the newly-awakened mind of the king. With tears in his
eyes, and with the ashamed look of a child, he grieved over his wrong
deeds and his madness, begged Croesus to forgive him, thanked him for
having borne so long and faithfully with him, and commissioned him to
ask Kassandane and Sappho especially for forgiveness, but also, Atossa
and all whom he had unjustly offended.

The old man wept too, but his tears were tears of joy and he repeatedly
assured Cambyses that he would recover and have ample opportunity of
making amends for the past. But to all this Cambyses shook his head
resolutely, and, pale and wan as he looked, begged Croesus to have his
couch carried on to a rising ground in the open air, and then to summon
the Achaemenidae. When 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 t