King Cambyses was a heavy drinker. Praexaspes was his closest friend, and the only one brave enough to tell him to drink less. He pointed out how shameful it was for a king to get drunk when everyone was watching him. Cambyses replied, "I'll prove to you that I never lose control of myself. I'll show you that my eyes and hands work just fine even after I've been drinking." Then he drank even more than usual, using bigger cups. When he was completely drunk, he ordered his friend's son to stand beyond the doorway with his left hand raised above his head. Cambyses then drew his bow and shot an arrow straight through the boy's heart — exactly where he said he was aiming.
King Cambyses[2] was excessively addicted to wine. Praexaspes was the only one of his closest friends who advised him to drink more sparingly, pointing out how shameful a thing drunkenness was in a king, upon whom all eyes and ears were fixed. Cambyses answered, “That you may know that I never lose command of myself, I will presently prove to you that both my eyes and my hands are fit for service after I have been drinking.” Hereupon he drank more freely than usual, using larger cups, and when heavy and besotted with wine ordered his reprover’s son to go beyond the threshold and stand there with his left hand raised above his head; then he bent his bow and pierced the youth’s heart, at which he had said that he aimed.