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While Cambyses, son of Cyrus, after losing his senses, still
lingered in Egypt, two Magi, brothers, revolted against him. One
of them had been left in Persia by Cambyses as comptroller of his
household; and it was he who began the revolt. Aware that Smerdis
was dead, and that his death was hid and known to few of the
Persians, while most believed that he was still alive, he laid his
plan, and made a bold stroke for the crown. He had a brother - the
same of whom I spoke before as his partner in the revolt - who
happened greatly to resemble Smerdis the son of Cyrus, whom Cambyses
his brother had put to death. And not only was this brother of his
like Smerdis in person, but he also bore the selfsame name, to wit
Smerdis. Patizeithes, the other Magus, having persuaded him that
he would carry the whole business through, took him and made him sit
upon the royal throne. Having so done, he sent heralds through all
the land, to Egypt and elsewhere, to make proclamation to the troops
that henceforth they were to obey Smerdis the son of Cyrus, and not Cambyses.
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