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And now Cambyses, who even before had not been quite in his right
mind, was forthwith, as the Egyptians say, smitten with madness for
this crime. The first of his outrages was the slaying of Smerdis,
his full brother, whom he had sent back to Persia from Egypt out of
envy, because he drew the bow brought from the Ethiopians by the
Icthyophagi (which none of the other Persians were able to bend) the
distance of two fingers' breadth. When Smerdis was departed into
Persia, Cambyses had a vision in his sleep - he thought a messenger
from Persia came to him with tidings that Smerdis sat upon the royal
throne and with his head touched the heavens. Fearing therefore for
himself, and thinking it likely that his brother would kill him and
rule in his stead, Cambyses sent into Persia Prexaspes, whom he
trusted beyond all the other Persians, bidding him put Smerdis to
death. So this Prexaspes went up to Susa and slew Smerdis. Some
say he killed him as they hunted together, others, that he took him
down to the Erythraean Sea, and there drowned him.
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