Usurpation of the magians.--Circumstances favoring it.--Murder of Smerdis not known.--He is supposed to be alive.--Precautions taken by Smerdis.--Effect of Cambyses's measures.--Opinion in regard to Smerdis.--Acquiescence of the people.--Dangerous situation of Smerdis.--Arrangement with Patizithes.--Smerdis lives in retirement.--Special grounds of apprehension.--Cambyses's wives.--Smerdis appropriates them.--Phaedyma.--Measures of Otanes.--Otanes's communications with his daughter.--Her replies.--Phaedyma discovers the deception.--Otanes and the six nobles.--Arrival of Darius.--Secret consultations.--Various opinions.--Views of Darius.--Apology for a falsehood.--Opinion of Gobryas.--Uneasiness of the magi.--Situation of Prexaspes.--Measures of the magi.--An assembly of the people.--Decision of Prexaspes.--His speech from the tower.--Death of Prexaspes.--The conspirators.--The omen.--The conspirators enter the palace.--Combat with the magi.--Flight of Smerdis.--Smerdis is killed.--Exultation of the conspirators.--General massacre of the magians. Cambyses and his friends had been right in their conjectures that it was Smerdis the magian who had usurped the Persian throne. This Smerdis resembled, it was said, the son of Cyrus in his personal appearance as well as in name. The other magian who had been associated with him in the regency when Cambyses set out from Persia on his Egyptian campaign was his brother. His name was Patizithes. When Cyrus had been some time absent, these magians, having in the mean time, perhaps, heard unfavorable accounts of his conduct and character, and knowing the effect which such wanton tyranny must have in alienating from him the allegiance of his subjects, conceived the design of taking possession of the empire in their own name. The great distance of Cambyses and his army from home, and his long-continued absence, favored this plan. Their own position, too, as they were already in possession of the capitals and the fortresses of the country, aided them; and then the name of Smerdis, being the same with that of the brother of Cambyses, was a circumstance that greatly promoted the success of the undertaking. In addition to all these general advantages, the cruelty of Cambyses was the means of furnishing them with a most opportune occasion for putting their plans into execution.