18 THALIA.

who indeed did not before appear to have hadftie
proper use of his reason. The first impulse of Jiia
fury, was directed against Smerdis, his own brother,
who had become the object of his jealousy, becatise
he was the only Persian who had been able to band
the bow, which the Ichthyophagi brought from Ethio­
pia, the breadth of two fingers. He was therefore
ordered to return to Persia, where as soon as he
arrived, Cambyses saw this vision : a messenger ap­
peared to arrive from Persia, informing him that
Smerdis, seated on the royal throne, touched the
heavens with his head. Cambyses was instantly
struck with the apprehension that Smerdis would kill
him, and seiie his dominions; to prevent which ho
despatched Prexaspes, a Persian, and one of his most
faithful adherents, to put him to death. He arrived
at Susa, and destroyed Smerdis, some say, by taking:
him aside whilst engaged in the diversion of the
chase; others believed that he drowned him in Ihei
Red Sea; this, however, was the commencement of
the calamities of Cambyses.

XXXI. The next victim of his fury was his sister,
who had accompanied him to Egypt. She was also'
his wife, which thing he thus accomplished: before
this prince, no Persian had ever been known to marry
his sister; but Cambyses, being passionately fond of
one of his, and knowing that there was no precedent
to justify his making her his wife, assembled thoea
who were called the royal judges; of thein, he desired
to know whether there was any law which would-
permit a brother to marry his sister, if he thought .
proper to do so. The royal judges in Persia are men
of the most approved integrity, who hold their places
for life, or till they shall be convicted of some crime.
Evory thing is referred to their decision, they are the
interpreters of the laws, and determine all private dis­
putes. In answor to the inquiry of Cambyses, they
replied shrewdly, though with truth, that although
they could find no law which would permit a brother
to marry his sister, they had discovered one which
enabled a monarch of Persia to do what he ploased.
In this answer, th9 awe of Cambyses prevented their