Psamtik drove through the ranks of his army, giving encouraging and friendly words to all the men.  He drew up before the Greek division, and addressed them thus:  “Heroes of Cyprus and Libya! your deeds in arms are well known to me, and I rejoice in the thought of sharing your glory to-day and crowning you with fresh laurels.  Ye have no need to fear, that in the day of victory I shall curtail your liberties.  Malicious tongues have whispered that this is all ye have to expect from me; but I tell you, that if we conquer, fresh favors will be shown to you and your descendants; I shall call you the supporters of my throne.  Ye are fighting to-day, not for me alone, but for the freedom of your own distant homes.  It is easy to perceive that Cambyses, once lord of Egypt, will stretch out his rapacious hand over your beautiful Hellas and its islands.  I need only remind you, that they be between Egypt and your Asiatic brethren who are already groaning under the Persian yoke.  Your acclamations prove that ye agree with me already, but I must ask for a still longer hearing.  It is my duty to tell you who has sold, not only Egypt, but his own country to the King of Persia, in return for immense treasures.  The man’s name is Phanes!  You are angry and inclined to doubt?  I swear to you, that this very Phanes has accepted Cambyses’ gold and promised not only to be his guide to Egypt, but to open the gates of your own Greek cities to him.  He knows the country and the people, and can be bribed to every perfidy.  Look at him! there he is, walking by the side of the king.  See how he bows before him!  I thought I had heard once, that the Greeks only prostrated themselves before their gods.  But of course, when a man sells his country, he ceases to be its citizen.  Am I not right?  Ye scorn to call so base a creature by the name of countryman?  Yes? then I will deliver the wretch’s daughter into your hands.  Do what ye will with the child of such a villain.  Crown her with wreaths of roses, fall down before her, if it please you, but do not forget that she belongs to a man who has disgraced the name of Hellene, and has betrayed his countrymen and country!”

As he finished speaking the men raised a wild cry of rage and took possession of the trembling child.  A soldier held her up, so that her father—­the troops not being more than a bow-shot apart—­could see all that happened.  At the same moment an Egyptian, who afterwards earned celebrity through the loudness of his voice, cried:  “Look here, Athenian! see how treachery and corruption are rewarded in this country!” A bowl of wine stood near, provided by the king, from which the soldiers had just been drinking themselves into intoxication.  A Karian seized it, plunged his sword into the innocent child’s breast, and let the blood flow into the bowl; filled a goblet with the awful mixture, and drained it, as if drinking to the health of the wretched father.  Phanes stood watching the scene, as if struck into a statue of cold stone.  The rest of the soldiers then fell upon the bowl like madmen, and wild beasts could not have lapped up the foul drink with greater eagerness.—­ [Herodotus tells this fearful tale (III. ii.)]