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Now Darius had a groom, a sharp-witted knave, called Oebares.
After the meeting had broken up, Darius sent for him, and said,
"Oebares, this is the way in which the king is to be chosen - we are
to mount our horses, and the man whose horse first neighs after the sun
is up is to have the kingdom. If then you have any cleverness,
contrive a plan whereby the prize may fall to us, and not go to
another." "Truly, master," Oebares answered, "if it depends on
this whether thou shalt be king or no, set thine heart at ease, and
fear nothing: I have a charm which is sure not to fail." "If thou
hast really aught of the kind," said Darius, "hasten to get it
ready. The matter does not brook delay, for the trial is to be
to-morrow." So Oebares when he heard that, did as follows: When
night came, he took one of the mares, the chief favourite of the horse
which Darius rode, and tethering it in the suburb, brought his
master's horse to the place; then, after leading him round and round
the mare several times, nearer and nearer at each circuit, he ended by
letting them come together.
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