The boys' and girls' Herodotus; being parts of the history of Herodotus . it was the magiwho then reigned. After he had uttered many imprecations againstthe Persians, if they should not recover back the sovereign power,and punish the magi, he threw himself headlong from the died Prexaspes, a man highly esteemed during the courseof his whole life. The seven Persians, resolving to attack the magi without delay,had offered prayers to the gods, and were in the midst of their waywhen they were informed of all that Prexaspes had done, where-upon they again conferred together; and some, wi
The boys' and girls' Herodotus; being parts of the history of Herodotus . it was the magiwho then reigned. After he had uttered many imprecations againstthe Persians, if they should not recover back the sovereign power,and punish the magi, he threw himself headlong from the died Prexaspes, a man highly esteemed during the courseof his whole life. The seven Persians, resolving to attack the magi without delay,had offered prayers to the gods, and were in the midst of their waywhen they were informed of all that Prexaspes had done, where-upon they again conferred together; and some, with Otanes, stronglyadvised to defer the enterprise while affairs were in such a ferment;but others, with Darius, urged to proceed at once. While hotlydisputing there appeared seven pairs of hawks pursuing two pairsof vultures, and plucking and tearing them. The seven, on seeingthis, all approved the opinion of Darius, and forthwith proceeded tothe palace, emboldened by the omen. When they approached thegates, it happened as Darius had supposed ; for the guards, out of. MAMELUKE TOMB, CAIRO. 164 HERODOTUS. respect for men of highest rank among the Persians, and not sus-specting any such design on their part, let them pass by, moved asthey were by divine impulse ; nor did any one question them. Butwhen they reached the hall, they fell in with the eunuchs appointedto carry in messages, who inquired of them for what purpose theyhad come ; and at the same time that they questioned them theythreatened the doorkeepers for permitting them to pass, and en-deavored to prevent the seven from proceeding any farther. Theyinstandydrew their daggers, stabbed all that opposed their passageon the spot, and then rushed to the mens apartment. The magihappened to be both within at the time, and were consulting aboutthe conduct of Prexaspes. But seeing the eunuchs in confusion,and hearing their outcry, they hurried out, and put themselveson the defensive. One snatched up a bow, and the other a jave
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Keywords: ., bookauthorherodotus, bookcentury1800, booksubjecthistoryancient
