THALIA. 9

XIV. On the tenth day after the surrender of the
citadel of Memphis, Psammenitus, the Egyptian king,
who had reigned no more than six months, was by
order of Cambyses, ignominiously conducted, with
other Egyptians, to the outside of the walls, and by
way of trial of his disposition, thus treated: His
daughter, in the habit of a slave, was sent with a
pitcher to draw water; she was accompanied by a
number of young women clothed in the same garb,
and selected from families of the first distinction.
They passed, with much and loud lamentation, before
their parents, from whom their treatment excited a
correspondent violence of grief. But when Psam­
menitus beheld the spectacle, he merely declined his
eyes upon the ground; when this train was gone by,
the son of Psammenitus, with two thousand Egyptians
of the same age, were made to walk in procession,
with ropes round their necks, and bridles in their
mouths. These were intended to avenge the death
of those Mitylenians who, with their vessel, had been
torn to pieces at Memphis. The king's counsellors
had determined that for every one put to death on
that occasion, ten of the highest rank of the Egyptians
should be sacrificed. Psammenitus observed these
as they passed, but although he perceived that his son
was going to be executed, and whilst all the Egyptians
around him wept and lamented aloud, he continued
unmoved as before. When this scene also disap­
peared, he beheld a venerable personage, who had
formerly partaken of the royal table, deprived of all
he had possessed, and in the dress of a mendicant
asking charity through the different ranks of the army.
This man stopped to beg an alms of Psammenitus, tho
son of Amasis, and of the other noble Egyptians who
were sitting with him; which when Psammenitus be­
held, be could no longer suppress his emotions, but
calling on his friend by name, wept aloud, and beat
his head. This the spies who were placed near him
to observe his conduct on each incident, reported to
Cambyses; who, in astonishment at such behaviour,
sent a messenger, who was thus directed to address
him, " Your lord and master, Cambyses, is desirous