herodotus

army by gestures and by words; and one of them uttered this saying:"Why, O Persians, do ye remain sitting here, and not depart? For thenonly shall ye capture us, when mules shall bring forth young." Thiswas said by one of the Babylonians, not supposing that a mule wouldever bring forth young. 152. So when a year and seven months had nowpassed by, Dareios began to be vexed and his whole army with him, notbeing able to conquer the Babylonians. And yet Dareios had usedagainst them every kind of device and every possible means, but noteven so could he conquer them, though besides other devices he hadattempted it by that also with which Cyrus conquered them; but theBabylonians were terribly on their guard and he was not able toconquer them. 153. Then in the twentieth month there happened toZopyros the son of that Megabyzos who had been of the seven men whoslew the Magian, to this Zopyros, I say, son of Megabyzos therehappened a prodigy,--one of the mules which served as bearers ofprovisions for him produced young: and when this was reported to him,and Zopyros had himself seen the foal, because he did not believe thereport, he charged those who had seen it not to tell that which hadhappened to any one, and he considered with himself what to do. Andhaving regard to the words spoken by the Babylonian, who had said atfirst that when mules should produce young, then the wall would betaken, having regard (I say) to this ominous saying, it seemed toZopyros that Babylon could be taken: for he thought that both the manhad spoken and his mule had produced young by divine dispensation.154. Since then it seemed to him that it was now fated that Babylonshould be captured, he went to Dareios and inquired of him whether hethought it a matter of very great moment to conquer Babylon; andhearing in answer that he thought it of great consequence, heconsidered again how he might be the man to take it and how the workmight be his own: for among the Persians benefits are accounted worthyof a very high degree of honour.[132] He considered accordingly thathe was not able to make conquest of it by any other means, but only ifhe should maltreat himself and desert to their side. So, making lightesteem of himself, he maltreated his own body in a manner which couldnot be cured; for he cut off his nose and his ears, and shaved hishair round in an unseemly way, and scourged himself, and so went intothe presence of Dareios. 155. And Dareios was exceedingly troubledwhen he saw the man of most repute with him thus maltreated; andleaping up from his seat he cried aloud and asked him who was theperson who had maltreated him, and for what deed. He replied: "Thatman does not exist, excepting thee, who has so great power as to bringme into this condition; and not any stranger, O king, has done this,but I myself to myself, accounting it a very grievous thing that theAssyrians should make a mock of the Persians." He made answer: "Thoumost reckless of men, thou didst set the fairest name to the foulestdeed when thou saidest that on account of those who are besieged thou