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+The Project Gutenberg EBook An Egyptian Princess,  by Ebers, Complete
+#22 in our series by Georg Ebers
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+Title: An Egyptian Princess, Complete
+
+Author: Georg Ebers
+
+Release Date: April, 2004  [EBook #5460]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on May 7, 2002]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, COMPLETE ***
+
+
+
+This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
+
+
+
+[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
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+
+
+                         
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Complete
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+
+
+THE HISTORICAL ROMANCES OF GEORG EBERS
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS
+
+
+Translated from the German by Eleanor Grove
+
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE SECOND GERMAN EDITION
+
+                    Aut prodesse volunt ant delectare poetae,
+                    Aut simul et jucunda et idonea dicere vitae.
+                              Horat.  De arte poetica v. 333.
+
+It is now four years since this book first appeared before the public,
+and I feel it my duty not to let a second edition go forth into the world
+without a few words of accompaniment.  It hardly seems necessary to
+assure my readers that I have endeavored to earn for the following pages
+the title of a "corrected edition."  An author is the father of his book,
+and what father could see his child preparing to set out on a new and
+dangerous road, even if it were not for the first time, without
+endeavoring to supply him with every good that it lay in his power to
+bestow, and to free him from every fault or infirmity on which the world
+could look unfavorably?  The assurance therefore that I have repeatedly
+bestowed the greatest possible care on the correction of my Egyptian
+Princess seems to me superfluous, but at the same time I think it
+advisable to mention briefly where and in what manner I have found it
+necessary to make these emendations.  The notes have been revised,
+altered, and enriched with all those results of antiquarian research
+(more especially in reference to the language and monuments of ancient
+Egypt) which have come to our knowledge since the year 1864, and which
+my limited space allowed me to lay before a general public.  On the
+alteration of the text itself I entered with caution, almost with
+timidity; for during four years of constant effort as academical tutor,
+investigator and writer in those severe regions of study which exclude
+the free exercise of imagination, the poetical side of a man's nature may
+forfeit much to the critical; and thus, by attempting to remodel my tale
+entirely, I might have incurred the danger of removing it from the more
+genial sphere of literary work to which it properly belongs.  I have
+therefore contented myself with a careful revision of the style, the
+omission of lengthy passages which might have diminished the interest of
+the story to general readers, the insertion of a few characteristic or
+explanatory additions, and the alteration of the proper names.  These
+last I have written not in their Greek, but in their Latin forms, having
+been assured by more than one fair reader that the names Ibykus and Cyrus
+would have been greeted by them as old acquaintances, whereas the
+"Ibykos" and "Kyros" of the first edition looked so strange and learned,
+as to be quite discouraging.  Where however the German k has the same
+worth as the Roman c I have adopted it in preference.  With respect to
+the Egyptian names and those with which we have become acquainted through
+the cuneiform inscriptions, I have chosen the forms most adapted to our
+German modes of speech, and in the present edition have placed those few
+explanations which seemed to me indispensable to the right understanding
+of the text, at the foot of the page, instead of among the less easily
+accessible notes at the end.
+
+The fact that displeasure has been excited among men of letters by this
+attempt to clothe the hardly-earned results of severer studies in an
+imaginative form is even clearer to me now than when I first sent this
+book before the public.  In some points I agree with this judgment, but
+that the act is kindly received, when a scholar does not scorn to render
+the results of his investigations accessible to the largest number of the
+educated class, in the form most generally interesting to them, is proved
+by the rapid sale of the first large edition of this work.  I know at
+least of no better means than those I have chosen, by which to instruct
+and suggest thought to an extended circle of readers.  Those who read
+learned books evince in so doing a taste for such studies; but it may
+easily chance that the following pages, though taken up only for
+amusement, may excite a desire for more information, and even gain a
+disciple for the study of ancient history.
+
+Considering our scanty knowledge of the domestic life of the Greeks and
+Persians before the Persian war--of Egyptian manners we know more--even
+the most severe scholar could scarcely dispense with the assistance of
+his imagination, when attempting to describe private life among the
+civilized nations of the sixth century before Christ.  He would however
+escape all danger of those anachronisms to which the author of such a
+work as I have undertaken must be hopelessly liable.  With attention and
+industry, errors of an external character may be avoided, but if I had
+chosen to hold myself free from all consideration of the times in which I
+and my readers have come into the world, and the modes of thought at
+present existing among us, and had attempted to depict nothing but the
+purely ancient characteristics of the men and their times, I should have
+become unintelligible to many of my readers, uninteresting to all, and
+have entirely failed in my original object.  My characters will therefore
+look like Persians, Egyptians, &c., but in their language, even more than
+in their actions, the German narrator will be perceptible, not always
+superior to the sentimentality of his day, but a native of the world in
+the nineteenth century after the appearance of that heavenly Master,
+whose teaching left so deep an impression on human thought and feeling.
+
+The Persians and Greeks, being by descent related to ourselves, present
+fewer difficulties in this respect than the Egyptians, whose dwelling-
+place on the fruitful islands won by the Nile from the Desert, completely
+isolated them from the rest of the world.
+
+To Professor Lepsius, who suggested to me that a tale confined entirely
+to Egypt and the Egyptians might become wearisome, I owe many thanks; and
+following his hint, have so arranged the materials supplied by Herodotus
+as to introduce my reader first into a Greek circle.  Here he will feel
+in a measure at home, and indeed will entirely sympathize with them on
+one important point, viz.: in their ideas on the Beautiful and on Art.
+Through this Hellenic portico he reaches Egypt, from thence passes on to
+Persia and returns finally to the Nile.  It has been my desire that the
+three nations should attract him equally, and I have therefore not
+centred the entire interest of the plot in one hero, but have endeavored
+to exhibit each nation in its individual character, by means of a fitting
+representative.  The Egyptian Princess has given her name to the book,
+only because the weal and woe of all my other characters were decided by
+her fate, and she must therefore be regarded as the central point of the
+whole.
+
+In describing Amasis I have followed the excellent description of
+Herodotus, which has been confirmed by a picture discovered on an ancient
+monument.  Herodotus has been my guide too in the leading features of
+Cambyses' character; indeed as he was born only forty or fifty years
+after the events related, his history forms the basis of my romance.
+
+"Father of history" though he be, I have not followed him blindly, but,
+especially in the development of my characters, have chosen those paths
+which the principles of psychology have enabled me to lay down for
+myself, and have never omitted consulting those hieroglyphic and
+cuneiform inscriptions which have been already deciphered.  In most cases
+these confirm the statements of Herodotus.
+
+I have caused Bartja's murder to take place after the conquest of Egypt,
+because I cannot agree with the usually received translation of the
+Behistun inscription.  This reads as follows: "One named Cambujiya, son
+of Curu, of our family, was king here formerly and had a brother named
+Bartiya, of the same father and the same mother as Cambujiya.  Thereupon
+Cambujiya killed that Bartiya."  In a book intended for general readers,
+it would not be well to enter into a discussion as to niceties of
+language, but even the uninitiated will see that the word "thereupon" has
+no sense in this connection.  In every other point the inscription agrees
+with Herodotus' narrative, and I believe it possible to bring it into
+agreement with that of Darius on this last as well; but reserve my proofs
+for another time and place.
+
+It has not been ascertained from whence Herodotus has taken the name
+Smerdis which he gives to Bartja and Gaumata.  The latter occurs again,
+though in a mutilated form, in Justin.
+
+My reasons for making Phanes an Athenian will be found in Note 90. Vol.
+I.  This coercion of an authenticated fact might have been avoided in the
+first edition, but could not now be altered without important changes in
+the entire text.  The means I have adopted in my endeavor to make Nitetis
+as young as possible need a more serious apology; as, notwithstanding
+Herodotus' account of the mildness of Amasis' rule, it is improbable that
+King Hophra should have been alive twenty years after his fall.  Even
+this however is not impossible, for it can be proved that his descendants
+were not persecuted by Amasis.
+
+On a Stela in the Leyden Museum I have discovered that a certain Psamtik,
+a member of the fallen dynasty, lived till the 17th year of Amasis'
+reign, and died at the age of seventy-five.
+
+Lastly let me be permitted to say a word or two in reference to Rhodopis.
+That she must have been a remarkable woman is evident from the passage in
+Herodotus quoted in Notes 10, and 14, Vol. I., and from the accounts
+given by many other writers.  Her name, "the rosy-cheeked one," tells us
+that she was beautiful, and her amiability and charm of manner are
+expressly praised by Herodotus.  How richly she was endowed with gifts
+and graces may be gathered too from the manner in which tradition and
+fairy lore have endeavored to render her name immortal.  By many she is
+said to have built the most beautiful of the Pyramids, the Pyramid of
+Mycerinus or Menkera.  One tale related of her and reported by Strabo and
+AElian probably gave rise to our oldest and most beautiful fairy tale,
+Cinderella; another is near akin to the Loreley legend.  An eagle,
+according to AElian--the wind, in Strabo's tale,--bore away Rhodopis'
+slippers while she was bathing in the Nile, and laid them at the feet of
+the king, when seated on his throne of justice in the open market.  The
+little slippers so enchanted him that he did not rest until he had
+discovered their owner and made her his queen.
+
+The second legend tells us how a wonderfully beautiful naked woman could
+be seen sitting on the summit of one of the pyramids (ut in una ex
+pyramidibus); and how she drove the wanderers in the desert mad through
+her exceeding loveliness.
+
+Moore borrowed this legend and introduces it in the following verse:
+
+              "Fair Rhodope, as story tells--
+               The bright unearthly nymph, who dwells
+               'Mid sunless gold and jewels hid,
+               The lady of the Pyramid."
+
+Fabulous as these stories sound, they still prove that Rhodopis must have
+been no ordinary woman.  Some scholars would place her on a level with
+the beautiful and heroic Queen Nitokris, spoken of by Julius Africanus,
+Eusebius and others, and whose name, (signifying the victorious Neith)
+has been found on the monuments, applied to a queen of the sixth dynasty.
+This is a bold conjecture; it adds however to the importance of our
+heroine; and without doubt many traditions referring to the one have been
+transferred to the other, and vice versa.  Herodotus lived so short a
+time after Rhodopis, and tells so many exact particulars of her private
+life that it is impossible she should have been a mere creation of
+fiction.  The letter of Darius, given at the end of Vol. II., is intended
+to identify the Greek Rhodopis with the mythical builder of the Pyramid.
+I would also mention here that she is called Doricha by Sappho.  This may
+have been her name before she received the title of the "rosy-cheeked
+one."
+
+I must apologize for the torrent of verse that appears in the love-scenes
+between Sappho and Bartja; it is also incumbent upon me to say a few
+words about the love-scenes themselves, which I have altered very
+slightly in the new edition, though they have been more severely
+criticised than any other portion of the work.
+
+First I will confess that the lines describing the happy love of a
+handsome young couple to whom I had myself become warmly attached, flowed
+from my pen involuntarily, even against my will (I intended to write a
+novel in prose) in the quiet night, by the eternal Nile, among the palms
+and roses.  The first love-scene has a story of its own to me.  I wrote
+it in half an hour, almost unconsciously.  It may be read in my book that
+the Persians always reflected in the morning, when sober, upon the
+resolutions formed the night before, while drunk.  When I examined in the
+sunshine what had come into existence by lamplight, I grew doubtful of
+its merits, and was on the point of destroying the love-scenes
+altogether, when my dear friend Julius Hammer, the author of "Schau in
+Dich, und Schau um Dich," too early summoned to the other world by death,
+stayed my hand.  Their form was also approved by others, and I tell
+myself that the 'poetical' expression of love is very similar in all
+lands and ages, while lovers' conversations and modes of intercourse vary
+according to time and place.  Besides, I have to deal with one of those
+by no means rare cases, where poetry can approach nearer the truth than
+prudent, watchful prose.  Many of my honored critics have censured these
+scenes; others, among whom are some whose opinion I specially value, have
+lavished the kindest praise upon them.  Among these gentlemen I will
+mention A. Stahr, C. V. Holtei, M. Hartmann, E. Hoefer, W. Wolfsohn, C.
+Leemans, Professor Veth of Amsterdam, etc.  Yet I will not conceal the
+fact that some, whose opinion has great weight, have asked: "Did the
+ancients know anything of love, in our sense of the word?  Is not
+romantic love, as we know it, a result of Christianity?"  The following
+sentence, which stands at the head of the preface to my first edition,
+will prove that I had not ignored this question when I began my task.
+
+     "It has often been remarked that in Cicero's letters and those of
+     Pliny the younger there are unmistakeable indications of sympathy
+     with the more sentimental feeling of modern days.  I find in them
+     tones of deep tenderness only, such as have arisen and will arise
+     from sad and aching hearts in every land and every age."
+
+                              A. v. HUMBOLDT.  Cosmos II. P. 19.
+
+This opinion of our great scholar is one with which I cheerfully coincide
+and would refer my readers to the fact that love-stories were written
+before the Christian era: the Amor and Psyche of Apuleius for instance.
+Indeed love in all its forms was familiar to the ancients.  Where can we
+find a more beautiful expression of ardent passion than glows in Sappho's
+songs?  or of patient faithful constancy than in Homer's Penelope?  Could
+there be a more beautiful picture of the union of two loving hearts, even
+beyond the grave, than Xenophon has preserved for us in his account of
+Panthea and Abradatas? or the story of Sabinus the Gaul and his wife,
+told in the history of Vespasian?  Is there anywhere a sweeter legend
+than that of the Halcyons, the ice-birds, who love one another so
+tenderly that when the male becomes enfeebled by age, his mate carries
+him on her outspread wings whithersoever he will; and the gods, desiring
+to reward such faithful love, cause the sun to shine more kindly, and
+still the winds and waves on the "Halcyon days" during which these birds
+are building their nest and brooding over their young?  There can surely
+have been no lack of romantic love in days when a used-up man of the
+world, like Antony, could desire in his will that wherever he died his
+body might be laid by the side of his beloved Cleopatra: nor of the
+chivalry of love when Berenice's beautiful hair was placed as a
+constellation in the heavens.  Neither can we believe that devotion in
+the cause of love could be wanting when a whole nation was ready to wage
+a fierce and obstinate war for the sake of one beautiful woman.  The
+Greeks had an insult to revenge, but the Trojans fought for the
+possession of Helen.  Even the old men of Ilium were ready "to suffer
+long for such a woman."  And finally is not the whole question answered
+in Theocritus' unparalleled poem, "the Sorceress?"  We see the poor love-
+lorn girl and her old woman-servant, Thestylis, cowering over the fire
+above which the bird supposed to possess the power of bringing back the
+faithless Delphis is sitting in his wheel.  Simoetha has learnt many
+spells and charms from an Assyrian, and she tries them all.  The distant
+roar of the waves, the stroke rising from the fire, the dogs howling in
+the street, the tortured fluttering bird, the old woman, the broken-
+hearted girl and her awful spells, all join in forming a night scene the
+effect of which is heightened by the calm cold moonshine.  The old woman
+leaves the girl, who at once ceases to weave her spells, allows her pent-
+up tears to have their way, and looking up to Selene the moon, the
+lovers' silent confidante, pours out her whole story: how when she first
+saw the beautiful Delphis her heart had glowed with love, she had seen
+nothing more of the train of youths who followed him, "and," (thus sadly
+the poet makes her speak)
+
+                              "how I gained my home
+               I knew not; some strange fever wasted me.
+               Ten days and nights I lay upon my bed.
+               O tell me, mistress Moon, whence came my love!"
+
+"Then" (she continues) when Delphis at last crossed her threshold:
+
+                                                  "I
+               Became all cold like snow, and from my brow
+               Brake the damp dewdrops: utterance I had none,
+               Not e'en such utterance as a babe may make
+               That babbles to its mother in its dreams;
+               But all my fair frame stiffened into wax,--
+               O tell me mistress Moon, whence came my love!"
+
+Whence came her love?  thence, whence it comes to us now.  The love of
+the creature to its Creator, of man to God, is the grand and yet gracious
+gift of Christianity.  Christ's command to love our neighbor called into
+existence not only the conception of philanthropy, but of humanity
+itself, an idea unknown to the heathen world, where love had been at
+widest limited to their native town and country.  The love of man and
+wife has without doubt been purified and transfigured by Christianity;
+still it is possible that a Greek may have loved as tenderly and
+longingly as a Christian.  The more ardent glow of passion at least
+cannot be denied to the ancients.  And did not their love find vent in
+the same expressions as our own?  Who does not know the charming
+roundelay:
+
+                   "Drink the glad wine with me,
+                    With me spend youth's gay hours;
+                    Or a sighing lover be,
+                    Or crown thy brow with flowers.
+                    When I am merry and mad,
+                    Merry and mad be you;
+                    When I am sober and sad,
+                    Be sad and sober too!"
+
+--written however by no poet of modern days, but by Praxilla, in the
+fifth century before Christ.  Who would guess either that Moore's little
+song was modelled on one written even earlier than the date of our story?
+
+                   "As o'er her loom the Lesbian maid
+                    In love-sick languor hung her head.
+                    Unknowing where her fingers stray'd,
+                    She weeping turned away and said,'
+                    Oh, my sweet mother, 'tis in vain,
+
+                    I cannot weave as once I wove;
+                    So wilder'd is my heart and brain
+                    With thinking of that youth I love.'"
+
+If my space allowed I could add much more on this subject, but will
+permit myself only one remark in conclusion.  Lovers delighted in nature
+then as now; the moon was their chosen confidante, and I know of no
+modern poem in which the mysterious charm of a summer night and the magic
+beauty which lies on flowers, trees and fountains in those silent hours
+when the world is asleep, is more exquisitely described than in the
+following verses, also by Sappho, at the reading of which we seem forced
+to breathe more slowly, "kuhl bis an's Herz hinan."
+
+                   "Planets, that around the beauteous moon
+                    Attendant wait, cast into shade
+                    Their ineffectual lustres, soon
+                    As she, in full-orb'd majesty array'd,
+                    Her silver radiance pours
+                    Upon this world of ours."
+
+and:--
+
+                   "Thro' orchard plots with fragrance crown'd,
+                    The clear cold fountain murm'ring flows;
+                    And forest leaves, with rustling sound,
+                    Invite to soft repose."
+
+The foregoing remarks seemed to me due to those who consider a love such
+as that of Sappho and Bartja to have been impossible among the ancients.
+Unquestionably it was much rarer then than in these days: indeed I
+confess to having sketched my pair of lovers in somewhat bright colors.
+But may I not be allowed, at least once, to claim the poet's freedom?
+
+How seldom I have availed myself of this freedom will be evident from the
+notes included in each volume.  They seemed to me necessary, partly in
+order to explain the names and illustrate the circumstances mentioned in
+the text, and partly to vindicate the writer in the eyes of the learned.
+I trust they may not prove discouraging to any, as the text will be found
+easily readable without reference to the explanations.
+
+     Jena, November 23, 1868.
+                              GEORG EBERS, DR.
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE FOURTH GERMAN EDITION.
+
+Two years and a half after the appearance of the third edition of "An
+Egyptian Princess," a fourth was needed.  I returned long since from the
+journey to the Nile, for which I was preparing while correcting the
+proof-sheets of the third edition, and on which I can look back with
+special satisfaction.  During my residence in Egypt, in 1872-73, a lucky
+accident enabled me to make many new discoveries; among them one treasure
+of incomparable value, the great hieratic manuscript, which bears my
+name.  Its publication has just been completed, and it is now in the
+library of the Leipzig University.
+
+The Papyrus Ebers, the second in size and the best preserved of all the
+ancient Egyptian manuscripts which have come into our possession, was
+written in the 16th century B. C., and contains on 110 pages the hermetic
+book upon the medicines of the ancient Egyptians, known also to the
+Alexandrine Greeks.  The god Thoth (Hermes) is called "the guide" of
+physicians, and the various writings and treatises of which the work is
+composed are revelations from him.  In this venerable scroll diagnoses
+are made and remedies suggested for the internal and external diseases of
+most portions of the human body.  With the drugs prescribed are numbers,
+according to which they are weighed with weights and measured with hollow
+measures, and accompanying the prescriptions are noted the pious axioms
+to be repeated by the physician, while compounding and giving them to the
+patient.  On the second line of the first page of our manuscript, it is
+stated that it came from Sais.  A large portion of this work is devoted
+to the visual organs.  On the twentieth line of the fifty-fifth page
+begins the book on the eyes, which fills eight large pages.  We were
+formerly compelled to draw from Greek and Roman authors what we knew
+about the remedies used for diseases of the eye among the ancient
+Egyptians.  The portion of the Papyrus Ebers just mentioned is now the
+only Egyptian source from whence we can obtain instruction concerning
+this important branch of ancient medicine.
+
+All this scarcely seems to have a place in the preface of a historical
+romance, and yet it is worthy of mention here; for there is something
+almost "providential" in the fact that it was reserved for the author of
+"An Egyptian Princess" to bestow the gift of this manuscript upon the
+scientific world.  Among the characters in the novel the reader will meet
+an oculist from Sais, who wrote a book upon the diseases of the visual
+organs.  The fate of this valuable work exactly agrees with the course of
+the narrative.  The papyrus scroll of the Sais oculist, which a short
+time ago existed only in the imagination of the author and readers of "An
+Egyptian Princess," is now an established fact.  When I succeeded in
+bringing the manuscript home, I felt like the man who had dreamed of a
+treasure, and when he went out to ride found it in his path.
+
+A reply to Monsieur Jules Soury's criticism of "An Egyptian Princess" in
+the Revue des deux Mondes, Vol. VII, January 1875, might appropriately be
+introduced into this preface, but would scarcely be possible without
+entering more deeply into the ever-disputed question, which will be
+answered elsewhere, whether the historical romance is ever justifiable.
+Yet I cannot refrain from informing Monsieur Soury here that "An Egyptian
+Princess" detained me from no other work.  I wrote it in my sick-room,
+before entering upon my academic career, and while composing it, found
+not only comfort and pleasure, but an opportunity to give dead scientific
+material a living interest for myself and others.
+
+Monsieur Soury says romance is the mortal enemy of history; but this
+sentence may have no more justice than the one with which I think myself
+justified in replying: Landscape painting is the mortal enemy of botany.
+The historical romance must be enjoyed like any other work of art.  No
+one reads it to study history; but many, the author hopes, may be aroused
+by his work to make investigations of their own, for which the notes
+point out the way.  Already several persons of excellent mental powers
+have been attracted to earnest Egyptological researches by "An Egyptian
+Princess."  In the presence of such experiences, although Monsieur
+Soury's clever statements appear to contain much that is true, I need not
+apply his remark that "historical romances injure the cause of science"
+to the present volume.
+
+          Leipzig, April 19, 1875.
+
+                                        GEORG EBERS.
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE FIFTH GERMAN EDITION.
+
+Again a new edition of "An Egyptian Princess" has been required, and
+again I write a special preface because the printing has progressed so
+rapidly as unfortunately to render it impossible for me to correct some
+errors to which my attention was directed by the kindness of the well-
+known botanist, Professor Paul Ascherson of Berlin, who has travelled
+through Egypt and the Oases.
+
+In Vol. I, page 7, I allow mimosas to grow among other plants in
+Rhodopis' garden.  I have found them in all the descriptions of the Nile
+valley, and afterwards often enjoyed the delicious perfume of the golden
+yellow flowers in the gardens of Alexandria and Cairo.  I now learn that
+this very mimosa (Acacia farnesiana) originates in tropical America, and
+was undoubtedly unknown in ancient Egypt.  The bananas, which I mentioned
+in Vol. I, p. 64, among other Egyptian plants, were first introduced into
+the Nile valley from India by the Arabs.  The botanical errors occurring
+in the last volume I was able to correct.  Helm's admirable work on
+"Cultivated Plants and Domestic Animals" had taught me to notice such
+things.  Theophrastus, a native of Asia Minor, gives the first
+description of a citron, and this proves that he probably saw the so-
+called paradise-apple, but not our citron, which I am therefore not
+permitted to mention among the plants cultivated in ancient Lydia.  Palms
+and birches are both found in Asia Minor; but I permitted them to grow
+side by side, thereby committing an offense against the geographical
+possibility of vegetable existence.  The birch, in this locality,
+flourishes in the mountainous region, the palm, according to Griesbach
+(Vegetation of the Earth, Vol. I, p. 319) only appears on the southern
+coast of the peninsula.  The latter errors, as I previously mentioned,
+will be corrected in the new edition.  I shall of course owe special
+thanks to any one who may call my attention to similar mistakes.
+
+     Leipzig, March 5, 1877
+
+                                   GEORG EBERS
+
+
+
+PREFACE TO THE NINTH GERMAN EDITION.
+
+I have nothing to add to the ninth edition of "An Egyptian Princess"
+except that it has been thoroughly revised.  My sincere thanks are due to
+Dr. August Steitz of Frankfort on the Main, who has travelled through
+Egypt and Asia Minor, for a series of admirable notes, which he kindly
+placed at my disposal.  He will find that they have not remained unused.
+
+     Leipzig, November 13, 1879.
+                                        GEORG EBERS
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Part 1.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 1.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+The Nile had overflowed its bed.  The luxuriant corn-fields and blooming
+gardens on its shores were lost beneath a boundless waste of waters; and
+only the gigantic temples and palaces of its cities, (protected from the
+force of the water by dikes), and the tops of the tall palm-trees and
+acacias could be seen above its surface.  The branches of the sycamores
+and plane-trees drooped and floated on the waves, but the boughs of the
+tall silver poplars strained upward, as if anxious to avoid the watery
+world beneath.  The full-moon had risen; her soft light fell on the
+Libyan range of mountains vanishing on the western horizon, and in the
+north the shimmer of the Mediterranean could faintly be discerned.  Blue
+and white lotus-flowers floated on the clear water, bats of all kinds
+darted softly through the still air, heavy with the scent of acacia-
+blossom and jasmine; the wild pigeons and other birds were at roost in
+the tops of the trees, while the pelicans, storks and cranes squatted in
+groups on the shore under the shelter of the papyrus-reeds and Nile-
+beans.  The pelicans and storks remained motionless, their long bills
+hidden beneath their wings, but the cranes were startled by the mere beat
+of an oar, stretching their necks, and peering anxiously into the
+distance, if they heard but the song of the boatmen.  The air was
+perfectly motionless, and the unbroken reflection of the moon, lying like
+a silver shield on the surface of the water, proved that, wildly as the
+Nile leaps over the cataracts, and rushes past the gigantic temples of
+Upper Egypt, yet on approaching the sea by different arms, he can abandon
+his impetuous course, and flow along in sober tranquillity.
+
+On this moonlight night in the year 528 B. C. a bark was crossing the
+almost currentless Canopic mouth of the Nile.  On the raised deck at the
+stern of this boat an Egyptian was sitting to guide the long pole-rudder,
+and the half-naked boatmen within were singing as they rowed.  In the
+open cabin, which was something like a wooden summer-house, sat two men,
+reclining on low cushions.  They were evidently not Egyptians; their
+Greek descent could be perceived even by the moonlight.  The elder was an
+unusually tall and powerful man of more than sixty; thick grey curls,
+showing very little attempt at arrangement, hung down over his short,
+firm throat; he wore a simple, homely cloak, and kept his eyes gloomily
+fixed on the water.  His companion, on the contrary, a man perhaps twenty
+years younger, of a slender and delicate build, was seldom still.
+Sometimes he gazed into the heavens, sometimes made a remark to the
+steersman, disposed his beautiful purple chlanis in fresh folds, or
+busied himself in the arrangement of his scented brown curls, or his
+carefully curled beard.
+
+     [The chlanis was a light summer-mantle, worn especially by the more
+     elegant Athenians, and generally made of expensive materials.  The
+     simpler cloak, the himation, was worn by the Doric Greeks, and
+     principally by the Spartans.]
+
+The boat had left Naukratis, at that time the only Hellenic port in
+Egypt, about half an hour before.
+
+     [This town, which will form the scene of a part of our tale, lies in
+     the northwest of the Nile Delta, in the Saitic Nomos or district, on
+     the left bank of the Canopic mouth of the river.  According to
+     Strabo and Eusebius it was founded by Milesians, and Bunsen reckons
+     749 B. C.  It seems that in the earliest times Greek ships were only
+     allowed to enter this mouth of the Nile in case of necessity.  The
+     entire intercourse of the Egyptians with the hated strangers was, at
+     that time, restricted to the little island of Pharos lying opposite
+     to the town of Thonis.]
+
+During their journey, the grey-haired, moody man had not spoken one word,
+and the other had left him to his meditations.  But now, as the boat
+neared the shore, the restless traveller, rising from his couch, called
+to his companion: "We are just at our destination, Aristomachus!  That
+pleasant house to the left yonder, in the garden of palms which you can
+see rising above the waters, is the dwelling of my friend Rhodopis.  It
+was built by her husband Charaxus, and all her friends, not excepting the
+king himself, vie with one another in adding new beauties to it year by
+year.  A useless effort!  Let them adorn that house with all the
+treasures in the world, the woman who lives within will still remain its
+best ornament!"
+
+     [We are writing of the month of October, when the Nile begins to
+     sink.  The inundations can now be accurately accounted for,
+     especially since the important and laborious synoptical work of H.
+     Barth and S. Baker. They are occasioned by the tropical rains, and
+     the melting of the snows on the high mountain-ranges at the Equator.
+     In the beginning of June a gradual rising of the Nile waters can be
+     perceived; between the 15th and 20th June, this changes to a rapid
+     increase; in the beginning of October the waters reach their highest
+     elevation, a point, which, even after having begun their retreat,
+     they once more attempt to attain; then, at first gradually, and
+     afterwards with ever increasing rapidity, they continue to sink.  In
+     January, February and March, the Nile is still drying up; and in May
+     is at its lowest point, when the volume of its waters is only one-
+     twentieth of that in October.]
+
+The old man sat up, threw a passing glance at the building, smoothed the
+thick grey beard which clothed his cheeks and chin, but left the lips
+free,--[The Spartans were not in the habit of wearing a beard on the
+upper lip.]--and asked abruptly: "Why so much enthusiasm, Phanes, for
+this Rhodopis?  How long have the Athenians been wont to extol old
+women?"  At this remark the other smiled, and answered in a self-
+satisfied tone, "My knowledge of the world, and particularly of women,
+is, I flatter myself, an extended one, and yet I repeat, that in all
+Egypt I know of no nobler creature than this grey-haired woman.  When you
+have seen her and her lovely grandchild, and heard your favorite melodies
+sung by her well-practised choir of slave-girls, I think you will thank
+me for having brought you hither."--"Yet," answered the Spartan gravely,
+"I should not have accompanied you, if I had not hoped to meet Phryxus,
+the Delphian, here."
+
+"You will find him here; and besides, I cannot but hope that the songs
+will cheer you, and dispel your gloomy thoughts."  Aristomachus shook his
+head in denial, and answered: "To you, sanguine Athenians, the melodies
+of your country may be cheering: but not so to me; as in many a sleepless
+night of dreams, my longings will be doubled, not stilled by the songs of
+Alkman."
+
+     [Alkman (Attic, Alkmaeon) flourished in Sparta about 650 B. C.  His
+     mother was a Lydian slave in Sardes, and he came into the possession
+     of Agesides, who gave him his freedom.  His beautiful songs soon
+     procured him the rights of a Lacedaemonian citizen.  He was
+     appointed to the head-directorship in the entire department of music
+     in Lacedaemon and succeeded in naturalizing the soft Lydian music.
+     His language was the Doric-Laconian.  After a life devoted to song,
+     the pleasures of the table and of love, he is said to have died of
+     a fearful disease.  From the frequent chorusses of virgins
+     (Parthenien) said to have been originally introduced by him, his
+     frequent songs in praise of women, and the friendly relations in
+     which he stood to the Spartan women (more especially to the fair
+     Megalostrata), he gained the name of the woman's poet.]
+
+"Do you think then," replied Phanes, "that I have no longing for my
+beloved Athens, for the scenes of our youthful games, for the busy life
+of the market?  Truly, the bread of exile is not less distasteful to my
+palate than to yours, but, in the society afforded by this house, it
+loses some of its bitterness, and when the dear melodies of Hellas, so
+perfectly sung, fall on my ear, my native land rises before me as in a
+vision, I see its pine and olive groves, its cold, emerald green rivers,
+its blue sea, the shimmer of its towns, its snowy mountain-tops and
+marble temples, and a half-sweet, half-bitter tear steals down my cheek
+as the music ceases, and I awake to remember that I am in Egypt, in this
+monotonous, hot, eccentric country, which, the gods be praised, I am soon
+about to quit.  But, Aristomachus, would you then avoid the few Oases in
+the desert, because you must afterwards return to its sands and drought?
+Would you fly from one happy hour, because days of sadness await you
+later?  But stop, here we are!  Show a cheerful countenance, my friend,
+for it becomes us not to enter the temple of the Charites with sad
+hearts."--[The goddesses of grace and beauty, better known by their Roman
+name of "Graces."]
+
+As Phanes uttered these words, they landed at the garden wall, washed by
+the Nile.  The Athenian bounded lightly from the boat, the Spartan
+following with a heavier, firmer tread.  Aristomachus had a wooden leg,
+but his step was so firm, even when compared with that of the light-
+footed Phanes, that it might have been thought to be his own limb.
+
+The garden of Rhodopis was as full of sound, and scent and blossom as a
+night in fairy-land.  It was one labyrinth of acanthus shrubs, yellow
+mimosa, the snowy gelder-rose, jasmine and lilac, red roses and
+laburnums, overshadowed by tall palm-trees, acacias and balsam trees.
+Large bats hovered softly on their delicate wings over the whole, and
+sounds of mirth and song echoed from the river.
+
+This garden had been laid out by an Egyptian, and the builders of the
+Pyramids had already been celebrated for ages for their skill in
+horticulture.  They well understood how to mark out neat flower-beds,
+plant groups of trees and shrubs in regular order, water the whole by
+aqueducts and fountains, arrange arbors and summerhouses, and even
+inclose the walks with artistically clipped hedges, and breed goldfish in
+stone basins.
+
+At the garden gate Phanes stopped, looked around him carefully and
+listened; then shaking his head, "I do not understand what this can
+mean," he said.  "I hear no voices, there is not a single light to be
+seen, the boats are all gone, and yet the flag is still flying at its gay
+flag-staff, there, by the obelisks on each side of the gate."
+
+     [Obelisks bearing the name of the owner were sometimes to be seen
+     near the gates of the Egyptian country-houses.  Flags too were not
+     uncommon, but these were almost exclusively to be found at the gates
+     of the temples, where to this day the iron sockets for the flagstaff
+     can still be seen.  Neither were flags unknown to the Greeks.  It
+     appears from some inscriptions on the staffs of the Pylons, that if
+     the former were not actually erected for lightning-rods, it had been
+     noticed that they attracted the electricity.]
+
+"Rhodopis must surely be from home; can they have forgotten?"--Here a
+deep voice suddenly interrupted him with the exclamation, "Ha! the
+commander of the body-guard!"
+
+"A pleasant evening to you, Knakais," exclaimed Phanes, kindly greeting
+the old man, who now came up.  "But how is it that this garden is as
+still as an Egyptian tomb, and yet the flag of welcome is fluttering at
+the gate?  How long has that white ensign waved for guests in vain?"
+
+"How long indeed?"  echoed the old slave of Rhodopis with a smile.  "So
+long as the Fates graciously spare the life of my mistress, the old flag
+is sure to waft as many guests hither as the house is able to contain.
+Rhodopis is not at home now, but she must return shortly.  The evening
+being so fine, she determined on taking a pleasure-trip on the Nile with
+her guests.  They started at sunset, two hours ago, and the evening meal
+is already prepared; they cannot remain away much longer.  I pray you,
+Phanes, to have patience and follow me into the house.  Rhodopis would
+not easily forgive me, if I allowed such valued guests to depart.  You
+stranger," he added, turning to the Spartan, "I entreat most heartily to
+remain; as friend of your friend you will be doubly welcome to my
+mistress."
+
+The two Greeks, following the servant, seated themselves in an arbor, and
+Aristomachus, after gazing on the scene around him now brilliantly
+lighted by the moon, said, "Explain to me, Phanes, by what good fortune
+this Rhodopis, formerly only a slave and courtesan can now live as a
+queen, and receive her guests in this princely manner?"
+
+     [The mistresses (Hetaere) of the Greeks must not be compared with
+     modern women of bad reputation.  The better members of this class
+     represented the intelligence and culture of their sex in Greece, and
+     more especially in the Ionian provinces.  As an instance we need
+     only recall Aspasia and her well-attested relation to Pericles and
+     Socrates.  Our heroine Rhodopis was a celebrated woman.  The
+     Hetaera, Thargalia of Miletus, became the wife of a Thessalian king.
+     Ptolemy Lagi married Thais; her daughter was called Irene, and her
+     sons Leontiskus and Lagus.  Finally, statues were erected to many.]
+
+"I have long expected this question," answered the Athenian.  "I shall be
+delighted to make you acquainted with the past history of this woman
+before you enter her house.  So long as we were on the Nile, I would not
+intrude my tale upon you; that ancient river has a wonderful power of
+compelling to silence and quiet contemplation.  Even my usually quick
+tongue was paralyzed like yours, when I took my first night-journey on
+the Nile."
+
+"I thank you for this," replied the Spartan.  "When I first saw the aged
+priest Epimenides," at Knossus in Crete, he was one hundred and fifty
+years old, and I remember that his age and sanctity filled me with a
+strange dread; but how far older, how far more sacred, is this hoary
+river, the ancient stream 'Aigyptos'!"  Who would wish to avoid the power
+of his spells?  Now, however, I beg you to give me the history of
+Rhodopis."
+
+Phanes began: "When Rhodopis was a little child playing with her
+companions on the Thracian sea-shore, she was stolen by some Phoenician
+mariners, carried to Samos, and bought by Iadmon, one of the geomori, or
+landed aristocracy of the island.  The little girl grew day by day more
+beautiful, graceful and clever, and was soon an object of love and
+admiration to all who knew her.  AEsop, the fable-writer, who was at that
+time also in bondage to Iadmon, took an especial pleasure in the growing
+amiability and talent of the child, taught her and cared for her in the
+same way as the tutors whom we keep to educate our Athenian boys.
+
+The kind teacher found his pupil tractable and quick of comprehension,
+and the little slave soon practised the arts of music, singing and
+eloquence, in a more charming and agreeable manner than the sons of her
+master Iadmon, on whose education the greatest care had been lavished.
+By the time she had reached her fourteenth year, Rhodopis was so
+beautiful and accomplished, that the jealous wife of Iadmon would not
+suffer her to remain any longer in the house, and the Samian was forced,
+with a heavy heart, to sell her to a certain Xanthus.  The government of
+Samos at that time was still in the hands of the less opulent nobles; had
+Polykrates then been at the head of affairs, Xanthus need not have
+despaired of a purchaser.  These tyrants fill their treasuries as the
+magpies their nests!  As it was, however, he went off with his precious
+jewel to Naukratis, and there gained a fortune by means of her wondrous
+charms.  These were three years of the deepest humiliation to Rhodopis,
+which she still remembers with horror.
+
+Now it happened, just at the time when her fame was spreading through all
+Greece, and strangers were coming from far to Naukratis for her sake
+alone, that the people of Lesbos rose up against their nobles, drove them
+forth, and chose the wise Pittakus as their ruler.
+
+     [According to Herodotus the beauty of Rhodopis was so great that
+     every Greek knew her by name.]
+
+The highest families of Lesbos were forced to leave the country, and
+fled, some to Sicily, some to the Greek provinces of Italy, and others to
+Egypt.  Alcaeus, the greatest poet of his day, and Charaxus, the brother
+of that Sappho whose odes it was our Solon's last wish to learn by heart,
+came here to Naukratis, which had already long been the flourishing
+centre of commercial communication between Egypt and the rest of the
+world.  Charaxus saw Rhodopis, and soon loved her so passionately, that
+he gave an immense sum to secure her from the mercenary Xanthus, who was
+on the point of returning with her to his own country; Sappho wrote some
+biting verses, derisive of her brother and his purchase, but Alcaeus on
+the other hand, approved, and gave expression to this feeling in glowing
+songs on the charms of Rhodopis.  And now Sappho's brother, who had till
+then remained undistinguished among the many strangers at Naukratis,
+became a noted man through Rhodopis.  His house was soon the centre of
+attraction to all foreigners, by whom she was overwhelmed with gifts.
+The King Hophra, hearing of her beauty and talent, sent for her to
+Memphis, and offered to buy her of Charaxus, but the latter had already
+long, though secretly, given Rhodopis her freedom, and loved her far too
+well to allow of a separation.  She too, loved the handsome Lesbian and
+refused to leave him despite the brilliant offers made to her on all
+sides.  At length Charaxus made this wonderful woman his lawful wife, and
+continued to live with her and her little daughter Kleis in Naukratis,
+until the Lesbian exiles were recalled to their native land by Pittakus.
+He then started homeward with his wife, but fell ill on the journey, and
+died soon after his arrival at Mitylene.  Sappho, who had derided her
+brother for marrying one beneath him, soon became an enthusiastic admirer
+of the beautiful widow and rivalled Alcaeus in passionate songs to her
+praise.
+
+After the death of the poetess, Rhodopis returned, with her little
+daughter, to Naukratis, where she was welcomed as a goddess.  During this
+interval Amasis, the present king of Egypt, had usurped the throne of the
+Pharaohs, and was maintaining himself in its possession by help of the
+army, to which caste he belonged.
+
+     [Amasis, of whom much will be said in our text, reigned 570-526 B.
+     C.  His name, in the hieroglyphic signs, was Aahmes or young moon
+     but the name by which he was commonly called was Sa-Nit "Son of
+     Neith."  His name, and pictures of him are to be found on stones in
+     the fortress of Cairo, on a relief in Florence, a statue in the
+     Vatican, on sarcophagi in Stockholm and London, a statue in the
+     Villa Albani and on a little temple of red granite at Leyden.  A
+     beautiful bust of gray-wacke in our possession probably represents
+     the same king.]
+
+As his predecessor Hophra had accelerated his fall, and brought the army
+and priesthood to open rebellion by his predilection for the Greek
+nation, and for intercourse with foreigners generally, (always an
+abomination in the eyes of the Egyptians), men felt confident that Amasis
+would return to the old ways, would rigorously exclude foreigners from
+the country, dismiss the Greek mercenaries, and instead of taking counsel
+from the Greeks, would hearken only to the commands of the priesthood.
+But in this, as you must see yourself, the prudent Egyptians had guessed
+wide of the mark in their choice of a ruler; they fell from Scylla into
+Charybdis.  If Hophra was called the Greeks' friend, Amasis must be named
+our lover.  The Egyptians, especially the priests and the army, breathe
+fire and flame, and would fain strangle us one and all, off hand,  This
+feeling on the part of the soldiery does not disturb Amasis, for he knows
+too well the comparative value of their and our services; but with the
+priests it is another and more serious matter, for two reasons: first,
+they possess an unbounded influence over the people; and secondly.
+Amasis himself retains more affection than he likes to acknowledge to us,
+for this absurd and insipid religion--a religion which appears doubly
+sacred to its adherents simply because it has existed in this eccentric
+land--unchanged for thousands of years.  These priests make the king's
+life burdensome to him; they persecute and injure us in every possible
+way; and indeed, if it had not been for the king's protection, I should
+long ago have been a dead man.  But I am wandering from my tale!  As I
+said before, Rhodopis was received at Naukratis with open arms by all,
+and loaded with marks of favor by Amasis, who formed her acquaintance.
+Her daughter Kleis, as is the case with the little Sappho now--was never
+allowed to appear in the society which assembled every evening at her
+mother's house, and indeed was even more strictly brought up than the
+other young girls in Naukratis.  She married Glaucus, a rich Phocaean
+merchant of noble family, who had defended his native town with great
+bravery against the Persians, and with him departed to the newly-founded
+Massalia, on the Celtic coast.  There, however, the young couple both
+fell victims to the climate, and died, leaving a little daughter, Sappho.
+Rhodopis at once undertook the long journey westward, brought the orphan
+child back to live with her, spent the utmost care on her education, and
+now that she is grown up, forbids her the society of men, still feeling
+the stains of her own youth so keenly that she would fain keep her
+granddaughter (and this in Sappho's case is not difficult), at a greater
+distance from contact with our sex than is rendered necessary, by the
+customs of Egypt.  To my friend herself society is as indispensable as
+water to the fish or air to the bird.  Her house is frequented by all the
+strangers here, and whoever has once experienced her hospitality and has
+the time at command will never after be found absent when the flag
+announces an evening of reception.  Every Greek of mark is to be found
+here, as it is in this house that we consult on the wisest measures for
+encountering the hatred of the priests and bringing the king round to our
+own views.  Here you can obtain not only the latest news from home, but
+from the rest of the world, and this house is an inviolable sanctuary for
+the persecuted, Rhodopis possessing a royal warrant which secures her
+from every molestation on the part of the police.
+
+     [A very active and strict police-force existed in Egypt, the
+     organization of which is said to have owed much to Amasis' care.  We
+     also read in inscriptions and papyrus rolls, that a body of mounted
+     police existed, the ranks of which were generally filled by
+     foreigners in preference to natives.]
+
+Our own songs and our own language are to be heard here, and here we take
+counsel on the best means for delivering Greece from the ever fresh
+encroachments of her tyrants.
+
+In a word, this house is the centre of attraction for all Hellenic
+interests in Egypt, and of more importance to us politically, than our
+temple, the Hellenion itself, and our hall of commerce.
+
+In a few minutes you will see this remarkable grandmother, and, if we
+should be here alone, perhaps the grandchild too; you will then at once
+perceive that they owe everything to their own rare qualities and not to
+the chances of good fortune.  Ah! there they come!  they are going
+towards the house.  Cannot you hear the slave-girls singing?  Now they
+are going in.  First let them quietly be seated, then follow me, and when
+the evening is over you shall say whether you repent of having come
+hither, and whether Rhodopis resembles more nearly a queen or a freed
+bond-woman."
+
+The houses was built in the Grecian style.  It was a rather long, one-
+storied building, the outside of which would be called extremely plain in
+the present day; within, it united the Egyptian brilliancy of coloring
+with the Greek beauty of form.  The principal door opened into the
+entrance-hall.  To the left of this lay a large dining-room, overlooking
+the Nile, and, opposite to this last was the kitchen, an apartment only
+to be found in the houses of the wealthier Greeks, the poorer families
+being accustomed to prepare their food at the hearth in the front
+apartment.  The hall of reception lay at the other end of the entrance-
+hall, and was in the form of a square, surrounded within by a colonnade,
+into which various chambers opened.  This was the apartment devoted to
+the men, in the centre of which was the household fire, burning on an
+altar-shaped hearth of rich AEginetan metal-work.
+
+It was lighted by an opening in the roof, which formed at the same time,
+an outlet for the smoke.  From this room (at the opposite end to that on
+which it opened into the entrance-hall), a passage, closed by a well-
+fastened door, led into the chamber of the women.  This was also
+surrounded by a colonnade within, but only on three sides, and here the
+female inhabitants were accustomed to pass their time, when not employed,
+spinning or weaving, in the rooms lying near the back or garden-door as
+it was termed.  Between these latter and the domestic offices, which lay
+on the right and left of the women's apartment, were the sleeping-rooms;
+these served also as places of security for the valuables of the house.
+The walls of the men's apartment were painted of a reddish-brown color,
+against which the outlines of some white marble carvings, the gift of a
+Chian sculptor,  stood out in sharp relief.  The floor was covered with
+rich carpets from Sardis; low cushions of panthers' skins lay ranged
+along the colonnade; around the artistically wrought hearth stood quaint
+Egyptian settees, and small, delicately-carved tables of Thya wood, on
+which lay all kinds of musical instruments, the flute, cithara and lyre.
+Numerous lamps of various and singular shapes, filled with Kiki oil, hung
+against the walls.  Some represented fire-spouting dolphins; others,
+strange winged monsters from whose jaws the flames issued; and these,
+blending their light with that from the hearth, illumined the apartment.
+
+In this room a group of men were assembled, whose appearance and dress
+differed one from the other.  A Syrian from Tyre, in a long crimson robe,
+was talking animatedly to a man whose decided features and crisp, curly,
+black hair proclaimed him an Israelite.  The latter had come to Egypt to
+buy chariots and horses for Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah--the
+Egyptian equipages being the most sought after at that time.  Close to
+him stood three Greeks from Asia Minor, the rich folds of whose garments
+(for they wore the costly dress of their native city Miletus), contrasted
+strongly with the plain and unadorned robe of Phryxus, the deputy
+commissioned to collect money for the temple of Apollo at Delphi, with
+whom they were in earnest conversation.  Ten years before, the ancient
+temple had been consumed by fire; and at this time efforts were being
+made to build another, and a more beautiful one.
+
+Two of the Milesians, disciples of Anaximander and Anaximenes, were
+staying then in Egypt, to study astronomy and the peculiar wisdom of the
+Egyptians at Heliopolis, and the third was a wealthy merchant and ship-
+owner, named Theopompus, who had settled at Naukratis.
+
+     [Anaximander of Miletus, born 611-546, was a celebrated
+     geometrician, astronomer, philosopher and geographer.  He was the
+     author of a book on natural phenomena, drew the first map of the
+     world on metal, and introduced into Greece a kind of clock which he
+     seems to have borrowed from the Babylonians.  He supposes a primary
+     and not easily definable Being, by which the whole world is
+     governed, and in which, though in himself infinite and without
+     limits, everything material and circumscribed has its foundation.
+     "Chaotic matter" represents in his theory the germ of all created
+     things, from which water, earth, animals, nereids or fish-men, human
+     beings &c.  have had their origin.]
+
+Rhodopis herself was engaged in a lively conversation with two Samian
+Greeks: the celebrated worker in metals, sculptor and goldsmith
+Theodorus, and the Iambic poet Ibykus of Rhegium, who had left the court
+of Polykrates for a time in order to become acquainted with Egypt, and
+were bearers of presents to Amasis from their ruler.  Close to the fire
+lay Philoinus of Sybaris, a corpulent man with strongly-marked features
+and a sensual expression of face; he was stretched at full-length on a
+couch covered with spotted furs, and amused himself by playing with his
+scented curls wreathed with gold, and with the golden chains which fell
+from his neck on to the long saffron-colored robe that clothed him down
+to his feet.
+
+     [Sybaris was a town in Lower Italy notorious throughout the ancient
+     world for its luxury.  According to Strabo it was founded by
+     Achaeans 262.  About 510 it was conquered and destroyed by the
+     Crotoniates and then rebuilt under the name of Thurii.]
+
+Rhodopis had a kind word for each of her guests, but at present she
+occupied herself exclusively with the two celebrated Sarnians; their talk
+was of art and poetry.  The fire of youth still glowed in the eyes of the
+Thracian woman, her tall figure was still full and unbent; her hair,
+though grey, was wound round her beautifully formed head in luxuriant
+waves, and laid together at the back in a golden net, and a sparkling
+diadem shone above her lofty forehead.
+
+Her noble Greek features were pale, but still beautiful and without a
+wrinkle, notwithstanding her great age; indeed her small mouth with its
+full lips, her white teeth, her eyes so bright and yet so soft, and her
+nobly-formed nose and forehead would have been beauty enough for a young
+maiden.
+
+Rhodopis looked younger than she really was, though she made no attempt
+to disavow her age.  Matronly dignity was visible in every movement, and
+the charm of her manner lay, not in a youthful endeavor to be pleasing,
+but in the effort of age to please others, considering their wishes, and
+at the same time demanding consideration in return.
+
+Our two friends now presenting themselves in the hall, every eye turned
+upon them, and as Phanes entered leading his friend by the hand, the
+heartiest welcome met him from all sides; one of the Milesians indeed
+exclaimed: "Now I see what it is that was wanting to our assembly.  There
+can be no merriment without Phanes."
+
+And Philoinus, the Sybarite, raising his deep voice, but not allowing
+himself for a moment to be disturbed in his repose, remarked: "Mirth is a
+good thing, and if you bring that with you, be welcome to me also,
+Athenian."
+
+"To me," said Rhodopis, turning to her new guests, "you are heartily
+welcome, but not more in your joy than if borne down by sadness.  I know
+no greater pleasure than to remove the lines of care from a friend's
+brow.  Spartan, I venture to address you as a friend too, for the friends
+of my friends are my own."  Aristomachus bowed in silence, but Phanes,
+addressing himself both to Rhodopis and to the Sybarite, answered: "Well
+then, my friends, I can content you both.  To you, Rhodopis, I must come
+for comfort, for soon, too soon I must leave you and your pleasant house;
+Philoinus however can still enjoy my mirth, as I cannot but rejoice in
+the prospect of seeing my beloved Hellas once more, and of quitting, even
+though involuntarily, this golden mouse-trap of a country."
+
+"You are going away! you have been dismissed?  Whither are you going?"
+echoed on all sides.
+
+"Patience, patience, my friends," cried Phanes.  "I have a long story to
+tell, but I will rather reserve it for the evening meal.  And indeed,
+dear friend, my hunger is nearly as great as my distress at being obliged
+to leave you."
+
+"Hunger is a good thing," philosophized the Sybarite once more, "when a
+man has a good meal in prospect."
+
+"On that point you may be at ease, Philoinus," answered Rhodopis.
+"I told the cook to do his utmost, for the most celebrated epicure from
+the most luxurious city in the world, no less a person than Philoinus of
+Sybaris, would pass a stern judgment on his delicate dishes.  Go,
+Knakias, tell them to serve the supper.  Are you content now, my
+impatient guests?  As for me, since I heard Phanes' mournful news, the
+pleasure of the meal is gone."  The Athenian bowed, and the Sybarite
+returned to his philosophy.  "Contentment is a good thing when every wish
+can be satisfied.  I owe you thanks, Rhodopis, for your appreciation of
+my incomparable native city.  What says Anakreon?
+
+                   "To-day is ours--what do we fear?
+                    To-day is ours--we have it here.
+                    Let's treat it kindly, that it may
+                    Wish at least with us to stay.
+                    Let's banish business, banish sorrow;
+                    To the gods belongs to-morrow."
+
+"Eh!  Ibykus, have I quoted your friend the poet correctly, who feasts
+with you at Polykrates' banquets?  Well, I think I may venture to say of
+my own poor self that if Anakreon can make better verses, I understand
+the art of living quite as well as he, though he writes so many poems
+upon it.  Why, in all his songs there is not one word about the pleasures
+of the table!  Surely they are as important as love and play!  I confess
+that the two last are clear to me also; still, I could exist without
+them, though in a miserable fashion, but without food, where should we
+be?"
+
+The Sybarite broke into a loud laugh at his own joke; but the Spartan
+turned away from this conversation, drew Phryxus into a corner, and quite
+abandoning his usually quiet and deliberate manner, asked eagerly whether
+he had at last brought him the long wished for answer from the Oracle.
+The serious features of the Delphian relaxed, and thrusting his hand into
+the folds of his chiton,--[An undergarment resembling a shirt.]--he drew
+out a little roll of parchment-like sheepskin, on which a few lines were
+written.
+
+The hands of the brave, strong Spartan trembled as he seized the roll,
+and his fixed gaze on its characters was as if it would pierce the skin
+on which they were inscribed.
+
+Then, recollecting himself, he shook his head sadly and said: "We
+Spartans have to learn other arts than reading and writing; if thou
+canst, read the what Pythia says."
+
+The Delphian glanced over the writing and replied: "Rejoice!  Loxias
+(Apollo) promises thee a happy return home; hearken to the prediction of
+the priestess."
+
+    "If once the warrior hosts from the snow-topped mountains descending
+     Come to the fields of the stream watering richly the plain,
+     Then shall the lingering boat to the beckoning meadows convey thee
+     Which to the wandering foot peace and a home will afford.
+     When those warriors come, from the snow-topped mountains descending,
+     Then will the powerful Five grant thee what long they refused."
+
+To these words the Spartan listened with intense eagerness; he had them
+read over to him twice, then repeated them from memory, thanked Phryxus,
+and placed the roll within the folds of his garment.
+
+The Delphian then took part in the general conversation, but Aristomachus
+repeated the words of the Oracle unceasingly to himself in a low voice,
+endeavoring to impress them on his memory, and to interpret their obscure
+import.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+The doors of the supper-room now flew open.  Two lovely, fair-haired
+boys, holding myrtle-wreaths, stood on each side of the entrance, and in
+the middle of the room was a large, low, brilliantly polished table,
+surrounded by inviting purple cushions.
+
+     [It was most probably usual for each guest to have his own little
+     table; but we read even in Homer of large tables on which the meals
+     were served up.  In the time of Homer people sat at table, but the
+     recumbent position became universal in later times.]
+
+Rich nosegays adorned this table, and on it were placed large joints of
+roast meat, glasses and dishes of various shapes filled with dates, figs,
+pomegranates, melons and grapes, little silver beehives containing honey,
+and plates of embossed copper, on which lay delicate cheese from the
+island of Trinakria.  In the midst was a silver table-ornament, something
+similar to an altar, from which arose fragrant clouds of incense.
+
+At the extreme end of the table stood the glittering silver cup in which
+the wine was to be mixed.
+
+     [The Greeks were not accustomed to drink unmingled wine.  Zaleukus
+     forbade to all citizens the pure juice of the grape under penalty of
+     death, and Solon under very severe penalties, unless required as
+     medicine.  The usual mixture was composed of three-fifths water to
+     two-fifths wine.]
+
+This was of beautiful AEginetan workmanship, its crooked handles
+representing two giants, who appeared ready to sink under the weight of
+the bowl which they sustained.
+
+Like the altar, it was enwreathed with flowers, and a garland of roses or
+myrtle had been twined around the goblet of each guest.
+
+The entire floor was strewed with rose-leaves, and the room lighted by
+many lamps which were hung against the smooth, white, stucco walls.
+
+No sooner were the guests reclining on their cushions, than the fair-
+haired boys reappeared, wound garlands of ivy and myrtle around the heads
+and shoulders of the revellers, and washed their feet in silver basins.
+The Sybarite, though already scented with all the perfumes of Arabia,
+would not rest until he was completely enveloped in roses and myrtle, and
+continued to occupy the two boys even after the carver had removed the
+first joints from the table in order to cut them up; but as soon as the
+first course, tunny-fish with mustard-sauce, had been served, he forgot
+all subordinate matters, and became absorbed in the enjoyment of the
+delicious viands.
+
+Rhodopis, seated on a chair at the head of the table, near the wine-bowl,
+not only led the conversation, but gave directions to the slaves in
+waiting.
+
+     [The women took their meals sitting.  The Greeks, like the
+     Egyptians, had chairs with backs and arms.  The form of the solia or
+     throne has become familiar to us from the discoveries at Pompeii and
+     the representations of many gods and distinguished persons.  It had
+     a high, almost straight back, and supports for the arms.]
+
+She gazed on her cheerful guests with a kind of pride, and seemed to be
+devoting her attention to each exclusively, now asking the Delphian how
+he had succeeded in his mission, then the Sybarite whether he was content
+with the performances of her cook, and then listening eagerly to Ibykus,
+as he told how the Athenian, Phrynichus, had introduced the religious
+dramas of Thespis of Ikaria into common life, and was now representing
+entire histories from the past by means of choruses, recitative and
+answer.
+
+Then she turned to the Spartan, remarking, that to him alone of all her
+guests, instead of an apology for the simplicity of the meal, she felt
+she owed one for its luxury.  The next time he came, her slave Knakias,
+who, as an escaped Helot, boasted that he could cook a delicious blood-
+soup (here the Sybarite shuddered), should prepare him a true
+Lacedaemonian repast.
+
+When the guests had eaten sufficiently they again washed their hands; the
+plates and dishes were removed, the floor cleansed, and wine and water
+poured into the bowl.
+
+     [The Symposium began after the real meal.  Not till that was over
+     did the guests usually adorn themselves with wreaths, wash their
+     hands with Smegma or Smema (a kind of soap) and begin to drink.]
+
+At last, when Rhodopis had convinced herself that the right moment was
+come, she turned to Phanes, who was engaged in a discussion with the
+Milesians, and thus addressed him:
+
+"Noble friend, we have restrained our impatience so long that it must
+surely now be your duty to tell us what evil chance is threatening to
+snatch you from Egypt and from our circle.  You may be able to leave us
+and this country with a light heart, for the gods are wont to bless you
+Ionians with that precious gift from your very birth, but we shall
+remember you long and sadly.  I know of no worse loss than that of a
+friend tried through years, indeed some of us have lived too long on the
+Nile not to have imbibed a little of the constant, unchanging Egyptian
+temperament.  You smile, and yet I feel sure that long as you have
+desired to revisit your dear Hellas, you will not be able to leave us
+quite without regret.  Ah, you admit this?  Well, I knew I had not been
+deceived.  But now tell us why you are obliged to leave Egypt, that we
+may consider whether it may not be possible to get the king's decree
+reversed, and so keep you with us."
+
+Phanes smiled bitterly, and replied: "Many thanks, Rhodopis, for these
+flattering words, and for the kind intention either to grieve over my
+departure, or if possible, to prevent it.  A hundred new faces will soon
+help you to forget mine, for long as you have lived on the Nile, you are
+still a Greek from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, and may
+thank the gods that you have remained so.  I am a great friend of
+constancy too, but quite as great an enemy of folly, and is there one
+among you who would not call it folly to fret over what cannot be undone?
+I cannot call the Egyptian constancy a virtue, it is a delusion.  The men
+who treasure their dead for thousands of years, and would rather lose
+their last loaf than allow a single bone belonging to one of their
+ancestors to be taken from them, are not constant, they are foolish.  Can
+it possibly make me happy to see my friends sad?  Certainly not!  You
+must not imitate the Egyptians, who, when they lose a friend, spend
+months in daily-repeated lamentations over him.  On the contrary, if you
+will sometimes think of the distant, I ought to say, of the departed,
+friend, (for as long as I live I shall never be permitted to tread
+Egyptian ground again), let it be with smiling faces; do not cry, 'Ah!
+why was Phanes forced to leave us?' but rather, 'Let us be merry, as
+Phanes used to be when he made one of our circle!'  In this way you must
+celebrate my departure, as Simonides enjoined when he sang:
+
+              "If we would only be more truly wise,
+               We should not waste on death our tears and sighs,
+               Nor stand and mourn o'er cold and lifeless clay
+               More than one day.
+
+               For Death, alas!  we have no lack of time;
+               But Life is gone, when scarcely at its prime,
+               And is e'en, when not overfill'd with care
+               But short and bare!"
+
+"If we are not to weep for the dead, how much less ought we to grieve for
+absent friends! the former have left us for ever, but to the latter we
+say at parting, 'Farewell, until we meet again'"
+
+Here the Sybarite, who had been gradually becoming more and more
+impatient, could not keep silent any longer, and called out in the most
+woe begone tone: Will you never begin your story, you malicious fellow?
+I cannot drink a single drop till you leave off talking about death.  I
+feel cold already, and I am always ill, if I only think of, nay, if I
+only hear the subject mentioned, that this life cannot last forever."
+The whole company burst into a laugh, and Phanes began to tell his story:
+
+"You know that at Sais I always live in the new palace; but at Memphis,
+as commander of the Greek body-guard which must accompany the king
+everywhere, a lodging was assigned me in the left wing of the old palace.
+
+"Since Psamtik the First, Sais has always been the royal residence, and
+the other palaces have in consequence become somewhat neglected.  My
+dwelling was really splendidly situated, and beautifully furnished; it
+would have been first-rate, if, from the first moment of my entrance, a
+fearful annoyance had not made its appearance.
+
+"In the day-time, when I was seldom at home, my rooms were all that could
+be wished, but at night it was impossible to sleep for the tremendous
+noise made by thousands of rats and mice under the old floors, and
+couches, and behind the hangings.
+
+"Even in the first night an impudent mouse ran over my face.
+
+"I was quite at a loss what to do, till an Egyptian soldier sold me two
+large cats, and these, in the course of many weeks, procured me some rest
+from my tormentors.
+
+"Now, you are probably all aware that one of the charming laws of this
+most eccentric nation, (whose culture and wisdom, you, my Milesian
+friends, cannot sufficiently praise), declares the cat to be a sacred
+animal.  Divine honors are paid to these fortunate quadrupeds as well as
+to many other animals, and he who kills a cat is punished with the same
+severity as the murderer of a human being."
+
+Till now Rhodopis had been smiling, but when she perceived that Phanes'
+banishment had to do with his contempt for the sacred animals, her face
+became more serious.  She knew how many victims, how many human lives,
+had already been sacrificed to this Egyptian superstition, and how, only
+a short time before, the king Amasis himself had endeavored in vain to
+rescue an unfortunate Samian, who had killed a cat, from the vengeance of
+the enraged populace.
+
+     [The cat was probably the most sacred of all the animals worshipped
+     by the Egyptians. Herod tells that when a house was on fire the
+     Egyptians never thought of extinguishing the fire until their cats
+     were all saved, and that when a cat died, they shaved their heads in
+     sign of mourning.  Whoever killed one of these animals, whether
+     intentionally or by accident, suffered the penalty, of death,
+     without any chance of mercy.  Diod. (I. 81.) himself witnessed the
+     murder of a Roman citizen who had killed a cat, by the Egyptian
+     people; and this in spite of the authorities, who in fear of the
+     powerful Romans, endeavored to prevent the deed.  The bodies of the
+     cats were carefully embalmed and buried, and their mummies are to be
+     found in every museum.  The embalmed cat, carefully wrapped in linen
+     bandages, is oftener to be met with than any other of the many
+     animals thus preserved by the Egyptians.  In spite of the great care
+     bestowed on cats, there can have been no lack of mice in Egypt.  In
+     one nomos or province the shrew-mouse was sacred, and a satirical,
+     obscene papyrus in Turin shows us a war between the cats and mice;
+     the Papyrus Ebers contains poisons for mice.  We ourselves possess a
+     shrew-mouse exquisitely wrought in bronze.]
+
+"Everything was going well," continued the officer, "when we left Memphis
+two years ago.
+
+"I confided my pair of cats to the care of one of the Egyptian servants
+at the palace, feeling sure that these enemies of the rats would keep my
+dwelling clear for the future; indeed I began to feel a certain
+veneration for my deliverers from the plague of mice.
+
+"Last year Amasis fell ill before the court could adjourn to Memphis, and
+we remained at Sais.
+
+"At last, about six week ago, we set out for the city of the Pyramids.
+I betook me to my old quarters; not the shadow of a mouse's tail was to
+be seen there, but instead, they swarmed with another race of animals not
+one whit dearer to me than their predecessors.  The pair of cats had,
+during my two years' absence, increased twelve-fold.  I tried all in my
+power to dislodge this burdensome brood of all ages and colors, but in
+vain; every night my sleep was disturbed by horrible choruses of four-
+footed animals, and feline war-cries and songs.
+
+"Every year, at the period of the Bubastis festival, all superfluous cats
+may be brought to the temple of the cat-headed goddess Pacht, where they
+are fed and cared for, or, as I believe, when they multiply too fast,
+quietly put out of the way.  These priests are knaves!
+
+"Unfortunately the journey to the said temple" did not occur during the
+time of our stay in Memphis; however, as I really could not tolerate this
+army of tormentors any longer, I determined at least to get rid of two
+families of healthy kittens with which their mothers had just presented
+me.  My old slave Mus, from his very name a natural enemy of cats, was
+told to kill the little creatures, put them into a sack, and throw them
+into the Nile.
+
+"This murder was necessary, as the mewing of the kittens would otherwise
+have betrayed the contents of the sack to the palace-warders.  In the
+twilight poor Muss betook himself to the Nile through the grove of
+Hathor, with his perilous burden.  But alas! the Egyptian attendant who
+was in the habit of feeding my cats, had noticed that two families of
+kittens were missing, and had seen through our whole plan.
+
+"My slave took his way composedly through the great avenue of Sphinxes,
+and by the temple of Ptah, holding the little bag concealed under his
+mantle.  Already in the sacred grove he noticed that he was being
+followed, but on seeing that the men behind him stopped before the temple
+of Ptah and entered into conversation with the priests, he felt perfectly
+reassured and went on.
+
+"He had already reached the bank of the Nile, when he heard voices
+calling him and a number of people running towards him in haste; at the
+same moment a stone whistled close by his head.
+
+"Mus at once perceived the danger which was threatening him.  Summoning
+all his strength he rushed down to the Nile, flung the bag in, and then
+with a beating heart, but as he imagined without the slightest evidence
+of guilt, remained standing on the shore.  A few moments later he was
+surrounded by at least a hundred priests.
+
+"Even  the high-priest of  Ptah, my old enemy Ptahotep, had not disdained
+to follow the pursuers in person.
+
+"Many of the latter, and amongst them the perfidious palace-servant,
+rushed at once into the Nile, and there, to our confusion, found the
+bag with its twelve little corpses, hanging entirely uninjured among the
+Papyrus-reeds and bean-tendrils.  The cotton coffin was opened before
+the eyes of the high-priest, a troop of lower priests, and at least a
+thousand of the inhabitants of Memphis, who had hurried to the spot,
+and when the miserable contents were disclosed, there arose such fearful
+howls of anguish, and such horrible cries of mingled lamentation and
+revenge, that I heard them even in the palace.
+
+"The furious multitude, in their wild rage, fell on my poor servant,
+threw him down, trampled on him and would have killed him, had not the
+all-powerful high-priest-designing to involve me, as author of the crime,
+in the same ruin--commanded them to cease and take the wretched
+malefactor to prison.
+
+"Half an hour later I was in prison too.
+
+"My old Mus took all the guilt of the crime on himself, until at last,
+by means of the bastinado, the high-priest forced him to confess that I
+had ordered the killing of the kittens, and that he, as a faithful
+servant, had not dared to disobey.
+
+"The supreme court of justice, whose decisions the king himself has no
+power to reverse, is composed of priests from Memphis, Heliopolis and
+Thebes: you can therefore easily believe that they had no scruple in
+pronouncing sentence of death on poor Mus and my own unworthy Greek self.
+The slave was pronounced guilty of two capital offences: first, of the
+murder of the sacred animals, and secondly, of a twelve-fold pollution of
+the Nile through dead bodies.  I was condemned as originator of this, (as
+they termed it) four-and-twenty-fold crime.
+
+     [According to the Egyptian law, the man who was cognizant of a crime
+     was held equally culpable with the perpetrator.]
+
+"Mus was executed on the same day.  May the earth rest lightly on him!  I
+shall never think of him again as my slave, but as a friend and
+benefactor!  My sentence of death was read aloud in the presence of his
+dead body, and I was already preparing for a long journey into the nether
+world, when the king sent and commanded a reprieve.
+
+     [This court of justice, which may be compared with the Areopagus at
+     Athens, and the Gerusia at Sparta, (Diod. I, 75.), was composed of
+     30 judges taken from the priestly caste, (10 from Heliopolis, 10
+     from Memphis, 10 from Thebes).  The most eminent from among their
+     number was chosen by them as president.  All complaints and defences
+     had to be presented in writing, that the judges might in no way be
+     influenced by word or gesture.  This tribunal was independent, even
+     of the king's authority.  Much information concerning the
+     administration of justice has been obtained from the Papyrus Abbott,
+     known by the name of the 'Papyrus judiciaire'.  Particulars and an
+     account of their literature may be found in Ebers "Durch Gosen zum
+     Sinai," p.  534 and following.]
+
+"I was taken back to prison.  One of my guards, an Arcadian Taxiarch,
+told me that all the officers of the guard and many of the soldiers,
+(altogether four thousand men) had threatened to send in their
+resignation, unless I, their commander, were pardoned.
+
+"As it was beginning to grow dusk I was taken to the king.
+
+"He received me graciously, confirmed the Taxiarch's statement with his
+own mouth, and said how grieved he should be to lose a commander so
+generally beloved.  I must confess that I owe Amasis no grudge for his
+conduct to me, on the contrary I pity him.  You should have heard how he,
+the powerful king, complained that he could never act according to his
+own wishes, that even in his most private affairs he was crossed and
+compromised by the priests and their influence.
+
+     [See the parallel in the history of 2000 years later in the reigns
+     of Henry III. and IV. confronting the Jesuit influence, finally
+     culminating in assassination.  D.W.]
+
+"Had it only depended on himself, he could easily have pardoned the
+transgression of a law, which I, as a foreigner, could not be expected to
+understand, and might (though unjustly) esteem as a foolish superstition.
+But for the sake of the priests he dare not leave me unpunished.  The
+lightest penalty he could inflict must be banishment from Egypt.
+
+"He concluded his complaint with these words: 'You little know what
+concessions I must make to the priests in order to obtain your pardon.
+Why, our supreme court of justice is independent even of me, its king!'
+
+"And thus I received my dismissal, after having taken a solemn oath to
+leave Memphis that very day, and Egypt, at latest, in three weeks.
+
+"At the palace-gate I met Psamtik, the crown-prince.  He has long been my
+enemy, on account of some vexatious matters which I cannot divulge, (you
+know them, Rhodopis).  I was going to offer him my parting salutation,
+but he turned his back upon me, saying: Once more you have escaped
+punishment, Athenian; but you cannot elude my vengeance.  Whithersoever
+you may go, I shall be able to find you!'--'That remains to be proved,' I
+answered, and putting myself and my possessions on board a boat, came to
+Naukratis.  Here, by good fortune, I met my old friend Aristomachus of
+Sparta, who, as he was formerly in command of the Cyprian troops, will
+most likely be nominated my successor.  I should rejoice to know that
+such a first-rate man was going to take my place, if I did not at the
+same time fear that his eminent services will make my own poor efforts
+seem even more insignificant than they really were."
+
+But here he was interrupted by Aristomachus, who called out: "Praise
+enough, friend Phanes!  Spartan tongues are stiff; but if you should ever
+stand in need of my help, I will give you an answer in deeds, which shall
+strike the right nail on the head."
+
+Rhodopis smiled her approval, and giving her hand to each, said:
+"Unfortunately, the only conclusion to be drawn from your story, my poor
+Phanes, is that you cannot possibly remain any longer in this country.
+I will not blame you for your thoughtlessness, though you might have
+known that you were exposing yourself to great danger for a mere trifle.
+The really wise and brave man never undertakes a hazardous enterprise,
+unless the possible advantage and disadvantage that may accrue to him
+from it can be reckoned at least as equal.  Recklessness is quite as
+foolish, but not so blamable as cowardice, for though both do the man an
+injury, the latter alone can dishonor him.
+
+"Your thoughtlessness, this time, has very nearly cost your life, a life
+dear to many, and which you ought to save for a nobler end.  We cannot
+attempt to keep you here; we should thereby only injure ourselves without
+benefitting you.  This noble Spartan must now take your place as head and
+representative of the Greek nation at the Egyptian court, must endeavor
+to protect us against the encroachment of the priests, and to retain for
+us the royal favor.  I take your hand, Aristomachus, and will not let it
+go till you have promised that you will protect, to the utmost of your
+power, every Greek, however humble, (as Phanes did before you), from the
+insolence of the Egyptians, and will sooner resign your office than allow
+the smallest wrong done to a Hellene to go unpunished.  We are but a few
+thousands among millions of enemies, but through courage we are great,
+and unity must keep us strong.  Hitherto the Greeks in Egypt have lived
+like brothers; each has been ready to offer himself for the good of all,
+and all for each, and it is just this unity that has made us, and must
+keep us, powerful.
+
+"Oh!  could we but bestow this precious gift on our mother-country and
+her colonies! would the tribes of our native land but forget their
+Dorian, Ionian or AEolian descent, and, contenting themselves with the
+one name of Hellenes, live as the children of one family, as the sheep of
+one flock,--then indeed we should be strong against the whole world, and
+Hellas would be recognized by all nations as the Queen of the Earth!"
+
+     [This longing desire for unity was by no means foreign to the
+     Greeks, though we seldom hear it expressed.  Aristotle, for example,
+     says VII.  7.:  "Were the Hellenes united into one state, they could
+     command all the barbarous nations."]
+
+A fire glowed in the eyes of the grey-haired woman as she uttered these
+words; and the Spartan, grasping her hand impetuously and stamping on the
+floor with his wooden leg, cried: "By Zeus, I will not let a hair of
+their heads be hurt; but thou, Rhodopis, thou art worthy to have been
+born a Spartan woman."
+
+"Or an Athenian," cried Phanes.
+
+"An Ionian," said the Milesians, and the sculptor: "A daughter of the
+Samian Geomori--"
+
+"But I am more, far more, than all these," cried the enthusiastic woman.
+"I am a Hellene!"
+
+The whole company, even to the Jew and the Syrian, were carried away by
+the intense feeling of the moment; the Sybarite alone remained unmoved,
+and, with his mouth so full as to render the words almost unintelligible,
+said:
+
+"You deserve to be a Sybarite too, Rhodopis, for your roast beef is the
+best I have tasted since I left Italy, and your Anthylla wine' relishes
+almost as well as Vesuvian or Chian!"
+
+Every one laughed, except the Spartan, who darted a look of indignation
+and contempt at the epicure.
+
+In this moment a deep voice, hitherto unknown to us, shouted suddenly
+through the window, "A glad greeting to you, my friends!"
+
+"A glad greeting," echoed the chorus of revellers, questioning and
+guessing who this late arrival might prove to be.
+
+They had not long to wait, for even before the Sybarite had had time
+carefully to test and swallow another mouthful of wine, the speaker,
+Kallias, the son of Phaenippus of Athens, was already standing by the
+side of Rhodopis.  He was a tall thin man of over sixty, with a head of
+that oval form which gives the impression of refinement and intellect.
+One of the richest among the Athenian exiles, he had twice bought the
+possessions of Pisistratus from the state, and twice been obliged to
+surrender them, on the tyrant's return to power.  Looking round with his
+clear keen eyes on this circle of acquaintances, he exchanged friendly
+greetings with all, and exclaimed:
+
+"If you do not set a high value on my appearance among you this evening,
+I shall think that gratitude has entirely disappeared from the earth."
+
+"We have been expecting you a long time," interrupted one of the
+Milesians.  "You are the first man to bring us news of the Olympic
+games!"
+
+"And we could wish no better bearer of such news than the victor of
+former days?"  added Rhodopis.  "Take your seat," cried Phanes
+impatiently, "and come to the point with your news at once, friend
+Kallias."
+
+"Immediately, fellow-countryman," answered the other.  "It is some time
+ago now since I left Olympia.  I embarked at Cenchreae in a fifty-oared
+Samian vessel, the best ship that ever was built.
+
+"It does not surprise me that I am the first Greek to arrive in
+Naukratis.  We encountered terrific storms at sea, and could not have
+escaped with our lives, if the big-bellied Samian galley, with her Ibis
+beak and fish's tail had not been so splendidly timbered and manned.
+
+"How far the other homeward-bound passengers may have been driven out of
+their course, I cannot tell; we found shelter in the harbor of Samos, and
+were able to put to sea again after ten days.
+
+"We ran into the mouth of the Nile this morning.  I went on board my own
+bark at once, and was so favored by Boreas, who at least at the end of my
+voyage, seemed willing to prove that he still felt kindly towards his old
+Kallias, that I caught sight of this most friendly of all houses a few
+moments since.  I saw the waving flag, the brightly lighted windows,
+and debated within myself whether to enter or not; but Rhodopis, your
+fascination proved irresistible, and besides, I was bursting with all
+my untold news, longing to share your feast, and to tell you, over the
+viands and the wine, things that you have not even allowed yourselves to
+dream of."
+
+Kallias settled himself comfortably on one of the cushions, and before
+beginning to tell his news, produced and presented to Rhodopis a
+magnificent gold bracelet in the form of a serpent's, which he had bought
+for a large sum at Samos, in the goldsmith's workshop of the very
+Theodorus who was now sitting with him at table.
+
+"This I have brought for you,"' he said, turning to the delighted
+Rhodopis, "but for you, friend Phanes, I have something still better.
+Guess, who won the four-horse chariot-race?"
+
+"An Athenian?"  asked Phanes, and his face glowed with excitement; for
+the victory gained by one citizen at the Olympic games belonged to his
+whole people, and the Olympic olive-branch was the greatest honor and
+happiness that could fall to the lot, either of a single Hellene, or an
+entire Greek tribe.
+
+"Rightly guessed, Phanes!"  cried the bringer of this joyful news, "The
+first prize has been carried off by an Athenian; and not only so, your
+own cousin Cimon, the son of Kypselos, the brother of that Miltiades,
+who, nine Olympiads ago, earned us the same honor, is the man who has
+conquered this year; and with the same steeds that gained him the prize
+at the last games.
+
+     [The second triumph won by the steeds of Cimon must have taken
+     place, as Duneker correctly remarks, about the year 528.  The same
+     horses won the race for the third time at the next Olympic games,
+     consequently four years later.  As token of his gratitude Cimon
+     caused a monument to be erected in their honor in "the hollow way"
+     near Athens.  We may here remind our readers that the Greeks made
+     use of the Olympic games to determine the date of each year.  They
+     took place every four years.  The first was fixed 776 B. C.  Each
+     separate year was named the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th of such or such an
+     Olympiad.]
+
+"The fame of the Alkmaeonidae is, verily, darkening more and more before
+the Philaidae.  Are not you proud, Phanes? do not you feel joy at the
+glory of your family?"
+
+In his delight Phanes had risen from his seat, and seemed suddenly to
+have increased in stature by a whole head.
+
+With a look of ineffable pride and consciousness of his own position, he
+gave his hand to the messenger of victory.  The latter, embracing his
+countryman, continued:
+
+"Yes, we have a right to feel proud and happy, Phanes; you especially,
+for no sooner had the judges unanimously awarded the prize to Cimon, than
+he ordered the heralds to proclaim the tyrant Pisistratus as the owner of
+the splendid team, and therefore victor in the race.  Pisistratus at once
+caused it to be announced that your family was free to return to Athens,
+and so now, Phanes, the long-wished for hour of your return home is
+awaiting you."
+
+But at these words Phanes turned pale, his look of conscious pride
+changed into one of indignation, and he exclaimed:
+
+"At this I am to rejoice, foolish Kallias?  rather bid me weep that a
+descendant of Ajax should be capable of laying his well-won fame thus
+ignominiously at a tyrant's feet!  No!  I swear by Athene, by Father
+Zeus, and by Apollo, that I will sooner starve in foreign lands than take
+one step homeward, so long as the Pisistratidae hold my country in
+bondage.  When I leave the service of Amasis, I shall be free, free as a
+bird in the air; but I would rather be the slave of a peasant in foreign
+lands, than hold the highest office under Pisistratus.  The sovereign
+power in Athens belongs to us, its nobles; but Cimon by laying his
+chaplet at the feet of Pisistratus has acknowledged the tyrants, and
+branded himself as their servant.  He shall hear that Phanes cares little
+for the tyrant's clemency.  I choose to remain an exile till my country
+is free, till her nobles and people govern themselves, and dictate their
+own laws.  Phanes will never do homage to the oppressor, though all the
+Philaidae, the Alkmaeonidae, and even the men of your own house, Kallias,
+the rich Daduchi, should fall down at his feet!"
