And when the hour was come, his attendants came to him and bade him take his bath.

But he said he would rather rest.

And others came afterwards, at the usual time, to set the meal before him; but he could not bring himself to take food: he seemed only to thirst, and drank readily.

[5] It was the same the second day, and the third, and then he called his sons to his side--it chanced they had followed him to Persia--and he summoned his friends also and the chief magistrates of the land, and when they were all met, he began: [6] "My sons, and friends of mine, the end of my life is at hand: I know it by many signs.

And when I am dead, you must show by word and deed that you think of me as happy.