had revealed to her the secrets of the Magi.  The high-priest had met the former keeper of the women begging in the streets of Susa, and had restored him to his old office with the words:  “You have forfeited your life, but I want men of your stamp.”  In conclusion.  Phaedime entreated her father to use every means in his power for the overthrow of the Magi, as they treated her with the greatest contempt and she was the most miserable of women.

Though none of the Achaemenidae hall really for a moment believed; that Bartja was alive and had seized on the throne, so clear an account of the real person of the usurper was very welcome to them, and they resolved at once to march on Nisaea with the remnant of the army and overthrow the Magi either by craft or force.

They entered the new capital unassailed, and finding that the majority of the people seemed content with the new government, they also pretended to acknowledge the king as the son of Cyrus, to whom they were prepared to do homage.  The Magi, however, were not deceived; they shut themselves up in their palace, assembled an army in the Nisaean plain, promised the soldiers high pay, and used every effort to strengthen the belief of the people in Gaumata’s disguise.  On this point no one could do them more injury, or, if he chose, be more useful to them, than Prexaspes.  He was much looked up to by the Persians, and his assurance, that he had not murdered Bartja, would have been sufficient to tame the fast-spreading report of the real way in which the youth had met his death.  Oropastes, therefore, sent for Prexaspes, who, since the king’s dying words, had been avoided by all the men of his own rank and had led the life of an outlaw, and promised him an immense sum of money, if he would ascend a high tower and declare to the people, assembled in the court beneath, that evil-disposed men had called him Bartja’s murderer, whereas he had seen the new king with his own eyes and had recognized in him the younger son of his benefactor.  Prexaspes made no objection to this proposal, took a tender leave of his family while the people were being assembled, uttered a short prayer before the sacred fire-altar and walked proudly to the palace.  On his way thither he met the chiefs of the seven tribes and seeing that they avoided him, called out to them:  “I am worthy of your contempt, but I will try to deserve your forgiveness.”

Seeing Darius look back, he hastened towards him, grasped his hand and said:  “I have loved you like a son; take care of my children when I am no more, and use your pinions, winged Darius.”  Then, with the same proud demeanor he ascended the tower.