Book 3
2.2
But what they say is false. They are certainly not unaware (for if any understand the customs of the Persians the Egyptians do) firstly, that it is not their custom for illegitimate offspring to rule when there are legitimate offspring; and secondly, that Cambyses was the son of Cassandane, the daughter of Pharnaspes, who was an Achaemenid, and not of the Egyptian woman. But they falsify the story, pretending to be related to the house of Cyrus. That is the truth of the matter.
3.1
The following story, incredible to me, is also told: that one of the Persian women who came to visit Cyrus' wives, and saw the tall and attractive children who stood by Cassandane, expressed her admiration in extravagant terms. Then Cassandane, Cyrus' wife, said,
3.2
“Although I am the mother of such children, Cyrus dishonors me and honors his new woman from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt .” So she spoke in her bitterness against Nitetis; and Cambyses, the eldest of her sons, said,
3.3
“Then, mother, when I am grown up, I will turn all Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt upside down.” When he said this, he was about ten years old, and the women were amazed; but he kept it in mind, and it was thus that when he grew up and became king, he made the campaign against Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt .
4.1
It so happened, too, that something else occurred contributing to this campaign. There was among Amasis' mercenaries a man who was a Halicarnassian by birth, a clever man and a good soldier, whose name was Phanes.
