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Astyages, having got the truth of the matter from the herdsman, was
very little further concerned about him, but with Harpagus he was
exceedingly enraged. The guards were bidden to summon him into the
presence, and on his appearance Astyages asked him, "By what death
was it, Harpagus, that thou slewest the child of my daughter whom I
gave into thy hands?" Harpagus, seeing the cowherd in the room, did
not betake himself to lies, lest he should be confuted and proved
false, but replied as follows: "Sire, when thou gavest the child
into my hands I instantly considered with myself how I could contrive
to execute thy wishes, and yet, while guiltless of any unfaithfulness
towards thee, avoid imbruing my hands in blood which was in truth thy
daughter's and thine own. And this was how I contrived it. I sent
for this cowherd, and gave the child over to him, telling him that by
the king's orders it was to be put to death. And in this I told no
lie, for thou hadst so commanded. Moreover, when I gave him the
child, I enjoined him to lay it somewhere in the wilds of the
mountains, and to stay near and watch till it was dead; and I
threatened him with all manner of punishment if he failed.
Afterwards, when he had done according to all that I commanded him,
and the child had died, I sent some of the most trustworthy of my
eunuchs, who viewed the body for me, and then I had the child
buried. This, sire, is the simple truth, and this is the death by
which the child died."
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