+
+With flashing eyes he looked round on the assembly; Kallias too
+scrutinized the faces of the guests with conscious pride, as if he would
+say:
+
+"See, friends, the kind of men produced by my glorious country!"
+
+Taking the hand of Phanes again, he said to him: "The tyrants are as
+hateful to me as to you, my friend; but I have seen, that, so long as
+Pisistratus lives, the tyranny cannot be overthrown.  His allies,
+Lygdamis of Naxos and Polykrates of Samos, are powerful; but the greatest
+danger for our freedom lies in his own moderation and prudence.  During
+my recent stay in Greece I saw with alarm that the mass of the people in
+Athens love their oppressor like a father.  Notwithstanding his great
+power, he leaves the commonwealth in the enjoyment of Solon's
+constitution.  He adorns the city with the most magnificent buildings.
+They say that the new temple of Zeus, now being built of glorious marble
+by Kallaeschrus, Antistates and Porinus (who must be known to you,
+Theodorus), will surpass every building that has yet been erected by the
+Hellenes.  He understands how to attract poets and artists of all kinds
+to Athens, he has had the poems of Homer put into writing, and the
+prophecies of Musaeus collected by Onomakritus.  He lays out new streets
+and arranges fresh festivals; trade flourishes under his rule, and the
+people find themselves well off, in spite of the many taxes laid upon
+them.  But what are the people? a vulgar multitude who, like the gnats,
+fly towards every thing brilliant, and, so long as the taper burns, will
+continue to flutter round it, even though they burn their wings in doing
+so.  Let Pisistratus' torch burn out, Phanes, and I'll swear that the
+fickle crowd will flock around the returning nobles, the new light, just
+as they now do around the tyrant.
+
+"Give me your hand once more, you true son of Ajax; for you, my friends,
+I have still many an interesting piece of news untold.
+
+"The chariot-race, as I have just related, was won by Cimon who gave the
+olive-branch to Pisistratus.  Four finer horses than his I never saw.
+Arkesilaus of Cyrene, Kleosthenes of Epidamnus, Aster of Sybaris,
+Hekataeus of Miletus and many more had also sent splendid teams.  Indeed
+the games this time were more than brilliant.  All Hellas had sent
+deputies.  Rhoda of the Ardeates, in distant Iberia, the wealthy
+Tartessus, Sinope in the far East on the shores of Pontus, in short,
+every tribe that could boast of Hellenic descent was well represented.
+The Sybarite deputies were of a dazzling beauty; the Spartans, homely and
+simple, but handsome as Achilles, tall and strong as Hercules; the
+Athenians remarkable for their supple limbs and graceful movements, and
+the men of Crotona were led by Milo, strongest of mortal birth.  The
+Samian and Milesian deputies vied in splendor and gorgeousness of attire
+with those from Corinth and Mitylene: the flower of the Greek youth was
+assembled there, and, in the space allotted to spectators, were seated,
+not only men of every age, class and nation, but many virgins, fair and
+lovely maidens, who had come to Olympia, more especially from Sparta, in
+order to encourage the men during the games by their acclamations and
+applause.  The market was set up beyond the Alphaeus, and there traders
+from all parts of the world were to be seen; Greeks, Carthaginians,
+Lydians, Phrygians and shrewd Phoenicians from Palestine settled weighty
+business transactions, or offered their goods to the public from tents
+and booths.  But how can I possibly describe to you the surging throngs
+of the populace, the echoing choruses, the smoking festal hecatombs,
+the bright and variegated costumes, the sumptuousness of the equipages,
+the clang of the different dialects and the joyful cries of friends
+meeting again after years of separation; or the splendid appearance of
+the envoys, the crowds of lookers-on and venders of small wares, the
+brilliant effect produced by the masses of spectators, who filled to
+overflowing the space allotted to them, the eager suspense during the
+progress of the games, and the never ending shouts of joy when the
+victory was decided; the solemn investiture with the olive-branch, cut
+with a golden knife by the Elean boy, (whose parents must both be
+living), from the sacred tree in the Altis planted so many centuries ago
+by Hercules himself; or lastly, the prolonged acclamations which, like
+peals of thunder, resounded in the Stadium, when Milo of Crotona
+appeared, bearing on his shoulders the bronze statue of himself cast by
+Dameas, and carried it through the Stadium into the Altis without once
+tottering.  The weight of the metal would have crushed a bull to the
+earth: but borne by Milo it seemed like a child in the arms of its
+Lacedaemonian nurse.
+
+"The highest honors (after Cimon's) were adjudged to a pair of Spartan
+brothers, Lysander and Maro, the sons of Aristomachus.  Maro was victor
+in the foot race, but Lysander presented himself, amidst the shouts of
+the spectators, as the opponent of Milo!  Milo the invincible, victor at
+Pisa, and in the Pythian and Isthmian combats.  Milo was taller and
+stouter than the Spartan, who was formed like Apollo, and seemed from his
+great youth scarcely to have passed from under the hands of the
+schoolmaster.
+
+"In their naked beauty, glistening with the golden oil, the youth and the
+man stood opposite to one another, like a panther and a lion preparing
+for the combat.  Before the onset, the young Lysander raised his hands
+imploringly to the gods, crying: 'For my father, my honor, and the glory
+of Sparta!'  The Crotonian looked down on the youth with a smile of
+superiority; just as an epicure looks at the shell of the languste he is
+preparing to open.
+
+"And now the wrestling began.  For some time neither could succeed in
+grasping the other.  The Crotonian threw almost irresistible weight into
+his attempts to lay hold of his opponent, but the latter slipped through
+the iron grip like a snake.  This struggle to gain a hold lasted long,
+and the immense multitude watched silently, breathless from excitement.
+Not a sound was to be heard but the groans of the wrestlers and the
+singing of the nightingales in the grove of the Altis.  At last, the
+youth succeeded, by means of the cleverest trick I ever saw, in clasping
+his opponent firmly.  For a long time, Milo exerted all his strength to
+shake him oft, but in vain, and the sand of the Stadium was freely
+moistened by the great drops of sweat, the result of this Herculean
+struggle.
+
+"More and more intense waxed the excitement of the spectators, deeper and
+deeper the silence, rarer the cries of encouragement, and louder the
+groans of the wrestlers.  At last Lysander's strength gave way.
+Immediately a thousand voices burst forth to cheer him on.  He roused
+himself and made one last superhuman effort to throw his adversary: but
+it was too late.  Milo had perceived the momentary weakness.  Taking
+advantage of it, he clasped the youth in a deadly embrace; a full black
+stream of blood welled from Lysander's beautiful lips, and he sank
+lifeless to the earth from the wearied arms of the giant.  Democedes,
+the most celebrated physician of our day, whom you Samians will have
+known at the court of Polycrates, hastened to the spot, but no skill
+could now avail the happy Lysander,--he was dead.
+
+"Milo was obliged to forego the victor's wreath"; and the fame of this
+youth will long continue to sound through the whole of Greece.
+
+     [By the laws of the games the wrestler, whose adversary died, had no
+     right to the prize of victory.]
+
+I myself would rather be the dead Lysander, son of Aristomachus, than the
+living Kallias growing old in inaction away from his country.  Greece,
+represented by her best and bravest, carried the youth to his grave, and
+his statue is to be placed in the Altis by those of Milo of Crotona and
+Praxidamas of AEgina".  At length the heralds proclaimed the sentence of
+the judges: 'To Sparta be awarded a victor's wreath for the dead, for the
+noble Lysander hath been vanquished, not by Milo, but by Death, and he
+who could go forth unconquered from a two hours' struggle with the
+strongest of all Greeks, hath well deserved the olive-branch.'"
+
+Here Kallias stopped a moment in his narrative.  During his animated
+description of these events, so precious to every Greek heart, he had
+forgotten his listeners, and, gazing into vacancy, had seen only the
+figures of the wrestlers as they rose before his remembrance.  Now, on
+looking round, he perceived, to his astonishment, that the grey-haired
+man with the wooden leg, whom he had already noticed, though without
+recognizing him, had hidden his face in his hands and was weeping.
+Rhodopis was standing at his right hand.  Phanes at his left, and the
+other guests were gazing at the Spartan, as if he had been the hero of
+Kallias's tale.  In a moment the quick Athenian perceived that the aged
+man must stand in some very near relation to one or other of the victors
+at Olympia; but when he heard that he was Aristomachus-the father of that
+glorious pair of brothers, whose wondrous forms were constantly hovering
+before his eyes like visions sent down from the abodes of the gods, then
+he too gazed on the sobbing old man with mingled envy and admiration, and
+made no effort to restrain the tears which rushed into his own eyes,
+usually so clear and keen.  In those days men wept, as well as women,
+hoping to gain relief from the balm of their own tears.  In wrath, in
+ecstasy of delight, in every deep inward anguish, we find the mighty
+heroes weeping, while, on the other hand, the Spartan boys would submit
+to be scourged at the altar of Artemis Orthia, and would bleed and even
+die under the lash without uttering a moan, in order to obtain the praise
+of the men.
+
+For a time every one remained silent, out of respect to the old man's
+emotion.  But at last the stillness was broken by Joshua the Jew, who
+began thus, in broken Greek:
+
+"Weep thy fill, O man of Sparta!  I also have known what it is to lose a
+son.  Eleven years have passed since I buried him in the land of
+strangers, by the waters of Babylon, where my people pined in captivity.
+Had yet one year been added unto the life of the beautiful child, he had
+died in his own land, and had been buried in the sepulchres of his
+fathers.  But Cyrus the Persian (Jehovah bless his posterity!) released
+us from bondage one year too late, and therefore do I weep doubly for
+this my son, in that he is buried among the enemies of my people Israel.
+Can there be an evil greater than to behold our children, who are unto us
+as most precious treasure, go down into the grave before us?  And, may
+the Lord be gracious unto me, to lose so noble a son, in the dawn of his
+early manhood, just at the moment he had won such brilliant renown, must
+indeed be a bitter grief, a grief beyond all others!"
+
+Then the Spartan took away his hands from before his face; he was looking
+stern, but smiled through his tears, and answered:
+
+"Phoenician, you err!  I weep not for anguish, but for joy, and would
+have gladly lost my other son, if he could have died like my Lysander."
+
+The Jew, horrified at these, to him, sinful and unnatural words, shook
+his head disapprovingly; but the Greeks overwhelmed the old man with
+congratulations, deeming him much to be envied.  His great happiness made
+Aristomachus look younger by many years, and he cried to Rhodopis:
+"Truly, my friend, your house is for me a house of blessing; for this is
+the second gift that the gods have allowed to fall to my lot, since I
+entered it."--"What was the first?"  asked Rhodopis.  "A propitious
+oracle."--"But," cried Phanes, "you have forgotten the third; on this day
+the gods have blessed you with the acquaintance of Rhodopis.  But, tell
+me, what is this about the oracle?"--"May I repeat it to our friends?"
+asked the Delphian.
+
+Aristomachus nodded assent, and Phryxus read aloud a second time the
+answer of the Pythia:
+
+    "If once the warrior hosts from the snow-topped mountains descending
+     Come to the fields of the stream watering richly the plain,
+     Then shall the lingering boat to the beckoning meadows convey thee
+     Which to the wandering foot peace and a home will afford.
+     When those warriors come from the snow-topped mountains descending
+     Then will the powerful Five grant thee what they long refused."
+
+Scarcely was the last word out of his mouth, when Kallias the Athenian,
+springing up, cried: "In this house, too, you shall receive from me the
+fourth gift of the gods.  Know that I have kept my rarest news till last:
+the Persians are coming to Egypt!"
+
+At this every one, except the Sybarite, rushed to his feet, and Kallias
+found it almost impossible to answer their numerous questions.  "Gently,
+gently, friends," he cried at last; "let me tell my story in order, or I
+shall never finish it at all.  It is not an army, as Phanes supposes,
+that is on its way hither, but a great embassy from Cambyses, the present
+ruler of the most powerful kingdom of Persia.  At Samos I heard that they
+had already reached Miletus, and in a few days they will be here.  Some
+of the king's own relations, are among the number, the aged Croesus, king
+of Lydia, too; we shall behold a marvellous splendor and magnificence!
+Nobody knows the object of their coming, but it is supposed that King
+Cambyses wishes to conclude an alliance with Amasis; indeed some say the
+king solicits the hand of Pharaoh's daughter."
+
+"An alliance?"  asked Phanes, with an incredulous shrug of the shoulders.
+"Why the Persians are rulers over half the world already.  All the great
+Asiatic powers have submitted to their sceptre; Egypt and our own mother-
+country, Hellas, are the only two that have been shared by the
+conqueror."
+
+"You forget India with its wealth of gold, and the great migratory
+nations of Asia," answered Kallias.  "And you forget moreover, that an
+empire, composed like Persia of some seventy nations or tribes of
+different languages and customs, bears the seeds of discord ever within
+itself, and must therefore guard against the chance of foreign attack;
+lest, while the bulk of the army be absent, single provinces should seize
+the opportunity and revolt from their allegiance.  Ask the Milesians how
+long they would remain quiet if they heard that their oppressors had been
+defeated in any battle?"
+
+Theopompus, the Milesian merchant, called out, laughing at the same time:
+"If the Persians were to be worsted in one war, they would at once be
+involved in a hundred others, and we should not be the last to rise up
+against our tyrants in the hour of their weakness!"
+
+"Whatever the intentions of the envoys may be," continued Kallias, "my
+information remains unaltered; they will be here at the latest in three
+days."
+
+"And so your oracle will be fulfilled, fortunate Aristomachus!"
+exclaimed Rhodopis, "for see, the warrior hosts can only be the Persians.
+When they descend to the shores of the Nile, then the powerful Five,'
+your Ephori, will change their decision, and you, the father of two
+Olympian victors, will be recalled to your native land.
+
+     [The five Ephori of Sparta were appointed to represent the absent
+     kings during the Messenian war.  In later days the nobles made use
+     of the Ephori as a power, which, springing immediately from their
+     own body, they could oppose to the kingly authority.  Being the
+     highest magistrates in all judicial and educational matters, and in
+     everything relating to the moral police of the country, the Ephori
+     soon found means to assert their superiority, and on most occasions
+     over that of the kings themselves.  Every patrician who was past the
+     age of thirty, had the right to become a candidate yearly for the
+     office.  Aristot.  Potit, II. and IV.  Laert.  Diog. I. 68.]
+
+"Fill the goblets again, Knakias.  Let us devote this last cup to the
+manes of the glorious Lysander; and then I advise you to depart, for it
+is long past midnight, and our pleasure has reached its highest point.
+The true host puts an end to the banquet when his guests are feeling at
+their best.  Serene and agreeable recollections will soon bring you
+hither again; whereas there would be little joy in returning to a house
+where the remembrance of hours of weakness, the result of pleasure, would
+mingle with your future enjoyment."  In this her guests agreed, and
+Ibykus named her a thorough disciple of Pythagoras, in praise of the
+joyous, festive evening.
+
+Every one prepared for departure.  The Sybarite, who had been drinking
+deeply in order to counteract the very inconvenient amount of feeling
+excited by the conversation, rose also, assisted by his slaves, who had
+to be called in for this purpose.
+
+While he was being moved from his former comfortable position, he
+stammered something about a "breach of hospitality;" but, when Rhodopis
+was about to give him her hand at parting, the wine gained the ascendancy
+and he exclaimed, "By Hercules, Rhodopis, you get rid of us as if we were
+troublesome creditors.  It is not my custom to leave a supper so long as
+I can stand, still less to be turned out of doors like a miserable
+parasite!"
+
+"Hear reason, you immoderate Sybarite," began Rhodopis, endeavoring with
+a smile to excuse her proceeding.  But these words, in Philoinus' half-
+intoxicated mood, only increased his irritation; he burst into a mocking
+laugh, and staggering towards the door, shouted: "Immoderate Sybarite,
+you call me? good! here you have your answer: Shameless slave! one can
+still perceive the traces of what you were in your youth.  Farewell then,
+slave of Iadmon and Xanthus, freedwoman of Charaxus!"  He had not however
+finished his sentence, when Aristomachus rushed upon him, stunned him
+with a blow of his fist, and carried him off like a child down to the
+boat in which his slaves were waiting at the garden-gate.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Did the ancients know anything of love
+Folly to fret over what cannot be undone
+Go down into the grave before us (Our children)
+He who kills a cat is punished (for murder)
+In those days men wept, as well as women
+Lovers delighted in nature then as now
+Multitude who, like the gnats, fly towards every thing brilliant
+Olympics--The first was fixed 776 B.C.
+Papyrus Ebers
+Pious axioms to be repeated by the physician, while compounding
+Romantic love, as we know it, a result of Christianity
+True host puts an end to the banquet
+Whether the historical romance is ever justifiable
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 2.
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+The guests were all gone.  Their departing mirth and joy had been smitten
+down by the drunkard's abusive words, like fresh young corn beneath a
+hail storm.  Rhodopis was left standing alone in the empty, brightly
+decorated (supper-room).  Knakias extinguished the colored lamps on the
+walls, and a dull, mysterious half-light took the place of their
+brilliant rays, falling scantily and gloomily on the piled-up plates and
+dishes, the remnants of the meal, and the seats and cushions, pushed out
+of their places by the retiring guests.  A cold breeze came through the
+open door, for the dawn was at hand, and just before sunrise, the air is
+generally unpleasantly cool in Egypt.  A cold chill struck the limbs of
+the aged woman through her light garments.  She stood gazing tearlessly
+and fixedly into the desolate room, whose walls but a few minutes before
+had been echoing with joy and gladness, and it seemed to her that the
+deserted guest-chamber must be like her own heart.  She felt as if a worm
+were gnawing there, and the warm blood congealing into ice.
+
+Lost in these thoughts, she remained standing till at last her old female
+slave appeared to light her to her sleeping apartment.
+
+Silently Rhodopis allowed herself to be undressed, and then, as silently,
+lifted the curtain which separated a second sleeping apartment from her
+own.  In the middle of this second room stood a bedstead of maplewood,
+and there, on white sheets spread over a mattress of fine sheep's wool,
+and protected from the cold by bright blue coverlets's, lay a graceful,
+lovely girl asleep; this was Rhodopis' granddaughter, Sappho.  The
+rounded form and delicate figure seemed to denote one already in opening
+maidenhood, but the peaceful, blissful smile could only belong to a
+harmless, happy child.
+
+One hand lay under her head, hidden among the thick dark brown hair, the
+other clasped unconsciously a little amulet of green stone, which hung
+round her neck.  Over her closed eyes the long lashes trembled almost
+imperceptibly, and a delicate pink flush came and went on the cheek of
+the slumberer.  The finely-cut nostrils rose and fell with her regular
+breathing, and she lay there, a picture of innocence, of peace, smiling
+in dreams, and of the slumber that the gods bestow on early youth, when
+care has not yet come.
+
+Softly and carefully, crossing the thick carpets on tiptoe, the grey-
+haired woman approached, looked with unutterable tenderness into the
+smiling, childish face, and, kneeling down silently by the side of the
+bed, buried her face in its soft coverings, so that the girl's hand just
+came in contact with her hair.  Then she wept, and without intermission;
+as though she hoped with this flood of tears to wash away not only her
+recent humiliation, but with it all other sorrow from her mind.
+
+At length she rose, breathed a light kiss on the sleeping girl's
+forehead, raised her hands in prayer towards heaven, and returned to her
+own room, gently and carefully as she had come.
+
+At her own bedside she found the old slave-woman, still waiting for her.
+
+"What do you want so late, Melitta?"  said Rhodopis, kindly, under her
+breath.  "Go to bed; at your age it is not good to remain up late, and
+you know that I do not require you any longer.  Good night! and do not
+come to-morrow until I send for you.  I shall not be able to sleep much
+to-night, and shall be thankful if the morning brings me a short repose."
+
+The woman hesitated; it seemed that she had some thing on her mind which
+she feared to utter.
+
+"There is something you want to ask me?"  said Rhodopis.
+
+Still the old slave hesitated.
+
+"Speak!"  said Rhodopis, "speak at once, and quickly."
+
+"I saw you weeping," said the slave-woman, "you seem ill or sad; let me
+watch this night by your bedside.  Will you not tell me what ails you?
+You have often found that to tell a sorrow lightens the heart and lessens
+the pain.  Then tell me your grief to-day too; it will do you good, it
+will bring back peace to your mind."
+
+"No," answered the other, "I cannot utter it."  And then she continued,
+smiling bitterly: "I have once more experienced that no one, not even a
+god, has power to cancel the past of any human being, and that, in this
+world, misfortune and disgrace are one and the same.  Good night, leave
+me; Melitta!"
+
+At noon on the following day, the same boat, which, the evening before,
+had carried the Athenian and the Spartan, stopped once more before
+Rhodopis' garden.
+
+The sun was shining so brightly, so warmly and genially in the dark blue
+Egyptian sky, the air was so pure and light, the beetles were humming so
+merrily, the boatmen singing so lustily and happily, the shores of the
+Nile bloomed in such gay, variegated beauty, and were so thickly peopled,
+the palm-trees, sycamores, bananas and acacias were so luxuriant in
+foliage and blossom, and over the whole landscape the rarest and most
+glorious gifts seemed to have been poured out with such divine
+munificence, that a passer-by must have pronounced it the very home of
+joy and gladness, a place from which sadness and sorrow had been forever
+banished.
+
+How often we fancy, in passing a quiet village hidden among its orchards,
+that this at least must be the abode of peace, and unambitious
+contentment!  But alas! when we enter the cottages, what do we find?
+there, as everywhere else, distress and need, passion and unsatisfied
+longing, fear and remorse, pain and misery; and by the side of these, Ah!
+how few joys!  Who would have imagined on coming to Egypt, that this
+luxuriant, laughing sunny land, whose sky is always unclouded, could
+possibly produce and nourish men given to bitterness and severity? that
+within the charming, hospitable house of the fortunate Rhodopis, covered
+and surrounded, as it was, with sweet flowers, a heart could have been
+beating in the deepest sadness?  And, still more, who among all the
+guests of that honored, admired Thracian woman, would have believed that
+this sad heart belonged to her? to the gracious, smiling matron, Rhodopis
+herself?
+
+She was sitting with Phanes in a shady arbor near the cooling spray of a
+fountain.  One could see that she had been weeping again, but her face
+was beautiful and kind as ever.  The Athenian was holding her hand and
+trying to comfort her.
+
+Rhodopis listened patiently, and smiled the while; at times her smile was
+bitter, at others it gave assent to his words.  At last however she
+interrupted her well-intentioned friend, by saying:
+
+"Phanes, I thank you.  Sooner or later this last disgrace must be
+forgotten too.  Time is clever in the healing art.  If I were weak I
+should leave Naukratis and live in retirement for my grandchild alone; a
+whole world, believe me, lies slumbering in that young creature.  Many
+and many a time already I have longed to leave Egypt, and as often have
+conquered the wish.  Not because I cannot live without the homage of your
+sex; of that I have already had more than enough in my life, but because
+I feel that I, the slave-girl and the despised woman once, am now useful,
+necessary, almost indispensable indeed, to many free and noble men.
+Accustomed as I am, to an extended sphere of work, in its nature
+resembling a man's, I could not content myself in living for one being
+alone, however dear.  I should dry up like a plant removed from a rich
+soil into the desert, and should leave my grandchild desolate indeed,
+three times orphaned, and alone in the world.  No! I shall remain in
+Egypt.
+
+"Now that you are leaving, I shall be really indispensable to our friends
+here.  Amasis is old; when Psamtik comes to the throne we shall have
+infinitely greater difficulties to contend with than heretofore.  I must
+remain and fight on in the fore-front of our battle for the freedom and
+welfare of the Hellenic race.  Let them call my efforts unwomanly if they
+will.  This is, and shall be, the purpose of my life, a purpose to which
+I will remain all the more faithful, because it is one of those to which
+a woman rarely dares devote her life.  During this last night of tears I
+have felt that much, very much of that womanly weakness still lingers in
+me which forms at once the happiness and misery of our sex.  To preserve
+this feminine weakness in my granddaughter, united with perfect womanly
+delicacy, has been my first duty; my second to free myself entirely from
+it.  But a war against one's own nature cannot be carried on without
+occasional defeat, even if ultimately successful.  When grief and pain
+are gaining the upperhand and I am well nigh in despair, my only help
+lies in remembering my friend Pythagoras, that noblest among men, and his
+words: 'Observe a due proportion in all things, avoid excessive joy as
+well as complaining grief, and seek to keep thy soul in tune and harmony
+like a well-toned harp.'"
+
+     [There is no question that Pythagoras visited Egypt during the reign
+     of Amasis, probably towards the middle of the 6th century (according
+     to our reckoning, about 536 B. C.) Herod. II. 81-123.  Diod. I. 98.
+     Rich information about Pythagoras is to be found in the works of the
+     very learned scholar Roeth, who is however occasionally much too
+     bold in his conjectures. Pythagoras was the first among Greek
+     thinkers (speculators).  He would not take the name of a wise man or
+     "sage," but called himself "Philosophos," or a "friend of wisdom."]
+
+"This Pythagorean inward peace, this deep, untroubled calm, I see daily
+before me in my Sappho; and struggle to attain it myself, though many a
+stroke of fate untunes the chords of my poor heart.  I am calm now!  You
+would hardly believe what power the mere thought of that first of all
+thinkers, that calm, deliberate man, whose life acted on mine like sweet,
+soft music, has over me.  You knew him, you can understand what I mean.
+Now, mention your wish; my heart is as calmly quiet as the Nile waters
+which are flowing by so quietly, and I am ready to hear it, be it good or
+evil."
+
+"I am glad to see you thus," said the Athenian.  "If you had remembered
+the noble friend of wisdom, as Pythagoras was wont to call himself a
+little sooner, your soul would have regained its balance yesterday.  The
+master enjoins us to look back every evening on the events, feelings and
+actions of the day just past.
+
+"Now had you done this, you would have felt that the unfeigned admiration
+of all your guests, among whom were men of distinguished merit,
+outweighed a thousandfold the injurious words of a drunken libertine;
+you would have felt too that you were a friend of the gods, for was it
+not in your house that the immortals gave that noble old man at last,
+after his long years of misfortune, the greatest joy that can fall to the
+lot of any human being? and did they not take from you one friend only in
+order to replace him in the same moment, by another and a better?  Come,
+I will hear no contradiction.  Now for my request.
+
+"You know that people sometimes call me an Athenian, sometimes a
+Halikarnassian.  Now, as the Ionian, AEolian and Dorian mercenaries have
+never been on good terms with the Karians, my almost triple descent (if I
+may call it so) has proved very useful to me as commander of both these
+divisions.  Well qualified as Aristomachus may be for the command, yet
+in this one point Amasis will miss me; for I found it an easy matter to
+settle the differences among the troops and keep them at peace, while he,
+as a Spartan, will find it very difficult to keep right with the Karian
+soldiers.
+
+"This double nationality of mine arises from the fact that my father
+married a Halikarnassian wife out of a noble Dorian family, and, at the
+time of my birth, was staying with her in Halikarnassus, having come
+thither in order to take possession of her parental inheritance.  So,
+though I was taken back to Athens before I was three months old, I must
+still be called a Karian, as a man's native land is decided by his
+birthplace.
+
+"In Athens, as a young nobleman, belonging to that most aristocratic and
+ancient family, the Philaidae, I was reared and educated in all the pride
+of an Attic noble.  Pisistratus, brave and clever, and though of equal,
+yet by no means of higher birth, than ourselves, for there exists no
+family more aristocratic than my father's, gained possession of the
+supreme authority.  Twice, the nobles, by uniting all their strength,
+succeeded in overthrowing him, and when, the third time, assisted by
+Lygdamis of Naxos, the Argives and Eretrians, he attempted to return, we
+opposed him again.  We had encamped by the temple of Minerva at Pallene,
+and were engaged in sacrificing to the goddess, early, before our first
+meal, when we were suddenly surprised by the clever tyrant, who gained an
+easy, bloodless victory over our unarmed troops.  As half of the entire
+army opposed to the tyrant was under my command, I determined rather to
+die than yield, fought with my whole strength, implored the soldiers to
+remain steadfast, resisted without yielding a point, but fell at last
+with a spear in my shoulder.
+
+"The Pisistratidae became lords of Athens.  I fled to Halikarnassus, my
+second home, accompanied by my wife and children.  There, my name being
+known through some daring military exploits, and, through my having once
+conquered in the Pythian games, I was appointed to a command in the
+mercenary troops of the King of Egypt; accompanied the expedition to
+Cyprus, shared with Aristomachus the renown of having conquered the
+birthplace of Aphrodite for Amasis, and finally was named commander-in-
+chief of all the mercenaries in Egypt.
+
+"Last summer my wife died; our children, a boy of eleven and a girl of
+ten years, remained with an aunt in Halikarnassus.  But she too has
+followed to the inexorable Hades, and so, only a few days ago I sent for
+the little ones here.  They cannot, however, possibly reach Naukratis in
+less than three weeks, and yet they will already have set out on their
+journey before a letter to countermand my first order could reach them.
+
+"I must leave Egypt in fourteen days, and cannot therefore receive them
+myself.
+
+"My own intentions are to go to the Thracian Chersonese, where my uncle,
+as you know, has been called to fill a high office among the Dolonki.
+The children shall follow me thither; my faithful old slave Korax will
+remain in Naukratis on purpose to bring them to me.
+
+"Now, if you will show to me that you are in deed and truth my friend,
+will you receive the little ones and take care of them till the next ship
+sails for Thrace?  But above all, will you carefully conceal them from
+the eyes of the crown-prince's spies?  You know that Psamtik hates me
+mortally, and he could easily revenge himself on the father through the
+children.  I ask you for this great favor, first, because I know your
+kindness by experience; and secondly, because your house has been made
+secure by the king's letter of guarantee, and they will therefore be safe
+here from the inquiries of the police; notwithstanding that, by the laws
+of this most formal country, all strangers, children not excepted, must
+give up their names to the officer of the district.
+
+"You can now judge of the depth of my esteem, Rhodopis; I am committing
+into your hands all that makes life precious to me; for even my native
+land has ceased to be dear while she submits so ignominiously to her
+tyrants.  Will you then restore tranquillity to an anxious father's
+heart, will you--?"
+
+"I will, Phanes, I will!"  cried the aged woman in undisguised delight.
+"You are not asking me for any thing, you are presenting me with a gift.
+Oh, how I look forward already to their arrival!  And how glad Sappho
+will be, when the little creatures come and enliven her solitude!  But
+this I can assure you, Phanes, I shall not let my little guests depart
+with the first Thracian ship.  You can surely afford to be separated from
+them one short half-year longer, and I promise you they shall receive the
+best lessons, and be guided to all that is good and beautiful."
+
+"On that head I have no fear," answered Phanes, with a thankful smile.
+"But still you must send off the two little plagues by the first ship; my
+anxiety as to Psamtik's revenge is only too well grounded.  Take my most
+heartfelt thanks beforehand for all the love and kindness which you will
+show to my children.  I too hope and believe, that the merry little
+creatures will be an amusement and pleasure to Sappho in her lonely
+life."
+
+"And more," interrupted Rhodopis looking down; "this proof of confidence
+repays a thousand-fold the disgrace inflicted on me last night in a
+moment of intoxication.--But here comes Sappho!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+Five days after the evening we have just described at Rhodopis' house, an
+immense multitude was to be seen assembled at the harbor of Sais.
+
+Egyptians of both sexes, and of every age and class were thronging to the
+water's edge.
+
+Soldiers and merchants, whose various ranks in society were betokened by
+the length of their white garments, bordered with colored fringes, were
+interspersed among the crowd of half-naked, sinewy men, whose only
+clothing consisted of an apron, the costume of the lower classes.  Naked
+children crowded, pushed and fought to get the best places.  Mothers in
+short cloaks were holding their little ones up to see the sight, which by
+this means they entirely lost themselves; and a troop of dogs and cats
+were playing and fighting at the feet of these eager sight-seers, who
+took the greatest pains not to tread on, or in any way injure the sacred
+animals.
+
+     [According to various pictures on the Egyptian monuments.  The
+     mothers are from Wilkinson III.  363.  Isis and Hathor, with the
+     child Horus in her lap or at her breast, are found in a thousand
+     representations, dating both from more modern times and in the Greek
+     style.  The latter seem to have served as a model for the earliest
+     pictures of the Madonna holding the infant Christ.]
+
+The police kept order among this huge crowd with long staves, on the
+metal heads of which the king's name was inscribed.  Their care was
+especially needed to prevent any of the people from being pushed into the
+swollen Nile, an arm of which, in the season of the inundations, washes
+the walls of Sais.
+
+On the broad flight of steps which led between two rows of sphinxes down
+to the landing-place of the royal boats, was a very different kind of
+assembly.
+
+The priests of the highest rank were seated there on stone benches.  Many
+wore long, white robes, others were clad in aprons, broad jewelled
+collars, and garments of panther skins.  Some had fillets adorned with
+plumes that waved around brows, temples, and the stiff structures of
+false curls that floated over their shoulders; others displayed the
+glistening bareness of their smoothly-shaven skulls.  The supreme judge
+was distinguished by the possession of the longest and handsomest plume
+in his head-dress, and a costly sapphire amulet, which, suspended by a
+gold chain, hung on his breast.
+
+The highest officers of the Egyptian army wore uniforms of gay colors,97
+and carried short swords in their girdles.  On the right side of the
+steps a division of the body-guard was stationed, armed with battleaxes,
+daggers, bows, and large shields; on the left, were the Greek
+mercenaries, armed in Ionian fashion.  Their new leader, our friend
+Aristomachus, stood with a few of his own officers apart from the
+Egyptians, by the colossal statues of Psamtik I., which had been erected
+on the space above the steps, their faces towards the river.
+
+In front of these statues, on a silver chair, sat Psamtik, the heir to
+the throne: He wore a close-fitting garment of many colors, interwoven
+with gold, and was surrounded by the most distinguished among the king's
+courtiers, chamberlains, counsellors, and friends, all bearing staves
+with ostrich feathers and lotus-flowers.
+
+The multitude gave vent to their impatience by shouting, singing, and
+quarrelling; but the priests and magnates on the steps preserved a
+dignified and solemn silence.  Each, with his steady, unmoved gaze, his
+stiffly-curled false wig and beard, and his solemn, deliberate manner,
+resembled the two huge statues, which, the one precisely similar to the
+other, stood also motionless in their respective places, gazing calmly
+into the stream.
+
+At last silken sails, chequered with purple and blue, appeared in sight.
+
+The crowd shouted with delight.  Cries of, "They are coming!  Here they
+are!"  "Take care, or you'll tread on that kitten,"  "Nurse, hold the
+child higher that she may see something of the sight."  "You are pushing
+me into the water, Sebak!"  "Have a care Phoenician, the boys are
+throwing burs into your long beard."  "Now, now, you Greek fellow, don't
+fancy that all Egypt belongs to you, because Amasis allows you to live on
+the shores of the sacred river!"  "Shameless set, these Greeks, down with
+them!" shouted a priest, and the cry was at once echoed from many mouths.
+"Down with the eaters of swine's flesh and despisers of the gods!"
+
+     [The Egyptians, like the Jews, were forbidden to eat swine's flesh.
+     This prohibition is mentioned in the Ritual of the Dead, found in a
+     grave in Abd-el-Qurnah, and also in other places.  Porphyr. de
+     Abstin. IV.  The swine was considered an especially unclean animal
+     pertaining to Typhon (Egyptian, Set) as the boar to Ares, and
+     swineherds were an especially despised race.  Animals with bristles
+     were only sacrificed at the feasts of Osiris and Eileithyia.  Herod.
+     I. 2. 47.  It is probable that Moses borrowed his prohibition of
+     swine's flesh from the Egyptian laws with regard to unclean
+     animals.]
+
+From words they were proceeding to deeds, but the police were not to be
+trifled with, and by a vigorous use of their staves, the tumult was soon
+stilled.  The large, gay sails, easily to be distinguished among the
+brown, white and blue ones of the smaller Nile-boats which swarmed around
+them, came nearer and nearer to the expectant throng.  Then at last the
+crown-prince and the dignitaries arose from their seats.  The royal band
+of trumpeters blew a shrill and piercing blast of welcome, and the first
+of the expected boats stopped at the landing-place.
+
+It was a rather long, richly-gilded vessel, and bore a silver sparrow-
+hawk as figure-head.  In its midst rose a golden canopy with a purple
+covering, beneath which cushions were conveniently arranged.  On each
+deck in the forepart of the ship sat twelve rowers, their aprons attached
+by costly fastenings.
+
+     [Splendid Nile-boats were possessed, in greater or less numbers, by
+     all the men of high rank.  Even in the tomb of Ti at Sakkara, which
+     dates from the time of the Pyramids, we meet with a chief overseer
+     of the vessels belonging to a wealthy Egyptian.]
+
+Beneath the canopy lay six fine-looking men in glorious apparel; and
+before the ship had touched the shore the youngest of these, a beautiful
+fair-haired youth, sprang on to the steps.
+
+Many an Egyptian girl's mouth uttered a lengthened "Ah" at this glorious
+sight, and even the grave faces of some of the dignitaries brightened
+into a friendly smile.
+
+The name of this much-admired youth was Bartja.
+
+     [This Bartja is better known under the name of Smerdis, but on what
+     account the Greeks gave him this name is not clear.  In the
+     cuneiform inscriptions of Bisitun or Behistun, he is called Bartja,
+     or, according to Spiegel, Bardiya.  We have chosen, for the sake of
+     the easy pronunciation, the former, which is Rawlinson's simplified
+     reading of the name.]
+
+He was the son of the late, and brother of the reigning king of Persia,
+and had been endowed by nature with every gift that a youth of twenty
+years could desire for himself.
+
+Around his tiara was wound a blue and white turban, beneath which hung
+fair, golden curls of beautiful, abundant hair; his blue eyes sparkled
+with life and joy, kindness and high spirits, almost with sauciness; his
+noble features, around which the down of a manly beard was already
+visible, were worthy of a Grecian sculptor's chisel, and his slender but
+muscular figure told of strength and activity.  The splendor of his
+apparel was proportioned to his personal beauty.  A brilliant star of
+diamonds and turquoises glittered in the front of his tiara.  An upper
+garment of rich white and gold brocade reaching just below the knees, was
+fastened round the waist with a girdle of blue and white, the royal
+colors of Persia.  In this girdle gleamed a short, golden sword, its hilt
+and scabbard thickly studded with opals and sky-blue turquoises.  The
+trousers were of the same rich material as the robe, fitting closely at
+the ankle, and ending within a pair of short boots of light-blue leather.
+
+The long, wide sleeves of his robe displayed a pair of vigorous arms,
+adorned with many costly bracelets of gold and jewels; round his slender
+neck and on his broad chest lay a golden chain.
+
+Such was the youth who first sprang on shore.  He was followed by Darius,
+the son of Hystaspes, a young Persian of the blood royal, similar in
+person to Bartja, and scarcely less gorgeously apparelled than he.  The
+third to disembark was an aged man with snow-white hair, in whose face
+the gentle and kind expression of childhood was united, with the
+intellect of a man, and the experience of old age.  His dress consisted
+of a long purple robe with sleeves, and the yellow boots worn by the
+Lydians;--his whole appearance produced an impression of the greatest
+modesty and a total absence of pretension.
+
+     [On account of these boots, which are constantly mentioned, Croesus
+     was named by the oracle "soft-footed."]
+
+Yet this simple old man had been, but a few years before, the most envied
+of his race and age; and even in our day at two thousand years' interval,
+his name is used as a synonyme for the highest point of worldly riches
+attainable by mankind.  The old man to whom we are now introduced is no
+other than Croesus, the dethroned king of Lydia, who was then living at
+the court of Cambyses, as his friend and counsellor, and had accompanied
+the young Bartja to Egypt, in the capacity of Mentor.
+
+Croesus was followed by Prexaspes, the king's Ambassador, Zopyrus, the
+son of Megabyzus, a Persian noble, the friend of Bartja and Darius; and,
+lastly, by his own son, the slender, pale Gyges, who after having become
+dumb in his fourth year through the fearful anguish he had suffered on
+his father's account at the taking of Sardis, had now recovered the power
+of speech.
+
+Psamtik descended the steps to welcome the strangers.  His austere,
+sallow face endeavored to assume a smile.  The high officials in his
+train bowed down nearly to the ground, allowing their arms to hang
+loosely at their sides.  The Persians, crossing their hands on their
+breasts, cast themselves on the earth before the heir to the Egyptian
+throne.  When the first formalities were over, Bartja, according to the
+custom of his native country, but greatly to the astonishment of the
+populace, who were totally unaccustomed to such a sight, kissed the
+sallow cheek of the Egyptian prince; who shuddered at the touch of a
+stranger's unclean lips, then took his way to the litters waiting to
+convey him and his escort to the dwelling designed for them by the king,
+in the palace at Sais.
+
+A portion of the crowd streamed after the strangers, but the larger
+number remained at their places, knowing that many a new and wonderful
+sight yet awaited them.
+
+"Are you going to run after those dressed-up monkeys and children of
+Typhon, too?"  asked an angry priest of his neighbor, a respectable
+tailor of Sais.  "I tell you, Puhor, and the high-priest says so too,
+that these strangers can bring no good to the black land!  I am for the
+good old times, when no one who cared for his life dared set foot on
+Egyptian soil.  Now our streets are literally swarming with cheating
+Hebrews, and above all with those insolent Greeks whom may the gods
+destroy!
+
+     [The Jews were called Hebrews (Apuriu) by the Egyptians; as brought
+     to light by Chabas.  See Ebers, Aegypten I.  p. 316.  H. Brugsch
+     opposes this opinion.]
+
+"Only look, there is the third boat full of strangers!  And do you know
+what kind of people these Persians are?  The high-priest says that in the
+whole of their kingdom, which is as large as half the world, there is not
+a single temple to the gods; and that instead of giving decent burial to
+the dead, they leave them to be torn in pieces by dogs and vultures."
+
+     [These statements are correct, as the Persians, at the time of the
+     dynasty of the Achaemenidae, had no temples, but used fire-altars
+     and exposed their dead to the dogs and vultures.  An impure corpse
+     was not permitted to defile the pure earth by its decay; nor might
+     it be committed to the fire or water for destruction, as their
+     purity would be equally polluted by such an act.  But as it was
+     impossible to cause the dead bodies to vanish, Dakhmas or burying-
+     places were laid out, which had to be covered with pavement and
+     cement not less than four inches thick, and surrounded by cords to
+     denote that the whole structure was as it were suspended in the air,
+     and did not come in contact with the pure earth.  Spiegel, Avesta
+     II.]
+
+"The tailor's indignation at hearing this was even greater than his
+astonishment, and pointing to the landing-steps, he cried:
+
+"It is really too bad; see, there is the sixth boat full of these
+foreigners!"
+
+"Yes, it is hard indeed!"  sighed the priest, "one might fancy a whole
+army arriving.  Amasis will go on in this manner until the strangers
+drive him from his throne and country, and plunder and make slaves of us
+poor creatures, as the evil Hyksos, those scourges of Egypt, and the
+black Ethiopians did, in the days of old."
+
+"The seventh boat!"  shouted the tailor.
+
+"May my protectress Neith, the great goddess of Sais, destroy me, if I
+can understand the king," complained the priest.  "He sent three barks to
+Naukratis, that poisonous nest hated of the gods, to fetch the servants
+and baggage of these Persians; but instead of three, eight had to be
+procured, for these despisers of the gods and profaners of dead bodies
+have not only brought kitchen utensils, dogs, horses, carriages, chests,
+baskets and bales, but have dragged with them, thousands of miles, a
+whole host of servants.  They tell me that some of them have no other
+work than twining of garlands and preparing ointments.  Their priests
+too, whom they call Magi, are here with them.  I should like to know what
+they are for? of what use is a priest where there is no temple?"
+
+
+The old King Amasis received the Persian embassy shortly after their
+arrival with all the amiability and kindness peculiar to him.
+
+Four days later, after having attended to the affairs of state, a duty
+punctually fulfilled by him every morning without exception, he went
+forth to walk with Croesus in the royal gardens.  The remaining members
+of the embassy, accompanied by the crown-prince, were engaged in an
+excursion up the Nile to the city of Memphis.
+
+The palace-gardens, of a royal magnificence, yet similar in their
+arrangement to those of Rhodopis, lay in the north-west part of Sais,
+near the royal citadel.
+
+Here, under the shadow of a spreading plane-tree, and near a gigantic
+basin of red granite, into which an abundance of clear water flowed
+perpetually through the jaws of black basalt crocodiles, the two old men
+seated themselves.
+
+The dethroned king, though in reality some years the elder of the two,
+looked far fresher and more vigorous than the powerful monarch at his
+side.  Amasis was tall, but his neck was bent; his corpulent body was
+supported by weak and slender legs: and his face, though well-formed, was
+lined and furrowed.  But a vigorous spirit sparkled in the small,
+flashing eyes, and an expression of raillery, sly banter, and at times,
+even of irony, played around his remarkably full lips.  The low, broad
+brow, the large and beautifully-arched head bespoke great mental power,
+and in the changing color of his eyes one seemed to read that neither wit
+nor passion were wanting in the man, who, from his simple place as
+soldier in the ranks, had worked his way up to the throne of the
+Pharaohs.  His voice was sharp and hard, and his movements, in comparison
+with the deliberation of the other members of the Egyptian court,
+appeared almost morbidly active.
+
+The attitude and bearing of his neighbor Croesus were graceful, and in
+every way worthy of a king.  His whole manner showed that he had lived in
+frequent intercourse with the highest and noblest minds of Greece.
+Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes of Miletus, Bias of Priene, Solon of
+Athens, Pittakus of Lesbos, the most celebrated Hellenic philosophers,
+had in former and happier days been guests at the court of Croesus in
+Sardis.  His full clear voice sounded like pure song when compared with
+the shrill tones of Amasis.
+
+     [Bias, a philosopher of Ionian origin, flourished about 560 B. C.
+     and was especially celebrated for his wise maxims on morals and law.
+     After his death, which took place during his defence of a friend in
+     the public court, a temple was erected to him by his countrymen.
+     Laert. Diog. I. 88.]
+
+"Now tell me openly," began king Pharaoh--[In English "great house," the
+high gate or "sublime porte.']--in tolerably fluent Greek, "what opinion
+hast thou formed of Egypt?  Thy judgment possesses for me more worth than
+that of any other man, for three reasons: thou art better acquainted with
+most of the countries and nations of this earth; the gods have not only
+allowed thee to ascend the ladder of fortune to its utmost summit, but
+also to descend it, and thirdly, thou hast long been the first counsellor
+to the mightiest of kings.  Would that my kingdom might please thee so
+well that thou wouldst remain here and become to me a brother.  Verily,
+Croesus, my friend hast thou long been, though my eyes beheld thee
+yesterday for the first time!"
+
+"And thou mine," interrupted the Lydian.  "I admire the courage with
+which thou hast accomplished that which seemed right and good in thine
+eyes, in spite of opposition near and around thee.  I am thankful for the
+favor shown to the Hellenes, my friends, and I regard thee as related to
+me by fortune, for hast thou not also passed through all the extremes of
+good and evil that this life can offer?"
+
+"With this difference," said Amasis smiling, "that we started from
+opposite points; in thy lot the good came first, the evil later; whereas
+in my own this order has been reversed.  In saying this, however," he
+added, "I am supposing that my present fortune is a good for me, and that
+I enjoy it."
+
+"And I, in that case," answered Croesus, "must be assuming that I am
+unhappy in what men call my present ill-fortune."
+
+"How can it possibly be otherwise after the loss of such enormous
+possessions?"
+
+"Does happiness consist then in possession?"  asked Croesus.  "Is
+happiness itself a thing to be possessed?  Nay, by no means!  It is
+nothing but a feeling, a sensation, which the envious gods vouchsafe more
+often to the needy than to the mighty.  The clear sight of the latter
+becomes dazzled by the glittering treasure, and they cannot but suffer
+continual humiliation, because, conscious of possessing power to obtain
+much, they wage an eager war for all, and therein are continually
+defeated."
+
+Amasis sighed, and answered: "I would I could prove thee in the wrong;
+but in looking back on my past life I am fain to confess that its cares
+began with that very hour which brought me what men call my good
+fortune."--"And I," interrupted Croesus, "can assure thee that I am
+thankful thou delayedst to come to my help, inasmuch as the hour of my
+overthrow was the beginning of true, unsullied happiness.  When I beheld
+the first Persians scale the walls of Sardis, I execrated myself and the
+gods, life appeared odious to me, existence a curse.  Fighting on, but in
+heart despairing, I and my people were forced to yield.  A Persian raised
+his sword to cleave my skull--in an instant my poor dumb son had thrown
+himself between his father and the murderer, and for the first time after
+long years of silence, I heard him speak.  Terror had loosened his
+tongue; in that dreadful hour Gyges learnt once more to speak, and I, who
+but the moment before had been cursing the gods, bowed down before their
+power.  I had commanded a slave to kill me the moment I should be taken
+prisoner by the Persians, but now I deprived him of his sword.  I was a
+changed man, and by degrees learnt ever more and more to subdue the rage
+and indignation which yet from time to time would boil up again within my
+soul, rebellious against my fate and my noble enemies.  Thou knowest that
+at last I became the friend of Cyrus, and that my son grew up at his
+court, a free man at my side, having entirely regained the use of his
+speech.  Everything beautiful and good that I had heard, seen or thought
+during my long life I treasured up now for him; he was my kingdom, my
+crown, my treasure.  Cyrus's days of care, his nights so reft of sleep,
+reminded me with horror of my own former greatness, and from day to day
+it became more evident to me that happiness has nothing to do with
+our outward circumstances.  Each man possesses the hidden germ in his own
+heart.  A contented, patient mind, rejoicing much in all that is great
+and beautiful and yet despising not the day of small things; bearing
+sorrow without a murmur and sweetening it by calling to remembrance
+former joy; moderation in all things; a firm trust in the favor of the
+gods and a conviction that, all things being subject to change, so with
+us too the worst must pass in due season; all this helps to mature the
+germ of happiness, and gives us power to smile, where the man
+undisciplined by fate might yield to despair and fear."
+
+Amasis listened attentively, drawing figures the while in the sand with
+the golden flower on his staff.  At last he spoke:
+
+"Verily, Croesus, I the great god, the 'sun of righteousness,' 'the son
+of Neith,' 'the lord of warlike glory,' as the Egyptians call me, am
+tempted to envy thee, dethroned and plundered as thou art.  I have been
+as happy as thou art now.  Once I was known through all Egypt, though
+only the poor son of a captain, for my light heart, happy temper, fun and
+high spirits.  The common soldiers would do anything for me, my superior
+officers could have found much fault, but in the mad Amasis, as they
+called me, all was overlooked, and among my equals, (the other under-
+officers) there could be no fun or merry-making unless I took a share in
+it.  My predecessor king Hophra sent us against Cyrene.  Seized with
+thirst in the desert, we refused to go on; and a suspicion that the king
+intended to sacrifice us to the Greek mercenaries drove the army to open
+mutiny.  In my usual joking manner I called out to my friends: 'You can
+never get on without a king, take me for your ruler; a merrier you will
+never find!'  The soldiers caught the words.  'Amasis will be our king,'
+ran through the ranks from man to man, and, in a few hours more, they
+came to me with shouts, and acclamations of 'The good, jovial Amasis for
+our King!'  One of my boon companions set a field-marshal's helmet on my
+head: I made the joke earnest, and we defeated Hophra at Momempliis.
+The people joined in the conspiracy, I ascended the throne, and men
+pronounced me fortunate.  Up to that time I had been every Egyptian's
+friend, and now I was the enemy of the best men in the nation.
+
+"The priests swore allegiance to me, and accepted me as a member of their
+caste, but only in the hope of guiding me at their will.  My former
+superiors in command either envied me, or wished to remain on the same
+terms of intercourse as formerly.  But this would have been inconsistent
+with my new position, and have undermined my authority.  One day,
+therefore, when the officers of the host were at one of my banquets and
+attempting, as usual, to maintain their old convivial footing, I showed
+them the golden basin in which their feet had been washed before sitting
+down to meat; five days later, as they were again drinking at one of my
+revels, I caused a golden image of the great god Ra be placed upon the
+richly-ornamented banqueting-table.
+
+     [Ra, with the masculine article Phra, must be regarded as the
+     central point of the sun-worship of the Egyptians, which we consider
+     to have been the foundation of their entire religion.  He was more
+     especially worshipped at Heliopolis.  Plato, Eudoxus, and probably
+     Pythagoras also, profited by the teaching of his priests.  The
+     obelisks, serving also as memorial monuments on which the names and
+     deeds of great kings were recorded, were sacred to him, and Pliny
+     remarks of them that they represented the rays of the sun.  He was
+     regarded as the god of light, the director of the entire visible
+     creation, over which he reigned, as Osiris over the world of
+     spirits.]
+
+"On perceiving it, they fell down to worship.  As they rose from their
+knees, I took the sceptre, and holding it up on high with much solemnity,
+exclaimed: 'In five days an artificer has transformed the despised vessel
+into which ye spat and in which men washed your feet, into this divine
+image.  Such a vessel was I, but the Deity, which can fashion better and
+more quickly than a goldsmith, has made me your king.  Bow down then
+before me and worship.  He who henceforth refuses to obey, or is
+unmindful of the reverence due to the king, is guilty of death!'
+
+"They fell down before me, every one, and I saved my authority, but lost
+my friends.  As I now stood in need of some other prop, I fixed on the
+Hellenes, knowing that in all military qualifications one Greek is worth
+more than five Egyptians, and that with this assistance I should be able
+to carry out those measures which I thought beneficial.
+
+"I kept the Greek mercenaries always round me, I learnt their language,
+and it was they who brought to me the noblest human being I ever met,
+Pythagoras.  I endeavored to introduce Greek art and manners among
+ourselves, seeing what folly lay in a self-willed adherence to that which
+has been handed down to us, when it is in itself bad and unworthy, while
+the good seed lay on our Egyptian soil, only waiting to be sown.
+
+"I portioned out the whole land to suit my purposes, appointed the best
+police in the world, and accomplished much; but my highest aim, namely:
+to infuse into this country, at once so gay and so gloomy, the spirit and
+intellect of the Greeks, their sense of beauty in form, their love of
+life and joy in it, this all was shivered on the same rock which
+threatens me with overthrow and ruin whenever I attempt to accomplish
+anything new.  The priests are my opponents, my masters, they hang like a
+dead weight upon me.  Clinging with superstitious awe to all that is old
+and traditionary, abominating everything foreign, and regarding every
+stranger as the natural enemy of their authority and their teaching, they
+can lead the most devout and religious of all nations with a power that
+has scarcely any limits.  For this I am forced to sacrifice all my plans,
+for this I see my life passing away in bondage to their severe
+ordinances, this will rob my death-bed of peace, and I cannot be secure
+that this host of proud mediators between god and man will allow me to
+rest even in my grave!"
+
+"By Zeus our saviour, with all thy good fortune, thou art to be pitied!"
+interrupted Croesus sympathetically, "I understand thy misery; for though
+I have met with many an individual who passed through life darkly and
+gloomily, I could not have believed that an entire race of human beings
+existed, to whom a gloomy, sullen heart was as natural as a poisonous
+tooth to the serpent.  Yet it is true, that on my journey hither and
+during my residence at this court I have seen none but morose and gloomy
+countenances among the priesthood.  Even the youths, thy immediate
+attendants, are never seen to smile; though cheerfulness, that sweet gift
+of the gods, usually belongs to the young, as flowers to spring."
+
+"Thou errest," answered Amasis, "in believing this gloom to be a
+universal characteristic of the Egyptians.  It is true that our religion
+requires much serious thought.  There are few nations, however, who have
+so largely the gift of bantering fun and joke: or who on the occasion of
+a festival, can so entirely forget themselves and everything else but the
+enjoyments of the moment; but the very sight of a stranger is odious to
+the priests, and the moroseness which thou observest is intended as
+retaliation on me for my alliance with the strangers.  Those very boys,
+of whom thou spakest, are the greatest torment of my life.  They perform
+for me the service of slaves, and obey my slightest nod.  One might
+imagine that the parents who devote their children to this service, and
+who are the highest in rank among the priesthood, would be the most
+obedient and reverential servants of the king whom they profess to honor
+as divine; but believe me, Croesus, just in this very act of devotion,
+which no ruler can refuse to accept without giving offence, lies the most
+crafty, scandalous calculation.  Each of these youths is my keeper, my
+spy.  They watch my smallest actions and report them at once to the
+priests."
+
+"But how canst thou endure such an existence?  Why not banish these spies
+and select servants from the military caste, for instance?  They would be
+quite as useful as the priests."
+
+"Ah! if I only could, if I dared!"  exclaimed Amasis loudly.  And then,
+as if frightened at his own rashness, he continued in a low voice, "I
+believe that even here I am being watched.  To-morrow I will have that
+grove of fig-trees yonder uprooted.  The young priest there, who seems so
+fond of gardening, has other fruit in his mind besides the half-ripe figs
+that he is so slowly dropping into his basket.  While his hand is
+plucking the figs, his ear gathers the words that fall from the mouth of
+his king."
+
+"But, by our father Zeus, and by Apollo--"
+
+"Yes, I understand thy indignation and I share it; but every position has
+its duties, and as a king of a people who venerate tradition as the
+highest divinity, I must submit, at least in the main, to the ceremonies
+handed down through thousands of years.  Were I to burst these fetters,
+I know positively that at my death my body would remain unburied; for,
+know that the priests sit in judgment over every corpse, and deprive the
+condemned of rest, even in the grave."
+
+     [This well-known custom among the ancient Egyptians is confirmed,
+     not only by many Greek narrators, but by the laboriously erased
+     inscriptions discovered in the chambers of some tombs.]
+
+"Why care about the grave?"  cried Croesus, becoming angry.  "We live for
+life, not for death!"
+
+"Say rather," answered Amasis rising from his seat, "we, with our Greek
+minds, believe a beautiful life to be the highest good.  But Croesus, I
+was begotten and nursed by Egyptian parents, nourished on Egyptian food,
+and though I have accepted much that is Greek, am still, in my innermost
+being, an Egyptian.  What has been sung to us in our childhood, and
+praised as sacred in our youth, lingers on in the heart until the day
+which sees us embalmed as mummies.  I am an old man and have but a short
+span yet to run, before I reach the landmark which separates us from that
+farther country.  For the sake of life's few remaining days, shall I
+willingly mar Death's thousands of years?  No, my friend, in this point
+at least I have remained an Egyptian, in believing, like the rest of my
+countrymen, that the happiness of a future life in the kingdom of
+Osiris, depends on the preservation of my body, the habitation of the
+soul.
+
+     [Each human soul was considered as a part of the world-soul Osiris,
+     was united to him after the death of the body, and thenceforth took
+     the name of Osiris.  The Egyptian Cosmos consisted of the three
+     great realms, the Heavens, the Earth and the Depths.  Over the vast
+     ocean which girdles the vault of heaven, the sun moves in a boat or
+     car drawn by the planets and fixed stars.  On this ocean too the
+     great constellations circle in their ships, and there is the kingdom
+     of the blissful gods, who sit enthroned above this heavenly ocean
+     under a canopy of stars.  The mouth of this great stream is in the
+     East, where the sun-god rises from the mists and is born again as a
+     child every morning.  The surface of the earth is inhabited by human
+     beings having a share in the three great cosmic kingdoms.  They
+     receive their soul from the heights of heaven, the seat and source
+     of light; their material body is of the earth; and the appearance or
+     outward form by which one human being is distinguished from another
+     at sight--his phantom or shadow--belongs to the depths.  At death,
+     soul, body, and shadow separate from one another.  The soul to
+     return to the place from whence it came, to Heaven, for it is a part
+     of God (of Osiris); the body, to be committed to the earth from
+     which it was formed in the image of its creator; the phantom or
+     shadow, to descend into the depths, the kingdom of shadows.  The
+     gate to this kingdom was placed in the West among the sunset hills,
+     where the sun goes down daily,--where he dies.  Thence arise the
+     changeful and corresponding conceptions connected with rising and
+     setting, arriving and departing, being born and dying.  The careful
+     preservation of the body after death from destruction, not only
+     through the process of inward decay, but also through violence or
+     accident, was in the religion of ancient Egypt a principal condition
+     (perhaps introduced by the priests on sanitary grounds) on which
+     depended the speedy deliverance of the soul, and with this her
+     early, appointed union with the source of Light and Good, which two
+     properties were, in idea, one and indivisible.  In the Egyptian
+     conceptions the soul was supposed to remain, in a certain sense,
+     connected with the body during a long cycle of solar years.  She
+     could, however, quit the body from time to time at will, and could
+     appear to mortals in various forms and places; these appearances
+     differed according to the hour, and were prescribed in exact words
+     and delineations.]
+
+"But enough of these matters; thou wilt find it difficult to enter into
+such thoughts.  Tell me rather what thou thinkest of our temples and
+pyramids."
+
+Croesus, after reflecting a moment, answered with a smile: "Those huge
+pyramidal masses of stone seem to me creations of the boundless desert,
+the gaily painted temple colonnades to be the children of the Spring; but
+though the sphinxes lead up to your temple gates, and seem to point the
+way into the very shrines themselves, the sloping fortress-like walls of
+the Pylons, those huge isolated portals, appear as if placed there to
+repel entrance.  Your many-colored hieroglyphics likewise attract the
+gaze, but baffle the inquiring spirit by the mystery that lies within
+their characters.  The images of your manifold gods are everywhere to be
+seen; they crowd on our gaze, and yet who knows not that their real is
+not their apparent significance? that they are mere outward images of
+thoughts accessible only to the few, and, as I have heard, almost
+incomprehensible in their depth?  My curiosity is excited everywhere,
+and my interest awakened, but my warm love of the beautiful feels itself
+in no way attracted.  My intellect might strain to penetrate the secrets
+of your sages, but my heart and mind can never be at home in a creed
+which views life as a short pilgrimage to the grave, and death as the
+only true life!"
+
+"And yet," said Amasis, "Death has for us too his terrors, and we do all
+in our power to evade his grasp.  Our physicians would not be celebrated
+and esteemed as they are, if we did not believe that their skill could
+prolong our earthly existence.  This reminds me of the oculist Nebenchari
+whom I sent to Susa, to the king.  Does he maintain his reputation? is
+the king content with him?"
+
+"Very much so," answered Croesus.  "He has been of use to many of the
+blind; but the king's mother is alas! still sightless.  It was Nebenchari
+who first spoke to Cambyses of the charms of thy daughter Tachot.  But we
+deplore that he understands diseases of the eye alone.  When the Princess
+Atossa lay ill of fever, he was not to be induced to bestow a word of
+counsel."
+
+"That is very natural; our physicians are only permitted to treat one
+part of the body.  We have aurists, dentists and oculists, surgeons for
+fractures of the bone, and others for internal diseases.  By the ancient
+priestly law a dentist is not allowed to treat a deaf man, nor a surgeon
+for broken bones a patient who is suffering from a disease of the bowels,
+even though he should have a first rate knowledge of internal complaints.
+This law aims at securing a great degree of real and thorough knowledge;
+an aim indeed, pursued by the priests (to whose caste the physicians
+belong) with a most praiseworthy earnestness in all branches of science.
+Yonder lies the house of the high-priest Neithotep, whose knowledge of
+astronomy and geometry was so highly praised, even by Pythagoras.  It
+lies next to the porch leading into the temple of the goddess Neith, the
+protectress of Sais.  Would I could show thee the sacred grove with its
+magnificent trees, the splendid pillars of the temple with capitals
+modelled from the lotus-flower, and the colossal chapel which I caused to
+be wrought from a single piece of granite, as an offering to the goddess;
+but alas! entrance is strictly refused to strangers by the priests.
+Come, let us seek my wife and daughter; they have conceived an affection
+for thee, and indeed it is my wish that thou shouldst gain a friendly
+feeling towards this poor maiden before she goes forth with thee to the
+strange land, and to the strange nation whose princess she is to become.
+Wilt thou not adopt and take her under thy care?"
+
+"On that thou may'st with fullest confidence rely," replied Croesus with
+warmth, returning the pressure of Amasis' hand.  "I will protect thy
+Nitetis as if I were her father; and she will need my help, for the
+apartments of the women in the Persian palaces are dangerous ground.
+But she will meet with great consideration.  Cambyses may be contented
+with his choice, and will be highly gratified that thou hast entrusted
+him with thy fairest child.  Nebenchari had only spoken of Tachot, thy
+second daughter."
+
+"Nevertheless  I  will send my beautiful  Nitetis.  Tachot is so tender,
+that she could scarcely endure the fatigues of the journey and the pain
+of separation.  Indeed were I to follow the dictates of my own heart,
+Nitetis should never leave us for Persia.  But Egypt stands in need of
+peace, and I was a king before I became a father!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+The other members of the Persian embassy had returned to Sais from their
+excursion up the Nile to the pyramids.  Prexaspes alone, the ambassador
+from Cambyses, had already set out for Persia, in order to inform the
+king of the successful issue of his suit.
+
+The palace of Amasis was full of life and stir.  The huge building was
+filled in all parts by the followers of the embassy, nearly three hundred
+in number, and by the high guests themselves, to whom every possible
+attention was paid.  The courts of the palace swarmed with guards and
+officials, with young priests and slaves, all in splendid festal raiment.
+
+On this day it was the king's intention to make an especial display of
+the wealth and splendor of his court, at a festival arranged in honor of
+his daughter's betrothal.
+
+The lofty reception-hall opening on to the gardens, with its ceiling sown
+with thousands of golden stars and supported by gaily-painted columns,
+presented a magic appearance.  Lamps of colored papyrus hung against the
+walls and threw a strange light on the scene, something like that when
+the sun's rays strike through colored glass.  The space between the
+columns and the walls was filled with choice plants, palms, oleanders,
+pomegranates, oranges and roses, behind which an invisible band of harp
+and flute-players was stationed, who received the guests with strains of
+monotonous, solemn music.
+
+The floor of this hall was paved in black and white, and in the middle
+stood elegant tables covered with dishes of all kinds, cold roast meats,
+sweets, well-arranged baskets of fruit and cake, golden jugs of wine,
+glass drinking-cups and artistic flower-vases.
+
+A multitude of richly-dressed slaves under direction of the high-steward,
+busied themselves in handing these dishes to the guests, who, either
+standing around, or reclining on sumptuous seats, entertained themselves
+in conversation with their friends.
+
+Both sexes and all ages were to be found in this assembly.  As the women
+entered, they received charming little nosegays from the young priests
+in the personal service of the king, and many a youth of high degree
+appeared in the hall with flowers, which he not only offered to her he
+loved best, but held up for her to smell.
+
+The Egyptian men, who were dressed as we have already seen them at the
+reception of the Persian embassy, behaved towards the women with a
+politeness that might almost be termed submissive.  Among the latter few
+could pretend to remarkable beauty, though there were many bewitching
+almond-shaped eyes, whose loveliness was heightened by having their lids
+dyed with the eye-paint called "mestem."  The majority wore their hair
+arranged in the same manner; the wealth of waving brown locks floated
+back over the shoulders and was brushed behind the ears, one braid being
+left on each side to hang over the temples to the breast.  A broad diadem
+confined these locks, which as the maids knew, were quite as often the
+wig-maker's work as Nature's.  Many ladies of the court wore above their
+foreheads a lotus-flower, whose stem drooped on the hair at the back.
+
+They carried fans of bright feathers in their delicate hands.  These were
+loaded with rings; the finger-nails were stained red, according to
+Egyptian custom, and gold or silver bands were worn above the elbow, and
+at the wrists and ankles.
+
+     [This custom (of staining finger-nails) is still prevalent in the
+     East; the plant Shenna, Laosonia spinosa, called by Pliny XIII.
+     Cyprus, being used for the purpose.  The Egyptian government has
+     prohibited the dye, but it will be difficult to uproot the ancient
+     custom.  The pigment for coloring the eyelids, mentioned in the
+     text, is also still employed.  The Papyrus Ebers alludes to the
+     Arabian kohl or antimony, which is frequently mentioned under the
+     name of "mestem" on monuments belonging to the time of the
+     Pharaohs.]
+
+Their robes were beautiful and costly, and in many cases so cut as to
+leave the right breast uncovered.  Bartja, the young Persian prince,
+among the men, and Nitetis, the Pharaoh's daughter, among the women, were
+equally conspicuous for their superior beauty, grace and charms.  The
+royal maiden wore a transparent rose-colored robe, in her black hair were
+fresh roses, she walked by the side of her sister, the two robed alike,
+but Nitetis pale as the lotus-flower in her mother's hair.
+
+Ladice, the queen, by birth a Greek, and daughter of Battus of Cyrene,
+walked by the side of Amasis and presented the young Persians to her
+children.  A light lace robe was thrown over her garment of purple,
+embroidered with gold; and on her beautiful Grecian head she wore the
+Urmus serpent, the ornament peculiar to Egyptian queens.
+
+Her countenance was noble yet charming, and every movement betrayed the
+grace only to be imparted by a Greek education.
+
+Amasis, in making choice of this queen, after the death of his second
+wife, (the Egyptian Tentcheta, mother of Psamtik the heir to the throne,)
+had followed his prepossession in favor of the Greek nation and defied
+the wrath of the priests.
+
+The two girls at Ladice's side, Tachot and Nitetis, were called twin-
+sisters, but showed no signs of that resemblance usually to be found in
+twins.
+
+Tachot was a fair, blue-eyed girl, small, and delicately built; Nitetis,
+on the other hand, tall and majestic, with black hair and eyes, evinced
+in every action that she was of royal blood.
+
+"How pale thou look'st, my child!"  said Ladice, kissing Nitetis' cheek.
+"Be of good courage, and meet thy future bravely.  Here is the noble
+Bartja, the brother of thy future husband."
+
+Nitetis raised her dark, thoughtful eyes and fixed them long and
+enquiringly on the beautiful youth.  He bowed low before the blushing
+maiden, kissed her garment, and said:
+
+"I salute thee, as my future queen and sister!  I can believe that thy
+heart is sore at parting from thy home, thy parents, brethren and
+sisters; but be of good courage; thy husband is a great hero, and a
+powerful king; our mother is the noblest of women, and among the Persians
+the beauty and virtue of woman is as much revered as the life-giving
+light of the sun.  Of thee, thou sister of the lily Nitetis, whom, by her
+side I might venture to call the rose, I beg forgiveness, for robbing
+thee of thy dearest friend."
+
+As he said these words he looked eagerly into Tachot's beautiful blue
+eyes; she bent low, pressing her hand upon her heart, and gazed on him
+long after Amasis had drawn him away to a seat immediately opposite the
+dancing-girls, who were just about to display their skill for the
+entertainment of the guests.  A thin petticoat was the only clothing of
+these girls, who threw and wound their flexible limbs to a measure played
+on harp and tambourine.  After the dance appeared Egyptian singers and
+buffoons for the further amusement of the company.
+
+At length some of the courtiers forsook the hall, their grave demeanor
+being somewhat overcome by intoxication.
+
+     [Unfortunately women, as well as men, are to be seen depicted on the
+     monuments in an intoxicated condition.  One man is being carried
+     home, like a log of wood, on the heads of his servants.  Wilkinson
+     II. 168.  Another is standing on his head II. 169. and several
+     ladies are in the act of returning the excessive quantity which they
+     have drunk.  Wilkinson II. 167.  At the great Techu-festival at
+     Dendera intoxication seems to have been as much commanded as at the
+     festivals of Dionysus under the Ptolemies, one of whom (Ptolemy
+     Dionysus) threatened those who remained sober with the punishment of
+     death.  But intoxication was in general looked upon by the Egyptians
+     as a forbidden and despicable vice.  In the Papyrus Anastasi IV.,
+     for instance, we read these words on a drunkard: "Thou art as a
+     sanctuary without a divinity, as a house without bread," and
+     further: "How careftilly should men avoid beer (hek)."  A number of
+     passages in the Papyrus denounce drunkards.]
+
+The women were carried home in gay litters by slaves with torches; and
+only the highest military commanders, the Persian ambassadors and a few
+officials, especial friends of Amasis, remained behind.  These were
+retained by the master of the ceremonies, and conducted to a richly-
+ornamented saloon, where a gigantic wine-bowl standing on a table adorned
+in the Greek fashion, invited to a drinking-bout.
+
+Amasis was seated on a high arm-chair at the head of the table; at his
+left the youthful Bartja, at his right the aged Croesus.  Besides these
+and the other Persians, Theodorus and Ibykus, the friends of Polykrates,
+already known to us, and Aristomachus, now commander of the Greek body-
+guard, were among the king's guests.
+
+Amasis, whom we have just heard in such grave discourse with Croesus, now
+indulged in jest and satire.  He seemed once more the wild officer, the
+bold reveller of the olden days.
+
+His sparkling, clever jokes, at times playful, at times scornful, flew
+round among the revellers.  The guests responded in loud, perhaps often
+artificial laughter, to their king's jokes, goblet after goblet was
+emptied, and the rejoicings had reached their highest point, when
+suddenly the master of the ceremonies appeared, bearing a small gilded
+mummy; and displaying it to the gaze of the assembly, exclaimed.  "Drink,
+jest, and be merry, for all too soon ye shall become like unto this!"
+
+     [Wilkinson gives drawings of these mummies (II. 410.) hundreds of
+     which were placed in the tombs, and have been preserved to us.
+     Lucian was present at a banquet, when they were handed round.  The
+     Greeks seem to have adopted this custom, but with their usual talent
+     for beautifying all they touched, substituted a winged figure of
+     death for the mummy. Maxims similar to the following one are by no
+     means rare.  "Cast off all care; be mindful only of pleasure until
+     the day cometh when then must depart on the journey, whose goal is
+     the realm of silence!"  Copied from the tomb of Neferhotep to Abd-
+     el-Qurnah.]
+
+"Is it your custom thus to introduce death at all your banquets?"  said
+Bartja, becoming serious, "or is this only a jest devised for to-day by
+your master of the ceremonies?"
+
+"Since the earliest ages," answered Amasis, "it has been our custom to
+display these mummies at banquets, in order to increase the mirth of the
+revellers, by reminding them that one must enjoy the time while it is
+here.  Thou, young butterfly, hast still many a long and joyful year
+before thee; but we, Croesus, we old men, must hold by this firmly.  Fill
+the goblets, cup-bearer, let not one moment of our lives be wasted!  Thou
+canst drink well, thou golden-haired Persian!  Truly the great gods have
+endowed thee not only with beautiful eyes, and blooming beauty, but with
+a good throat!  Let me embrace thee, thou glorious youth, thou rogue!
+What thinkest thou Croesus? my daughter Tachot can speak of nothing else
+than of this beardless youth, who seems to have quite turned her little
+head with his sweet looks and words.  Thou needest not to blush, young
+madcap!  A man such as thou art, may well look at king's daughters; but
+wert thou thy father Cyrus himself, I could not allow my Tachot to leave
+me for Persia!"
+
+"Father!"  whispered the crown-prince Psamtik, interrupting this
+conversation.  "Father, take care what you say, and remember Phanes."
+The king turned a frowning glance on his son; but following his advice,
+took much less part in the conversation, which now became more general.
+
+The seat at the banquet-table, occupied by Aristomachus, placed him
+nearly opposite to Croesus, on whom, in total silence and without once
+indulging in a smile at the king's jests, his eyes had been fixed from
+the beginning of the revel.  When the Pharaoh ceased to speak, he
+accosted Croesus suddenly with the following question: "I would know,
+Lydian, whether the snow still covered the mountains, when ye left
+Persia."
+
+Smiling, and a little surprised at this strange speech, Croesus answered:
+"Most of the Persian mountains were green when we started for Egypt four
+months ago; but there are heights in the land of Cambyses on which, even
+in the hottest seasons, the snow never melts, and the glimmer of their
+white crests we could still perceive, as we descended into the plains."
+
+The Spartan's face brightened visibly, and Croesus, attracted by this
+serious, earnest man, asked his name.  "My name is Aristomachus."
+
+"That name seems known to me."
+
+"You were acquainted with many Hellenes, and my name is common among
+them."
+
+"Your dialect would bespeak you my opinion a Spartan."
+
+"I was one once."
+
+"And now no more?"
+
+"He who forsakes his native land without permission, is worthy of death."
+
+"Have you forsaken it with your own free-will?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"For what reason?"
+
+"To escape dishonor."
+
+"What was your crime?"
+
+"I had committed none."
+
+"You were accused unjustly?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Who was the author of your ill-fortune?"
+
+"Yourself."
+
+Croesus started from his seat.  The serious tone and gloomy face of
+the Spartan proved that this was no jest, and those who sat near the
+speakers, and had been following this strange dialogue, were alarmed and
+begged Aristomachus to explain his words.
+
+He hesitated and seemed unwilling to speak; at last, however, at the
+king's summons, he began thus:
+
+"In obedience to the oracle, you, Croesus, had chosen us Lacedaemonians,
+as the most powerful among the Hellenes, to be your allies against the
+might of Persia; and you gave us gold for the statue of Apollo on Mount
+Thornax.  The ephori, on this, resolved to present you with a gigantic
+bronze wine-bowl, richly wrought.  I was chosen as bearer of this gift.
+Before reaching Sardis our ship was wrecked in a storm.  The wine-cup
+sank with it, and we reached Samos with nothing but our lives.  On
+returning home I was accused by enemies, and those who grudged my good
+fortune, of having sold both ship and wine-vessel to the Samians.  As
+they could not convict me of the crime, and had yet determined on my
+ruin, I was sentenced to two days' and nights' exposure on the pillory.
+My foot was chained to it during the night; but before the morning of
+disgrace dawned, my brother brought me secretly a sword, that my honor
+might he saved, though at the expense of my life.  But I could not die
+before revenging myself on the men who had worked my ruin; and therefore,
+cutting the manacled foot from my leg, I escaped, and hid in the rushes
+on the banks of the Furotas.  My brother brought me food and drink in
+secret; and after two months I was able to walk on the wooden leg you now
+see.  Apollo undertook my revenge; he never misses his mark, and my two
+worst opponents died of the plague.  Still I durst not return home, and
+at length took ship from Gythium to fight against the Persians under you,
+Croesus.  On landing at Teos, I heard that you were king no longer, that
+the mighty Cyrus, the father of yonder beautiful youth, had conquered the
+powerful province of Lydia in a few weeks, and reduced the richest of
+kings to beggary."
+
+Every guest gazed at Aristomachus in admiration.  Croesus shook his hard
+hand; and Bartja exclaimed: "Spartan, I would I could take you back with
+me to Susa, that my friends there might see what I have seen myself, the
+most courageous, the most honorable of men!"
+
+"Believe me, boy," returned Aristomachus smiling, every Spartan would
+have done the same.  In our country it needs more courage to be a coward
+than a brave man."
+
+"And you, Bartja," cried Darius, the Persian king's cousin, "could you
+have borne to stand at the pillory?"  Bartja reddened, but it was easy to
+see that he too preferred death to disgrace.
+
+"Zopyrus, what say you?"  asked Darius of the third young Persian.
+
+"I could mutilate my own limbs for love of you two," answered he,
+grasping unobserved the hands of his two friends.
+
+With an ironical smile Psamtik sat watching this scene--the pleased faces
+of Amasis, Croesus and Gyges, the meaning glances of the Egyptians, and
+the contented looks with which Aristomachus gazed on the young heroes.
+
+Ibykus now told of the oracle which had promised Aristomachus a return to
+his native land, on the approach of the men from the snowy mountains, and
+at the same time, mentioned the hospitable house of Rhodopis.
+
+On hearing this name Psamtik grew restless; Croesus expressed a wish to
+form the acquaintance of the Thracian matron, of whom AEsop had related
+so much that was praiseworthy; and, as the other guests, many of whom had
+lost consciousness through excessive drinking, were leaving the hall, the
+dethroned monarch, the poet, the sculptor and the Spartan hero made an
+agreement to go to Naukratis the next day, and there enjoy the
+conversation of Rhodopis.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+On the night following the banquet just described, Amasis allowed himself
+only three hours' rest.  On this, as on every other morning, the young
+priests wakened him at the first cock-crow, conducted him as usual to the
+bath, arrayed him in the royal vestments and led him to the altar in the
+court of the palace, where in presence of the populace he offered
+sacrifice.  During the offering the priests sang prayers in a loud voice,
+enumerated the virtues of their king, and, that blame might in no case
+light on the head of their ruler, made his bad advisers responsible for
+every deadly sin committed in ignorance.
+
+They exhorted him to the performance of good deeds, while extolling his
+virtues; read aloud profitable portions of the holy writings, containing
+the deeds and sayings of great men, and then conducted him to his
+apartments, where letters and information from all parts of the kingdom
+awaited him.
+
+Amasis was in the habit of observing most faithfully these daily-repeated
+ceremonies and hours of work; the remaining portion of the day he spent
+as it pleased him, and generally in cheerful society.
+
+The priests reproached him with this, alleging that such a life was not
+suited to a monarch; and on one occasion he had thus replied to the
+indignant high-priest: "Look at this bow! if always bent it must lose its
+power, but, if used for half of each day and then allowed to rest, it
+will remain strong and useful till the string breaks."
+
+Amasis had just signed his name to the last letter, granting the petition
+of a Nornarch--[Administrator of a Province]--for money to carry on
+different embankments rendered necessary by the last inundation, when a
+servant entered, bringing a request from the crown-prince Psamtik for an
+audience of a few minutes.
+
+Amasis, who till this moment had been smiling cheerfully at the cheering
+reports from all parts of the country, now became suddenly serious and
+thoughtful.  After long delay he answered: "Go and inform the prince that
+he may appear."
+
+Psamtik appeared, pale and gloomy as ever; he bowed low and
+reverentially, on entering his father's presence.
+
+Amasis nodded silently in return, and then asked abruptly and sternly:
+"What is thy desire? my time is limited."
+
+"For your son, more than for others," replied the prince with quivering
+lips.  "Seven times have I petitioned for the great favor, which thou
+grantest for the first time to-day."
+
+"No reproaches!  I suspect the reason of thy visit.  Thou desirest an
+answer to thy doubts as to the birth of thy sister Nitetis."
+
+"I have no curiosity; I come rather to warn thee, and to remind thee that
+I am not the only one who is acquainted with this mystery."
+
+"Speakest thou of Phanes?"
+
+"Of whom else should I speak?  He is banished from Egypt and from his own
+country, and must leave Naukratis in a few days.  What guarantee hast
+thou, that he will not betray us to the Persians?"
+
+"The friendship and kindness which I have always shown him."
+
+"Dost thou believe in the gratitude of men?"
+
+"No!  but I rely on my own discernment of character.  Phanes will not
+betray us!  he is my friend, I repeat it!"
+
+"Thy friend perhaps, but my mortal enemy!"
