allest portions of the bodies were preserved,
and confirm the statements of Herodotus on many points. The
monuments also contain much information in regard to embalming, and
we now know the purpose of nearly all the amulets placed with the
dead.]

For nine days Cambyses remained in a condition, which seemed little
short of insanity. At times furious, at others dull and stupefied, he
did not even allow his relations or the high-priest to approach him. On
the morning of the tenth day he sent for the chief of the seven
judges and commanded, that as lenient a sentence as possible should
be pronounced on Gaumata. Nitetis, on her dying-bed, had begged him to
spare the life of this unhappy youth.

One hour later the sentence was submitted to the king for ratification.
It ran thus: "Victory to the king! Inasmuch as Cambyses, the eye of the
world and the sun of righteousness, hath, in his great mercy, which
is as broad as the heavens and as inexhaustible as the great deep,
commanded us to punish the crime of the son of the Magi, Gaumata, with
the indulgence of a mother instead of with the severity of a judge, we,
the seven judges of the realm, have determined to grant his forfeited
life. Inasmuch, however, as by the folly of this youth the lives of
the noblest and best in this realm have been imperilled, and it may
reasonably be apprehended that he may again abuse the marvellous
likeness to Bartja, the noble son of Cyrus, in which the gods have been
pleased in their mercy to fashion his form and face, and thereby bring
prejudice upon the pure and righteous, we have determined to disfigure
him in such wise, that in the time to come it will be a light matter to
discern between this, the most worthless subject of the realm, and
him who is most worthy. We therefore, by the royal Will and command,
pronounce sentence, that both the ears of Gaumata be cut off, for the
honor of the righteous and shame of the impure."

Cambyses confirmed this sentence at once, and it was executed the same
day.

[With reference to Gaumata's punishment, the same which Herodotus
says was inflicted on the pretended Smerdis, we would observe that
even Persians of high rank were sometimes deprived of their ears.
In the Behistan inscription (Spiegel p. 15 and 21.) the ears, tongue
and nose of the man highest in rank among the rebels, were cut off.
Similar punishments are quoted by Brisson.]

Oropastes did not dare to interced