The histories of Herodotus;

74-77] DEATH OF PREXASPES 1 83
oaths that he would keep to himself, and never divulge to
any man, the cheat they had put upon the Persians, assuring
him that they would give him everything in abundance. When
Prexaspes had promised that he would do as the magi persuaded
him, they made a second proposal, saying that they
would assemble all the Persians under the walls of the palace,
and desired that he would ascend a tower, and harangue them,
assuring them that they were governed by Smerdis, son of
Cyrus, and by no one else. This they enjoined him, as being
a man most trusted by the Persians, and as having frequently
affirmed his belief that Smerdis, son of Cyrus, was still living,
and having utterly denied his murder. When Prexaspes said
that he was ready to do that also, the magi, having convoked
the Persians, placed him on the top of a turret, and commanded
him to harangue the people. But he purposely forgot
what they desired him to say, and, beginning from Achaemenes,
described the genealogy of Cyrus's family; and afterward,
when he came down to him, he ended by telling them
what great benefits Cyrus had done the Persians : and having
gone through these, he declared the whole truth, saying
that he had before concealed it, as it was not safe for him to
tell what had happened; but that in the present emergency
necessity constrained him to make it known. He accordingly
told them that he, being compelled by Cambyses, had put
Smerdis, son of Cyrus, to death, and that the magi then
reigned. After he had uttered many imprecations against the
Persians if they should not recover the sovereign power,
and punish the magi, he threw himself headlong from the
tower. Thus died Prexaspes, a man highly esteemed during
the course of his whole life.
The seven Persians, having resolved to attack the magi
without delay, set out after they had offered prayers to the
gods ; and while they were in the midst of their way they
were informed of all that had occurred with respect to Prex-
whereupon, standing aside out of the way, they again
aspes ;
conferred together ; and some with Otanes strongly advised
to defer the enterprise, and not to attempt it while affairs
were in such a ferment ; but others, with Darius, urged to
proceed at once, and to do what had been determined on, and
on no account to defer it. While they were hotly disputing
there appeared seven pairs of hawks pursuing two pairs of
vultures, and plucking and tearing them. The seven, on seeing
this, all approved the opinion of Darius, and forthwith
proceeded to the palace, emboldened by the omen. When
they approached the gates, it happened as Darius had sup-