+
+"Then stand on thy guard!  I have nothing to fear from him."
+
+"For thyself perhaps nought, but for our country!  O father, reflect that
+though as thy son I may be hateful in thine eyes, yet as Egypt's future I
+ought to be near thy heart.  Remember, that at thy death, which may the
+gods long avert, I shall represent the existence of this glorious land as
+thou dost now; my fall will be the ruin of thine house, of Egypt!"
+
+Amasis became more and more serious, and Psamtik went on eagerly: "Thou
+knowest that I am right!  Phanes can betray our land to any foreign
+enemy; he is as intimately acquainted with it as we are; and beside this,
+he possesses a secret, the knowledge of which would convert our most
+powerful ally into a most formidable enemy."
+
+"There thou art in error.  Though not mine, Nitetis is a king's daughter
+and will know how to win the love of her husband."
+
+"Were she the daughter of a god, she could not save thee from Cambyses'
+wrath, if he discovers the treachery; lying is to a Persian the worst of
+crimes, to be deceived the greatest disgrace; thou hast deceived the
+highest and proudest of the nation, and what can one inexperienced girl
+avail, when hundreds of women, deeply versed in intrigue and artifice,
+are striving for the favor of their lord?"
+
+"Hatred and revenge are good masters in the art of rhetoric," said Amasis
+in a cutting tone.  "And think'st thou then, oh, foolish son, that I
+should have undertaken such a dangerous game without due consideration?
+Phanes may tell the Persians what he likes, he can never prove his point.
+I, the father, Ladice the mother must know best whether Nitetis is our
+child or not.  We call her so, who dare aver the contrary?  If it please
+Phanes to betray our land to any other enemy beside the Persians, let
+him; I fear nothing!  Thou wouldst have me ruin a man who has been my
+friend, to whom I owe much gratitude, who has served me long and
+faithfully; and this without offence from his side.  Rather will I
+shelter him from thy revenge, knowing as I do the impure source from
+which it springs."
+
+"My father!"
+
+"Thou desirest the ruin of this man, because he hindered thee from taking
+forcible possession of the granddaughter of Rhodopis, and because thine
+own incapacity moved me to place him in thy room as commander of the
+troops.  Ah! thou growest pale!  Verily, I owe Phanes thanks for
+confiding to me your vile intentions, and so enabling me to bind my
+friends and supporters, to whom Rhodopis is precious, more firmly to my
+throne."
+
+"And is it thus thou speakest of these strangers, my father?  dost thou
+thus forget the ancient glory of Egypt?  Despise me, if thou wilt; I know
+thou lovest me not; but say not that to be great we need the help of
+strangers!  Look back on our history!  Were we not greatest when our
+gates were closed to the stranger, when we depended on ourselves and our
+own strength, and lived according to the ancient laws of our ancestors
+and our gods?  Those days beheld the most distant lands subjugated by
+Rameses, and heard Egypt celebrated in the whole world as its first and
+greatest nation.  What are we now?  The king himself calls beggars and
+foreigners the supporters of his throne, and devises a petty stratagem to
+secure the friendship of a power over whom we were victorious before the
+Nile was infested by these strangers.  Egypt was then a mighty Queen in
+glorious apparel; she is now a painted woman decked out in tinsel!"
+
+
+     [Rameses the Great, son of Sethos, reigned over Egypt 1394-1328 B.
+     C.  He was called Sesostris by the Greeks; see Lepsius (Chron. d.
+     Aegypter, p.  538.) on the manner in which this confusion of names
+     arose.  Egypt attained the zenith of her power under this king,
+     whose army, according to Diodorus (I.  53-58).  consisted of 600,000
+     foot and 24,000 horsemen, 27,000 chariots and 400 ships of war.
+     With these hosts he subdued many of the Asiatic and African nations,
+     carving his name and likeness, as trophies of victory, on the rocks
+     of the conquered countries.  Herodotus speaks of having seen two of
+     these inscriptions himself (II. 102-106.) and two are still to be
+     found not far from Bairut.   His conquests brought vast sums of
+     tribute into Egypt.  Tacitus annal. II. 60. and these enabled him to
+     erect magnificent buildings in the whole length of his land from
+     Nubia to Tanis, but more especially in Thebes, the city in which he
+     resided.  One of the obelisks erected by Rameses at Heliopolis is
+     now standing in the Place de la Concorde at Paris, and has been
+     lately translated by E. Chabas.  On the walls of the yet remaining
+     palaces and temples, built under this mighty king, we find, even to
+     this day, thousands of pictures representing himself, his armed
+     hosts, the many nations subdued by the power of his arms, and the
+     divinities to whose favor he believed these victories were owing.
+     Among the latter Ammon and Bast seem to have received his especial
+     veneration, and, on the other hand, we read in these inscriptions
+     that the gods were very willing to grant the wishes of their
+     favorite.  A poetical description of the wars he waged with the
+     Cheta is to be found in long lines of hieroglyphics on the south
+     wall of the hall of columns of Rameses II. at Karnal, also at Luxor
+     and in the Sallier Papyrus, and an epic poem referring to his mighty
+     deeds in no less than six different places.]
+
+"Have a care what thou sayest!"  shouted Amasis stamping on the floor.
+"Egypt was never so great, so flourishing as now!  Rameses carried our
+arms into distant lands and earned blood; through my labors the products
+of our industry have been carried to all parts of the world and instead
+of blood, have brought us treasure and blessing.  Rameses caused the
+blood and sweat of his subjects to flow in streams for the honor of his
+own great name; under my rule their blood flows rarely, and the sweat of
+their brow only in works of usefulness.  Every citizen can now end his
+days in prosperity and comfort.  Ten thousand populous cities rise on the
+shores of the Nile, not a foot of the soil lies untilled, every child
+enjoys the protection of law and justice, and every ill-doer shuns the
+watchful eye of the authorities.
+
+"In case of attack from without, have we not, as defenders of those god-
+given bulwarks, our cataracts, our sea and our deserts, the finest army
+that ever bore arms?  Thirty thousand Hellenes beside our entire Egyptian
+military caste? such is the present condition of Egypt!  Rameses
+purchased the bright tinsel of empty fame with the blood and tears of his
+people.  To me they are indebted for the pure gold of a peaceful welfare
+as citizens--to me and to my predecessors, the Saitic kings!"
+
+     [The science of fortification was very fairly understood by the
+     ancient Egyptians.  Walled and battlemented forts are to be seen
+     depicted on their monuments.  We have already endeavored to show
+     (see our work on Egypt. I. 78 and following) that, on the northeast,
+     Egypt  defended from Asiatic invasion by a line of forts extending
+     from Pelusium to the Red Sea.]
+
+"And yet I tell thee," cried the prince, "that a worm is gnawing at the
+root of Egypt's greatness and her life.  This struggle for riches and
+splendor corrupts the hearts of the people, foreign luxury has given a
+deadly blow to the simple manners of our citizens, and many an Egyptian
+has been taught by the Greeks to scoff at the gods of his fathers.  Every
+day brings news of bloody strife between the Greek mercenaries and our
+native soldiery, between our own people and the strangers.  The shepherd
+and his flock are at variance; the wheels of the state machinery are
+grinding one another and thus the state itself, into total ruin.  This
+once, father, though never again, I must speak out clearly what is
+weighing on my heart.  While engaged in contending with the priests, thou
+hast seen with calmness the young might of Persia roll on from the East,
+consuming the nations on its way, and, like a devouring monster, growing
+more and more formidable from every fresh prey.  Thine aid was not, as
+thou hadst intended, given to the Lydians and Babylonians against the
+enemy, but to the Greeks in the building of temples to their false gods.
+At last resistance seemed hopeless; a whole hemisphere with its rulers
+lay in submission at the feet of Persia; but even then the gods willed
+Egypt a chance of deliverance.  Cambyses desired thy daughter in
+marriage.  Thou, however, too weak to sacrifice thine own flesh and blood
+for the good of all, hast substituted another maiden, not thine own
+child, as an offering to the mighty monarch; and at the same time, in thy
+soft-heartedness, wilt spare the life of a stranger in whose hand he the
+fortunes of this realm, and who will assuredly work its ruin; unless
+indeed, worn out by internal dissension, it perish even sooner from its
+own weakness!"
+
+Thus far Amasis had listened to these revilings of all he held dearest in
+silence, though pale, and trembling with rage; but now he broke forth in
+a voice, the trumpet-like sound of which pealed through the wide hall:
+"Know'st thou not then, thou boasting and revengeful son of evil, thou
+future destroyer of this ancient and glorious kingdom, know'st thou not
+whose life must be the sacrifice, were not my children, and the dynasty
+which I have founded, dearer to me than the welfare of the whole realm?
+Thou, Psamtik, thou art the man, branded by the gods, feared by men--the
+man to whose heart love and friendship are strangers, whose face is never
+seen to smile, nor his soul known to feel compassion!  It is not,
+however, through thine own sin that thy nature is thus unblessed, that
+all thine undertakings end unhappily.  Give heed, for now I am forced to
+relate what I had hoped long to keep secret from thine ears.  After
+dethroning my predecessor, I forced him to give me his sister Tentcheta
+in marriage.  She loved me; a year after marriage there was promise of a
+child.  During the night preceding thy birth I fell asleep at the bedside
+of my wife.  I dreamed that she was lying on the shores of the Nile, and
+complained to me of pain in the breast.  Bending down, I beheld a
+cypress-tree springing from her heart.  It grew larger and larger, black
+and spreading, twined its roots around thy mother and strangled her.  A
+cold shiver seized me, and I was on the point of flying from the spot,
+when a fierce hurricane came from the East, struck the tree and overthrew
+it, so that its spreading branches were cast into the Nile.  Then the
+waters ceased to flow; they congealed, and, in place of the river, a
+gigantic mummy lay before me.  The towns on its banks dwindled into huge
+funereal urns, surrounding the vast corpse of the Nile as in a tomb.  At
+this I awoke and caused the interpreters of dreams to be summoned.  None
+could explain the vision, till at last the priests of the Libyan Ammon
+gave me the following interpretation 'Tentcheta will die in giving birth
+to a son.  The cypress, which strangled its mother, is this gloomy,
+unhappy man.  In his days a people shall come from the East and shall
+make of the Nile, that is of the Egyptians, dead bodies, and of their
+cities ruinous heaps; these are the urns for the dead, which thou
+sawest."
+
+Psamtik listened as if turned into stone; his father continued; "Thy
+mother died in giving birth to thee; fiery-red hair, the mark of the sons
+of Typhon, grew around thy brow; thou becam'st a gloomy man.  Misfortune
+pursued thee and robbed thee of a beloved wife and four of thy children.
+The astrologers computed that even as I had been born under the fortunate
+sign of Amman, so thy birth had been watched over by the rise of the
+awful planet Seb.  Thou .  .  ."  But here Amasis broke off, for Psamtik,
+in the anguish produced by these fearful disclosures had given way, and
+with sobs and groans, cried:
+
+"Cease, cruel father! spare me at least the bitter words, that I am the
+only son in Egypt who is hated by his father without cause!"
+
+Amasis looked down on the wretched man who had sunk to the earth before
+him, his face hidden in the folds of his robe, and the father's wrath was
+changed to compassion.  He thought of Psamtik's mother, dead forty years
+before, and felt he had been cruel in inflicting this poisonous wound on
+her son's soul.  It was the first time for years, that he had been able
+to feel towards this cold strange man, as a father and a comforter.  For
+the first time he saw tears in the cold eyes of his son, and could feel
+the joy of wiping them away.  He seized the opportunity at once, and
+bending clown over the groaning form, kissed his forehead, raised him
+from the ground and said gently:
+
+"Forgive my anger, my son! the words that have grieved thee came not from
+my heart, but were spoken in the haste of wrath.  Many years hast thou
+angered me by thy coldness, hardness and obstinacy; to-day thou hast
+wounded me again in my most sacred feelings; this hurried me into an
+excess of wrath.  But now all is right between us.  Our natures are so
+diverse that our innermost feelings will never be one, but at least we
+can act in concert for the future, and show forbearance one towards the
+other."
+
+In silence Psamtik bowed down and kissed his father's robe "Not so,"
+exclaimed the latter; "rather let my lips receive thy kiss, as is meet
+and fitting between father and son!  Thou needest not to think again of
+the evil dream I have related.  Dreams are phantoms, and even if sent by
+the gods, the interpreters thereof are human and erring.  Thy hand
+trembles still, thy cheeks are white as thy robe.  I was hard towards
+thee, harder than a father.  .  .  ."
+
+"Harder than a stranger to strangers," interrupted his son.  "Thou hast
+crushed and broken me, and if till now my face has seldom worn a smile,
+from this day forward it can be naught but a mirror of my inward misery."
+
+"Not so," said Amasis, laying his hand on his son's shoulder.  "If I
+wound, I can also heal.  Tell me the dearest wish of thy heart, it shall
+be granted thee!"
+
+Psamtik's eyes flashed, his sallow cheeks glowed for a moment, and he
+answered without consideration, though in a voice still trembling from
+the shock he had just received: "Deliver Phanes, my enemy, into my
+power!"
+
+The king remained a few moments in deep thought, then answered: "I knew
+what thou wouldst ask, and will fulfil thy desire: but I would rather
+thou hadst asked the half of my treasures.  A thousand voices within warn
+me that I am about to do an unworthy deed and a ruinous--ruinous for
+myself, for thee, the kingdom and our house.  Reflect before acting, and
+remember, whatever thou mayst meditate against Phanes, not a hair of
+Rhodopis' head shall be touched.  Also, that the persecution of my poor
+friend is to remain a secret from the Greeks.  Where shall I find his
+equal as a commander, an adviser and a companion?  He is not yet in thy
+power, however, and I advise thee to remember, that though thou mayst be
+clever for an Egyptian, Phanes is a clever Greek.  I will remind thee
+too of thy solemn oath to renounce the grandchild of Rhodopis.  Methinks
+vengeance is dearer to thee than love, and the amends I offer will
+therefore be acceptable!  As to Egypt, I repeat once again, she was never
+more flourishing than now; a fact which none dream of disputing, except
+the priests, and those who retail their foolish words.  And now give ear,
+if thou wouldst know the origin of Nitetis.  Self-interest will enjoin
+secrecy."
+
+Psamtik listened eagerly to his father's communication, indicating his
+gratitude at the conclusion by a warm pressure of the hand.
+
+"Now farewell,"  said Amasis.  "Forget not my words, and above all shed
+no blood!  I will know nothing of what happens to Phanes, for I hate
+cruelty and would not be forced to stand in horror of my own son.  But
+thou, thou rejoicest!  My poor Athenian, better were it for thee, hadst
+thou never entered Egypt!"
+
+Long after Psamtik had left, his father continued to pace the hall in
+deep thought.  He was sorry he had yielded; it already seemed as if he
+saw the bleeding Phanes lying massacred by the side of the dethroned
+Hophra.  "It is true, he could have worked our ruin," was the plea he
+offered to the accuser within his own breast, and with these words, he
+raised his head, called his servants and left the apartment with a
+smiling countenance.
+
+Had this sanguine man, this favorite of fortune, thus speedily quieted
+the warning voice within, or was he strong enough to cloak his torture
+with a smile?
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Avoid excessive joy as well as complaining grief
+Cast off all care; be mindful only of pleasure
+Creed which views life as a short pilgrimage to the grave
+Does happiness consist then in possession
+Happiness has nothing to do with our outward circumstances
+In our country it needs more courage to be a coward
+Observe a due proportion in all things
+One must enjoy the time while it is here
+Pilgrimage to the grave, and death as the only true life
+Robes cut as to leave the right breast uncovered
+The priests are my opponents, my masters
+Time is clever in the healing art
+We live for life, not for death
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 3.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Psamtik went at once from his father's apartments to the temple of the
+goddess Neith.  At the entrance he asked for the high-priest and was
+begged by one of the inferior priests to wait, as the great Neithotep
+was at that moment praying in the holiest sanctuary of the exalted Queen
+of Heaven.
+
+     [The temples of Egypt were so constructed as to intensify the
+     devotion of the worshipper by conducting him onward through a series
+     of halls or chambers gradually diminishing in size.  "The way
+     through these temples is clearly indicated, no digression is
+     allowed, no error possible.  We wander on through the huge and
+     massive gates of entrance, between the ranks of sacred animals.  The
+     worshipper is received into an ample court, but by degrees the walls
+     on either side approach one another, the halls become less lofty,
+     all is gradually tending towards one point.  And thus we wander on,
+     the sights and sounds of God's world without attract us no longer,
+     we see nothing but the sacred representations which encompass us so
+     closely, feel only the solemnity of the temple in which we stand.
+     And the consecrated walls embrace us ever more and more closely,
+     until at last we reach the lonely, resonant chamber occupied by the
+     divinity himself, and entered by no human being save his priest."
+     Schnaase, Kunstaeschirhtc I. 394.]
+
+After a short time a young priest appeared with the intelligence that his
+superior awaited the Prince's visit.  Psamtik had seated himself under
+the shadow of the sacred grove of silver poplars bordering the shores of
+the consecrated lake, holy to the great Neith.  He rose immediately,
+crossed the temple-court, paved with stone and asphalte, on which the
+sun's rays were darting like fiery arrows, and turned into one of the
+long avenues of Sphinxes which led to the isolated Pylons before the
+gigantic temple of the goddess.  He then passed through the principal
+gate, ornamented, as were all Egyptian temple-entrances, with the winged
+sun's disc.  Above its widely-opened folding doors arose on either side,
+tower-like buildings, slender obelisks and waving flags.  The front of
+the temple, rising from the earth in the form of an obtuse angle, had
+somewhat the appearance of a fortress, and was covered with colored
+pictures and inscriptions.  Through the porch Psamtik passed on into a
+lofty entrance-chamber, and from thence into the great hall itself, the
+ceiling of which was strewn with thousands of golden stars, and supported
+by four rows of lofty pillars.  Their capitals were carved in imitation
+of the lotus-flower, and these, the shafts of the columns, the walls of
+this huge hall, and indeed every niche and corner that met the eye were
+covered with brilliant colors and hieroglyphics.  The columns rose to a
+gigantic height, the eye seemed to wander through immeasurable space, and
+the air breathed by the worshippers was heavy with the fragrance of Kyphi
+and incense, and the odors which arose from the laboratory attached to
+the temple.  Strains of soft music, proceeding from invisible hands,
+flowed on unceasingly, only occasionally interrupted by the deep lowing
+of the sacred cows of Isis, or the shrill call of the sparrow-hawk of
+Horus, whose habitations were in one of the adjoining halls.  No sooner
+did the prolonged low of a cow break like distant thunder on the ear, or
+the sharp cry of the sparrow-hawk shoot like a flash of lightning through
+the nerves of the worshippers, than each crouching form bent lower still,
+and touched the pavement with his forehead.  On a portion of this
+pavement, raised above the rest, stood the priests, some wearing ostrich-
+feathers on their bald and shining heads; others panther-skins over their
+white-robed shoulders.  Muttering and singing, bowing low and rising
+again, they swung the censers and poured libations of pure water to the
+gods out of golden vessels.  In this immense temple man seemed a dwarf in
+his own eyes.  All his senses even to the organs of respiration, were
+occupied by objects far removed from daily life, objects that thrilled
+and almost oppressed him.  Snatched from all that was familiar in his
+daily existence, he seemed to grow dizzy and seek support beyond himself.
+To this the voice of the priests directed him and the cries of the sacred
+animals were believed to prove a divinity at hand.
+
+Psamtik assumed the posture of a worshipper on the low, gilded and
+cushioned couch set apart for him, but was unable to pay any real
+devotion, and passed on to the adjoining apartment before mentioned,
+where the sacred cows of Isis-Neith and the sparrow-hawk of Horus were
+kept.  These creatures were concealed from the gaze of the worshippers by
+a curtain of rich fabric embroidered with gold; the people were only
+allowed an occasional and distant glimpse of the adorable animals.  When
+Psamtik passed they were just being fed; cakes soaked in milk, salt and
+clover-blossoms were placed in golden cribs for the cows, and small birds
+of many-colored plumage in the beautifully-wrought and ornamented cage of
+the sparrow-hawk.  But, in his present mood, the heir to the throne of
+Egypt had no eye for these rare sights; but ascended at once, by means of
+a hidden staircase, to the chambers lying near the observatory, where the
+high-priest was accustomed to repose after the temple-service.
+
+Neithotep, a man of seventy years, was seated in a splendid apartment.
+Rich Babylonian carpets covered the floor and his chair was of gold,
+cushioned with purple.  A tastefully-carved footstool supported his feet,
+his hands held a roll covered with hieroglyphics, and a boy stood behind
+him with a fan of ostrich-feathers to keep away the insects.
+
+The face of the old man was deeply lined now, but it might once have been
+handsome, and in the large blue eyes there still lay evidence of a quick
+intellect and a dignified self-respect.
+
+His artificial curls had been laid aside, and the bald, smooth head
+formed a strange contrast to the furrowed countenance, giving an
+appearance of unusual height to the forehead, generally so very low among
+the Egyptians.  The brightly-colored walls of the room, on which numerous
+sentences in hieroglyphic characters were painted, the different statues
+of the goddess painted likewise in gay colors, and the snow-white
+garments of the aged priest, were calculated to fill a stranger not
+only with wonder, but with a species of awe.
+
+The old man received the prince with much affection, and asked:
+
+"What brings my illustrious son to the poor servant of the Deity?"
+
+"I have much to report to thee, my father;" answered Psamtik with a
+triumphant smile, "for I come in this moment from Amasis."
+
+"Then he has at length granted thee an audience?"
+
+"At length!"
+
+"Thy countenance tells me that thou hast been favorably received by our
+lord, thy father."
+
+"After having first experienced his wrath.  For, when I laid before him
+the petition with which thou hadst entrusted me, he was exceeding wroth
+and nearly crushed me by his awful words."
+
+"Thou hadst surely grieved him by thy language.  Didst thou approach him
+as I advised thee, with lowliness, as a son humbly beseeching his
+father?"
+
+"No, my father, I was irritated and indignant."
+
+"Then was Amasis right to be wrathful, for never should a son meet his
+father in anger; still less when he hath a request to bring before him.
+Thou know'st the promise, 'The days of him that honoreth his father shall
+be many.'
+
+     [This Egyptian command hears a remarkable resemblance to the fifth
+     in the Hebrew decalogue, both having a promise annexed.  It occurs
+     in the Prisse Papyrus, the most ancient sacred writing extant.]
+
+In this one thing, my scholar, thou errest always; to gain thine ends
+thou usest violence and roughness, where good and gentle words would more
+surely prevail.  A kind word hath far more power than an angry one, and
+much may depend on the way in which a man ordereth his speech.  Hearken
+to that which I will now relate.  In former years there was a king in
+Egypt named Snefru, who ruled in Memphis.  And it came to pass that he
+dreamed, and in his dream his teeth fell out of his mouth.  And he sent
+for the soothsayers and told them the dream.  The first interpreter
+answered: 'Woe unto thee, O king, all thy kinsmen shall die before thee!'
+Then was Snefru wroth, caused this messenger of evil to be scourged, and
+sent for a second interpreter.  He answered: 'O king, live for ever, thy
+life shall be longer than the life of thy kinsmen and the men of thy
+house!'  Then the king smiled and gave presents unto this interpreter,
+for though the interpretations were one, yet he had understood to clothe
+his message in a web of fair and pleasant words.  Apprehendest thou?
+then hearken to my voice, and refrain from harsh words, remembering that
+to the ear of a ruler the manner of a man's speech is weightier than its
+matter."
+
+"Oh my father, how often hast thou thus admonished me!  how often have I
+been convinced of the evil consequences of my rough words and angry
+gestures!  but I cannot change my nature, I cannot .  .  ."
+
+"Say rather: I will not; for he that is indeed a man, dare never again
+commit those sins of which he has once repented.  But I have admonished
+sufficiently.  Tell me now how thou didst calm the wrath of Amasis."
+
+"Thou knowest my father.  When he saw that he had wounded me in the
+depths of my soul by his awful words, he repented him of his anger.  He
+felt he had been too hard, and desired to make amends at any price."
+
+"He hath a kindly heart, but his mind is blinded, and his senses taken
+captive," cried the priest.  "What might not Amasis do for Egypt, would
+he but hearken to our counsel, and to the commandments of the gods!"
+
+"But hear me, my father! in his emotion he granted me the life of
+Phanes!"
+
+"Thine eyes flash, Psamtik! that pleaseth me not.  The Athenian must die,
+for he has offended the gods; but though he that condemns must let
+justice have her way, he should have no pleasure in the death of the
+condemned; rather should he mourn.  Now speak; didst thou obtain aught
+further?"
+
+"The king declared unto me to what house Nitetis belongs."
+
+"And further naught?"
+
+"No, my father; but art thou not eager to learn ... ?"
+
+"Curiosity is a woman's vice; moreover, I have long known all that thou
+canst tell me."
+
+"But didst thou not charge me but yesterday to ask my father this
+question?"
+
+"I did do so to prove thee, and know whether thou wert resigned to the
+Divine will, and wert walking in those ways wherein alone thou canst
+become worthy of initiation into the highest grade of knowledge.
+Thou hast told us faithfully all that thou hast heard, and thereby
+proved that thou canst obey--the first virtue of a priest."
+
+"Thou knewest then the father of Nitetis?"
+
+"I myself pronounced the prayer over king Hophra's tomb."
+
+"But who imparted the secret to thee?"
+
+"The eternal stars, my son, and my skill in reading them."
+
+"And do these stars never deceive?"
+
+"Never him that truly understands them."
+
+Psamtik turned pale.  His father's dream and his own fearful horoscope
+passed like awful visions through his mind.  The priest detected at once
+the change in his features and said gently: "Thou deem'st thyself a lost
+man because the heavens prognosticated evil at thy birth; but take
+comfort, Psamtik; I observed another sign in the heavens at that moment,
+which escaped the notice of the astrologers.  Thy horoscope was a
+threatening, a very threatening one, but its omens may be averted, they
+may .  .  ."
+
+"O tell me, father, tell me how!"
+
+"They must turn to good, if thou, forgetful of all else, canst live alone
+to the gods, paying a ready obedience to the Divine voice audible to us
+their priests alone in the innermost and holiest sanctuary."
+
+"Father, I am ready to obey thy slightest word."
+
+"The great goddess Neith, who rules in Sais, grant this, my son!"
+answered the priest solemnly.  "But now leave me alone," he continued
+kindly, "lengthened devotions and the weight of years bring weariness.
+If possible, delay the death of Phanes, I wish to speak with him before
+he dies.  Yet one more word.  A troop of Ethiopians arrived yesterday.
+These men cannot speak a word of Greek, and under a faithful leader,
+acquainted with the Athenians and the locality, they would be the best
+agents for getting rid of the doomed man, as their ignorance of the
+language and the circumstances render treachery or gossip impossible.
+Before starting for Naukratis, they must know nothing of the design of
+their journey; the deed once accomplished, we can send them back to
+Kush.--[The Egyptian name for Ethiopia.]  Remember, a secret can never be
+too carefully kept!  Farewell."  Psamtik had only left the room a few
+moments, when a young priest entered, one of the king's attendants.
+
+"Have I listened well, father?"  he enquired of the old man.
+
+"Perfectly, my son.  Nothing of that which passed between Amasis and
+Psamtik has escaped thine ears.  May Isis preserve them long to thee!"
+
+"Ah, father, a deaf man could have heard every word in the ante-chamber
+to-day, for Amasis bellowed like an ox."
+
+"The great Neith has smitten him with the lack of prudence, yet I command
+thee to speak of the Pharaoh with more reverence.  But now return, keep
+thine eyes open and inform me at once if Amasis, as is possible, should
+attempt to thwart the conspiracy against Phanes.  Thou wilt certainly
+find me here.  Charge the attendants to admit no one, and to say I am at
+my devotions in the Holy of holies.  May the ineffable One protect thy
+footsteps!"
+
+     [Isis, the wife or sister of Osiris, is the phenomena of nature, by
+     means of which the god is able to reveal himself to human
+     contemplation.]
+
+               ..................................
+
+While Psamtik was making every preparation for the capture of Phanes,
+Croesus, accompanied by his followers, had embarked on board a royal
+bark, and was on his way down the Nile to spend the evening with
+Rhodopis.
+
+His son Gyges and the three young Persians remained in Sais, passing the
+time in a manner most agreeable to them.
+
+Amasis loaded them with civilities, allowed them, according to Egyptian
+custom, the society of his queen and of the twin-sisters, as they were
+called, taught Gyges the game of draughts, and looking on while the
+strong, dexterous, young heroes joined his daughters in the game of
+throwing balls and hoops, so popular among Egyptian maidens, enlivened
+their amusements with an inexhaustible flow of wit and humor.
+
+     [The Pharaohs themselves, as well as their subjects, were in the
+     habit of playing at draughts and other similar games.  Rosellini
+     gives its Rameses playing with his daughter; see also two Egyptians
+     playing together, Wilkinson II.  419.  An especially beautiful
+     draught-board exists in the Egyptian collection at the Louvre
+     Museum.  The Egyptians hoped to be permitted to enjoy these
+     pleasures even in the other world.]
+
+     [Balls that have been found in the tombs are still to be seen; some,
+     for instance, in the Museum at Leyden.]
+
+"Really," said Bartja, as he watched Nitetis catching the slight hoop,
+ornamented with gay ribbons, for the hundredth time on her slender ivory
+rod, "really we must introduce this game at home.  We Persians are so
+different from you Egyptians.  Everything new has a special charm for us,
+while to you it is just as hateful.  I shall describe the game to Our
+mother Kassandane, and she will be delighted to allow my brother's wives
+this new amusement."
+
+"Yes, do, do!"  exclaimed the fair Tachot blushing deeply.  "Then Nitetis
+can play too, and fancy herself back again at home and among those she
+loves; and Bartja,"  she added in a low voice,  "whenever you watch the
+hoops flying, you too must remember this hour."
+
+"I shall never forget it," answered he with a smile, and then, turning to
+his future sister-in-law, he called out cheerfully, "Be of good courage,
+Nitetis, you will be happier than you fancy with us.  We Asiatics know
+how to honor beauty; and prove it by taking many wives."
+
+Nitetis sighed, and the queen Ladice exclaimed, "On the contrary, that
+very fact proves that you understand but poorly how to appreciate woman's
+nature!  You can have no idea, Bartja, what a woman feels on finding that
+her husband--the man who to her is more than life itself, and to whom she
+would gladly and without reserve give up all that she treasures as most
+sacred--looks down on her with the same kind of admiration that he
+bestows on a pretty toy, a noble steed, or a well-wrought wine-bowl.
+But it is yet a thousand-fold more painful to feel that the love which
+every woman has a right to possess for herself alone, must be shared with
+a hundred others!"
+
+"There speaks the jealous wife!"  exclaimed Amasis.  "Would you not fancy
+that I had often given her occasion to doubt my faithfulness?"
+
+"No, no, my husband," answered Ladice, "in this point the Egyptian men
+surpass other nations, that they remain content with that which they have
+once loved; indeed I venture to assert that an Egyptian wife is the
+happiest of women.
+
+     [According to Diodorus (I. 27) the queen of Egypt held a higher
+     position than the king himself.  The monuments and lists of names
+     certainly prove that women could rule with sovereign power.  The
+     husband of the heiress to the throne became king.  They had their
+     own revenues (Diodorus I. 52) and when a princess, after death, was
+     admitted among the goddesses, she received her own priestesses.
+     (Edict of Canopus.)  During the reigns of the Ptolemies many coins
+     were stamped with the queen's image and cities were named for them.
+     We notice also that sons, in speaking of their descent, more
+     frequently reckon it from the mother's than the father's side, that
+     a married woman is constantly alluded to as the "mistress" or "lady"
+     of the house, that according to many a Greek Papyrus they had entire
+     disposal of all their property, no matter in what it consisted, in
+     short that the weaker sex seems to have enjoyed equal influence with
+     the stronger.]
+
+Even the Greeks, who in so many things may serve as patterns to us,
+do not know how to appreciate woman rightly.  Most of the young Greek
+girls pass their sad childhood in close rooms, kept to the wheel and
+the loom by their mothers and those who have charge of them, and when
+marriageable, are transferred to the quiet house of a husband they do
+not know, and whose work in life and in the state allows him but seldom
+to visit his wife's apartments.  Only when the most intimate friends and
+nearest relations are with her husband, does she venture to appear in
+their midst, and then shyly and timidly, hoping to hear a little of what
+is going on in the great world outside.  Ah, indeed! we women thirst for
+knowledge too, and there are certain branches of learning at least, which
+it cannot be right to withhold from those who are to be the mothers and
+educators of the next generation.  What can an Attic mother, without
+knowledge, without experience, give to her daughters?  Naught but her
+own ignorance.  And so it is, that a Hellene, seldom satisfied with
+the society of his lawful, but, mentally, inferior wife, turns for
+satisfaction to those courtesans, who, from their constant intercourse
+with men, have acquired knowledge, and well understand how to adorn it
+with the flowers of feminine grace, and to season it with the salt of a
+woman's more refined and delicate wit.  In Egypt it is different.  A
+young girl is allowed to associate freely with the most enlightened men.
+Youths and maidens meet constantly on festive occasions, learn to know
+and love one another.  The wife is not the slave, but the friend of her
+husband; the one supplies the deficiencies of the other.  In weighty
+questions the stronger decides, but the lesser cares of life are left
+to her who is the greater in small things.  The daughters grow up under
+careful guidance, for the mother is neither ignorant nor inexperienced.
+To be virtuous and diligent in her affairs becomes easy to a woman, for
+she sees that it increases his happiness whose dearest possession she
+boasts of being, and who belongs to her alone.  The women only do that
+which pleases us! but the Egyptian men understand the art of making us
+pleased with that which is really good, and with that alone.  On the
+shores of the Nile, Phocylides of Miletus and Hipponax of Ephesus would
+never have dared to sing their libels on women, nor could the fable of
+Pandora have been possibly invented here!"
+
+     [Simonides of Amorgos, an Iambic poet, who delighted in writing
+     satirical verses on women.  He divides them into different classes,
+     which he compares to unclean animals, and considers that the only
+     woman worthy of a husband and able to make him happy must be like
+     the bee.  The well-known fable of Pandora owes its origin to
+     Simonides.  He lived about 650 B. C.  The Egyptians too, speak very
+     severely of bad women, comparing them quite in the Simonides style
+     to beasts of prey (hyenas, lions and panthers).  We find this
+     sentence on a vicious woman: She is a collection of every kind of
+     meanness, and a bag full of wiles.  Chabas, Papyr.  magrque Harris.
+     p.  135.  Phocylides of Miletus, a rough and sarcastic, but
+     observant man, imitated Simonides in his style of writing.  But the
+     deformed Hipponax of Ephesus, a poet crushed down by poverty, wrote
+     far bitterer verses than Phocylides.  He lived about 550 B. C.  "His
+     own ugliness (according to Bernhardy) is reflected in every one of
+     his Choliambics." ]
+
+"How beautifully you speak!"  exclaimed Bartja.  "Greek was not easy to
+learn, but I am very glad now that I did not give it up in despair, and
+really paid attention to Croesus' lessons."
+
+Who could those men have been," asked Darius, "who dared to speak evil of
+women?"
+
+"A couple of Greek poets," answered Amasis, "the boldest of men, for I
+confess I would rather provoke a lioness than a woman.  But these Greeks
+do not know what fear is.  I will give you a specimen of Hipponax's
+Poetry:
+
+              "There are but two days when a wife,
+               Brings pleasure to her husband's life,
+               The wedding-day, when hopes are bright,
+               And the day he buries her out of his sight."
+
+"Cease, cease,"  cried Ladice stopping her ears, that is too had.  Now,
+Persians, you can see what manner of man Amasis is.  For the sake of a
+joke, he will laugh at those who hold precisely the same opinion as
+himself.  There could not be a better husband.
+
+"Nor a worse wife," laughed Amasis.  "Thou wilt make men think that I am
+a too obedient husband.  But now farewell, my children; our young heroes
+must look at this our city of Sais; before parting, however, I will
+repeat to them what the malicious Siuionides has sung of a good wife:
+
+         "Dear to her spouse from youth to age she grows;
+          Fills with fair girls and sturdy boys his house;
+          Among all women womanliest seems,
+          And heavenly grace about her mild brow gleams.
+          A gentle wife, a noble spouse she walks,
+          Nor ever with the gossip mongers talks.
+          Such women sometimes Zeus to mortals gives,
+          The glory and the solace of their lives."
+
+"Such is my Ladice! now farewell!"
+
+"Not yet!"  cried Bartja.  "Let me first speak in defence of our poor
+Persia and instil fresh courage into my future sister-in-law; but no!
+Darius, thou must speak, thine eloquence is as great as thy skill in
+figures and swordsmanship!"
+
+"Thou speakst of me as if I were a gossip or a shopkeeper,"--[This
+nickname, which Darius afterwards earned, is more fully spoken of]--
+answered the son of Hystaspes.  "Be it so; I have been burning all this
+time to defend the customs of our country.  Know then, Ladice, that if
+Auramazda dispose the heart of our king in his own good ways, your
+daughter will not be his slave, but his friend.  Know also, that in
+Persia, though certainly only at high festivals, the king's wives have
+their places at the men's table, and that we pay the highest reverence to
+our wives and mothers.  A king of Babylon once took a Persian wife; in
+the broad plains of the Euphrates she fell sick of longing for her native
+mountains; he caused a gigantic structure to be raised on arches, and the
+summit thereof to be covered with a depth of rich earth; caused the
+choicest trees and flowers to be planted there, and watered by artificial
+machinery.  This wonder completed, he led his wife thither; from its top
+she could look down into the plains below, as from the heights of
+Rachined, and with this costly gift he presented her.  Tell me, could
+even an Egyptian give more?"
+
+     [This stupendous erection is said to have been constructed by
+     Nebuchadnezzar for his Persian wife Amytis.  Curtius V.  5.
+     Josephus contra Apion. I.  19.  Antiquities X. II. 1.  Diod. II. 10.
+     For further particulars relative to the hanging-gardens, see later
+     notes.]
+
+"And did she recover?"  asked Nitetis, without raising her eyes.
+
+"She recovered health and happiness; and you too will soon feel well and
+happy in our country."
+
+"And now," said Ladice with a smile, what, think you, contributed most
+to the young queen's recovery?  the beautiful mountain or the love of the
+husband, who erected it for her sake?"
+
+"Her husband's love," cried the young girls.
+
+"But Nitetis would not disdain the mountain either," maintained Bartja,
+"and I shall make it my care that whenever the court is at Babylon, she
+has the hanging-gardens for her residence."
+
+"But now come," exclaimed Amasis, "unless you wish to see the city in
+darkness.  Two secretaries have been awaiting me yonder for the last two
+hours.  Ho! Sachons! give orders to the captain of the guard to accompany
+our noble guests with a hundred men."
+
+"But why? a single guide, perhaps one of the Greek officers, would be
+amply sufficient."
+
+"No, my young friends, it is better so.  Foreigners can never be too
+prudent in Egypt.  Do not forget this, and especially be careful not to
+ridicule the sacred animals.  And now farewell, my young heroes, till we
+meet again this evening over a merry wine-cup."
+
+The Persians then quitted the palace, accompanied by their interpreter,
+a Greek, but who had been brought up in Egypt, and spoke both languages
+with equal facility.
+
+     [Psamtik I. is said to have formed a new caste, viz.: the caste of
+     Interpreters, out of those Greeks who had been born and bred up in
+     Egypt.  Herod. II. 154.  Herodotus himself was probably conducted by
+     such a "Dragoman."]
+
+Those streets of Sais which lay near the palace wore a pleasant aspect.
+The houses, many of which were five stories high, were generally covered
+with pictures or hieroglyphics; galleries with balustrades of carved and
+gaily-painted wood-work, supported by columns also brightly painted, ran
+round the walls surrounding the courts.  In many cases the proprietor's
+name and rank was to be read on the door, which was, however, well closed
+and locked.  Flowers and shrubs ornamented the flat roofs, on which the
+Egyptians loved to spend the evening hours, unless indeed, they preferred
+ascending the mosquito-tower with which nearly every house was provided.
+These troublesome insects, engendered by the Nile, fly low, and these
+little watch-towers were built as a protection from them.
+
+The young Persians admired the great, almost excessive cleanliness, with
+which each house, nay, even the streets themselves, literally shone.  The
+door-plates and knockers sparkled in the sun; paintings, balconies and
+columns all had the appearance of having been only just finished, and
+even the street-pavement looked as if it were often scoured.
+
+     [The streets of Egyptian towns seem to have been paved, judging from
+     the ruins of Alabastron and Memphis.  We know at least with
+     certainty that this was the case with those leading to the temples.]
+
+But as the Persians left the neighborhood of the Nile and the palace, the
+streets became smaller.  Sais was built on the slope of a moderately high
+hill, and had only been the residence of the Pharaohs for two centuries
+and a half, but, during that comparatively short interval, had risen from
+an unimportant place into a town of considerable magnitude.
+
+On its river-side the houses and streets were brilliant, but on the hill-
+slope lay, with but few more respectable exceptions, miserable, poverty-
+stricken huts constructed of acacia-boughs and Nile-mud.  On the north-
+west rose the royal citadel.
+
+"Let us turn back here," exclaimed Gyges to his young companions.  During
+his father's absence he was responsible as their guide and protector, and
+now perceived that the crowd of curious spectators, which had hitherto
+followed them, was increasing at every step.
+
+"I obey your orders," replied the interpreter, "but yonder in the valley,
+at the foot of that hill, lies the Saitic city of the dead, and for
+foreigners I should think that would be of great interest."
+
+"Go forward!"  cried Bartja.  "For what did we leave Persia, if not to
+behold these remarkable objects?"
+
+On arriving at an open kind of square surrounded by workmen's booths,
+and not far from the city of the dead, confused cries rose among the
+crowd behind them.
+
+     [Artisans, as well among the ancient as the modern Egyptians, were
+     accustomed to work in the open air.]
+
+The children shouted for joy, the women called out, and one voice louder
+than the rest was heard exclaiming: "Come hither to the fore-court of the
+temple, and see the works of the great magician, who comes from the
+western oases of Libya and is endowed with miraculous gifts by Chunsu,
+the giver of good counsels, and by the great goddess Hekt."
+
+"Follow me to the small temple yonder," said the interpreter, "and you
+will behold a strange spectacle."  He pushed a way for himself and the
+Persians through the crowd, obstructed in his course by many a sallow
+woman and naked child; and at length came back with a priest, who
+conducted the strangers into the fore-court of the temple.  Here,
+surrounded by various chests and boxes, stood a man in the dress of a
+priest; beside him on the earth knelt two negroes.  The Libyan was a man
+of gigantic stature, with great suppleness of limb and a pair of piercing
+black eyes.  In his hand he held a wind-instrument resembling a modern
+clarionet, and a number of snakes, known in Egypt to be poisonous, lay
+coiling themselves over his breast and arms.
+
+On finding himself in the presence of the Persians he bowed low, inviting
+them by a solemn gesture to gaze at his performances; he then cast off
+his white robe and began all kinds of tricks with the snakes.
+
+He allowed them to bite him, till the blood trickled down his cheeks;
+compelled them by the notes of his flute to assume an erect position and
+perform a kind of dancing evolution; by spitting into their jaws he
+transformed them to all appearance into motionless rods; and then,
+dashing them all on to the earth, performed a wild dance in their midst,
+yet without once touching a single snake.
+
+Like one possessed, he contorted his pliant limbs until his eyes seemed
+starting from his head and a bloody foam issued from his lips.
+
+Suddenly he fell to the ground, apparently lifeless.  A slight movement
+of the lips and a low hissing whistle were the only signs of life; but,
+on hearing the latter, the snakes crept up and twined themselves like
+living rings around his neck, legs and body.  At last he rose, sang a
+hymn in praise of the divine power which had made him a magician, and
+then laid the greater number of his snakes in one of the chests,
+retaining a few, probably his favorites, to serve as ornaments for his
+neck and arms.
+
+The second part of this performance consisted of clever conjuring-tricks,
+in which he swallowed burning flax, balanced swords while dancing, their
+points standing in the hollow of his eye; drew long strings and ribbons
+out of the noses of the Egyptian children, exhibited the well-known cup-
+and-ball trick, and, at length, raised the admiration of the spectators
+to its highest pitch, by producing five living rabbits from as many
+ostrich-eggs.
+
+The Persians formed no unthankful portion of the assembled crowd; on the
+contrary, this scene, so totally new, impressed them deeply.
+
+They felt as if in the realm of miracles, and fancied they had now seen
+the rarest of all Egyptian rarities.  In silence they took their way back
+to the handsomer streets of Sais, without noticing how many mutilated
+Egyptians crossed their path.  These poor disfigured creatures were
+indeed no unusual sight for Asiatics, who punished many crimes by the
+amputation of a limb.  Had they enquired however, they would have heard
+that, in Egypt, the man deprived of his hand was a convicted forger, the
+woman of her nose, an adulteress; that the man without a tongue had been
+found guilty of high treason or false witness; that the loss of the ears
+denoted a spy, and that the pale, idiotic-looking woman yonder had been
+guilty of infanticide, and had been condemned to hold the little corpse
+three days and three nights in her arms.  What woman could retain her
+senses after these hours of torture?--[Diodorus I. 77.]
+
+The greater number of the Egyptian penal laws not only secured the
+punishment of the criminal, but rendered a repetition of the offence
+impossible.
+
+The Persian party now met with a hindrance, a large crowd having
+assembled before one of the handsomest houses in the street leading to
+the temple of Neith.  The few windows of this house that could be seen
+(the greater number opening on the garden and court) were closed with
+shutters, and at the door stood an old man, dressed in the plain white
+robe of a priest's servant.  He was endeavoring, with loud cries, to
+prevent a number of men of his own class from carrying a large chest out
+of the house.
+
+"What right  have you  to rob my master?" he shrieked indignantly.
+"I am the guardian of this house, and when my master left for Persia (may
+the gods destroy that land!) he bade me take especial care of this chest
+in which his manuscripts lay."
+
+"Compose yourself, old Hib!"  shouted one of these inferior priests, the
+same whose acquaintance we made on the arrival of the Asiatic Embassy.
+"We are here in the name of the high-priest of the great Neith, your
+master's master.  There must be queer papers in this box, or Neithotep
+would not have honored us with his commands to fetch them."
+
+"But I will not allow my master's papers to be stolen," shrieked the old
+man.  "My master is the great physician Nebenchari, and I will secure his
+rights, even if I must appeal to the king himself."
+
+"There," cried the other, "that will do; out with the chest, you fellows.
+Carry it at once to the high-priest; and you, old man, would do more
+wisely to hold your tongue and remember that the high-priest is your
+master as well as mine.  Get into the house as quick as you can, or to-
+morrow we shall have to drag you off as we did the chest to-day!"  So
+saying, he slammed the heavy door, the old man was flung backward into
+the house and the crowd saw him no more.
+
+The Persians had watched this scene and obtained an explanation of its
+meaning from their interpreter.  Zopyrus laughed on hearing that the
+possessor of the stolen chest was the oculist Nebenchari, the same who
+had been sent to Persia to restore the sight of the king's mother, and
+whose grave, even morose temper had procured him but little love at the
+court of Cambyses.
+
+Bartja wished to ask Amasis the meaning of this strange robbery, but
+Gyges begged him not to interfere in matters with which he had no
+concern.  Just as they reached the palace, and darkness, which in Egypt
+so quickly succeeds the daylight, was already stealing over the city,
+Gyges felt himself hindered from proceeding further by a firm hand on his
+robe, and perceived a stranger holding his finger on his lips in token of
+silence.
+
+"When can I speak with you alone and unobserved?"  he whispered.
+
+"What do you wish from me?"
+
+"Ask no questions, but answer me quickly.  By Mithras," I have weighty
+matters to disclose."
+
+"You speak Persian, but your garments would proclaim you an Egyptian."
+
+"I am a Persian, but answer me quickly or we shall be noticed.  When can
+I speak to you alone?"
+
+"To-morrow morning."
+
+"That is too late."
+
+"Well then, in a quarter of an hour, when it is quite dark, at this gate
+of the palace."
+
+"I shall expect you."
+
+So saying the man vanished.  Once within the palace, Gyges left Bartja
+and Zopyrus, fastened his sword into his girdle, begged Darius to do the
+same and to follow him, and was soon standing again under the great
+portico with the stranger, but this time in total darkness.
+
+"Auramazda be praised that you are there!"  cried the latter in Persian
+to the young Lydian; "but who is that with you?"
+
+"Darius, the son of Hystaspes, one of the Achaemenidae; and my friend."
+
+The stranger bowed low and answered, "It is well, I feared an Egyptian
+had accompanied you."
+
+"No, we are alone and willing to hear you; but be brief.  Who are you and
+what do you want?"
+
+"My name is Bubares.  I served as a poor captain under the great Cyrus.
+At the taking of your father's city, Sardis, the soldiers were at first
+allowed to plunder freely; but on your wise father's representing to
+Cyrus that to plunder a city already taken was an injury to the present,
+and not to the former, possessor, they were commanded on pain of death to
+deliver up their booty to their captains, and the latter to cause
+everything of worth, when brought to them, to be collected in the market-
+place.  Gold and silver trappings lay there in abundance, costly articles
+of attire studded with precious stones  .  .  ."
+
+"Quick, quick, our time is short," interrupted Gyges.
+
+"You are right.  I must be more brief.  By keeping for myself an
+ointment-box sparkling with jewels, taken from your father's palace, I
+forfeited my life.  Croesus, however, pleaded for me with his conqueror
+Cyrus; my life and liberty were granted me, but I was declared a
+dishonored man.  Life in Persia became impossible with disgrace lying
+heavily on my soul; I took ship from Smyrna to Cyprus, entered the army
+there, fought against Amasis, and was brought hither by Phanes as a
+prisoner-of-war.  Having always served as a horse-soldier, I was placed
+among those slaves who had charge of the king's horses, and in six years
+became an overseer.  Never have I forgotten the debt of gratitude I owe
+to your father; and now my turn has come to render him a service."
+
+"The matter concerns my father? then speak--tell me, I beseech you!"
+
+"Immediately.  Has Croesus offended the crown prince?"
+
+"Not that I am aware of."
+
+"Your father is on a visit to Rhodopis this evening, at Naukratis?"
+
+"How did you hear this?"
+
+"From himself.  I followed him to the boat this morning and sought to
+cast myself at his feet."
+
+"And did you succeed?"
+
+"Certainly.  He spoke a few gracious words with me, but could not wait to
+hear what I would say, as his companions were already on board when he
+arrived.  His slave Sandon, whom I know, told me that they were going to
+Naukratis, and would visit the Greek woman whom they call Rhodopis."
+
+"He spoke truly."
+
+"Then you must speed to the rescue.  At the time that the market-place
+was full."
+
+     [The forenoon among the Greeks was regulated by the business of the
+     market.  "When the market-place begins to fill, when it is full,
+     when it becomes empty."  It would be impossible to define this
+     division of time exactly according to our modern methods of
+     computation, but it seems certain that the market was over by the
+     afternoon.  The busiest hours were probably from 10 till 1.  At the
+     present day the streets of Athens are crowded during those hours;
+     but in Summer from two to four o'clock are utterly deserted.]
+
+"Ten carriages and two boats, full of Ethiopian soldiers under the
+command of an Egyptian captain, were sent off to Naukratis to surround
+the house of Rhodopis and make captives of her guests."
+
+"Ha, treachery!"  exclaimed Gyges.
+
+"But how can they wish to injure your father?"  said Darius.  "They know
+that the vengeance of Cambyses--"
+
+"I only know," repeated Bubares, "that this night the house of Rhodopis,
+in which your father is, will be surrounded by Ethiopian soldiers.  I
+myself saw to the horses which transport them thither and heard Pentaur,
+one of the crown-prince's fan-bearers, call to them, 'Keep eyes and ears
+open, and let the house of Rhodopis be surrounded, lest he should escape
+by the back door.  If possible spare his life, and kill him only if he
+resist.  Bring him alive to Sais, and you shall receive twenty rings of
+gold.'"
+
+     [It is no longer a matter of question, that before the time of the
+     Persians, and therefore at this point of our history, no money had
+     been coined in Egypt.  The precious metals were weighed out and used
+     as money in the shape of rings, animals, etc.  On many of the
+     monuments we see people purchasing goods and weighing out the gold
+     in payment; while others are paying their tribute in gold rings.
+     These rings were in use as a medium of payment up to the time of the
+     Ptolemies.  Pliny XXXIII.  I.  Balances with weights in the form of
+     animals may be seen in Wilkinson.  During the reigns of the
+     Ptolemies many coins were struck.]
+
+"But could that allude to my father?"
+
+"Certainly not," cried Darius.
+
+"It is impossible to say," murmured Bubares.  "In this country one can
+never know what may happen."
+
+"How long does it take for a good horse to reach Naukratis?"
+
+"Three hours, if he can go so long, and the Nile has not overflowed the
+road too much."
+
+"I will be there in two."
+
+"I shall ride with you," said Darius.
+
+"No, you must remain here with Zopyrus for Bartja's protection.  Tell the
+servants to get ready."
+
+"But Gyges--"
+
+"Yes, you will stay here and excuse me to Amasis.  Say I could not come
+to the evening revel on account of headache, toothache, sickness,
+anything you like."
+
+"I shall ride Bartja's Nicaean horse; and you, Bubares, will follow me on
+Darius's.  You will lend him, my brother?"
+
+"If I had ten thousand, you should have them all."
+
+"Do you know the way to Naukratis, Bubares?"
+
+"Blindfold."
+
+"Then go, Darius, and tell them to get your horse and Bartja's ready!
+To linger would be sin.  Farewell Darius, perhaps forever!  Protect
+Bartja!  Once more, farewell!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+It wanted two hours of midnight.  Bright light was streaming through the
+open windows of Rhodopis' house, and sounds of mirth and gaiety fell on
+the ear.  Her table had been adorned with special care in Croesus' honor.
+
+On the cushions around it lay the guests with whom we are already
+acquainted: Theodorus, Ibykus, Phanes, Aristomachus, the merchant
+Theopompus of Miletus, Croesus and others, crowned with chaplets of
+poplar and roses.
+
+Theodorus the sculptor was speaking: "Egypt seems to me," he said, "like
+a girl who persists in wearing a tight and painful shoe only because it
+is of gold, while within her reach he beautiful and well-fitting slippers
+in which she could move at ease, if she only would."
+
+"You refer to the Egyptians' pertinacity in retaining traditional forms
+and customs?"  asked Croesus.
+
+"Certainly I do," answered the sculptor.  "Two centuries ago Egypt was
+unquestionably the first of the nations.  In Art and Science she far
+excelled us; but we learnt their methods of working, improved on them,
+held firm to no prescribed proportions, but to the natural types alone,
+gave freedom and beauty to their unbending outlines, and now have left
+our masters far behind us.  But how was this possible? simply because the
+Egyptians, bound by unalterable laws, could make no progress; we, on the
+contrary, were free to pursue our course in the wide arena of art as far
+as will and power would allow."
+
+"But how can an artist be compelled to fashion statues alike, which are
+meant to differ from each other in what they represent?"
+
+"In this case that can be easily explained.  The entire human body is
+divided by the Egyptians into 21 1/4 parts, in accordance with which
+division the proportion of each separate limb is regulated.  I, myself,
+have laid a wager with Amasis, in presence of the first Egyptian
+sculptor, (a priest of Thebes), that, if I send my brother Telekles, in
+Ephesus, dimensions, proportion and attitude, according to the Egyptian
+method, he and I together can produce a statue which shall look as if
+sculptured from one block and by one hand, though Telekles is to carve
+the lower half at Ephesus, and I the upper here in Sais, and under the
+eye of Amasis."
+
+     [These numbers, and the story which immediately follows, are taken
+     from Diodorus I. 98.  Plato tells us that, in his time, a law
+     existed binding the Egyptian artists to execute their works with
+     exactly the same amount of beauty or its reverse, as those which had
+     been made more than a thousand years before.  This statement is
+     confirmed by the monuments; but any one well acquainted with
+     Egyptian art can discern a marked difference in the style of each
+     epoch.  At the time of the ancient kingdom the forms were compressed
+     and stunted; under Seti I. beauty of proportion reached its highest
+     point.  During, and after the 20th dynasty, the style declined in
+     beauty; in the 26th, under the descendants of Psammetichus, we meet
+     with a last revival of art, but the ancient purity of form was never
+     again attained.]
+
+"And shall you win your wager?"
+
+"Undoubtedly.  I am just going to begin this trick of art; it will as
+little deserve the name of a work of art, as any Egyptian statue."
+
+"And yet there are single sculptures here which are of exquisite
+workmanship; such, for instance, as the one Amasis sent to Samos as a
+present to Polykrates.  In Memphis I saw a statue said to be about three
+thousand years old, and to represent a king  who built the great Pyramid,
+which excited my admiration in every respect.  With what certainty and
+precision that unusually hard stone has been wrought! the muscles, how
+carefully carved! especially in the breast, legs and feet; the harmony of
+the features too, and, above all, the polish of the whole, leave nothing
+to be desired."
+
+"Unquestionably.  In all the mechanism of art, such as precision and
+certainty in working even the hardest materials, the Egyptians, though
+they have so long stood still in other points, are still far before us;
+but to model form with freedom, to breathe, like Prometheus, a soul into
+the stone, they will never learn until their old notions on this subject
+have been entirely abandoned.  Even the pleasing varieties of corporeal
+life cannot be represented by a system of mere proportions, much less
+those which are inner and spiritual.  Look at the countless statues which
+have been erected during the last three thousand years, in all the
+temples and palaces from Naukratis up to the Cataracts.  They are all of
+one type, and represent men of middle age, with grave but benevolent
+countenances.  Yet they are intended, some as statues of aged monarchs,
+others to perpetuate the memory of young princes.  The warrior and the
+lawgiver, the blood-thirsty tyrant and the philanthropist are only
+distinguished from each other by a difference in size, by which the
+Egyptian sculptor expresses the idea of power and strength.  Amasis
+orders a statue just as I should a sword.  Breadth and length being
+specified, we both of us know quite well, before the master has begun his
+work, what we shall receive when it is finished.  How could I possibly
+fashion an infirm old man like an eager youth? a pugilist like a runner
+in the foot-race? a poet like a warrior?  Put Ibykus and our Spartan
+friend side by side, and tell me what you would say, were I to give to
+the stern warrior the gentle features and gestures of our heart-ensnaring
+poet."
+
+"Well, and how does Amasis answer your remarks on this stagnation in
+art?"
+
+"He deplores it; but does not feel himself strong enough to abolish the
+restrictive laws of the priests."
+
+"And yet,"  said the Delphian, "he has given a large sum towards the
+embellishment of our new temple, expressly, (I use his own words) for the
+promotion of Hellenic art!"
+
+"That is admirable in him," exclaimed Croesus.  "Will the Alkmaeonidae
+soon have collected the three hundred talents necessary for the
+completion of the temple?  Were I as rich as formerly I would gladly
+undertake the entire cost; notwithstanding that your malicious god so
+cruelly deceived me, after all my offerings at his shrine.  For when I
+sent to ask whether I should begin the war with Cyrus, he returned this
+answer: I should destroy a mighty kingdom by crossing the river Halys.
+I trusted the god, secured the friendship of Sparta according to his
+commands, crossed the boundary stream, and, in so doing, did indeed
+destroy a mighty kingdom; not however that of the Medes and Persians, but
+my own poor Lydia, which, as a satrapy of Cambyses, finds its loss of
+independence a hard and uncongenial yoke."
+
+"You blame the god unjustly," answered Phryxus.  It cannot be his fault
+that you, in your human conceit, should have misinterpreted his oracle.
+The answer did not say 'the kingdom of Persia,' but  'a kingdom' should
+be destroyed through your desire for war.  Why did you not enquire what
+kingdom was meant?  Was not your son's fate truly prophesied by the
+oracle? and also that on the day of misfortune he would regain his
+speech?  And when, after the fall of Sardis, Cyrus granted your wish to
+enquire at Delphi whether the Greek gods made a rule of requiting their
+benefactors by ingratitude, Loxias answered that he had willed the best
+for you, but was controlled by a mightier power than himself, by that
+inexorable fate which had foretold to thy great ancestor, that his fifth
+successor was doomed to destruction."
+
+"In the first days of my adversity I needed those words far more than
+now," interrupted Croesus.  "There was a time when I cursed your god and
+his oracles; but later, when with my riches my flatterers had left me,
+and I became accustomed to pronounce judgment on my own actions, I saw
+clearly that not Apollo, but my own vanity had been the cause of my ruin.
+How could 'the kingdom to be destroyed' possibly mean mine, the mighty
+realm of the powerful Croesus, the friend of the gods, the hitherto
+unconquered leader?  Had a friend hinted at this interpretation of the
+ambiguous oracle, I should have derided, nay, probably caused him to be
+punished.  For a despotic ruler is like a fiery steed; the latter
+endeavors to kick him who touches his wounds with intent to heal; the
+former punishes him who lays a hand on the weak or failing points of his
+diseased mind.  Thus I missed what, if my eyes had not been dazzled, I
+might easily have seen; and now that my vision is clearer, though I have
+nothing to lose, I am far more often anxious than in the days when none
+could possibly lose more than I.  In comparison with those days, Phryxus,
+I may be called a poor man now, but Cambyses does not leave me to famish,
+and I can still raise a talent for your temple."
+
+Phryxus expressed his thanks, and Phanes remarked "The Alkmaeonida; will
+be sure to erect a beautiful edifice, for they are rich and ambitious,
+and desirous of gaining favor with the Amphiktyons, in order, by their
+aid, to overthrow the tyrants, secure to themselves a higher position
+than that of the family to which I belong, and with this, the guidance of
+state-affairs."
+
+"Is it true, as people say," asked Ibykus, "that next to Agarista with
+whom Megakles received so rich a dowry, you, Croesus, have been the
+largest contributor to the wealth of the Alkmaeonidae?"
+
+"True enough," answered Croesus laughing.
+
+"Tell us the story, I beg," said Rhodopis.
+
+"Well," answered Croesus, "Alkmaeon of Athens once appeared at my court;
+his cheerfulness and cultivation pleased me well, and I retained him near
+me for some time.  One day I showed him my treasure-chambers, at the
+sight of which he fell into despair, called himself a common beggar and
+declared that one good handful of these precious things would make him
+a happy man.  I at once allowed him to take as much gold away as he could
+carry.  What think you did Alkaemmon on this? sent for high Lydian
+riding-boots, an apron and a basket, had the one secured behind him, put
+the others on, and filled them all with gold, till they could hold no
+more.  Not content with this, he strewed gold-dust in his hair and beard
+and filled his mouth to that extent that he appeared in the act of
+choking.  In each hand he grasped a golden dish, and thus laden dragged
+himself out of the treasure-house, falling exhausted as he crossed the
+threshold.  Never have I laughed so heartily as at this sight."
+
+"But did you grant him all these treasures?"  said Rhodopis.
+
+"Yes, yes, my friend; and did not think even then, that I had paid too
+dearly for the experience that gold can make fools even of clever men."
+
+"You were the most generous of monarchs," cried Phanes.
+
+"And make a tolerably contented beggar," answered Croesus.  "But tell me,
+Phryxus, how much has Amasis contributed to your collection?"
+
+"He gave fifty tons of alum."
+
+"A royal gift!"
+
+"And the prince Psamtik?"
+
+"On my appealing to him by his father's munificence, he turned his back
+on me, and answered with a bitter laugh: 'Collect money for the
+destruction of your temple, and I am ready to double my father's
+donation!'"
+
+"The wretch!"
+
+"Say rather: the true Egyptian!  to Psamtik everything foreign is an
+abomination."
+
+"How much have the Greeks in Naukratis contributed?"
+
+"Beside munificent private donations, each community has given twenty
+minae."
+
+"That is much."
+
+"Philoinus, the Sybarite, alone sent me a thousand drachmm," and
+accompanied his gift with a most singular epistle.  May I read it aloud,
+Rhodopis?"
+
+"Certainly," answered she, "it will show you that the drunkard has
+repented of his late behaviour."
+
+The Delphian began: "Philoinus to Phryxus: It grieves me that at
+Rhodopis' house the other night I did not drink more; for had I done so
+I should have lost consciousness entirely, and so have been unable to
+offend even the smallest insect.  My confounded abstemiousness is
+therefore to blame, that I can no longer enjoy a place at the best table
+in all Egypt.  I am thankful, however, to Rhodopis for past enjoyment,
+and in memory of her glorious roastbeef (which has bred in me the wish to
+buy her cook at any price) I send twelve large spits for roasting oxen,
+--[Rhodopis is said to have sent such a gift to Delphi.  Herod.]--and beg
+they may be placed in some treasure-house at Delphi as an offering from
+Rhodopis.  As for myself, being a rich man, I sign my name for a thousand
+drachmae, and beg that my gift may be publicly announced at the next
+Pythian games.  To that rude fellow, Aristomachus of Sparta, express my
+thanks for the effectual manner in which he fulfilled my intention in
+coming to Egypt.  I came hither for the purpose of having a tooth
+extracted by an Egyptian dentist said to take out teeth without causing
+much pain.
+
+     [The Egyptian dentists must have been very skilful.  Artificial
+     teeth have been discovered in the jaws of mummies.  See Blumenbach
+     on the teeth of the ancient Egyptians, and on mummies.]
+
+Aristomachus, however, knocked out the defective tooth and so saved me
+from an operation, the thought of which had often made me tremble.  On
+recovering consciousness, I found that three teeth had been knocked into
+my mouth, the diseased one and two others, which though healthy, would
+probably at some future time have caused me pain.  Salute Rhodopis and
+the handsome Phanes from me.  You I invite to an entertainment at my
+house in Sybaris, this day year.  We are accustomed to issue invitations
+somewhat early, on account of my necessary preparations.  I have caused
+this epistle to be written by my slave Sophotatus in an adjoining
+chamber, as merely to behold the labor of writing causes cramp in my
+fingers."
+
+A burst of laughter arose at these words, but Rhodopis said: "This letter
+gives me pleasure; it proves that Philoinus is not bad at heart.  Brought
+up a Sybarite" .  .  .  She was suddenly interrupted by the voice of a
+stranger, who had entered unperceived, and, after apologizing to the
+venerable hostess and her guests for appearing without invitation among
+them, continued thus: "I am Gyges the son of Croesus; and it has not been
+merely for pastime, that I have ridden over from Sais in two hours lest I
+should arrive too late!"
+
+"Menon, a cushion for our guest!" cried Rhodopis.  "Be welcome to my
+house and take some repose after your wild, thoroughly Lydian, ride."
+
+"By the dog, Gyges!" exclaimed Croesus.
+
+     [An oath of Rhadamanthus used in order to avoid mentioning the names
+     of the gods.  Schol.  Aristoph.  Aves.  520.]
+
+"What brings thee here at this hour?  I begged thee not to quit Bartja's
+side .  .  .  But how thou look'st!  what is the matter? has aught
+happened? speak, speak!"
+
+In the first moment Gyges could not answer a word.  To see his beloved
+father, for whose very life he had been in such anxiety, a safe and happy
+guest at this rich banquet, seemed to rob him of his speech a second
+time.  At last, however, he was able to say: "The gods be praised, my
+father, that I see thee safe once more!  Think not I forsook my post
+thoughtlessly.  Alas! I am forced to appear as a bird of evil omen in
+this cheerful assembly.  Know at once, ye guests, for I dare not lose
+time in preparing my words, that a treacherous assault awaits ye!"
+
+They all sprang up as if struck by lightning.  Aristomachus silently
+loosened his sword in its scabbard; Phanes extended his arms as if to
+discern whether the old athletic elasticity still dwelt there.
+
+"What can it be?--what is their design?"  echoed from all sides.
+
+"This house is surrounded by Ethiopian soldiers!"  answered Gyges.
+"A faithful fellow confided to me that the crown-prince had designs on
+one of your number; he was to be taken alive if possible, but killed if
+he resisted.  Dreading lest thou shouldst be this victim, my father,
+I sped hither.  The fellow had not lied.  This house is surrounded.  My
+horse shied on reaching your garden-gate, Rhodopis, jaded as he was.  I
+dismounted, and could discern behind every bush the glitter of weapons
+and the eager eyes of men lying in ambush.  They allowed us, however, to
+enter unmolested."
+
+At this moment Knakias rushed in crying, "Important news!  On my way to
+the Nile to fetch water with which to prepare the wine-cup, I have just
+met a man who, in his haste, nearly ran over me.
+
+     [The water of the Nile has a very agreeable flavor.  It is called by
+     one traveller the champagne among the waters.  The ladies of the
+     Sultan's harem send for this water even from Constantinople, and the
+     Arabs say, that if Mahomet had drunk thereof he would have desired
+     to live for ever.]
+
+It was an Ethiop, one of Phanes' boatmen, and he tells that just as he
+sprang out of the boat to bathe, a royal bark came alongside and a
+soldier asked the rest of the crew in whose service they were.  On the
+helmsman answering, 'in Phanes' service,' the royal boat passed on
+slowly.  He, however, (the rower who was bathing), seated himself in fun
+on the rudder of the royal boat, and heard one Ethiopian soldier on board
+say to another, 'Keep that craft well in sight; now we know where the
+bird sits, and it will be easy to catch him.  Remember, Psamtik has
+promised us fifty gold rings if we bring the Athenian to Sais dead or
+alive.'  This is the report of Sebek, who has been in your service seven
+years, O Phanes."
+
+To both these accounts Phanes listened calmly.  Rhodopis trembled.
+Aristomachus exclaimed, "Not a hair of your head shall be touched, if
+Egypt perish for it!"  Croesus advised prudence.  A tremendous excitement
+had mastered the whole party.
+
+At last Phanes broke silence, saying: "Reflection is never more necessary
+than in a time of danger.  I have thought the matter over, and see
+clearly that escape will be difficult.  The Egyptians will try to get
+rid of me quietly.  They know that I intend going on board a Phoecean
+trireme, which sets sail for Sigeum at a very early hour to-morrow
+morning, and have therefore no time to lose, if they will seize me.  Your
+garden, Rhodopis, is entirely surrounded, and were I to remain here, your
+house would no longer be respected as a sanctuary; it would be searched
+and I taken in it.  There can be no doubt that a watch has been set over
+the Phoecean ship also.  Blood shall not be shed in vain on my account."
+
+"But  you  dare  not  surrender!"  cried  Aristomachus.
+
+"No, no, I have a plan," shouted Theopompus the Milesian merchant.  "At
+sunrise to-morrow a ship sails for Miletus laden with Egyptian corn, but
+not from Naukratis, from Canopus.  Take the noble Persian's horse and
+ride thither.  We will cut a way for you through the garden."
+
+"But," said Gyges, "our little band is not strong enough to carry out
+such an attempt.  We number in all ten men, and of these only three have
+swords; our enemies, on the other hand, number at least a hundred, and
+are armed to the teeth."
+
+"Lydian!"  cried Aristomachus, "wert thou ten times more fainthearted
+than thou art, and were our enemies double their number, I at least, will
+fight them!"
+
+Phanes grasped his friend's hand.  Gyges turned pale.  This brave warrior
+had called him fainthearted; and again he could find no words to answer;
+for at every stirring emotion his tongue failed him.  Suddenly the blood
+mounted to his face; his words came quickly and with decision: "Athenian,
+follow me! and thou, Spartan, who art not wont to use words heedlessly,
+call no man fainthearted again before thou knowest him.  Friends, Phanes
+is safe,  Farewell, father!"
+
+The remaining guests surveyed these two departing men in silent wonder.
+As they stood there, silently listening, the sound of two horses
+galloping swiftly away fell on their ear, and after a longer interval a
+prolonged whistle from the Nile and a cry of distress.
+
+"Where is Knakias?"  said Rhodopis to one of her slaves.
+
+"He went into the garden with Phanes and the Persian," was the answer,
+and as it was being spoken, the old slave re-entered, pale and trembling.
+
+"Have you seen my son?"  cried Croesus.  "Where is Phanes?"
+
+"I was to bid you farewell from them both."
+
+"Then they are gone.--Whither?  How was it possible?" .  .  .
+
+"The Athenian and the Persian," began the slave, "had a slight dispute in
+the anteroom.  This over, I was told to divest both of their robes.
+Phanes then put on the stranger's trousers, coat and girdle; on his own
+curls he placed the pointed Persian cap.  The stranger wrapped himself in
+the Athenian's chiton and mantle, placed the golden circlet above his
+brow, caused the hair to be shaved from his upper lip, and ordered me to
+follow him into the garden.  Phanes, whom in his present dress, none
+could imagine to be other than a Persian, mounted one of the horses still
+waiting before the gate; the stranger called after him, 'Farewell Gyges,
+farewell beloved Persian, a pleasant journey to thee, Gyges!'  The
+servant, who had been waiting, followed on the other horse.  I could hear
+the clatter of arms among the bushes, but the Athenian was allowed to
+depart unmolested, the soldiers, without doubt, believing him to be a
+Persian.
+
+"On returning to the house the stranger's orders were: 'Accompany me to
+Phanes' bark, and cease not to call me by the Athenian's name.'  'But the
+boatmen will betray you,' I said.  'Then go alone to them,' he answered,
+'and command them to receive me as their master, Phanes.'  Then I prayed
+him to allow me to take the dress of the fugitive and become a prey to
+the pursuers; but he would by no means allow this, and said my gait and
+carriage would betray me.  There alas! he spoke truly, for only the free
+man can walk erect; the neck of the slave is bent; the schools in which
+the noble and the freeborn learn grace and beauty of movement are not for
+him.  And so it must remain, the children must be even as the fathers;
+can the unclean onion-root produce a rose, or the unsightly radish a
+hyacinth?  Constant bondage bows the neck of the slave, but the
+consciousness of freedom gives dignity to the stature."
+
+"But what has become of my son?"  interrupted Croesus.
+
+"He would not accept my poor offer, and took his seat in the bark,
+sending a thousand greetings unto thee, O king!  I cried after him,
+'Farewell Phanes!  I wish thee a prosperous journey, Phanes!'  At that
+moment a cloud crossed the moon; and from out the thick darkness I heard
+screams, and cries for help; they did not, however, last long, a shrill
+whistle followed, then all was silent; and the measured strokes of oars
+were the only sounds that fell on my ear.  I was on the point of
+returning to relate what I had seen, when the boatman Sebek swam up once
+more and told as follows: The Egyptians had caused a leak to be made in
+Phanes' boat, and at a short distance from land it had filled and began
+to sink.  On the boatmen crying for help, the royal bark, which was
+following, had come up and taken the supposed Phanes on board, but had
+prevented the rowers from leaving their benches.  They all went down with
+the leaking boat, the daring Sebek alone excepted.  Gyges is on board the
+royal boat; Phanes has escaped, for that whistle must have been intended
+for the soldiers in ambush at the garden-gate.  I searched the bushes,
+the soldiers were gone, and I could hear the sound of their voices and
+weapons on their way back to Sais."
+
+The guests listened with eager attention to this tale.  At its close a
+mingled feeling of relief and anxiety was felt by all; relief that their
+favorite companion had escaped so fearful a danger, anxiety for the brave
+young Lydian who had risked his life to save him.  They praised his
+generosity, congratulated Croesus on possessing such a son, and finally
+agreed in the conclusion, that, when the crown-prince discovered the
+error into which his emissaries had fallen, he must certainly release
+Gyges, and even make him compensation for what he had suffered at their
+hands.
+
+The friendship already shown by Amasis, and the fear in which he
+evidently stood of the Persian power, were the thoughts which had power
+to calm Croesus, who soon left, in order to pass the night at the house
+of Theopompus, the Milesian merchant.  At parting, Aristomachus said:
+"Salute Gyges in my name; tell him I ask his forgiveness, and hope one
+day either to enjoy his friendship, or, if that cannot be, to meet him as
+a fair foe on the field of battle."
+
+"Who knows what the future may bring?"  answered Croesus giving his hand
+to the Spartan.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+The sun of a new day had risen over Egypt, but was still low in the east;
+the copious dew, which, on the Nile, supplies the place of rain, lay
+sparkling like jewels on the leaves and blossoms, and the morning air,
+freshened by a north-west wind, invited those to enjoy it who could not
+bear the heat of mid-day.
+
+Through the door of the country-house, now so well known to us, two
+female figures have just passed; Melitta, the old slave, and Sappho, the
+grandchild of Rhodopis.
+
+The latter is not less lovely now, than when we saw her last, asleep.
+She moves through the garden with a light quick step, her white morning
+robe with its wide sleeves falling in graceful drapery over her lithe
+limbs, the thick brown hair straying from beneath the purple kerchief
+over her head, and a merry, roguish smile lurking round her rosy mouth
+and in the dimples of her cheeks and chin.
+
+She stooped to pick a rose, dashed the dew from it into the face of her
+old nurse, laughing at her naughty trick till the clear bell-like tones
+rang through the garden; fixed the flower in her dress and began to sing
+in a wonderfully rich and sweet voice--
+
+                    Cupid once upon a bed
+                    Of roses laid his weary head;
+                    Luckless urchin! not to see
+                    Within the leaves a slumbering bee.
+                    The bee awak'd--with anger wild
+                    The bee awak'd, and stung the child.
+                    Loud and piteous are his cries;
+                    To Venus quick he runs, he flies;
+                    "Oh mother!  I am wounded through--
+                    "I die with pain--in sooth I do!
+                    "Stung by some little angry thing.
+                    "Some serpent on a tiny wing,
+                    "A bee it was--for once, I know,
+                    "I heard a rustic call it so."
+
+"Isn't that a very pretty song?"  asked the laughing girl.  "How stupid
+of little Eros to mistake a bee for a winged snake!  Grandmother says
+that the great poet Anacreon wrote another verse to this song, but she
+will not teach it me.  Tell me, Melitta, what can there be in that verse?
+There, you are smiling; dear, darling Melitta, do sing me that one verse.
+Perhaps though, you don't know it yourself?  No?  then certainly you
+can't teach it me."
+
+"That is a new song," answered the old woman, evading her darling's
+question, "I only know the songs of the good old times.  But hark! did
+not you hear a knock at the gate?"
+
+     [The last lines which contain the point of this song are:
+
+                    Thus he spoke, and she, the while,
+                    Heard him with a soothing smile;
+                    Then said, "My infant, if so much
+                    "Thou feel the little wild bee's touch,
+                    "How must the heart, ah!  Cupid be,
+                    "The hapless heart that's stung by thee?"
+
+     --Translation from one of Anacreon's songs]
+
+"Yes, of course I did, and I think the sound of horses' hoofs too.  Go
+and see who seeks admission so early.  Perhaps, after all, our kind
+Phanes did not go away yesterday, and has come to bid us farewell once
+more."
+
+"Phanes is gone," said Melitta, becoming serious, "and Rhodopis has
+ordered me to send you in when visitors arrive.  Go child, that I may
+open the gate.  There, they have knocked again."
+
+Sappho pretended to run in, but instead of obeying her nurse's orders,
+stopped and hid herself behind a rose-bush, hoping to catch sight of
+these early guests.  In the fear of needlessly distressing her, she had
+not been told of the events of the previous evening, and at this early
+hour could only expect to see some very intimate friend of her
+grandmother's.
+
+Melitta opened the gate and admitted a youth splendidly apparelled, and
+with fair curling hair.
+
+It was Bartja, and Sappho was so lost in wonder at his beauty, and the
+Persian dress, to her so strange, that she remained motionless in her
+hiding-place, her eyes fixed on his face.  Just so she had pictured to
+herself Apollo with the beautiful locks, guiding the sun-chariot.
+
+As Melitta and the stranger came nearer she thrust her little head
+through the roses to hear what the handsome youth was saying so kindly in
+his broken Greek.
+
+She heard him ask hurriedly after Croesus and his son; and then, from
+Melitta's answer, she gathered all that had passed the evening before,
+trembled for Phanes, felt so thankful to the generous Gyges, and again
+wondered who this youth in royal apparel could possibly be.  Rhodopis had
+told her about Cyrus's heroic deeds, the fall of Croesus and the power
+and wealth of the Persians, but still she had always fancied them a wild,
+uncultivated people.  Now, however, her interest in Persia increased with
+every look at the handsome Bartja.  At last Melitta went in to wake her
+grandmother and announce the guest, and Sappho tried to follow her, but
+Eros, the foolish boy whose ignorance she had been mocking a moment
+before, had other intentions.  Her dress caught in the thorns, and before
+she could disengage it, the beautiful Bartja was standing before her,
+helping her to get free from the treacherous bush.
+
+Sappho could not speak a word even of thanks; she blushed deeply, and
+stood smiling and ashamed, with downcast eyes.
+
+Bartja, too, generally so full of fun and spirit, looked down at her
+without speaking, the color mounting to his cheeks.
+
+The silence, however, did not last long, for Sappho, recovering from her
+fright, burst into a laugh of childish delight at the silent stranger and
+the odd scene, and fled towards the house like a timid fawn.
+
+In a moment Bartja was himself again; in two strides he reached the young
+girl, quick as thought seized her hand and held it fast, notwithstanding
+all her struggles.
+
+"Let me go!"  she cried half in earnest and half laughing, raising her
+dark eyes appealingly to him.
+
+"Why should I?"  he answered.  "I took you from the rose-bush and shall
+hold you fast until you give me your sister there, the other rose, from
+your bosom, to take home with me as a keepsake."
+
+"Please let me go," repeated Sappho, "I will promise nothing unless you
+let my hand go."
+
+"But if I do, you will not run away again?"
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"Well, then, I will give you your liberty, but now you must give me your
+rose."
+
+"There are plenty on the bush yonder, and more beautiful ones; choose
+whichever you like.  Why do you want just this one?"
+
+"To keep it carefully in remembrance of the most beautiful maiden I ever
+saw."
+
+"Then I shall certainly not give it to you; for those are not my real
+friends who tell me I am beautiful, only those who tell me I am good."
+
+"Where did you learn that?"
+
+"From my grandmother Rhodopis."
+
+"Very well, then I will tell you you are better than any other maiden in
+the whole world."
+
+"How can you say such things, when you don't know me at all?  Oh,
+sometimes I am very naughty and disobedient.  If I were really good I
+should be indoors now instead of talking to you here.  My grandmother
+has forbidden me ever to stay in the garden when visitors are here, and
+indeed I don't care for all those strange men who always talk about
+things I cannot understand."
+
+"Then perhaps you would like me to go away too?"
+
+"Oh no, I can understand you quite well; though you cannot speak half so
+beautifully as our poor Phanes for example, who was obliged to escape so
+miserably yesterday evening, as I heard Melitta saying just this minute."
+
+"Did you love Phanes?"
+
+"Love him?  Oh yes,--I was very fond of him.  When I was little he always
+brought me balls, dolls ninepins from Memphis and Sais; and now that I am
+older he teaches me beautiful new songs."
