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Whenever the Scythian king falls sick, he sends for the three
soothsayers of most renown at the time, who come and make trial of
their art in the mode above described. Generally they say that the
king is ill because such or such a person, mentioning his name, has
sworn falsely by the royal hearth. This is the usual oath among the
Scythians, when they wish to swear with very great solemnity. Then
the man accused of having foresworn himself is arrested and brought
before the king. The soothsayers tell him that by their art it is
clear he has sworn a false oath by the royal hearth, and so caused the
illness of the king - he denies the charge, protests that he has sworn
no false oath, and loudly complains of the wrong done to him. Upon
this the king sends for six new soothsayers, who try the matter by
soothsaying. If they too find the man guilty of the offence,
straightway he is beheaded by those who first accused him, and his
goods are parted among them: if, on the contrary, they acquit him,
other soothsayers, and again others, are sent for, to try the case.
Should the greater number decide in favour of the man's innocence,
then they who first accused him forfeit their lives.
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