herodotus

last what great benefits he had conferred upon the Persians; andhaving gone through this recital he proceeded to declare the truth,saying that formerly he kept it secret, since it was not safe for himto tell of that which had been done, but at the present time he wascompelled to make it known. He proceeded to say how he had himselfslain Smerdis the son of Cyrus, being compelled by Cambyses, and thatit was the Magians who were now ruling. Then he made imprecation ofmany evils on the Persians, if they did not win back again the powerand take vengeance upon the Magians, and upon that he let himself falldown from the tower head foremost. Thus Prexaspes ended his life,having been throughout his time a man of repute.76. Now the seven of the Persians, when they had resolved forthwith tolay hands upon the Magians and not to delay, made prayer to the godsand went, knowing nothing of that which had been done with regard toPrexaspes: and as they were going and were in the middle of theircourse, they heard that which had happened about Prexaspes. Upon thatthey retired out of the way and again considered with themselves,Otanes and his supporters strongly urging that they should delay andnot set to the work when things were thus disturbed,[66] while Dareiosand those of his party urged that they should go forthwith and do thatwhich had been resolved, and not delay. Then while they werecontending, there appeared seven pairs of hawks pursuing two pairs ofvultures, plucking out their feathers and tearing them. Seeing thisthe seven all approved the opinion of Dareios and thereupon they wentto the king's palace, encouraged by the sight of the birds. 77. Whenthey appeared at the gates, it happened nearly as Dareios supposed,for the guards, having respect for men who were chief among thePersians, and not suspecting that anything would be done by them ofthe kind proposed, allowed them to pass in under the guiding ofheaven, and none asked them any question. Then when they had passedinto the court, they met the eunuchs who bore in the messages to theking; and these inquired of them for what purpose they had come, andat the same time they threatened with punishment the keepers of thegates for having let them pass in, and tried to stop the seven whenthey attempted to go forward. Then they gave the word to one anotherand drawing their daggers stabbed these men there upon the spot, whotried to stop them, and themselves went running on towards the chamberof the men.[66a] 78. Now the Magians happened both of them to be therewithin, consulting about that which had been done by Prexaspes. Sowhen they saw that the eunuchs had been attacked and were cryingaloud, they ran back[67] both of them, and perceiving that which wasbeing done they turned to self-defence: and one of them got down hisbow and arrows before he was attacked, while the other had recourse tohis spear. Then they engaged in combat with one another; and that oneof them who had taken up his bow and arrows found them of no use,