+
+     [Jointed dolls for children.  Wilkinson II. 427. Note 149.  In the
+     Leyden Museum one of these jointed toys is to be seen, in very good
+     preservation.]
+
+"As a parting gift he brought me a tiny Sicilian lapdog, which I am going
+to call Argos, because he is so white and swiftfooted.  But in a few days
+we are to have another present from the good Phanes, for .  .  .  There,
+now you can see what I am; I was just going to let out a great secret.
+My grandmother has strictly forbidden me to tell any one what dear little
+visitors we are expecting; but I feel as if I had known you a long time
+already, and you have such kind eyes that I could tell you everything.
+You see, when I am very happy, I have no one in the whole world to talk
+to about it, except old Melitta and my grandmother, and, I don't know how
+it is, that, though they love me so much, they sometimes cannot
+understand how trifles can make me so happy."
+
+"That is because they are old, and have forgotten what made them happy in
+their youth.  But have you no companions of your own age that you are
+fond of?"
+
+"Not one.  Of course there are many other young girls beside me in
+Naukratis, but my grandmother says I am not to seek their acquaintance,
+and if they will not come to us I am not to go to them."
+
+"Poor child! if you were in Persia, I could soon find you a friend.
+I have a sister called Atossa, who is young and good, like you."
+
+"Oh, what a pity that she did not come here with you!--But now you must
+tell me your name."
+
+"My name is Bartja."
+
+"Bartja! that is a strange name!  Bartja-Bartja.  Do you know, I like it.
+How was the son of Croesus called, who saved our Phanes so generously?"
+
+"Gyges.  Darius, Zopyrus and he are my best friends.  We have sworn never
+to part, and to give up our lives for one another," and that is why I
+came to-day, so early and quite in secret, to help my friend Gyges, in
+case he should need me."
+
+"Then you rode here for nothing."
+
+"No, by Mithras, that indeed I did not, for this ride brought me to you.
+But now you must tell me your name."
+
+"I am called Sappho."
+
+"That is a pretty name, and Gyges sings me sometimes beautiful songs by a
+poetess called Sappho.  Are you related to her?"
+
+"Of course.  She was the sister of my grandfather Charaxus, and is called
+the tenth muse or the Lesbian swan.  I suppose then, your friend Gyges
+speaks Greek better than you do?"
+
+"Yes, he learnt Greek and Lydian together as a little child, and speaks
+them both equally well.  He can speak Persian too, perfectly; and what is
+more, he knows and practises all the Persian virtues."
+
+"Which are the highest virtues then according to you Persians?"
+
+"Truth is the first of all; courage the second, and the third is
+obedience; these three, joined with veneration for the gods, have made us
+Persians great."
+
+"But I thought you worshipped no gods?"
+
+"Foolish child! who could live without a god, without a higher ruler?
+True, they do not dwell in houses and pictures like the gods of the
+Egyptians, for the whole creation is their dwelling.  The Divinity, who
+must be in every place, and must see and hear everything, cannot be
+confined within walls."
+
+"Where do you pray then and offer sacrifice, if you have no temples?"
+
+"On the grandest of all altars, nature herself; our favorite altar is the
+summit of a mountain.  There we are nearest to our own god, Mithras, the
+mighty sun, and to Auramazda, the pure creative light; for there the
+light lingers latest and returns earliest."
+
+     [From Herodotus (I. 131 and 132.), and from many other sources, we
+     see clearly that at the time of the Achaemenidae the Persians had
+     neither temples nor images of their gods.  Auramazda and
+     Angramainjus, the principles of good and evil, were invisible
+     existences filling all creation with their countless train of good
+     and evil spirits.  Eternity created fire and water.  From these
+     Ormusd (Auramazda), the good spirit, took his origin.  He was
+     brilliant as the light, pure and good.  After having, in the course
+     of 12000 years, created heaven, paradise and the stars, he became
+     aware of the existence of an evil spirit, Ahriman (Angramainjus),
+     black, unclean, malicious and emitting an evil odor.  Ormusd
+     determined on his destruction, and a fierce strife began, in which
+     Ormusd was the victor, and the evil spirit lay 3000 years
+     unconscious from the effects of terror.  During this interval Ormusd
+     created the sky, the waters, the earth, all useful plants, trees and
+     herbs, the ox and the first pair of human beings in one year.
+     Ahriman, after this, broke loose, and was overcome but not slain.
+     As, after death, the four elements of which all things are composed,
+     Earth, Air, Fire and Water, become reunited with their primitive
+     elements; and as, at the resurrection-day, everything that has been
+     severed combines once more, and nothing returns into oblivion, all
+     is reunited to its primitive elements, Ahriman could only have been
+     slain if his impurity could have been transmuted into purity, his
+     darkness into light.  And so evil continued to exist, and to produce
+     impurity and evil wherever and whenever the good spirit created the
+     pure and good.  This strife must continue until the last day; but
+     then Ahriman, too, will become pure and holy; the Diws or Daewa
+     (evil spirits) will have absorbed his evil, and themselves have
+     ceased to exist.  For the evil spirits which dwell in every human
+     being, and are emanations from Ahriman, will be destroyed in the
+     punishment inflicted on men after death.  From Vuller's Ulmai Islam
+     and the Zend-Avesta.]
+
+"Light alone is pure and good; darkness is unclean and evil.  Yes,
+maiden, believe me, God is nearest to us on the mountains; they are his
+favorite resting-place.  Have you never stood on the wooded summit of a
+high mountain, and felt, amid the solemn silence of nature, the still and
+soft, but awful breath of Divinity hovering around you?  Have you
+prostrated yourself in the green forest, by a pure spring, or beneath the
+open sky, and listened for the voice of God speaking from among the
+leaves and waters?  Have you beheld the flame leaping up to its parent
+the sun, and bearing with it, in the rising column of smoke, our prayers
+to the radiant Creator?  You listen now in wonder, but I tell you, you
+would kneel and worship too with me, could I but take you to one of our
+mountain-altars."
+
+"Oh! if I only could go there with you! if I might only once look down
+from some high mountain over all the woods and meadows, rivers and
+valleys.  I think, up there, where nothing could be hidden from my eyes,
+I should feel like an all-seeing Divinity myself.  But hark, my
+grandmother is calling.  I must go."
+
+"Oh, do not leave me yet!"
+
+"Is not obedience one of the Persian virtues?"
+
+"But my rose?"
+
+"Here it is."
+
+"Shall you remember me?"
+
+"Why should I not?"
+
+"Sweet maiden, forgive me if I ask one more favor."
+
+"Yes, but ask it quickly, for my grandmother has just called again."
+
+"Take my diamond star as a remembrance of this hour."
+
+"No, I dare not."
+
+"Oh, do, do take it.  My father gave it me as a reward, the first time
+that I killed a bear with my own hand, and it has been my dearest
+treasure till to-day, but now you shall have it, for you are dearer to me
+than anything else in the world."
+
+Saying this, he took the chain and star from his breast, and tried to
+hang it round Sappho's neck.  She resisted, but Bartja threw his arms
+round her, kissed her forehead, called her his only love, and looking
+down deep into the eyes of the trembling child, placed it round her neck
+by gentle force.
+
+Rhodopis called a third time.  Sappho broke from the young prince's
+embrace, and was running away, but turned once more at his earnest
+entreaty and the question, "When may I see you again?" and answered
+softly, "To-morrow morning at this rose-bush."
+
+"Which held you fast to be my friend."
+
+Sappho sped towards the house.  Rhodopis received Bartja, and
+communicated to him all she knew of his friend's fate, after which the
+young Persian departed for Sais.
+
+When Rhodopis visited her grandchild's bed that evening, she did not find
+her sleeping peacefully as usual; her lips moved, and she sighed deeply,
+as if disturbed by vexing dreams.
+
+On his way back, Bartja met Darius and Zopyrus, who had followed at once
+on hearing of their friend's secret departure.  They little guessed that
+instead of encountering an enemy, Bartja had met his first love.  Croesus
+reached Sais a short time before the three friends.  He went at once to
+the king and informed him without reserve of the events of the preceding
+evening.  Amasis pretended much surprise at his son's conduct, assured
+his friend that Gyges should be released at once, and indulged in some
+ironical jokes at the discomfiture of Psamtik's attempt to revenge
+himself.
+
+Croesus had no sooner quitted the king than the crown-prince was
+announced.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+Amasis received his son with a burst of laughter, and without noticing
+Psamtik's pale and troubled countenance, shouted: "Did not I tell thee,
+that a simple Egyptian would find it no easy task to catch such a Greek
+fox?  I would have given ten cities to have been by, when thy captive
+proved to be the stammering Lydian instead of the voluble Athenian."
+
+Psamtik grew paler and paler, and trembling with rage, answered in a
+suppressed voice: "Is it well, my father, thus to rejoice at an affront
+offered to thy son?  I swear, by the eternal gods, that but for Cambyses'
+sake that shameless Lydian had not seen the light of another day.  But
+what is it to thee, that thy son becomes a laughing-stock to these
+beggarly Greeks!"
+
+"Abuse not those who have outwitted thee."
+
+"Outwitted! my plan was so subtly laid, that .  .  .
+
+"The finer the web, the sooner broken."
+
+"That that intriguing Greek could not possibly have escaped, if, in
+violation of all established precedents; the envoy of a foreign power had
+not taken it upon himself to rescue a man whom we had condemned."
+
+"There thou art in error, my son.  We are not speaking of the execution
+of a judicial sentence, but of the success or failure of an attempt at
+personal revenge."
+
+"The agents employed were, however, commissioned by the king, and
+therefore the smallest satisfaction that I can demand of thee, is to
+solicit from Cambyses the punishment of him who has interfered in the
+execution of the royal decrees.  In Persia, where men bow to the king's
+will as to the will of a god, this crime will be seen in all its
+heinousness.  The punishment of Gyges is a debt which Cambyses owes us."
+
+"But I have no intention of demanding the payment of this debt," answered
+Amasis.  "On the contrary, I am thankful that Phanes has escaped.  Gyges
+has saved my soul from the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and thine
+from the reproach of having revenged thyself meanly on a man, to whom thy
+father is indebted."
+
+"Wilt thou then conceal the whole affair from Cambyses?"
+
+"No, I shall mention it jestingly in a letter, as my manner is, and at
+the same time caution him against Phanes.  I shall tell him that he has
+barely escaped my vengeance, and will therefore certainly endeavor to
+stir up the power of Persia against Egypt; and shall entreat my future
+son-in-law to close his ears to this false accuser.  Croesus and Gyges
+can help us by their friendship more than Phanes can injure by his
+hatred."
+
+"Is this then thy final resolve?  Can I expect no satisfaction?"
+
+"None.  I abide by what I have said."
+
+"Then tremble, not alone before Phanes, but before another--before one
+who holds thee in his power, and who himself is in ours."
+
+"Thou thinkest to alarm me; thou wouldst rend the bond formed only
+yesterday?  Psamtik, Psamtik, I counsel thee to remember, that thou
+standest before thy father and thy king."
+
+"And thou, forget not that I am thy son!  If thou compell'st me to forget
+that the gods appointed thee to be my father--if I can hope for no help
+from thee, then I will resort to my own weapons."
+
+"I am curious to learn what these may be."
+
+"And I need not conceal them.  Know then that the oculist Nebenchari is
+in our power."
+
+Amasis turned pale.
+
+"Before thou couldst possibly imagine that Cambyses would sue for the
+hand of thy daughter, thou sentest this man to the distant realm of
+Persia, in order to rid thyself of one who shared thy knowledge of the
+real descent of my, so-called, sister Nitetis.  He is still there, and at
+a hint from the priests will disclose to Cambyses that he has been
+deceived, and that thou hast ventured to send him, instead of thine own,
+the child of thy dethroned predecessor Hophra.  All Nebenchari's papers
+are in our possession, the most important being a letter in thine own
+hand promising his father, who assisted at Nitetis' birth, a thousand
+gold rings, as an inducement to secrecy even from the priests."
+
+"In whose hands are these papers?"  asked Amasis in a freezing tone.
+
+"In the hands of the priesthood."
+
+"Who speak by thy mouth?"
+
+"Thou hast said it."
+
+"Repeat then thy requests."
+
+"Entreat Cambyses to punish Gyges, and grant me free powers to pursue the
+escaped Phanes as it shall seem good in mine eyes."
+
+"Is that all?"
+
+"Bind thyself by a solemn oath to the priests, that the Greeks shall be
+prevented from erecting any more temples to their false gods in Egypt,
+and that the building of the temple to Apollo, in Memphis, shall be
+discontinued."
+
+"I expected these demands.  The priests have discovered a sharp weapon to
+wield against me.  Well, I am prepared to yield to the wishes of my
+enemies, with whom thou hast leagued thyself, but only on two conditions.
+First, I insist that the letter, which I confess to have written to the
+father of Nebenchari in a moment of inconsideration, be restored to me.
+If left in the hands of thy party, it could reduce me from a king to the
+contemptible slave of priestly intrigue."
+
+"That wish is reasonable.  The letter shall be returned to thee, if....."
+
+"Not another if! on the contrary, know that I consider thy petition for
+the punishment of Gyges so imprudent, that I refuse to grant it.  Now
+leave me and appear not again before mine eyes until I summon thee!
+Yesterday I gained a son, only to lose him to-day.  Rise! I demand no
+tokens of a love and humility, which thou hast never felt.  Go to the
+priests when thou needest comfort and counsel, and see if they can supply
+a father's place.  Tell Neithotep, in whose hands thou art as wax, that
+he has found the best means of forcing me to grant demands, which
+otherwise I should have refused.  Hitherto I have been willing to make
+every sacrifice for the sake of upholding Egypt's greatness; but now,
+when I see that, to attain their own ends, the priests can strive to move
+me by the threat of treachery to their own country, I feel inclined to
+regard this privileged caste as a more dangerous enemy to Egypt, than
+even the Persians.  Beware, beware!  This once, having brought danger
+upon Egypt through my own fatherly weakness, I give way to the intrigues
+of my enemies; but, for the future, I swear by the great goddess Neith,
+that men shall see and feel I am king; the entire priesthood shall be
+sacrificed rather than the smallest fraction of my royal will!  Silence
+--depart!"
+
+The prince left, but this time a longer interval was necessary, before
+the king could regain even outward cheerfulness sufficient to enable him
+to appear before his guests.
+
+Psamtik went at once to the commander of the native troops, ordered him
+to banish the Egyptian captain who had failed in executing his revengeful
+plans, to the quarries of Thebais, and to send the Ethiopians back to
+their native country.  He then hurried to the high-priest of Neith, to
+inform him how much he had been able to extort from the king,
+
+Neithotep shook his head doubtfully on hearing of Amasis' threats, and
+dismissed the prince with a few words of exhortation, a practice he never
+omitted.
+
+Psamtik returned home, his heart oppressed and his mind clouded with a
+sense of unsatisfied revenge, of a new and unhappy rupture with his
+father, a fear of foreign derision, a feeling of his subjection to the
+will of the priests, and of a gloomy fate which had hung over his head
+since his birth.
+
+His once beautiful wife was dead; and, of five blooming children, only
+one daughter remained to him, and a little son, whom he loved tenderly,
+and to whom in this sad moment he felt drawn.  For the blue eyes and
+laughing mouth of his child were the only objects that ever thawed this
+man's icy heart, and from these he now hoped for consolation and courage
+on his weary road through life.
+
+"Where is my son?"  he asked of the first attendant who crossed his path.
+
+"The king has just sent for the Prince Necho and his nurse," answered the
+man.
+
+At this moment the high-steward of the prince's household approached, and
+with a low obeisance delivered to Psamtik a sealed papyrus letter, with
+the words: "From your father, the king."
+
+In angry haste he broke the yellow wax of the seal bearing the king's
+name, and read: "I have sent for thy son, that he may not become, like
+his father, a blind instrument in the hands of the priesthood, forgetful
+of what is due to himself and his country.  His education shall be my
+care, for the impressions of childhood affect the whole of a man's later
+life.  Thou canst see him if thou wilt, but I must be acquainted with thy
+intention beforehand."
+
+     [Signet rings were worn by the Egyptians at a very early period.
+     Thus, in Genesis 41. 42., Pharaoh puts his ring on Joseph's hand.
+     In the Berlin Museum and all other collections of Egyptian
+     antiquities, numbers of these rings are to be found, many of which
+     are more than 4000 years old.]
+
+Psamtik concealed his indignation from the surrounding attendants with
+difficulty.  The mere wish of a royal father had, according to Egyptian
+custom, as much weight as the strictest command.  After reflecting a few
+moments, he called for huntsmen, dogs, bows and lances, sprang into a
+light chariot and commanded the charioteer to drive him to the western
+marshes, where, in pursuing the wild beasts of the desert, he could
+forget the weight of his own cares and wreak on innocent creatures his
+hitherto baffled vengeance.
+
+Gyges was released immediately after the conversation between his father
+and Amasis, and welcomed with acclamations of joy by his companions.  The
+Pharaoh seemed desirous of atoning for the imprisonment of his friend's
+son by doubling his favors, for on the same day Gyges received from the
+king a magnificent chariot drawn by two noble brown steeds, and was
+begged to take back with him to Persia a curiously-wrought set of
+draughts, as a remembrance of Sais.  The separate pieces were made of
+ebony and ivory, some being curiously inlaid with sentences, in
+hieroglyphics of gold and silver.
+
+Amasis laughed heartily with his friends at Gyges' artifice, allowed the
+young heroes to mix freely with his family, and behaved towards them
+himself as a jovial father towards his merry sons.  That the ancient
+Egyptian was not quite extinguished in him could only be discerned at
+meal-times, when a separate table was allotted to the Persians.  The
+religion of his ancestors would have pronounced him defiled, had he eaten
+at the same table with men of another nation.
+
+     [Herodotus II. 41. says that the Egyptians neither kissed, nor ate
+     out of the same dish with foreigners, nay, indeed, that they refused
+     to touch meat, in the cutting up of which the knife of a Greek had
+     been used.  Nor were the lesser dynasties of the Delta allowed,
+     according to the Stela of Pianchi, to cross the threshold of the
+     Pharaohs because they were unclean and ate fish.  In the book of
+     Genesis, the brethren of Joseph were not allowed to eat bread with
+     the Egyptians.]
+
+When Amasis, at last, three days after the release of Gyges, declared
+that his daughter Nitetis would be prepared to depart for Asia in the
+course of two more weeks, all the Persians regretted that their stay in
+Egypt was so near its close.
+
+Croesus had enjoyed the society of the Samian poets and sculptors.  Gyges
+had shared his father's preference for Greek art and artists.  Darius,
+who had formerly studied astronomy in Babylon,  was one evening observing
+the heavens, when, to his surprise, he was addressed by the aged
+Neithotep and invited to follow him on to the temple-roof.  Darius, ever
+eager to acquire knowledge, did not wait to be asked twice, and was to be
+found there every night in earnest attention to the old priest's lessons.
+
+On one occasion Psamtik met him thus with his master, and asked the
+latter what could have induced him to initiate a Persian in the Egyptian
+mysteries.
+
+"I am only teaching him," answered the high-priest, "what is as well
+known to every learned Chaldee in Babylon as to ourselves, and am thereby
+gaining the friendship of a man, whose stars as far outshine those of
+Cambyses as the sun outshines the moon.  This Darius, I tell thee, will
+be a mighty ruler.  I have even seen the beams of his planet shining over
+Egypt.  The truly wise man extends his gaze into the future, regards the
+objects lying on either side of his road, as well as the road itself.
+Thou canst not know in which of the many houses by which thou passest
+daily, a future benefactor may not have been reared for thee.  Leave
+nought unnoticed that lies in thy path, but above all direct thy gaze
+upward to the stars.  As the faithful dog lies in wait night after night
+for thieves, so have I watched these pilgrims of the heavens fifty years
+long--these foretellers of the fates of men, burning in ethereal space,
+and announcing, not only the return of summer and winter, but the arrival
+of good and bad fortune, honor and disgrace.  These are the unerring
+guides, who have pointed out to me in Darius a plant, that will one day
+wax into a mighty tree."
+
+To Bartja, Darius' nightly studies were especially welcome; they
+necessitated more sleep in the morning, and so rendered Bartja's stolen
+early rides to Naukratis, (on which Zopyrus, to whom he had confided his
+secret, accompanied him), easier of accomplishment.  During the
+interviews with Sappho, Zopyrus and the attendants used all their
+endeavors to kill a few snipes, jackals or jerboas.  They could then, on
+their return, maintain to their Mentor Croesus, that they had been
+pursuing fieldsports, the favorite occupation of the Persian nobility.
+
+The change which the power of a first love had wrought in the innermost
+character of Bartja, passed unnoticed by all but Tachot, the daughter of
+Amasis.  From the first day on which they had spoken together she had
+loved him, and her quick feelings told her at once that something had
+happened to estrange him from herself.  Formerly his behavior had been
+that of a brother, and he had sought her companionship; but now he
+carefully avoided every approach to intimacy, for he had guessed her
+secret and felt as if even a kind look would have been an offence against
+his loyalty to Sappho.
+
+In her distress at this change Tachot confided her sorrows to Nitetis.
+The latter bade her take courage, and the two girls built many a castle
+in the air, picturing to themselves the happiness of being always
+together at one court, and married to two royal brothers.  But as the
+days went by, the visits of the handsome prince became more and more
+rare, and when he did come, his behavior to Tachot was cold and distant.
+Yet the poor girl could not but confess that Bartja had grown handsomer
+and more manly during his stay in Egypt.  An expression of proud and yet
+gentle consciousness lay beaming in his large eyes, and a strange dreamy
+air of rest often took the place of his former gay spirits.  His cheeks
+had lost their brilliant color, but that added to his beauty, while it
+lessened hers, who, like him, became paler from day to day.
+
+Melitta, the old slave, had taken the lovers under her protection.  She
+had surprised them one morning, but the prince had given her such rich
+presents, and her darling had begged, flattered and coaxed so sweetly,
+that at last Melitta promised to keep their secret, and later, yielding
+to that natural impulse which moves all old women to favor lovers, had
+even given them every assistance in her power.  She already saw her
+"sweet child" mistress of a hemisphere, often addressed her as "my
+Princess" and "my Queen" when none were by to hear, and in many a weak
+moment imagined a brilliant future for herself in some high office at the
+Persian court.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+A kind word hath far more power than an angry one
+Abuse not those who have outwitted thee
+Cannot understand how trifles can make me so happy
+Confess I would rather provoke a lioness than a woman
+Curiosity is a woman's vice
+I cannot .  .  .  Say rather: I will not
+In this immense temple man seemed a dwarf in his own eyes
+Know how to honor beauty; and prove it by taking many wives
+Mosquito-tower with which nearly every house was provided
+Natural impulse which moves all old women to favor lovers
+Sent for a second interpreter
+Sing their libels on women (Greek Philosophers)
+Those are not my real friends who tell me I am beautiful
+Young Greek girls pass their sad childhood in close rooms
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 4.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+Three days before the time fixed for the departure of Nitetis, Rhodopis
+had invited a large number of guests to her house at Naukratis, amongst
+whom Croesus and Gyges were included.
+
+The two lovers had agreed to meet in the garden, protected by the
+darkness and the old slave, while the guests were occupied at the
+banquet.  Melitta, therefore, having convinced herself that the guests
+were thoroughly absorbed in conversation, opened the garden-gate,
+admitted the prince, brought Sappho to him, and then retired, promising
+to warn them of any intruder by clapping her hands.
+
+"I shall only have you near me three days longer," whispered Sappho.
+"Do you know, sometimes it seems to me as if I had only seen you
+yesterday for the first time; but generally I feel as if you had belonged
+to me for a whole eternity, and I had loved you all my life."
+
+"To me too it seems as if you had always been mine, for I cannot imagine
+how I could ever have existed without you.  If only the parting were over
+and we were together again!"
+
+"Oh, believe me, that will pass more quickly than you fancy.  Of course
+it will seem long to wait--very long; but when it is over, and we are
+together again, I think it will seem as if we had never been parted.  So
+it has been with me every day.  How I have longed for the morning to come
+and bring you with it!  but when it came and you were sitting by my side,
+I felt as if I had had you all the time and your hand had never left my
+head."
+
+"And yet a strange feeling of fear comes over me, when I think of our
+parting hour."
+
+"I do not fear it so very much.  I know my heart will bleed when you say
+farewell, but I am sure you will come back and will not have forgotten
+me.  Melitta wanted to enquire of the Oracle whether you would remain
+faithful; and to question an old woman who has just come from Phrygia and
+can conjure by night from drawn cords, with incense, styrax, moon-shaped
+cakes, and wild-briar leaves; but I would have none of this, for my heart
+knows better than the Pythia, the cords, or the smoke of sacrifice, that
+you will be true to me, and love me always."
+
+"And your heart speaks the truth."
+
+"But  I  have sometimes been afraid;  and have blown into a poppy-leaf,
+and struck it, as the young girls here do.  If it broke with a loud crack
+I was very happy, and cried, 'Ah! he will not forget!' but if the leaf
+tore without a sound I felt sad.  I dare say I did this a hundred times,
+but generally the leaf gave the wished-for sound, and I had much oftener
+reason to be joyful than sad."
+
+"May it be ever thus!"
+
+"It must be! but dearest, do not speak so loudly; I see Knakias going
+down to the Nile for water and he will hear us."
+
+"Well, I will speak low.  There, I will stroke back your silky hair and
+whisper in your ear 'I love you.' Could you understand?"
+
+"My grandmother says that it is easy to understand what we like to hear;
+but if you had just whispered, 'I hate you,' your eyes would have told me
+with a thousand glad voices that you loved me.  Silent eyes are much more
+eloquent than all the tongues in the world."
+
+"If I could only speak the beautiful Greek language as you do, I would.."
+
+"Oh, I am so glad you cannot, for if you could tell me all you feel, I
+think you would not look into my eyes so lovingly.  Words are nothing.
+Listen to the nightingale yonder!  She never had the gift of speech and
+yet I think I can understand her."
+
+"Will you confide her secret to me?  I should like to know what Gulgul,
+as we Persians call the nightingale, has to talk about to her mate in the
+rose-bush.  May you betray her secret?"
+
+"I will whisper it softly.  Philomel sings to her mate 'I love thee,' and
+he answers, (don't you hear him?), 'Itys, ito, itys.'"
+
+"And what does that mean, 'Ito, ito?'"
+
+"I accept it."
+
+"And Itys?"
+
+"Oh, that must be explained, to be rightly understood.  Itys is a circle;
+and a circle, I was always taught, is the symbol of eternity, having
+neither beginning nor end; so the nightingale sings, 'I accept it for
+eternity.'"
+
+"And if I say to you, 'I love thee?'"
+
+"Then I shall answer gladly, like the sweet nightingale, 'I accept it for
+to-day, to-morrow, for all eternity!'"
+
+"What a wonderful night it is! everything so still and silent; I do not
+even hear the nightingale now; she is sitting in the acacia-tree among
+the bunches of sweet blossoms.  I can see the tops of the palm-trees in
+the Nile, and the moon's reflection between them, glistening like a white
+swan."
+
+"Yes, her rays are over every living thing like silver fetters, and the
+whole world lies motionless beneath them like a captive woman.  Happy as
+I feel now, yet I could not even laugh, and still less speak in a loud
+voice."
+
+"Then whisper, or sing!"
+
+"Yes, that is the best.  Give me a lyre.  Thank you.  Now I will lean my
+head on your breast, and sing you a little, quiet, peaceful song.  It was
+written by Alkman, the Lydian, who lived in Sparta, in praise of night
+and her stillness.  You must listen though, for this low, sweet slumber-
+song must only leave the lips like a gentle wind.  Do not kiss me any
+more, please, till I have finished; then I will ask you to thank me with
+a kiss:
+
+         "Now o'er the drowsy earth still night prevails,
+          Calm sleep the mountain tops and shady vales,
+          The rugged cliffs and hollow glens;
+
+          The wild beasts slumber in their dens;
+          The cattle on the bill.  Deep in the sea
+          The countless finny race and monster brood
+          Tranquil repose.  Even the busy bee
+          Forgets her daily toil.  The silent wood
+          No more with noisy hum of insect rings;
+          And all the feathered tribe, by gentle sleep subdued,
+          Roost in the glade and hang their drooping wings."
+                              --Translation by Colonel Mure.
+
+"Now, dearest, where is my kiss?"
+
+"I had forgotten it in listening, just as before I forgot to listen in
+kissing."
+
+"You are too bad.  But tell me, is not my song lovely?"
+
+"Yes, beautiful, like everything else you sing."
+
+"And the Greek poets write?"
+
+"Yes, there you are right too, I admit."
+
+"Are there no poets in Persia?"
+
+"How can you ask such a question?  How could a nation, who despised song,
+pretend to any nobility of feeling?"
+
+"But you have some very bad customs."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"You take so many wives."
+
+"My Sappho  .  .  ."
+
+"Do not misunderstand me.  I love you so much, that I have no other wish
+than to see you happy and be allowed to be always with you.  If, by
+taking me for your only wife, you would outrage the laws of your country,
+if you would thereby expose yourself to contempt, or even blame, (for who
+could dare to despise my Bartja!) then take other wives; but let me have
+you, for myself alone, at least two, or perhaps even three years.  Will
+you promise this, Bartja?"
+
+"I will."
+
+"And then, when my time has passed, and you must yield to the customs of
+your country (for it will not be love that leads you to bring home a
+second wife), then let me be the first among your slaves.  Oh! I have
+pictured that so delightfully to myself.  When you go to war I shall set
+the tiara on your head, gird on the sword, and place the lance in your
+hand; and when you return a conqueror, I shall be the first to crown you
+with the wreath of victory.  When you ride out to the chase, mine will be
+the duty of buckling on your spurs, and when you go to the banquet, of
+adorning and anointing you, winding the garlands of poplar and roses and
+twining them around your forehead and shoulders.  If wounded, I will be
+your nurse; will never stir from your side if you are ill, and when I see
+you happy will retire, and feast my eyes from afar on your glory and
+happiness.  Then perchance you will call me to your side, and your kiss
+will say, 'I am content with my Sappho, I love her still.'"
+
+"O Sappho, wert thou only my wife now!--to-day!  The man who possesses
+such a treasure as I have in thee, will guard it carefully, but never
+care to seek for others which, by its side, can only show their miserable
+poverty.  He who has once loved thee, can never love another: I know it
+is the custom in my country to have many wives, but this is only allowed;
+there is no law to enjoin it.  My father had, it is true, a hundred
+female slaves, but only one real, true wife, our mother Kassandane."
+
+"And I will be your Kassandane."
+
+"No, my Sappho, for what you will be to me, no woman ever yet was to her
+husband."
+
+"When shall you come to fetch me?"
+
+"As soon as I can, and am permitted to do so."
+
+"Then I ought to be able to wait patiently."
+
+"And shall I ever hear from you?"
+
+"Oh, I shall write long, long letters, and charge every wind with loving
+messages for you."
+
+"Yes, do so, my darling; and as to the letters, give them to the
+messenger who will bring Nitetis tidings from Egypt from time to time."
+
+"Where shall I find him?"
+
+"I will see that a man is stationed at Naukratis, to take charge of
+everything you send to him.  All this I will settle with Melitta."
+
+"Yes, we can trust her, she is prudent and faithful; but I have another
+friend, who is dearer to me than any one else excepting you, and who
+loves me too better than any one else does, but you--"
+
+"You mean your grandmother Rhodopis."
+
+"Yes, my faithful guardian and teacher."
+
+"Ah, she is a noble woman.  Croesus considers her the most excellent
+among women, and he has studied mankind as the physicians do plants and
+herbs.  He knows that rank poison lies hidden in some, in others healing
+cordials, and often says that Rhodopis is like a rose which, while fading
+away herself, and dropping leaf after leaf, continues to shed perfume and
+quickening balsam for the sick and weak, and awaits in patience the wind
+which at last shall waft her from us."
+
+"The gods grant that she may be with us for a long time yet!  Dearest,
+will you grant me one great favor?"
+
+"It is granted before I hear it."
+
+"When you take me home, do not leave Rhodopis here.  She must come with
+us.  She is so kind and loves me so fervently, that what makes me happy
+will make her so too, and whatever is dear to me, will seem to her worthy
+of being loved."
+
+"She shall be the first among our guests."
+
+"Now I am quite happy and satisfied, for I am necessary to my
+grandmother; she could not live without her child.  I laugh her cares and
+sorrows away, and when she is singing to me, or teaching me how to guide
+the style, or strike the lute, a clearer light beams from her brow, the
+furrows ploughed by grief disappear, her gentle eyes laugh, and she seems
+to forget the evil past in the happy present."
+
+"Before we part, I will ask her whether she will follow us home."
+
+"Oh, how glad that makes me! and do you know, the first days of our
+absence from each other do not seem so very dreadful to me.  Now you are
+to be my husband, I may surely tell you everything that pains or pleases
+me, even when I dare not tell any one else, and so you must know, that,
+when you leave, we expect two little visitors; they are the children of
+the kind Phanes, whom your friend Gyges saved so nobly.  I mean to be
+like a mother to the little creatures, and when they have been good I
+shall sing them a story of a prince, a brave hero, who took a simple
+maiden to be his wife; and when I describe the prince I shall have you in
+my mind, and though my little listeners will not guess it, I shall be
+describing you from head to foot.  My prince shall be tall like you,
+shall have your golden curls and blue eyes, and your rich, royal dress
+shall adorn his noble figure.  Your generous heart, your love of truth,
+and your beautiful reverence for the gods, your courage and heroism, in
+short, every thing that I love and honor in you, I shall give to the hero
+of my tale.  How the children will listen! and when they cry, 'Oh, how we
+love the prince, how good and beautiful he must be! if we could only see
+him? then I shall press them close to my heart and kiss them as I kiss
+you now, and so they will have gained their wish, for as you are
+enthroned in my heart, you must be living within me and therefore
+near to them, and when they embrace me they will embrace you too."
+
+"And I shall go to my little sister Atossa and tell her all I have seen
+on my journey, and when I speak of the Greeks, their grace, their
+glorious works of art, and their beautiful women, I shall describe the
+golden Aphrodite in your lovely likeness.  I shall tell her of your
+virtue, your beauty and modesty, of your singing, which is so sweet that
+even the nightingale is silent in order to listen to it, of your love and
+tenderness.  But all this I shall tell her belongs to the divine Cypris,
+and when she cries, 'O Aphrodite, could I but see thee!' I too shall kiss
+my sister."
+
+"Hark, what was that?  Melitta surely clapped her hands.  Farewell, we
+must not stay!  but we shall soon see each other again."
+
+"One more kiss!"
+
+"Farewell!"
+
+Melitta had fallen asleep at her post, overcome by age and weariness.
+Her dreams were suddenly disturbed by a loud noise, and she clapped her
+hands directly to warn the lovers and call Sappho, as she perceived by
+the stars that the dawn was not far off.
+
+As the two approached the house, they discovered that the noise which had
+awakened the old slave, proceeded from the guests, who were preparing for
+departure.
+
+Urging her to make the greatest haste, Melitta pushed the frightened girl
+into the house, took her at once to her sleeping-room, and was beginning
+to undress her when Rhodopis entered.
+
+"You are still up, Sappho?"  she asked.
+
+"What is this, my child?"
+
+Melitta trembled and had a falsehood ready on her lips, but Sappho,
+throwing herself into her grandmother's arms, embraced her tenderly and
+told the whole story of her love.
+
+Rhodopis turned pale, ordered Melitta to leave the chamber, and, placing
+herself in front of her grandchild, laid both hands on her shoulders and
+said earnestly, "Look into my eyes, Sappho.  Canst thou look at me as
+happily and as innocently, as thou couldst before this Persian came to
+us?"
+
+The girl raised her eyes at once with a joyful smile; then Rhodopis
+clasped her to her bosom, kissed her and continued: "Since thou wert a
+little child my constant effort has been to train thee to a noble
+maidenhood and guard thee from the approach of love.  I had intended, in
+accordance with the customs of our country, to choose a fitting husband
+for thee shortly myself, to whose care I should have committed thee; but
+the gods willed differently.
+
+     [The Spartans married for love, but the Athenians were accustomed to
+     negotiate their marriages with the parents of the bride alone.]
+
+Eros mocks all human efforts to resist or confine him; warm AEolian blood
+runs in thy veins and demands love; the passionate heart of thy Lesbian
+forefathers beats in thy breast.
+
+     [Charaxus, the grandfather of our heroine, and brother of the
+     poetess Sappho, was, as a Lesbian, an AEolian Greek.]
+
+What has happened cannot now be undone.  Treasure these happy hours of a
+first, pure love; hold them fast in the chambers of memory, for to every
+human being there must come, sooner or later, a present so sad and
+desolate, that the beautiful past is all he has to live upon.  Remember
+this handsome prince in silence, bid him farewell when he departs to his
+native country, but beware of hoping to see him again.  The Persians are
+fickle and inconstant, lovers of everything new and foreign.  The prince
+has been fascinated by thy sweetness and grace.  He loves thee ardently
+now, but remember, he is young and handsome, courted by every one, and a
+Persian.  Give him up that he may not abandon thee!"
+
+"But how can I, grandmother?  I have sworn to be faithful to him for
+ever."
+
+"Oh, children!  Ye play with eternity as if it were but a passing moment!
+I could blame thee for thus plighting thy troth, but I rejoice that thou
+regardest the oath as binding.  I detest the blasphemous proverb: 'Zeus
+pays no heed to lovers' oaths.'  Why should an oath touching the best and
+holiest feelings of humanity be regarded by the Deity, as inferior in
+importance to asseverations respecting the trifling questions of mine and
+thine?  Keep thy promise then,--hold fast thy love, but prepare to
+renounce thy lover."
+
+"Never, grandmother! could I ever have loved Bartja, if I had not trusted
+him?  Just because he is a Persian and holds truth to be the highest
+virtue, I may venture to hope that he will remember his oath, and,
+notwithstanding those evil customs of the Asiatics, will take and keep me
+as his only wife."
+
+"But if he should forget, thy youth will be passed in mourning, and with
+an embittered heart .  .  ."
+
+"O, dear kind grandmother, pray do not speak of such dreadful things.
+If you knew him as well as I do, you would rejoice with me, and would
+tell me I was right to believe that the Nile may dry up and the Pyramids
+crumble into ruins, before my Bartja can ever deceive me!"
+
+The girl spoke these words with such a joyful, perfect confidence, and
+her eyes, though filled with tears, were so brilliant with happiness and
+warmth of feeling, that Rhodopis' face grew cheerful too.
+
+Sappho threw her arms again round her grandmother, told her every word
+that Bartja had said to her, and ended the long account by exclaiming:
+"Oh, grandmother, I am so happy, so very happy, and if you will come with
+us to Persia, I shall have nothing more to wish from the Immortals."
+
+"That will not last long," said Rhodopis.  "The gods cast envious glances
+at the happiness of mortals; they measure our portion of evil with lavish
+hands, and give us but a scanty allowance of good.  But now go to bed, my
+child, and let us pray together that all may end happily.  I met thee
+this morning as a child, I part from thee to-night a woman; and, when
+thou art a wife, may thy kiss be as joyful as the one thou givest me now.
+To-morrow I will talk the matter over with Croesus.  He must decide
+whether I dare allow thee to await the return of the Persian prince, or
+whether I must entreat thee to forget him and become the domestic wife of
+a Greek husband.  Sleep well, my darling, thy grandmother will wake and
+watch for thee."
+
+Sappho's happy fancies soon cradled her to sleep; but Rhodopis remained
+awake watching the day dawn, and the sun rise, her mind occupied with
+thoughts which brought smiles and frowns across her countenance in rapid
+succession.
+
+The next morning she sent to Croesus, begging him to grant her an hour's
+interview, acquainted him with every particular she had heard from
+Sappho, and concluded her tale with these words: "I know not what demands
+may be made on the consort of a Persian king, but I can truly say that I
+believe Sappho to be worthy of the first monarch of the world.  Her
+father was free and of noble birth, and I have heard that, by Persian
+law, the descent of a child is determined by the rank of the father only.
+In Egypt, too, the descendants of a female slave enjoy the same rights as
+those of a princess, if they owe their existence to the same father."
+
+"I have listened to you in silence," answered Croesus, "and must confess,
+that, like yourself, I do not know in this moment whether to be glad or
+sorry for this attachment.  Cambyses and Kassandane (the king's and
+Bartja's mother) wished to see the prince married before we left Persia,
+for the king has no children, and should he remain childless, the only
+hope for the family of Cyrus rests on Bartja, as the great founder of the
+Persian empire left but two sons,--Cambyses, and him who is now the
+suitor of your granddaughter.  The latter is the hope and pride of the
+entire Persian nation, high and low; the darling of the people; generous,
+and noble, handsome, virtuous, and worthy of their love.  It is indeed
+expected that the princes shall marry in their own family, the
+Achaemenidae; but the Persians have an unbounded predilection for
+everything foreign.  Enchanted with the beauty of your granddaughter, and
+rendered indulgent by their partiality for Bartja, they would easily
+forgive this breach of an ancient custom.  Indeed, if the king gives his
+approval, no objection on the part of his subjects can be entertained.
+The history of Iran too offers a sufficient number of examples, in which
+even slaves became the mothers of kings.  The queen mother, whose
+position, in the eyes of the people, is nearly as high as that of the
+monarch himself, will do nothing to thwart the happiness of her youngest
+and favorite son.  When she sees that he will not give up Sappho,--that
+his smiling face, in which she adores the image of her great husband
+Cyrus, becomes clouded, I verily believe she would be ready to sanction
+his taking even a Scythian woman to wife, if it could restore him to
+cheerfulness.  Neither will Cambyses himself refuse his consent if his
+mother press the point at a right moment."
+
+"In that case every difficulty is set aside," cried Rhodopis joyfully.
+
+"It is not the marriage itself, but the time that must follow, which
+causes me uneasiness," answered Croesus.
+
+"Do you think then that Bartja .  .  . ?"
+
+"From him I fear nothing.  He has a pure heart, and has been so long
+proof against love, that now he has once yielded, he will love long and
+ardently."
+
+"What then do you fear?"
+
+"You must remember that, though the charming wife of their favorite will
+be warmly received by all his friends of his own sex, there are thousands
+of idle women in the harems of the Persian nobles, who will endeavor, by
+every artifice and intrigue in their power, to injure the newly-risen
+star; and whose greatest joy it will be to ruin such an inexperienced
+child and make her unhappy."
+
+"You have a very bad opinion of the Persian women."
+
+"They are but women, and will naturally envy her, who has gained the
+husband they all desired either for themselves or for their daughters.
+In their monotonous life, devoid of occupation, envy easily becomes
+hatred, and the gratification of these evil passions is the only
+compensation which the poor creatures can obtain for the total absence of
+love and loss of freedom.  I repeat, the more beautiful Sappho is, the
+more malicious they will feel towards her, and, even if Bartja should
+love her so fervently as not to take a second wife for two or three
+years, she will still have such heavy hours to encounter, that I really
+do not know whether I dare congratulate you on her apparently brilliant
+future."
+
+"That is quite my own feeling.  A simple Greek would be more welcome to
+me than this son of a mighty monarch."
+
+In this moment Knakias brought Bartja into the room.  He went to Rhodopis
+at once, besought her not to refuse him the hand of her granddaughter,
+spoke of his ardent love, and assured her that his happiness would be
+doubled, if she would consent to accompany them to Persia.  Then turning
+to Croesus, he seized his hand and entreated forgiveness for having so
+long concealed his great happiness from one who had been like a father to
+him, at the same time begging him to second his suit with Rhodopis.
+
+The old man listened to the youth's passionate language with a smile, and
+said: "Ah, Bartja, how often have I warned thee against love!  It is a
+scorching fire."
+
+"But its flame is bright and beautiful."
+
+"It causes pain."
+
+"But such pain is sweet."
+
+"It leads the mind astray."
+
+"But it strengthens the heart."
+
+"Oh, this love!"  cried Rhodopis.  "Inspired by Eros, the boy speaks as
+if he had been all his life studying under an Attic orator!"
+
+"And yet," answered Croesus, "these lovers are the most unteachable of
+pupils.  Convince them as clearly as you will, that their passion is only
+another word for poison, fire, folly, death, they still cry, 'Tis sweet,'
+and will not be hindered in their course."
+
+As he was speaking Sappho came in.  A white festal robe, with wide
+sleeves, and borders of purple embroidery, fell in graceful folds round
+her delicate figure, and was confined at the waist by a golden girdle.
+Her hair was adorned with fresh roses, and on her bosom lay her lover's
+first gift, the flashing diamond star.
+
+She came up modestly and gracefully, and made a low obeisance to the aged
+Croesus.  His eyes rested long on the maidenly and lovely countenance,
+and the longer he gazed the kindlier became his gaze.  For a moment he
+seemed to grow young again in the visions conjured up by memory, and
+involuntarily he went up to the young girl, kissed her affectionately on
+the forehead, and, taking her by the hand, led her to Bartja with the
+words: "Take her, thy wife she must be, if the entire race of the
+Achaemenidae were to conspire against us!"
+
+"Have I no voice in the matter?"  said Rhodopis, smiling through her
+tears.
+
+On hearing these words, Bartja and Sappho each took one of her hands, and
+gazed entreatingly into her face.  She rose to her full stature, and like
+a prophetess exclaimed: "Eros, who brought you to each other, Zeus and
+Apollo defend and protect you.  I see you now like two fair roses on one
+stem, loving and happy in the spring of life.  What summer, autumn and
+winter may have in store for you, lies hidden with the gods.  May the
+shades of thy departed parents, Sappho, smile approvingly when these
+tidings of their child shall reach them in the nether world."
+
+               .................................
+
+Three days later a densely packed crowd was once more surging round the
+Sais landing-place.  This time they had assembled to bid a last farewell
+to their king's daughter, and in this hour the people gave clear tokens
+that, in spite of all the efforts of the priestly caste, their hearts
+remained loyal to their monarch and his house.  For when Amasis and
+Ladice embraced Nitetis for the last time with tears--when Tachot, in
+presence of all the inhabitants of Sais, following her sister down the
+broad flight of steps that led to the river, threw her arms round her
+neck once more and burst into sobs--when at last the wind filled the
+sails of the royal boat and bore the princess, destined to be the great
+king's bride, from their sight, few eyes among that vast crowd remained
+dry.
+
+The priests alone looked on at this sad scene with unmoved gravity and
+coldness; but when the south wind at last bore away the strangers who had
+robbed them of their princess, many a curse and execration followed from
+the Egyptians on the shore; Tachot alone stood weeping there and waving
+her veil to them.  For whom were these tears?  for the play-fellow of her
+youth, or for the handsome, beloved prince?
+
+Amasis embraced his wife and daughter in the eyes of all his people; and
+held up his little grandson, Prince Necho, to their gaze, the sight
+eliciting cries of joy on all sides.  But Psamtik, the child's own
+father, stood by the while, tearless and motionless.  The king appeared
+not to observe him, until Neithotep approached, and leading him to his
+father, joined their hands and called down the blessing of the gods upon
+the royal house.
+
+At this the Egyptians fell on their knees with uplifted hands.  Amasis
+clasped his son to his heart, and when the high-priest had concluded his
+prayer, the following colloquy between the latter and Amasis took place
+in low tones:
+
+"Let peace be between us for our own and Egypt's sake!"
+
+"Hast thou received Nebenchari's letter?"
+
+"A Samian pirate-vessel is in pursuit of Phanes' trireme."
+
+"Behold the child of thy predecessor Hophra, the rightful heiress of the
+Egyptian throne, departing unhindered to a distant land!"
+
+"The works of the Greek temple now building in Memphis shall be
+discontinued."
+
+"May Isis grant us peace, and may prosperity and happiness increase in
+our land!"
+
+                    ............................
+
+The Greek colonists in Naukratis had prepared a feast to celebrate the
+departure of their protector's daughter.
+
+Numerous animals had been slaughtered in sacrifice on the altars of the
+Greek divinities, and the Nile-boats were greeted with a loud cry of
+"Ailinos" on their arrival in the harbor.
+
+A bridal wreath, composed of a hoop of gold wound round with scented
+violets, was presented to Nitetis by a troop of young girls in holiday
+dresses, the act of presentation being performed by Sappho, as the most
+beautiful among the maidens of Naukratis.
+
+On accepting the gift Nitetis kissed her forehead in token of gratitude.
+The triremes were already waiting; she went on board, the rowers took
+their oars and began the Keleusma.
+
+     [The measure of the Keleusma was generally given by a flute-player,
+     the Trieraules.  AEschylus, Persians 403.  Laert. Diog. IV. 22.  In
+     the Frogs of Aristophanes the inhabitants of the marshes are made to
+     sing the Keleusma, v. 205.  The melody, to the measure of which the
+     Greek boatmen usually timed their strokes.]
+
+Ailinos rang across the water from a thousand voices.  Bartja stood on
+the deck, and waved a last loving farewell to his betrothed; while Sappho
+prayed in silence to Aphrodite Euploia, the protectress of those who go
+down to the sea in ships.  A tear rolled down her cheek, but around her
+lips played a smile of love and hope, though her old slave Melitta, who
+accompanied her to carry her parasol, was weeping as if her heart would
+break.  On seeing, however, a few leaves fall from her darling's wreath,
+she forgot her tears for a moment and whispered softly: "Yes, dear heart,
+it is easy to see that you are in love; when the leaves fall from a
+maiden's wreath, 'tis a sure sign that her heart has been touched by
+Eros.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+Seven weeks after Nitetis had quitted her native country, a long train of
+equipages and horsemen was to be seen on the king's highway from the west
+to Babylon, moving steadily towards that gigantic city, whose towers
+might already be descried in the far distance.
+
+     [The great road called the "king's road," of which we shall have
+     more to say, was made by Cyrus and carefully kept up by Darius.]
+
+The principal object in this caravan was a richly-gilded, four-wheeled
+carriage, closed in at the sides by curtains, and above by a roof
+supported on wooden pillars.  In this vehicle, called the Harmamaxa,
+resting on rich cushions of gold brocade, sat our Egyptian Princess.
+
+     [Harmamaxa--An Asiatic travelling carriage.  The first mention of
+     these is in Xenophon's Anabasis, where we find a queen travelling in
+     such a vehicle.  They were later adopted by the Romans and used for
+     the same object.]
+
+On either side rode her escort, viz.: the Persian princes and nobles whom
+we have already learnt to know during their visit to Egypt, Croesus and
+his son.
+
+Behind these, a long train, consisting of fifty vehicles of different
+kinds and six hundred beasts of burden, stretched away into the distance,
+and the royal carriage was preceded by a troop of splendidly-mounted
+Persian cavalry.
+
+The high-road followed the course of the Euphrates, passing through
+luxuriant fields of wheat, barley and sesame yielding fruit two, and
+sometimes even three, hundred-fold.  Slender date-palms covered with
+golden fruit were scattered in every direction over the fields, which
+were thoroughly irrigated by means of canals and ditches.
+
+It was winter, but the sun shone warm and bright from a cloudless sky.
+The mighty river swarmed with craft of all sizes, either transporting the
+products of Upper Armenia to the plains of Mesopotamia, or the wares of
+Greece and Asia Minor from Thapsakus to Babylon.
+
+     [Thapsakus--An important commercial town on the Euphrates, and the
+     point of observation from which Eratosthenes took his measurements
+     of the earth.]
+
+Pumps and water-wheels poured refreshing streams over the thirsty land,
+and pretty villages ornamented the shores of the river.  Indeed every
+object gave evidence that our caravan was approaching the metropolis of
+a carefully governed and civilized state.
+
+Nitetis and her retinue now halted at a long brick house, roofed with
+asphalte, and surrounded by a grove of plane-trees.
+
+     [Asphalte--Nearly all authorities, ancient as well as modern, report
+     that bitumen, which is still plentifully found in the neighborhood
+     of Babylon, was used by the Babylonians as mortar.  See, besides the
+     accounts of ancient writers, W. Vaux, 'Nineveh and Persepolis'.
+     Burnt bitumen was used by Assyrians for cement in building.]
+
+Here Croesus was lifted from his horse, and approaching the carriage,
+exclaimed: "Here we are at length at the last station!  That high tower
+which you see on the horizon is the celebrated temple of Bel, next to the
+Pyramids, one of the most gigantic works ever constructed by human hands.
+Before sunset we shall have reached the brazen gates of Babylon.  And now
+I would ask you to alight, and let me send your maidens into the house;
+for here you must put on Persian apparel, to appear well-pleasing in the
+eyes of Cambyses.  In a few hours you will stand before your future
+husband.  But you are pale!  Permit your maidens to adorn your cheeks
+with a color that shall look like the excitement of joy.  A first
+impression is often a final one, and this is especially true with regard
+to Cambyses.  If, which I doubt not, you are pleasing in his eyes at
+first, then you have won his love for ever; but if you should displease
+him to-day he will never look kindly on you again, for he is rough and
+harsh.  But take courage, my daughter, and above all, do not forget the
+advice I have given you."  Nitetis dried her tears as she answered: "How
+can I ever thank you, O Croesus, my second father, my protector and
+adviser, for all your goodness?  Oh, forsake me not in the days to come!
+and if the path of my life should lead through grief and care, be near to
+help and guide me as you did on the mountain-passes of this long and
+dangerous journey.  A thousand times I thank thee, O my father!"
+
+And, as she said these words, the young girl threw her arms around the
+old man's neck and kissed him tenderly.
+
+On entering the court-yard, a tall stout man, followed by a train of
+Asiatic serving-maidens, came forward to meet them.  This was Boges, the
+chief of the eunuchs, an important official at the Persian court.  His
+beardless face wore a smile of fulsome sweetness; in his ears hung costly
+jewelled pendents; his neck, arms, legs and his effeminately long
+garments glittered all over with gold chains and rings, and his crisp,
+stiff curls, bound round by a purple fillet, streamed with powerful and
+penetrating perfumes.
+
+Making a low and reverential obeisance before Nitetis, and holding, the
+while, his fat hands overloaded with rings before his mouth, he thus
+addressed her: "Cambyses, lord of the world, hath sent me to thee, O
+Queen, that I may refresh thy heart with the dew of his salutations.  He
+sendeth thee likewise by me, even by me the lowest of his servants,
+Persian raiment, that thou, as befitteth the consort of the mightiest of
+all rulers, mayest approach the gates of the Achaemenidae in Median
+garments.  These women whom thou seest are thy handmaidens, and only
+await thy bidding to transform thee from an Egyptian jewel into a Persian
+pearl."
+
+The master of the caravansary then appeared, bearing, in token of
+welcome, a basket of fruits arranged with great taste.
+
+Nitetis returned her thanks to both these men in kind and friendly words;
+then entering the house laid aside the dress and ornaments of her native
+land, weeping as she did so, allowed the strangers to unloose the plait
+of hair which hung down at the left side of her head, and was the
+distinctive mark of an Egyptian princess, and to array her in Median
+garments.
+
+     [In almost all the Egyptian pictures, the daughters and sons of the
+     Pharaohs are represented with these locks of hair, plaited and
+     reaching from the forehead to the neck.  Rosellini, Mon. stor. II.
+     123.  Lepsius, Denkmaler.  The daughter of Rameses II. is drawn
+     thus, and we have examples of the same in many other pictures.]
+
+In the meantime, a repast had been commanded by the princes who
+accompanied her.  Eager and agile attendants rushed to the baggage-
+waggons, fetching thence, in a few moments, seats, tables, and golden
+utensils of all kinds.  The cooks vied with them and with each other, and
+as if by magic, in a short space of time a richly-adorned banquet for the
+hungry guests appeared, at which even the flowers were not wanting.
+
+During the entire journey our travellers had lived in a similar luxury,
+as their beasts of burden carried every imaginable convenience, from
+tents of water-proof materials inwrought with gold, down to silver foot-
+stools; and in the vehicles which composed their train were not only
+bakers, cooks, cup-bearers and carvers, but perfumers, hair-dressers and
+weavers of garlands.  Beside these conveniences, a well-fitted up
+caravansary, or inn, was to be found about every eighteen miles along the
+whole route, where disabled horses could be replaced, the plantations
+around which afforded a refreshing shelter from the noonday heat, or
+their hearths a refuge from the snow and cold on the mountain-passes.
+
+The kingdom of Persia was indebted for these inns (similar to the post-
+stations of modern days) to Cyrus, who had endeavored to connect the
+widely-distant provinces of his immense dominions by a system of well-
+kept roads, and a regular postal service.  At each of these stations the
+horseman carrying the letter-bag was relieved by a fresh man on a fresh
+steed, to whom the letters were transferred, and who, in his turn, darted
+off like the wind, to be again replaced at a similar distance by another
+rider.  These couriers, called Angari, were considered the swiftest
+horsemen in the world.
+
+     [Herodotus V. 14. 49-52.  Persian milestones are still to be found
+     among the ruins of the old king's road, which led from Nineveh to
+     Ecbatana.  The Kurds call them keli-Shin (blue pillars).]
+
+Just as the banqueters, amongst whom Boges had taken his seat, were
+rising from table, the door opened, and a vision appeared, which drew
+prolonged exclamation of surprise from all the Persians present.
+Nitetis, clad in the glorious apparel of a Median princess, proud in the
+consciousness of her triumphant beauty, and yet blushing like a young
+girl at the wondering admiration of her friends, stood before them.
+
+The attendants involuntarily fell on their faces before her, according to
+the custom of the Asiatics, and the noble Achaemenidae bowed low and
+reverentially; for it seemed as if Nitetis has laid aside all her former
+bashfulness and timidity with her simple Egyptian dress, and with the
+splendid silken garments of a Persian princess, flashing as they were
+with gold and jewels, had clothed herself in the majesty of a queen.
+
+The deep reverence paid by all present seemed agreeable to her, and
+thanking her admiring friends by a gracious wave of the hand, she turned
+to the chief of the eunuchs and said in a kind tone but mingled with a
+touch of pride; "Thou hast performed thy mission well; I am content with
+the raiment and the slaves that thou hast provided and shall commend thy
+circumspection to the king, my husband.  Receive this gold chain in the
+meanwhile, as a token of my gratitude."
+
+The eunuch kissed the hem of her garment, and accepted the gift in
+silence.  This man, hitherto omnipotent in his office, had never before
+encountered such pride in any of the women committed to his charge.  Up
+to the present time all Cambyses' wives had been Asiatics, and, well
+aware of the unlimited power of the chief of the eunuchs, had used every
+means within their reach to secure his favor by flattery and submission.
+
+Boges now made a second obeisance before Nitetis, of which, however, she
+took no notice, and turning to Croesus said: "Neither words nor  gifts
+could ever suffice to express my gratitude to you, kindest of friends,
+for, if my future life at the court of Persia prove, I will not venture
+to say a happy, but even a peaceful one, it is to you alone that I shall
+owe it.  Still, take this ring.  It has never left my finger since I
+quitted Egypt, and it has a significance far beyond its outward worth.
+Pythagoras, the noblest of the Greeks, gave it to my mother, when he was
+tarrying in Egypt to learn the wisdom of our priests, and it was her
+parting gift to me.  The number seven is engraved upon the simple stone.
+This indivisible number represents perfect health, both to soul and body
+for health is likewise one and indivisible.
+
+     [Seven, the "motherless" number, which has no factor below ten.]
+
+The sickness of one member is the sickness of all; one evil thought,
+allowed to take up its abode within our heart, destroys the entire
+harmony of the soul.  When you see this seven therefore, let it recall my
+heart's wish that you may ever enjoy undisturbed bodily health, and long
+retain that loving gentleness which has made you the most virtuous, and
+therefore the healthiest of men.  No thanks, my father, for even if I
+could restore to Croesus all the treasures that he once possessed, I
+should still retrain his debtor.  Gyges, to you I give this Lydian lyre;
+let its tones recall the giver to your memory.  For you, Zopyrus, I have
+a golden chain; I have witnessed that you are the most faithful of
+friends; and we Egyptians are accustomed to place cords and bands in the
+hands of our lovely Hathor, the goddess of love and friendship, as
+symbols of her captivating and enchaining attributes.  As Darius has
+studied the wisdom of Egypt and the signs of the starry heavens, I beg
+him to take this circlet of gold, on which a skilful hand has traced the
+signs of the Zodiac.
+
+     [Diodorus (I. 49.) tells, that in the tomb of Osymandyas (palace of
+     Rameses II. at Thebes) there lay a circle of gold, one ell thick and
+     365 ells in circumference, containing a complete astronomical
+     calendar.  The circle of the zodiac from Dendera, which is now in
+     Paris,--an astronomical ceiling painting, which was believed at the
+     time of its discovery to be of great age, is not nearly so ancient
+     as was supposed, dating only from the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.
+     Letronne was the first to estimate it correctly.  See Lepsius,
+     Chron.  p.63. and Lauth, 'les zodiaques de Dendera'.  Munich 1865.]
+
+And lastly, to my dear brother-in-law Bartja I commit the most precious
+jewel in my possession--this amulet of blue stone.  My sister Tachot hung
+it round my neck as I kissed her on the last night before we parted; she
+told me it could bring to its wearer the sweet bliss of love.  And then,
+Bartja, she wept!  I do not know of whom she was thinking in that moment,
+but I hope I am acting according to her wishes in giving you her precious
+jewel.  Take it as a gift from Tachot, and sometimes call to mind our
+games in the Sais gardens."
+
+Thus far she had been speaking Greek, but now, addressing the attendants
+who remained standing in an attitude of deep reverence, she began in
+broken Persian:  "Accept my thanks also.  In Babylon you shall receive a
+thousand gold staters."  Then turning to Boges, she added: "Let this sum
+be distributed among the attendants at latest by the day after to-morrow.
+Take me to my carriage, Croesus."
+
+The old king hastened to do her bidding, and as he was leading her
+thither she pressed his arm and whispered gently, "Are you pleased with
+me, my father?"
+
+"I tell you, girl," the old man answered, "that no one but the king's
+mother can ever be your equal at this court, for a true and queenly pride
+reigns on your brow, and you have the power of using small means to
+effect great ends.  Believe me, the smallest gift, chosen and bestowed as
+you can choose and bestow, gives more pleasure to a noble mind than heaps
+of treasure merely cast down at his feet.  The Persians are accustomed to
+present and receive costly gifts.  They understand already how to enrich
+their friends, but you can teach them to impart a joy with every gift.
+How beautiful you are to-day!  Are your cushions to your mind, or would
+you like a higher seat?  But what is that?  There are clouds of dust in
+the direction of the city.  Cambyses is surely coming to meet you!
+Courage, my daughter.  Above all try to meet his gaze and respond to it.
+Very few can bear the lightning glance of those eyes, but, if you can
+return it freely and fearlessly, you have conquered.  Fear nothing, my
+child, and may Aphrodite adorn you with her most glorious beauty!  My
+friends, we must start, I think the king himself is coming."  Nitetis sat
+erect in her splendid, gilded carriage; her hands were pressed on her
+throbbing heart.  The clouds of dust came nearer and nearer, her eye
+caught the flash of weapons like lightning across a stormy sky.  The
+clouds parted, she could see single figures for a moment, but soon lost
+them as the road wound behind some thickets and shrubs.  Suddenly the
+troop of horsemen appeared in full gallop only a hundred paces before
+her, and distinctly visible.
+
+Her first impression was of a motley mass of steeds and men, glittering
+in purple, gold, silver and jewels.  It consisted in reality of a troop
+of more than two hundred horsemen mounted on pure white Nicaean horses,
+whose bridles and saddle-cloths were covered with bells and bosses,
+feathers, fringes, and embroidery.  Their leader rode a powerful coal-
+black charger, which even the strong will and hand of his rider could not
+always curb, though in the end his enormous strength proved him the man
+to tame even this fiery animal.  This rider, beneath whose weight the
+powerful steed trembled and panted, wore a vesture of scarlet and white,
+thickly embroidered with eagles and falcons in silver.
+
+     [Curtius III. 3.  Xenoph.  Cyrap, VIII. 3. 7.  Aeschylus, Persians
+     835. 836.  The king's dress and ornaments were worth 12,000 talents,
+     or L2,250,000 (estimate of 1880) according to Plutarch, Artaxerxes
+     24.]
+
+The lower part of his dress was purple, and his boots of yellow leather.
+He wore a golden girdle; in this hung a short dagger-like sword, the hilt
+and scabbard of which were thickly studded with jewels.  The remaining
+ornaments of his dress resembled those we have described as worn by
+Bartja, and the blue and white fillet of the Achaemenidae was bound
+around the tiara, which surmounted a mass of thick curls, black as ebony.
+The lower part of his face was concealed by an immense beard.  His
+features were pale and immovable, but the eyes, (more intensely black, if
+possible, than either hair or beard), glowed with a fire that was rather
+scorching than warming.  A deep, fiery-red scar, given by the sword of a
+Massagetan warrior, crossed his high forehead, arched nose and thin upper
+lip.  His whole demeanor expressed great power and unbounded pride.
+
+Nitetis' gaze was at once riveted by this man.  She had never seen any
+one like him before, and he exercised a strange fascination over her.
+The expression of indomitable pride, worn by his features, seemed to her
+to represent a manly nature which the whole world, but she herself above
+all others, was created to serve.  She felt afraid, and yet her true
+woman's heart longed to lean upon his strength as the vine upon the elm.
+She could not be quite sure whether she had thus pictured to herself the
+father of all evil, the fearful Seth, or the great god Ammon, the giver
+of light.
+
+The deepest pallor and the brightest color flitted by turns across her
+lovely face, like the light and shadow when clouds pass swiftly over a
+sunny noonday sky.  She had quite forgotten the advice of her fatherly
+old friend, and yet, when Cambyses brought his unruly, chafing steed to a
+stand by the side of her carriage, she gazed breathless into the fiery
+eyes of this man and felt at once that he was the king, though no one had
+told her so.
+
+The stern face of this ruler of half the known world relaxed, as Nitetis,
+moved by an unaccountable impulse, continued to bear his piercing gaze.
+At last he waved his hand to her in token of welcome, and then rode on to
+her escort, who had alighted from their horses and were awaiting him,
+some having cast themselves down in the dust, and others, after the
+Persian manner, standing in an attitude of deep reverence, their hands
+concealed in the wide sleeves of their robes.
+
+He sprang from his horse, an example which was followed at once by his
+entire suite.  The attendants, with the speed of thought, spread a rich
+purple carpet on the highway, lest the foot of the king should come in
+contact with the dust of the earth, and then Cambyses proceeded to salute
+his friends and relations by offering them his mouth to kiss.
+
+He shook Croesus by the right hand, commanding him to remount and
+accompany him to the carriage, as interpreter between himself and
+Nitetis.
+
+In an instant his highest office-bearers were at hand to lift the king
+once more on to his horse, and at a single nod from their lord, the train
+was again in motion.
+
+Cambyses and Croesus rode by the side of the carriage.
+
+"She is beautiful, and pleases me well," began the king.  "Interpret
+faithfully all her answers, for I understand only the Persian, Assyrian
+and Median tongues."
+
+Nitetis caught and understood these words.  A feeling of intense joy
+stole into her heart, and before Croesus could answer, she began softly
+in broken Persian and blushing deeply: "Blessed be the gods, who have
+caused me to find favor in thine eyes.  I am not ignorant of the speech
+of my lord, for the noble Croesus has instructed me in the Persian
+language during our long journey.  Forgive, if my sentences be broken and
+imperfect; the time was short, and my capacity only that of a poor and
+simple maiden."
+
+     [Diodorus tells us that Themistocles learnt the Persian language
+     during the journey to Susa.  We are not, therefore, requiring an
+     impossibility of Nitetis.]
+
+A smile passed over the usually serious mouth of Cambyses.  His vanity
+was flattered by Nitetis' desire to win his approbation, and, accustomed
+as he was to see women grow up in idleness and ignorance, thinking of
+nothing but finery and intrigue, her persevering industry seemed to him
+both wonderful and praise worthy.  So he answered with evident
+satisfaction: "I rejoice that we can speak without an interpreter.
+Persevere in learning the beautiful language of my forefathers.  Croesus,
+who sits at my table, shall still remain your instructor."
+
+"Your command confers happiness!"  exclaimed the old man.  "No more eager
+or thankful pupil could be found, than the daughter of Amasis."
+
+"She justifies the ancient report of the wisdom of Egypt," answered the
+king, "and I can believe that she will quickly understand and receive
+into her soul the religious instructions of our Magi."
+
+Nitetis dropped her earnest gaze.  Her fears were being realized.  She
+would be compelled to serve strange gods.
+
+But her emotion passed unnoticed by Cambyses, who went on speaking: "My
+mother Kassandane will tell you the duties expected from my wives.  To-
+morrow I myself will lead you to her.  The words, which you innocently
+chanced to hear, I now repeat; you please me well.  Do nothing to
+alienate my affection.  We will try to make our country agreeable, and,
+as your friend, I counsel you to treat Boges whom I sent as my
+forerunner, in a kind and friendly manner.  As head over the house
+of the women, you will have to conform to his will in many things."
+
+"Though he be head over the house of the women," answered Nitetis,
+"surely your wife is bound to obey no other earthly will than yours.
+Your slightest look shall be for me a command; but remember that I am a
+king's daughter, that in my native land the weaker and the stronger sex
+have equal rights, and that the same pride reigns in my breast, which I
+see kindling in your eyes, my lord and king!  My obedience to you, my
+husband and my ruler, shall be that of a slave, but I can never stoop to
+sue for the favor, or obey the orders of a venal servant, the most
+unmanly of his kind!"
+
+Cambyses' wonder and satisfaction increased.  He had never heard any
+woman speak in this way before, except his mother; the clever way in
+which Nitetis acknowledged, and laid stress on, his right to command her
+every act, was very flattering to his self-love, and her pride found an
+echo in his own haughty disposition.  He nodded approvingly and answered:
+"You have spoken well.  A separate dwelling shall be appointed you.
+I, and no one else, will prescribe your rules of life and conduct.  This
+day the pleasant palace on the hanging-gardens shall be prepared for your
+reception."
+
+"A thousand, thousand thanks," cried Nitetis.  "You little know the
+blessing you are bestowing in this permission.  Again and again I have
+begged your brother Bartja to repeat the story of these gardens, and the
+love of the king who raised that verdant and blooming hill, pleased us
+better than all the other glories of your vast domains."
+
+"To-morrow," answered the king, "you can enter your new abode.  But tell
+me now how my messengers pleased you and your countrymen."
+
+"How can you ask?  Who could know the noble Croesus without loving him?
+Who could fail to admire the beauty of the young heroes, your friends?
+They have all become dear to us, but your handsome brother Bartja
+especially, won all hearts.  The Egyptians have no love for strangers,
+and yet the gaping crowd would burst into a murmur of admiration, when
+his beautiful face appeared among them."
+
+At these words the king's brow darkened; he struck his horse so sharply
+that the creature reared, and then turning it quickly round he gallopped
+to the front and soon reached the walls of Babylon.
+
+                    ...........................
+
+Though Nitetis had been brought up among the huge temples and palaces of
+Egypt, she was still astonished at the size and grandeur of this gigantic
+city.
+
+Its walls seemed impregnable; they measured more than seventy-five feet
+--[Fifty ells.  The Greek ell is equal to one foot and a half English.]--
+in height and their breadth was so great, that two chariots could
+conveniently drive abreast upon them.  These mighty defences were crowned
+and strengthened by two hundred and fifty high towers, and even these
+would have been insufficient, if Babylon had not been protected on one
+side by impassable morasses.  The gigantic city lay on both
+shores of the Euphrates.  It was more than forty miles in circumference,
+and its walls enclosed buildings surpassing in size and grandeur even the
+Pyramids and the temples of Thebes.
+
+     [These numbers and measurements are taken partly from Herodotus,
+     partly from Diodorus, Strabo and Arrian.  And even the ruins of this
+     giant city, writes Lavard, are such as to allow a very fair
+     conclusion of its enormous size.  Aristotle (Polit. III.  I.) says
+     Babylon's dimensions were not those of a city, but of a nation.]
+
+The mighty gates of brass, through which the royal train entered the
+city, had opened wide to receive this noble company.  This entrance was
+defended on each side by a strong tower, and before each of these towers
+lay, as warder, a gigantic winged bull carved in stone, with a human
+head, bearded and solemn.  Nitetis gazed at these gates in astonishment,
+and then a joyful smile lighted up her face, as she looked up the long
+broad street so brightly and beautifully decorated to welcome her.
+
+The moment they beheld the king and the gilded carriage, the multitude
+burst into loud shouts of joy, but when Bartja, the people's darling,
+came in sight, the shouts rose to thunder-peals and shrieks of delight,
+which seemed as if they would never end.  It was long since the populace
+had seen Cambyses, for in accordance with Median customs the king seldom
+appeared in public.  Like the Deity, he was to govern invisibly, and his
+occasional appearance before the nation to be looked upon as a festival
+and occasion of rejoicing.  Thus all Babylon had come out to-day to look
+upon their awful ruler and to welcome their favorite Bartja on his
+return.  The windows were crowded with eager, curious women, who threw
+flowers before the approaching train, or poured sweet perfumes from above
+as they passed by.  The pavement was thickly strewn with myrtle and palm
+branches, trees of different kinds had been placed before the house-
+doors, carpets and gay cloths hung from the windows, garlands of flowers
+were wreathed from house to house, fragrant odors of incense and sandal-
+wood perfumed the air, and the way was lined with thousands of gaping
+Babylonians dressed in white linen shirts, gaily-colored woollen
+petticoats and short cloaks, and carrying long staves headed with
+pomegranates, birds, or roses, of gold or silver.
+
+The streets through which the procession moved were broad and straight,
+the houses on either side, built of brick, tall and handsome.  Towering
+above every thing else, and visible from all points, rose the gigantic
+temple of Bel.  Its colossal staircase, like a huge serpent, wound round
+and round the ever-diminishing series of stories composing the tower,
+until it reached the summit crowned by the sanctuary itself.
+
+     [This temple of Bel, which many consider may have been the tower of
+     Babel of Genesis XI., is mentioned by Herodotus I.  181. 182. 183.
+     Diodorus II. 8. 9.  (Ktesias), Strabo 738 and many other ancient
+     writers.  The people living in its neighborhood now call the ruins
+     Birs Nimrod, the castle of Nimrod.  In the text we have
+     reconstructed it as far as possible from the accounts of classical
+     writers.  The first story, which is still standing, in the midst of
+     a heap of ruins, is 260 feet high.  The walls surrounding the tower
+     are said to be still clearly recognizable, and were 4000 feet long
+     and 3000 broad. ]
+
+The procession approached the royal palace.  This corresponded in its
+enormous size to the rest of the vast city.  The walls surrounding it
+were covered with gaily-colored and glazed representations of strange
+figures made up of human beings, birds, quadrupeds and fishes; hunting-
+scenes, battles and solemn processions.  By the side of the river towards
+the north, rose the hanging-gardens, and the smaller palace lay toward
+the east on the other bank of the Euphrates, connected with the larger
+one by the wondrous erection, a firm bridge of stone.
+
+Our train passed on through the brazen gates of three of the walls
+surrounding the palace, and then halted.  Nitetis was lifted from her
+carriage by bearers; she was at last in her new home, and soon after in
+the apartments of the women's house assigned to her temporary use.
+
+Cambyses, Bartja and their friends already known to us, were still
+standing in the gaily-carpeted court of the palace, surrounded by at
+least a hundred splendid dignitaries in magnificent dresses, when
+suddenly a sound of loud female voices was heard, and a lovely Persian
+girl richly dressed, her thick fair hair profusely wreathed with pearls,
+rushed into the court, pursued by several women older than herself.  She
+ran up to the group of men; Cambyses with a smile placed himself in her
+path, but the impetuous girl slipped adroitly past him, and in another
+moment was hanging on Bartja's neck, crying and laughing by turns.
+
+The attendants in pursuit prostrated themselves at a respectful distance,
+but Cambyses, on seeing the caresses lavished by the young girl on her
+newly-returned brother, cried: "For shame, Atossa!  remember that since
+you began to wear ear-rings you have ceased to be a child!
+
+     [Ear-rings were given to the Persian girls in their fifteenth year,
+     the marriageable age.  Vendid.  Farlard XIV. 66.  At this age too
+     boys as well as girls were obliged to wear the sacred cord, Kuctl or
+     Kosti as a girdle; and were only allowed to unloose it in the night.
+     The making of this cord is attended with many ceremonies, even among
+     the Persians of our own day.  Seventy-two threads must be employed,
+     but black wool is prohibited.]
+
+It is right that you should rejoice to see your brother again, but a
+king's daughter must never forget what is due to her rank, even in her
+greatest joy.  Go back to your mother directly.  I see your attendants
+waiting yonder.  Go and tell them, that as this is a day of rejoicing I
+will allow your heedless conduct to pass unpunished, but the next time
+you appear unbidden in these apartments, which none may enter without
+permission, I shall tell Boges to keep you twelve days in confinement.
+Remember this, thoughtless child, and tell our mother, Bartja and I are
+coming to visit her.  Now give me a kiss.  You will not?  We shall see,
+capricious little one!"  And so saying the king sprang towards his
+refractory little sister, and seizing both her hands in one of his own,
+bent back her charming head with the other and kissed her in spite of
+her resistance.  She screamed from the violence of his grasp, and ran
+away crying to her attendants, who took her back to her apartments.
+
+When Atossa had disappeared, Bartja said; "You were too rough with the
+little one, Cambyses.  She screamed with pain!"
+
+Once more the king's face clouded, but suppressing the harsh words which
+trembled on his lips, he only answered, turning towards the house: "Let
+us come to our mother now; she begged me to bring you as soon as you
+arrived.  The women, as usual, are all impatience.  Nitetis told me your
+rosy cheeks and fair curls had bewitched the Egyptian women too.  I would
+advise you to pray betimes to Mithras  for eternal youth, and for his
+protection against the wrinkles of age!"
+
+"Do you mean to imply by these words that I have no virtues which could
+make an old age beautiful?"  asked Bartja.
+
+"I explain my words to no one.  Come."
+
+"But I ask for an opportunity of proving, that I am inferior to none of
+my nation in manly qualities."
+
+"For that matter, the shouts of the Babylonians today will have been
+proof enough, that deeds are not wanted from you, in order to win their
+admiration."
+
+"Cambyses!"
+
+"Now come!  We are just on the eve of a war with the Massagetae; there
+you will have a good opportunity of proving what you are worth."
+
+A few minutes later, and Bartja was in the arms of his blind mother.
+She had been waiting for her darling's arrival with a beating heart, and
+in the joy of hearing his voice once more, and of being able to lay her
+hands again on that beloved head, she forgot everything else--even her
+first-born son who stood by smiling bitterly, as he watched the rich and
+boundless stream of a mother's love flowing out to his younger brother.
+
+Cambyses had been spoiled from his earliest infancy.  Every wish had been
+fulfilled, every look regarded as a command; and thus he grew up totally
+unable to brook contradiction, giving way to the most violent anger if
+any of his subjects (and he knew no human beings who were not his
+subjects) dared to oppose him.
+
+His father Cyrus, conqueror of half the world--the man whose genius had
+raised Persia from a small nation to the summit of earthly greatness--who
+had secured for himself the reverence and admiration of countless
+subjugated tribes--this great king was incapable of carrying out in his
+own small family-circle the system of education he had so successfully
+adopted towards entire countries.  He could see nought else in Cambyses
+but the future king of Persia, and commanded his subjects to pay him an
+unquestioning obedience, entirely forgetful of the fact that he who is to
+govern well must begin by learning to obey.
+
+Cambyses had been the first-born son of Kassandane, the wife whom Cyrus
+had loved and married young; three daughters followed, and at last,
+fifteen years later, Bartja had come into the world.  Their eldest son
+had already outgrown his parents' caresses, when this little child
+appeared to engross all their care and love.  His gentle, affectionate
+and clinging nature made him the darling of both father and mother:
+Cambyses was treated with consideration by his parents, but their love
+was for Bartja.  Cambyses was brave; he distinguished himself often in
+the field, but his disposition was haughty and imperious; men served him
+with fear and trembling, while Bartja, ever sociable and sympathizing,
+converted all his companions into loving friends.  As to the mass of
+the people, they feared the king, and trembled when he drew near,
+notwithstanding the lavish manner in which he showered rich gifts around
+him; but they loved Bartja, and believed they saw in him the image of the
+great Cyrus the "Father of his people."
+
+Cambyses knew well that all this love, so freely given to Bartja, was not
+to be bought.  He did not hate his younger brother, but he felt annoyed
+that a youth who had as yet done nothing to distinguish himself, should
+be honored and revered as if he were already a hero and public
+benefactor.  Whatever annoyed or displeased him he considered must be
+wrong; where he disapproved he did not spare his censures, and from his
+very childhood, Cambyses' reproofs had been dreaded even by the mighty.
+
+The enthusiastic shouts of the populace, the overflowing love of his
+mother and sister, and above all, the warm encomiums expressed by
+Nitetis, had excited a jealousy which his pride had never allowed
+hitherto.  Nitetis had taken his fancy in a remarkable degree.  This
+daughter of a powerful monarch, like himself disdaining everything mean
+and inferior, had yet acknowledged him to be her superior, and to win his
+favor had not shrunk from the laborious task of mastering his native
+language.  These qualities, added to her peculiar style of beauty, which
+excited his admiration from its rare novelty, half Egyptian half Greek,
+(her mother having been a Greek), had not failed to make a deep
+impression on him.  But she had been liberal in her praise of Bartja;
+that was enough to disturb Cambyses' mind and prepare the way for
+jealousy.
+
+As he and his brother were leaving the women's apartments, Cambyses
+adopted a hasty resolution and exclaimed: "You asked me just now for an
+opportunity of proving your courage.  I will not refuse.  The Tapuri have
+risen; I have sent troops to the frontier.  Go to Rhagae, take the
+command and show what you are worth."
+
+"Thanks, brother," cried Bartja.  "May I take my friends, Darius, Gyges
+and Zopyrus with me?"
+
+"That favor shall be granted too.  I hope you will all do your duty
+bravely and promptly, that you may be back in three months to join the
+main army in the expedition of revenge on the Massagetae.  It will take
+place in spring."
+
+"I will start to-morrow."
+
+"Then farewell."
+
+"If Auramazda should spare my life and I should return victorious, will
+you promise to grant me one favor?"
+
+"Yes, I will."
+
+"Now, then, I feel confident of victory, even if I should have to stand
+with a thousand men against ten thousand of the enemy."  Bartja's eyes
+sparkled, he was thinking of Sappho.
+
+"Well," answered his brother, "I shall be very glad if your actions bear
+out these glowing words.  But stop; I have something more to say.  You
+are now twenty years of age; you must marry.  Roxana, daughter of the
+noble Hydarnes, is marriageable, and is said to be beautiful.  Her birth
+makes her a fitting bride for you."
+
+"Oh!  brother, do not speak of marriage; I .  .  ."  "You must marry, for
+I have no children."
