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Apries, on learning these circumstances, sent Amasis to the rebels
to appease the tumult by persuasion. Upon his arrival, as he was
seek. ing to restrain the malcontents by his exhortations, one of
them, coming behind him, put a helmet on his head, saying, as he put
it on, that he thereby crowned him king. Amasis was not altogether
displeased at the action, as his conduct soon made manifest; for no
sooner had the insurgents agreed to make him actually their king than he
prepared to march with them against Apries. That monarch, on tidings
of these events reaching him, sent Patarbemis, one of his courtiers,
a man of high rank, to Amasis with orders to bring him alive into his
presence. Patarbemis, on arriving at the place where Amasis was,
called on him to come back with him to the king, whereupon Amasis
broke a coarse jest, and said, "Prythee take that back to thy
master." When the envoy, notwithstanding this reply, persisted in
his request, exhorting Amasis to obey the summons of the king, he
made answer "that this was exactly what he had long been intending to
do; Apries would have no reason to complain of him on the score of
delay; he would shortly come himself to the king, and bring others
with him." Patarbemis, upon this, comprehending the intention of
Amasis, partly from his replies and partly from the preparations which
he saw in progress, departed hastily, wishing to inform the king with
all speed of what was going on. Apries, however, when he saw him
approaching without Amasis, fell into a paroxysm of rage, and not
giving himself time for reflection, commanded the nose and ears of
Patarbemis to be cut off. Then the rest of the Egyptians, who had
hitherto espoused the cause of Apries, when they saw a man of such
note among them so shamefully outraged, without a moment's hesitation
went over to the rebels, and put themselves at the disposal of Amasis.
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