THALIA. 41

been injured by Cambyses, who had slain his son
with an arrow; and that he alone was privy to the
death of Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, having been his
executioner; they were conscious also that he was
highly esteemed by the Persians. They accordingly
sent for him, and made him the most liberal promises;
they made him swear that he would on no account
disclose the fallacy which thoy practised on the Per­
sians ; and they promised him, in reward of his fidelity,
rewards without number. Prexaspes engaged to
comply with their wishes; they then told him of their
intention to assemble the Persians beneath the tower
which was the royal residence, from whence they de­
sired him to declare aloud that he who then sate on
the throne of Persia was Smerdis, the son of Cyrus,
and no other. They were induced to this measure,
from a consideration of the great authority of Prex­
aspes, and because he had frequently declared that he
had never put Smerdis, the son of Cyrus, to death,
but that he was still alive.

LXXV. Prexaspes agreed to comply with all that
they proposed: the magi accordingly assembled the
Persians, and leading Prexaspes to the top of the
tower, commanded him to make an oration. He,
without paying the least attention to the promises he
had made, recited the genealogy of the family of
Cyrus, beginning with Achsemenes. When he came
to Cyrus himself, he enumerated the services which
that prince had rendered the Persians. He then made
a full discovery of the truth, excusing himself for
concealing it so long, from the danger which the re­
vealing it would have incurred, but that it was now
forced from him. He assured them that he actually
had killed Smerdis, by the order of Cambyses, and
that the magi now exercised the sovereign authority.
Whe q he had imprecated many cursos upon the Por-
fians, if they did not attempt the recovory of their
rights, and take vengeance upon the usurpers, he
threw himself from the tower. Such was the end of
Prexaspes, a man who through ovory period of his
life merited esteem.
LXXVI. The seven Persians, having determined

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