+
+"But you are still young; you will not remain childless.  Besides, I do
+not say that I will never marry.  Do not be angry, but just now, when I
+am to prove my courage, I would rather hear nothing about women."
+
+"Well, then, you must marry Roxana when you return from the North.  But I
+should advise you to take her with you to the field.  A Persian generally
+fights better if he knows that, beside his most precious treasures, he
+has a beautiful woman in his tent to defend."
+
+"Spare me this one command, my brother.  I conjure thee, by the soul of
+our father, not to inflict on me a wife of whom I know nothing, and never
+wish to know.  Give Roxana to Zopyrus, who is so fond of women, or to
+Darius or Bessus, who are related to her father Hydarnes.  I cannot love
+her, and should be miserable .  .  ."
+
+Cambyses interrupted him with a laugh, exclaiming: "Did you learn these
+notions in Egypt, where it is the custom to be contented with one wife?
+In truth, I have long repented having sent a boy like you abroad.  I am
+not accustomed to bear contradiction, and shall listen to no excuses
+after the war.  This once I will allow you to go to the field without a
+wife.  I will not force you to do what, in your opinion, might endanger
+your valor.  But it seems to me that you have other and more secret
+reasons for refusing my brotherly proposal.  If that is the case, I am
+sorry for you.  However, for the present, you can depart, but after the
+war I will hear no remonstrances.  You know me."
+
+"Perhaps after the war I may ask for the very thing, which I am refusing
+now--but never for Roxana!  It is just as unwise to try to make a man
+happy by force as it is wicked to compel him to be unhappy, and I thank
+you for granting my request."
+
+"Don't try my powers of yielding too often!--How happy you look!
+I really believe you are in love with some one woman by whose side all
+the others have lost their charms."
+
+Bartja blushed to his temples, and seizing his brother's hand, exclaimed:
+"Ask no further now, accept my thanks once more, and farewell.  May I bid
+Nitetis farewell too, when I have taken leave of our mother and Atossa?"
+
+Cambyses bit his lip, looked searchingly into Bartja's face, and finding
+that the boy grew uneasy under his glance, exclaimed abruptly and
+angrily: "Your first business is to hasten to the Tapuri.  My wife needs
+your care no longer; she has other protectors now."  So saying he turned
+his back on his brother and passed on into the great hall, blazing with
+gold, purple and jewels, where the chiefs of the army, satraps, judges,
+treasurers, secretaries, counsellors, eunuchs, door-keepers, introducers
+of strangers, chamberlains, keepers of the wardrobe, dressers, cup-
+bearers, equerries, masters of the chase, physicians, eyes and ears of
+the king, ambassadors and plenipotentiaries of all descriptions--were in
+waiting for him.
+
+     [The "eyes and ears" of the king may be compared to our police-
+     ministers.  Darius may have borrowed the name from Egypt, where such
+     titles as "the 2 eyes of the king for Upper Egypt, the 2 ears of the
+     king for Lower Egypt" are to be found on the earlier monuments, for
+     instance in the tomb of Amen en, heb at Abd el Qurnah.  And in
+     Herodotus II. 114.  the boy Cyrus calls one of his playfellows "the
+     eye of the king,"  Herod.  (I, 100.)]
+
+The king was preceded by heralds bearing staves, and followed by a host
+of fan, sedan and footstool-bearers, men carrying carpets, and
+secretaries who the moment he uttered a command, or even indicated a
+concession, a punishment or a reward, hastened to note it down and at
+once hand it over to the officials empowered to execute his decrees.
+
+In the middle of the brilliantly-lighted hall stood a gilded table, which
+looked as if it must give way beneath the mass of gold and silver
+vessels, plates, cups and bowls which were arranged with great order upon
+it.  The king's private table, the service on which was of immense worth
+and beauty, was placed in an apartment opening out of the large hall, and
+separated from it by purple hangings.  These concealed him from the gaze
+of the revellers, but did not prevent their every movement from being
+watched by his eye.  It was an object of the highest ambition to be one
+of those who ate at the king's table, and even he to whom a portion was
+sent might deem himself a highly-favored man.
+
+As Cambyses entered the hall, nearly every one present prostrated
+themselves before him; his relations alone, distinguished by the blue and
+white fillet on the tiara, contented themselves with a deferential
+obeisance.
+
+After the king had seated himself in his private apartment, the rest of
+the company took their places, and then a tremendous revel began.
+Animals, roasted whole, were placed on the table, and, when hunger was
+appeased, several courses of the rarest delicacies followed, celebrated
+in later times even among the Greeks under the name of "Persian dessert."
+
+     [Herodotus (I. 133.) writes that the Persians fancied the Greeks'
+     hunger was never satisfied, because nothing special was brought to
+     the table at the end of the meal.]
+
+Slaves then entered to remove the remains of the food.  Others brought in
+immense jugs of wine, the king left his own apartment, took his seat at
+the head of the table, numerous cup-bearers filled the golden drinking-
+cups in the most graceful manner, first tasting the wine to prove that it
+was free from poison, and soon one of those drinking-bouts had begun
+under the best auspices, at which, a century or two later, Alexander the
+Great, forgot not only moderation but even friendship itself.
+
+Cambyses was unwontedly silent.  The suspicion had entered his mind, that
+Bartja loved Nitetis.  Why had he, contrary to all custom, so decidedly
+refused to marry a noble and beautiful girl, when his brother's
+childlessness rendered marriage an evident and urgent duty for him?  Why
+had he wished to see the Egyptian princess again before leaving Babylon?
+and blushed as he expressed that wish? and why had she, almost without
+being asked, praised him so warmly?
+
+It is well that he is going, thought the king; at least he shall not rob
+me of her love.  If he were not my brother I would send him to a place
+from whence none can return.
+
+After midnight he broke up the banquet.  Boges appeared to conduct him to
+the Harem, which he was accustomed to visit at this hour, when
+sufficiently sober.
+
+"Phaedime awaits you with impatience," said the eunuch.
+
+"Let her wait!"  was the king's answer.  "Have you given orders that the
+palace on the hanging-gardens shall be set in order?"
+
+"It will be ready for occupation to-morrow."
+
+"What apartments have been assigned to the Egyptian Princess?"
+
+"Those formerly occupied by the second wife of your father Cyrus, the
+deceased Amytis."
+
+"That is well.  Nitetis is to be treated with the greatest respect, and
+to receive no commands even from yourself, but such as I give you for
+her."
+
+Boges bowed low.
+
+"See that no one, not even Croesus, has admission to her before my.....
+before I give further orders."
+
+"Croesus was with her this evening."
+
+"What may have been his business with my wife?"
+
+"I do not know, for I do not understand the Greek language, but I heard
+the name of Bartja several times, and it seemed to me that the Egyptian
+had received sorrowful intelligence.  She was looking very sad when I
+came, after Croesus had left, to inquire if she had any commands for me."
+
+"May Ahriman blast thy tongue," muttered the king, and then turning his
+back on the eunuch he followed the torch-bearers and attendants, who were
+in waiting to disrobe him, to his own private apartments.
+
+At noon on the following clay, Bartja, accompanied by his friends and a
+troop of attendants, started on horseback for the frontier.  Croesus went
+with the young warriors as far as the city gates, and as their last
+farewells and embraces were being exchanged, Bartja whispered to his old
+friend: "If the messenger from Egypt should have a letter for me in his
+bag, will you send it on?"
+
+"Shall you be able to decipher the Greek writing?"
+
+"Gyges and love will help me!"
+
+"When I told Nitetis of your departure she begged me to wish you
+farewell, and tell you not to forget Egypt."
+
+"I am not likely to do that."
+
+"The gods take thee into their care, my son.  Be prudent, do not risk
+your life heedlessly, but remember that it is no longer only your own.
+Exercise the gentleness of a father towards the rebels; they did not rise
+in mere self-will, but to gain their freedom, the most precious
+possession of mankind.  Remember, too, that to shew mercy is better than
+to shed blood; the sword killeth, but the favor of the ruler bringeth joy
+and happiness.  Conclude the war as speedily as possible, for war is a
+perversion of nature; in peace the sons outlive the fathers, but in war
+the fathers live to mourn for their slain sons.  Farewell, my young
+heroes, go forward and conquer!"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+Cambyses passed a sleepless night.  The feeling of jealousy, so totally
+new to him, increased his desire to possess Nitetis, but he dared not
+take her as his wife yet, as the Persian law forbade the king to marry a
+foreign wife, until she had become familiar with the customs of Iran and
+confessed herself a disciple of Zoroaster.
+
+     [Zoroaster, really Zarathustra or Zerethoschtro, was one of the
+     `greatest among founders of new religions and lawgivers.  His name
+     signified "golden star" according to Anquetil du Perron.  But this
+     interpretation is as doubtful, as the many others which have been
+     attempted.  An appropriate one is given in the essay by Kern quoted
+     below, from zara golden, and thwistra glittering; thus "the gold
+     glittering one."  It is uncertain whether he was born in Bactria,
+     Media or Persia, Anquetil thinks in Urmi, a town in Aderbaijan.  His
+     father's name was Porosehasp, his mother's Dogdo, and his family
+     boasted of royal descent.  The time of his birth is very,--Spiegel
+     says "hopelessly"--dark.  Anquetil, and many other scholars would
+     place it in the reign of Darius, a view which has been proved to be
+     incorrect by Spiegel, Duncker and v. Schack in his introduction.]
+
+According to this law a whole year must pass before Nitetis could become
+the wife of a Persian monarch? but what was the law to Cambyses?  In his
+eyes the law was embodied in his own person, and in his opinion three
+months would be amply sufficient to initiate Nitetis in the Magian
+mysteries, after which process she could become his bride.
+
+To-day his other wives seemed hateful, even loathsome, to him.  From
+Cambyses' earliest youth his house had been carefully provided with
+women.  Beautiful girls from all parts of Asia, black-eyed Armenians,
+dazzlingly fair maidens from the Caucasus, delicate girls from the shores
+of the Ganges, luxurious Babylonian women, golden-haired Persians and the
+effeminate daughters of the Median plains; indeed many of the noblest
+Achaemenidae had given him their daughters in marriage.
+
+Phaedime, the daughter of Otanes, and niece of his own mother Kassandane,
+had been Cambyses' favorite wife hitherto, or at least the only one of
+whom it could be said that she was more to him than a purchased slave
+would have been.  But even she, in his present sated and disgusted state
+of feeling, seemed vulgar and contemptible, especially when he thought of
+Nitetis.
+
+The Egyptian seemed formed of nobler, better stuff than they all.  They
+were flattering, coaxing girls; Nitetis was a queen.  They humbled
+themselves in the dust at his feet; but when he thought of Nitetis, he
+beheld her erect, standing before him, on the same proud level as
+himself.  He determined that from henceforth she should not only occupy
+Phaedime's place, but should be to him what Kassandane had been to his
+father Cyrus.
+
+She was the only one of his wives who could assist him by her knowledge
+and advice; the others were all like children, ignorant, and caring for
+nothing but dress and finery: living only for petty intrigues and useless
+trifles.  This Egyptian girl would be obliged to love him, for he would
+be her protector, her lord, her father and brother in this foreign land.
+
+"She must," he said to himself, and to this despot to wish for a thing
+and to possess it seemed one and the same.  "Bartja had better take
+care," he murmured, "or he shall know what fate awaits the man who dares
+to cross my path."
+
+Nitetis too had passed a restless night.
+
+The common apartment of the women was next to her own, and the noise and
+singing there had not ceased until nearly midnight.  She could often
+distinguish the shrill voice of Boges joking and laughing with these
+women, who were under his charge.  At last all was quiet in the wide
+palace halls and then her thoughts turned to her distant home and her
+poor sister Tachot, longing for her and for the beautiful Bartja, who,
+Croesus had told her, was going to-morrow to the war and possibly to
+death.  At last she fell asleep, overcome by the fatigue of the journey
+and dreaming of her future husband.  She saw him on his black charger.
+The foaming animal shied at Bartja who was lying in the road, threw his
+rider and dragged him into the Nile, whose waves became blood-red.  In
+her terror she screamed for help; her cries were echoed back from the
+Pyramids in such loud and fearful tones that she awoke.
+
+But hark! what could that be?  That wailing, shrill cry which she had
+heard in her dream,--she could hear it still.
+
+Hastily drawing aside the shutters from one of the openings which served
+as windows, she looked out.  A large and beautiful garden, laid out with
+fountains and shady avenues, lay before her, glittering with the early
+dew.
+
+     [The Persian gardens were celebrated throughout the old world, and
+     seem to have been laid out much less stiffly than the Egyptian.
+     Even the kings of Persia did not consider horticulture beneath their
+     notice, and the highest among the Achaemenidae took an especial
+     pleasure in laying out parks, called in Persian Paradises.  Their
+     admiration for well-grown trees went so far, that Xerxes, finding on
+     his way to Greece a singularly beautiful tree, hung ornaments of
+     gold upon its branches.  Firdusi, the great Persian epic poet,
+     compares human beauty to the growth of the cypress, as the highest
+     praise he can give.  Indeed some trees were worshipped by the
+     Persians; and as the tree of life in the Hebrew and Egyptian, so we
+     find sacred trees in their Paradise.]
+
+No sound was to be heard except the one which had alarmed her, and this
+too died away at last on the morning breeze.  After a few minutes she
+heard cries and noise in the distance, then the great city awaking to its
+daily work, which soon settled down into a deep, dull murmur like the
+roaring of the sea.
+
+Nitetis was by this time so thoroughly awakened from the effect of the
+fresh morning air, that she did not care to lie down again.  She went
+once more to the window and perceived two figures coming out of the
+house.  One she recognized as the eunuch Boges; he was talking to a
+beautiful Persian woman carelessly dressed.  They approached her window.
+Nitetis hid herself behind the half-opened shutter and listened, for she
+fancied she heard her own name.
+
+"The Egyptian is still asleep."  said Boges.  "She must be much fatigued
+by the journey.  I see too that one of her windows is still firmly
+closed."
+
+"Then tell me quickly," said the Persian.  "Do you really think that this
+stranger's coming can injure me in any way?"
+
+"Certainly, I do, my pretty one."
+
+"But what leads you to suppose this?"
+
+"She is only to obey the king's commands, not mine."
+
+"Is that all?"
+
+"No, my treasure.  I know the king.  I can read his features as the Magi
+read the sacred books."
+
+"Then we must ruin her."
+
+"More easily said than done, my little bird."
+
+"Leave me alone!  you are insolent."
+
+"Well, but nobody can see us, and you know you can do nothing without my
+help."
+
+"Very well then, I don't care.  But tell me quickly what we can do."
+
+"Thanks, my sweet Phaedime.  Well, for the present we must be patient
+and wait our time.  That detestable hypocrite Croesus seems to have
+established himself as protector of the Egyptian; when he is away, we
+must set our snares."
+
+The speakers were by this time at such a distance, that Nitetis could not
+understand what they said.  In silent indignation she closed the shutter,
+and called her maidens to dress her.  She knew her enemies now--she knew
+that a thousand dangers surrounded her, and yet she felt proud and happy,
+for was she not chosen to be the real wife of Cambyses?  Her own worth
+seemed clearer to her than ever before, from a comparison with these
+miserable creatures, and a wonderful certainty of ultimate victory stole
+into her heart, for Nitetis was a firm believer in the magic power of
+virtue.
+
+"What was that dreadful sound I heard so early?"  she asked of her
+principal waiting-woman, who was arranging her hair.
+
+"Do you mean the sounding brass, lady?"
+
+"Scarcely two hours ago I was awakened by a strange and frightful sound."
+
+"That was the sounding brass, lady.  It is used to awaken the young sons
+of the Persian nobles, who are brought up at the gate of the king.  You
+will soon become accustomed to it.  We have long ceased even to hear it,
+and indeed on great festivals, when it is not sounded, we awake from the
+unaccustomed stillness.  From the hanging-gardens you will be able to see
+how the boys are taken to bathe every morning, whatever the weather may
+be.  The poor little ones are taken from their mothers when they are six
+years old, to be brought up with the other boys of their own rank under
+the king's eye."
+
+"Are they to begin learning the luxurious manners of the court so early?"
+
+"Oh no! the poor boys lead a terrible life.  They are obliged to sleep on
+the hard ground, to rise before the sun.  Their food is bread and water,
+with very little meat, and they are never allowed to taste wine or
+vegetables.  Indeed at times they are deprived of food and drink for some
+days, simply to accustom them to privations.  When the court is at
+Ecbatana or Pasargadae, and the weather is bitterly cold, they are sure
+to be taken out to bathe, and here in Susa, the hotter the sun, the
+longer and more difficult the marches they are compelled to take."
+
+     [The summer residences of the kings cf Persia, where it is sometimes
+     very cold.  Ecbatana lies at the foot of the high Elburs (Orontes)
+     range of mountains in the neighborhood of the modern Hamadan;
+     Pasargadae not far from Rachmet in the highlands of Iran]
+
+"And these boys, so simply and severely brought up, become in after life
+such luxurious men?"
+
+"Yes, that is always the case.  A meal that has been waited for is all
+the more relished when it comes.  These boys see splendor and
+magnificence around them daily; they know how rich they are in reality,
+and yet have to suffer from hunger and privation.  Who can wonder, if,
+when at last they gain their liberty, they plunge into the pleasures of
+life with a tenfold eagerness?  But on the other hand, in time of war, or
+when going to the chase, they never murmur at hunger or thirst, spring
+with a laugh into the mud regardless of their thin boots and purple
+trousers, and sleep as soundly on a rock as on their beds of delicate
+Arabian wool.  You must see the feats these boys perform, especially when
+the king is watching them!  Cambyses will certainly take you if you ask
+him."
+
+"I know those exercises already.  In Egypt the girls as well as the boys
+are kept to such gymnastic exercises.  My limbs were trained to
+flexibility by running, postures, and games with hoops and balls.
+
+"How strange!  Here, we women grow up just as we please, and are taught
+nothing but a little spinning and weaving.  Is it true that most of the
+Egyptian women can read and write?"
+
+"Yes, nearly all."
+
+"By Mithras, you must be a clever people!  Scarcely any of the Persians,
+except the Magi and the scribes, learn these difficult arts.  The sons of
+the nobles are taught to speak the truth, to be courageous, obedient, and
+to reverence the gods; to hunt, ride, plant trees and discern between
+herbs; but whoever, like the noble Darius, wishes to learn the art of
+writing, must apply to the Magi.  Women are forbidden to turn their minds
+to such studies.--Now your dress is complete.  This string of pearls,
+which the king sent this morning, looks magnificent in your raven-black
+hair, but it is easy to see that you are not accustomed to the full silk
+trousers and high-heeled boots.  If, however, you walk two or three times
+up and down the room you will surpass all the Persian ladies even in your
+walk!"
+
+At this moment a knock was heard and Boges entered.  He had come to
+conduct Nitetis to Kassandane's apartments, where Cambyses was waiting
+for her.
+
+The eunuch affected an abject humility, and poured forth a stream of
+flattering words, in which he likened the princess to the sun, the starry
+heavens, a pure fount of happiness, and a garden of roses.  Nitetis
+deigned him not a word in reply, but followed, with a beating heart, to
+the queen's apartment.
+
+In order to keep out the noonday sun and produce a salutary half-light
+for the blind queen's eyes, her windows were shaded by curtains of green
+Indian silk.  The floor was covered with a thick Babylonian carpet, soft
+as moss under the foot.  The walls were faced with a mosaic of ivory,
+tortoise-shell, gold, silver, malachite, lapis-lazuli, ebony and amber.
+The seats and couches were of gold covered with lions' skins, and a table
+of silver stood by the side of the blind queen.  Kassandane was seated in
+a costly arm-chair.  She wore a robe of violet-blue, embroidered with
+silver, and over her snow-white hair lay a long veil of delicate lace,
+woven in Egypt, the ends of which were wound round her neck and tied in a
+large bow beneath her chin.  She was between sixty and seventy years old;
+her face, framed, as it were, into a picture by the lace veil, was
+exquisitely symmetrical in its form, intellectual, kind and benevolent
+in its expression.
+
+The blind eyes were closed, but those who gazed on her felt that,
+if open, they would shine with the gentle light of stars.  Even when
+sitting, her attitude and height showed a tall and stately figure.
+Indeed her entire appearance was worthy the widow of the great and
+good Cyrus.
+
+On a low seat at her feet, drawing long threads from a golden spindle,
+sat the queen's youngest child Atossa, born to her late in life.
+Cambyses was standing before her, and behind, hardly visible in the dim
+light, Nebenchari, the Egyptian oculist.
+
+As Nitetis entered, Cambyses came towards her and led her to his mother.
+The daughter of Amasis fell on her knees before this venerable woman, and
+kissed her hand with real affection.
+
+"Be welcome here!" exclaimed the blind queen, feeling her way to the
+young girl's head, on which she laid her hand, "I have heard much in your
+praise, and hope to gain in you a dear and loving daughter."
+
+Nitetis kissed the gentle, delicate hand again, saying in a low voice:
+"O how I thank you for these words!  Will you, the wife of the great
+Cyrus, permit me to call you mother?  My tongue has been so long
+accustomed to this sweet word; and now after long weeks of silence,
+I tremble with joy at the thought that I may say 'my mother' once more!
+I will indeed try to deserve your love and kindness; and you--you will be
+to me all that your loving countenance seems to promise?  Advise and
+teach me; let me find a refuge at your feet, if sometimes the longing for
+home becomes too strong, and my poor heart too weak to bear its grief or
+joy alone.  Oh, be my mother! that one word includes all else!"
+
+The blind queen felt the warm tears fall on her hand; she pressed her
+lips kindly on the weeping girl's forehead, and answered: "I can
+understand your feelings.  My apartments shall be always open to you,
+my heart ready to welcome you here.  Come when you will, and call me your
+mother with the same perfect confidence with which I, from my whole
+heart, name you my daughter.  In a few months you will be my son's wife,
+and then the gods may grant you that gift, which, by implanting within
+you the feelings of a mother, will prevent you from feeling the need of
+one."
+
+"May Ormuszd hear and give his blessing!"  said Cambyses.  "I rejoice,
+mother, that my wife pleases you, and I know that when once she becomes
+familiar with our manners and customs she will be happy here.  If Nitetis
+pay due heed, our marriage can be celebrated in four months."
+
+"But the law--" began his mother.
+
+"I command--in four months, and should like to see him who dare raise an
+objection.  Farewell!  Nebenchari, use your best skill for the queen's
+eyes, and if my wife permit, you, as her countryman, may visit her
+to-morrow.  Farewell!  Bartja sends his parting greetings.  He is on the
+road to the Tapuri."
+
+Atossa wiped away a tear in silence, but Kassandane answered: "You would
+have done well to allow the boy to remain here a few months longer.  Your
+commander, Megabyzus, could have subdued that small nation alone."
+
+"Of that I have no doubt," replied the king, "but Bartja desired an
+opportunity of distinguishing himself in the field; and for that reason
+I sent him."
+
+"Would he not gladly have waited until the war with the Massageta; where
+more glory might be gained?"  asked the blind woman.
+
+"Yes," said Atossa, "and if he should fall in this war, you will have
+deprived him of the power of fulfilling his most sacred duty, of avenging
+the soul of our father!"
+
+"Be silent!"  cried Cambyses in an overbearing tone, "or I shall have to
+teach you what is becoming in women and children.  Bartja is on far too
+good terms with fortune to fall in the war.  He will live, I hope, to
+deserve the love which is now so freely flung into his lap like an alms."
+
+"How canst thou speak thus?"  cried Kassandane.  "In what manly virtue is
+Bartja wanting?  Is it his fault, that he has had no such opportunity of
+distinguishing himself in the field as thou hast had?  You are the king
+and I am bound to respect your commands, but I blame my son for depriving
+his blind mother of the greatest joy left to her in her old age.  Bartja
+would have gladly remained here until the Massagetan war, if your self-
+will had not determined otherwise."
+
+"And what I will is good!"  exclaimed Cambyses interrupting his mother,
+and pale with anger, "I desire that this subject be not mentioned again."
+
+So saying, he left the room abruptly and went into the reception-hall,
+followed by the immense retinue which never quitted him, whithersoever he
+might direct his steps.
+
+An hour passed, and still Nitetis and the lovely Atossa were sitting side
+by side, at the feet of the queen.  The Persian women listened eagerly to
+all their new friend could tell them about Egypt and its wonders.
+
+"Oh!  how I should like to visit your home!"  exclaimed Atossa.  "It must
+be quite, quite different from Persia and everything else that I have
+seen yet.  The fruitful shores of your great river, larger even than the
+Euphrates, the temples with their painted columns, those huge artificial
+mountains, the Pyramids, where the ancient kings be buried--it must all
+be wonderfully beautiful.  But what pleases me best of all is your
+description of the entertainments, where men and women converse together
+as they like.  The only meals we are allowed to take in the society of
+men are on New Year's Day and the king's birthday, and then we are
+forbidden to speak; indeed it is not thought right for us even to raise
+our eyes.  How different it is with you!  By Mithras! mother, I should
+like to be an Egyptian, for we poor creatures are in reality nothing but
+miserable slaves; and yet I feel that the great Cyrus was my father too,
+and that I am worth quite as much as most men.  Do I not speak the truth?
+can I not obey as well as command?  have I not the same thirst and
+longing for glory?  could not I learn to ride, to string a bow, to fight
+and swim, if I were taught and inured to such exercises?"
+
+The girl had sprung from her seat while speaking, her eyes flashed and
+she swung her spindle in the air, quite unconscious that in so doing she
+was breaking the thread and entangling the flax.
+
+"Remember what is fitting," reminded Kassandane.  "A woman must submit
+with humility to her quiet destiny, and not aspire to imitate the deeds
+of men."
+
+"But there are women who lead the same lives as men," cried Atossa.
+"There are the Amazons who live on the shores of the Thermodon in
+Themiscyra, and at Comana on the Iris; they have waged great wars, and
+even to this day wear men's armor."
+
+"Who told you this?"
+
+"My old nurse, Stephanion, whom my father brought a captive from Sinope
+to Pasargadae."
+
+"But I can teach you better," said Nitetis.  "It is true that in
+Themiscyra and Comana there are a number of women who wear soldier's
+armor; but they are only priestesses, and clothe themselves like the
+warlike goddess they serve, in order to present to the worshippers a
+manifestation of the divinity in human form.  Croesus says that an army
+of Amazons has never existed, but that the Greeks, (always ready and able
+to turn anything into a beautiful myth), having seen these priestesses,
+at once transformed the armed virgins dedicated to the goddess into a
+nation of fighting women."
+
+"Then they are liars!"  exclaimed the disappointed girl.
+
+"It is true, that the Greeks have not the same reverence for truth as you
+have," answered Nitetis, "but they do not call the men who invent these
+beautiful stories liars; they are called poets."
+
+"Just as it is with ourselves," said Kassandane.  "The poets, who sing
+the praises of my husband, have altered and adorned his early life in a
+marvellous manner; yet no one calls them liars.  But tell me, my
+daughter, is it true that these Greeks are more beautiful than other men,
+and understand art better even than the Egyptians?"
+
+"On that subject I should not venture to pronounce a judgment.  There is
+such a great difference between the Greek and Egyptian works of art.
+When I went into our own gigantic temples to pray, I always felt as if I
+must prostrate myself in the dust before the greatness of the gods, and
+entreat them not to crush so insignificant a worm; but in the temple of
+Hera at Samos, I could only raise my hands to heaven in joyful
+thanksgiving, that the gods had made the earth so beautiful.  In Egypt I
+always believed as I had been taught: 'Life is asleep; we shall not awake
+to our true existence in the kingdom of Osiris till the hour of death;'
+but in Greece I thought: 'I am born to live and to enjoy this cheerful,
+bright and blooming world.'"
+
+"Ah! tell us something more about Greece," cried Atossa; "but first
+Nebenchari must put a fresh bandage on my mother's eyes."
+
+The oculist, a tall, grave man in the white robes of an Egyptian priest,
+came forward to perform the necessary operation, and after being kindly
+greeted by Nitetis, withdrew once more silently into the background.  At
+the same time a eunuch entered to enquire whether Croesus might be
+allowed to pay his respectful homage to the king's mother.
+
+The aged king soon appeared, and was welcomed as the old and tried friend
+of the Persian royal family.  Atossa, with her usual impetuosity, fell on
+the neck of the friend she had so sorely missed during his absence; the
+queen gave him her hand, and Nitetis met him like a loving daughter.
+
+"I thank the gods, that I am permitted to see you again," said Croesus.
+"The young can look at life as a possession, as a thing understood and
+sure, but at my age every year must be accepted as an undeserved gift
+from the gods, for which a man must be thankful."
+
+"I could envy you for this happy view of life," sighed Kassandane.
+"My years are fewer than yours, and yet every new day seems to me a
+punishment sent by the Immortals."
+
+"Can I be listening to the wife of the great Cyrus?"  asked Croesus.
+"How long is it since courage and confidence left that brave heart?
+I tell you, you will recover sight, and once more thank the gods for a
+good old age.  The man who recovers, after a serious illness, values
+health a hundred-fold more than before; and he who regains sight after
+blindness, must be an especial favorite of the gods.  Imagine to yourself
+the delight of that first moment when your eyes behold once more the
+bright shining of the sun, the faces of your loved ones, the beauty of
+all created things, and tell me, would not that outweigh even a whole
+life of blindness and dark night?  In the day of healing, even if that
+come in old age, a new life will begin and I shall hear you confess that
+my friend Solon was right."
+
+"In what respect?"  asked Atossa.
+
+"In wishing that Mimnermos, the Colophonian poet, would correct the poem
+in which he has assigned sixty years as the limit of a happy life, and
+would change the sixty into eighty."
+
+"Oh no!"  exclaimed Kassandane.  "Even were Mithras to restore my sight,
+such a long life would be dreadful.  Without my husband I seem to myself
+like a wanderer in the desert, aimless and without a guide."
+
+"Are your children then nothing to you, and this kingdom, of which you
+have watched the rise and growth?"
+
+"No indeed! but my children need me no longer, and the ruler of this
+kingdom is too proud to listen to a woman's advice."
+
+On hearing these words Atossa and Nitetis seized each one of the queen's
+hands, and Nitetis cried: "You ought to desire a long life for our sakes.
+What should we be without your help and protection?"
+
+Kassandane smiled again, murmuring in a scarcely audible voice: "You are
+right, my children, you will stand in need of your mother."
+
+"Now you are speaking once more like the wife of the great Cyrus," cried
+Croesus, kissing the robe of the blind woman.  "Your presence will indeed
+be needed, who can say how soon?  Cambyses is like hard steel; sparks
+fly wherever he strikes.  You can hinder these sparks from kindling a
+destroying fire among your loved ones, and this should be your duty.
+You alone can dare to admonish the king in the violence of his passion.
+He regards you as his equal, and, while despising the opinion of others,
+feels wounded by his mother's disapproval.  Is it not then your duty to
+abide patiently as mediator between the king, the kingdom and your loved
+ones, and so, by your own timely reproofs, to humble the pride of your
+son, that he may be spared that deeper humiliation which, if not thus
+averted, the gods will surely inflict."
+
+"You are right," answered the blind woman, "but I feel only too well that
+my influence over him is but small.  He has been so much accustomed to
+have his own will, that he will follow no advice, even if it come from
+his mother's lips."
+
+"But he must at least hear it," answered Croesus, "and that is much,
+for even if he refuse to obey, your counsels will, like divine voices,
+continue to make themselves heard within him, and will keep him back
+from many a sinful act.  I will remain your ally in this matter; for,
+as Cambyses' dying father appointed me the counsellor of his son in word
+and deed, I venture occasionally a bold word to arrest his excesses.
+Ours is the only blame from which he shrinks: we alone can dare to speak
+our opinion to him.  Let us courageously do our duty in this our office:
+you, moved by love to Persia and your son, and I by thankfulness to that
+great man to whom I owe life and freedom, and whose son Cambyses is.  I
+know that you bemoan the manner in which he has been brought up; but such
+late repentance must be avoided like poison.  For the errors of the wise
+the remedy is reparation, not regret; regret consumes the heart, but the
+effort to repair an error causes it to throb with a noble pride."
+
+"In  Egypt," said  Nitetis, "regret  is  numbered among the forty-two
+deadly sins.  One of our principal commandments is, 'Thou shalt not
+consume thine heart.'"
+
+     [In the Ritual of the Dead (indeed in almost every Papyrus of the
+     Dead) we meet with a representation of the soul, whose heart is
+     being weighed and judged.  The speech made by the soul is called the
+     negative justification, in which she assures the 42 judges of the
+     dead, that she has not committed the 42 deadly sins which she
+     enumerates.  This justification is doubly interesting because it
+     contains nearly the entire moral law of Moses, which last, apart
+     from all national peculiarities and habits of mind, seems to contain
+     the quintessence of human morality--and this we find ready
+     paragraphed in our negative justification.  Todtenbuch ed. Lepsius.
+     125.  We cannot discuss this question philosophically here, but the
+     law of Pythagoras, who borrowed so much from Egypt, and the contents
+     of which are the same, speaks for our view.  It is similar in form
+     to the Egyptian.]
+
+"There you remind me," said Croesus "that I have undertaken to arrange
+for your instruction in the Persian customs, religion and language.  I
+had intended to withdraw to Barene, the town which I received as a gift
+from Cyrus, and there, in that most lovely mountain valley, to take my
+rest; but for your sake and for the king's, I will remain here and
+continue to give you instruction in the Persian tongue.  Kassandane
+herself will initiate you in the customs peculiar to women at the Persian
+court, and Oropastes, the high-priest, has been ordered by the king to
+make you acquainted with the religion of Iran.  He will be your
+spiritual, and I your secular guardian."
+
+At these words Nitetis, who had been smiling happily, cast down her eyes
+and asked in a low voice: "Am I to become unfaithful to the gods of my
+fathers, who have never failed to hear my prayers?  Can I, ought I to
+forget them?"
+
+"Yes," said Kassandane decidedly, "thou canst, and it is thy bounden
+duty, for a wife ought to have no friends but those her husband calls
+such.  The gods are a man's earliest, mightiest and most faithful
+friends, and it therefore becomes thy duty, as a wife, to honor them,
+and to close thine heart against strange gods and superstitions,
+as thou wouldst close it against strange lovers."
+
+"And," added Croesus, "we will not rob you of your deities; we will only
+give them to you under other names.  As Truth remains eternally the same,
+whether called 'maa', as by the Egyptians, or 'Aletheia' as by the
+Greeks, so the essence of the Deity continues unchanged in all places and
+times.  Listen, my daughter: I myself, while still king of Lydia, often
+sacrificed in sincere devotion to the Apollo of the Greeks, without a
+fear that in so doing I should offend the Lydian sun-god Sandon; the
+Ionians pay their worship to the Asiatic Cybele, and, now that I have
+become a Persian, I raise my hands adoringly to Mithras, Ormuzd and the
+lovely Anahita.  Pythagoras too, whose teaching is not new to you,
+worships one god only, whom he calls Apollo; because, like the Greek sun-
+god, he is the source of light and of those harmonies which Pythagoras
+holds to be higher than all else.  And lastly, Xenophanes of Colophon
+laughs at the many and divers gods of Homer and sets one single deity on
+high--the ceaselessly creative might of nature, whose essence consists of
+thought, reason and eternity.
+
+     [A celebrated freethinker, who indulged in bold and independent
+     speculations, and suffered much persecution for his ridicule of the
+     Homeric deities.  He flourished at the time of our history and lived
+     to a great age, far on into the fifth century.  We have quoted some
+     fragments of his writings above.  He committed his speculations also
+     to verse.]
+
+"In this power everything has its rise, and it alone remains unchanged,
+while all created matter must be continually renewed and perfected.  The
+ardent longing for some being above us, on whom we can lean when our own
+powers fail,--the wonderful instinct which desires a faithful friend to
+whom we can tell every joy and sorrow without fear of disclosure, the
+thankfulness with which we behold this beautiful world and all the rich
+blessings we have received--these are the feelings which we call piety--
+devotion.
+
+"These you must hold fast; remembering, however, at the same time, that
+the world is ruled neither by the Egyptian, the Persian, nor the Greek
+divinities apart from each other, but that all these are one; and that
+one indivisible Deity, how different soever may be the names and
+characters under which He is represented, guides the fate of men and
+nations."
+
+The two Persian women listened to the old man in amazement.  Their
+unpractised powers were unable to follow the course of his thoughts.
+Nitetis, however, had understood him thoroughly, and answered: "My mother
+Ladice was the pupil of Pythagoras, and has told me something like this
+already; but the Egyptian priests consider such views to be sacrilegious,
+and call their originators despisers of the gods.  So I tried to repress
+such thoughts; but now I will resist them no longer.  What the good and
+wise Croesus believes cannot possibly be evil or impious!  Let Oropastes
+come!  I am ready to listen to his teaching.  The god of Thebes, our
+Ammon, shall be transformed into Ormuzd,--Isis or Hathor, into Anahita,
+and those among our gods for whom I can find no likeness in the Persian
+religion, I shall designate by the name of 'the Deity.'"
+
+Croesus smiled.  He had fancied, knowing how obstinately the Egyptians
+clung to all they had received from tradition and education, that it
+would have been more difficult for Nitetis to give up the gods of her
+native land.  He had forgotten that her mother was a Greek, and that the
+daughters of Amasis had studied the doctrines of Pythagoras.  Neither was
+he aware how ardently Nitetis longed to please her proud lord and master.
+Even Amasis, who so revered the Samian philosopher, who had so often
+yielded to Hellenic influence, and who with good reason might be called a
+free-thinking Egyptian, would sooner have exchanged life for death, than
+his multiform gods for the one idea "Deity."
+
+"You are a teachable pupil," said Croesus, laying his hand on her head,
+"and as a reward, you shall be allowed either to visit Kassandane, or to
+receive Atossa in the hanging-gardens, every morning, and every afternoon
+until sunset."
+
+This joyful news was received with loud rejoicings by Atossa, and with a
+grateful smile by the Egyptian girl.
+
+"And lastly," said Croesus, "I have brought some balls and hoops with me
+from Sais, that you may be able to amuse yourselves in Egyptian fashion."
+
+"Balls?" asked Atossa in amazement; "what can we do with the heavy wooden
+things?"
+
+"That need not trouble you," answered Croesus, laughing.  "The balls I
+speak of are pretty little things made of the skins of fish filled with
+air, or of leather.  A child of two years old can throw these, but you
+would find it no easy matter even to lift one of those wooden balls with
+which the Persian boys play.  Are you content with me, Nitetis?"
+
+     [In Persia games with balls are still reckoned among the amusements
+     of the men.  One player drives a wooden hall to the other, as in the
+     English game of cricket.  Chardin (Voyage en Perse. III. p. 226.)
+     saw the game played by 300 players.]
+
+"How can I thank you enough, my father?"
+
+"And now listen to my plan for the division of your time.  In the morning
+you will visit Kassandane, chat with Atossa, and listen to the teaching
+of your noble mother."
+
+Here the blind woman bent her head in approval.  "Towards noon I shall
+come to teach you, and we can talk sometimes about Egypt and your loved
+ones there, but always in Persian.  You would like this, would you not?"
+
+Nitetis smiled.
+
+"Every second day, Oropastes will be in attendance to initiate you in the
+Persian religion."
+
+"I will take the greatest pains to comprehend him quickly."
+
+"In the afternoon you can be with Atossa as long as you like.  Does that
+please you too?"
+
+"O Croesus!"  cried the young girl and kissed the old man's hand.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+A first impression is often a final one
+Assigned sixty years as the limit of a happy life
+At my age every year must be accepted as an undeserved gift
+Cambyses had been spoiled from his earliest infancy
+Devoid of occupation, envy easily becomes hatred
+Easy to understand what we like to hear
+Eros mocks all human efforts to resist or confine him
+Eyes are much more eloquent than all the tongues in the world
+For the errors of the wise the remedy is reparation, not regret
+Greeks have not the same reverence for truth
+He who is to govern well must begin by learning to obey
+In war the fathers live to mourn for their slain sons
+Inn, was to be found about every eighteen miles
+Lovers are the most unteachable of pupils
+The beautiful past is all he has to live upon
+The gods cast envious glances at the happiness of mortals
+Unwise to try to make a man happy by force
+War is a perversion of nature
+Ye play with eternity as if it were but a passing moment
+Zeus pays no heed to lovers' oaths
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 5.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+The next day Nitetis removed to the country-house in the hanging-gardens,
+and began a monotonous, but happy and industrious life there, according
+to the rules laid down by Croesus.  Every day she was carried to
+Kassandane and Atossa in a closely shut-up litter.  Nitetis soon began to
+look upon the blind queen as a beloved and loving mother, and the merry,
+spirited Atossa nearly made up to her for the loss of her sister Tachot,
+so far away on the distant Nile.  She could not have desired a better
+companion than this gay, cheerful girl, whose wit and merriment
+effectually prevented homesickness or discontent from settling in her
+friend's heart.  The gravity and earnestness of Nitetis' character were
+brightened by Atossa's gaiety, and Atossa's exuberant spirits calmed and
+regulated by the thoughtful nature of Nitetis.
+
+Both Croesus and Kassandane were pleased and satisfied with their new
+daughter and pupil, and Oropastes extolled her talents and industry daily
+to Cambyses.  She learnt the Persian language unusually well and quickly;
+Cambyses only visited his mother when he hoped to find Nitetis there, and
+presented her continually with rich dresses and costly jewels.  But the
+highest proof of his favor consisted in his abstaining from visiting her
+at her house in the hanging-gardens, a line of conduct which proved that
+he meant to include Nitetis in the small number of his real and lawful
+wives, a privilege of which many a princess in his harem could not boast.
+
+The grave, beautiful girl threw a strange spell over this strong,
+turbulent man.  Her presence alone seemed enough to soften his stubborn
+will, and he would watch their games for hours, his eyes fixed on her
+graceful movements.  Once, when the ball had fallen into the water, the
+king sprang in after it, regardless of his costly apparel.  Nitetis
+screamed on seeing his intention, but Cambyses handed her the dripping
+toy with the words: "Take care or I shall be obliged to frighten you
+again."  At the same time he drew from his neck a gold chain set with
+jewels and gave it to the blushing girl, who thanked him with a look
+which fully revealed her feelings for her future husband.
+
+Croesus, Kassandane and Atossa soon noticed that Nitetis loved the king.
+Her former fear of this proud and powerful being had indeed changed into
+a passionate admiration.  She felt as if she must die if deprived of his
+presence.  He seemed to her like a, glorious and omnipotent divinity, and
+her wish to possess him presumptuous and sacrilegious; but its fulfilment
+shone before her as an idea more beautiful even than return to her native
+land and reunion with those who, till now, had been her only loved ones.
+
+Nitetis herself was hardly conscious of the strength of her feelings,
+and believed that when she trembled before the king's arrival it was from
+fear, and not from her longing to behold him once more.  Croesus,
+however, had soon discovered the truth, and brought a deep blush to his
+favorite's cheek by singing to her, old as he was, Anacreon's newest
+song, which he had learnt at Sais from Ibykus
+
+              "We read the flying courser's name
+               Upon his side in marks of flame;
+               And by their turban'd brows alone
+               The warriors of the East are known.
+               But in the lover's glowing eyes,
+               The inlet to his bosom lies;
+               Through them we see the tiny mark,
+               Where Love has dropp'd his burning spark"
+                                   --Paegnion 15
+
+And thus, in work and amusement, jest, earnest, and mutual love, the
+weeks and months passed with Nitetis.  Cambyses' command that she was to
+be happy in his land had fulfilled itself, and by the time the
+Mesopotamian spring-tide (January, February and March), which succeeds
+the rainy month of December, was over, and the principal festival of the
+Asiatics, the New Year, had been solemnized at the equinox, and the May
+sun had begun to glow in the heavens, Nitetis felt quite at home in
+Babylon, and all the Persians knew that the young Egyptian princess had
+quite displaced Phaedime, the daughter of Otanes, in the king's favor,
+and would certainly become his first and favorite wife.
+
+Boges sank considerably in public estimation, for it was known that
+Cambyses had ceased to visit the harem, and the chief of the eunuchs had
+owed all his importance to the women, who were compelled to coax from
+Cambyses whatever Boges desired for himself or others.  Not a day passed
+on which the mortified official did not consult with the supplanted
+favorite Phaedime, as to the best means of ruining Nitetis, but their
+most finely spun intrigues and artifices were baffled by the strength of
+king's love and the blameless life of his royal bride.
+
+Phaedime, impatient, mortified, and thirsting for vengeance, was
+perpetually urging Boges to some decided act; he, on the contrary,
+advised patience.
+
+At last, however, after many weeks, he came to her full of joy,
+exclaiming: "I have devised a little plan which must ruin the Egyptian
+woman as surely as my name is Boges.  When Bartja comes back, my
+treasure, our hour will have arrived."
+
+While saying this the creature rubbed his fat, soft hands, and, with his
+perpetual fulsome smile, looked as if he were feasting on some good deed
+performed.  He did not, however, give Phaedime the faintest idea of the
+nature of his "little plan," and only answered her pressing questions
+with the words: "Better lay your head in a lion's jaws, than your secret
+in the ears of a woman.  I fully acknowledge your courage, but at the
+same time advise you to remember that, though a man proves his courage
+in action, a woman's is shown in obedience.  Obey my words and await the
+issue in patience."  Nebenchari, the oculist, continued to attend the
+queen, but so carefully abstained from all intercourse with the Persians,
+that he became a proverb among them for his gloomy, silent ways.  During
+the day he was to be found in the queen's apartments, silently examining
+large rolls of papyri, which he called the book of Athotes and the sacred
+Ambres; at night, by permission of the king and the satraps of Babylon,
+he often ascended one of the high towers on the walls, called
+Tritantaechmes, in order to observe the stars.
+
+The Chaldaean priests, the earliest astronomers, would have allowed him
+to take his observations from the summit of the great temple of Bel,
+their own observatory, but he refused this offer decidedly, and persisted
+in his haughty reserve.  When Oropastes attempted to explain to him the
+celebrated Babylonian sun-dial, introduced by Anaximander of Miletus into
+Greece, he turned from the Magian with a scornful laugh, saying: "We knew
+all this, before you knew the meaning of an hour."
+
+Nitetis had shown Nebenchari much kindness, yet he took no interest in
+her, seemed indeed to avoid her purposely, and on her asking whether she
+had displeased or offended him, answered: "For me you are a stranger.
+How can I reckon those my friends, who can so gladly and so quickly
+forget those they loved best, their gods, and the customs of their native
+land?"
+
+Boges quickly discovered this state of feeling on the part of Nebenchari,
+and took much pains to secure him as an ally, but the physician rejected
+the eunuch's flatteries, gifts, and attentions with dignity.
+
+No sooner did an Angare appear in the court of the palace with despatches
+for the king, than Boges hastened to enquire whether news from the Tapuri
+had arrived.
+
+At length the desired messenger appeared, bringing word that the rebels
+were subdued, and Bartja on the point of returning.
+
+Three weeks passed--fresh messengers arrived from day to day announcing
+the approach of the victorious prince; the streets glittered once more in
+festal array, the army entered the gates of Babylon, Bartja thanked the
+rejoicing multitude, and a short time after was in the arms of his blind
+mother.
+
+Cambyses received his brother with undisguised warmth, and took him to
+the queen's apartments, when he knew that Nitetis would be there.
+
+For he was sure the Egyptian girl loved him; his previous jealousy seemed
+a silly fancy now, and he wished to give Bartja an opportunity of seeing
+how entirely he trusted his bride.
+
+Cambyses' love had made him mild and gentle, unwearied in giving and in
+doing good.  His wrath slumbered for a season, and around the spot where
+the heads of those who had suffered capital punishment were exhibited as
+a warning to their fellow-men, the hungry, screeching crows now wheeled,
+in vain.
+
+The influence of the insinuating eunuchs (a race who had never been seen
+within the gates of Cyrus until the incorporation of Media, Lydia and
+Babylon, in which countries they had filled many of the highest offices
+at court and in the state), was now waning, and the importance of the
+noble Achaemenidae increasing in proportion; for Cambyses applied oftener
+to the latter than to the former for advice in matters relating to the
+welfare of the country.
+
+The aged Hystaspes, father of Darius, governor of Persia proper and
+cousin to the king; Pharnaspes, Cambyses' grandfather on the mother's
+side; Otanes, his uncle and father-in-law.  Intaphernes, Aspathines,
+Gobryas, Hydarnes, the general Megabyzus, father of Zopyrus, the envoy
+Prexaspes, the noble Croesus, and the old warrior Araspes; in short, the
+flower of the ancient Persian aristocracy, were now at the court of
+Cambyses.
+
+To this must be added that the entire nobility of the realm, the satraps
+or governors of the provinces, and the chief priests from every town were
+also assembled at Babylon to celebrate the king's birthday.
+
+     [The king's birthday was the principal feast among the Persians, and
+     called "the perfect feast."  Herod. I. 133.  Birthdays were held in
+     much honor by the ancients, and more especially those of their
+     kings.  Both the great bilingual Egyptian tablets, which we possess
+     (the Rosetta stone, line 10 of hieroglyphic text; Gr. text, line 46.
+     and the edict of Canopus ed. Lepsius, hieroglyphic text 1. 3.  Gr.
+     text 1. 5.) mention the celebration of the birthday of one of the
+     Ptolemies; and even of Rameses II., so early as the 14th century B.
+     C.  we read: "There was joy in heaven on his birthday."]
+
+The entire body of officials and deputies streamed from the provinces up
+to the royal city, bringing presents to their ruler and good wishes; they
+came also to take part in the great sacrifices at which horses, stags,
+bulls and asses were slaughtered in thousands as offerings to the gods.
+
+At this festival all the Persians received gifts, every man was allowed
+to ask a petition of the king, which seldom remained unfulfilled, and in
+every city the people were feasted at the royal expense.  Cambyses had
+commanded that his marriage with Nitetis should be celebrated eight days
+after the birthday, and all the magnates of the realms should be invited
+to the ceremony.
+
+The streets of Babylon swarmed with strangers, the colossal palaces on
+both shores of the Euphrates were overfilled, and all the houses stood
+adorned in festal brightness.
+
+The zeal thus displayed by his people, this vast throng of human beings,
+--representing and bringing around him, as it were, his entire kingdom,
+contributed not a little to raise the king's spirits.
+
+His pride was gratified; and the only longing left in his heart had been
+stilled by Nitetis' love.  For the first time in his life he believed
+himself completely happy, and bestowed his gifts, not only from a sense
+of his duty as king of Persia, but because the act of giving was in
+itself a pleasure.
+
+Megabyzus could not extol the deeds of Bartja and his friends too highly.
+Cambyses embraced the young warriors, gave them horses and gold chains,
+called them "brothers" and reminded Bartja, that he had promised to grant
+him a petition if he returned victorious.
+
+At this Bartja cast down his eyes, not knowing at first in what form to
+begin his request, and the king answered laughing: "Look, my friends; our
+young hero is blushing like a girl!  It seems I shall have to grant
+something important; so he had better wait until my birthday, and then,
+at supper, when the wine has given him courage, he shall whisper in my
+ear what he is now afraid to utter.  Ask much, Bartja, I am happy myself,
+and wish all my friends to be happy too."  Bartja only smiled in answer
+and went to his mother; for he had not yet opened his heart to her on the
+matter which lay so near it.
+
+He was afraid of meeting with decided opposition; but Croesus had cleared
+the way far him by telling Kassandane so much in praise of Sappho, her
+virtues and her graces, her talents and skill, that Nitetis and Atossa
+maintained she must have given the old man a magic potion, and
+Kassandane, after a short resistance, yielded to her darling's
+entreaties.
+
+"A Greek woman the lawful wife of a Persian prince of the blood!"  cried
+the blind woman.  "Unheard of! What will Cambyses say?  How can we gain
+his consent?"
+
+"On that matter you may be at ease, my mother," answered Bartja, "I am as
+certain that my brother will give his consent, as I am that Sappho will
+prove an ornament and honor to our house."
+
+"Croesus has already told me much in favor of this maiden," answered
+Kassandane," and it pleases me that thou hast at last resolved to marry;
+but never-the-less this alliance does not seem suitable for a son of
+Cyrus.  And have you forgotten that the Achaemenidae; will probably
+refuse to recognize the child of a Greek mother as their future king,
+if Cambyses should remain childless?"
+
+"Mother, I fear nothing; for my heart is not set upon the crown.  And
+indeed many a king of Persia has had a mother of far lower parentage than
+my Sappho."  I feel persuaded that when my relations see the precious
+jewel I have won on the Nile, not one of them will chide me."
+
+"The gods grant that Sappho may be equal to our Nitetis!"  answered
+Kassandane, "I love her as if she were my own child, and bless the day
+which brought her to Persia.  The warm light of her eyes has melted your
+brother's hard heart; her kindness and gentleness bring beauty into the
+night of my blind old age, and her sweet earnestness and gravity have
+changed your sister Atossa from an unruly child into a gentle maiden.
+But now call them, (they are playing in the garden), and we will tell
+them of the new friend they are to gain through you."
+
+"Pardon me, my mother," answered Bartja, "but I must beg you not to tell
+my sister until we are sure of the king's consent."
+
+"You are right, my son.  We must conceal your wish, to save Nitetis and
+Atossa from a possible disappointment.  A bright hope unfulfilled is
+harder to bear than an unexpected sorrow.  So let us wait for your
+brother's consent, and may the gods give their blessing!"  Early in the
+morning of the king's birthday the Persians offered their sacrifices on
+the shores of the Euphrates.  A huge altar of silver had been raised on
+an artificial hill.  On this a mighty fire had been kindled,  from which
+flames and sweet odors rose towards heaven.  White-robed magi fed the
+fire with pieces of daintily-cut sandal-wood, and stirred it with bundles
+of rods.
+
+A cloth, the Paiti-dhana, was bound round the  heads of the priests, the
+ends of which covered the mouth, and thus preserved the pure fire from
+pollution by human breath.
+
+     [The Persians were ordered to hold this little square piece of cloth
+     before their mouths when they prayed.  It was from 2 to 7 fingers
+     broad.  Anquetil gives a drawing of it in his Zend-Avesia.  Strabo
+     speaks of the Paiti-dhana p. 733.  He says the ends of the cloth
+     used as a covering for the head hung down over the mouth.]
+
+The victims had been slaughtered in a meadow near the river, the flesh
+cut into pieces, sprinkled with salt, and laid out on tender grasses,
+sprouts of clover, myrtle-blossoms, and laurel-leaves, that the beautiful
+daughter of Ormuzd, the patient, sacred Earth, might not be touched by
+aught that was dead or bleeding.
+
+Oropastes, the chief Destur,--[Priest]--now drew near the fire and cast
+fresh butter into it.  The flames leapt up into the air and all the
+Persians fell on their knees and hid their faces, in the belief that the
+fire was now ascending to their great god and father.  The Magian then
+took a mortar, laid some leaves and stalks of the sacred herb Haomas
+within it, crushed them and poured the ruddy juice, the food of the gods,
+into the flames.
+
+After this he raised his hands to heaven, and, while the other priests
+continually fed the flames into a wilder blaze by casting in fresh
+butter, sang a long prayer out of the sacred books.  In this prayer the
+blessing of the gods was called down on everything pure and good, but
+principally on the king and his entire realm.  The good spirits of light,
+life and truth; of all noble deeds; of the Earth, the universal giver; of
+the refreshing waters, the shining metals, the pastures, trees and
+innocent creatures, were praised: the evil spirits of darkness; of lying,
+the deceiver of mankind; of disease, death and sin; of the rigid cold;
+the desolating heat; of all odious dirt and vermin, were cursed, together
+with their father the malignant Ahriman.  At the end all present joined
+in singing the festival prayer: "Purity and glory are sown for them that
+are pure and upright in heart."
+
+The sacrificial ceremony was concluded with the king's prayer, and then
+Cambyses, arrayed in his richest robes, ascended a splendid chariot drawn
+by four snow-white Nicoean horses, and studded with topazes, cornelian
+and amber, and was conveyed to the great reception-hall, where the
+deputies and officers from the provinces awaited him.
+
+As soon as the king and his retinue had departed, the priests selected,
+for themselves, the best pieces of the flesh which had been offered in
+sacrifice, and allowed the thronging crowd to take the rest.
+
+The Persian divinities disdained sacrifices in the light of food,
+requiring only the souls of the slaughtered animals, and many a poor man,
+especially among the priests, subsisted on the flesh of the abundant
+royal sacrifices.
+
+The prayer offered up by the Magian was a model for those of the Persian
+people.  No man was allowed to ask anything of the gods for himself
+alone.  Every pious soul was rather to implore blessings for his nation;
+for was not each only a part of the whole? and did not each man share in
+the blessings granted to the whole kingdom?  But especially they were
+commanded to pray for the king, in whom the realm was embodied and
+shadowed forth.  It was this beautiful surrender of self for the public
+weal, that had made the Persians great.  The doctrines of the Egyptian
+priesthood represented the Pharaohs as actual divinities, while the
+Persian monarchs were only called "sons of the gods;" yet the power of
+the latter was far more absolute and unfettered than that of the former;
+the reason for this being that the Persians had been wise enough to free
+themselves from priestly domination, while the Pharaohs, as we have seen,
+if not entirely under the dominion of the priestly caste, were yet under
+its influence in the most important matters.
+
+The Egyptian intolerance of all strange religions was unknown in Asia.
+The conquered Babylonians were allowed by Cyrus to retain their own gods,
+after their incorporation in the great Asiatic kingdom.  The Jews,
+Ionians and inhabitants of Asia Minor, in short, the entire mass of
+nations subject to Cambyses remained unmolested in possession of their
+hereditary religions and customs.
+
+Beside the great altar, therefore, might be seen many a smaller
+sacrificial flame, kindled in honor of their own divinities, by the
+envoys from the conquered provinces to this great birthday feast.
+
+Viewed from a distance, the immense city looked like a gigantic furnace.
+Thick clouds of smoke hovered over its towers, obscuring the light of the
+burning May sun.
+
+By the time the king had reached the palace, the multitude who had come
+to take part in the festival had formed themselves into a procession of
+interminable length, which wandered on through the straight streets of
+Babylon towards the royal palace.
+
+Their road was strewn with myrtle and palm-branches, roses, poppy and
+oleander-blossoms, and with leaves of the silver poplar, palm and laurel;
+the air perfumed with incense, myrrh, and a thousand other sweet odors.
+Carpets and flags waved and fluttered from the houses.
+
+Music too was there; the shrill peal of the Median trumpet, and soft tone
+of the Phrygian flute; the Jewish cymbal and harp, Paphlagonian
+tambourines and the stringed instruments of Ionia; Syrian kettle-drums
+and cymbals, the shells and drums of the Arians from the mouth of the
+Indus, and the loud notes of the Bactrian battle-trumpets.  But above all
+these resounded the rejoicing shouts of the Babylonian multitude,
+subjugated by the Persians only a few short years before, and yet, like
+all Asiatics, wearing their fetters with an air of gladness so long as
+the fear of their tyrant was before their eyes.
+
+The fragrant odors, the blaze of color and sparkling of gold and jewels,
+the neighing of the horses, and shouts and songs of human beings, all
+united to produce a whole, at once bewildering and intoxicating to the
+senses and the feelings.
+
+The messengers had not been sent up to Babylon empty-handed.  Beautiful
+horses, huge elephants and comical monkeys; rhinoceroses and buffaloes
+adorned with housings and tassels; double-humped Bactrian camels with
+gold collars on their shaggy necks; waggon-loads of rare woods and ivory,
+woven goods of exquisite texture, casks of ingots and gold-dust, gold and
+silver vessels, rare plants for the royal gardens, and foreign animals
+for the preserves, the most remarkable of which were antelopes, zebras,
+and rare monkeys and birds, these last being tethered to a tree in full
+leaf and fluttering among the branches.  Such were the offerings sent to
+the great king of Persia.
+
+They were the tribute of the conquered nations and, after having been
+shown to the king, were weighed and tested by treasurers and secretaries,
+either declared satisfactory, or found wanting and returned, in which
+case the niggardly givers were condemned to bring a double tribute later.
+
+     [At the time of which we are writing, the kings of Persia taxed
+     their kingdom at whatever time and to whatever extent seemed good in
+     their own eyes.  Cambyses' successor, Darius, was the first to
+     introduce a regular system of taxation, in consequence of which he
+     was nicknamed "the shopkeeper."  Up to a much later period it still
+     remained the duty of certain districts to send natural products to
+     the court  Herod. I.  192.  Xenoph.  Anab. IV. 5.]
+
+The palace-gates were reached without hindrance, the way being kept clear
+by lines of soldiers and whipbearers stationed on either side of the
+street.
+
+If the royal progress to the place of sacrifice, when five hundred
+richly-caprisoned horses had been led behind the king's chariot, could be
+called magnificent, and the march of the envoys a brilliant spectacle,
+the great throne-room presented a vision of dazzling and magic beauty.
+
+In the background, raised on six steps, each of which was guarded, as it
+were, by two golden clogs, stood the throne of gold; above it, supported
+by four golden pillars studded with precious stones, was a purple canopy,
+on which appeared two winged discs, the king's Feruer.
+
+     [The Feruer or Ferwer is the spiritual part of every man-his soul
+     and reason.  It was in existence before the man was horn, joins him
+     at his birth and departs at his death.  The Ferwer keeps up a war
+     with the Diws or evil spirits, and is the element of man's
+     preservation in life.  The moment he departs, the body returns to
+     its original elements.  After death he becomes immortal if he has
+     done well, but if his deeds have been evil he is cast into hell.  It
+     is right to call upon the Ferwer and entreat his help.  He will
+     bring the prayer before God and on this account is represented as a
+     winged disc.]
+
+Fan-bearers, high in office at the court, stood behind the throne, and,
+on either side, those who sat at the king's table, his relations and
+friends, and the most important among the officers of state, the priestly
+caste and the eunuchs.
+
+The walls and ceiling of the entire hall were covered with plates of
+burnished gold, and the floor with purple carpets.
+
+Before the silver gates lay winged bulls, and the king's body-guard-their
+dress consisting of a gold cuirass under a purple overcoat, and the high
+Persian cap, their swords in golden scabbards glittering with jewels, and
+their lances ornamented with gold and silver apples, were stationed in
+the court of the palace.  Among them the band of the "Immortals" was
+easily to be distinguished by their stately forms and dauntless bearing.
+
+Officers, whose duty consisted in announcing and presenting strangers,
+and who carried short ivory staves, led the deputies into the hall, and
+up to the throne, where they cast themselves on the ground as though they
+would kiss the earth, concealing their hands in the sleeves of their
+robes.  A cloth was bound over the mouth of every man before he was
+allowed to answer the king's questions, lest the pure person of the king
+should be polluted by the breath of common men.
+
+Cambyses' severity or mildness towards the deputations with whose chiefs
+he spoke, was proportioned to the obedience of their province and the
+munificence of their tribute-offerings.  Near the end of the train
+appeared an embassy from the Jews, led by two grave men with sharply-cut
+features and long beards.  Cambyses called on them in a friendly tone to
+stop.
+
+The first of these men was dressed in the fashion of the Babylonian
+aristocracy.  The other wore a purple robe woven without seam, trimmed
+with bells and tassels, and held in at the waist by a girdle of blue, red
+and white.  A blue garment was thrown over his shoulders and a little bag
+suspended around his neck containing the sacred lots, the Urim and
+Thummin, adorned with twelve precious stones set in gold, and bearing the
+names of the tribes of Israel.  The high-priest's brow was grave and
+thoughtful.  A white cloth was wound round his head, the ends of which
+hung down to the shoulders.
+
+"I rejoice to behold you once more, Belteshazzar," exclaimed the king to
+the former of the two men.  "Since the death of my father you have not
+been seen at my gate."
+
+The man thus addressed bowed humbly and answered: "The favor of the king
+rejoices his servant!  If it seem good unto thee, to cause the sun of thy
+favor to shine on me, thine unworthy servant, so hearken unto my petition
+for my nation, which thy great father caused to return unto the land of
+their fathers' sepulchres.  This old man at my side, Joshua, the high-
+priest of our God, hath not feared the long journey to Babylon, that he
+might bring his request before thy face.  Let his speech be pleasing in
+thine ears and his words bring forth fruit in thine heart."
+
+"I foresee what ye desire of me," cried the king.  "Am I wrong, priest,
+in supposing that your petition refers to the building of the temple in
+your native land?"
+
+"Nothing can be hidden from the eyes of my lord," answered the priest,
+bowing low.  "Thy servants in Jerusalem desire to behold the face of
+their ruler, and beseech thee by my mouth to visit the land of their
+fathers, and to grant them permission to set forward the work of the
+temple, concerning which thine illustrious father (the favor of our God
+rest upon him), made a decree."
+
+The king answered with a smile: "You have the craft of your nation, and
+understand how to choose the right time and words for your petition.  On
+my birthday it is difficult for me to refuse my faithful people even one
+request.  I promise you, therefore, so soon as possible to visit
+Jerusalem and the land of your fathers."
+
+"By so doing thou wilt make glad the hearts of thy servants," answered
+the priest; "our vines and olives will bear more fruit at thine approach,
+our gates will lift up their heads to receive thee, and Israel rejoice
+with shouts to meet his lord doubly blessed if as lord of the building--"
+
+"Enough, priest, enough!"  cried Cambyses.  "Your first petition, I have
+said it, shall not remain unfulfilled; for I have long desired to visit
+the wealthy city of Tyre, the golden Sidon, and Jerusalem with its
+strange superstitions; but were I to give permission for the building
+now, what would remain for me to grant you in the coming year?"
+
+"Thy servants will no more molest thee by their petitions, if thou grant
+unto them this one, to finish the temple of the Lord their God," answered
+the priest.
+
+"Strange beings, these men of Palestine!"  exclaimed Cambyses.  "I have
+heard it said that ye believe in one God alone, who can be represented by
+no likeness, and is a spirit.  Think ye then that this omnipresent Being
+requires a house?  Verily, your great spirit can be but a weak and
+miserable creature, if he need a covering from the wind and rain, and a
+shelter from the heat which he himself has created.  If your God be like
+ours, omnipresent, fall down before him and worship as we do, in every
+place, and feel certain that everywhere ye will be heard of him!"
+
+"The God of Israel hears his people in every place," exclaimed the high-
+priest.  "He heard us when we pined in captivity under the Pharaohs far
+from our land; he heard us weeping by the rivers of Babylon.  He chose
+thy father to be the instrument of our deliverance, and will hear my
+prayer this day and soften thine heart like wise.  O mighty king, grant
+unto thy servants a common place of sacrifice, whither our twelve tribes
+may repair, an altar on the steps of which they can pray together,
+a house in which to keep their holy feasts!  For this permission we will
+call down the blessing of God upon thine head and his curse upon thine
+enemies."
+
+"Grant unto my brethren the permission to build their temple!"  added
+Belteshazzar, who was the richest and most honorable and respected of the
+Jews yet remaining in Babylon; a man whom Cyrus had treated with much
+consideration, and of whom he had even taken counsel from time to time.
+
+"Will ye then be peaceable, if I grant your petition?"  asked the king.
+"My father allowed you to begin the work and granted the means for its
+completion.  Of one mind, happy and content, ye returned to your native
+land, but while pursuing your work strife and contention entered among
+you.  Cyrus was assailed by repeated letters, signed by the chief men of
+Syria, entreating him to forbid the work, and I also have been lately
+besought to do the same.  Worship your God when and where ye will, but
+just because I desire your welfare, I cannot consent to the prosecution
+of a work which kindles discord among you."
+
+"And is it then thy pleasure on this day to take back a favor, which thy
+father made sure unto us by a written decree?"  asked Belteshazzar.
+
+"A written decree?"
+
+"Which will surely be found even to this day laid up in the archives of
+thy kingdom."
+
+"Find this decree and show it me, and I will not only allow the building
+to be continued, but will promote the same," answered the king; "for my
+father's will is as sacred to me as the commands of the gods."
+
+"Wilt thou allow search to be made in the house of the rolls at
+Ecbatana?"  asked Belteshazzar.  "The decree will surely be found there."
+
+"I consent, but I fear ye will find none.  Tell thy nation, priest, that
+I am content with the equipment of the men of war they have sent to take
+the field against the Massagetae.  My general Megabyzus commends their
+looks and bearing.  May thy people prove as valiant now as in the wars of
+my father!  You, Belteshazzar, I bid to my marriage feast, and charge you
+to tell your fellows, Meshach and Abednego, next unto you the highest in
+the city of Babylon, that I expect them this evening at my table."
+
+"The God of my people Israel grant thee blessing and happiness," answered
+Belteshazzar bowing low before the king.
+
+"A wish which I accept!"  answered the king, "for I do not despise the
+power of your wonder-working great Spirit.  But one word more,
+Belteshazzar.  Many Jews have lately been punished for reviling the gods
+of the Babylonians.  Warn your people!  They bring down hatred on
+themselves by their stiff-necked superstition, and the pride with which
+they declare their own great spirit to be the only true God.  Take
+example by us; we are content with our own faith and leave others to
+enjoy theirs in peace.  Cease to look upon yourselves as better than the
+rest of the world.  I wish you well, for a pride founded on self-respect
+is pleasing in mine eyes; but take heed lest pride degenerate into
+vainglory.  Farewell!  rest assured of my favor."
+
+The Jews then departed.  They were disappointed, but not hopeless; for
+Belteshazzar knew well that the decree, relative to the building of the
+temple, must be in the archives at Ecbatana.
+
+They were followed by a deputation from Syria, and by the Greeks of
+Ionia; and then, winding up the long train, appeared a band of wild-
+looking men, dressed in the skins of animals, whose features bespoke them
+foreigners in Babylon.  They wore girdles and shoulderbands of solid,
+unwrought gold; and of the same precious metal were their bow-cases,
+axes, lance-points, and the ornaments on their high fur caps.  They were
+preceded by a man in Persian dress, whose features proved him, however,
+to be of the same race as his followers.
+
+The king gazed at first on these envoys with wonder; then his brow
+darkened, and beckoning the officer whose duty it was to present
+strangers, he exclaimed "What can these men have to crave of me?  If I
+mistake not they belong to the Massagetae, to that people who are so soon
+to tremble before my vengeance.  Tell them, Gobryas, that an armed host
+is standing on the Median plains ready to answer their demands with the
+sword."
+
+Gobryas answered, bowing low: "These men arrived this morning during the
+sacrifice bringing huge burdens of the purest gold to purchase your
+forbearance.  When they heard that a great festival was being celebrated
+in your honor, they urgently besought to be admitted into your presence,
+that they might declare the message entrusted to them by their country."
+
+The king's brow cleared and, after sharply scrutinizing the tall, bearded
+Massageta:, he said: "Let them come nearer.  I am curious to know what
+proposals my father's murderers are about to make me."
+
+Gobryas made a sign, and the tallest and eldest of the Massagetae came up
+close to the throne and began to speak loudly in his native tongue.  He
+was accompanied by the man in a Persian dress, who, as one of Cyrus'
+prisoners of war, had learnt the Persian language, and now interpreted
+one by one the sentences uttered by the spokesman of this wandering
+tribe.
+
+"We know," began the latter, "that thou, great king, art wroth with the
+Massagetae because thy father fell in war with our tribe--a war which he
+alone had provoked with a people who had done naught to offend him."
+
+"My father was justified in punishing your nation," interrupted the king.
+"Your Queen Tomyris had dared to refuse him her hand in marriage."
+
+"Be not wroth, O King," answered the Massagetan, "when I tell thee that
+our entire nation approved of that act.  Even a child could see that the
+great Cyrus only desired to add our queen to the number of his wives,
+hoping, in his insatiable thirst for more territories, to gain our land
+with her."
+
+Cambyses was silent and the envoy went on.  "Cyrus caused a bridge to be
+made over our boundary river, the Araxes.  We were not dismayed at this,
+and Tomyris sent word that he might save himself this trouble, for that
+the Massagetae were willing either to await him quietly in their own
+land, leaving the passage of the river free, or to meet him in his.
+Cyrus decided, by the advice of the dethroned king of Lydia, (as we
+learnt afterwards, through some prisoners of war) on meeting us in our
+own land and defeating us by a stratagem.  With this intention he sent
+at first only a small body of troops, which could be easily dispersed and
+destroyed by our arrows and lances, and allowed us to seize his camp
+without striking a blow.  Believing we had defeated this insatiable
+conqueror, we feasted on his abundant stores, and, poisoned by the sweet
+unknown drink which you call wine, fell into a stupefied slumber, during
+which his soldiers fell upon us, murdered the greater number of our
+warriors and took many captives.  Among the latter was the brave, young
+Spargapises, our queen's son.
+
+"Hearing in his captivity, that his mother was willing to conclude peace
+with your nation as the price of his liberty, he asked to have his chains
+taken off.  The request was granted, and on obtaining the use of his
+hands he seized a sword and stabbed himself, exclaiming: 'I sacrifice my
+life for the freedom of my nation.'"
+
+"No sooner did we hear the news that the young prince we loved so well
+had died thus, than we assembled all the forces yet left to us from your
+swords and fetters.  Even old men and boys flew to arms to revenge our
+noble Spargapises, and sacrifice themselves, after his example, for
+Massagetaen freedom.  Our armies met; ye were worsted and Cyrus fell.
+When Tomyris found his body lying in a pool of human blood, she cried:
+'Methinks, insatiable conqueror, thou art at last sated with blood!'
+The troop, composed of the flower of your nobility, which you call the
+Immortals, drove us back and carried your father's dead body forth from
+our closest ranks.  You led them on, fighting like a lion.  I know you
+well, and that wound across your manly face, which adorns it like a
+purple badge of honor, was made by the sword now hanging at my side."
+
+A movement passed through the listening crowd; they trembled for the bold
+speaker's life.  Cambyses, however, looked pleased, nodded approvingly to
+the man and answered: "Yes, I recognize you too now; you rode a red horse
+with golden trappings.  You shall see that the Persians know how to honor
+courage.  Bow down before this man, my friends, for never did I see a
+sharper sword nor a more unwearied arm than his; and such heroic courage
+deserves honor from the brave, whether shown by friend or foe.  As for
+you, Massagetae, I would advise you to go home quickly and prepare for
+war; the mere recollection of your strength and courage increases my
+longing to test it once more.  A brave foe, by Mithras, is far better
+than a feeble friend.  You shall be allowed to return home in peace; but
+beware of remaining too long within my reach, lest the thought of the
+vengeance I owe my father's soul should rouse my anger, and your end draw
+suddenly nigh."
+
+A bitter smile played round the bearded mouth of the warrior as he made
+answer to this speech.  "The Massagetae deem your father's soul too well
+avenged already.  The only son of our queen, his people's pride, and in
+no way inferior to Cyrus, has bled for him.  The shores of the Araxes
+have been fertilized by the bodies of fifty thousand of my countrymen,
+slain as offerings for your dead king, while only thirty thousand fell
+there on your own side.  We fought as bravely as you, but your armor is
+better able to resist the arrows which pierce our clothing of skins.  And
+lastly, as the most cruel blow of all, ye slew our queen."
+
+"Tomyris is dead?"  exclaimed Cambyses interrupting him.  "You mean to
+tell me that the Persians have killed a woman?  Answer at once, what has
+happened to your queen?"
+
+"Tomyris died ten months ago of grief for the loss of her only son, and I
+have therefore a right to say that she too fell a sacrifice to the war
+with Persia and to your father's spirit."
+
+"She was a great woman," murmured Cambyses, his voice unsteady from
+emotion.  "Verily, I begin to think that the gods themselves have
+undertaken to revenge my father's blood on your nation.  Yet I tell you
+that, heavy as your losses may seem, Spargapises, Tomyris and fifty
+thousand Massagetae can never outweigh the spirit of one king of Persia,
+least of all of a Cyrus."
+
+"In our country," answered the envoy, "death makes all men equal.  The
+spirits of the king and the slave are of equal worth.  Your father was a
+great man, but we have undergone awful sufferings for his sake.  My tale
+is not yet ended.  After the death of Tomyris discord broke out among the
+Massagetae.  Two claimants for the crown appeared; half our nation fought
+for the one, half for the other, and our hosts were thinned, first by
+this fearful civil war and then by the pestilence which followed in its
+track.  We can no longer resist your power, and therefore come with heavy
+loads of pure gold as the price of peace."
+
+"Ye submit then without striking a blow?"  asked Cambyses.  "Verily, I
+had expected something else from such heroes; the numbers of my host,
+which waits assembled on the plains of Media, will prove that.  We cannot
+go to battle without an enemy.  I will dismiss my troops and send a
+satrap.  Be welcome as new subjects of my realm."
+
+The red blood mounted into the cheeks of the Massagetan warrior on
+hearing these words, and he answered in a voice trembling with
+excitement: "You err, O King, if you imagine that we have lost our old
+courage, or learnt to long for slavery.  But we know your strength; we
+know that the small remnant of our nation, which war and pestilence have
+spared, cannot resist your vast and well-armed hosts.  This we admit,
+freely and honestly as is the manner of the Massagetae, declaring however
+at the same time, that we are determined to govern ourselves as of yore,
+and will never receive laws or ordinances from a Persian satrap.  You are
+wroth, but I can bear your angry gaze and yet repeat my declaration."
+
+"And my answer," cried Cambyses, "is this: Ye have but one choice: either
+to submit to my sceptre, become united to the kingdom of Persia under the
+name of the Massagetan province, and receive a satrap as my
+representative with due reverence, or to look upon yourselves as my
+enemies, in which case you will be forced by arms to conform to those
+conditions which I now offer you in good part.  To-day you could secure
+a ruler well-affected to your cause, later you will find in me only a
+conqueror and avenger.  Consider well before you answer."
+
+"We have already weighed and considered all," answered the warrior, "and,
+as free sons of the desert, prefer death to bondage.  Hear what the
+council of our old men has sent me to declare to you:--The Massageta;
+have become too weak to oppose the Persians, not through their own fault,
+but through the heavy visitation of our god, the sun.  We know that you
+have armed a vast host against us, and we are ready to buy peace and
+liberty by a yearly tribute.  But if you persist in compelling us to
+submit by force of arms, you can only bring great damage on yourselves.
+The moment your army nears the Araxes, we shall depart with our wives and
+children and seek another home, for we have no fixed dwellings like
+yours, but are accustomed to rove at will on our swift horses, and to
+rest in tents.  Our gold we shall take with us, and shall fill up,
+destroy, and conceal the pits in which you could find new treasures.  We
+know every spot where gold is to be found, and can give it in abundance,
+if you grant us peace and leave us our liberty; but, if you venture to
+invade our territory, you win nothing but an empty desert and an enemy
+always beyond your reach,--an enemy who may become formidable, when he
+has had time to recover from the heavy losses which have thinned his
+ranks.  Leave us in peace and freedom and we are ready to give every year
+five thousand swift horses of the desert, besides the yearly tribute of
+gold; we will also come to the help of the Persian nation when threatened
+by any serious danger."
+
+The envoy ceased speaking.  Cambyses did not answer at once; his eyes
+were fixed on the ground in deep thought.  At last he said, rising at the
+same time from his throne: "We will take counsel on this matter over the
+wine to-night, and to-morrow you shall hear what answer you can bring to
+your people.  Gobryas, see that these men are well cared for, and send
+the Massagetan, who wounded me in battle, a portion of the best dishes
+from my own table."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on the
+hanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts.  To-day, for the first
+time, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king's
+wives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before the
+fire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears.
+
+Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time,
+and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her during
+the ceremony.  The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and the
+loud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind.
+Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of the
+gigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods of
+her childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and much
+as she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her beloved
+king, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotional
+feeling.  Kassandane and Atossa knelt at her side, joining heartily in
+the very hymns which to Nitetis were an empty sound.
+
+It cannot be denied, that many parts of these hymns contain true poetry;
+but they become wearisome through the constant repetition and invocation
+of the names of good and bad spirits.  The Persian women had been taught
+from childhood, to look upon these religious songs as higher and holier
+than any other poetry.  Their earliest prayers had been accompanied by
+such hymns, and, like everything else which has come down to us from our
+fathers, and which we have been told in the impressionable time of
+childhood is divine and worthy of our reverence, they were still sacred
+and dear to them and stirred their most devotional feelings.
+
+But for Nitetis, who had been spoilt for such things by an intimate
+acquaintance with the best Greek poets, they could have but little charm.
+What she had lately been learning in Persia with difficulty had not yet
+become a part of herself, and so, while Kassandane and Atossa went
+through all the outward rites as things of course and perfectly natural
+to them, Nitetis could only prevent herself from forgetting the
+prescribed ceremonials by a great mental effort, and dreaded lest she
+should expose her ignorance to the jealous, watchful gaze of her rivals.
+
+And then, too, only a few minutes before the sacrifice, she had received
+her first letter from Egypt.  It lay unread on her dressing-table, and
+came into her mind whenever she attempted to pray.  She could not help
+wondering what news it might bring her.  How were her parents?  and how
+had Tachot borne the parting from herself, and from the prince she loved
+so well?
+
+The ceremony over, Nitetis embraced Kassandane and Atossa, and drew a
+long, deep breath, as if delivered from some threatening danger.  Then
+ordering her litter, she was carried back to her dwelling, and hastened
+eagerly to the table where her letter lay.  Her principal attendant, the
+young girl who on the journey had dressed her in her first Persian robes,
+received her with a smile full of meaning and promise, which changed
+however, into a look of astonishment, on seeing her mistress seize the
+letter, without even glancing at the articles of dress and jewelery which
+lay on the table.
+
+Nitetis broke the seal quickly and was sitting down, in order to begin
+the difficult work of reading her letter, when the girl came up, and with
+clasped hands, exclaimed: "By Mithras, my mistress, I cannot understand
+you.  Either you are ill, or that ugly bit of grey stuff must contain
+some magic which makes you blind to everything else.  Put that roll away
+and look at the splendid presents that the great king (Auramazda grant
+him victory!) has sent while you were at the sacrifice.  Look at this
+wonderful purple robe with the white stripe and the rich silver
+embroidery; and then the tiara with the royal diamonds!  Do not you know
+the high meaning of these gifts?  Cambyses begs, (the messenger said
+'begs,' not 'commands') you to wear these splendid ornaments at the
+banquet to-day.  How angry Phaedime will be! and how the others will
+look, for they have never received such presents.  Till now only
+Kassandane has had a right to wear the purple and diamonds; so by sending
+you these gifts, Cambyses places you on a level with his mother, and
+chooses you to be his favorite wife before the whole world.'  O pray
+allow me to dress you in these new and beautiful things.  How lovely you
+will look!  How angry and envious the others will feel!  If I could only
+be there when you enter the hall!  Come, my mistress, let me take off
+your simple dress, and array you, (only as a trial you know,) in the
+robes that as the new queen you ought to wear."
