and the Egyptians considering him to blame for this
revolted from him, supposing that Apries had with forethought
sent them out to evident calamity, in order (as they
said) that there might be a slaughter of them, and
he might the more securely rule over the other Egyptians.
Being indignant at this, both these men who had returned
from the expedition and also the friends of those who
had perished made revolt openly. Hearing this
Apries sent to them Amasis, to cause them to cease
by persuasion; and when he had come and was seeking
to restrain the Egyptians, as he was speaking and
telling them not to do so, one of the Egyptians stood
up behind him and put a helmet upon his head, saying
as he did so that he put it on to crown him king.
And to him this that was done was in some degree not
unwelcome, as he proved by his behaviour; for as soon
as the revolted Egyptians had set him up as king,
he prepared to march against Apries: and Apries
hearing this sent to Amasis one of the Egyptians who
were about his own person, a man of reputation, whose
name was Patarbemis, enjoining him to bring Amasis
alive into his presence. When this Patarbemis
came and summoned Amasis, the latter, who happened
to be sitting on horseback, lifted up his leg and
behaved in an unseemly manner, bidding him take that
back to Apries. Nevertheless, they say, Patarbemis
made demand of him that he should go to the king,
seeing that the king had sent to summon him; and he
answered him that he had for some time past been preparing
to do so, and that Apries would have no occasion to
find fault with him, for he would both come himself
and bring others with him. Then Patarbemis both
perceiving his intention from that which he said, and
also seeing his preparations, departed in haste, desiring
to make known as quickly as possible to the king the
things which were being done: and when he came
back to Apries not bringing Amasis, the king paying
no regard to that which he said, but being moved by
violent anger, ordered his ears and his nose to be
cut off. And the rest of the Egyptians who still
remained on his side, when they saw the man of most
repute among them thus suffering shameful outrage,
waited no longer but joined the others in revolt,
and delivered themselves over to Amasis. Then
Apries having heard this also, armed his foreign mercenaries
and marched against the Egyptians: now he had
about him Carian and Ionian mercenaries to the number
of thirty thousand; and his royal palace was in the
city of Sais, of great size and worthy to be seen.
So Apries and his army were going against the Egyptians,
and Amasis and those with him were going against the
mercenaries; and both sides came to the city of Momemphis
and were about to make trial of one another in fight.


