judges, he placed his son in chains before the judges, and requested that he might be condemned to death. The judges, wondering at this, and being unwilling to pronounce the penalty, brought both before Artaxerxes. Then, indeed, Rhaeoees, being placed before the king, made the same request. And the king (said) to him: ‘Will you be able to see your son die?’ Rhacoces in reply (said): ‘When I cut off the bitter shoots of my trees, the trees suffer nothing; so, being freed of my son, I shall enjoy rest myself.’ And Artaxerxes, greatly wondering at this reply, ordered Rhacoces to be one of his judges, and said that one who was willing to punish his own son would be a good judge concerning other thing. Then, after admonishing the son, he dismissed him.
XXII.THE AETHIOPIANS.
Some account of the Aethiopians, to whom Cambyses sends an embassy.
281.Cambyses determined to make an expedition against the Aethiopians. So he sent as scouts some of the Ichthyophagi, who were skilled in the language of the Aethiopians. He sent these to the Aethiopians, well taught as to what they should say, and bearing gifts, a cloak, golden armlets, and a skin of wine. Now these Aethiopians are said to be the strongest and handsomest of all men; they make king whomsoever of their number they consider most handsome and most remarkable for strength of body. So when the Ichthyophagi reached these men they spoke as follows: 'Cambyses, king of the Persians, wishing to form a friendship with thee, O king, has sent us, and gives these gifts, in the use of which he himself also is much pleased.’
The answer of the Aethiopian king.
282.And the Aethiopian understanding that they were coming as spies replied to them as follows: ‘Neither did the Persian king send you bearing gifts; nor do you speak the truth; nor is he a good man: for if he were good he would not
