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The first night after the passage, as he slept in the enemy's
country, a vision appeared to him. He seemed to see in his sleep the
eldest of the sons of Hystaspes, with wings upon his shoulders,
shadowing with the one wing Asia, and Europe with the other. Now
Hystaspes, the son of Arsames, was of the race of the
Achaemenidae, and his eldest son, Darius, was at that time scarce
twenty years old; wherefore, not being of age to go to the wars, he
had remained behind in Persia. When Cyrus woke from his sleep, and
turned the vision over in his mind, it seemed to him no light matter.
He therefore sent for Hystaspes, and taking him aside said,
"Hystaspes, thy son is discovered to be plotting against me and my
crown. I will tell thee how I know it so certainly. The gods watch
over my safety, and warn me beforehand of every danger. Now last
night, as I lay in my bed, I saw in a vision the eldest of thy sons
with wings upon his shoulders, shadowing with the one wing Asia, and
Europe with the other. From this it is certain, beyond all possible
doubt, that he is engaged in some plot against me. Return thou then
at once to Persia, and be sure, when I come back from conquering the
Massagetae, to have thy son ready to produce before me, that I may
examine him."
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