the history-第39章

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　appears　to　me　is　a　city　almost　as　large　as　Sardis；　the　marts　upon　the　coast　till　you　reach　Jenysus　are　the　Arabian　king's；　after　Jenysus　the　Syrians　again　come　in；　and　extend　to　Lake　Serbonis；　near　the　place　where　Mount　Casius　juts　out　into　the　sea。　At　Lake　Serbonis；　where　the　tale　goes　that　Typhon　hid　himself；　Egypt　begins。　Now　the　whole　tract　between　Jenysus　on　the　one　side；　and　Lake　Serbonis　and　Mount　Casius　on　the　other；　and　this　is　no　small　space；　being　as　much　as　three　days'　journey；　is　a　dry　desert　without　a　drop　of　water。　　　　　I　shall　now　mention　a　thing　of　which　few　of　those　who　sail　to　Egypt　are　aware。　Twice　a　year　wine　is　brought　into　Egypt　from　every　part　of　Greece；　as　well　as　from　Phoenicia；　in　earthen　jars；　and　yet　in　the　whole　country　you　will　nowhere　see；　as　I　may　say；　a　single　jar。　What　then；　every　one　will　ask；　becomes　of　the　jars？　This；　too；　I　will　clear　up。　The　burgomaster　of　each　town　has　to　collect　the　wine…jars　within　his　district；　and　to　carry　them　to　Memphis；　where　they　are　all　filled　with　water　by　the　Memphians；　who　then　convey　them　to　this　desert　tract　of　Syria。　And　so　it　comes　to　pass　that　all　the　jars　which　enter　Egypt　year　by　year；　and　are　there　put　up　to　sale；　find　their　way　into　Syria；　whither　all　the　old　jars　have　gone　before　them。　　　　　This　way　of　keeping　the　passage　into　Egypt　fit　for　use　by　storing　water　there；　was　begun　by　the　Persians　so　soon　as　they　became　masters　of　that　country。　As；　however；　at　the　time　of　which　we　speak　the　tract　had　not　yet　been　so　supplied；　Cambyses　took　the　advice　of　his　Halicarnassian　guest；　and　sent　messengers　to　the　Arabian　to　beg　a　safe…conduct　through　the　region。　The　Arabian　granted　his　prayer；　and　each　pledged　faith　to　the　other。　　　　　The　Arabs　keep　such　pledges　more　religiously　than　almost　any　other　people。　They　plight　faith　with　the　forms　following。　When　two　men　would　swear　a　friendship；　they　stand　on　each　side　of　a　third：　he　with　a　sharp　stone　makes　a　cut　on　the　inside　of　the　hand　of　each　near　the　middle　finger；　and；　taking　a　piece　from　their　dress；　dips　it　in　the　blood　of　each；　and　moistens　therewith　seven　stones　lying　in　the　midst；　calling　the　while　on　Bacchus　and　Urania。　After　this；　the　man　who　makes　the　pledge　commends　the　stranger　（or　the　citizen；　if　citizen　he　be）　to　all　his　friends；　and　they　deem　themselves　bound　to　stand　to　the　engagement。　They　have　but　these　two　gods；　to　wit；　Bacchus　and　Urania；　and　they　say　that　in　their　mode　of　cutting　the　hair；　they　follow　Bacchus。　Now　their　practice　is　to　cut　it　in　a　ring；　away　from　the　temples。　Bacchus　they　call　in　their　language　Orotal；　and　Urania；　Alilat。　　　　　When　therefore　the　Arabian　had　pledged　his　faith　to　the　messengers　of　Cambyses；　he　straightway　contrived　as　follows：…　he　filled　a　number　of　camels'　skins　with　water；　and　loading　therewith　all　the　live　camels　that　he　possessed；　drove　them　into　the　desert；　and　awaited　the　coming　of　the　army。　This　is　the　more　likely　of　the　two　tales　that　are　told。　The　other　is　an　improbable　story；　but；　as　it　is　related；　I　think　that　I　ought　not　to　pass　it　by。　There　is　a　great　river　in　Arabia；　called　the　Corys；　which　empties　itself　into　the　Erythraean　sea。　The　Arabian　king；　they　say；　made　a　pipe　of　the　skins　of　oxen　and　other　beasts；　reaching　from　this　river　all　the　way　to　the　desert；　and　so　brought　the　water　to　certain　cisterns　which　he　had　dug　in　the　desert　to　receive　it。　It　is　a　twelve　days'　journey　from　the　river　to　this　desert　tract。　And　the　water；　they　say；　was　brought　through　three　different　pipes　to　three　separate　places。　　　　　Psammenitus；　son　of　Amasis；　lay　encamped　at　the　mouth　of　the。　Nile；　called　the　Pelusiac；　awaiting　Cambyses。　