After lying insensible for some days, he opened his eyes and asked first to see Araspes, then his mother, and lastly Atossa, although these three had set out on their journey home months before.  From all he said it appeared that during the last four years, from the attack of fever until the present accident, he had been living in a kind of sleep.  He seemed astonished and pained at hearing what had happened during these years.  But of his brother’s death he was fully aware.  He knew that Prexaspes had killed him by his—­the king’s—­orders and had told him that Bartja lay buried on the shores of the Red Sea.—­During the night which followed this return to his senses it became clear to himself also, that his mind had been wandering for along time.  Towards morning he fell into a deep sleep, and this so restored his strength, that on waking he called for Croesus and required an exact relation of the events that had passed during the last few years.

His old friend and adviser obeyed; he felt that Cambyses was still entrusted to his care, and in the hope, faint as it was, of bringing him back to the right way, he did not suppress one of the king’s acts of violence in his relation.

His joy was therefore great at perceiving, that his words made a deep impression on the newly-awakened mind of the king.  With tears in his eyes, and with the ashamed look of a child, he grieved over his wrong deeds and his madness, begged Croesus to forgive him, thanked him for having borne so long and faithfully with him, and commissioned him to ask Kassandane and Sappho especially for forgiveness, but also, Atossa and all whom he had unjustly offended.

The old man wept too, but his tears were tears of joy and he repeatedly assured Cambyses that he would recover and have ample opportunity of making amends for the past.  But to all this Cambyses shook his head resolutely, and, pale and wan as he looked, begged Croesus to have his couch carried on to a rising ground in the open air, and then to summon the Achaemenidae.  When these orders, in spite of the physicians, had been obeyed, Cambyses was raised into an upright sitting position, and began, in a voice which could be heard at a considerable distance: 

“The time to reveal my great secret has arrived, O ye Persians.  Deceived by a vision, provoked and annoyed by my brother, I caused him to be murdered in my wrath.  Prexaspes wrought the evil deed by my command, but instead of bringing me the peace I yearned for, that deed has tortured me into madness and death.  By this my confession ye will be convinced, that my brother Bartja is really dead.  The Magi have usurped the throne of the Achaemenidae.  Oropastes, whom I left in Persia as my vicegerent and his brother Gaumata, who resembles Bartja so nearly that even Croesus, Intaphernes and my uncle, the noble Hystaspes, were once deceived by the likeness, have placed themselves at their head.  Woe is me, that I have murdered him who, as my nearest kinsman, should