+
+Nitetis listened in silence to the chattering girl, and admired the gifts
+with a quiet smile.  She was woman enough to rejoice at the sight, for
+he, whom she loved better than life itself, had sent them; and they were
+a proof that she was more to the king than all his other wives;--that
+Cambyses really loved her.  The long wished-for letter fell unread to the
+ground, the girl's wish to dress her was granted without a word, and in a
+short time the splendid toilette was completed.  The royal purple added
+to her beauty, the high flashing tiara made her slender, perfect figure
+seem taller than it really was, and when, in the metal mirror which lay
+on her dressing table, she beheld herself for the first time in the
+glorious likeness of a queen, a new expression dawned on her features.
+It seemed as if a portion of her lord's pride were reflected there.  The
+frivolous waiting-woman sank involuntarily on her knees, as her eyes,
+full of smiling admiration, met the radiant glance of Nitetis,--of the
+woman who was beloved by the most powerful of men.
+
+For a few moments Nitetis gazed on the girl, lying in the dust at her
+feet; but soon shook her beautiful head, and blushing for shame, raised
+her kindly, kissed her forehead, gave her a gold bracelet, and then,
+perceiving her letter on the ground, told her she wished to be alone.
+Mandane ran, rather than walked, out of the room in her eagerness to show
+the splendid present she had just received to the inferior attendants and
+slaves; and Nitetis, her eyes glistening and her heart beating with
+excess of happiness, threw herself on to the ivory chair which stood
+before her dressing-table, uttered a short prayer of thanksgiving to her
+favorite Egyptian goddess, the beautiful Hathor, kissed the gold chain
+which Cambyses had given her after plunging into the water for her ball,
+then her letter from home, and rendered almost over-confident by her
+great happiness, began to unroll it, slowly sinking back into the purple
+cushions as she did so and murmuring: "How very, very happy I am!  Poor
+letter, I am sure your writer never thought Nitetis would leave you a
+quarter of an hour on the ground unread."
+
+In this happy mood she began to read, but her face soon grew serious and
+when she had finished, the letter fell once more to the ground.
+
+Her eyes, whose proud glance had brought the waiting-maid to her feet,
+were dimmed by tears; her head, carried so proudly but a few minutes
+before, now lay on the jewels which covered the table.  Tears rolled down
+among the pearls and diamonds, as strange a contrast as the proud tiara
+and its unhappy, fainting wearer.
+
+The letter read as follows:
+
+"Ladice the wife of Amasis and Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt, to her
+daughter Nitetis, consort of the great King of Persia.
+
+"It has not been our fault, my beloved daughter, that you have remained
+so long without news from home.  The trireme by which we sent our letters
+for you to AEgae was detained by Samian ships of war, or rather pirate
+vessels, and towed into the harbor of Astypalaea.
+
+"Polykrates' presumption increases with the continual success of his
+undertakings, and since his victory over the Lesbians and Milesians, who
+endeavored to put a stop to his depredations, not a ship is safe from the
+attacks of his pirate vessels.
+
+"Pisistratus is dead," but his sons are friendly to Polykrates.  Lygdamis
+is under obligations to him, and cannot hold his own in Naxos without
+Samian help.  He has won over the Amphiktyonic council to his side by
+presenting the Apollo of Delos with the neighboring island of Rhenea.
+His fifty-oared vessels, requiring to be manned by twenty-thousand men,
+do immense damage to all the seafaring nations; yet not one dares to
+attack him, as the fortifications of his citadel and his splendid harbor
+are almost impregnable, and he himself always surrounded by a well-
+drilled body-guard.
+
+"Through the traders, who followed the fortunate Kolxus to the far west,
+and these pirate ships, Samos will become the richest of islands and
+Polykrates the most powerful of men, unless, as your father says, the
+gods become envious of such unchanging good fortune and prepare him a
+sudden and speedy downfall.
+
+"In this fear Amasis advised Polykrates as his old friend, to put away
+from him the thing he held dearest, and in such a manner that he might be
+sure of never receiving it again.  Polykrates adopted this advice and
+threw into the sea, from the top of the round tower on his citadel, his
+most valuable signet-ring, an unusually large sardonyx held by two
+dolphins.  This ring was the work of Theodorus, and a lyre, the symbol of
+the ruler, was exquisitely engraved on the stone."
+
+"Six days later, however, the ring was found by Polykrates' cooks in the
+body of a fish.  He sent us news at once of this strange occurrence, but
+instead of rejoicing your father shook his grey head sadly, saying: 'he
+saw now it was impossible for any one to avoid his destiny!'  On the same
+day he renounced the friendship of Polykrates and wrote him word, that he
+should endeavor to forget him in order to avoid the grief of seeing his
+friend in misfortune.
+
+"Polykrates laughed at this message and returned the letters his pirates
+had taken from our trireme, with a derisive greeting.  For the future all
+your letters will be sent by Syria.
+
+"You will ask me perhaps, why I have told you this long story, which has
+so much less interest for you than any other home news.  I answer: to
+prepare you for your father's state.  Would you have recognized the
+cheerful, happy, careless Amasis in that gloomy answer to his Samian
+friend?
+
+"Alas, my husband has good reason to be sad, and since you left us, my
+own eyes have seldom been free from tears.  My time is passed either at
+the sick-bed of your sister or in comforting your father and guiding his
+steps; and though much in need of sleep I am now taking advantage of
+night to write these lines.
+
+"Here I was interrupted by the nurses, calling me to your sister Tachot,
+your own true friend.
+
+"How often the dear child has called you in her feverish delirium; and
+how carefully she treasures your likeness in wax, that wonderful portrait
+which bears evidence not only of the height to which Greek art has risen,
+but of the master hand of the great Theodorus.  To-morrow it will be sent
+to AEgina, to be copied in gold, as the soft wax becomes injured from
+frequent contact with your sister's burning hands and lips.
+
+"And now, my daughter, you must summon all your courage to hear what I
+need all my strength of mind to tell-the sad story of the fate which the
+gods have decreed for our house.
+
+"For three days after you left us Tachot wept incessantly.  Neither our
+comforting words nor your father's good advice--neither offerings nor
+prayers--could avail to lessen her grief or divert her mind.  At last on
+the fourth day she ceased to weep and would answer our questions in a low
+voice, as if resigned; but spent the greater part of every day sitting
+silently at her wheel.  Her fingers, however, which used to be so
+skilful, either broke the threads they tried to spin, or lay for hours
+idle in her lap, while she was lost in dreams.  Your father's jokes, at
+which she used to laugh so heartily, made no impression on her, and when
+I endeavored to reason with her she listened in anxious suspense.
+
+"If I kissed her forehead and begged her to control herself, she would
+spring up, blushing deeply, and throw herself into my arms, then sit down
+again to her wheel and begin to pull at the threads with almost frantic
+eagerness; but in half an hour her hands would be lying idle in her lap
+again and her eyes dreamily fixed, either on the ground, or on some spot
+in the air.  If we forced her to take part in any entertainment, she
+would wander among the guests totally uninterested in everything that was
+passing.
+
+"We took her with us on the great pilgrimage to Bubastis, during which
+the Egyptians forget their usual gravity, and the shores of the Nile look
+like a great stage where the wild games of the satyrs are being performed
+by choruses, hurried on in the unrestrained wantonness of intoxication.
+When she saw thus for the first time an entire people given up to the
+wildest and most unfettered mirth and enjoyment, she woke up from her
+silent brooding thoughts and began to weep again, as in the first days
+after you went away.
+
+"Sad and perplexed, we brought our poor child back to Sais.
+
+"Her looks were not those of a common mortal.  She grew thinner, and we
+all fancied, taller; her complexion was white, and almost transparent,
+with a tender bloom on her cheek, which I can only liken to a young rose-
+leaf or the first faint blush of sunrise.  Her eyes are still wonderfully
+clear and bright.  It always seems to me as if they looked beyond the
+heaven and earth which we see.
+
+"As she continued to suffer more and more from heat in the head and
+hands, while her tender limbs often shivered with a slight chill, we sent
+to Thebes for Thutmes, the most celebrated physician for inward
+complaints.
+
+"The experienced priest shook his head on seeing your sister and foretold
+a serious illness.  He forbade her to spin or to speak much.  Potions of
+all kinds were given her to drink, her illness was discussed and
+exorcised, the stars and oracles consulted, rich presents and sacrifices
+made to the gods.  The priest of Hathor from the island of Philae sent us
+a consecrated amulet, the priest of Osiris in Abydos a lock of hair from
+the god himself set in gold, and Neithotep, the high-priest of our own
+guardian goddess, set on foot a great sacrifice, which was to restore
+your sister to health.
+
+"But neither physicians nor charms were of any avail, and at last
+Neithotep confessed that Tachot's stars gave but little ground for hope.
+Just then, too, the sacred bull at Memphis died and the priests could
+discover no heart in his entrails, which they interpreted as
+prognosticating evil to our country.  They have not yet succeeded in
+finding a new Apis, and believe that the gods are wroth with your
+father's kingdom.  Indeed the oracle of Buto has declared that the
+Immortals will show no favor to Egypt, until all the temples that have
+been built in the black land for the worship of false gods are destroyed
+and their worshippers banished.
+
+     [Egypt was called by its ancient inhabitants Cham, the black,
+     or black-earthed.]
+
+"These evil omens have proved, alas, only too true.  Tachot fell ill of a
+dreadful fever and lay for nine days hovering between life and death; she
+is still so weak that she must be carried, and can move neither hand nor
+foot.
+
+"During the journey to Bubastis, Amasis' eyes, as so often happens here,
+became inflamed.  Instead of sparing them, he continued to work as usual
+from sunrise until mid-day, and while your sister was so ill he never
+left her bed, notwithstanding all our entreaties.  But I will not enter
+into particulars, my child.  His eyes grew worse, and on the very day
+which brought us the news of your safe arrival in Babylon, Amasis became
+totally blind.
+
+"The cheerful, active man has become old, gloomy and decrepit since that
+day.  The death of Apis, and the unfavorable constellations and oracles
+weigh on his mind; his happy temper is clouded by the unbroken night in
+which he lives; and the consciousness that he cannot stir a step alone
+causes indecision and uncertainty.  The daring and independent ruler will
+soon become a mere tool, by means of which the priests can work their
+will.
+
+"He spends hours in the temple of Neith, praying and offering sacrifices;
+a number of workmen are employed there in building a tomb for his mummy,
+and the same number at Memphis in levelling the temple which the Greeks
+have begun building to Apollo.  He speaks of his own and Tachot's
+misfortunes as a just punishment from the Immortals.
+
+"His visits to Tachot's sick-bed are not the least comfort to her, for
+instead of encouraging her kindly, he endeavors to convince her that she
+too deserves punishinent from the gods.  He spends all his remarkable
+eloquence in trying to persuade her, that she must forget this world
+entirely and only try to gain the favor of Osiris and the judges of the
+nether world by ceaseless prayers and sacrifices.  In this manner he only
+tortures our poor sick child, for she has not lost her love of life.
+Perhaps I have still too much of the Greek left in me for a queen of
+Egypt; but really, death is so long and life so short, that I cannot help
+calling even wise men foolish, when they devote the half of even this
+short term to a perpetual meditation on the gloomy Hades.
+
+"I have just been interrupted again.  Our great physician, Thutmes, came
+to enquire after his patient.  He gives very little hope, and seems
+surprised that her delicate frame has been able to resist death so long.
+He said yesterday: 'She would have sunk long ago if not kept up by her
+determined will, and a longing which gives her no rest.  If she ceased to
+care for life, she could allow death to take her, just as we dream
+ourselves asleep.  If, on the other hand, her wish could be gratified,
+she might, (though this is hardly probable) live some years yet, but if
+it remain but a short time longer unfulfilled, it will certainly wear her
+to death.
+
+"Have you any idea for whom she longs so eagerly?  Our Tachot has allowed
+herself to be fascinated by the beautiful Bartja, the brother of your
+future husband.  I do not mean to say by this that he has employed magic,
+as the priest Ameneman believes, to gain her love; for a youth might be
+far less handsome and agreeable than Bartja, and yet take the heart of an
+innocent girl, still half a child.  But her passionate feeling is so
+strong, and the change in her whole being so great, that sometimes I too
+am tempted to believe in the use of supernatural influence.  A short time
+before you left I noticed that Tachot was fond of Bartja.  Her distress
+at first we thought could only be for you, but when she sank into that
+dreamy state, Ibykus, who was still at our court, said she must have been
+seized by some strong passion.
+
+"Once when she was sitting dreaming at her wheel, I heard him singing
+softly Sappho's little love-song to her:
+
+                   "I cannot, my sweet mother,
+                    Throw shuttle any more;
+                    My heart is full of longing,
+                    My spirit troubled sore,
+                    All for a love of yesterday
+                    A boy not seen before."
+
+               [Sappho ed. Neue XXXII.  Translation from Edwin Arnold's
+               Poets of Greece.]
+
+"She turned pale and asked him: 'Is that your own song?'
+
+"'No,' said he, 'Sappho wrote it fifty years ago.'
+
+"'Fifty years ago,' echoed Tachot musingly.
+
+"'Love is always the same,' interrupted the poet; 'women loved centuries
+ago, and will love thousands of years to come, just as Sappho loved fifty
+years back.'
+
+"The sick girl smiled in assent, and from that time I often heard her
+humming the little song as she sat at her wheel.  But we carefully
+avoided every question, that could remind her of him she loved.  In the
+delirium of fever, however, Bartja's name was always on her burning lips.
+When she recovered consciousness we told her what she had said in her
+delirium; then she opened her heart to me, and raising her eyes to heaven
+like a prophetess, exclaimed solemnly: 'I know, that I shall not die till
+I have seen him again.'
+
+"A short time ago we had her carried into the temple, as she longed to
+worship there again.  When the service was over and we were crossing the
+temple-court, we passed some children at play, and Tachot noticed a
+little girl telling something very eagerly to her companions.  She told
+the bearers to put down the litter and call the child to her.
+
+"'What were you saying?' she asked the little one.
+
+"I was telling the others something about my eldest sister.'
+
+"'May I hear it too?' said Tachot so kindly, that the little girl began
+at once without fear: "Batau, who is betrothed to my sister, came back
+from Thebes quite unexpectedly yesterday evening.  Just as the Isis-star
+was rising, he came suddenly on to our roof where Kerimama was playing at
+draughts with my father; and he brought her such a beutiful goldeng
+bridal wreath.'
+
+     [Among the Egyptians the planet Venus bore the name of the goddess
+     Isis.  Pliny II. 6.  Arist  De mundo II. 7.  Early monuments prove
+     that they were acquainted with the identity of the morning and
+     evening star.  Lepsius, Chronologie p. 94.]
+
+"Tachot kissed the child and gave her her own costly fan.  When we were
+at home again she smiled archly at me and said: 'You know, mother dear,
+that the words children say in the temple-courts are believed to be
+oracles.'  So, if the little one spoke the truth, he must come; and did
+not you hear that he is to bring the bridal-wreath?  O mother, I am sure,
+quite sure, that I shall see him again.'
+
+"I asked her yesterday if she had any message for you, and she begged me
+to say that she sent you thousands of kisses, and messages of love, and
+that when she was stronger she meant to write, as she had a great deal to
+tell you.  She has just brought me the little note which I enclose; it is
+for you alone, and has cost her much fatigue to write.
+
+"But now I must finish my letter, as the messenger has been waiting for
+it some time.
+
+"I wish I could give you some joyful news, but sadness and sorrow meet me
+whichever way I turn.  Your brother yields more and more to the priests'
+tyranny, and manages the affairs of state for your poor blind father
+under Neithotep's guidance.
+
+"Amasis does not interfere, and says it matters little whether his place
+be filled a few days sooner or later by his successor.
+
+"He did not attempt to prevent Psamtik from seizing the children of
+Phanes in Rhodopis' house, and actually allowed his son to enter into a
+negotiation with the descendants of those two hundred thousand soldiers,
+who emigrated to Ethiopia in the reign of Psamtik I. on account of the
+preference shown to the Greek mercenaries.  In case they declared
+themselves willing to return to their native land, the Greek mercenaries
+were to have been dismissed.  The negotiation failed entirely, but
+Psamtik's treatment of the children of Phanes has given bitter offence to
+the Greeks.  Aristomachus threatened to leave Egypt, taking with him ten
+thousand of his best troops, and on hearing that Phanes' son had been
+murdered at Psamtik's command applied for his discharge.  From that time
+the Spartan disappeared, no one knows whither; but the Greek troops
+allowed themselves to be bribed by immense sums and are still in Egypt.
+
+"Amasis said nothing to all this, and looked on silently from the midst
+of his prayers and sacrifices, while your brother was either offending
+every class of his subjects or attempting to pacify them by means beneath
+the dignity of a ruler.  The commanders of the Egyptian and Greek troops,
+and the governors of different provinces have all alike assured me that
+the present state of things is intolerable.  No one knows what to expect
+from this new ruler; he commands today the very thing, which he angrily
+forbade the day before.  Such a government must soon snap the beautiful
+bond, which has hitherto united the Fgyptian people to their king.
+
+"Farewell, my child, think of your poor friend, your mother; and forgive
+your parents when you hear what they have so long kept secret from you.
+Pray for Tachot, and remember us to Croesus and the young Persians whom
+we know.  Give a special message too from Tachot to Bartja; I beg him to
+think of it as the last legacy of one very near death.  If you could only
+send her some proof, that he has not forgotten her!  Farewell, once more
+farewell and be happy in your new and blooming home."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+Sad realities follow bright anticipations nearly as surely as a rainy day
+succeeds a golden sunrise.  Nitetis had been so happy in the thought of
+reading the very letter, which poured such bitter drops of wormwood into
+her cup of happiness.
+
+One beautiful element in her life, the remembrance of her dear home and
+the companions of her happy childhood, had been destroyed in one moment,
+as if by the touch of a magician's wand.
+
+She sat there in her royal purple, weeping, forgetful of everything but
+her mother's grief, her father's misfortunes and her sister's illness.
+The joyful future, full of love, joy, and happiness, which had been
+beckoning her forward only a few minutes before, had vanished.  Cambyses'
+chosen bride forgot her waiting, longing lover, and the future queen of
+Persia could think of nothing but the sorrows of Egypt's royal house.
+
+It was long past mid-day, when the attendant Mandane came to put a last
+touch to Nitetis' dress and ornaments.
+
+"She is asleep," thought the girl.  "I can let her rest another quarter
+of an hour; the sacrifice this morning has tired her, and we must have
+her fresh and beautiful for the evening banquet; then she will outshine
+the others as the moon does the stars."
+
+Unnoticed by her mistress she slipped out of the room, the windows of
+which commanded a splendid view over the hanging-gardens, the immense
+city beneath, the river, and the rich and fruitful Babylonian plain, and
+went into the garden.
+
+Without looking round she ran to a flower-bed, to pluck some roses.  Her
+eyes were fixed on her new bracelet, the stones of which sparkled in the
+sun, and she did not notice a richly-dressed man peering in at one of the
+windows of the room where Nitetis lay weeping.  On being disturbed in his
+watching and listening, he turned at once to the girl and greeted her in
+a high treble voice.
+
+She started, and on recognizing the eunuch Boges, answered: "It is not
+polite, sir, to frighten a poor girl in this way.  By Mithras, if I had
+seen you before I heard you, I think I should have fainted.  A woman's
+voice does not take me by surprise, but to see a man here is as rare as
+to find a swan in the desert."
+
+Boges laughed good-humoredly, though he well understood her saucy
+allusion to his high voice, and answered, rubbing his fat hands: "Yes,
+it is very hard for a young and pretty bird like you, to have to live in
+such a lonely corner, but be patient, sweetheart.  Your mistress will
+soon be queen, and then she will look out a handsome young husband for
+you.  Ah, ha!  you will find it pleasanter to live here alone with him,
+than with your beautiful Egyptian."
+
+"My mistress is too beautiful for some people's fancy, and I have never
+asked any one to look out a husband for me," she answered pertly.  "I can
+find one without your help either."
+
+"Who could doubt it?  Such a pretty face is as good a bait for a man, as
+a worm for a fish."
+
+"But I am not trying to catch a husband, and least of all one like you."
+
+"That I can easily believe," he answered laughing.  But tell me, my
+treasure, why are you so hard on me?  Have I done anything to vex you?
+Wasn't it through me, that you obtained this good appointment, and are
+not we both Medes?"
+
+"You might just as well say that we are both human beings, and have five
+fingers on each hand and a nose in the middle of our faces.  Half the
+people here are Medes, and if I had as many friends as I have countrymen,
+I might be queen to-morrow.  And as to my situation here, it was not you,
+but the high-priest Oropastes who recommended me to the great queen
+Kassandane.  Your will is not law here,"
+
+"What are you talking about, my sweet one?  don't you know, that not a
+single waiting-woman can be engaged without my consent?"
+
+"Oh, yes, I know that as well as you do, but .  .  ."
+
+"But you women are an unthankful race, and don't deserve our kindness."
+
+"Please not to forget, that you are speaking to a girl of good family."
+
+"I know that very well, my little one.  I know that your father was a
+Magian and your mother a Magian's daughter; that they both died early and
+you were placed under the care of the Destur Ixabates, the father of
+Oropastes, and grew up with his children.  I know too that when you had
+received the ear-rings, Oropastes' brother Gaumata, (you need not blush,
+Gaumata is a pretty name) fell in love with your rosy face, and wanted to
+marry you, though he was only nineteen.  Gaumata and Mandane, how well
+the two names sound together!  Mandane and Gaumata!  If I were a poet I
+should call my hero Gaumata and his lady-love Mandane."
+
+"I insist on your ceasing to jest in this way," cried Mandane, blushing
+deeply and stamping her foot.
+
+"What, are you angry because I say the names sound well together?  You
+ought rather to be angry with the proud Oropastes, who sent his younger
+brother to Rhagar and you to the court, that you might forget one
+another."
+
+"That is a slander on my benefactor."
+
+"Let my tongue wither away, if I am not speaking the truth and nothing
+but the truth!  Oropastes separated you and his brother because he had
+higher intentions for the handsome Gaumata, than a marriage with the
+orphan daughter of an inferior Magian.  He would have been satisfied with
+Amytis or Menische for a sister-in-law, but a poor girl like you, who
+owed everything to his bounty, would only have stood in the way of his
+ambitious plans.  Between ourselves, he would like to be appointed regent
+of Persia while the king is away at the Massagetan war, and would
+therefore give a great deal to connect himself by marriage in some way
+or other with the Archemenidae.  At his age a new wife is not to be
+thought of; but his brother is young and handsome, indeed people go so
+far as to say, that he is like the Prince Bartja."
+
+"That is true," exclaimed the girl.  "Only think, when we went out to
+meet my mistress, and I saw Bartja for the first time from the window of
+the station-house, I thought he was Gaumata.  They are so like one
+another that they might be twins, and they are the handsomest men in the
+kingdom."
+
+"How you are blushing, my pretty rose-bud!  But the likeness between them
+is not quite so great as all that.  When I spoke to the high-priest's
+brother this morning .  .  ."
+
+"Gaumata is here?"  interrupted the girl passionately.  "Have you really
+seen him or are you trying to draw me out and make fun of me?"
+
+"By Mithras!  my sweet one, I kissed his forehead this very morning, and
+he made me tell him a great deal about his darling.  Indeed his blue
+eyes, his golden curls and his lovely complexion, like the bloom on a
+peach, were so irresistible that I felt inclined to try and work
+impossibilities for him.  Spare your blushes, my little pomegranate-
+blossom, till I have told you all; and then perhaps in future you will
+not be so hard upon poor Boges; you will see that he has a good heart,
+full of kindness for his beautiful, saucy little countrywoman."
+
+"I do not trust you," she answered, interrupting these assurances.
+"I have been warned against your smooth tongue, and I do not know what I
+have done to deserve this kind interest."
+
+"Do you know this?"  he asked, showing her a white ribbon embroidered all
+over with little golden flames.
+
+"It is the last present I worked for him," exclaimed Mandane.
+
+"I asked him for this token, because I knew you would not trust me.  Who
+ever heard of a prisoner loving his jailer?"
+
+"But tell me at once, quickly--what does my old playfellow want me to do?
+Look, the-western sky is beginning to glow.  Evening is coming on, and I
+must arrange my mistress's dress and ornaments for the banquet."
+
+"Well, I will not keep you long," said the eunuch, becoming so serious
+that Mandane was frightened.  "If you do not choose to believe that I
+would run into any risk out of friendship to you, then fancy that I
+forward your love affair to humble the pride of Oropastes.  He threatens
+to supplant me in the king's favor, and I am determined, let him plot and
+intrigue as he likes, that you shall marry Gaumata.  To-morrow evening,
+after the Tistar-star has risen, your lover shall come to see you.  I
+will see that all the guards are away, so that he can come without
+danger, stay one hour and talk over the future with you; but remember,
+only one hour.  I see clearly that your mistress will be Cambyses'
+favorite wife, and will then forward your marriage, for she is very fond
+of you, and thinks no praise too high for your fidelity and skill.  So
+to-morrow evening," he continued, falling back into the jesting tone
+peculiar to him, "when the Tistar-star rises, fortune will begin to shine
+on you.  Why do you look down?  Why don't you answer?  Gratitude stops
+your pretty little mouth, eh? is that the reason?  Well, my little bird,
+I hope you won't be quite so silent, if you should ever have a chance of
+praising poor Boges to your powerful mistress.  And what message shall I
+bring to the handsome Gaumata?  May I say that you have not forgotten him
+and will be delighted to see him again?  You hesitate?  Well, I am very
+sorry, but it is getting dark and I must go.  I have to inspect the
+women's dresses for the birthday banquet.  Ah! one thing I forgot to
+mention.  Gaumata must leave Babylon to-morrow.  Oropastes is afraid,
+that he may chance to see you, and told him to return to Rhage directly
+the festival was over.  What! still silent?  Well then, I really cannot
+help you or that poor fellow either.  But I shall gain my ends quite as
+well without you, and perhaps after all it is better that you should
+forget one another.  Good-bye."
+
+It was a hard struggle for the girl.  She felt nearly sure that Boges was
+deceiving her, and a voice within warned her that it would be better to
+refuse her lover this meeting.  Duty and prudence gained the upper hand,
+and she was just going to exclaim: "Tell him I cannot see him," when her
+eye caught the ribbon she had once embroidered for her handsome
+playfellow.  Bright pictures from her childhood flashed through her mind,
+short moments of intoxicating happiness; love, recklessness and longing
+gained the day in their turn over her sense of right, her misgivings and
+her prudence, and before Boges could finish his farewell, she called out,
+almost in spite of herself and flying towards the house like a frightened
+fawn: "I shall expect him."
+
+Boges passed quickly through the flowery paths of the hanging-gardens.
+He stopped at the parapet end cautiously opened a hidden trap-door,
+admitting to a secret staircase which wound down through one of the huge
+pillars supporting the hanging-gardens, and which had probably been
+intended by their original designer as a means of reaching his wife's
+apartments unobserved from the shores of the river.  The door moved
+easily on its hinges, and when Boges had shut it again and strewed a few
+of the river-shells from the garden walks over it, it would have been
+difficult to find, even for any one who had come with that purpose.  The
+eunuch rubbed his jeweled hands, smiling the while as was his custom, and
+murmured: "It can't fail to succeed now; the girl is caught, her lover is
+at my beck and call, the old secret flight of steps is in good order,
+Nitetis has been weeping bitterly on a day of universal rejoicing, and
+the blue lily opens to-morrow night.  Ah, ha! my little plan can't
+possibly fail now.  And to-morrow, my pretty Egyptian kitten, your little
+velvet paw will be fast in a trap set by the poor despised eunuch, who
+was not allowed, forsooth, to give you any orders."
+
+His eyes gleamed maliciously as he said these words and hurried from the
+garden.
+
+At the great flight of steps he met another eunuch, named Neriglissar,
+who held the office of head-gardener, and lived at the hanging-gardens.
+
+"How is the blue lily going on?"  asked Boges.
+
+"It is unfolding magnificently!"  cried the gardener, in enthusiasm at
+the mere mention of his cherished flower.  "To-morrow, as I promised,
+when the Tistar-star rises, it will be in all its beauty.  My Egyptian
+mistress will be delighted, for she is very fond of flowers, and may I
+ask you to tell the king and the Achaemenidae, that under my care this
+rare plant has at last flowered?  It is to be seen in full beauty only
+once in every ten years.  Tell the noble Achaemenidae; this, and bring
+them here."
+
+"Your wish shall be granted," said Boges smiling, "but I think you must
+not reckon on the king, as I do not expect he will visit the hanging-
+gardens before his marriage with the Egyptian.  Some of the Archimenidae,
+however, will be sure to come; they are such lovers of horticulture that
+they would not like to miss this rare sight.  Perhaps, too, I may succeed
+in bringing Croesus.  It is true that he does not understand flowers or
+doat on them as the Persians do, but he makes amends for this by his
+thorough appreciation of everything beautiful."
+
+"Yes, yes, bring him too," exclaimed the gardener.  "He will really be
+grateful to you, for my queen of the night is the most beautiful flower,
+that has ever bloomed in a royal garden.  You saw the bud in the clear
+waters of the reservoir surrounded by its green leaves; that bud will
+open into a gigantic rose, blue as the sky.  My flower .  .  ."
+
+The enthusiastic gardener would have said much more in praise of his
+flower, but Boges left him with a friendly nod, and went down the flight
+of steps.  A two-wheeled wooden carriage was waiting for him there; he
+took his seat by the driver, the horses, decked out with bells and
+tassels, were urged into a sharp trot and quickly brought him to the gate
+of the harem-garden.
+
+That day was a busy, stirring one in Cambyses' harem.  In order that the
+women might look their very best, Boges had commanded that they should
+all be taken to the bath before the banquet.  He therefore went at once
+to that wing of the palace, which contained the baths for the women.
+
+While he was still at some distance a confused noise of screaming,
+laughing, chattering and tittering reached his ears.  In the broad porch
+of the large bathing-room, which had been almost overheated, more than
+three hundred women were moving about in a dense cloud of steam.
+
+     [We read in Diodorus XVII. 77. that the king of Persia had as many
+     wives as there are days in the year.  At the battle of Issus,
+     Alexander the Great took 329 concubines, of the last Darius,
+     captive.]
+
+The half-naked forms floated over the warm pavement like a motley crowd
+of phantoms.  Their thin silken garments were wet through and clung to
+their delicate figures, and a warm rain descended upon them from the roof
+of the bath, rising up again in vapor when it reached the floor.
+
+Groups of handsome women, ten or twenty together, lay gossiping saucily
+in one part of the room; in another two king's wives were quarrelling
+like naughty children.  One beauty was screaming at the top of her voice
+because she had received a blow from her neighbor's dainty little
+slipper, while another was lying in lazy contemplation, still as death,
+on the damp, warm floor.  Six Armenians were standing together, singing a
+saucy love-song in their native language with clear-toned voices, and a
+little knot of fair-haired Persians were slandering Nitetis so fearfully,
+that a by-stander would have fancied our beautiful Egyptian was some
+awful monster, like those nurses used to frighten children.
+
+Naked female slaves moved about through the crowd, carrying on their
+heads well-warmed cloths to throw over their mistresses.  The cries of
+the eunuchs, who held the office of door-keepers, and were continually
+urging the women to greater haste,--the screeching calls of those whose
+slaves had not yet arrived,--the penetrating perfumes and the warm vapor
+combined to produce a motley, strange and stupefying scene.
+
+A quarter of an hour later, however, the king's wives presented a very
+different spectacle.
+
+They lay like roses steeped in dew, not asleep, but quite still and
+dreaming, on soft cushions placed along the walls of an immense room.
+The wet perfumes still lay on their undried and flowing hair, and nimble
+female slaves were busied in carefully wiping away, with little bags made
+of soft camels' hair, the slightest outward trace of the moisture which
+penetrated deep into the pores of the skin.
+
+Silken coverlets were spread over their weary, beautiful limbs, and a
+troop of eunuchs took good care that the dreamy repose of the entire body
+should not be disturbed by quarrelsome or petulant individuals.  Their
+efforts, however, were seldom so successful as to-day, when every one
+knew that a disturbance of the peace would be punished by exclusion from
+the banquet.  They had probably been lying a full hour in this dreamy
+silence, when the sound of a gong produced another transformation.
+
+The reposing figures sprang from their cushions, a troop of female slaves
+pressed into the hall, the beauties were annointed and perfumed, their
+luxuriant hair ingeniously braided, plaited, and adorned with precious
+stones.  Costly ornaments and silken and woolen robes in all the colors
+of the rainbow were brought in, shoes stiff with rich embroidery of
+pearls and jewels were tied on to their tender feet, and golden girdles
+fastened round their waists.
+
+     [Some kings gave their wives the revenues of entire cities as
+     "girdle-money" (pin-money).]
+
+By the time Boges came in, the greater number of the women were already
+fully adorned in their costly jewelry, which would have represented
+probably, when taken together, the riches of a large kingdom.
+
+He was greeted by a shrill cry of joy from many voices.  Twenty of the
+women joined hands and danced round their smiling keeper, singing a
+simple song which had been composed in the harem in praise of his
+virtues.  On this day it was customary for the king to grant each of his
+wives one reasonable petition.  So when the ring of dancers had loosed
+hands, a troop of petitioners rushed in upon Boges, kissing his hands,
+stroking his cheeks, whispering in his ear all kinds of requests, and
+trying by flattery to gain his intercession with the king.  The woman's
+tyrant smiled at it all, stopped his ears and pushed them all back with
+jests and laughter, promising Amytis the Median that Esther the
+Phoenician should be punished, and Esther the same of Amytis,--that
+Parmys should have a handsomer set of jewels than Parisatys, and
+Parisatys a more costly one than Parmys, but finding it impossible to get
+rid of these importunate petitioners, he blew a little golden whistle.
+Its shrill tones acted like magic on the eager crowd; the raised hands
+fell in a moment, the little tripping feet stood still, the opening lips
+closed and the eager tumult was turned into a dead silence.
+
+Whoever disobeyed the sound of this little whistle, was certain of
+punishment.  It was as important as the words "Silence, in the king's
+name!" or the reading of the riot-act.  To-day it worked even more
+effectually than usual.  Boges' self-satisfied smile showed that he had
+noticed this; he then favored the assembly with a look expressive of his
+contentment with their conduct, promised in a flowery speech to exert all
+his influence with the king in behalf of his dear little white doves, and
+wound up by telling them to arrange themselves in two long rows.
+
+The women obeyed and submitted to his scrutiny like soldiers on drill, or
+slaves being examined by their buyer.
+
+With the dress and ornaments of most he was satisfied, ordering, however,
+to one a little more rouge, to another a little white powder to subdue a
+too healthy color, here a different arrangement of the hair--there a
+deeper tinge to the eyebrows, or more pains to be taken in anointing the
+lips.
+
+When this was over he left the hall and went to Phaedime, who as one of
+the king's lawful wives, had a private room, separated from those
+allotted to the concubines.
+
+This former favorite,--this humbled daughter of the Achaemenidae, had
+been expecting him already some time.
+
+She was magnificently dressed, and almost overloaded with jewels.  A
+thick veil of gauze inwrought with gold hung from her little tiara, and
+interlaced with this was the blue and white band of the Achaemenidae.
+There could be no question that she was beautiful, but her figure was
+already too strongly developed, a frequent result of the lazy harem life
+among Eastern women.  Fair golden hair, interwoven with little silver
+chains and gold pieces, welled out almost too abundantly from beneath her
+tiara, and was smoothed over her white temples.
+
+She sprang forward to meet Boges, trembling with eagerness, caught a
+hasty glance at herself in the looking-glass, and then, fixing her eyes
+on the eunuch, asked impetuously: "Are you pleased with me?  Will he
+admire me?"
+
+Boges smiled his old, eternal smile and answered: "You always please me,
+my golden peacock, and the king would admire you too if he could see you
+as you were a moment ago.  You were really beautiful when you called out,
+'Will he admire me?' for passion had turned your blue eyes black as
+night, and your lip was curled with hatred so as to show two rows of
+teeth white as the snow on the Demawend!"
+
+Phaedime was flattered and forced her face once more into the admired
+expression, saying: "Then take us at once to the banquet, for I know my
+eyes will be darker and more brilliant, and my teeth will gleam more
+brightly, when I see that Egyptian girl sitting where I ought to sit."
+
+"She will not be allowed to sit there long."
+
+"What! is your plan likely to succeed then?  Oh, Boges, do not hide it
+any longer from me--I will be as silent as the grave--I will help you--I
+will--"
+
+"No, I cannot, I dare not tell you about it, but this much I will say in
+order to sweeten this bitter evening: we have dug the pit for our enemy,
+and if my golden Phaedime will only do what I tell her, I hope to give
+her back her old place, and not only that, but even a higher one."
+
+"Tell me what I am to do; I am ready for anything and everything."
+
+"That was well and bravely spoken; like a true lioness.  If you obey me
+we must succeed; and the harder the task, the higher the reward.  Don't
+dispute what I am going to say, for we have not a minute to lose.  Take
+off all your useless ornaments and only wear the chain the king gave you
+on your marriage.  Put on a dark simple dress instead of this bright one;
+and when you have prostrated yourself before Kassandane, bow down humbly
+before the Egyptian Princess too."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"I will not be contradicted.  Take off those ornaments at once, I entreat
+you.  There, that is right.  We cannot succeed unless you obey me.  How
+white your neck is!  The fair Peri would look dark by your side."
+
+"But--"
+
+"When your turn comes to ask a favor of the king, tell him you have no
+wishes, now that the sun of your life has withdrawn his light."
+
+"Yes, that I will do."
+
+"When your father asks after your welfare, you must weep."
+
+"I will do that too."
+
+"And so that all the Achaemenidae can see that you are weeping."
+
+"That will be a fearful humiliation!"
+
+"Not at all; only a means by which to rise the more surely.  Wash the red
+color from your cheeks and put on white powder.  Make yourself pale--
+paler still."
+
+"Yes, I shall need that to hide my blushes.  Boges, you are asking
+something fearful of me, but I will obey you if you will only give me a
+reason."
+
+"Girl, bring your mistress's new dark green robe."
+
+"I shall look like a slave."
+
+"True grace is lovely even in rags."
+
+"The Egyptian will completely eclipse me."
+
+"Yes, every one must see that you have not the slightest intention of
+comparing yourself with her.  Then people will say: 'Would not Phaedime
+be as beautiful as this proud woman, if she had taken the same pains to
+make herself so?"'
+
+"But I cannot bow down to her."
+
+"You must."
+
+"You only want to humble and ruin me."
+
+"Short-sighted fool! listen to my reasons and obey.  I want especially to
+excite the Achaemenidae against our enemy.  How it will enrage your
+grandfather Intaphernes, and your father Otanes to see you in the dust
+before a stranger!  Their wounded pride will bring them over to our side,
+and if they are too 'noble,' as they call it, to undertake anything
+themselves against a woman, still they will be more likely to help than
+to hinder us, if I should need their assistance.  Then, when the Egyptian
+is ruined, if you have done as I wish, the king will remember your sad
+pale face, your humility and forgetfulness of self.  The Achaemenidae,
+and even the Magi, will beg him to take a queen from his own family; and
+where in all Persia is there a woman who can boast of better birth than
+you?  Who else can wear the royal purple but my bright bird of Paradise,
+my beautiful rose Phaedime?  With such a prize in prospect we must no
+more fear a little humiliation than a man who is learning to ride fears a
+fall from his horse."
+
+And she, princess as she was, answered: "I will obey you."
+
+"Then we are certain of victory," said the eunuch.  "There, now your eyes
+are flashing darkly again as I like to see them, my queen.  And so
+Cambyses shall see you when the tender flesh of the Egyptian shall have
+become food for dogs and the birds of the air, and when for the first
+time after long months of absence, I bring him once more to the door of
+your apartments.  Here, Armorges!  tell the rest of the women to get
+ready and enter their litters.  I will go on and be there to show them
+their places."
+
+                    ..........................
+
+The great banqueting-hall was bright as day--even brighter, from the
+light of thousands of candles whose rays were reflected in the gold
+plates forming the panelling of the walls.  A table of interminable
+length stood in the middle of the hall, overloaded with gold and silver
+cups, plates, dishes, bowls, jugs, goblets, ornaments and incense-altars,
+and looked like a splendid scene from fairy-land.
+
+"The king will soon be here," called out the head-steward of the table,
+of the great court-lords, to the king's cup-bearer, who was a member of
+the royal family.  "Are all the wine-jugs full, has the wine been tasted,
+are the goblets ranged in order, and the skins sent by Polykrates, have
+they been emptied?"
+
+"Yes," answered the cup-bearer,  "everything is ready, and that Chian
+wine is better than any I ever tasted; indeed, in my opinion, even the
+Syrian is not to be compared to it.  Only taste it."
+
+So saying he took a graceful little golden goblet from the table in one
+hand, raised a wine-pitcher of the same costly metal with the other,
+swung the latter high into the air and poured the wine so cleverly into
+the narrow neck of the little vessel that not a drop was lost, though the
+liquid formed a wide curve in its descent.  He then presented the goblet
+to the head-steward with the tips of his fingers, bowing gracefully as he
+did so.
+
+The latter sipped the delicious wine, testing its flavor with great
+deliberation, and said, on returning the cup: "I agree with you, it is
+indeed a noble wine, and tastes twice as well when presented with such
+inimitable grace.  Strangers are quite right in saying that there are no
+cupbearers like the Persian."
+
+"Thanks for this praise," replied the other, kissing his friend's
+forehead.  "Yes, I am proud of my office, and it is one which the king
+only gives to his friends.  Still it is a great plague to have to stay so
+long in this hot, suffocating Babylon.  Shall we ever be off for the
+summer, to Ecbatana or Pasargada?"
+
+"I was talking to the king about it to-day.  He had intended not to leave
+before the Massagetan war, and to go straight from Babylon into the
+field, but to-day's embassy has changed matters; it is probable that
+there may be no war, and then we shall go to Susa three days after the
+king's marriage--that is, in one week from the present time."
+
+"To Susa?"  cried the cup-bearer.  "It's very little cooler there than
+here, and besides, the old Memnon's castle is being rebuilt."
+
+"The satrap of Susa has just brought word that the new palace is
+finished, and that nothing so brilliant has ever been seen.  Directly
+Cambyses heard, it he said: Then we will start for Susa three days after
+our marriage.  I should like to show the Egyptian Princess that we
+understand the art of building as well as her own ancestors.  She is
+accustomed to hot weather on the Nile, and will not find our beautiful
+Susa too warm.'  The king seems wonderfully fond of this woman."
+
+"He does indeed!  All other women have become perfectly indifferent to
+him, and he means soon to make her his queen."
+
+"That is unjust; Phaedime, as daughter of the Achaemenidae, has an older
+and better right."
+
+"No doubt, but whatever the king wishes, must be right."
+
+"The ruler's will is the will of God."
+
+"Well said!  A true Persian will kiss his king's hand, even when dripping
+with the blood of his own child."
+
+"Cambyses ordered my brother's execution, but I bear him no more ill-will
+for it than I should the gods for depriving me of my parents.  Here, you
+fellows! draw the curtains back; the guests are coming.  Look sharp, you
+dogs, and do your duty! Farewell, Artabazos, we shall have warm work
+to-night."
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Death is so long and life so short
+No man was allowed to ask anything of the gods for himself
+Take heed lest pride degenerate into vainglory
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Part 2.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 6.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+The principal steward of the banquet went forward to meet the guests as
+they entered, and, assisted by other noble staff-bearers (chamberlains
+and masters of the ceremonies), led them to their appointed places.
+
+When they were all seated, a flourish of trumpets announced that the king
+was near.  As he entered the hall every one rose, and the multitude
+received him with a thundering shout of "Victory to the king!" again and
+again repeated.
+
+The way to his seat was marked by a purple Sardian carpet, only to be
+trodden by himself and Kassandane.  His blind mother, led by Croesus,
+went first and took her seat at the head of the table, on a throne
+somewhat higher than the golden chair for Cambyses, which stood by it.
+The king's lawful wives sat on his left hand; Nitetis next to him, then
+Atossa, and by her side the pale, plainly-dressed Phaedime; next to this
+last wife of Cambyses sat Boges, the eunuch.  Then came the high-priest
+Oropastes, some of the principal Magi, the satraps of various provinces
+(among them the Jew Belteshazzar), and a number of Persians, Medes and
+eunuchs, all holding high offices under the crown.
+
+Bartja sat at the king's right hand, and after him Croesus, Hystaspes,
+Gobryas, Araspes, and others of the Achaemenidae, according to their rank
+and age.  Of the concubines, the greater number sat at the foot of the
+table; some stood opposite to Cambyses, and enlivened the banquet by
+songs and music.  A number of eunuchs stood behind them, whose duty it
+was to see that they did not raise their eyes towards the men.
+
+Cambyses' first glance was bestowed on Nitetis; she sat by him in all the
+splendor and dignity of a queen, but looking very, very pale in her new
+purple robes.
+
+Their eyes met, and Cambyses felt that such a look could only come from
+one who loved him very dearly.  But his own love told him that something
+had troubled her.  There was a sad seriousness about her mouth, and a
+slight cloud, which only he could see, seemed to veil the usually calm,
+clear and cheerful expression of her eyes.  "I will ask her afterwards
+what has happened," thought he, "but it will not do to let my subjects see
+how much I love this girl."
+
+He kissed his mother, sister, brother and his nearest relations on the
+forehead--said a short prayer thanking the gods for their mercies and
+entreating a happy new year for himself and the Persians--named the
+immense sum he intended to present to his countrymen on this day, and
+then called on the staff bearers to bring the petitioners before his
+face, who hoped to obtain some reasonable request from the king on this
+day of grace.
+
+As every petitioner had been obliged to lay his request before the
+principal staff bearer the day before, in order to ascertain whether it
+was admissible, they all received satisfactory answers.  The petitions of
+the women had been enquired into by the eunuchs in the same manner, and
+they too were now conducted before their lord and master by Boges,
+Kassandane alone remaining seated.
+
+The long procession was opened by Nitetis and Atossa, and the two
+princesses were immediately followed by Phaedime and another beauty.  The
+latter was magnificently dressed and had been paired with Phaedime by
+Boges, in order to make the almost poverty-stricken simplicity of the
+fallen favorite more apparent.
+
+Intaphernes and Otanes looked as annoyed as Boges had expected, on seeing
+their grandchild and daughter so pale, and in such miserable array, in
+the midst of all this splendor and magnificence.
+
+Cambyses had had experience of Phaedime's former extravagance in matters
+of dress, and, when he saw her standing before him so plainly dressed and
+so pale, looked both angry and astonished.  His brow darkened, and as she
+bent low before him, he asked her in an angry and tyrannical tone: "What
+is the meaning of this beggarly dress at my table, on the day set apart
+in my honor?  Have you forgotten, that in our country it is the custom
+never to appear unadorned before the king?  Verily, if it were not my
+birthday, and if I did not owe you some consideration as the daughter of
+our dearest kinsman, I should order the eunuchs to take you back to the
+harem, that you might have time to think over your conduct in solitude."
+
+These words rendered the mortified woman's task much easier....  She
+began to weep loud and bitterly, raising her hands and eyes to her angry
+lord in such a beseeching manner that his anger was changed into
+compassion, and he raised her from the ground with the question: "Have
+you a petition to ask of me?"
+
+"What can I find to wish for, now that the sun of my life has withdrawn
+his light?"  was her faltering answer, hindered by sobs.
+
+Cambyses shrugged his shoulders, and asked again "Is there nothing then
+that you wish for?  I used to be able to dry your tears with presents;
+ask me for some golden comfort to-day."
+
+"Phaedime has nothing left to wish for now.  For whom can she put on
+jewels when her king, her husband, withdraws the light of his
+countenance?"
+
+"Then I can do nothing for you," exclaimed Cambyses, turning away angrily
+from the kneeling woman.  Boges had been quite right in advising Phaedime
+to paint herself with white, for underneath the pale color her cheeks
+were burning with shame and anger.  But, in spite of all, she controlled
+her passionate feelings, made the same deep obeisance to Nitetis as to
+the queen-mother, and allowed her tears to flow fast and freely in sight
+of all the Achaemenidae.
+
+Otanes and Intaphernes could scarcely suppress their indignation at
+seeing their daughter and grandchild thus humbled, and many an
+Achaemenidae looked on, feeling deep sympathy with the unhappy Phaedime
+and a hidden grudge against the favored, beautiful stranger.
+
+The formalities were at last at an end and the feast began.  Just before
+the king, in a golden basket, and gracefully bordered round with other
+fruits, lay a gigantic pomegranate, as large as a child's head.
+
+Cambyses noticed it now for the first time, examined its enormous size
+and rare beauty with the eye of a connoisseur, and said: "Who grew this
+wonderful pomegranate?"
+
+"Thy servant Oropastes," answered the chief of the Magi, with a low
+obeisance.  "For many years I have studied the art of gardening, and have
+ventured to lay this, the most beautiful fruit of my labors, at the feet
+of my king."
+
+"I owe you thanks," cried the king: "My friends, this pomegranate will
+assist me in the choice of a governor at home when we go out to war, for,
+by Mithras, the man who can cherish and foster a little tree so carefully
+will do greater things than these.  What a splendid fruit!  Surely it's
+like was never seen before.  I thank you again, Oropastes, and as the
+thanks of a king must never consist of empty words alone, I name you at
+once vicegerent of my entire kingdom, in case of war.  For we shall not
+dream away our time much longer in this idle rest, my friends.  A Persian
+gets low-spirited without the joys of war."
+
+A murmur of applause ran through the ranks of the Achaemenidae and fresh
+shouts of "Victory to the king" resounded through the hall.  Their anger
+on account of the humiliation of a woman was quickly forgotten; thoughts
+of coming battles, undying renown and conqueror's laurels to be won by
+deeds of arms, and recollections of their former mighty deeds raised the
+spirits of the revellers.
+
+The king himself was more moderate than usual to-day, but he encouraged
+his guests to drink, enjoying their noisy merriment and overflowing
+mirth; taking, however, far more pleasure still in the fascinating beauty
+of the Egyptian Princess, who sat at his side, paler than usual, and
+thoroughly exhausted by the exertions of the morning and the unaccustomed
+weight of the high tiara.  He had never felt so happy as on this day.
+What indeed could he wish for more than he already possessed?  Had not
+the gods given him every thing that a man could desire? and, over and
+above all this, had not they flung into his lap the precious gift of
+love?  His usual inflexibility seemed to have changed into benevolence,
+and his stern severity into good-nature, as he turned to his brother
+Bartja with the words: "Come brother, have you forgotten my promise?
+Don't you know that to-day you are sure of gaining the dearest wish of
+your heart from me?  That's right, drain the goblet, and take courage!
+but do not ask anything small, for I am in the mood to give largely to-
+day.  Ah, it is a secret! come nearer then.  I am really curious to know
+what the most fortunate youth in my entire kingdom can long for so much,
+that he blushes like a girl when his wish is spoken of."
+
+Bartja, whose cheeks were really glowing from agitation, bent his head
+close to his brother's ear, and whispered shortly the story of his love.
+Sappho's father had helped to defend his native town Phocaea against the
+hosts of Cyrus, and this fact the boy cleverly brought forward, speaking
+of the girl he loved as the daughter of a Greek warrior of noble birth.
+In so saying he spoke the truth, but at the same time he suppressed the
+facts that this very father had acquired great riches by mercantile
+undertakings.
+
+     [The Persians were forbidden by law to contract debts, because
+     debtors were necessarily led to say much that was untrue.  Herod. I.
+     For this reason they held all money transactions m contempt, such
+     occupations being also very uncongenial to their military tastes.
+     They despised commerce and abandoned it to the conquered nations.]
+
+He then told his brother how charming, cultivated and loving his Sappho
+was, and was just going to call on Croesus for a confirmation of his
+words, when Cambyses interrupted him by kissing his forehead and saying:
+"You need say no more, brother; do what your heart bids you.  I know the
+power of love too, and I will help you to gain our mother's consent."
+Bartja threw himself at his brother's feet, overcome with gratitude and
+joy, but Cambyses raised him kindly and, looking especially at Nitetis
+and Kassandane, exclaimed: "Listen, my dear ones, the stem of Cyrus is
+going to blossom afresh, for our brother Bartja has resolved to put an
+end to his single life, so displeasing to the gods.
+
+     [The Persians were commanded by their religion to marry, and the
+     unmarried were held up to ridicule.  Vendid.  IV.  Fargard.  130.
+     The highest duty of man was to create and promote life, and to have
+     many children was therefore considered praiseworthy.  Herod.  I.
+     136.]
+
+In a few days the young lover will leave us for your country, Nitetis,
+and will bring back another jewel from the shores of the Nile to our
+mountain home."
+
+"What is the matter, sister?"  cried Atossa, before her brother had
+finished speaking.  Nitetis had fainted, and Atossa was sprinkling her
+forehead with wine as she lay in her arms.
+
+"What was it?"  asked the blind Kassandane, when Nitetis had awakened to
+consciousness a few moments later.
+
+"The joy--the happiness--Tachot," faltered Nitetis.  Cambyses, as well as
+his sister, had sprung to the fainting girl's help.  When she had
+recovered consciousness, he asked her to take some wine to revive her
+completely, gave her the cup with his own hand, and then went on at the
+point at which he had left off in his account: "Bartja is going to your
+own country, my wife--to Naukratis on the Nile--to fetch thence the
+granddaughter of a certain Rhodopis, and daughter of a noble warrior, a
+native of the brave town of Phocaea, as his wife."
+
+"What was that?"  cried the blind queen-mother.
+
+"What is the matter with you?"  exclaimed Atossa again, in an anxious,
+almost reproachful tone.
+
+"Nitetis!"  cried Croesus admonishingly.  But the warning came too late;
+the cup which her royal lover had given her slipped from her hands and
+fell ringing on the floor.  All eyes were fixed on the king's features in
+anxious suspense.  He had sprung from his seat pale as death; his lips
+trembled and his fist was clenched.  Nitetis looked up at her lover
+imploringly, but he was afraid of meeting those wonderful, fascinating
+eyes, and turned his head away, saying in a hoarse voice: "Take the women
+back to their apartments, Boges.  I have seen enough of them--let us
+begin our drinking-bout--good-night, my mother; take care how you nourish
+vipers with your heart's blood.  Sleep well, Egyptian, and pray to the
+gods to give you a more equal power of dissembling your feelings.  To-
+morrow, my friends, we will go out hunting.  Here, cup-bearer, give me
+some wine! fill the large goblet, but taste it well--yes, well--for to-
+day I am afraid of poison; to-day for the first time.  Do you hear,
+Egyptian?  I am afraid of poison!  and every child knows--ah-ha--that all
+the poison, as well as the medicine comes from Egypt."
+
+Nitetis left the hall,--she hardly knew how,--more staggering than
+walking.  Boges accompanied her, telling the bearers to make haste.
+
+When they reached the hanging-gardens he gave her up to the care of the
+eunuch in attendance, and took his leave, not respectfully as usual, but
+chuckling, rubbing his hands, and speaking in an intimate and
+confidential tone: "Dream about the handsome Bartja and his Egyptian
+lady-love, my white Nile-kitten!  Haven't you any message for the
+beautiful boy, whose love-story frightened you so terribly?  Think a
+little.  Poor Boges will very gladly play the go-between; the poor
+despised Boges wishes you so well--the humble Boges will be so sorry when
+he sees the proud palm-tree from Sais cut down.  Boges is a prophet; he
+foretells you a speedy return home to Egypt, or a quiet bed in the black
+earth in Babylon, and the kind Boges wishes you a peaceful sleep.
+Farewell, my broken flower, my gay, bright viper, wounded by its own
+sting, my pretty fir-cone, fallen from the tall pine-tree!"
+
+"How dare you speak in this impudent manner?" said the indignant
+princess.
+
+"Thank you," answered the wretch, smiling.
+
+"I shall complain of your conduct," threatened Nitetis.
+
+"You are very amiable," answered Boges.  "Go out of my sight," she cried.
+
+"I will obey your kind and gentle hints;" he answered softly, as if
+whispering words of love into her ear.  She started back in disgust and
+fear at these scornful words; she saw how full of terror they were for
+her, turned her back on him and went quickly into the house, but his
+voice rang after her: "Don't forget my lovely queen, think of me now and
+then; for everything that happens in the next few days will be a keepsake
+from the poor despised Boges."
+
+As soon as she had disappeared he changed his tone, and commanded the
+sentries in the severest and most tyrannical manner, to keep a strict
+watch over the hanging-gardens.  "Certain death," said he, "to whichever
+of you allows any one but myself to enter these gardens.  No one,
+remember--no one--and least of all messengers from the queen-mother,
+Atossa or any of the great people, may venture to set foot on these
+steps.  If Croesus or Oropastes should wish to speak to the Egyptian
+Princess, refuse them decidedly.  Do you understand?  I repeat it,
+whoever is begged or bribed into disobedience will not see the light of
+to-morrow's sun.  Nobody may enter these gardens without express
+permission from my own mouth.  I think you know me.  Here, take these
+gold staters, your work will be heavier now; but remember, I swear by
+Plithras not to spare one of you who is careless or disobedient."
+
+The men made a due obeisance and determined to obey; they knew that
+Boges' threats were never meant in joke, and fancied something great must
+be coming to pass, as the stingy eunuch never spent his staters without
+good reason.
+
+Boges was carried back to the banqueting-hall in the same litter, which
+had brought Nitetis away.
+
+The king's wives had left, but the concubines were all standing in their
+appointed place, singing their monotonous songs, though quite unheard by
+the uproarious men.
+
+The drinkers had already long forgotten the fainting woman.  The uproar
+and confusion rose with every fresh wine-cup.  They forgot the dignity of
+the place where they were assembled, and the presence of their mighty
+ruler.
+
+They shouted in their drunken joy; warriors embraced one another with a
+tenderness only excited by wine, here and there a novice was carried away
+in the arms of a pair of sturdy attendants, while an old hand at the work
+would seize a wine-jug instead of a goblet, and drain it at a draught
+amid the cheers of the lookers-on.
+
+The king sat on at the head of the table, pale as death, staring into the
+wine-cup as if unconscious of what was going on around hint.  But at the
+sight of his brother his fist clenched.
+
+He would neither speak to him, nor answer his questions.  The longer he
+sat there gazing into vacancy, the firmer became his conviction that
+Nitetis had deceived him,--that she had pretended to love him while her
+heart really belonged to Bartja.  How shamefully they had made sport of
+him!  How deeply rooted must have been the faithlessness of this clever
+hypocrite, if the mere news that his brother loved some one else could
+not only destroy all her powers of dissimulation, but actually deprive
+her of consciousness!
+
+When Nitetis left the hall, Otanes, the father of Phaedime had called
+out: "The Egyptian women seem to take great interest in the love-affairs
+of their brothers-in-law.  The Persian women are not so generous with
+their feelings; they keep them for their husbands."
+
+Cambyses was too proud to let it be seen that he had heard these words;
+like the ostrich, he feigned deafness and blindness in order not to seem
+aware of the looks and murmurs of his guests, which all went to prove
+that he had been deceived.
+
+Bartja could have had no share in her perfidy; she had loved this
+handsome youth, and perhaps all the more because she had not been able to
+hope for a return of her love.  If he had had the slightest suspicion of
+his brother, he would have killed him on the spot.  Bartja was certainly
+innocent of any share in the deception and in his brother's misery, but
+still he was the cause of all; so the old grudge, which had only just
+been allowed to slumber, woke again; and, as a relapse is always more
+dangerous than the original illness, the newly-roused anger was more
+violent than what he had formerly felt.
+
+He thought and thought, but he could not devise a fitting punishment for
+this false woman.  Her death would not content his vengeance, she must
+suffer something worse than mere death!
+
+Should he send her back to Egypt, disgraced and shamed?  Oh, no!  she
+loved her country, and she would be received by her parents with open
+arms.  Should he, after she had confessed her guilt, (for he was
+determined to force a confession from her) shut her up in a solitary
+dungeon?  or should he deliver her over to Boges, to be the servant of
+his concubines?  Yes! now he had hit upon the right punishment.  Thus the
+faithless creature should be disciplined, and the hypocrite, who had
+dared to make sport of him--the All-powerful--forced to atone for her
+crimes.
+
+Then he said to himself: "Bartja must not stay here; fire and water have
+more in common than we two--he always fortunate and happy, and I so
+miserable.  Some day or other his descendants will divide my treasures,
+and wear my crown; but as yet I am king, and I will show that I am."
+
+The thought of his proud, powerful position flashed through him like
+lightning.  He woke from his dreams into new life, flung his golden
+goblet far into the hall, so that the wine flew round like rain, and
+cried: "We have had enough of this idle talk and useless noise.  Let us
+hold a council of war, drunken as we are, and consider what answer we
+ought to give the Massagetae.  Hystaspes, you are the eldest, give us
+your opinion first."
+
+     [Herod. I. 134.  The Persians deliberated and resolved when they
+     were intoxicated, and when they were sober reconsidered their
+     determinations.  Tacitus tells the same of the old Germans.  Germ,
+     c. 22.]
+
+Hystaspes, the father of Darius, was an old man.  He answered: "It seems
+to me, that the messengers of this wandering tribe have left us no
+choice.  We cannot go to war against desert wastes; but as our host is
+already under arms and our swords have lain long in their scabbards, war
+we must have.  We only want a few good enemies, and I know no easier work
+than to make them."
+
+At these words the Persians broke into loud shouts of delight; but
+Croesus only waited till the noise had ceased to say: "Hystaspes, you and
+I are both old men; but you are a thorough Persian and fancy you can only
+be happy in battle and bloodshed.  You are now obliged to lean for
+support on the staff, which used to be the badge of your rank as
+commander, and yet you speak like a hot-blooded boy.  I agree with you
+that enemies are easy enough to find, but only fools go out to look for
+them.  The man who tries to make enemies is like a wretch who mutilates
+his own body.  If the enemies are there, let us go out to meet them like
+wise men who wish to look misfortune boldly in the face; but let us never
+try to begin an unjust war, hateful to the gods.  We will wait until
+wrong has been done us, and then go to victory or death, conscious that
+we have right on our side."
+
+The old man was interrupted by a low murmur of applause, drowned however
+quickly by cries of "Hystaspes is right!  let us look for an enemy!"
+
+It was now the turn of the envoy Prexaspes to speak, and he answered
+laughing: "Let us follow the advice of both these noble old men.  We will
+do as Croesus bids us and not go out to seek an enemy, but at the same
+time we will follow Hystaspes' advice by raising our claims and
+pronouncing every one our enemy, who does not cheerfully consent to
+become a member of the kingdom founded by our great father Cyrus.  For
+instance, we will ask the Indians if they would feel proud to obey your
+sceptre, Cambyses.  If they answer no, it is a sign that they do not love
+us, and whoever does not love us, must be our enemy."
+
+"That won't do," cried Zopyrus.  "We must have war at any price."
+
+"I vote for Croesus," said Gobryas.  "And I too," said the noble
+Artabazus.
+
+"We are for Hystaspes," shouted the warrior Araspes, the old Intaphernes,
+and some more of Cyrus's old companions-in-arms.
+
+"War we must have at any price," roared the general Megabyzus, the father
+of Zopyrus, striking the table so sharply with his heavy fist, that the
+golden vessels rang again, and some goblets even fell; "but not with the
+Massagetac--not with a flying foe."
+
+"There must be no war with the Massagetae," said the high-priest
+Oropastes.  "The gods themselves have avenged Cyrus's death upon them."
+
+Cambyses sat for some moments, quietly and coldly watching the
+unrestrained enthusiasm of his warriors, and then, rising from his seat,
+thundered out the words: "Silence, and listen to your king!"
+
+The words worked like magic on this multitude of drunken men.  Even those
+who were most under the influence of wine, listened to their king in a
+kind of unconscious obedience.  He lowered his voice and went on: "I did
+not ask whether you wished for peace or war--I know that every Persian
+prefers the labor of war to an inglorious idleness--but I wished to know
+what answer you would give the Massagetan warriors.  Do you consider that
+the soul of my father--of the man to whom you owe all your greatness--has
+been sufficiently avenged?"
+
+A dull murmur in the affirmative, interrupted by some violent voices in
+the negative, was the answer.  The king then asked a second question:
+"Shall we accept the conditions proposed by their envoys, and grant peace
+to this nation, already so scourged and desolated by the gods?"  To this
+they all agreed eagerly.
+
+"That is what I wished to know," continued Cambyses.  "To-morrow, when we
+are sober, we will follow the old custom and reconsider what has been
+resolved on during our intoxication.  Drink on, all of you, as long as
+the night lasts.  To-morrow, at the last crow of the sacred bird Parodar,
+I shall expect you to meet me for the chase, at the gate of the temple of
+Bel."
+
+So saying, the king left the hall, followed by a thundering "Victory to
+the king!"  Boges had slipped out quietly before him.  In the forecourt
+he found one of the gardener's boys from the hanging-gardens.
+
+"What do you want here?"  asked Boges.  "I have something for the prince
+Bartja."
+
+"For Bartja?  Has he asked your master to send him some seeds or slips?"
+
+The boy shook his sunburnt head and smiled roguishly.
+
+"Some one else sent you then?"  said Boges becoming more attentive.
+
+"Yes, some one else."
+
+"Ah! the Egyptian has sent a message to her brother-in-law?"
+
+"Who told you that?"
+
+"Nitetis spoke to me about it.  Here, give me what you have; I will give
+it to Bartja at once."
+
+"I was not to give it to any one but the prince himself."
+
+"Give it to me; it will be safer in my hands than in yours."
+
+"I dare not."
+
+"Obey me at once, or--"
+
+At this moment the king came up.  Boges thought a moment, and then called
+in a loud voice to the whip-bearers on duty at the palace-gate, to take
+the astonished boy up.
+
+"What is the matter here?"  asked Cambyses.
+
+"This fellow," answered the eunuch, "has had the audacity to make his way
+into the palace with a message from your consort Nitetis to Bartja."
+
+At sight of the king, the boy had fallen on his knees, touching the
+ground with his forehead.
+
+Cambyses looked at him and turned deadly pale.  Then, turning to the
+eunuch, he asked: "What does the Egyptian Princess wish from my brother?"
+
+"The boy declares that he has orders to give up what has been entrusted
+to him to no one but Bartja."  On hearing this the boy looked imploringly
+up at the king, and held out a little papyrus roll.
+
+Cambyses snatched it out of his hand, but the next moment stamped
+furiously on the ground at seeing that the letter was written in Greek,
+which he could not read.
+
+He collected himself, however, and, with an awful look, asked the boy who
+had given him the letter.  "The Egyptian lady's waiting-woman Mandane,"
+he answered; "the Magian's daughter."
+
+"For my brother Bartja?"
+
+"She said I was to give the letter to the handsome prince, before the
+banquet, with a greeting from her mistress Nitetis, and I was to tell him
+.  .  ."
+
+Here the king stamped so furiously, that the boy was frightened and could
+only stammer: "Before the banquet the prince was walking with you, so I
+could not speak to him, and now I am waiting for him here, for Mandane
+promised to give me a piece of gold if I did what she told me cleverly."
+
+"And that you have not done," thundered the king, fancying himself
+shamefully deceived.  "No, indeed you have not.  Here, guards, seize this
+fellow!"
+
+The boy begged and prayed, but all in vain; the whip-bearers seized
+him quick as thought, and Cambyses, who went off at once to his own
+apartments, was soon out of reach of his whining entreaties for mercy.
+
+Boges followed his master, rubbing his fat hands, and laughing quietly to
+himself.
+
+The king's attendants began their work of disrobing him, but he told them
+angrily to leave him at once.  As soon as they were gone, he called Boges
+and said in a low voice: "From this time forward the hanging-gardens and
+the Egyptian are under your control.  Watch her carefully!  If a single
+human being or a message reaches her without my knowledge, your life will
+be the forfeit."
+
+"But if Kassandane or Atossa should send to her?"
+
+"Turn the messengers away, and send word that every attempt to see or
+communicate with Nitetis will be regarded by me as a personal offence."
+
+"May I ask a favor for myself, O King?"
+
+"The time is not well chosen for asking favors."
+
+"I feel ill.  Permit some one else to take charge of the hanging-gardens
+for to-morrow only."
+
+"No!--now leave me."
+
+"I am in a burning fever and have lost consciousness three times during
+the day--if when I am in that state any one should  .  .  ."
+
+But who could take your place?"
+
+"The Lydian captain of the eunuchs, Kandaules.  He is true as gold, and
+inflexibly severe.  One day of rest would restore me to health.  Have
+mercy, O King!"
+
+"No one is so badly served as the king himself.  Kandaules may take your
+place to-morrow, but give hum the strictest orders, and say that the
+slightest neglect will put his life in danger.--Now depart."
+
+"Yet one word, my King: to-morrow night the rare blue lily in the
+hanging-gardens will open.  Hystaspes, Intaphernes, Gobyras, Croesus and
+Oropastes, the greatest horticulturists at your court, would very much
+like to see it.  May they be allowed to visit the gardens for a few
+minutes?  Kandaules shall see that they enter into no communication with
+the Egyptian."
+
+"Kandaules must keep his eyes open, if he cares for his own life.--Go!"
+
+Boges made a deep obeisance and left the king's apartment.  He threw a
+few gold pieces to the slaves who bore the torches before him.  He was so
+very happy.  Every thing had succeeded beyond his expectations:--the fate
+of Nitetis was as good as decided, and he held the life of Kandaules, his
+hated colleague, in his own hands.
+
+Cambyses spent the night in pacing up and down his apartment.  By cock-
+crow he had decided that Nitetis should be forced to confess her guilt,
+and then be sent into the great harem to wait on the concubines.  Bartja,
+the destroyer of his happiness, should set off at once for Egypt, and on
+his return become the satrap of some distant provinces.  He did not wish
+to incur the guilt of a brother's murder, but he knew his own temper too
+well not to fear that in a moment of sudden anger, he might kill one he
+hated so much, and therefore wished to remove him out of the reach of his
+passion.
+
+Two hours after the sun had risen, Cambyses was riding on his fiery
+steed, far in front of a Countless train of followers armed with shields,
+swords, lances, bows and lassos, in pursuit of the game which was to be
+found in the immense preserves near Babylon, and was to be started from
+its lair by more than a thousand dogs.
+
+     [The same immense trains of followers of course accompanied the
+     kings on their hunting expeditions, as on their journeys.  As the
+     Persian nobility were very fond of hunting, their boys were taught
+     this sport at an early age.  According to Strabo, kings themselves
+     boasted of having been mighty hunters in the inscriptions on their
+     tombs.  A relief has been found m the ruins of Persepolis, on which
+     the king is strangling a lion with his right arm, but this is
+     supposed to have a historical, not a symbolical meaning.  Similar
+     representations occur on Assyrian monuments.  Izdubar strangling a
+     lion and fighting with a lion (relief at Khorsabad) is admirably
+     copied in Delitzsch's edition of G.  Smith's Chaldean Genesis.
+     Layard discovered some representations of hunting-scenes during his
+     excavations; as, for instance, stags and wild boars among the reeds;
+     and the Greeks often mention the immense troops of followers on
+     horse and foot who attended the kings of Persia when they went
+     hunting.  According to Xenophon, Cyrop. I.  2.  II. 4. every hunter
+     was obliged to be armed with a bow and arrows, two lances, sword and
+     shield.  In Firdusi's Book of Kings we read that the lasso was also
+     a favorite weapon.  Hawking was well known to the Persians more than
+     900 years ago.  Book of Kabus XVIII.  p.  495.  The boomerang was
+     used in catching birds as well by the Persians as by the ancient
+     Egyptians and the present savage tribes of New Holland.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+The hunt was over.  Waggons full of game, amongst which were several
+enormous wild boars killed by the king's own hand, were driven home
+behind the sports men.  At the palace-gates the latter dispersed to their
+several abodes, in order to exchange the simple Persian leather hunting-
+costume for the splendid Median court-dress.
+
+In the course of the day's sport Cambyses had (with difficulty
+restraining his agitation) given his brother the seemingly kind order to
+start the next day for Egypt in order to fetch Sappho and accompany her
+to Persia.  At the same time he assigned him the revenues of Bactra,
+Rhagae and Sinope for the maintenance of his new household, and to his
+young wife, all the duties levied from her native town Phocaea, as pin-
+money.
+
+Bartja thanked his generous brother with undisguised warmth, but Cambyses
+remained cold as ice, uttered a few farewell words, and then, riding off
+in pursuit of a wild ass, turned his back upon him.
+
+On the way home from the chase the prince invited his bosom-friends
+Croesus, Darius, Zopyrus and Gyges to drink a parting-cup with him.
+
+Croesus promised to join them later, as he had promised to visit the blue
+lily at the rising of the Tistarstar.
+
+He had been to the hanging-gardens that morning early to visit Nitetis,
+but had been refused entrance by the guards, and the blue lily seemed now
+to offer him another chance of seeing and speaking to his beloved pupil.
+He wished for this very much, as he could not thoroughly understand her
+behavior the day before, and was uneasy at the strict watch set over her.
+
+The young Achaemenidae sat cheerfully talking together in the twilight in
+a shady bower in the royal gardens, cool fountains plashing round them.
+Araspes, a Persian of high rank, who had been one of Cyrus's friends, had
+joined them, and did full justice to the prince's excellent wine.
+
+"Fortunate Bartja!" cried the old bachelor, "going out to a golden
+country to fetch the woman you love; while I, miserable old fellow, am
+blamed by everybody, and totter to my grave without wife or children to
+weep for me and pray the gods to be merciful to my poor soul."
+
+"Why think of such things?"  cried Zopyrus, flourishing the wine-cup.
+"There's no woman so perfect that her husband does not, at least once a
+day, repent that he ever took a wife.  Be merry, old friend, and remember
+that it's all your own fault.  If you thought a wife would make you
+happy, why did not you do as I have done?  I am only twenty-two years old
+and have five stately wives and a troop of the most beautiful slaves in
+my house."
+
+Araspes smiled bitterly.
+
+"And what hinders you from marrying now?"  said Gyges.  "You are a match
+for many a younger man in appearance, strength, courage and perseverance.
+You are one of the king's nearest relations too--I tell you, Araspes, you
+might have twenty young and beautiful wives."
+
+"Look after your own affairs," answered Araspes.  "In your place, I
+certainly should not have waited to marry till I was thirty."
+
+"An oracle has forbidden my marrying."
+
+"Folly?  how can a sensible man care for what an oracle says?  It is only
+by dreams, that the gods announce the future to men.  I should have
+thought that your own father was example enough of the shameful way in
+which those lying priests deceive their best friends."
+
+"That is a matter which you do not understand, Araspes."
+
+"And never wish to, boy, for you only believe in oracles because you
+don't understand them, and in your short-sightedness call everything that
+is beyond your comprehension a miracle.  And you place more confidence in
+anything that seems to you miraculous, than in the plain simple truth
+that lies before your face.  An oracle deceived your father and plunged
+him into ruin, but the oracle is miraculous, and so you too, in perfect
+confidence, allow it to rob you of happiness!"
+
+"That is blasphemy, Araspes.  Are the gods to be blamed because we
+misunderstand their words?"
+
+"Certainly: for if they wished to benefit us they would give us, with the
+words, the necessary penetration for discovering their meaning.  What
+good does a beautiful speech do me, if it is in a foreign language that I
+do not understand?"
+
+"Leave off this useless discussion," said Darius, "and tell us instead,
+Araspes, how it is that, though you congratulate every man on becoming a
+bridegroom, you yourself have so long submitted to be blamed by the
+priests, slighted at all entertainments and festivals, and abused by the
+women, only because you choose to live and die a bachelor?"
+
+Araspes looked down thoughtfully, then shook himself, took a long draught
+from the wine-cup, and said, "I have my reasons, friends, but I cannot
+tell them now."
+
+"Tell them, tell them," was the answer.
+
+"No, children, I cannot, indeed I cannot.  This cup I drain to the health
+of the charming Sappho, and this second to your good fortune, my
+favorite, Darius."
+
+"Thanks, Araspes!"  exclaimed Bartja, joyfully raising his goblet to his
+lips.
+
+"You mean well, I know," muttered Darius, looking down gloomily.
+
+"What's this, you son of Hystaspes?"  cried the old man, looking more
+narrowly at the serious face of the youth.  "Dark looks like these don't
+sit well on a betrothed lover, who is to drink to the health of his
+dearest one.  Is not Gobryas' little daughter the noblest of all the
+young Persian girls after Atossa? and isn't she beautiful?"
+
+"Artystone has every talent and quality that a daughter of the
+Achaemenidae ought to possess," was Darius's answer, but his brow did not
+clear as he said the words.
+
+"Well, if you want more than that, you must be very hard to please."
+
+Darius raised his goblet and looked down into the wine.
+
+"The boy is in love, as sure as my name is Araspes!"  exclaimed the elder
+man.
+
+"What a set of foolish fellows you are," broke in Zopyrus at this
+exclamation.  "One of you has remained a bachelor in defiance of all
+Persian customs; another has been frightened out of marrying by an
+oracle; Bartja has determined to be content with only one wife; and
+Darius looks like a Destur chanting the funeral-service, because his
+father has told him to make himself happy with the most beautiful and
+aristocratic girl in Persia!"
+
+"Zopyrus is right," cried Araspes.  "Darius is ungrateful to fortune."
+
+Bartja meanwhile kept his eyes fixed on the friend, who was thus blamed
+by the others.  He saw that their jests annoyed him, and feeling his own
+great happiness doubly in that moment, pressed Darius's hand, saying:
+"I am so sorry that I cannot be present at your wedding.  By the time I
+come back, I hope you will be reconciled to your father's choice."
+
+"Perhaps," said Darius, "I may be able to show a second and even a third
+wife by that time."
+
+"Anahita" grant it!"  exclaimed Zopyrus.  "The Achaemenidae would soon
+become extinct, if every one were to follow such examples as Gyges and
+Araspes have set us.  And your one wife, Bartja, is really not worth
+talking about.  It is your duty to marry three wives at once, in order to
+keep up your father's family--the race of Cyrus."
+
+"I hate our custom of marrying many wives," answered Bartja.  "Through
+doing this, we make ourselves inferior to the women, for we expect them
+to remain faithful to us all our lives, and we, who are bound to respect
+truth and faithfulness above every thing else, swear inviolable love to
+one woman to-day, and to another to-morrow."
+
+"Nonsense!"  cried Zopyrus.  "I'd rather lose my tongue than tell a he to
+a man, but our wives are so awfully deceitful, that one has no choice but
+to pay them back in their own coin."
+
+"The Greek women are different," said Bartja, "because they are
+differently treated.  Sappho told me of one, I think her name was
+Penelope, who waited twenty years faithfully and lovingly for her
+husband, though every one believed he was dead, and she had fifty lovers
+a day at her house."
+
+"My wives would not wait so long for me," said Zopyrus laughing.  "To
+tell the truth, I don't think I should be sorry to find an empty house,
+if I came back after twenty years.  For then I could take some new wives
+into my harem, young and beautiful, instead of the unfaithful ones, who,
+besides, would have grown old.  But alas!  every woman does not find some
+one to run away with her, and our women would rather have an absent
+husband than none at all."
+
+"If your wives could hear what you are saying!"  said Araspes.
+
+"They would declare war with me at once, or, what is still worse,
+conclude a peace with one another."
+
+"How would that be worse?"
+
+"How? it is easy to see, that you have had no experience."
+
+"Then let us into the secrets of your married life."
+
+"With pleasure.  You can easily fancy, that five wives in one house do
+not live quite so peacefully as five doves in a cage; mine at least carry
+on an uninterrupted, mortal warfare.  But I have accustomed myself to
+that, and their sprightliness even amuses me.  A year ago, however, they
+came to terms with one another, and this day of peace was the most
+miserable in my life."
+
+"You are jesting."
+
+"No, indeed, I am quite in earnest.  The wretched eunuch who had to keep
+watch over the five, allowed them to see an old jewel-merchant from Tyre.
+Each of them chose a separate and expensive set of jewels.  When I came
+home Sudabe came up and begged for money to pay for these ornaments.  The
+things were too dear, and I refused.  Every one of the five then came and
+begged me separately for the money; I refused each of them point blank
+and went off to court.  When I came back, there were all my wives weeping
+side by side, embracing one another and calling each other fellow-
+sufferers.  These former enemies rose up against me with the most
+touching unanimity, and so overwhelmed me with revilings and threats that
+I left the room.  They closed their doors against me.  The next morning
+the lamentations of the evening before were continued.  I fled once more
+and went hunting with the king, and when I came back, tired, hungry and
+half-frozen--for it was in spring, we were already at Ecbatana, and the
+snow was lying an ell deep on the Orontes--there was no fire on the
+hearth and nothing to eat.  These noble creatures had entered into an
+alliance in order to punish me, had put out the fire, forbidden the cooks
+to do their duty and, which was worse than all--had kept the jewels!  No
+sooner had I ordered the slaves to make a fire and prepare food, than the
+impudent jewel-dealer appeared and demanded his money.  I refused again,
+passed another solitary night, and in the morning sacrificed ten talents
+for the sake of peace.  Since that time harmony and peace among my
+beloved wives seems to me as much to be feared as the evil Divs
+themselves, and I see their little quarrels with the greatest pleasure."
+
+"Poor Zopyrus!"  cried Bartja.
+
+"Why poor?"  asked this five-fold husband.  "I tell you I am much happier
+than you are.  My wives are young and charming, and when they grow old,
+what is to hinder me from taking others, still handsomer, and who, by the
+side of the faded beauties, will be doubly charming.  Ho! slave--bring
+some lamps.  The sun has gone down, and the wine loses all its flavor
+when the table is not brightly lighted."
+
+At this moment the voice of Darius, who had left the arbor and gone out
+into the garden, was heard calling: "Come and hear how beautifully the
+nightingale is singing."
+
+"By Mithras, you son of Hystaspes, you must be in love," interrupted
+Araspes.  "The flowery darts of love must have entered the heart of him,
+who leaves his wine to listen to the nightingale."
+
+"You are right there, father," cried Bartja.  "Philomel, as the Greeks
+call our Gulgul, is the lovers' bird among all nations, for love has
+given her her beautiful song.  What beauty were you dreaming of, Darius,
+when you went out to listen to the nightingale?"
+
+"I was not dreaming of any," answered he.  "You know how fond I am of
+watching the stars, and the Tistar-star rose so splendidly to-night, that
+I left the wine to watch it.  The nightingales were singing so loudly to
+one another, that if I had not wished to hear them I must have stopped my
+ears."
+
+"You kept them wide open, however," said Araspes laughing.  "Your
+enraptured exclamation proved that."
+
+"Enough of this," cried Darius, to whom these jokes were getting
+wearisome.  "I really must beg you to leave off making allusions to
+matters, which I do not care to hear spoken of."