For　Cambyses；　when　he　went　up　against　Egypt；　found　Amasis　no　longer　in　life：　he　had　died　after　ruling　Egypt　forty　and　four　years；　during　all　which　time　no　great　misfortune　had　befallen　him。　When　he　died；　his　body　was　embalmed；　and　buried　in　the　tomb　which　he　had　himself　caused　to　be　made　in　the　temple。　After　his　son　Psammenitus　had　mounted　the　throne；　a　strange　prodigy　occurred　in　Egypt…　rain　fell　at　Egyptian　Thebes；　a　thing　which　never　happened　before；　and　which；　to　the　present　time；　has　never　happened　again；　as　the　Thebans　themselves　testify。　In　Upper　Egypt　it　does　not　usually　rain　at　all；　but　on　this　occasion；　rain　fell　at　Thebes　in　small　drops。　　　　　The　Persians　crossed　the　desert；　and；　pitching　their　camp　close　to　the　Egyptians；　made　ready　for　battle。　Hereupon　the　mercenaries　in　the　pay　of　Psammenitus；　who　were　Greeks　and　Carians；　full　of　anger　against　Phanes　for　having　brought　a　foreign　army　upon　Egypt；　bethought　themselves　of　a　mode　whereby　they　might　be　revenged　on　him。　Phanes　had　left　sons　in　Egypt。　The　mercenaries　took　these；　and　leading　them　to　the　camp；　displayed　them　before　the　eyes　of　their　father；　after　which　they　brought　out　a　bowl；　and；　placing　it　in　the　space　between　the　two　hosts；　they　led　the　sons　of　Phanes；　one　by　one；　to　the　vessel；　and　slew　them　over　it。　When　the　last　was　dead；　water　and　wine　were　poured　into　the　bowl；　and　all　the　soldiers　tasted　of　the　blood；　and　so　they　went　to　the　battle。　Stubborn　was　the　fight　which　followed；　and　it　was　not　till　vast　numbers　had　been　slain　upon　both　sides；　that　the　Egyptians　turned　and　fled。　　　　　On　the　field　where　this　battle　was　fought　I　saw　a　very　wonderful　thing　which　the　natives　pointed　out　to　me。　The　bones　of　the　slain　lie　scattered　upon　the　field　in　two　lots；　those　of　the　Persians　in　one　place　by　themselves；　as　the　bodies　lay　at　the　first…　those　of　the　Egyptians　in　another　place　apart　from　them。　If；　then；　you　strike　the　Persian　skulls；　even　with　a　pebble；　they　are　so　weak；　that　you　break　a　hole　in　them；　but　the　Egyptian　skulls　are　so　strong；　that　you　may　smite　them　with　a　stone　and　you　will　scarcely　break　them　in。　They　gave　me　the　following　reason　for　this　difference；　which　seemed　to　me　likely　enough：…　The　Egyptians　（they　said）　from　early　childhood　have　the　head　shaved；　and　so　by　the　action　of　the　sun　the　skull　becomes　thick　and　hard。　The　same　cause　prevents　baldness　in　Egypt；　where　you　see　fewer　bald　men　than　in　any　other　land。　Such；　then；　is　the　reason　why　the　skulls　of　the　Egyptians　are　so　strong。　The　Persians；　on　the　other　hand；　have　feeble　skulls；　because　they　keep　themselves　shaded　from　the　first；　wearing　turbans　upon　their　heads。　What　I　have　here　mentioned　I　saw　with　my　own　eyes；　and　I　observed　also　the　like　at　Papremis；　in　the　case　of　the　Persians　who　were　killed　with　Achaeamenes；　the　son　of　Darius；　by　Inarus　the　Libyan。　　　　　The　Egyptians　who　fought　in　the　battle；　no　sooner　turned　their　backs　upon　the　enemy；　than　they　fled　away　in　complete　disorder　to　Memphis；　where　they　shut　themselves　up　within　the　walls。　Hereupon　Cambyses　sent　a　Mytilenaean　vessel；　with　a　Persian　herald　on　board；　who　was　to　sail　up　the　Nile　to　Memphis；　and　invite　the　Egyptians　to　a　surrender。　They；　however；　when　they　saw　the　vessel　entering　the　town；　poured　forth　in　crowds　from　the　castle；　destroyed　the　ship；　and；　tearing　the　crew　limb　from　limb；　so　bore　them　into　the　fortress。　After　this　Memphis　was　besieged；　and　in　due　time　surrendered。　Hereon　the　Libyans　who　bordered　upon　Egypt；　fearing　the　fate　of　that　country；　gave　themselves　up　to　Cambyses　without　a　battle；　made　an　agreement　to　pay　tribute　to　him；　and　forthwith　sent　him　gifts。　The　Cyrenaeans　too；　and　the　Barcaeans；　having　the　same　fear　as　the　Libyans；　immediately　did　the　like。　Cambyses　received　the　Libyan　presents　very　graciously；　but　not　so　the　gifts　of　the　Cyrenaeans。　They　had　sent　no　more　than　five　hundred　minx　of　silver；　which　Cambyses；　I　imagine；　thought　too　little。　