regard to my immortal spirit; but if I be mistaken in thinking it so, then act out of regard for the eternal gods who maintain the order of the universe, and watch over piety and justice. Respect, too, Humanity, in its perpetual succession, and act so as to be approved by all posterity. When I am dead, do not enshrine my body in gold or silver, but restore it to the earth,[1] for what can be better than to be mixed up and incorporated with the beneficent source of all that is good for men? While life, which still lingers in me, remains, you may come near and touch my hand, and look upon my face; but when I have covered my head for death, I request that no man may any more look upon my body. But summon all the Persians and the allies to my tomb, to rejoice with me that I shall now be in safety, and cannot suffer even any more, whether I shall have gone to God, or whether I shall have ceased to exist. Distribute gifts among all who come. And remember this my last word of advice: 'By doing good to your friends, you will gain the power of punishing your enemies.' Farewell, dear children; say farewell to your mother from me: all my friends, absent as well as present, farewell." Having said this, and taken every one by the right hand, he covered his face, and expired.
- ↑ This is quite at variance with the Persian customs, as related by Herodotus. Bodies could neither be buried nor burnt, because both the earth and fire were too sacred for contamination. They were therefore exposed to be consumed by vultures—a practice still universally maintained by the Parsees, the modern representatives of the old Persian religion.