+
+"Imprudent fellow!"  whispered the older man; "now you really have
+betrayed yourself.  If you were not in love, you would have laughed
+instead of getting angry. Still I won't go on provoking you--tell me
+what you have just been reading in the stars."
+
+At these words Darius looked up again into the starry sky and fixed his
+eyes on a bright constellation hanging over the horizon.  Zopyrus watched
+him and called out to his friends, "Something important must be happening
+up there.  Darius, tell us what's going on in the heavens just now."
+
+"Nothing good," answered the other.  "Bartja, I have something to say to
+you alone."
+
+"Why to me alone?  Araspes always keeps his own counsel, and from the
+rest of you I never have any secrets."
+
+"Still--"
+
+"Speak out."
+
+"No, I wish you would come into the garden with me."
+
+Bartja nodded to the others, who were still sitting over their wine, laid
+his hand on Darius' shoulder and went out with him into the bright
+moonlight.  As soon as they were alone, Darius seized both his friend's
+hands, and said: "To-day is the third time that things have happened in
+the heavens, which bode no good for you.  Your evil star has approached
+your favorable constellation so nearly, that a mere novice in astrology
+could see some serious danger was at hand.  Be on your guard, Bartja, and
+start for Egypt to-day; the stars tell me that the danger is here on the
+Euphrates, not abroad."
+
+"Do you believe implicitly in the stars?"
+
+"Implicitly.  They never lie."
+
+"Then it would be folly to try and avoid what they have foretold."
+
+"Yes, no man can run away from his destiny; but that very destiny is like
+a fencing-master--his favorite pupils are those who have the courage and
+skill to parry his own blows.  Start for Egypt to-day, Bartja."
+
+"I cannot--I haven't taken leave of my mother and Atossa."
+
+"Send them a farewell message, and tell Croesus to explain the reason of
+your starting so quickly."
+
+"They would call me a coward."
+
+"It is cowardly to yield to any mortal, but to go out of the way of one's
+fate is wisdom."
+
+"You contradict yourself, Darius.  What would the fencing-master say to a
+runaway-pupil?"
+
+"He would rejoice in the stratagem, by which an isolated individual tried
+to escape a superior force."
+
+"But the superior force must conquer at last.--What would be the use of
+my trying to put off a danger which, you say yourself, cannot be averted?
+If my tooth aches, I have it drawn at once, instead of tormenting and
+making myself miserable for weeks by putting off the painful operation as
+a coward or a woman would, till the last moment.  I can await this coming
+danger bravely, and the sooner it comes the better, for then I shall have
+it behind me."
+
+"You do not know how serious it is."
+
+"Are you afraid for my life?"
+
+"No."
+
+"Then tell me, what you are afraid of."
+
+"That Egyptian priest with whom I used to study the stars, once cast your
+horoscope with me.  He knew more about the heavens, than any man I ever
+saw.  I learnt a great deal from him, and I will not hide from you that
+even then he drew my attention to dangers that threaten you now."
+
+"And you did not tell me?"
+
+"Why should I have made you uneasy beforehand?  Now that your destiny is
+drawing near, I warn you."
+
+"Thank you,--I will be careful.  In former times I should not have
+listened to such a warning, but now that I love Sappho, I feel as if my
+life were not so much my own to do what I like with, as it used to be."
+
+"I understand this feeling  .  .  ."
+
+"You understand it?  Then Araspes was right?  You don't deny?"
+
+"A mere dream without any hope of fulfilment."
+
+"But what woman could refuse you?"
+
+"Refuse!"
+
+"I don't understand you.  Do you mean to say that you--the boldest
+sportsman, the strongest wrestler--the wisest of all the young Persians
+--that you, Darius, are afraid of a woman?"
+
+"Bartja, may I tell you more, than I would tell even to my own father?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I love the daughter of Cyrus, your sister and the king's, Atossa."
+
+"Have I understood you rightly?  you love Atossa?  Be praised for this,
+O ye pure Amescha cpenta!  Now I shall never believe in your stars again,
+for instead of the danger with which they threatened me, here comes an
+unexpected happiness.  Embrace me, my brother, and tell me the whole
+story, that I may see whether I can help you to turn this hopeless dream,
+as you call it, into a reality."
+
+"You will remember that before our journey to Egypt, we went with the
+entire court from Ecbatana to Susa.  I was in command of the division of
+the "Immortals" appointed to escort the carriages containing the king's
+mother and sister, and his wives.  In going through the narrow pass which
+leads over the Orontes, the horses of your mother's carriage slipped.
+The yoke to which the horses were harnessed broke from the pole, and the
+heavy, four-wheeled carriage fell over the precipice without obstruction.
+
+     [There was a yoke at the end of the shaft of a Persian carriage,
+     which was fastened on to the backs of the horses and took the place
+     of our horse-collar and pole-chain.]
+
+On seeing it disappear, we were horrified and spurred our horses to the
+place as quickly as possible.  We expected of course to see only
+fragments of the carriages and the dead bodies of its inmates, but the
+gods had taken them into their almighty protection, and there lay the
+carriage, with broken wheels, in the arms of two gigantic cypresses which
+had taken firm root in the fissures of the slate rocks, and whose dark
+tops reached up to the edge of the carriage-road.
+
+"As quick as thought I sprang from my horse and scrambled down one of the
+cypresses.  Your mother and sister stretched their arms to me, crying for
+help.  The danger was frightful, for the sides of the carriage had been
+so shattered by the fall, that they threatened every moment to give way,
+in which case those inside it must inevitably have fallen into the black,
+unfathomable abyss which looked like an abode for the gloomy Divs, and
+stretched his jaws wide to crush its beautiful victims.
+
+"I stood before the shattered carriage as it hung over the precipice
+ready to fall to pieces every moment, and then for the first time I met
+your sister's imploring look.  From that moment I loved her, but at the
+time I was much too intent on saving them, to think of anything else, and
+had no idea what had taken place within me.  I dragged the trembling
+women out of the carriage, and one minute later it rolled down the abyss
+crashing into a thousand pieces.  I am a strong man, but I confess that
+all my strength was required to keep myself and the two women from
+falling over the precipice until ropes were thrown to us from above.
+Atossa hung round my neck, and Kassandane lay on my breast, supported by
+my left arm; with the right I fastened the rope round my waist, we were
+drawn up, and I found myself a few minutes later on the high-road--your
+mother and sister were saved.
+
+"As soon as one of the Magi had bound up the wounds cut by the rope in my
+side, the king sent for me, gave me the chain I am now wearing and the
+revenues of an entire satrapy, and then took me to his mother and sister.
+They expressed their gratitude very warmly; Kassandane allowed me to kiss
+her forehead, and gave me all the jewels she had worn at the time of the
+accident, as a present for my future wife.  Atossa took a ring from her
+finger, put it on mine and kissed my hand in the warmth of her emotion--
+you know how eager and excitable she is.  Since that happy day--the
+happiest in my life--I have never seen your sister, till yesterday
+evening, when we sat opposite to each other at the banquet.  Our eyes
+met.  I saw nothing but Atossa, and I think she has not forgotten the man
+who saved her.  Kassandane .  .  ."
+
+"Oh, my mother would be delighted to have you for a son-in-law; I will
+answer for that.  As to the king, your father must apply to him; he is
+our uncle and has a right to ask the hand of Cyrus's daughter for his
+son."
+
+"But have you forgotten your father's dream?  You know that Cambyses has
+always looked on me with suspicion since that time."
+
+"Oh, that has been long forgotten.  My father dreamt before his death
+that you had wings, and was misled by the soothsayers into the fancy that
+you, though you were only eighteen then, would try to gain the crown.
+Cambyses thought of this dream too; but, when you saved my mother and
+sister, Croesus explained to him that this must have been its fulfilment,
+as no one but Darius or a winged eagle could possibly have possessed
+strength and dexterity enough to hang suspended over such an abyss."
+
+"Yes, and I remember too that these words did not please your brother.
+He chooses to be the only eagle in Persia; but Croesus does not spare his
+vanity--"
+
+"Where can Croesus be all this time?"
+
+"In the hanging-gardens.  My father and Gobryas have very likely detained
+him."
+
+Just at that moment the voice of Zopyrus was heard exclaiming, "Well, I
+call that polite!  Bartja invites us to a wine-party and leaves us
+sitting here without a host, while he talks secrets yonder."
+
+"We are coming, we are coming," answered Bartja.  Then taking the hand of
+Darius heartily, he said: "I am very glad that you love Atossa.  I shall
+stay here till the day after to-morrow, let the stars threaten me with
+all the dangers in the world.  To-morrow I will find out what Atossa
+feels, and when every thing is in the right track I shall go away, and
+leave my winged Darius to his own powers."
+
+So saying Bartja went back into the arbor, and his friend began to watch
+the stars again.  The longer he looked the sadder and more serious became
+his face, and when the Tistar-star set, he murmured, "Poor Bartja!"  His
+friends called him, and he was on the point of returning to them, when he
+caught sight of a new star, and began to examine its position carefully.
+His serious looks gave way to a triumphant smile, his tall figure seemed
+to grow taller still, he pressed his hand on his heart and whispered:
+"Use your pinions, winged Darius; your star will be on your side," and
+then returned to his friends.
+
+A few minutes after, Croesus came up to the arbor.  The youths sprang
+from their seats to welcome the old man, but when he saw Bartja's face by
+the bright moonlight, he stood as if transfixed by a flash of lightning.
+
+"What has happened, father?"  asked Gyges, seizing his hand anxiously.
+
+"Nothing, nothing," he stammered almost inaudibly, and pushing his son on
+one side, whispered in Bartja's ear: "Unhappy boy, you are still here?
+don't delay any longer,--fly at once! the whip-bearers are close at my
+heels, and I assure you that if you don't use the greatest speed, you
+will have to forfeit your double imprudence with your life."
+
+"But Croesus, I have .  .  ."
+
+"You have set at nought the law of the land and of the court, and, in
+appearance at least, have done great offence to your brother's honor...."
+
+"You are speaking .  .  ."
+
+"Fly, I tell you--fly at once; for if your visit to the hanging-gardens
+was ever so innocently meant, you are still in the greatest danger.  You
+know Cambyses' violent temper so well; how could you so wickedly disobey
+his express command?"
+
+"I don't understand."
+
+"No excuses,--fly!  don't you know that, Cambyses has long been jealous
+of you, and that your visit to the Egyptian to-night .  .  ."
+
+"I have never once set foot in the hanging-gardens, since Nitetis has
+been here."
+
+"Don't add a lie to your offence, I .  .  ."
+
+"But I swear to you .  .  ."
+
+"Do you wish to turn a thoughtless act into a crime by adding the guilt
+of perjury?  The whip-bearers are coming, fly!"
+
+"I shall remain here, and abide by my oath."
+
+"You are infatuated!  It is not an hour ago since I myself, Hystaspes,
+and others of the Achaemenidae saw you in the hanging-gardens .  .  ."
+
+In his astonishment Bartja had, half involuntarily, allowed himself to be
+led away, but when he heard this he stood still, called his friends and
+said "Croesus says he met me an hour ago in the hanging-gardens, you know
+that since the sun set I have not been away from you.  Give your
+testimony, that in this case an evil Div must have made sport of our
+friend and his companions."
+
+"I swear to you, father," cried Gyges, "that Bartja has not left this
+garden for some hours."
+
+"And we confirm the same," added Araspes, Zopyrus and Darius with one
+voice.
+
+"You want to deceive me?"  said Croesus getting very angry, and looking
+at each of them reproachfully: "Do you fancy that I am blind or mad?  Do
+you think that your witness will outweigh the words of such men as
+Hystaspes, Gobryas, Artaphernes and the high priest, Oropastes?  In spite
+of all your false testimony, which no amount of friendship can justify,
+Bartja will have to die unless he flies at once."
+
+"May Angramainjus destroy me," said Araspes interrupting the old man, "if
+Bartja was in the hanging-gardens two hours ago!"  and Gyges added:
+
+"Don't call me your son any longer, if we have given false testimony."
+
+Darius was beginning to appeal to the eternal stars, but Bartja put an
+end to this confusion of voices by saying in a decided tone: "A division
+of the bodyguard is coming into the garden.  I am to be arrested; I
+cannot escape because I am innocent, and to fly would lay me open to
+suspicion.  By the soul of my father, the blind eyes of my mother, and
+the pure light of the sun, Croesus, I swear that I am not lying."
+
+"Am I to believe you, in spite of my own eyes which have never yet
+deceived me?  But I will, boy, for I love you.  I do not and I will not
+know whether you are innocent or guilty, but this I do know, you must
+fly, and fly at once.  You know Cambyses.  My carriage is waiting at the
+gate.  Don't spare the horses, save yourself even if you drive them to
+death.  The Soldiers seem to know what they have been sent to do; there
+can be no question that they delay so long only in order to give their
+favorite time to escape.  Fly, fly, or it is all over with you."
+
+Darius, too, pushed his friend forward, exclaiming: "Fly, Bartja, and
+remember the warning that the heavens themselves wrote in the stars for
+you."
+
+Bartja, however, stood silent, shook his handsome head, waved his friends
+back, and answered: "I never ran away yet, and I mean to hold my ground
+to-day.  Cowardice is worse than death in my opinion, and I would rather
+suffer wrong at the hands of others than disgrace myself.  There are the
+soldiers!  Well met, Bischen.  You've come to arrest me, haven't you?
+Wait one moment, till I have said good-bye to my friends."
+
+Bischen, the officer he spoke to, was one of Cyrus's old captains; he had
+given Bartja his first lessons in shooting and throwing the spear, had
+fought by his side in the war with the Tapuri, and loved him as if he
+were his own son.  He interrupted him, saying: "There is no need to take
+leave of your friends, for the king, who is raging like a madman, ordered
+me not only to arrest you, but every one else who might be with you."
+
+And then he added in a low voice: "The king is beside himself with rage
+and threatens to have your life.  You must fly.  My men will do what I
+tell them blindfold; they will not pursue you; and I am so old that it
+would be little loss to Persia, if my head were the price of my
+disobedience."
+
+"Thanks, thanks, my friend," said Bartja, giving him his hand; "but I
+cannot accept your offer, because I am innocent, and I know that though
+Cambyses is hasty, he is not unjust.  Come friends, I think the king will
+give us a hearing to-day, late as it is."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+Two hours later Bartja and his friends were standing before the king.
+The gigantic man was seated on his golden throne; he was pale and his
+eyes looked sunken; two physicians stood waiting behind him with all
+kinds of instruments and vessels in their hands.  Cambyses had, only a
+few minutes before, recovered consciousness, after lying for more than an
+hour in one of those awful fits, so destructive both to mind and body,
+which we call epileptic.
+
+     [The dangerous disease to which Herodotus says Cambyses had been
+     subject from his birth, and which was called "sacred" by some, can
+     scarcely be other than epilepsy.  See Herod, III. 33.]
+
+Since Nitetis' arrival he had been free from this illness; but it had
+seized him to-day with fearful violence, owing to the overpowering mental
+excitement he had gone through.
+
+If he had met Bartja a few hours before, he would have killed him with
+his own hand; but though the epileptic fit had not subdued his anger it
+had at least so far quieted it, that he was in a condition to hear what
+was to be said on both sides.
+
+At the right hand of the throne stood Hystaspes, Darius's grey-haired
+father, Gobryas, his future father-in-law, the aged Intaphernes, the
+grandfather of that Phaedime whose place in the king's favor had been
+given to Nitetis, Oropastes the high-priest, Croesus, and behind them
+Boges, the chief of the eunuchs.  At its left Bartja, whose hands were
+heavily fettered, Araspes, Darius, Zopyrus and Gyges.  In the background
+stood some hundred officials and grandees.
+
+After a long silence Cambyses raised his eyes, fixed a withering look on
+his fettered brother, and said in a dull hollow voice: "High-priest, tell
+us what awaits the man who deceives his brother, dishonors and offends
+his king, and darkens his own heart by black lies."
+
+Oropastes came forward and answered: "As soon as such a one is proved
+guilty, a death full of torment awaits him in this world, and an awful
+sentence on the bridge Chinvat; for he has transgressed the highest
+commands, and, by committing three crimes, has forfeited the mercy of our
+law, which commands that his life shall be granted to the man who has
+sinned but once, even though he be only a slave."
+
+     [On the third day after death, at the rising of the bright sun, the
+     souls are conducted by the Divs to the bridge Chinvat, where they
+     are questioned as to their past lives and conduct.  Vendid.
+     Fargard. XIX. 93.  On that spot the two supernatural powers fight
+     for the soul.]
+
+"Then Bartja has deserved death.  Lead him away, guards, and strangle
+him!  Take him away!  Be silent, wretch! never will I listen to that
+smooth, hypocritical tongue again, or look at those treacherous eyes.
+They come from the Divs and delude every one with their wanton glances.
+Off with him, guards!"
+
+Bischen, the captain, came up to obey the order, but in the same moment
+Croesus threw himself at the king's feet, touched the floor with his
+forehead, raised his hands and cried: "May thy days and years bring
+nought but happiness and prosperity; may Auramazda pour down all the
+blessings of this life upon thee, and the Amescha cpenta be the guardians
+of thy throne!
+
+     [The Amescha cpenta, "holy immortal ones," maybe compared to the
+     archangels of the Hebrews.  They surround the throne of Auramazda
+     and symbolize the highest virtues.  Later we find their number fixed
+     at six.]
+
+Do not close thine ear to the words of the aged, but remember that thy
+father Cyrus appointed me to be thy counsellor.  Thou art about to slay
+thy brother; but I say unto thee, do not indulge anger; strive to control
+it.  It is the duty of kings and of the wise, not to act without due
+enquiry.  Beware of shedding a brother's blood; the smoke thereof will
+rise to heaven and become a cloud that must darken the days of the
+murderer, and at last cast down the lightnings of vengeance on his head.
+But I know that thou desirest justice, not murder.  Act then as those who
+have to pronounce a sentence, and hear both sides before deciding.  When
+this has been done, if the criminal is proved guilty and confesses his
+crime, the smoke of his blood will rise to heaven as a friendly shadow,
+instead of a darkening cloud, and thou wilt have earned the fame of a
+just judge instead of deserving the divine judgments."
+
+Cambyses listened in silence, made a sign to Bischen to retire, and
+commanded Boges to repeat his accusation.
+
+The eunuch made an obeisance, and began: "I was ill and obliged to leave
+the Egyptian and the Hanging-gardens in the care of my colleague
+Kandaules, who has paid for his negligence with his life.  Finding myself
+better towards evening, I went up to the hanging-gardens to see if
+everything was in order there, and also to look at the rare flower which
+was to blossom in the night.  The king, (Auramazda grant him victory!)
+had commanded that the Egyptian should be more strictly watched than
+usual, because she had dared to send the noble Bartja  .  .  ."
+
+"Be silent," interrupted the king, "and keep to the matter in hand."
+
+"Just as the Tistar-star was rising, I came into the garden, and staid
+some time there with these noble Achaemenidae, the high-priest and the
+king Croesus, looking at the blue lily, which was marvellously beautiful.
+I then called my colleague Kandaules and asked him, in the presence of
+these noble witnesses, if everything was in order.  He affirmed that this
+was the case and added, that he had just come from Nitetis, that she had
+wept the whole day, and neither tasted food nor drink.  Feeling anxious
+lest my noble mistress should become worse, I commissioned Kandaules to
+fetch a physician, and was just on the point of leaving the noble
+Achaemenidae, in order in person to ascertain my mistress's state of
+health, when I saw in the moon-light the figure of a man.  I was so ill
+and weak, that I could hardly stand and had no one near to help me,
+except the gardener.
+
+"My men were on guard at the different entrances, some distance from us.
+
+"I clapped my hands to call some of them, but, as they did not come, I
+went nearer to the house myself, under the protection of these noblemen.
+--The man was standing by the window of the Egyptian Princess's
+apartment, and uttered a low whistle when he heard us coming up.  Another
+figure appeared directly--clearly recognizable in the bright moonlight--
+sprang out of the sleeping-room window and came towards us with her
+companion.
+
+"I could hardly believe my eyes on discovering that the intruder was no
+other than the noble Bartja.  A fig-tree concealed us from the fugitives,
+but we could distinctly see them, as they passed us at a distance of not
+more than four steps.  While I was thinking whether I should be justified
+in arresting a son of Cyrus, Croesus called to Bartja, and the two
+figures suddenly disappeared behind a cypress.  No one but your brother
+himself can possibly explain the strange way in which he disappeared.  I
+went at once to search the house, and found the Egyptian lying
+unconscious on the couch in her sleeping-room."
+
+Every one listened to this story in the greatest suspense.  Cambyses
+ground his teeth and asked in a voice of great emotion: "Can you testify
+to the words of the eunuch, Hystaspes?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Why did you not lay hands on the offender?"
+
+"We are soldiers, not policemen."
+
+"Or rather you care for every knave more than for your king."
+
+"We honor our king, and abhor the criminal just as we formerly loved the
+innocent son of Cyrus."
+
+"Did you recognize Bartja distinctly?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you, Croesus, can you too give no other answer?"
+
+"No!  I fancied I saw your brother in the moonlight then, as clearly as I
+see him now; but I believe we must have been deceived by some remarkable
+likeness."  Boges grew pale at these words; Cambyses, however, shook his
+head as if the idea did not please him, and said: "Whom am I to believe
+then, if the eyes of my best warriors fail them? and who would wish to be
+a judge, if testimony such as yours is not to be considered valid?"
+
+"Evidence quite as weighty as ours, will prove that we must have been in
+error."
+
+"Will any one dare to give evidence in favor of such an outrageous
+criminal?"  asked Cambyses, springing up and stamping his foot.
+
+"We will,"  "I,"  "we," shouted Araspes, Darius, Gyges and Zopyrus with
+one voice.
+
+"Traitors, knaves!"  cried the king.  But as he caught sight of Croesus'
+warning eye fixed upon him, he lowered his voice, and said: "What have
+you to bring forward in favor of this fellow?  Take care what you say,
+and consider well what punishment awaits perjurers."
+
+"We know that well enough," said Araspes, "and yet we are ready to swear
+by Mithras, that we have not left Bartja or his garden one moment since
+we came back from hunting."
+
+"As for me," said Darius, "I, the son of Hystaspes, have especially
+convincing evidence to give in favor of your brother's innocence; I
+watched the rising of the Tistar-star with him; and this, according to
+Boges, was the very star that shone on his flight."
+
+Hystaspes gazed on his son in astonishment and doubt at hearing these
+words, and Cambyses turned a scrutinizing eye first on the one and then
+on the other party of these strange witnesses, who wished so much, and
+yet found it so impossible, to believe one another, himself unable to
+come to a decision.
+
+Bartja, who till now had remained perfectly silent, looking down sadly at
+his chained hands, took advantage of the silence to say, making at the
+same time a deep obeisance: "May I be allowed to speak a few words, my
+King?"
+
+"Speak!"
+
+"From our father we learnt to strive after that which was pure and good
+only; so up to this time my life has been unstained.  If you have ever
+known me take part in an evil deed, you have a right not to believe me,
+but if you find no fault in me then trust to what I say, and remember
+that a son of Cyrus would rather die than tell a lie.  I confess that no
+judge was ever placed in such a perplexing position.  The best men in
+your kingdom testify against one another, friend against friend, father
+against son.  But I tell you that were the entire Persian nation to rise
+up against you, and swear that Cambyses had committed this or that evil
+deed, and you were to say, 'I did not commit it,' I, Bartja, would give
+all  Persia the lie and exclaim, 'Ye are all false witnesses; sooner
+could the sea cast up fire than a son of Cyrus allow his mouth to deal in
+lies.'  No, Cambyses, you and I are so high-born that no one but yourself
+can bear evidence against me; and you can only be judged out of your own
+mouth."
+
+Cambyses' looks grew a little milder on hearing these words, and his
+brother went on: "So I swear to you by Mithras, and by all pure spirits,
+that I am innocent.  May my life become extinct and my race perish from
+off the earth, if I tell you a lie, when I say that I have not once set
+foot in the hanging-gardens since my return!"
+
+Bartja's voice was so firm and his tone so full of assurance, as he
+uttered this oath that Cambyses ordered his chains to be loosened, and,
+after a few moments' thought, said: "I should like to believe you, for I
+cannot bear to imagine you the worst and most abandoned of men.  To-
+morrow we will summon the astrologers, soothsayers and priests.  Perhaps
+they may be able to discover the truth.  Can you see any light in this
+darkness, Oropastes?"
+
+"Thy servant supposes, that a Div has taken upon him the form of Bartja,
+in order to ruin the king's brother and stain thine own royal soul with
+the blood of thy father's son."
+
+Cambyses and every one present nodded their assent to this proposition,
+and the king was just going to offer his hand to Bartja, when a staff-
+bearer came in and gave the king a dagger.  A eunuch had found it under
+the windows of Nitetis' sleeping-apartment.
+
+Cambyses examined the weapon carefully.  Its costly hilt was thickly set
+with rubies and turquoises.  As he looked he turned pale, and dashed the
+dagger on the ground before Bartja with such violence, that the stones
+fell out of their setting.
+
+"This is your dagger, you wretch!"  he shrieked, seized by the same
+violent passion as before.  "This very morning you used it to give the
+last thrust to the wild boar, that I had mortally wounded.  Croesus, you
+ought to know it too, for my father brought it from your treasure-house
+at Sardis.  At last you are really convicted, you liar!--you impostor!
+The Divs require no weapons, and such a dagger as this is not to be
+picked up everywhere.  Ah, ha!  you are feeling in your girdle!  You may
+well turn pale; your dagger is gone!"
+
+"Yes, it is gone.  I must have lost it, and some enemy .  .  ."
+
+"Seize him, Bischen, put on his fetters!  Take him to prison--the
+traitor, the perjurer!  He shall be strangled to-morrow.  Death is the
+penalty of perjury.  Your heads for theirs, you guards, if they escape.
+Not one word more will I hear; away with you, you perjured villains!
+Boges, go at once to the hanging-gardens and bring the Egyptian to me.
+Yet no, I won't see that serpent again.  It is very near dawn now, and at
+noon she shall be flogged through the streets.  Then I'll .  .  ."
+
+But here he was stopped by another fit of epilepsy, and sank down on to
+the marble floor in convulsions.  At this fearful moment Kassandane was
+led into the hall by the old general Megabyzus.  The news of what
+had happened had found its way to her solitary apartments, and,
+notwithstanding the hour, she had risen in order to try and discover the
+truth and warn her son against pronouncing a too hasty decision.  She
+believed firmly that Bartja and Nitetis were innocent, though she could
+not explain to herself what had happened.  Several times she had tried to
+put herself in communication with Nitetis, but without avail.  At last
+she had been herself to the hanging-gardens, but the guards had actually
+had the hardihood to refuse her admission.
+
+Croesus went at once to meet her, told her what had happened, suppressing
+as many painful details as possible, confirmed her in her belief of the
+innocence of the accused, and then took her to the bedside of the king.
+
+The convulsions had not lasted long this time.  He lay on his golden bed
+under purple silk coverlets, pale and exhausted.  His blind mother seated
+herself at his side, Croesus and Oropastes took their station at the foot
+of the bell, and in another part of the room, four physicians discussed
+the patient's condition in low whispers.
+
+     [It was natural, that medicine should be carefully studied among a
+     people who set such a high value upon life as did the Persians.
+     Pliny indeed, (XXX.  I.) maintains, that the whole of Zoroaster's
+     religion was founded on the science of medicine, and it is true that
+     there are a great many medical directions to be found in the Avesta.
+     In the Vendidad, Farg. VII. there is a detailed list of medical
+     fees.  "The physician shall treat a priest for a pious blessing or
+     spell, the master of a house for a small draught animal, etc., the
+     lord of a district for a team of four oxen.  If the physician cures
+     the mistress of the house, a female ass shall be his fee, etc.,
+     etc."  We read in the same Fargard, that the physician had to pass a
+     kind of examination.  If he had operated thrice successfully on bad
+     men, on whose bodies he had been permitted to try his skill, he was
+     pronounced "capable for ever."  If, on the other hand, three evil
+     Daevayacna (worshippers of the Divs) died under his hands, he was
+     pronounced "incapable of healing for evermore."]
+
+Kassandane was very gentle with her son; she begged him not to yield to
+passionate anger, and to remember what a sad effect every such outburst
+had on his health.
+
+"Yes, mother, you are right," answered the king, smiling bitterly; "I see
+that I must get rid of everything that rouses my anger.  The Egyptian
+must die, and my perfidious brother shall follow his mistress."
+
+Kassandane used all her eloquence to convince him of the innocence of the
+accused, and to pacify his anger, but neither prayers, tears, nor her
+motherly exhortations, could in the least alter his resolution to rid
+himself of these murderers of his happiness and peace.
+
+At last he interrupted her lamentations by saying: "I feel fearfully
+exhausted; I cannot bear these sobs and lamentations any longer.  Nitetis
+has been proved guilty.  A man was seen to leave her sleeping-apartment
+in the night, and that man was not a thief, but the handsomest man in
+Persia, and one to whom she had dared to send a letter yesterday
+evening."
+
+"Do you know the contents of that letter?"  asked Croesus, coming up to
+the bed.
+
+"No; it was written in Greek.  The faithless creature made use of
+characters, which no one at this court can read."
+
+"Will you permit me to translate the letter?"  Cambyses pointed to a
+small ivory box in which the ominous piece of writing lay, saying: "There
+it is; read it; but do not hide or alter a single word, for to-morrow I
+shall have it read over again by one of the merchants from Sinope."
+
+Croesus' hopes revived; he seemed to breathe again as he took the paper.
+But when he had read it over, his eyes filled with tears and he murmured:
+"The fable of Pandora is only too true; I dare not be angry any longer
+with those poets who have written severely against women.  Alas, they are
+all false and faithless!  O Kassandane, how the Gods deceive us! they
+grant us the gift of old age, only to strip us bare like trees in winter,
+and show us that all our fancied gold was dross and all our pleasant and
+refreshing drinks poison!"
+
+Kassandane wept aloud and tore her costly robes; but Cambyses clenched
+his fist while Croesus was reading the following words:
+
+"Nitetis, daughter of Amasis of Egypt, to Bartja, son of the great Cyrus:
+
+"I have something important to tell you; I can tell it to no one but
+yourself.  To-morrow I hope I shall meet you in your mother's apartments.
+It lies in your power to comfort a sad and loving heart, and to give it
+one happy moment before death.  I have a great deal to tell you, and some
+very sad news; I repeat that I must see you soon."
+
+The desperate laughter, which burst from her son cut his mother to the
+heart.  She stooped down and was going to kiss him, but Cambyses resisted
+her caresses, saying: "It is rather a doubtful honor, mother, to be one
+of your favorites.  Bartja did not wait to be sent for twice by that
+treacherous woman, and has disgraced himself by swearing falsely.  His
+friends, the flower of our young men, have covered themselves with
+indelible infamy for his sake; and through him, your best beloved
+daughter .  .  .  but no!  Bartja had no share in the corruption of that
+fiend in Peri's form.  Her life was made up of hypocrisy and deceit, and
+her death shall prove that I know how to punish.  Now leave me, for I
+must be alone."
+
+They had scarcely left the room, when he sprang up and paced backwards
+and forwards like a madman, till the first crow of the sacred bird
+Parodar.  When the sun had risen, he threw himself on his bed again, and
+fell into a sleep that was like a swoon.
+
+Meanwhile Bartja had written Sappho a farewell letter, and was sitting
+over the wine with his fellow-prisoners and their elder friend Araspes.
+"Let us be merry," said Zopyrus, "for I believe it will soon be up with
+all our merriment.  I would lay my life, that we are all of us dead by
+to-morrow.  Pity that men haven't got more than one neck; if we'd two,
+I would not mind wagering a gold piece or two on the chance of our
+remaining alive."
+
+"Zopyrus is quite right," said Araspes; "we will make merry and keep our
+eyes open; who knows how soon they may be closed for ever?"
+
+"No one need be sad who goes to his death as innocently as we do," said
+Gyges.  "Here, cup-bearer, fill my goblet!"
+
+"Ah!  Bartja and Darius!"  cried Zopyrus, seeing the two speaking in a
+low voice together, "there you are at your secrets again.  Come to us and
+pass the wine-cup.  By Mithras, I can truly say I never wished for death,
+but now I quite look forward to the black Azis, because he is going to
+take us all together.  Zopyrus would rather die with his friends, than
+live without them."
+
+"But the great point is to try and explain what has really happened,"
+said Darius.
+
+"It's all the same to me," said Zopyrus, whether I die with or without an
+explanation, so long as I know I am innocent and have not deserved the
+punishment of perjury.  Try and get us some golden goblets, Bischen; the
+wine has no flavor out of these miserable brass mugs.  Cambyses surely
+would not wish us to suffer from poverty in our last hours, though he
+does forbid our fathers and friends to visit us."
+
+"It's not the metal that the cup is made of," said Bartja, "but the
+wormwood of death, "that gives the wine its bitter taste."
+
+"No, really, you're quite  out  there," exclaimed Zopyrus.  "Why I had
+nearly forgotten that strangling generally causes death."  As he said
+this, he touched Gyges and whispered: "Be as cheerful as you can!  don't
+you see that it's very hard for Bartja to take leave of this world?  What
+were you saying, Darius?"
+
+"That I thought Oropastes' idea the only admissible one, that a Div had
+taken the likeness of Bartja and visited the Egyptian in order to ruin
+us."
+
+"Folly!  I don't believe in such things."
+
+"But don't you remember the legend of the Div, who took the beautiful
+form of a minstrel and appeared before king Kawus?"
+
+"Of course," cried Araspes.  "Cyrus had this legend so often recited at
+the banquets, that I know it by heart.
+
+"Kai Kawus hearkened to the words of the disguised Div and went to
+Masenderan, and was beaten there by the Divs and deprived of his
+eyesight."
+
+"But," broke in Darius, "Rustem, the great hero, came and conquered
+Erscheng and the other bad spirits, freed the captives and restored sight
+to the blind, by dropping the blood of the slaughtered Divs into their
+eyes.  And so it will be with us, my friends!  We shall be set free, and
+the eyes of Cambyses and of our blind and infatuated fathers will be
+opened to see our innocence.  Listen, Bischen; if we really should be
+executed, go to the Magi, the Chaldwans, and Nebenchari the Egyptian, and
+tell them they had better not study the stars any longer, for that those
+very stars had proved themselves liars and deceivers to Darius."
+
+"Yes," interrupted Araspes, "I always said that dreams were the only real
+prophecies.  Before Abradatas fell in the battle of Sardis, the peerless
+Panthea dreamt that she saw him pierced by a Lydian arrow."
+
+"You cruel fellow!"  exclaimed Zopyrus.  "Why do you remind us, that it
+is much more glorious to die in battle than to have our necks wrung off"
+
+"Quite right," answered the elder man; "I confess that I have seen many a
+death, which I should prefer to our own,--indeed to life itself.  Ah,
+boys, there was a time when things went better than they do now."
+
+"Tell us something about those times."
+
+"And tell us why you never married.  It won't matter to you in the next
+world, if we do let out your secret."
+
+"There's no secret; any of your own fathers could tell you what you want
+to hear from me.  Listen then.  When I was young, I used to amuse myself
+with women, but I laughed at the idea of love.  It occurred, however,
+that Panthea, the most beautiful of all women, fell into our hands, and
+Cyrus gave her into my charge, because I had always boasted that my heart
+was invulnerable.  I saw her everyday, and learnt, my friends, that love
+is stronger than a man's will.  However, she refused all my offers,
+induced Cyrus to remove me from my office near her, and to accept her
+husband Abradatas as an ally.  When her handsome husband went out to the
+war, this high-minded, faithful woman decked him out with all her own
+jewels and told him that the noble conduct of Cyrus, in treating her like
+a sister, when she was his captive, could only be repaid by the most
+devoted friendship and heroic courage.  Abradatas agreed with her, fought
+for Cyrus like a lion, and fell.  Panthea killed herself by his dead
+body.  Her servants, on hearing of this, put an end to their own lives
+too at the grave of this best of mistresses.  Cyrus shed tears over this
+noble pair, and had a stone set up to their memory, which you can see
+near Sardis.  On it are the simple words: 'To Panthea, Abradatas, and the
+most faithful of servants.'  You see, children, the man who had loved
+such a woman could never care for another."
+
+The young men listened in silence, and remained some time after Araspes
+had finished, without uttering a word.  At last Bartja raised his hands
+to heaven and cried: "O thou great Auramazda!  why dost thou not grant us
+a glorious end like Abradatas?  Why must we die a shameful death like
+murderers?"
+
+As he said this Croesus came in, fettered and led by whip-bearers.  The
+friends rushed to him with a storm of questions, and Bartja too went up
+to embrace the man who had been so long his tutor and guide.  But the old
+man's cheerful face was severe and serious, and his eyes, generally so
+mild, had a gloomy, almost threatening, expression.  He waved the prince
+coldly back, saying, in a voice which trembled with pain and reproach:
+"Let my hand go, you infatuated boy! you are not worth all the love I
+have hitherto felt for you.  You have deceived your brother in a fourfold
+manner, duped your friends, betrayed that poor child who is waiting for
+you in Naukratis, and poisoned the heart of Amasis' unhappy daughter."
+
+Bartja listened calmly till he heard the word "deceived"; then his hand
+clenched, and stamping his foot, he cried: "But for your age and
+infirmities, and the gratitude I owe you, old man, these slanderous words
+would be your last."
+
+Croesus beard this outbreak of just indignation unmoved, and answered:
+"This foolish rage proves that you and Cambyses have the same blood in
+your veins.  It would become you much better to repent of your crimes,
+and beg your old friend's forgiveness, instead of adding ingratitude to
+the unheard-of baseness of your other deeds."
+
+At these words Bartja's anger gave way.  His clenched hands sank down
+powerless at his side, and his cheeks became pale as death.
+
+These signs of sorrow softened the old man's indignation.  His love was
+strong enough to embrace the guilty as well as the innocent Bartja, and
+taking the young man's right hand in both his own, he looked at him as a
+father would who finds his son, wounded on the battle-field, and said:
+"Tell me, my poor, infatuated boy, how was it that your pure heart fell
+away so quickly to the evil powers?"
+
+Bartja shuddered.  The blood came back to his face, but these words cut
+him to the heart.  For the first time in his life his belief in the
+justice of the gods forsook him.
+
+He called himself the victim of a cruel, inexorable fate, and felt like a
+bunted animal driven to its last gasp and hearing the dogs and sportsmen
+fast coming nearer.  He had a sensitive, childlike nature, which did not
+yet know how to meet the hard strokes of fate.  His body and his physical
+courage had been hardened against bodily and physical enemies; but his
+teachers had never told him how to meet a hard lot in life; for Cambyses
+and Bartja seemed destined only to drink out of the cup of happiness and
+joy.
+
+Zopyrus could not bear to see his friend in tears.  He reproached the old
+man angrily with being unjust and severe.  Gyges' looks were full of
+entreaty, and Araspes stationed himself between the old man and the
+youth, as if to ward off the blame of the elder from cutting deeper into
+the sad and grieved heart of the younger man.  Darius, however, after
+having watched them for some time, came up with quiet deliberation to
+Croesus, and said: "You continue to distress and offend one another, and
+yet the accused does not seem to know with what offence he is charged,
+nor will the accuser hearken to his defence.  Tell us, Croesus, by the
+friendship which has subsisted between us up to this clay, what has
+induced you to judge Bartja so harshly, when only a short time ago you
+believed in his innocence?"
+
+The old man told at once what Darius desired to know--that he had seen a
+letter, written in Nitetis' own hand, in which she made a direct
+confession of her love to Bartja and asked him to meet her alone.  The
+testimony of his own eyes and of the first men in the realm, nay, even
+the dagger found under Nitetis' windows, had not been able to convince
+him that his favorite was guilty; but this letter had gone like a burning
+flash into his heart and destroyed the last remnant of his belief in the
+virtue and purity of woman.
+
+"I left the king," he concluded, "perfectly convinced that a sinful
+intimacy must subsist between your friend and the Egyptian Princess,
+whose heart I had believed to be a mirror for goodness and beauty alone.
+Can you find fault with me for blaming him who so shamefully stained this
+clear mirror, and with it his own not less spotless soul?"
+
+"But how can I prove my innocence?"  cried Bartja, wringing his hands.
+"If you loved me you would believe me; if you really cared for me....."
+
+"My boy!  in trying to save your life only a few minutes ago, I forfeited
+my own.  When I heard that Cambyses had really resolved on your death, I
+hastened to him with a storm of entreaties; but these were of no avail,
+and then I was presumptuous enough to reproach him bitterly in his
+irritated state of mind.  The weak thread of his patience broke, and in a
+fearful passion he commanded the guards to behead me at once.  I was
+seized directly by Giv, one of the whip-bearers; but as the man is under
+obligations to me, he granted me my life until this morning, and promised
+to conceal the postponement of the execution.  I am glad, my sons, that I
+shall not outlive you, and shall die an innocent man by the side of the
+guilty."
+
+These last words roused another storm of contradiction.
+
+Again Darius remained calm and quiet in the midst of the tumult.  He
+repeated once more the story of the whole evening exactly, to prove that
+it was impossible Bartja could have committed the crime laid to his
+charge.  He then called on the accused himself to answer the charge of
+disloyalty and perfidy.  Bartja rejected the idea of an understanding
+with Nitetis in such short, decided, and convincing words, and confirmed
+his assertion with such a fearful oath, that Croesus' persuasion of his
+guilt first wavered, then vanished, and when Bartja had ended, he drew a
+deep breath, like a man delivered from a heavy burden, and clasped him in
+his arms.
+
+But with all their efforts they could come to no explanation of what had
+really happened.  In one thing, however, they were all agreed: that
+Nitetis loved Bartja and had written the letter with a wrong intention.
+
+"No one who saw her," cried Darius, "when Cambyses announced that Bartja
+had chosen a wife, could doubt for a moment that she was in love with
+him.  When she let the goblet fall, I heard Phaedime's father say that
+the Egyptian women seemed to take a great interest in the affairs of
+their brothers-in-law."
+
+While they were talking, the sun rose and shone pleasantly into the
+prisoners' room.
+
+Bartja murmured  Mithras means to make our parting difficult."
+
+"No," answered Croesus, "he only means to light us kindly on our way into
+eternity."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+The innocent originator of all this complicated misery had passed many a
+wretched hour since the birthday banquet.  Since those harsh words with
+which Cambyses had sent her from the hall, not the smallest fragment of
+news had reached her concerning either her angry lover, or his mother and
+sister.  Not a day had passed since her arrival in Babylon, that had not
+been spent with Kassandane and Atossa; but now, on her desiring to be
+carried to them, that she might explain her strange conduct, her new
+guard, Kandaules, forbade her abruptly to leave the house.  She had
+thought that a free and full account of the contents of her letter from
+home, would clear up all these misunderstandings.  She fancied she saw
+Cambyses holding out his hand as if to ask forgiveness for his hastiness
+and foolish jealousy.  And then a joyful feeling stole into her mind as
+she remembered a sentence she had once heard Ibykus say: "As fever
+attacks a strong man more violently than one of weaker constitution; so a
+heart that loves strongly and deeply can be far more awfully tormented by
+jealousy, than one which has been only superficially seized by passion."
+
+If this great connoisseur in love were right, Cambyses must love her
+passionately, or his jealousy could not have caught fire so quickly and
+fearfully.  Sad thoughts about her home, however, and dark forebodings of
+the future would mix with this confidence in Cambyses' love, and she
+could not shut them out.  Mid-day came, the sun stood high and burning in
+the sky, but no news came from those she loved so well; and a feverish
+restlessness seized her which increased as night came on.  In the
+twilight Boges came to her, and told her, with bitter scorn, that her
+letter to Bartja had come into the king's hands, and that the gardener's
+boy who brought it had been executed.  The tortured nerves of the
+princess could not resist this fresh blow, and before Boges left, he
+carried the poor girl senseless into her sleeping-room, the door of which
+he barred carefully.
+
+A few minutes later, two men, one old, the other young, came up through
+the trap-door which Boges had examined so carefully two days before.  The
+old man remained outside, crouching against the palace, wall; a hand was
+seen to beckon from the window: the youth obeyed the signal, swung
+himself over the ledge and into the room at a bound.  Then words of love
+were exchanged, the names Gaumata and Mandane whispered softly, kisses
+and vows given and received.  At last the old man clapped his hands.  The
+youth obeyed, kissed and embraced Nitetis' waiting-maid once more, jumped
+out of the window into the garden, hurried past the admirers of the blue
+lily who were just coming up, slipped with his companion into the trap-
+door which had been kept open, closed it carefully, and vanished.
+
+Mandane hurried to the room in which her mistress generally spent the
+evening.  She was well acquainted with her habits and knew that every
+evening, when the stars had risen, Nitetis was accustomed to go to the
+window looking towards the Euphrates, and spend hours gazing into the
+river and over the plain; and that at that time she never needed her
+attendance.  So she felt quite safe from fear of discovery in this
+quarter, and knowing she was under the protection of the chief of the
+eunuchs himself, could wait for her lover calmly.
+
+But scarcely had she discovered that her mistress had fainted, when she
+heard the garden filling with people, a confused sound of men's and
+eunuchs' voices, and the notes of the trumpet used to summon the
+sentries.  At first she was frightened and fancied her lover had been
+discovered, but Boges appearing and whispering: "He has escaped safely,"
+she at once ordered the other attendants, whom she had banished to the
+women's apartments during her rendezvous, and who now came flocking back,
+to carry their mistress into her sleeping-room, and then began using all
+the remedies she knew of, to restore her to consciousness.  Nitetis had
+scarcely opened her eyes when Boges came in, followed by two eunuchs,
+whom he ordered to load her delicate arms with fetters.
+
+Nitetis submitted; she could not utter one word, not even when Boges
+called out as he was leaving the room: "Make yourself happy in your cage,
+my little imprisoned bird.  They've just been telling your lord that a
+royal marten has been making merry in your dove-cote.  Farewell, and
+think of the poor tormented Boges in this tremendous heat, when you feel
+the cool damp earth.  Yes, my little bird, death teaches us to know our
+real friends, and so I won't have you buried in a coarse linen sack, but
+in a soft silk shawl.  Farewell, my darling!"
+
+The poor, heavily-afflicted girl trembled at these words, and when the
+eunuch was gone, begged Mandane to tell her what it all meant.  The girl,
+instructed by Boges, said that Bartja had stolen secretly into the
+hanging-gardens, and had been seen by several of the Achaemenidae as he
+was on the point of getting in at one of the windows.  The king had been
+told of his brother's treachery, and people were afraid his jealousy
+might have fearful consequences.  The frivolous girl shed abundant tears
+of penitence while she was telling the story, and Nitetis, fancying this
+a proof of sincere love and sympathy, felt cheered.
+
+When it was over, however, she looked down at her fetters in despair, and
+it was long before she could think of her dreadful position quietly.
+Then she read her letter from home again, wrote the words, "I am
+innocent," and told the sobbing girl to give the little note containing
+them to the king's mother after her own death, together with her letter
+from home.  After doing this she passed a wakeful night which seemed as
+if it would never end.  She remembered that in her box of ointments there
+was a specific for improving the complexion, which, if swallowed in a
+sufficiently large quantity, would cause death.  She had this poison
+brought to her, and resolved calmly and deliberately, to take her own
+life directly the executioner should draw near.  From that moment she
+took pleasure in thinking of her last hour, and said to herself: "It is
+true he causes my death; but he does it out of love."  Then she thought
+she would write to him, and confess all her love.  He should not receive
+the letter until she was dead, that he might not think she had written it
+to save her life.  The hope that this strong, inflexible man might
+perhaps shed tears over her last words of love filled her with intense
+pleasure.
+
+In spite of her heavy fetters, she managed to write the following words:
+"Cambyses will not receive this letter until I am dead.  It is to tell
+him that I love him more than the gods, the world, yes, more than my own
+young life.  Kassandane and Atossa must think of me kindly.  They will
+see from my mother's letter that I am innocent, and that it was only for
+my poor sister's sake that I asked to see Bartja.  Boges has told me that
+my death has been resolved upon.  When the executioner approaches, I
+shall kill myself.  I commit this crime against myself, Cambyses, to save
+you from doing a disgraceful deed."
+
+This note and her mother's she gave to the weeping Mandane, and begged
+her to give both to Cambyses when she was gone.  She then fell on her
+knees and prayed to the gods of her fathers to forgive her for her
+apostasy from them.
+
+Mandane begged her to remember her weakness and take some rest, but she
+answered: "I do not need any sleep, because, you know, I have such little
+waking-time still left me."
+
+As she went on praying and singing her old Egyptian hymns, her heart
+returned more and more to the gods of her fathers, whom she had denied
+after such a short struggle.  In almost all the prayers with which she
+was acquainted, there was a reference to the life after death.  In the
+nether world, the kingdom of Osiris, where the forty-two judges of the
+dead pronounce sentence on the worth of the soul after it has been
+weighed by the goddess of truth and Thoth, who holds the office of writer
+in heaven, she could hope to meet her dear ones again, but only in case
+her unjustified soul were not obliged to enter on the career of
+transmigration through the bodies of different animals, and her body,
+to whom the soul had been entrusted, remained in a state of preservation.
+This, "if" filled her with a feverish restlessness.  The doctrine that
+the well-being of the soul depended on the preservation of the earthly
+part of every human being left behind at death, had been impressed on her
+from childhood.  She believed in this error, which had built pyramids and
+excavated rocks, and trembled at the thought that, according to the
+Persian custom, her body would be thrown to the dogs and birds of prey,
+and so given up to the powers of destruction, that her soul must be
+deprived of every hope of eternal life.  Then the thought came to her,
+should she prove unfaithful to the gods of her fathers again, and once
+more fall down before these new spirits of light, who gave the dead body
+over to the elements and only judged the soul?  And so she raised her
+hands to the great and glorious sun, who with his golden sword-like rays
+was just dispersing the mists that hung over the Euphrates, and opened
+her lips to sing her newly-learnt hymns in praise of Mithras; but her
+voice failed her, instead of Mithras she could only see her own great Ra,
+the god she had so often worshipped in Egypt, and instead of a Magian
+hymn could only sing the one with which the Egyptian priests are
+accustomed to greet the rising sun.
+
+This hymn brought comfort with it, and as she gazed on the young light,
+the rays of which were not yet strong enough to dazzle her, she thought
+of her childhood, and the tears gathered in her eyes.  Then she looked
+down over the broad plain.  There was the Euphrates with his yellow waves
+looking so like the Nile; the many villages, just as in her own home,
+peeping out from among luxuriant cornfields and plantations of fig-trees.
+To the west lay the royal hunting-park; she could see its tall cypresses
+and nut-trees miles away in the distance.  The dew was glistening on
+every little leaf and blade of grass, and the birds sang deliciously in
+the shrubberies round her dwelling.  Now and then a gentle breath of wind
+arose, carrying the sweet scent of the roses across to her, and playing
+in the tops of the slender, graceful palms which grew in numbers on the
+banks of the river and in the fields around.
+
+She had so often admired these beautiful trees, and compared them to
+dancing-girls, as she watched the wind seizing their heavy tops and
+swaying the slender stems backwards and forwards.  And she had often said
+to herself that here must be the home of the Phoenix, that wonderful bird
+from the land of palms, who, the priests said, came once in every five
+hundred years to the temple of Ra in Heliopolis and burnt himself in the
+sacred incense-flames, only to rise again from his own ashes more
+beautiful than before, and, after three days, to fly back again to his
+home in the East.  While she was thinking of this bird, and wishing that
+she too might rise again from the ashes of her unhappiness to a new and
+still more glorious joy, a large bird with brilliant plumage rose out of
+the dark cypresses, which concealed the palace of the man she loved and
+who had made her so miserable, and flew towards her.  It rose higher and
+higher, and at last settled on a palmtree close to her window.  She had
+never seen such a bird before, and thought it could not possibly be a
+usual one, for a little gold chain was fastened to its foot, and its tail
+seemed made of sunbeams instead of feathers.  It must be Benno, the bird
+of Ra!  She fell on her knees again and sang with deep reverence the
+ancient hymn to the Phoenix, never once turning her eyes from the
+brilliant bird.
+
+The bird listened to her singing, bending his little head with its waving
+plumes, wisely and inquisitively from side to side, and flew away
+directly she ceased.  Nitetis looked after him with a smile.  It was
+really only a bird of paradise that had broken the chain by which he had
+been fastened to a tree in the park, but to her he was the Phoenix.  A
+strange certainty of deliverance filled her heart; she thought the god Ra
+had sent the bird to her, and that as a happy spirit she should take that
+form.  So long as we are able to hope and wish, we can bear a great deal
+of sorrow; if the wished-for happiness does not come, anticipation is at
+least prolonged and has its own peculiar sweetness.  This feeling is of
+itself enough, and contains a kind of enjoyment which can take the place
+of reality.  Though she was so weary, yet she lay down on her couch with
+fresh hopes, and fell into a dreamless sleep almost against her will,
+without having touched the poison.
+
+The rising sun generally gives comfort to sad hearts who have passed the
+night in weeping, but to a guilty conscience, which longs for darkness,
+his pure light is an unwelcome guest.  While Nitetis slept, Mandane lay
+awake, tormented by fearful remorse.  How gladly she would have held back
+the sun which was bringing on the day of death to this kindest of
+mistresses, and have spent the rest of her own life in perpetual night,
+if only her yesterday's deed could but have been undone!
+
+The good-natured, thoughtless girl called herself a wretched murderess
+unceasingly, resolved again and again to confess the whole truth and so
+to save Nitetis; but love of life and fear of death gained the victory
+over her weak heart every time.  To confess was certain death, and she
+felt as if she had been made for life; she had so many hopes for the
+future, and the grave seemed so dreadful.  She thought she could perhaps
+have confessed the whole truth, if perpetual imprisonment had been all
+she had to fear; but death! no, she could not resolve on that.  And
+besides, would her confession really save the already condemned Nitetis?
+
+Had she not sent a message to Bartja herself by that unfortunate
+gardener's boy?  This secret correspondence had been discovered, and that
+was enough of itself to ruin Nitetis, even if she, Mandane, had done
+nothing in the matter.  We are never so clever as when we have to find
+excuses for our own sins.
+
+At sunrise, Mandane was kneeling by her mistress's couch, weeping
+bitterly and wondering that Nitetis could sleep so calmly.
+
+Boges, the eunuch, had passed a sleepless night too, but a very happy
+one.  His hated colleague, Kandaules, whom he had used as a substitute
+for himself, had been already executed, by the king's command, for
+negligence, and on the supposition that he had accepted a bribe; Nitetis
+was not only ruined, but certain to die a shameful death.  The influence
+of the king's mother had suffered a severe shock; and lastly, he had the
+pleasure of knowing, not only that he had outwitted every one and
+succeeded in all his plans, but that through his favorite Phaedime he
+might hope once more to become the all-powerful favorite of former days.
+That sentence of death had been pronounced on Croesus and the young
+heroes, was by no means an unwelcome thought either, as they might have
+been instrumental in bringing his intrigues to light.
+
+In the grey of the morning he left the king's apartment and went to
+Phaedime.  The proud Persian had taken no rest.  She was waiting for him
+with feverish anxiety, as a rumor of all that had happened had already
+reached the harem and penetrated to her apartments.  She was lying on a
+purple couch in her dressing-room; a thin silken chemise and yellow
+slippers thickly sown with turquoises and pearls composed her entire
+dress.  Twenty attendants were standing round her, but the moment she
+heard Boges she sent her slaves away, sprang up to meet him, and
+overwhelmed him with a stream of incoherent questions, all referring to
+her enemy Nitetis.
+
+"Gently, gently, my little bird," said Boges, laying his hand on her
+shoulder.  "If you can't make up your mind to be as quiet as a little
+mouse while I tell my story, and not to ask one question, you won't hear
+a syllable of it to-day.  Yes, indeed, my golden queen, I've so much to
+tell that I shall not have finished till to-morrow, if you are to
+interrupt me as often as you like.  Ah, my little lamb, and I've still so
+much to do to-day.  First I must be present at an Egyptian donkey-ride;
+secondly, I must witness an Egyptian execution  .  .  .  but I see I am
+anticipating my story; I must begin at the beginning.  I'll allow you to
+cry, laugh and scream for joy as much as you will, but you're forbidden
+to ask a single question until I have finished.  I think really I have
+deserved these caresses.  There, now I am quite at my ease, and can
+begin.  Once upon a time there was a great king in Persia, who had many
+wives, but he loved Phaedime better than the rest, and set her above all
+the others.  One day the thought struck him that he would ask for the
+hand of the King of Egypt's daughter in marriage, and he sent a great
+embassy to Sais, with his own brother to do the wooing for him--"
+
+"What nonsense!"  cried Phaedime impatiently; "I want to know what has
+happened now."
+
+"Patience, patience, my impetuous March wind.  If you interrupt me again,
+I shall go away and tell my story to the trees.  You really need not
+grudge me the pleasure of living my successes over again.  While I tell
+this story, I feel as happy as a sculptor when he puts down his hammer
+and gazes at his finished work."
+
+"No, no!"  said Phaedime, interrupting him again.  "I  cannot  listen
+now to what I know  quite well already.  I am dying of impatience, and
+every fresh report that the eunuchs and slave-girls bring makes it worse.
+I am in a perfect fever--I cannot wait.  Ask whatever else you like, only
+deliver me from this awful suspense.  Afterwards I will listen to you for
+days, if you wish."
+
+Boges' smile at these words was one of great satisfaction; he rubbed his
+hands and answered: "When I was a child I had no greater pleasure than to
+watch a fish writhing on the hook; now I have got you, my splendid golden
+carp, at the end of my line, and I can't let you go until I have sated
+myself on your impatience."
+
+Phaedime sprang up from the couch which she had shared with Boges,
+stamping her foot and behaving like a naughty child.  This seemed to
+amuse the eunuch immensely; he rubbed his hands again and again, laughed
+till the tears ran down over his fat cheeks, emptied many a goblet of
+wine to the health of the tortured beauty, and then went on with his
+tale: "It had not escaped me that Cambyses sent his brother (who had
+brought Nitetis from Egypt), out to the war with the Tapuri purely from
+jealousy.  That proud woman, who was to take no orders from me, seemed to
+care as little for the handsome, fair-haired boy as a Jew for pork, or an
+Egyptian for white beans.  But still I resolved to nourish the king's
+jealousy, and use it as a means of rendering this impudent creature
+harmless, as she seemed likely to succeed in supplanting us both in his
+favor.  It was long, however, before I could hit on a feasible plan.
+
+"At last the new-year's festival arrived and all the priests in the
+kingdom assembled at Babylon.  For eight days the city was full of
+rejoicing, feasting and merry-making.  At court it was just the same, and
+so I had very little time to think of my plans.  But just then, when I
+had hardly any hope of succeeding, the gracious Amescha cpenta sent a
+youth across my path, who seemed created by Angramainjus himself to suit
+my plan.  Gaumata, the brother of Oropastes, came to Babylon to be
+present at the great new-year's sacrifice.  I saw him first in his
+brother's house, whither I had been sent on a message from the king, and
+his likeness to Bartja was so wonderful, that I almost fancied I was
+looking at an apparition.  When I had finished my business with Oropastes
+the youth accompanied me to my carriage.  I showed no signs of
+astonishment at this remarkable likeness, treated him however, with
+immense civility, and begged him to pay me a visit.  He came the very
+same evening.  I sent for my best wine, pressed him to drink, and
+experienced, not for the first time, that the juice of the vine has one
+quality which outweighs all the rest: it can turn even a silent man into
+a chatter-box.  The youth confessed that the great attraction which had
+brought him to Babylon was, not the sacrifice, but a girl who held the
+office of upper attendant to the Egyptian Princess.  He said he had loved
+her since he was a child; but his ambitious brother had higher views for
+him, and in order to get the lovely Mandane out of his way, had procured
+her this situation.  At last he begged me to arrange an interview with
+her.  I listened good-naturedly, made a few difficulties, and at last
+asked him to come the next day and see how matters were going on.  He
+came, and I told him that it might be possible to manage it, but only if
+he would promise to do what I told him without a question.  He agreed to
+everything, returned to Rhagae at my wish, and did not come to Babylon
+again until yesterday, when he arrived secretly at my house, where I
+concealed him.  Meanwhile Bartja had returned from the war.  The great
+point now was to excite the king's jealousy again, and ruin the Egyptian
+at one blow.  I roused the indignation of your relations through your
+public humiliation, and so prepared the way for my plan.  Events were
+wonderfully in my favor.  You know how Nitetis behaved at the birthday
+banquet, but you do not know that that very evening she sent a gardener's
+boy to the palace with a note for Bartja.  The silly fellow managed to
+get caught and was executed that very night, by command of the king, who
+was almost mad with rage; and I took care that Nitetis should be as
+entirely cut off from all communication with her friends, as if she lived
+in the nest of the Simurg.  You know the rest."
+
+"But how did Gaumata escape?"
+
+"Through a trap-door, of which nobody knows but myself, and which stood
+wide open waiting for him.  Everything turned out marvellously; I even
+succeeded in getting hold of a dagger which Bartja had lost while
+hunting, and in laying it under Nitetis' window.  In order to get rid of
+the prince during these occurrences, and prevent him from meeting the
+king or any one else who might be important as a witness, I asked the
+Greek merchant Kolxus, who was then at Babylon with a cargo of Milesian
+cloth, and who is always willing to do me a favor, because I buy all the
+woollen stuffs required for the harem of him, to write a Greek letter,
+begging Bartja, in the name of her he loved best, to come alone to the
+first station outside the Euphrates gate at the rising of the Tistar-
+star.  But I had a misfortune with this letter, for the messenger managed
+the matter clumsily.  He declares that he delivered the letter to Bartja;
+but there can be no doubt that he gave it to some one else, probably to
+Gaumata, and I was not a little dismayed to hear that Bartja was sitting
+over the wine with his friends on that very evening.  Still what had been
+done could not be undone, and I knew that the witness of men like your
+father, Hystaslies, Croesus and Intaphernes, would far outweigh anything
+that Darius, Gyges and Araspes could say.  The former would testify
+against their friend, the latter for him.  And so at last everything went
+as I would have had it.  The young gentlemen are sentenced to death and
+Croesus, who as usual, presumed to speak impertinently to the king, will
+have lived his last hour by this time.  As to the Egyptian Princess, the
+secretary in chief has just been commanded to draw up the following
+order.  Now listen and rejoice, my little dove!  "'Nitetis, the
+adulterous daughter of the King of Egypt, shall be punished for her
+hideous crimes according to the extreme rigor of the law, thus: She shall
+be set astride upon an ass and led through the streets of Babylon; and
+all men shall see that Cambyses knows how to punish a king's daughter,
+as severely as his magistrates would punish the meanest beggar.
+
+--To Boges, chief of the eunuchs, is entrusted the execution of this
+order.
+
+By command of King Cambyses.  Ariabignes, chief of the Secretaries'
+
+"I had scarcely placed these lines in the sleeve of my robe, when the
+king's mother, with her garments rent, and led by Atossa, pressed hastily
+into the hall.  Weeping and lamentation followed; cries, reproaches,
+curses, entreaties and prayers; but the king remained firm, and I verily
+believe Kassandane and Atossa would have been sent after Croesus and
+Bartja into the other world, if fear of Cyrus's spirit had not prevented
+the son, even in this furious rage, from laying hands on his father's
+widow.  Kassandane, however, did not say one word for Nitetis.  She seems
+as fully convinced of her guilt as you and I can be.  Neither have we
+anything to fear from the enamored Gaumata.  I have hired three men to
+give him a cool bath in the Euphrates, before he gets back to Rhagae.
+Ah, ha!  the fishes and worms will have a jolly time!"
+
+Phaedime joined in Boges' laughter, bestowed on him all the flattering
+names which she had caught from his own smooth tongue, and in token of
+her gratitude, hung a heavy chain studded with jewels round his neck with
+her own beautiful arms.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Call everything that is beyond your comprehension a miracle
+Never so clever as when we have to find excuses for our own sins
+So long as we are able to hope and wish
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 7.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+Before the sun had reached his mid-day height, the news of what had
+happened and of what was still to happen had filled all Babylon.  The
+streets swarmed with people, waiting impatiently to see the strange
+spectacle which the punishment of one of the king's wives, who had proved
+false and faithless, promised to afford.  The whip-bearers were forced to
+use all their authority to keep this gaping crowd in order.  Later on in
+the day the news that Bartja and his friends were soon to be executed
+arrived among the crowd; they were under the influence of the palm-wine,
+which was liberally distributed on the king's birthday and the following
+days, and could not control their excited feelings; but these now took
+quite another form.
+
+Bands of drunken men paraded the streets, crying: "Bartja, the good son
+of Cyrus, is to be executed!"  The women heard these words in their quiet
+apartments, eluded their keepers, forgot their veils, and rushing forth
+into the streets, followed the excited and indignant men with cries and
+yells.  Their pleasure in the thought of seeing a more fortunate sister
+humbled, vanished at the painful news that their beloved prince was
+condemned to death.  Men, women and children raged, stormed and cursed,
+exciting one another to louder and louder bursts of indignation.  The
+workshops were emptied, the merchants closed their warehouses, and the
+school-boys and servants, who had a week's holiday on occasion of the
+king's birthday, used their freedom to scream louder than any one else,
+and often to groan and yell without in the least knowing why.
+
+At last the tumult was so great that the whip-bearers were insufficient
+to cope with it, and a detachment of the body-guard was sent to patrol
+the streets.  At the sight of their shining armor and long lances, the
+crowd retired into the side streets, only, however, to reassemble in
+fresh numbers when the troops were out of sight.
+
+At the gate, called the Bel gate, which led to the great western high-
+road, the throng was thicker than at any other point, for it was said
+that through this gate, the one by which she had entered Babylon, the
+Egyptian Princess was to be led out of the city in shame and disgrace.
+For this reason a larger number of whipbearers were stationed here, in
+order to make way for travellers entering the city.  Very few people
+indeed left the city at all on this day, for curiosity was stronger than
+either business or pleasure; those, on the other hand, who arrived from
+the country, took up their stations near the gate on hearing what had
+drawn the crowd thither.
+
+It was nearly mid-day, and only wanted a few hours to the time fixed for
+Nitetis' disgrace, when a caravan approached the gate with great speed.
+The first carriage was a so-called harmamaxa, drawn by four horses decked
+out with bells and tassels; a two-wheeled cart followed, and last in the
+train was a baggage-wagon drawn by mules.  A fine, handsome man of about
+fifty, dressed as a Persian courtier, and another, much older, in long
+white robes, occupied the first carriage.  The cart was filled by a
+number of slaves in simple blouses, and broad-brimmed felt hats, wearing
+the hair cut close to the head.  An old man, dressed as a Persian
+servant, rode by the side of the cart.  The driver of the first carriage
+had great difficulty in making way for his gaily-ornamented horses
+through the crowd; he was obliged to come to a halt before the gate and
+call some whip-bearers to his assistance.  "Make way for us!"  he cried
+to the captain of the police who came up with some of his men; "the royal
+post has no time to lose, and I am driving some one, who will make you
+repent every minute's delay."
+
+"Softly, my son," answered the official.  "Don't you see that it's easier
+to-day to get out of Babylon, than to come in?  Whom are you driving?"
+
+"A nobleman, with a passport from the king.  Come, be quick and make way
+for us."
+
+"I don't know about that; your caravan does not look much like royalty."
+
+"What have you to do with that?  The pass...."
+
+"I must see it, before I let you into the city."  These words were half
+meant for the traveller, whom he was scrutinizing very suspiciously.
+
+While the man in the Persian dress was feeling in his sleeve for the
+passport, the whip-bearer turned to some comrades who had just come up,
+and pointed out the scanty retinue of the travellers, saying: "Did you
+ever see such a queer cavalcade?  There's something odd about these
+strangers, as sure as my name's Giv.  Why, the lowest of the king's
+carpet-bearers travels with four times as many people, and yet this man
+has a royal pass and is dressed like one of those who sit at the royal
+table."
+
+At this moment the suspected traveller handed him a little silken roll
+scented with musk, sealed with the royal seal, and containing the king's
+own handwriting.
+
+The whip-bearer took it and examined the seal.  "It is all in order," he
+murmured, and then began to study the characters.  But no sooner had he
+deciphered the first letters than be looked even more sharply than before
+at the traveller, and seized the horses' bridles, crying out: "Here, men,
+form a guard round the carriage! this is an impostor."
+
+When he had convinced himself that escape was impossible, he went up to
+the stranger again and said: "You are using a pass which does not belong
+to you.  Gyges, the son of Croesus, the man you give yourself out for, is
+in prison and is to be executed to-day.  You are not in the least like
+him, and you will have reason to repent leaving tried to pass for him.
+Get out of your carriage and follow me."
+
+The traveller, however, instead of obeying, began to speak in broken
+Persian, and begged the officer rather to take a seat by him in the
+carriage, for that he had very important news to communicate.  The man
+hesitated a moment; but on seeing a fresh band of whip-bearers come up,
+he nodded to them to stand before the impatient, chafing horses, and got
+into the carriage.
+
+The stranger looked at him with a smile and said: "Now, do I look like an
+impostor?"
+
+"No; your language proves that you are not a Persian, but yet you look
+like a nobleman."
+
+"I am a Greek, and have come hither to render Cambyses an important
+service.  Gyges is my friend, and lent me his passport when he was in
+Egypt, in case I should ever come to Persia.  I am prepared to vindicate
+my conduct before the king, and have no reason for fear.  On the
+contrary, the news I bring gives me reason to expect much from his favor.
+Let me be taken to Croesus, if this is your duty; he will be surety for
+me, and will send back your men, of whom you seem to stand in great need
+to-day.  Distribute these gold pieces among them, and tell me without
+further delay what my poor friend Gyges has done to deserve death, and
+what is the reason of all this crowd and confusion."
+
+The stranger said this in bad Persian, but there lay so much dignity and
+confidence in his tone, and his gifts were on such a large scale, that
+the cringing and creeping servant of despotism felt sure he must be
+sitting opposite to a prince, crossed his arms reverentially, and,
+excusing himself from his many pressing affairs, began to relate rapidly.
+He had been on duty in the great hall during the examination of the
+prisoners the night before, and could therefore tell all that had
+happened with tolerable accuracy.  The Greek followed his tale eagerly,
+with many an incredulous shake of his handsome head, however, when the
+daughter of Amasis and the son of Cyrus were spoken of as having been
+disloyal and false, that sentence of death had been pronounced,
+especially on Croesus, distressed him visibly, but the sadness soon
+vanished from his quickly-changing features, and gave place to thought;
+this in its turn was quickly followed by a joyful look, which could only
+betoken that the thinker had arrived at a satisfactory result.  His
+dignified gravity vanished in a moment; he laughed aloud, struck his
+forehead merrily, seized the hand of the astonished captain, and said:
+
+"Should you be glad, if Bartja could be saved?"
+
+"More than I can say."
+
+"Very well, then I will vouch for it, that you shall receive at least two
+talents, if you can procure me an interview with the king before the
+first execution has taken place."
+
+"How can you ask such a thing of me, a poor captain?  .  .  ."
+
+"Yes, you must, you must!"
+
+"I cannot."
+
+"I know well that it is very difficult, almost impossible, for a stranger
+to obtain an audience of your king; but my errand brooks no delay, for I
+can prove that Bartja and his friends are not guilty.  Do you hear?  I
+can prove it.  Do you think now, you can procure me admittance?"
+
+"How is it possible?"
+
+"Don't ask, but act.  Didn't you say Darius was one of the condemned?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"I have heard, that his father is a man of very high rank."
+
+"He is the first in the kingdom, after the sons of Cyrus."
+
+"Then take me to him at once.  He will welcome me when he hears I am able
+to save his son."
+
+"Stranger, you are a wonderful being.  You speak with so much confidence
+that .  .  ."
+
+"That you feel you may believe me.  Make haste then, and call some of
+your men to make way for us, and escort us to the palace."
+
+There is nothing, except a doubt, which runs more quickly from mind to
+mind, than a hope that some cherished wish may be fulfilled, especially
+when this hope has been suggested to us by some one we can trust.
+
+The officer believed this strange traveller, jumped out of the carriage,
+flourishing his scourge and calling to his men: "This nobleman has come
+on purpose to prove Bartja's innocence, and must be taken to the king at
+once.  Follow me, my friends, and make way for him!"
+
+Just at that moment a troop of the guards appeared in sight.  The captain
+of the whip-bearers went up to their commander, and, seconded by the
+shouts of the crowd, begged him to escort the stranger to the palace.
+
+During this colloquy the traveller had mounted his servant's horse, and
+now followed in the wake of the Persians.
+
+The good news flew like wind through the huge city.  As the riders
+proceeded, the crowd fell back more willingly, and loader and fuller grew
+the shouts of joy until at last their march was like a triumphal
+procession.
+
+In a few minutes they drew up before the palace; but before the brazen
+gates had opened to admit them, another train came slowly into sight.  At
+the head rode a grey-headed old man; his robes were brown, and rent, in
+token of mourning, the mane and tail of his horse had been shorn off and
+the creature colored blue.--It was Hystaspes, coming to entreat mercy for
+his son.
+
+The whip-bearer, delighted at this sight, threw himself down before the
+old man with a cry of joy, and with crossed arms told him what confidence
+the traveller had inspired him with.
+
+Hystaspes beckoned to the stranger; he rode up, bowed gracefully and
+courteously to the old man, without dismounting, and confirmed the words
+of the whip bearer.  Hystaspes seemed to feel fresh confidence too after
+hearing the stranger, for he begged him to follow him into the palace and
+to wait outside the door of the royal apartment, while he himself,
+conducted by the head chamberlain, went in to the king.
+
+When his old kinsman entered, Cambyses was lying on his purple couch,
+pale as death.  A cup-bearer was kneeling on the ground at his feet,
+trying to collect the broken fragments of a costly Egyptian drinking-cup
+which the king had thrown down impatiently because its contents had not
+pleased his taste.  At some distance stood a circle of court-officials,
+in whose faces it was easy to read that they were afraid of their ruler's
+wrath, and preferred keeping as far from him as possible.  The dazzling
+light and oppressive heat of a Babylonian May day came in through the
+open windows, and not a sound was to be heard in the great room, except
+the whining of a large dog of the Epirote breed, which had just received
+a tremendous kick from Cambyses for venturing to fawn on his master, and
+was the only being that ventured to disturb the solemn stillness.  Just
+before Hystaspes was led in by the chamberlain, Cambyses had sprung up
+from his couch.  This idle repose had become unendurable, he felt
+suffocated with pain and anger.  The dog's howl suggested a new idea to
+his poor tortured brain, thirsting for forgetfulness.
+
+"We will go out hunting!"  he shouted to the poor startled courtiers.
+The master of the hounds, the equerries, and huntsmen hastened to obey
+his orders.  He called after them, "I shall ride the unbroken horse
+Reksch; get the falcons ready, let all the dogs out and order every one
+to come, who can throw a spear.  We'll clear the preserves!"
+
+He then threw himself down on his divan again, as if these words had
+quite exhausted his powerful frame, and did not see that Hystaspes had
+entered, for his sullen gaze was fixed on the motes playing in the
+sunbeams that glanced through the window.
+
+Hystaspes did not dare to address him; but he stationed himself in the
+window so as to break the stream of motes and thus draw attention to
+himself.
+
+At first Cambyses looked angrily at him and his rent garments, and then
+asked with a bitter smile; "What do you want?"
+
+"Victory to the king!  Your poor servant and uncle has come to entreat
+his ruler's mercy."
+
+"Then rise and go!  You know that I have no mercy for perjurers and false
+swearers.  'Tis better to have a dead son than a dishonorable one."
+
+"But if Bartja should not be guilty, and Darius .  .  ."
+
+"You dare to question the justice of my sentence?"
+
+"That be far from me.  Whatever the king does is good, and cannot be
+gainsaid; but still .  .  ."
+
+"Be silent!  I will not hear the subject mentioned again.  You are to be
+pitied as a father; but have these last few hours brought me any joy?
+Old man, I grieve for you, but I have as little power to rescind his
+punishment as you to recall his crime."
+
+"But if Bartja really should not be guilty--if the gods .  .  ."
+
+"Do you think the gods will come to the help of perjurers and deceivers?"
+
+"No, my King; but a fresh witness has appeared."
+
+"A fresh witness?  Verily, I would gladly give half my kingdom, to be
+convinced of the innocence of men so nearly related to me."
+
+"Victory to my lord, the eye of the realm!  A Greek is waiting outside,
+who seems, to judge by his figure and bearing, one of the noblest of his
+race."
+
+The king laughed bitterly: "A Greek!  Ah, ha!  perhaps some relation to
+Bartja's faithful fair one!  What can this stranger know of my family
+affairs?  I know these beggarly Ionians well.  They are impudent enough
+to meddle in everything, and think they can cheat us with their sly
+tricks.  How much have you had to pay for this new witness, uncle?  A
+Greek is as ready with a lie as a Magian with his spells, and I know
+they'll do anything for gold.  I'm really curious to see your witness.
+Call him in.  But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that
+where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but
+very little chance."  And the king's eyes flashed with anger as he said
+these words.  Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.
+
+Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his
+mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.
+The Greek's bearing, as he approached, under the king's penetrating
+glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the
+Persian custom, kissed the ground.
+
+His agreeable and handsome appearance, and the calm and modest manner in
+which he bore the king's gaze, seemed to make a favorable impression on
+the latter; he did not allow him to remain long on the earth, and asked
+him in a by no means unfriendly tone: "Who are you?"
+
+"I am a Greek nobleman.  My name is Phanes, and Athens is my home.  I
+have served ten years as commander of the Greek mercenaries in Egypt, and
+not ingloriously."
+
+"Are you the man, to whose clever generalship the Egyptians were indebted
+for their victories in Cyprus?"
+
+"I am."
+
+"What has brought you to Persia?"
+
+"The glory of your name, Cambyses, and the wish to devote my arms and
+experience to your service."
+
+"Nothing else?  Be sincere, and remember that one single lie may cost
+your life.  We Persians have different ideas of truth from the Greeks."
+
+"Lying is hateful to me too, if only, because, as a distortion and
+corruption of what is noblest, it seems unsightly in my eyes."
+
+"Then speak."
+
+"There was certainly a third reason for my coming hither, which I should
+like to tell you later.  It has reference to matters of the greatest
+importance, which it will require a longer time to discuss; but to-day--"
+
+"Just to-day I should like to hear something new.  Accompany me to the
+chase.  You come exactly at the right time, for I never had more need of
+diversion than now."
+
+"I will accompany you with pleasure, if.  .  ."
+
+"No conditions to the king!  Have you had much practice in hunting?"
+
+"In the Libyan desert I have killed many a lion."
+
+"Then come, follow me."
+
+In the thought of the chase the king seemed to have thrown off all his
+weakness and roused himself to action; he was just leaving the hall, when
+Hystaspes once more threw himself at his feet, crying with up-raised
+hands: "Is my son--is your brother, to die innocent?  By the soul of your
+father, who used to call me his truest friend, I conjure you to listen to
+this noble stranger."
+
+Cambyses stood still.  The frown gathered on his brow again, his voice
+sounded like a menace and his eyes flashed as he raised his hand and said
+to the Greek: "Tell me what you know; but remember that in every untrue
+word, you utter your own sentence of death."
+
+Phanes heard this threat with the greatest calmness, and answered, bowing
+gracefully as he spoke: "From the sun and from my lord the king, nothing
+can be hid.  What power has a poor mortal to conceal the truth from one
+so mighty?  The noble Hystaspes has said, that I am able to prove your
+brother innocent.  I will only say, that I wish and hope I may succeed in
+accomplishing anything so great and beautiful.  The gods have at least
+allowed me to discover a trace which seems calculated to throw light on
+the events of yesterday; but you yourself must decide whether my hopes
+have been presumptuous and my suspicions too easily aroused.  Remember,
+however, that throughout, my wish to serve you has been sincere, and
+that if I have been deceived, my error is pardonable; that nothing is
+perfectly certain in this world, and every man believes that to be
+infallible which seems to him the most probable."
+
+"You speak well, and remind me of .  .  .  curse her! there, speak and
+have done with it!  I hear the dogs already in the court."
+
+"I was still in Egypt when your embassy came to fetch Nitetis.  At the
+house of Rhodopis, my delightful, clever and celebrated countrywoman, I
+made the acquaintance of Croesus and his son; I only saw your brother and
+his friends once or twice, casually; still I remembered the young
+prince's handsome face so well, that some time later, when I was in the
+workshop of the great sculptor Theodorus at Samos, I recognized his
+features at once."
+
+"Did you meet him at Samos?"
+
+"No, but his features had made such a deep and faithful impression on
+Theodorus' memory, that he used them to beautify the head of an Apollo,
+which the Achaemenidae had ordered for the new temple of Delphi."
+
+"Your tale begins, at least, incredibly enough.  How is it possible to
+copy features so exactly, when you have not got them before you?"
+
+"I can only answer that Theodorus has really completed this master-piece,
+and if you wish for a proof of his skill would gladly send you a second
+likeness of .  .  ."
+
+"I have no desire for it.  Go on with your story."
+
+"On my journey hither, which, thanks to your father's excellent
+arrangements, I performed in an incredibly short time, changing horses
+every sixteen or seventeen miles .  .  ."
+
+"Who allowed you, a foreigner, to use the posthorses?"
+
+"The pass drawn out for the son of Croesus, which came by chance into my
+hands, when once, in order to save my life, he forced me to change
+clothes with him."
+
+"A Lydian can outwit a fox, and a Syrian a Lydian, but an Ionian is a
+match for both," muttered the king, smiling for the first time; "Croesus
+told me this story--poor Croesus!"  and then the old gloomy expression
+came over his face and he passed his hand across his forehead, as if
+trying to smooth the lines of care away.  The Athenian went on: "I met
+with no hindrances on my journey till this morning at the first hour
+after midnight, when I was detained by a strange occurrence."
+
+The king began to listen more attentively, and reminded the Athenian, who
+spoke Persian with difficulty, that there was no time to lose.
