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This was the second time that Psammetichus had been driven into
banishment. On a former occasion he had fled from Sabacos the
Ethiopian, who had put his father Necos to death; and had taken
refuge in Syria from whence, after the retirement of the Ethiop in
consequence of his dream, he was brought back by the Egyptians of the
Saitic canton. Now it was his ill-fortune to be banished a second
time by the eleven kings, on account of the libation which he had
poured from his helmet; on this occasion he fled to the marshes.
Feeling that he was an injured man, and designing to avenge himself
upon his persecutors, Psammetichus sent to the city of Buto, where
there is an oracle of Latona, the most veracious of all the oracles of
the Egyptians, and having inquired concerning means of vengeance,
received for answer that "Vengeance would come from the sea, when
brazen men should appear." Great was his incredulity when this answer
arrived, for never, he thought, would brazen men arrive to be his
helpers. However, not long afterwards certain Carians and Ionians
who had left their country on a voyage of plunder, were carried by
stress of weather to Egypt where they disembarked, all equipped in
their brazen armour, and were seen by the natives, one of whom carried
the tidings to Psammetichus, and, as he had never before seen men
clad in brass, he reported that brazen men had come from the sea and
were plundering the plain. Psammetichus, perceiving at once that the
oracle was accomplished, made friendly advances to the strangers, and
engaged them, by splendid promises, to enter into his service. He
then, with their aid and that of the Egyptians who espoused his
cause, attacked the eleven and vanquished them.
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