The Persian foot was not much more numerous than the Egyptian, but they had six times the number of horse-soldiers.

As soon as the armies stood face to face, Cambyses caused the great Pelusian plain to be cleared of trees and brushwood, and had the sand-hills removed which were to be found here and there, in order to give his cavalry and scythe-chariots a fair field of action.  Phanes’ knowledge of the country was of great use.  He had drawn up a plan of action with great military skill, and succeeded in gaining not only Cambyses’ approval, but that of the old general Megabyzus and the best tacticians among the Achaemenidae.  His local knowledge was especially valuable on account of the marshes which intersected the Pelusian plain, and might, unless carefully avoided, have proved fatal to the Persian enterprise.  At the close of the council of war Phanes begged to be heard once more:  “Now, at length,” he said, “I am at liberty to satisfy your curiosity in reference to the closed waggons full of animals, which I have had transported hither.  They contain five thousand cats!  Yes, you may laugh, but I tell you these creatures will be more serviceable to us than a hundred thousand of our best soldiers.  Many of you are aware that the Egyptians have a superstition which leads them rather to die than kill a cat, I, myself, nearly paid for such a murder once with my life.  Remembering this, I have been making a diligent search for cats during my late journey; in Cyprus, where there are splendid specimens, in Samos and in Crete.  All I could get I ordered to be caught, and now propose that they be distributed among those troops who will be opposed to the native Egyptian soldiers.  Every man must be told to fasten one firmly to his shield and hold it out as he advances towards the enemy.  I will wager that there’s not one real Egyptian, who would not rather fly from the battle-field than take aim at one of these sacred animals.”

This speech was met by a loud burst of laughter; on being discussed, however, it was approved of, and ordered to be carried out at once.  The ingenious Greek was honored by receiving the king’s hand to kiss, his expenses were reimbursed by a magnificent present, and he was urged to take a daughter of some noble Persian family in marriage.

     [Themistocles too, on coming to the Persian court, received a high-
     born Persian wife in marriage.  Diod.  XI. 57.]

The king concluded by inviting him to supper, but this the Athenian declined, on the plea that he must review the Ionian troops, with whom he was as yet but little acquainted, and withdrew.

At the door of his tent he found his slaves disputing with a ragged, dirty and unshaven old man, who insisted on speaking with their master.  Fancying he must be a beggar, Phanes threw him a piece of gold; the old man did not even stoop to pick it up, but, holding the Athenian fast by his cloak, cried, “I am Aristomachus the Spartan!”