Darius disturbs the tomb of Nitocris part one

Νίτωκρις ἡ τῆς Βαβυλῶνος βασίλεια

Nitocris the Queen of Babylon

ἀπάτην τοιάνδε τινὰ ἐμηχανήσατο.

devised a certain trick as follows.

ὑπὲρ τῶν μάλιστα λεωφόρων πυλῶν τοῦ ἄστεως

above the busiest gates of the city

τάφον ἑαυτῇ κατεσκευάσατο μετέωρον,

she commissioned a tomb for herself high up

ἐπιπολῆς αὐτῶν τῶν πυλῶν

on top of the gates themselves

ἐνεκόλαψε δὲ εἰς τὸν τάφον γράμματα

but she carved letters into the tomb

λέγοντα τάδε·

saying the following

ἤν τις τῶν…Βαβυλῶνος βασιλέων

if any of the kings of Babylon

ἐμοῦ ὕστερον γιγνομένων

who are born after me

σπανίσῃ χρημάτων

are in need of money

ἀνοίξας τὸν τάφον λαβέτω

let him open the tomb and take

ὁπόσα βούλεται χρήματα·

as much money as he wants

μὴ μέντοι γε…ἀνοίξῃ

however (at any rate) do not open

μὴ σπανίσας γε,

unless in need

ἄλλως

unless in need

οὐ γὰρ ἄμεινον.’

for it is not a good idea.’