He　therefore　snatched　the　money　from　them；　and　with　his　own　hands　scattered　it　among　his　soldiers。　　　　　Ten　days　after　the　fort　had　fallen；　Cambyses　resolved　to　try　the　spirit　of　Psammenitus；　the　Egyptian　king；　whose　whole　reign　had　been　but　six　months。　He　therefore　had　him　set　in　one　of　the　suburbs；　and　many　other　Egyptians　with　him；　and　there　subjected　him　to　insult。　First　of　all　he　sent　his　daughter　out　from　the　city；　clothed　in　the　garb　of　a　slave；　with　a　pitcher　to　draw　water。　Many　virgins；　the　daughters　of　the　chief　nobles；　accompanied　her；　wearing　the　same　dress。　When　the　damsels　came　opposite　the　place　where　their　fathers　sate；　shedding　tears　and　uttering　cries　of　woe；　the　fathers；　all　but　Psammenitus；　wept　and　wailed　in　return；　grieving　to　see　their　children　in　so　sad　a　plight；　but　he；　when　he　had　looked　and　seen；　bent　his　head　towards　the　ground。　In　this　way　passed　by　the　water…carriers。　Next　to　them　came　Psammenitus'　son；　and　two　thousand　Egyptians　of　the　same　age　with　him…　all　of　them　having　ropes　round　their　necks　and　bridles　in　their　mouths…　and　they　too　passed　by　on　their　way　to　suffer　death　for　the　murder　of　the　Mytilenaeans　who　were　destroyed；　with　their　vessel；　in　Memphis。　For　so　had　the　royal　judges　given　their　sentence　for　each　Mytilenaean　ten　of　the　noblest　Egyptians　must　forfeit　life。〃　King　Psammenitus　saw　the　train　pass　on；　and　knew　his　son　was　being　led　to　death；　but　while　the　other　Egyptians　who　sate　around　him　wept　and　were　sorely　troubled；　he　showed　no　further　sign　than　when　he　saw　his　daughter。　And　now；　when　they　too　were　gone；　it　chanced　that　one　of　his　former　boon…companions；　a　man　advanced　in　years；　who　had　been　stripped　of　all　that　he　had　and　was　a　beggar；　came　where　Psammenitus；　son　of　Amasis；　and　the　rest　of　the　Egyptians　were；　asking　alms　from　the　soldiers。　At　this　sight　the　king　burst　into　tears；　and　weeping　out　aloud；　called　his　friend　by　his　name；　and　smote　himself　on　the　head。　Now　there　were　some　who　had　been　set　to　watch　Psammenitus　and　see　what　he　would　do　as　each　train　went　by；　so　these　persons　went　and　told　Cambyses　of　his　behaviour。　Then　he；　astonished　at　what　was　done；　sent　a　messenger　to　Psammenitus；　and　questioned　him；　saying；　〃Psammenitus；　thy　lord　Cambyses　asketh　thee　why；　when　thou　sawest　thy　daughter　brought　to　shame；　and　thy　son　on　his　way　to　death；　thou　didst　neither　utter　cry　nor　shed　tear；　while　to　a　beggar；　who　is；　he　hears；　a　stranger　to　thy　race；　thou　gavest　those　marks　of　honour。〃　To　this　question　Psammenitus　made　answer；　〃O　son　of　Cyrus；　my　own　misfortunes　were　too　great　for　tears；　but　the　woe　of　my　friend　deserved　them。　When　a　man　falls　from　splendour　and　plenty　into　beggary　at　the　threshold　of　old　age；　one　may　well　weep　for　him。〃　When　the　messenger　brought　back　this　answer；　Cambyses　owned　it　was　just；　Croesus；　likewise；　the　Egyptians　say；　burst　into　tears…　for　he　too　had　come　into　Egypt　with　Cambyses…　and　the　Persians　who　were　present　wept。　Even　Cambyses　himself　was　touched　with　pity；　and　he　forthwith　gave　an　order　that　the　son　of　Psammenitus　should　be　spared　from　the　number　of　those　appointed　to　die；　and　Psammenitus　himself　brought　from　the　suburb　into　his　presence。　　　　　The　messengers　were　too　late　to　save　the　life　of　Psammenitus'　son；　who　had　been　cut　in　pieces　the　first　of　all；　but　they　took　Psammenitus　himself　and　brought　him　before　the　king。　Cambyses　allowed　him　to　live　with　him；　and　gave　him　no　more　harsh　treatment；　nay；　could　he　have　kept　from　intermeddling　with　affairs；　he　might　have　recovered　Egypt；　and　ruled　it　as　governor。　For　the　Persian　wont　is　to　treat　the　sons　of　kings　with　honour；　and　even　to　give　their　fathers'　kingdoms　to　the　children　of　such　as　revolt　from　them。　There　are　many　cases　from　which　one　may　collect　that　th