+
+"We had reached the last station but one," continued he, "and hoped to be
+in Babylon by sunrise.  I was thinking over my past stirring life, and
+was so haunted by the remembrance of evil deeds unrevenged that I could
+not sleep; the old Egyptian at my side, however, slept and dreamt
+peacefully enough, lulled by the monotonous tones of the harness bells,
+the sound of the horses' hoofs and the murmur of the Euphrates.  It was a
+wonderfully still, beautiful night; the moon and stars were so brilliant,
+that our road and the landscape were lighted up almost with the
+brightness of day.  For the last hour we had not seen a single vehicle,
+foot-passenger, or horseman; we had heard that all the neighboring
+population had assembled in Babylon to celebrate your birthday, gaze with
+wonder at the splendor of your court, and enjoy your liberality.  At last
+the irregular beat of horses' hoofs, and the sound of bells struck my
+ear, and a few minutes later I distinctly heard cries of distress.  My
+resolve was taken at once; I made my Persian servant dismount, sprang
+into his saddle, told the driver of the cart in which my slaves were
+sitting not to spare his mules, loosened my dagger and sword in their
+scabbards, and spurred my horse towards the place from whence the cries
+came.  They grew louder and louder.  I had not ridden a minute, when I
+came on a fearful scene.  Three wild-looking fellows had just pulled a
+youth, dressed in the white robes of a Magian, from his horse, stunned
+him with heavy blows, and, just as I reached them, were on the point of
+throwing him into the Euphrates, which at that place washes the roots
+of the palms and fig-trees bordering the high-road.  I uttered my Greek
+war-cry, which has made many an enemy tremble before now, and rushed on
+the murderers.  Such fellows are always cowards; the moment they saw one
+of their accomplices mortally wounded, they fled.  I did not pursue them,
+but stooped down to examine the poor boy, who was severely wounded.  How
+can I describe my horror at seeing, as I believed, your brother Bartja?
+Yes, they were the very same features that I had seen, first at Naukratis
+and then in Theodorus' workshop, they were .  .  ."
+
+"Marvellous!"  interrupted Hystaspes.
+
+"Perhaps a little too much so to be credible," added the king.  "Take
+care, Hellene! remember my arm reaches far.  I shall have the truth of
+your story put to the proof."
+
+"I am accustomed," answered Phanes bowing low, "to follow the advice of
+our wise philosopher Pythagoras, whose fame may perhaps have reached your
+ears, and always, before speaking, to consider whether what I am going to
+say may not cause me sorrow in the future."
+
+"That sounds well; but, by Mithras, I knew some one who often spoke of
+that great teacher, and yet in her deeds turned out to be a most faithful
+disciple of Angramainjus.  You know the traitress, whom we are going to
+extirpate from the earth like a poisonous viper to-day."
+
+"Will you forgive me," answered Phanes, seeing the anguish expressed in
+the king's features, "if I quote another of the great master's maxims?"
+
+"Speak."
+
+"Blessings go as quickly as they come.  Therefore bear thy lot patiently.
+Murmur not, and remember that the gods never lay a heavier weight on any
+man than he can bear.  Hast thou a wounded heart? touch it as seldom as
+thou wouldst a sore eye.  There are only two remedies for heart-
+sickness:--hope and patience."
+
+Cambyses listened to this sentence, borrowed from the golden maxims of
+Pythagoras, and smiled bitterly at the word "patience."  Still the
+Athenian's way of speaking pleased him, and he told him to go on with his
+story.
+
+Phanes made another deep obeisance, and continued: "We carried the
+unconscious youth to my carriage, and brought him to the nearest station.
+There he opened his eyes, looked anxiously at me, and asked who I was and
+what had happened to him?  The master of the station was standing by, so
+I was obliged to give the name of Gyges in order not to excite his
+suspicions by belying my pass, as it was only through this that I could
+obtain fresh horses.
+
+"This wounded young man seemed to know Gyges, for he shook his head and
+murmured: 'You are not the man you give yourself out for.' Then he closed
+his eyes again, and a violent attack of fever came on.
+
+"We undressed, bled him and bound up his wounds.  My Persian servant, who
+had served as overlooker in Amasis' stables and had seen Bartja there,
+assisted by the old Egyptian who accompanied me, was very helpful, and
+asserted untiringly that the wounded man could be no other than your
+brother.  When we had cleansed the blood from his face, the master of the
+station too swore that there could be no doubt of his being the younger
+son of your great father Cyrus.  Meanwhile my Egyptian companion had
+fetched a potion from the travelling medicine-chest, without which an
+Egyptian does not care to leave his native country.
+
+     [A similar travelling medicine-chest is to be seen in the Egyptian
+     Museum at Berlin.  It is prettily and compendiously fitted up, and
+     must be very ancient, for the inscription on the chest, which
+     contained it stated that it was made in the 11th dynasty (end of the
+     third century B. C.) in the reign of King Mentuhotep.]
+
+The drops worked wonders; in a few hours the fever was quieted, and at
+sunrise the patient opened his eyes once more.  We bowed down before him,
+believing him to be your brother, and asked if he would like to be taken
+to the palace in Babylon.  This he refused vehemently, and asseverated
+that he was not the man we took him for, but, .  .  ."
+
+"Who can be so like Bartja? tell me quickly," interrupted the king, "I am
+very curious to know this."
+
+"He declared that he was the brother of your high-priest, that his name
+was Gaumata, and that this would be proved by the pass which we should
+find in the sleeve of his Magian's robe.  The landlord found this
+document and, being able to read, confirmed the statement of the sick
+youth; he was, however, soon seized by a fresh attack of fever, and began
+to speak incoherently."
+
+"Could you understand him?"
+
+"Yes, for his talk always ran on the same subject.  The hanging-gardens
+seemed to fill his thoughts.  He must have just escaped some great
+danger, and probably had had a lover's meeting there with a woman called
+Mandane."
+
+"Mandane, Mandane," said Cambyses in a low voice; "if I do not mistake,
+that is the name of the highest attendant on Amasis' daughter."
+
+These words did not escape the sharp ears of the Greek.  He thought a
+moment and then exclaimed with a smile; "Set the prisoners free, my King;
+I will answer for it with my own head, that Bartja was not in the
+hanging-gardens."
+
+The king was surprised at this speech but not angry.  The free,
+unrestrained, graceful manner of this Athenian towards himself produced
+the same impression, that a fresh sea-breeze makes when felt for the
+first time.  The nobles of his own court, even his nearest relations,
+approached him bowing and cringing, but this Greek stood erect in his
+presence; the Persians never ventured to address their ruler without a
+thousand flowery and flattering phrases, but the Athenian was simple,
+open and straightforward.  Yet his words were accompanied by such a charm
+of action and expression, that the king could understand them,
+notwithstanding the defective Persian in which they were clothed, better
+than the allegorical speeches of his own subjects.  Nitetis and Phanes
+were the only human beings, who had ever made him forget that he was a
+king.  With them he was a man speaking to his fellow-man, instead of a
+despot speaking with creatures whose very existence was the plaything of
+his own caprice.  Such is the effect produced by real manly dignity,
+superior culture and the consciousness of a right to freedom, on the mind
+even of a tyrant.  But there was something beside all this, that had
+helped to win Cambyses' favor for the Athenian.  This man's coming seemed
+as if it might possibly give him back the treasure he had believed was
+lost and more than lost.  But how could the life of such a foreign
+adventurer be accepted as surety for the sons of the highest Persians in
+the realm?  The proposal, however, did not make him angry.  On the
+contrary, he could not help smiling at the boldness of this Greek, who in
+his eagerness had freed himself from the cloth which hung over his mouth
+and beard, and exclaimed: "By Mithras, Greek, it really seems as if you
+were to prove a messenger of good for us!  I accept your offer.  If the
+prisoners, notwithstanding your supposition, should still prove guilty
+you are bound to pass your whole life at my court and in my service, but
+if, on the contrary, you are able to prove what I so ardently long for,
+I will make you richer than any of your countrymen."
+
+Phanes answered by a smile which seemed to decline this munificent offer,
+and asked: "Is it permitted me to put a few questions to yourself and to
+the officers of your court?"
+
+"You are allowed to say and ask whatever you wish."
+
+At this moment the master of the huntsmen, one of those who daily ate at
+the king's table, entered, out of breath from his endeavors to hasten the
+preparations, and announced that all was ready.
+
+"They must wait," was the king's imperious answer.  "I am not sure, that
+we shall hunt at all to-day.  Where is Bischen, the captain of police?"
+
+Datis, the so-called "eye of the king,"  who held the office filled in
+modern days by a minister of police, hurried from the room, returning in
+a few minutes with the desired officer.  These moments Phanes made use of
+for putting various questions on important points to the nobles who were
+present.
+
+"What news can you bring of the prisoners?"  asked the king, as the man
+lay prostrate before him.  "Victory to the king!  They await death with
+calmness, for it is sweet to die by thy will."
+
+"Have you heard anything of their conversation?"
+
+"Yes, my Ruler."
+
+"Do they acknowledge their guilt, when speaking to each other?"
+
+"Mithras alone knows the heart; but you, my prince, if you could hear
+them speak, would believe in their innocence, even as I the humblest of
+your servants."
+
+The captain looked up timidly at the king, fearing lest these words
+should have excited his anger; Cambyses, however, smiled kindly instead
+of rebuking him.  But a sudden thought darkened his brow again directly,
+and in a low voice he asked: "When was Croesus executed?"
+
+The man trembled at this question; the perspiration stood on his
+forehead, and he could scarcely stammer the words: "He is.... he has....
+we thought...."
+
+"What did you think?"  interrupted Cambyses, and a new light of hope
+seemed to dawn in his mind.  "Is it possible, that you did not carry out
+my orders at once?  Can Croesus still be alive?  Speak at once, I must
+know the whole truth."
+
+The captain writhed like a worm at his lord's feet, and at last stammered
+out, raising his hands imploringly towards the king: "Have mercy, have
+mercy, my Lord the king!  I am a poor man, and have thirty children,
+fifteen of whom .  .  ."
+
+"I wish to know if Croesus is living or dead."
+
+"He is alive!  He has done so much for me, and I did not think I was
+doing wrong in allowing him to live a few hours longer, that he might..."
+
+"That is enough," said the king breathing freely.  "This once your
+disobedience shall go unpunished, and the treasurer may give you two
+talents, as you have so many children.--Now go to the prisoners,--tell
+Croesus to come hither, and the others to be of good courage, if they are
+innocent."
+
+"My King is the light of the world, and an ocean of mercy."
+
+"Bartja and his friends need not remain any longer in confinement; they
+can walk in the court of the palace, and you will keep guard over them.
+You, Datis, go at once to the hanging-gardens and order Boges to defer
+the execution of the sentence on the Egyptian Princess; and further, I
+wish messengers sent to the post-station mentioned by the Athenian, and
+the wounded man brought hither under safe escort."
+
+The " king's eye " was on the point of departure, but Phanes detained
+him, saying: "Does my King allow me to make one remark?"
+
+"Speak."
+
+"It appears to me, that the chief of the eunuchs could give the most
+accurate information.  During his delirium the youth often mentioned his
+name in connection with that of the girl he seemed to be in love with."
+
+"Go at once, Datis, and bring him quickly."
+
+"The high-priest  Oropastes, Gaumata's  brother, ought to appear too; and
+Mandane, whom I have just been assured on the most positive authority, is
+the principal attendant of the Egyptian Princess."
+
+"Fetch her, Datis."
+
+"If Nitetis herself could .  .  ."
+
+At this the king turned pale and a cold shiver ran through his limbs.
+How he longed to see his darling again!  But the strong man was afraid of
+this woman's reproachful looks; he knew the captivating power that lay in
+her eyes.  So he pointed to the door, saying "Fetch Boges and Mandane;
+the Egyptian Princess is to remain in the hanging-gardens, under strict
+custody."
+
+The Athenian bowed deferentially; as if he would say: "Here no one has a
+right to command but the king."
+
+Cambyses looked well pleased, seated himself again on the purple divan,
+and resting his forehead on his hand, bent his eyes on the ground and
+sank into deep thought.  The picture of the woman he loved so dearly
+refused to be banished; it came again and again, more and more vividly,
+and the thought that these features could not have deceived him--that
+Nitetis must be innocent--took a firmer root in his mind; he had already
+begun to hope.  If Bartja could be cleared, there was no error that might
+not be conceivable; in that case he would go to the hanging-gardens, take
+her hand and listen to her defence.  When love has once taken firm hold
+of a man in riper years, it runs and winds through his whole nature like
+one of his veins, and can only be destroyed with his life.
+
+The entrance of Croesus roused Cambyses from his dream; he raised the old
+man kindly from the prostrate position at his feet, into which he had
+thrown himself on entering, and said: "You offended me, but I will be
+merciful; I have not forgotten that my father, on his dying bed, told me
+to make you my friend and adviser.  Take your life back as a gift from
+me, and forget my anger as I wish to forget your want of reverence.  This
+man says he knows you; I should like to hear your opinion of his
+conjectures."
+
+Croesus turned away much affected, and after having heartily welcomed the
+Athenian, asked him to relate his suppositions and the grounds on which
+they were founded.
+
+The old man grew more and more attentive as the Greek went on, and when
+he had finished raised his hands to heaven, crying: "Pardon me, oh ye
+eternal gods, if I have ever questioned the justice of your decrees.  Is
+not this marvellous, Cambyses?  My son once placed himself in great
+danger to save the life of this noble Athenian, whom the gods have
+brought hither to repay the deed tenfold.  Had Phanes been murdered in
+Egypt, this hour might have seen our sons executed."
+
+And as he said this he embraced Hystaspes; both shared one feeling; their
+sons had been as dead and were now alive.
+
+The king, Phanes, and all the Persian dignitaries watched the old men
+with deep sympathy, and though the proofs of Bartja's innocence were as
+yet only founded on conjecture, not one of those present doubted it one
+moment longer.  Wherever the belief in a man's guilt is but slight, his
+defender finds willing listeners.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+THE sharp-witted Athenian saw clearly how matters lay in this sad story;
+nor did it escape him that malice had had a hand in the affair.  How
+could Bartja's dagger have come into the hanging-gardens except through
+treachery?
+
+While he was telling the king his suspicions, Oropastes was led into the
+hall.
+
+The king looked angrily at him and without one preliminary word, asked:
+"Have you a brother?"
+
+"Yes, my King.  He and I are the only two left out of a family of six.
+My parents .  .  ."
+
+"Is your brother younger or older than yourself?"
+
+"I was the eldest of the family; my brother, the youngest, was the joy of
+my father's old age."
+
+"Did you ever notice a remarkable likeness between him and one of my
+relations?"
+
+"Yes, my King.  Gaumata is so like your brother Bartja, that in the
+school for priests at Rhagae, where he still is, he was always called
+"the prince."
+
+"Has he been at Babylon very lately?"
+
+"He was here for the last time at the New Year's festival."
+
+"Are you speaking the truth?"
+
+"The sin of lying would be doubly punishable in one who wears my robes,
+and holds my office."
+
+The king's face flushed with anger at this answer and he exclaimed:
+"Nevertheless  you  are lying; Gaumata was here yesterday evening.  You
+may well tremble."
+
+"My life belongs to the king, whose are all things; nevertheless I swear
+--the high-priest-by the most high God, whom I have served faithfully for
+thirty years, that I know nothing of my brother's presence in Babylon
+yesterday."
+
+"Your face looks as if you were speaking the truth."
+
+"You know that I was not absent from your side the whole of that high
+holiday."
+
+"I know it."
+
+Again the doors opened; this time they admitted the trembling Mandane.
+The high-priest cast such a look of astonishment and enquiry on her, that
+the king saw she must be in some way connected with him, and therefore,
+taking no notice of the trembling girl who lay  at his  feet,  he asked:
+"Do  you  know  this woman?"
+
+"Yes, my King.  I obtained for her the situation of upper attendant to
+the--may Auramazda forgive her!--King of Egypt's daughter."
+
+"What led you,--a priest,--to do a favor to this girl?"
+
+"Her parents died of the same pestilence, which carried off my brothers.
+Her father was a priest, respected, and a friend of our family; so we
+adopted the little girl, remembering the words: 'If thou withhold help
+from the man who is pure in heart and from his widow and orphans, then
+shall the pure, subject earth cast thee out unto the stinging-nettles,
+to painful sufferings and to the most fearful regions!'  Thus I became
+her foster-father, and had her brought up with my youngest brother until
+he was obliged to enter the school for priests."
+
+The king exchanged a look of intelligence with Phanes, and asked: "Why
+did not you keep the girl longer with you?"
+
+"When she had received the ear-rings I, as priest, thought it more
+suitable to send such a young girl away from my house, and to put her in
+a position to earn her own living."
+
+"Has she seen your brother since she has been grown up?"
+
+"Yes, my King.  Whenever Gaumata came to see me I allowed him to be with
+her as with a sister; but on discovering later that the passionate love
+of youth had begun to mingle with the childish friendship of former days,
+I felt strengthened in my resolution to send her away."
+
+"Now we know enough," said the king, commanding the high-priest by a nod
+to retire.  He then looked down on the prostrate girl, and said
+imperiously: "Rise!"
+
+Mandane rose, trembling with fear.  Her fresh young face was pale as
+death, and her red lips were blue from terror.
+
+"Tell all you know about yesterday evening; but remember, a lie and your
+death are one and the same."
+
+The girl's knees trembled so violently that she could hardly stand, and
+her fear entirely took away the power of speaking.
+
+"I have not much patience," exclaimed Cambyses.  Mandane started, grew
+paler still, but could not speak.  Then Phanes came forward and asked the
+angry king to allow him to examine the girl, as he felt sure that fear
+alone had closed her lips and that a kind word would open them.
+
+Cambyses allowed this, and the Athenian's words proved true; no sooner
+had he assured Mandane of the good-will of all present, laid his hand on
+her head and spoken kindly to her, than the source of her tears was
+unlocked, she wept freely, the spell which had seemed to chain her
+tongue, vanished, and she began to tell her story, interrupted only by
+low sobs.  She hid nothing, confessed that Boges had given her his
+sanction and assistance to the meeting with Gaumata, and ended by saying:
+"I know that I have forfeited my life, and am the worst and most
+ungrateful creature in the world; but none of all this would have
+happened, if Oropastes had allowed his brother to marry me."
+
+The serious audience, even the king himself, could not resist a smile at
+the longing tone in which these words were spoken and the fresh burst of
+sobs which succeeded them.
+
+And this smile saved her life.  But Cambyses would not have smiled, after
+hearing such a story, if Mandane, with that instinct which always seems
+to stand at a woman's command in the hour of her greatest danger, had not
+known how to seize his weak side, and use it for her own interests, by
+dwelling much longer than was necessary, on the delight which Nitetis had
+manifested at the king's gifts.
+
+"A thousand times" cried she, "did my mistress kiss the presents which
+were brought from you, O King; but oftenest of all did she press her lips
+to the nosegay which you plucked with your own hands for her, some days
+ago.  And when it began to fade, she took every flower separately, spread
+out the petals with care, laid them between woollen cloths, and, with her
+own hands, placed her heavy, golden ointment-box upon them, that they
+might dry and so she might keep them always as a remembrance of your
+kindness."
+
+Seeing Cambyses' awful features grow a little milder at these words, the
+girl took fresh courage, and at last began to put loving words into her
+mistress's mouth which the latter had never uttered; professing that she
+herself had heard Nitetis a hundred times murmur the word "Cambyses" in
+her sleep with indescribable tenderness.  She ended her confession by
+sobbing and praying for mercy.
+
+The king looked down at her with infinite contempt, though without anger,
+and pushing her away with his foot said: "Out of my sight, you dog of a
+woman!  Blood like yours would soil the executioner's axe.  Out of my
+sight!"
+
+Mandane needed no second command to depart.  The words "out of my sight"
+sounded like sweet music in her ears.  She rushed through the courts of
+the palace, and out into the streets, crying like a mad woman "I am free!
+I am free!"
+
+She, had scarcely left the hall, when Datis, the "king's eye" reappeared
+with the news that the chief of the eunuchs was nowhere to be found.  He
+had vanished from the hanging-gardens in an unaccountable manner; but he,
+Datis, had left word with his subordinates that he was to be searched for
+and brought, dead or alive.
+
+The king went off into another violent fit of passion at this news, and
+threatened the officer of police, who prudently concealed the excitement
+of the crowd from his lord, with a severe punishment, if Boges were not
+in their hands by the next morning.
+
+As he finished speaking, a eunuch was brought into the hall, sent by the
+king's mother to ask an interview for herself with her son.
+
+Cambyses prepared at once to comply with his mother's wish, at the same
+time giving Phanes his hand to kiss, a rare honor, only shown to those
+that ate at the king's table, and saying: "All the prisoners are to be
+set at liberty.  Go to your sons, you anxious, troubled fathers, and
+assure them of my mercy and favor.  I think we shall be able to find a
+satrapy a-piece for them, as compensation for to-night's undeserved
+imprisonment.  To you, my Greek friend, I am deeply indebted.  In
+discharge of this debt, and as a means of retaining you at my court,
+I beg you to accept one hundred talents from my treasury."
+
+"I shall scarcely be able to use so large a sum," said Phanes, bowing
+low.
+
+"Then abuse it," said the king with a friendly smile, and calling out to
+him, "We shall meet again at supper," he left the hall accompanied by his
+court.
+
+                    ........................
+
+In the meantime there had been sadness and mourning in the apartments of
+the queen-mother.  Judging from the contents of the letter to Bartja,
+Kassandane had made up her mind that Nitetis was faithless, and her own
+beloved son innocent.  But in whom could she ever place confidence again,
+now that this girl, whom she had looked upon as the very embodiment of
+every womanly virtue, had proved reprobate and faithless--now that the
+noblest youths in the realm had proved perjurers?
+
+Nitetis was more than dead for her; Bartja, Croesus, Darius, Gyges,
+Araspes, all so closely allied to her by relationship and friendship, as
+good as dead.  And yet she durst not indulge her sorrow; she had to
+restrain the despairing outbursts of grief of her impetuous child.
+
+Atossa behaved like one deprived of her senses when she heard of the
+sentences of death.  The self-control which she had learnt from Nitetis
+gave way, and her old impetuosity burst forth again with double
+vehemence.
+
+Nitetis, her only friend,--Bartja, the brother whom she loved with her
+whole heart,--Darius, whom she felt now she not only looked up to as her
+deliverer, but loved with all the warmth of a first affection--Croesus to
+whom she clung like a father,--she was to lose every one she loved in one
+day.
+
+She tore her dress and her hair, called Cambyses a monster, and every one
+who could possibly believe in the guilt of such people, infatuated or
+insane.  Then her tears would burst out afresh, she would utter imploring
+supplications to the gods for mercy, and a few minutes later, begin
+conjuring her mother to take her to the hanging-gardens, that they might
+hear Nitetis' defence of her own conduct.
+
+Kassandane tried to soothe the violent girl, and assured her every
+attempt to visit the hanging-gardens would be in vain.  Then Atossa began
+to rage again, until at last her mother was forced to command silence,
+and as morning had already began to dawn, sent her to her sleeping-room.
+
+The girl obeyed, but instead of going to bed, seated herself at a tall
+window looking towards the hanging-gardens.  Her eyes filled with tears
+again, as she thought of her friend--her sister-sitting in that palace
+alone, forsaken, banished, and looking forward to an ignominious death.
+Suddenly her tearful, weary eyes lighted up as if from some strong
+purpose, and instead of gazing into the distance, she fixed them on a
+black speck which flew towards her in a straight line from Nitetis'
+house, becoming larger and more distinct every moment; and finally
+settling on a cypress before her window.  The sorrow vanished at once
+from her lovely face and with a deep sigh of relief she sprang up,
+exclaiming:
+
+"Oh, there is the Homai, the bird of good fortune!  Now everything will
+turn out well."
+
+It was the same bird of paradise which had brought so much comfort to
+Nitetis that now gave poor Atossa fresh confidence.
+
+She bent forward to see whether any one was in the garden; and finding
+that she would be seen by no one but the old gardener, she jumped out,
+trembling like a fawn, plucked a few roses and cypress twigs and took
+them to the old man, who had been watching her performances with a
+doubtful shake of the head.
+
+She stroked his cheeks coaxingly, put her flowers in his brown hand, and
+said: "Do you love me, Sabaces?"
+
+"O, my mistress!"  was the only answer the old man could utter, as he
+pressed the hem of her robe to his lips.
+
+"I believe you, my old friend, and I will show you how I trust my
+faithful, old Sabaces.  Hide these flowers carefully and go quickly to
+the king's palace.  Say that you had to bring fruit for the table.  My
+poor brother Bartja, and Darius, the son of the noble Hystaspes, are in
+prison, near the guard-house of the Immortals.  You must manage that
+these flowers reach them, with a warm greeting from me, but mind, the
+message must be given with the flowers."
+
+"But the guards will not allow me to see the prisoners."
+
+"Take these rings, and slip them into their hands."
+
+"I will do my best."
+
+"I knew you loved me, my good Sabaces.  Now make haste, and come back
+soon."
+
+The old man went off as fast as he could.  Atossa looked thoughtfully
+after him, murmuring to herself: "Now they will both know, that I loved
+them to the last.  The rose means, 'I love you,' and the evergreen
+cypress, 'true and steadfast.'"  The old man came back in an hour;
+bringing her Bartja's favorite ring, and from Darius an Indian
+handkerchief dipped in blood.
+
+Atossa ran to meet him; her eyes filled with tears as she took the
+tokens, and seating herself under a spreading plane-tree, she pressed
+them by turns to her lips, murmuring: "Bartja's ring means that he thinks
+of me; the blood-stained handkerchief that Darius is ready to shed his
+heart's blood for me."
+
+Atossa smiled as she said this, and her tears, when she thought of her
+friends and their sad fate, were quieter, if not less bitter, than
+before.
+
+A few hours later a messenger arrived from Croesus with news that the
+innocence of Bartja and his friends had been proved, and that Nitetis
+was, to all intents and purposes, cleared also.
+
+Kassandane sent at once to the hanging-gardens, with a request that
+Nitetis would come to her apartments.  Atossa, as unbridled in her joy as
+in her grief, ran to meet her friend's litter and flew from one of her
+attendants to the other crying: "They are all innocent; we shall not lose
+one of them--not one!"
+
+When at last the litter appeared and her loved one, pale as death, within
+it, she burst into loud sobs, threw her arms round Nitetis as she
+descended, and covered her with kisses and caresses till she perceived
+that her friend's strength was failing, that her knees gave way, and she
+required a stronger support than Atossa's girlish strength could give.
+
+The Egyptian girl was carried insensible into the queen-mother's
+apartments.  When she opened her eyes, her head-more like a marble piece
+of sculpture than a living head--was resting on the blind queen's lap,
+she felt Atossa's warm kisses on her forehead, and Cambyses, who had
+obeyed his mother's call, was standing at her side.
+
+She gazed on this circle, including all she loved best, with anxious,
+perplexed looks, and at last, recognizing them one by one, passed her
+hand across her pale fore head as if to remove a veil, smiled at each,
+and closed her eyes once more.  She fancied Isis had sent her a beautiful
+vision, and wished to hold it fast with all the powers of her mind.
+
+Then Atossa called her by her name, impetuously and lovingly.  She opened
+her eyes again, and again she saw those loving looks that she fancied had
+only been sent her in a dream.  Yes, that was her own Atossa--this her
+motherly friend, and there stood, not the angry king, but the man she
+loved.  And now his lips opened too, his stern, severe eyes rested on her
+so beseechingly, and he said: "O Nitetis, awake!  you must not--you
+cannot possibly be guilty!"  She moved her head gently with a look of
+cheerful denial and a happy smile stole across her features, like a
+breeze of early spring over fresh young roses.
+
+"She is innocent! by Mithras, it is impossible that she can be guilty,"
+cried the king again, and forgetful of the presence of others, he sank on
+his knees.
+
+A Persian physician came up and rubbed her forehead with a sweet-scented
+oil, and Nebenchari approached, muttering spells, felt her pulse, shook
+his head, and administered a potion from his portable medicine-chest.
+This restored her to perfect consciousness; she raised herself with
+difficulty into a sitting posture, returned the loving caresses of her
+two friends, and then turning to Cambyses, asked: "How could you believe
+such a thing of me, my King?"  There was no reproach in her tone, but
+deep sadness, and Cambyses answered softly, "Forgive me."
+
+Kassandane's blind eyes expressed her gratitude for this self-
+renunciation on the part of her son, and she said: "My daughter, I need
+your forgiveness too."
+
+"But I never once doubted you,"  cried Atossa, proudly and joyfully
+kissing her friend's lips.
+
+"Your letter to Bartja shook my faith in your innocence," added
+Kassandane.
+
+"And yet it was all so simple and natural," answered Nitetis.  "Here, my
+mother, take this letter from Egypt.  Croesus will translate it for you.
+It will explain all.  Perhaps I was imprudent.  Ask your mother to tell
+you what you would wish to know, my King.  Pray do not scorn my poor, ill
+sister.  When an Egyptian girl once loves, she cannot forget.  But I feel
+so frightened.  The end must be near.  The last hours have been so very,
+very terrible.  That horrible man, Boges, read me the fearful sentence of
+death, and it was that which forced the poison into my hand.  Ah, my
+heart!"
+
+And with these words she fell back into the arms of Kassandane.
+
+Nebenchari rushed forward, and gave her some more drops, exclaiming: "I
+thought so!  She has taken poison and her life cannot be saved, though
+this antidote may possibly prolong it for a few days."  Cambyses stood
+by, pale and rigid, following the physician's slightest movements, and
+Atossa bathed her friend's forehead with her tears.
+
+"Let some milk be brought,"  cried Nebenchari, "and my large medicine-
+chest; and let attendants be called to carry her away, for quiet is
+necessary, above all things."
+
+Atossa hastened into the adjoining room; and Cambyses said to the
+physician, but without looking into his face: "Is there no hope?"
+
+"The poison which she has taken results in certain death."
+
+On hearing this the king pushed Nebenchari away from the sick girl,
+exclaiming: "She shall live.  It is my will.  Here, eunuch! summon all
+the physicians in Babylon--assemble the priests and Alobeds!  She is not
+to die; do you hear?  she must live, I am the king, and I command it."
+
+Nitetis opened her eyes as if endeavoring to obey her lord.  Her face was
+turned towards the window, and the bird of paradise with the gold chain
+on its foot, was still there, perched on the cypress-tree.  Her eyes fell
+first on her lover, who had sunk down at her side and was pressing his
+burning lips to her right hand.  She murmured with a smile:  "O, this
+great happiness!"  Then she saw the bird, and pointed to it with tier
+left hand, crying: "Look, look, there is the Phoenix, the bird of Ra!"
+
+After saying this she closed her eyes and was soon seized by a violent
+attack of fever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+Prexaspes, the king's messenger, and one of the highest officials at
+court, had brought Gaumata, Mandane's lover, whose likeness to Bartja was
+really most wonderful, to Babylon, sick and wounded as he was.  He was
+now awaiting his sentence in a dungeon, while Boges, the man who had led
+him into crime, was nowhere to be found, notwithstanding all the efforts
+of the police.  His escape had been rendered possible by the trap-door in
+the hanging-gardens, and greatly assisted by the enormous crowds
+assembled in the streets.
+
+Immense treasures were found in his house.  Chests of gold and jewels,
+which his position had enabled him to obtain with great ease, were
+restored to the royal treasury.  Cambyses, however, would gladly have
+given ten times as much treasure to secure possession of the traitor.
+
+To Phaedime's despair the king ordered all the inhabitants of the harem,
+except his mother, Atossa and the dying Nitetis, to be removed to Susa,
+two days after the accused had been declared innocent.  Several eunuchs
+of rank were deposed from their offices.  The entire caste was to suffer
+for the sins of him who had escaped punishment.
+
+Oropastes, who had already entered on his duties as regent of the
+kingdom, and had clearly proved his non-participation in the crime of
+which his brother had been proved guilty, bestowed the vacant places
+exclusively on the Magi.  The demonstration made by the people in favor
+of Bartja did not come to the king's ears until the crowd had long
+dispersed.  Still, occupied as he was, almost entirely, by his anxiety
+for Nitetis, he caused exact information of this illegal manifestation to
+be furnished him, and ordered the ringleaders to be severely punished.
+He fancied it was a proof that Bartja had been trying to gain favor with
+the people, and Cambyses would perhaps have shown his displeasure by some
+open act, if a better impulse had not told him that he, not Bartja, was
+the brother who stood in need of forgiveness.  In spite of this, however,
+he could not get rid of the feeling that Bartja, had been, though
+innocent, the cause of the sad events which had just happened, nor of his
+wish to get him out of the way as far as might be; and he therefore gave
+a ready consent to his brother's wish to start at once for Naukratis.
+
+Bartja took a tender farewell of his mother and sister, and started two
+days after his liberation.  He was accompanied by Gyges, Zopyrus, and a
+numerous retinue charged with splendid presents from Cambyses for Sappho.
+Darius remained behind, kept back by his love for Atossa.  The day too
+was not far distant, when, by his father's wish, he was to marry
+Artystone, the daughter of Gobryas.
+
+Bartja parted from his friend with a heavy heart, advising him to be very
+prudent with regard to Atossa.  The secret had been confided to
+Kassandane, and she had promised to take Darius' part with the king.
+
+If any one might venture to raise his eyes to the daughter of Cyrus,
+assuredly it was the son of Hystaspes; he was closely connected by
+marriage with the royal family, belonged like Cambyses to the Pasargadae,
+and his family was a younger branch of the reigning dynasty.  His father
+called himself the highest noble in the realm, and as such, governed the
+province of Persia proper, the mother-country, to which this enormous
+world-empire and its ruler owed their origin.  Should the family of Cyrus
+become extinct, the descendants of Hystaspes would have a well-grounded
+right to the Persian throne.  Darius therefore, apart from his personal
+advantages, was a fitting claimant for Atossa's hand.  And yet no one
+dared to ask the king's consent.  In the gloomy state of mind into which
+he had been brought by the late events, it was likely that he might
+refuse it, and such an answer would have to be regarded as irrevocable.
+So Bartja was obliged to leave Persia in anxiety about the future of
+these two who were very dear to him.
+
+Croesus promised to act as mediator in this case also, and before Bartja
+left, made him acquainted with Phanes.
+
+The youth had heard such a pleasant account of the Athenian from Sappho,
+that he met him with great cordiality, and soon won the fancy of the
+older and more experienced man, who gave him many a useful hint, and a
+letter to Theopompus, the Milesian, at Naukratis.  Phanes concluded by
+asking for a private interview.
+
+Bartja returned to his friends looking grave and thoughtful; soon,
+however, he forgot his cause of anxiety and joked merrily with them over
+a farewell cup.  Before he mounted his horse the next morning, Nebenchari
+asked to be allowed an audience.  He was admitted, and begged Bartja to
+take the charge of a large written roll for king Amasis.  It contained a
+detailed account of Nitetis' sufferings, ending with these words: "Thus
+the unhappy victim of your ambitious plans will end her life in a few
+hours by poison, to the use of which she was driven by despair.  The
+arbitrary caprices of the mighty can efface all happiness from the life
+of a human creature, just as we wipe a picture from the tablet with a
+sponge.  Your servant Nebenchari is pining in a foreign land, deprived of
+home and property, and the wretched daughter of a king of Egypt dies a
+miserable and lingering death by her own hand.  Her body will be torn to
+pieces by dogs and vultures, after the manner of the Persians.  Woe unto
+them who rob the innocent of happiness here and of rest beyond the
+grave!"
+
+Bartja had not been told the contents of this letter, but promised to
+take it with him; he then, amid the joyful shouts of the people, set up
+outside the city-gate the stones which, according to a Persian
+superstition, were to secure him a prosperous journey, and left Babylon.
+
+Nebenchari, meanwhile, prepared to return to his post by Nitetis' dying-
+bed.
+
+Just as he reached the brazen gates between the harem-gardens and the
+courts of the large palace, an old man in white robes came up to him.
+The sight seemed to fill Nebenchari with terror; he started as if the
+gaunt old man had been a ghost.  Seeing, however, a friendly and familiar
+smile on the face of the other, he quickened his steps, and, holding out
+his hand with a heartiness for which none of his Persian acquaintances
+would have given him credit, exclaimed in Egyptian: "Can I believe my
+eyes?  You in Persia, old Hib?  I should as soon have expected the sky to
+fall as to have the pleasure of seeing you on the Euphrates.  But now, in
+the name of Osiris, tell me what can have induced you, you old ibis, to
+leave your warm nest on the Nile and set out on such a long journey
+eastward."
+
+While Nebenchari was speaking, the old man listened in a bowing posture,
+with his arms hanging down by his side, and when he had finished, looked
+up into his face with indescribable joy, touched his breast with
+trembling fingers, and then, falling on the right knee, laying one hand
+on his heart and raising the other to heaven, cried: "Thanks be unto
+thee, great Isis, for protecting the wanderer and permitting him to see
+his master once more in health and safety.  Ah, child, how anxious I have
+been!  I expected to find you as wasted and thin as a convict from the
+quarries; I thought you would have been grieving and unhappy, and here
+you are as well, and handsome and portly as ever.  If poor old Hib had
+been in your place he would have been dead long ago."
+
+"Yes, I don't doubt that, old fellow.  I did not leave home of my own
+will either, nor without many a heartache.  These foreigners are all the
+children of Seth.  The good and gracious gods are only to be found in
+Egypt on the shores of the sacred, blessed Nile."
+
+"I don't know much about its being so blessed," muttered the old man.
+
+"You frighten me, father Hib.  What has happened then?"
+
+"Happened!  Things have come to a pretty pass there, and you'll hear of
+it soon enough.  Do you think I should have left house and grandchildren
+at my age,--going on for eighty,--like any Greek or Phoenician vagabond,
+and come out among these godless foreigners (the gods blast and destroy
+them!), if I could possibly have staid on in Egypt?"
+
+"But tell me what it's all about."
+
+"Some other time, some other time.  Now you must take me to your own
+house, and I won't stir out of it as long as we are in this land of
+Typhon."
+
+The old man said this with so much emphasis, that Nebenchiari could not
+help smiling and saying: "Have they treated you so very badly then, old
+man?"
+
+"Pestilence and Khamsin!" blustered the old man.
+
+     [The south-west wind, which does so much injury to the crops in the
+     Nile valley.  It is known to us as the Simoom, the wind so perilous
+     to travellers in the desert.]
+
+"There's not a more good-for-nothing Typhon's brood on the face of the
+earth than these Persians.  I only wonder they're not all red-haired and
+leprous.  Ah, child, two whole days I have been in this hell already, and
+all that time I was obliged to live among these blasphemers.  They said
+no one could see you; you were never allowed to leave Nitetis' sick-bed.
+Poor child!  I always said this marriage with a foreigner would come to
+no good, and it serves Amasis right if his children give him trouble.
+His conduct to you alone deserves that."
+
+"For shame, old man!"
+
+"Nonsense, one must speak one's mind sometimes.  I hate a king, who comes
+from nobody knows where.  Why, when he was a poor boy he used to steal
+your father's nuts, and wrench the name-plates off the house-doors.  I
+saw he was a good-for-nothing fellow then.  It's a shame that such people
+should be allowed to..."
+
+"Gently, gently, old man.  We are not all made of the same stuff, and if
+there was such a little difference between you and Amasis as boys, it, is
+your own fault that, now you are old men, he has outstripped you so far.
+
+"My father and grandfather were both servants in the temple, and of
+course I followed in their footsteps."
+
+"Quite right; it is the law of caste, and by that rule, Amasis ought
+never to have become anything higher than a poor army-captain at most."
+
+"It is not every one who's got such an easy conscience as this upstart
+fellow."
+
+"There you are again!  For shame, Hib!  As long as I can remember, and
+that is nearly half a century, every other word with you has been an
+abusive one.  When I was a child your ill-temper was vented on me, and
+now the king has the benefit of it."
+
+"Serves him right!  All, if you only knew all!  It's now seven months
+since .  .  ."
+
+"I can't stop to listen to you now.  At the rising of the seven stars I
+will send a slave to take you to my rooms.  Till then you must stay in
+your present lodging, for I must go to my patient."
+
+"You must?--Very well,--then go and leave poor old Hib here to die.
+I can't possibly live another hour among these creatures."
+
+"What would you have me do then?"
+
+"Let me live with you as long as we are in Persia."
+
+"Have they treated you so very roughly?"
+
+"I should think they had indeed.  It is loathsome to think of.  They
+forced me to eat out of the same pot with them and cut my bread with the
+same knife.  An infamous Persian, who had lived many years in Egypt, and
+travelled here with us, had given them a list of all the things and
+actions, which we consider unclean.  They took away my knife when I was
+going to shave myself.  A good-for-nothing wench kissed me on the
+forehead, before I could prevent it.  There, you needn't laugh; it will
+be a month at least before I can get purified from all these pollutions.
+I took an emetic, and when that at last began to take effect, they all
+mocked and sneered at me.  But that was not all.  A cursed cook-boy
+nearly beat a sacred kitten to death before my very eyes.  Then an
+ointment-mixer, who had heard that I was your servant, made that godless
+Bubares ask me whether I could cure diseases of the eye too.  I said yes,
+because you know in sixty years it's rather hard if one can't pick up
+something from one's master.  Bubares was interpreter between us, and the
+shameful fellow told him to say that he was very much disturbed about a
+dreadful disease in his eyes.  I asked what it was, and received for
+answer that he could not tell one thing from another in the dark!"
+
+"You should have told him that the best remedy for that was to light a
+candle."
+
+"Oh, I hate the rascals!  Another hour among them will be the death of
+me!"
+
+"I am sure you behaved oddly enough among these foreigners," said
+Nebenchiari smiling, "you must have made them laugh at you, for the
+Persians are generally very polite, well-behaved people.  Try them again,
+only once.  I shall be very glad to take you in this evening, but I can't
+possibly do it before."
+
+"It is as I thought!  He's altered too, like everybody else!  Osiris is
+dead and Seth rules the world again."
+
+"Farewell!  When the seven stars rise, our old Ethiopian slave, Nebununf,
+will wait for you here."
+
+"Nebununf, that old rogue?  I never want to see him again."
+
+"Yes, the very same."
+
+"Him--well it's a good thing, when people stay as they were.  To be sure
+I know some people who can't say so much of themselves, and who instead
+of minding their own business, pretend to heal inward diseases, and when
+a faithful old servant .  .  ."
+
+"Hold your tongue, and wait patiently till evening."  These last words
+were spoken seriously, and produced the desired impression.  The old man
+made another obeisance, and before his master left him, said: "I came
+here under the protection of Phanes, the former commander of the Greek
+mercenaries.  He wishes very much to speak with you."
+
+"That is his concern.  He can come to me."
+
+"You never leave that sick girl, whose eyes are as sound as .  .  ."
+
+"Hib!"
+
+"For all I care she may have a cataract in both.  May Phanes come to you
+this evening?"
+
+"I wished to be alone with you."
+
+"So did I; but the Greek seems to be in a great hurry, and he knows
+nearly everything that I have to tell you."
+
+"Have you been gossiping then?"
+
+"No--not exactly--but .  .  ."
+
+"I always thought you were a man to be trusted."
+
+"So I was.  But this Greek knows already a great deal of what I know, and
+the rest .  .  ."
+
+"Well?"
+
+"The rest he got out of me, I hardly know how myself.  If I did not wear
+this amulet against an evil eye, I should have been obliged .  .  ."
+
+"Yes, yes, I know the Athenian--I can forgive you.  I should like him to
+come with you this evening.  But I see the sun is already high in the
+heavens.  I have no time to lose.  Tell me in a few words what has
+happened."
+
+"I thought this evening .  .  ."
+
+"No, I must have at least a general idea of what has happened before I
+see the Athenian.  Be brief."
+
+"You have been robbed!"
+
+"Is that all?"
+
+"Is not that enough?"
+
+"Answer me.  Is that all?"
+
+"Yes!"
+
+"Then farewell."
+
+"But Nebenchari!"
+
+The physician did not even hear this exclamation; the gates of the harem
+had already closed behind him.
+
+When the Pleiades had risen, Nebenchari was to be found seated alone in
+one of the magnificent rooms assigned to his use on the eastern side of
+the palace, near to Kassandane's apartments.  The friendly manner in
+which he had welcomed his old servant had given place to the serious
+expression which his face usually wore, and which had led the cheerful
+Persians to call him a morose and gloomy man.
+
+Nebenchari was an Egyptian priest through and through; a member of that
+caste which never indulged in a jest, and never for a moment forgot to be
+dignified and solemn before the public; but when among their relations
+and their colleagues completely threw off this self-imposed restraint,
+and gave way at times even to exuberant mirth.
+
+Though he had known Phanes in Sais, he received him with cold politeness,
+and, after the first greeting was ended, told Hib to leave them alone.
+
+"I have come to you," said the Athenian, "to speak about some very
+important affairs."
+
+"With which I am already acquainted," was the Egyptian's curt reply.
+
+"I am inclined to doubt that," said Phanes with an incredulous smile.
+
+"You have been driven out of Egypt, persecuted and insulted by Psamtik,
+and you have come to Persia to enlist Cambyses as an instrument of
+revenge against my country."
+
+"You are mistaken.  I have nothing against your country, but all the more
+against Amasis and his house.  In Egypt the state and the king are one,
+as you very well know."
+
+"On the contrary, my own observations have led me to think that the
+priests considered themselves one with the state."
+
+"In that case you are better informed than I, who have always looked on
+the kings of Egypt as absolute.  So they are; but only in proportion as
+they know how to emancipate themselves from the influence of your caste.
+--Amasis himself submits to the priests now."
+
+"Strange intelligence!"
+
+"With which, however, you have already long been made acquainted."
+
+"Is that your opinion?"
+
+"Certainly it is.  And I know with still greater certainty that once--you
+hear me--once, he succeeded in bending the will of these rulers of his to
+his own."
+
+"I very seldom hear news from home, and do not understand what you are
+speaking of."
+
+"There I believe you, for if you knew what I meant and could stand there
+quietly without clenching your fist, you would be no better than a dog
+who only whimpers when he's kicked and licks the hand that torments him."
+
+The physician turned pale.  "I know that Amasis has injured and insulted
+me," he said, "but at the same time I must tell you that revenge is far
+too sweet a morsel to be shared with a stranger."
+
+"Well said!  As to my own revenge, however, I can only compare it to a
+vineyard where the grapes are so plentiful, that I am not able to gather
+them all myself."
+
+"And you have come hither to hire good laborers."
+
+"Quite right, and I do not even yet give up the hope of securing you to
+take a share in my vintage."
+
+"You are mistaken.  My work is already done.  The gods themselves have
+taken it in hand.  Amasis has been severely enough punished for banishing
+me from country, friends and pupils into this unclean land."
+
+"You mean by his blindness perhaps?"
+
+"Possibly."
+
+"Then you have not heard that Petammon, one of your colleagues, has
+succeeded in cutting the skin, which covered the pupil of the eye and so
+restoring Amasis' sight?"
+
+The Egyptian started and ground his teeth; recovered his presence of
+mind, however, in a moment, and answered: "Then the gods have punished
+the father through the children."
+
+"In what way?  Psamtik suits his father's present mood very well.  It is
+true that Tachot is ill, but she prays and sacrifices with her father all
+the more for that; and as to Nitetis, you and I both know that her death
+will not touch him very closely."
+
+"I really do not understand you."
+
+"Of course not, so long as you fancy that I believe your beautiful
+patient to be Amasis' daughter."
+
+The Egyptian started again, but Phanes went on without appearing to
+notice his emotion: "I know more than you suppose.  Nitetis is the
+daughter of Hophra, Amasis' dethroned predecessor.  Amasis brought her
+up as his own child-first, in order to make the Egyptians believe that
+Hophra had died childless; secondly, in order to deprive her of her
+rights to the throne; for you know women are allowed to govern on the
+Nile."
+
+"These are mere suppositions."
+
+"For which, however, I can bring irrefragable proofs.  Among the papers
+which your old servant Hib brought with him in a small box, there must be
+some letters from a certain Sonnophre, a celebrated accoucheur, your own
+father, which .  .  ."
+
+     [To judge from the pictures on the monuments and from the 1st Chap.
+     of Exodus, it would seem that in ancient, as in modern Egypt,
+     midwives were usually called in to assist at the birth of children;
+     but it is also certain, that in difficult cases physicians were
+     employed also.  In the hieratic medical papyrus in Berlin, women are
+     often spoken of as assisting at such times.  In the medical Papyrus
+     Ebers certain portions are devoted to diseases peculiar to women.
+     "There were special rooms set aside in private houses for the birth
+     of children, as symbolical ones were reserved in the temples.  These
+     chambers were called meschen, and from them was derived the name
+     given to midwives, to meschennu.]
+
+"If that be the case, those letters are my property, and I have not the
+slightest intention of giving them up; besides which you might search
+Persia from one end to the other without finding any one who could
+decipher my father's writing."
+
+"Pardon me, if I point out one or two errors into which you have fallen.
+First, this box is at present in my hands, and though I am generally
+accustomed to respect the rights of property, I must assure you that, in
+the present instance, I shall not return the box until its contents have
+served my purpose.  Secondly, the gods have so ordained, that just at
+this moment there is a man in Babylon who can read every kind of writing
+known to the Egyptian priests.  Do you perhaps happen to know the name of
+Onuphis?"
+
+For the third time the Egyptian turned pale.  "Are you certain," he said,
+"that this man is still among the living?"
+
+"I spoke to him myself yesterday.  He was formerly, you know, high-priest
+at Heliopolis, and was initiated into all your mysteries there.  My wise
+countryman, Pythagoras of Samos, came to Egypt, and after submitting to
+some of your ceremonies, was allowed to attend the lessons given in the
+schools for priests.  His remarkable talents won the love of the great
+Onuphis and he taught him all the Egyptian mysteries, which Pythagoras
+afterwards turned to account for the benefit of mankind.  My delightful
+friend Rhodopis and I are proud of having been his pupils.  When the rest
+of your caste heard that Onuphis had betrayed the sacred mysteries, the
+ecclesiastical judges determined on his death.  This was to be caused by
+a poison extracted from peach-kernels.  The condemned man, however, heard
+of their machinations, and fled to Naukratis, where he found a safe
+asylum in the house of Rhodopis, whom he had heard highly praised by
+Pythagoras, and whose dwelling was rendered inviolable by the king's
+letter.  Here he met Antimenidas the brother of the poet Alcarus of
+Lesbos, who, having been banished by Pittakus, the wise ruler of
+Mitylene, had gone to Babylon, and there taken service in the army of
+Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Assyria.  Antimenidas gave him letters to the
+Chaldians.  Onuphis travelled to the Euphrates, settled there, and was
+obliged to seek for some means of earning his daily bread, as he had left
+Egypt a poor man.  He is now supporting himself in his old age, by the
+assistance which his superior knowledge enables him to render the
+Chaldoeans in their astronomical observations from the tower of Bel.
+Onuphis is nearly eighty, but his mind is as clear as ever, and when I
+saw him yesterday and asked him to help me, his eyes brightened as he
+promised to do so.  Your father was one of his judges, but he bears you
+no malice and sends you a greeting."
+
+Nebenchari's eyes were fixed thoughtfully on the ground during this tale.
+When Phanes had finished, he gave him a penetrating look and said: "Where
+are my papers?"
+
+They are in Onuphis' hands.  He is looking among them for the document I
+want."
+
+"I expected to hear that.  Be so good as to tell me what the box is like,
+which Hib thought proper to bring over to Persia?"
+
+"It is a small ebony trunk, with an exquisitely-carved lid.  In the
+centre is a winged beetle, and on the four corners .  .  ."
+
+"That contains nothing but a few of my father's notices and memorandums,"
+said Nebenchari, drawing a deep breath of relief.
+
+"They will very likely be sufficient for my purpose.  I do not know
+whether you have heard, that I stand as high as possible in Cambyses'
+favor."
+
+"So much the better for you.  I can assure you, however, that the paper.
+which would have been most useful to you have all been left behind in
+Egypt."
+
+"They were in a large chest made of sycamore-wood and painted in colors."
+
+"How do you know that?"
+
+"Because--now listen well to what I am going to say, Nebenchari--because
+I can tell you (I do not swear, for our great master Pythagoras forbade
+oaths), that this very chest, with all it contained, was burnt in the
+grove of the temple of Neith, in Sais, by order of the king "
+
+Phanes spoke slowly, emphasizing every syllable, and the words seemed to
+strike the Egyptian like so many flashes of lightning.  His quiet
+coolness and deliberation gave way to violent emotion; his cheeks glowed
+and his eyes flashed.  But only for one single minute; then the strong
+emotion seemed to freeze, his burning cheeks grew pale.  "You are trying
+to make me hate my friends, in order to gain me as your ally," he said,
+coldly and calmly.  "I know you Greeks very well.  You are so intriguing
+and artful, that there is no lie, no fraud, too base, if it will only
+help to gain your purpose."
+
+"You judge me and my countrymen in true Egyptian fashion; that is, they
+are foreigners, and therefore must be bad men.  But this time your
+suspicions happen to be misplaced.  Send for old Hib; he will tell you
+whether I am right or not."
+
+Nebenchari's face darkened, as Hib came into the room.
+
+"Come nearer," said he in a commanding tone to the old man.
+
+Hib obeyed with a shrug of the shoulders.
+
+"Tell me, have you taken a bribe from this man?  Yes or no?  I must know
+the truth; it can influence my future for good or evil.  You are an old
+and faithful servant, to whom I owe a great deal, and so I will forgive
+you if you were taken in by his artifices, but I must know the truth.
+I conjure you to tell me by the souls of your fathers gone to Osiris!"
+
+The old man's sallow face turned ashy pale as he heard these words.  He
+gulped and wheezed some time before he could find an answer, and at last,
+after choking down the tears which had forced their way to his eyes,
+said, in a half-angry, half-whining tone: "Didn't I say so? they've
+bewitched him, they've ruined him in this wicked land.  Whatever a man
+would do himself, he thinks others are capable of.  Aye, you may look as
+angry as you like; it matters but little to me.  What can it matter
+indeed to an old man, who has served the same family faithfully and
+honestly for sixty years, if they call him at last a rogue, a knave, a
+traitor, nay even a murderer, if it should take their fancy."
+
+And the scalding tears flowed down over the old man's cheeks, sorely
+against his will.
+
+The easily-moved Phanes clapped him on the shoulder and said, turning to
+Nebenchari:  "Hib is a faithful fellow.  I give you leave to call me a
+rascal, if he has taken one single obolus from me."
+
+The physician did not need Phanes' assurance; he had known his old
+servant too well and too long not to be able to read his simple, open
+features, on which his innocence was written as clearly as in the pages
+of an open book.  "I did not mean to reproach you, old Hib," he said
+kindly, coming up to him.  "How can any one be so angry at a simple
+question?"
+
+"Perhaps you expect me to be pleased at such a shameful suspicion?"
+
+"No, not that; but at all events now you can tell me what has happened at
+our house since I left."
+
+"A pretty story that is!  Why only to think of it makes my mouth as
+bitter, as if I were chewing wormwood."
+
+"You said I had been robbed."
+
+"Yes indeed: no one was ever so robbed before.  There would have been
+some comfort if the knaves had belonged to the thieves' caste, for then
+we should have got the best part of our property back again, and should
+not after all have been worse off than many another; but when .  .  ."
+
+     [The cunning son of the architect, who robbed the treasure-house of
+     Rhampsinitus was, according to Herodotus, (II. 120), severely
+     punished; but in Diod. I. 80. we see that when thieves acknowledged
+     themselves to the authorities to be such, they were not punished,
+     though a strict watch was set over them.  According to Diodorus,
+     there was a president of the thieves' caste, from whom the stolen
+     goods could be reclaimed on relinquishment of a fourth part of the
+     same.  This strange rule possibly owed its rise to the law, which
+     compelled every Egyptian to appear once in each year before the
+     authorities of his district and give an account of his means of
+     subsistence.  Those who made false statements were punished with
+     death.  Diod. I. 77.  Thus no one who valued his life could escape
+     the watchful eye of the police, and the thief sacrificed the best
+     part of his gains in order to save his life.]
+
+"Keep to the point, for my time is limited."
+
+"You need not tell me that; I see old Hib can't do anything right here in
+Persia.  Well, be it so, you're master; you must give orders; I am only
+the servant, I must obey.  I won't forget it.  Well, as I was saying, it
+was just at the time when the great Persian embassy came over to Sais to
+fetch Nitetis, and made everybody stare at them as if they were monsters
+or prodigies, that this shameful thing happened.  I was sitting on the
+mosquito-tower just as the sun was setting, playing with my little
+grandson, my Baner's eldest boy--he's a fine strapping little lad now,
+wonderfully sharp and strong for his age.  The rogue was just telling me
+how his father, the Egyptians do that when their wives leave the children
+too much alone--had hidden his mother's shoes, and I was laughing
+heartily, because my Baner won't let any of the little ones live with me,
+she always says I spoil them, and so I was glad she should have the trick
+played her--when all of a sudden there was such a loud knocking at the
+house-door, that I thought there must be a fire and let the child drop
+off my lap.  Down the stairs I ran, three steps at a time, as fast as my
+long legs would carry me, and unbarred the door.  Before I had time to
+ask them what they wanted, a whole crowd of temple-servants and
+policemen--there must have been at least fifteen of them--forced their
+way into the house.  Pichi,--you know, that impudent fellow from the
+temple of Neith,--pushed me back, barred the door inside and told the
+police to put me in fetters if I refused to obey him.  Of course I got
+angry and did not use very civil words to them--you know that's my way
+when I'm put out--and what does that bit of a fellow do--by our god
+Thoth, the protector of knowledge who must know all, I'm speaking the
+truth--but order them to bind my hands, forbid me--me, old Hib--to speak,
+and then tell me that he had been told by the high-priest to order me
+five-and-twenty strokes, if I refused to do his bidding.  He showed me
+the high-priest's ring, and so I knew there was nothing for it but to
+obey the villain, whether I would or no.  And what was his modest demand?
+Why, nothing less than to give him all the written papers you had left
+behind.  But old Hib is not quite so stupid as to let himself be caught
+in that way, though some people, who ought to know better, do fancy he
+can be bribed and is no better than the son of an ass.  What did I do
+then?  I pretended to be quite crushed into submission by the sight of
+the signet-ring, begged Pichi as politely as I could to unfasten my
+hands, and told him I would fetch the keys.  They loosened the cords, I
+flew up the stairs five steps at a time, burst open the door of your
+sleeping-room, pushed my little grandson, who was standing by it, into
+the room and barred it within.  Thanks to my long legs, the others were
+so far behind that I had time to get hold of the black box which you had
+told me to take so much care of, put it into the child's arms, lift him
+through the window on to the balcony which runs round the house towards
+the inner court, and tell him to put it at once into the pigeon-house.
+Then I opened the door as if nothing had happened, told Pichi the child
+had had a knife in his mouth, and that that was the reason I had run
+upstairs in such a hurry, and had put him out on the balcony to punish
+him.  That brother of a hippopotamus was easily taken in, and then he
+made me show him over the house.  First they found the great sycamore-
+chest which you had told me to take great care of too, then the papyrus-
+rolls on your writing-table, and so by degrees every written paper in the
+house.  They made no distinction, but put all together into the great
+chest and carried it downstairs; the little black box, however, lay safe
+enough in the pigeon-house.  My grandchild is the sharpest boy in all
+Sais!
+
+"When I saw them really carrying the chest downstairs, all the anger I'd
+been trying so hard to keep down burst out again.  I told the impudent
+fellows I would accuse them before the magistrates, nay, even before the
+king if necessary, and if those confounded Persians, who were having the
+city shown them, had not come up just then and made everybody stare at
+them, I could have roused the crowd to take my side.  The same evening I
+went to my son-in-law-he is employed in the temple of Neith too, you
+know,--and begged him to make every effort to find out what had become of
+the papers.  The good fellow has never forgotten the handsome dowry you
+gave my Baner when he married her, and in three days he came and told me
+he had seen your beautiful chest and all the rolls it contained burnt to
+ashes.  I was so angry that I fell ill of the jaundice, but that did not
+hinder me from sending in a written accusation to the magistrates.  The
+wretches,--I suppose only because they were priests too,--refused to take
+any notice of me or my complaint.  Then I sent in a petition to the king,
+and was turned away there too with the shameful threat, that I should be
+considered guilty of high treason if I mentioned the papers again.  I
+valued my tongue too much to take any further steps, but the ground burnt
+under my feet; I could not stay in Egypt, I wanted to see you, tell you
+what they had done to you, and call on you, who are more powerful than
+your poor servant, to revenge yourself.  And besides, I wanted to see the
+black box safe in your hands, lest they should take that from me too.
+And so, old man as I am, with a sad heart I left my home and my
+grandchildren to go forth into this foreign Typhon's land.  Ah, the
+little lad was too sharp!  As I was kissing him, he said: 'Stay with us,
+grandfather.  If the foreigners make you unclean, they won't let me kiss
+you any more.'  Baner sends you a hearty greeting, and my son-in-law told
+me to say he had found out that Psamtik, the crown-prince, and your
+rival, Petammon, had been the sole causes of this execrable deed.  I
+could not make up my mind to trust myself on that Typhon's sea, so I
+travelled with an Arabian trading caravan as far as Tadmor,--[Palmyra]--
+the Phoenician palm-tree station in the wilderness," and then on to
+Carchemish, on the Euphrates, with merchants from Sidon.  The roads from
+Sardis and from Phoenicia meet there, and, as I was sitting very weary in
+the little wood before the station, a traveller arrived with the royal
+post-horses, and I saw at once that it was the former commander of the
+Greek mercenaries."
+
+"And I," interrupted Phanes, "recognized just as soon in you, the longest
+and most quarrelsome old fellow that had ever come across my path.  Oh,
+how often I've laughed to see you scolding the children, as they ran
+after you in the street whenever you appeared behind your master with the
+medicine-chest.  The minute I saw you too I remembered a joke which the
+king once made in his own way, as you were both passing by.  'The old
+man,' he said, reminds me of a fierce old owl followed by a flight of
+small teazing birds, and Nebenchari looks as if he had a scolding wife,
+who will some day or other reward him for healing other people's eyes by
+scratching out his own!'"
+
+"Shameful!"  said the old man, and burst into a flood of execrations.
+
+Nebenchari had been listening to his servant's tale in silence and
+thought.  He had changed color from time to time and on hearing that the
+papers which had cost him so many nights of hard work had been burnt, his
+fists clenched and he shivered as if seized by biting frost.  Not one of
+his movements escaped the Athenian.  He understood human nature; he knew
+that a jest is often much harder to bear than a grave affront, and
+therefore seized this opportunity to repeat the inconsiderate joke which
+Amasis had, it is true, allowed himself to make in one of his merry
+moods.  Phanes had calculated rightly, and had the pleasure of seeing,
+that as he uttered the last words Nebenchari pressed his hand on a rose
+which lay on the table before him, and crushed it to pieces.  The Greek
+suppressed a smile of satisfaction, and did not even raise his eyes from
+the ground, but continued speaking: "Well, now we must bring the
+travelling adventures of good old Hib to a close.  I invited him to share
+my carriage.  At first he refused to sit on the same cushion with such a
+godless foreigner, as I am, gave in, however, at last, had a good
+opportunity at the last station of showing the world how many clever
+processes of manipulation he had learnt from you and your father, in his
+treatment of Oropastes' wounded brother; he reached Babylon at last safe
+and sound, and there, as we could not get sight of you, owing to the
+melancholy poisoning of your country-woman, I succeeded in obtaining him
+a lodging in the royal palace itself.  The rest you knew already."
+
+Nebenchari bowed assent and gave Hib a sign to leave the room, which the
+old man obeyed, grumbling and scolding in a low tone as he departed.
+When the door had closed on him, Nebenchari, the man whose calling was to
+heal, drew nearer to the soldier Phanes, and said: "I am afraid we
+cannot be allies after all, Greek."
+
+"Why not?"
+
+"Because I fear, that your revenge will prove far too mild when compared
+with that which I feel bound to inflict."
+
+"On that head there is no need for solicitude," answered the Athenian.
+"May I call you my ally then?"
+
+"Yes," answered the other; "but only on one condition."
+
+"And that is--?"
+
+"That you will procure me an opportunity of seeing our vengeance with my
+own eyes."
+
+"That is as much as to say you are willing to accompany Cambyses' army to
+Egypt?"
+
+"Certainly I am; and when I see my enemies pining in disgrace and misery
+I will cry unto them, 'Ah ha, ye cowards, the poor despised and exiled
+physician, Nebenchari, has brought this wretchedness upon you!'  Oh, my
+books, my books!  They made up to me for my lost wife and child.
+Hundreds were to have learnt from them how to deliver the blind from the
+dark night in which he lives, and to preserve to the seeing the sweetest
+gift of the gods, the greatest beauty of the human countenance, the
+receptacle of light, the seeing eye.  Now that my books are burnt I have
+lived in vain; the wretches have burnt me in burning my works.  O my
+books, my books!"  And he sobbed aloud in his agony.  Phanes came up and
+took his band, saying: "The Egyptians have struck you, my friend, but me
+they have maltreated and abused--thieves have broken into your granaries,
+but my hearth and home have been burnt to ashes by incendiaries.  Do you
+know, man, what I have had to suffer at their hands?  In persecuting me,
+and driving me out of Egypt, they only did what they had a right to do;
+by their law I was a condemned man; and I could have forgiven all they
+did to me personally, for I loved Amasis, as a man loves his friend.  The
+wretch knew that, and yet he suffered them to commit a monstrous, an
+incredible act--an act that a man's brain refuses to take in.  They stole
+like wolves by night into a helpless woman's house--they seized my
+children, a girl and boy, the pride, the joy and comfort of my homeless,
+wandering life.  And how think you, did they treat them?  The girl they
+kept in confinement, on the pretext that by so doing they should prevent
+me from betraying Egypt to Cambyses.  But the boy--my beautiful, gentle
+boy--my only son--has been murdered by Psamtik's orders, and possibly
+with the knowledge of Amasis.  My heart was withered and shrunk with
+exile and sorrow, but I feel that it expands--it beats more joyfully now
+that there is a hope of vengeance."
+
+Nebenchari's sullen but burning glance met the flashing eye of the
+Athenian as he finished his tale; he gave him his hand and said: "We are
+allies."
+
+The Greek clasped the offered hand and answered: "Our first point now is
+to make sure of the king's favor."
+
+"I will restore Kassandane's sight."
+
+"Is that in your power?"
+
+"The operation which removed Amasis' blindness was my own discovery.
+Petammon stole it from my burnt papers."
+
+"Why did you not exert your skill earlier?"
+
+"Because I am not accustomed to bestow presents on my enemies."
+
+Phanes shuddered slightly at these words, recovered himself, however, in
+a moment, and said: "And I am certain of the king's favor too.  The
+Massagetan envoys have gone home to-day; peace has been granted them
+and..."
+
+While he was speaking the door was burst open and one of Kassandane's
+eunuchs rushed into the room crying: "The Princess Nitetis is dying!
+Follow me at once, there is not a moment to lose."
+
+The physician made a parting sign to his confederate, and followed the
+eunuch to the dying-bed of the royal bride.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Blessings go as quickly as they come
+Hast thou a wounded heart? touch it seldom
+Nothing is perfectly certain in this world
+Only two remedies for heart-sickness:--hope and patience
+Remember, a lie and your death are one and the same
+Scarcely be able to use so large a sum--Then abuse it
+Whatever a man would do himself, he thinks others are capable of
+When love has once taken firm hold of a man in riper years
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 8.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+The sun was already trying to break a path for his rays through the thick
+curtains, that closed the window of the sick-room, but Nebenchari had not
+moved from the Egyptian girl's bedside.  Sometimes he felt her pulse, or
+spread sweet-scented ointments on her forehead or chest, and then he
+would sit gazing dreamily into vacancy.  Nitetis seemed to have sunk into
+a deep sleep after an attack of convulsions.  At the foot of her bed
+stood six Persian doctors, murmuring incantations under the orders of
+Nebenchari, whose superior science they acknowledged, and who was seated
+at the bed's head.
+
+Every time he felt the sick girl's pulse he shrugged his shoulders, and
+the gesture was immediately imitated by his Persian colleagues.  From
+time to time the curtain was lifted and a lovely head appeared, whose
+questioning blue eyes fixed at once on the physician, but were always
+dismissed with the same melancholy shrug.  It was Atossa.  Twice she had
+ventured into the room, stepping so lightly as hardly to touch the thick
+carpet of Milesian wool, had stolen to her friend's bedside and lightly
+kissed her forehead, on which the pearly dew of death was standing, but
+each time a severe and reproving glance from Nebenchari had sent her back
+again into the next room, where her mother Kassandane was lying, awaiting
+the end.
+
+Cambyses had left the sick-room at sunrise, on seeing that Nitetis had
+fallen asleep; he flung himself on to his horse, and accompanied by
+Phanes, Prexaspes, Otanes, Darius, and a number of courtiers, only just
+aroused from their sleep, took a wild ride through the game-park.  He
+knew by experience, that he could best overcome or forget any violent
+mental emotion when mounted on an unmanageable horse.
+
+Nebenchari started on hearing the sound of horses' hoofs in the distance.
+In a waking dream he had seen Cambyses enter his native land at the head
+of immense hosts; he had seen its cities and temples on fire, and its
+gigantic pyramids crumbling to pieces under the powerful blows of his
+mighty hand.  Women and children lay in the smouldering ruins, and
+plaintive cries arose from the tombs in which the very mummies moved like
+living beings; and all these-priests, warriors, women, and children--the
+living and the dead--all had uttered his,--Nebenchari's,--name, and had
+cursed him as a traitor to his country.  A cold shiver struck to his
+heart; it beat more convulsively than the blood in the veins of the dying
+girl at his side.  Again the curtain was raised; Atossa stole in once
+more and laid her hand on his shoulder.  He started and awoke.
+Nebenchari had been sitting three days and nights with scarcely any
+intermission by this sick-bed, and such dreams were the natural
+consequence.
+
+Atossa slipped back to her mother.  Not a sound broke the sultry air of
+the sick-room, and Nebenchiari's thoughts reverted to his dream.  He told
+himself that he was on the point of becoming a traitor and a criminal,
+the visions he had just beheld passed before him again, but this time it
+was another, and a different one which gained the foremost place.  The
+forms of Amasis, who had laughed at and exiled him,--of Psamtik and the
+priests,--who had burnt his works,--stood near him; they were heavily
+fettered and besought mercy at his hands.  His lips moved, but this was
+not the place in which to utter the cruel words which rose to them.  And
+then the stern man wiped away a tear as he remembered the long nights, in
+which he had sat with the reed in his hand, by the dull light of the
+lamp, carefully painting every sign of the fine hieratic character in
+which he committed his ideas and experience to writing.  He had
+discovered remedies for many diseases of the eye, spoken of in the sacred
+books of Thoth and the writings of a famous old physician of Byblos as
+incurable, but, knowing that he should be accused of sacrilege by his
+colleagues, if he ventured on a correction or improvement of the sacred
+writings, he had entitled  his  work, "Additional  writings on the
+treatment of diseases of the eye, by the great god Thoth, newly
+discovered by the oculist Nebenchari."
+
+He had resolved on bequeathing his works to the library at Thebes, that
+his experience might be useful to his successors and bring forth fruit
+for the whole body of sufferers.  This was to be his reward for the long
+nights which he had sacrificed to science--recognition after death, and
+fame for the caste to which he belonged.  And there stood his old rival
+Petammon, by the side of the crown-prince in the grove of Neith, and
+stirred the consuming fire, after having stolen his discovery of the
+operation of couching.  Their malicious faces were tinged by the red glow
+of the flames, which rose with their spiteful laughter towards heaven, as
+if demanding vengeance.  A little further off he saw in his dream Amasis
+receiving his father's letters from the hands of the high-priest.
+Scornful and mocking words were being uttered by the king; Neithotep
+looked exultant.--In these visions Nebenchari was so lost, that one of
+the Persian doctors was obliged to point out to him that his patient was
+awake.  He nodded in reply, pointing to his own weary eyes with a smile,
+felt the sick girl's pulse, and asked her in Egyptian how she had slept.
+
+"I do not know," she answered, in a voice that was hardly audible.  "It
+seemed to me that I was asleep, and yet I saw and heard everything that
+had happened in the room.  I felt so weak that I hardly knew whether I
+was awake or asleep.  Has not Atossa been here several times?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And Cambyses stayed with Kassandane until sunrise; then he went out,
+mounted his horse Reksch, and rode into the game-park."
+
+"How do you know that?"
+
+"I saw it."
+
+Nebenchari looked anxiously into the girl's shining eyes.  She went on:
+"A great many dogs have been brought into the court behind this house."
+
+"Probably the king has ordered a hunt, in order to deaden the pain which
+he feels at seeing you suffer."
+
+"Oh, no.  I know better what it means.  Oropastes taught me, that
+whenever a Persian dies dogs' are brought in, that the Divs may enter
+into them."
+
+"But you are living, my mistress, and .  .  ."
+
+"Oh, I know very well that I shall die.  I knew that I had not many hours
+more to live, even if I had not seen how you and the other physicians
+shrugged your shoulders whenever you looked at me.  That poison is
+deadly."
+
+"You are speaking too much, my mistress, it will hurt you."
+
+"Oh let me speak, Nebenchari! I must ask you to do something for me
+before I die."
+
+"I am your servant."
+
+"No, Nebenchari, you must be my friend and priest.  You are not angry
+with me for having prayed to the Persian gods?  Our own Hathor was always
+my best friend still.  Yes, I see by your face that you forgiven me.
+Then you must promise not to allow my corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs
+and vultures.  The thought is so very dreadful.  You will promise to
+embalm my body and ornament it with amulets?"
+
+"If the king allows."
+
+"Of course he will.  How could Cambyses possibly refuse my last request?"
+
+"Then my skill is at your service."
+
+"Thank you; but I have still something else to ask."
+
+"You must be brief.  My Persian colleagues are already making signs to
+me, to enjoin silence on you."
+
+"Can't you send them away for a moment?"
+
+"I will try to do so."
+
+Nebenchari then went up and spoke to the Magi for a few minutes, and they
+left the room.  An important incantation, at which no one but the two
+concerned might be present, and the application of a new and secret
+antidotal poison were the pretexts which he had used in order to get rid
+of them.
+
+When they were alone, Nitetis drew a breath of relief and said: "Give me
+your priestly blessing on my long journey into the nether world, and
+prepare me for my pilgrimage to Osiris."
+
+Nebenchari knelt down by her bed and in a low voice repeated hymns,
+Nitetis making devotional responses.
+
+The physician represented Osiris, the lord of the nether world--Nitetis
+the soul, justifying itself before him.
+
+When these ceremonies were ended the sick girl breathed more freely.
+Nebenchari could not but feel moved in looking at this young suicide.  He
+felt confident that he had saved a soul for the gods of his native land,
+had cheered the last sad and painful hours of one of God's good
+creatures.  During these last moments, compassion and benevolence had
+excluded every bitter feeling; but when he remembered that this lovely
+creature owed all her misery to Amasis too, the old black cloud of
+thought darkened his mind again.--Nitetis, after lying silent for some
+time, turned to her new friend with a pleasant smile, and said: "I shall
+find mercy with the judges of the dead now, shall not I?"
+
+"I hope and believe so."
+
+"Perhaps I may find Tachot before the throne of Osiris, and my father..."
+
+"Your father and mother are waiting for you there.  Now in your last hour
+bless those who begot you, and curse those who have robbed you of your
+parents, your crown and your life."
+
+"I do not understand you."
+
+"Curse those who robbed you of your parents, crown and life, girl!"
+cried the physician again, rising to his full height, breathing hard as
+he said the words, and gazing down on the dying girl.  "Curse those
+wretches, girl! that curse will do more in gaining mercy from the judges
+of the dead, than thousands of good works!"  And as he said this he
+seized her hand and pressed it violently.
+
+Nitetis looked up uneasily into his indignant face, and stammered in
+blind obedience, 'I curse."
+
+"Those who robbed my parents of their throne and lives!"
+
+"Those who robbed my parents of their throne and their lives," she
+repeated after him, and then crying, "Oh, my heart!"  sank back exhausted
+on the bed.
+
+Nebenchari bent down, and before the royal physicians could return,
+kissed her forehead gently, murmuring: "She dies my confederate.  The
+gods hearken to the prayers of those who die innocent.  By carrying the
+sword into Egypt, I shall avenge king Hophra's wrongs as well as my own."
+
+When Nitetis opened her eyes once more, a few hours later, Kassandane was
+holding her right hand, Atossa kneeling at her feet, and Croesus standing
+at the head of her bed, trying, with the failing strength of old age, to
+support the gigantic frame of the king, who was so completely overpowered
+by his grief, that he staggered like a drunken man.  The dying girl's
+eyes lighted up as she looked round on this circle.  She was wonderfully
+beautiful.  Cambyses came closer and kissed her lips; they were growing
+cold in death.  It was the first kiss he had ever given her, and the
+last.  Two large tears sprang to her eyes; their light was fast growing
+dim; she murmured Cambyses' name softly, fell back in Atossa's arms, and
+died.
+
+We shall not give a detailed account of the next few hours: it would be
+an unpleasant task to describe how, at a signal from the principal
+Persian doctor, every one, except Nebenchari and Croesus, hastily left
+the room; how dogs were brought in and their sagacious heads turned
+towards the corpse in order to scare the demon of death;--how, directly
+after Nitetis' death, Kassandane, Atossa and their entire retinue moved
+into another house in order to avoid defilement;--how fire was
+extinguished throughout the dwelling, that the pure element might be
+removed from the polluting spirits of death;--how spells and exorcisms
+were muttered, and how every person and thing, which had approached or
+been brought into contact with the dead body, was subjected to numerous
+purifications with water and pungent fluids.
+
+The same evening Cambyses was seized by one of his old epileptic attacks.
+Two days later he gave Nebenchari permission to embalm Nitetis' body in
+the Egyptian manner, according to her last wish.  The king gave way to
+the most immoderate grief; he tore the flesh of his arms, rent his
+clothes and strewed ashes on his head, and on his couch.  All the
+magnates of his court were obliged to follow his example.  The troops
+mounted guard with rent banners and muffled drums.  The cymbals and
+kettle-drums of the "Immortals" were bound round with crape.  The horses
+which Nitetis had used, as well as all which were then in use by the
+court, were colored blue and deprived of their tails; the entire court
+appeared in mourning robes of dark brown, rent to the girdle, and the
+Magi were compelled to pray three days and nights unceasingly for the
+soul of the dead, which was supposed to be awaiting its sentence for
+eternity at the bridge Chinvat on the third night.
+
+Neither the king, Kassandane, nor Atossa shrank from submitting to the
+necessary purifications; they repeated, as if for one of their nearest
+relations, thirty prayers for the dead, while, in a house outside the
+city gates Nebenchari began to embalm her body in the most costly manner,
+and according to the strictest rules of his art.
+
+
+     [Embalming was practised in three different ways.  The first cost a
+     talent of silver (L225.); the second 20 Minae (L60.) and the third
+     was very inexpensive.  Herod. II.  86-88.  Diod.  I. 9.  The brain
+     was first drawn out through the nose and the skull filled with
+     spices.  The intestines were then taken out, and the body filled in
+     like manner with aromatic spices.  When all was finished, the corpse
+     was left 70 days in a solution of soda, and then wrapped in bandages
+     of byssus spread over with gum.  The microscopical examinations of
+     mummy-bandages made by Dr. Ure and Prof. Czermak have proved that
+     byssus is linen, not cotton.  The manner of embalming just described
+     is the most expensive, and the latest chemical researches prove that
+     the description given of it by the Greeks was tolerably correct.  L.
+     Penicher maintains that the bodies were first somewhat dried in
+     ovens, and that then resin of the cedar-tree, or asphalte, was
+     poured into every opening.  According to Herodotus, female corpses
+     were embalmed by women.  Herod. II. 89.  The subject is treated in
+     great detail by Pettigrew, History of Egyptian Mummies.  London.
+     1834.  Czermak's microscopical examinations of Egyptian mummies show
+     how marvellously the smallest portions of the bodies were preserved,
+     and confirm the statements of Herodotus on many points.  The
+     monuments also contain much information in regard to embalming, and
+     we now know the purpose of nearly all the amulets placed with the
+     dead.]
+
+For nine days Cambyses remained in a condition, which seemed little short
+of insanity.  At times furious, at others dull and stupefied, he did not
+even allow his relations or the high-priest to approach him.  On the
+morning of the tenth day he sent for the chief of the seven judges and
+commanded, that as lenient a sentence as possible should be pronounced on
+Gaumata.  Nitetis, on her dying-bed, had begged him to spare the life of
+this unhappy youth.
+
+One hour later the sentence was submitted to the king for ratification.
+It ran thus: "Victory to the king!  Inasmuch as Cambyses, the eye of the
+world and the sun of righteousness, hath, in his great mercy, which is as
+broad as the heavens and as inexhaustible as the great deep, commanded us
+to punish the crime of the son of the Magi, Gaumata, with the indulgence
+of a mother instead of with the severity of a judge, we, the seven judges
+of the realm, have determined to grant his forfeited life.  Inasmuch,
+however, as by the folly of this youth the lives of the noblest and best
+in this realm have been imperilled, and it may reasonably be apprehended
+that he may again abuse the marvellous likeness to Bartja, the noble son
+of Cyrus, in which the gods have been pleased in their mercy to fashion
+his form and face, and thereby bring prejudice upon the pure and
+righteous, we have determined to disfigure him in such wise, that in the
+time to come it will be a light matter to discern between this, the most
+worthless subject of the realm, and him who is most worthy.  We
+therefore, by the royal Will and command, pronounce sentence, that both
+the ears of Gaumata be cut off, for the honor of the righteous and shame
+of the impure."
+
+Cambyses confirmed this sentence at once, and it was executed the same
+day.
+
+     [With reference to Gaumata's punishment, the same which Herodotus
+     says was inflicted on the pretended Smerdis, we would observe that
+     even Persians of high rank were sometimes deprived of their ears.
+     In the Behistan inscription (Spiegel p. 15 and 21.) the ears, tongue
+     and nose of the man highest in rank among the rebels, were cut off.
+     Similar punishments are quoted by Brisson.]
+
+Oropastes did not dare to intercede for his brother, though this
+ignominious punishment mortified his ambitious mind more than even a
+sentence of death could have done.  As he was afraid that his own
+influence and consideration might suffer through this mutilated brother,
+he ordered him to leave Babylon at once for a country-house of his own on
+Mount Arakadris.
+
+During the few days which had just passed, a shabbily-dressed and
+closely-veiled woman had watched day and night at the great gate of the
+palace; neither the threats of the sentries nor the coarse jests of the
+palace-servants could drive her from her post.  She never allowed one of
+the less important officials to pass without eagerly questioning him,
+first as to the state of the Egyptian Princess, and then what had become
+of Gaumata.  When his sentence was told her as a good joke by a
+chattering lamp-lighter, she went off into the strangest excitement, and
+astonished the poor man so much by kissing his robe, that he thought she
+must be crazed, and gave her an alms.  She refused the money, but
+remained at her post, subsisting on the bread which was given her by the
+compassionate distributors of food.  Three days later Gaumata himself,
+with his head bound up, was driven out in a closed harmamaxa.  She rushed
+to the carriage and ran screaming by the side of it, until the driver
+stopped his mules and asked what she wanted.  She threw back her veil and
+showed the poor, suffering youth her pretty face covered with deep
+blushes.  Gaumata uttered a low cry as he recognized her, collected
+himself, however, in a moment, and said: "What do you want with me,
+Mandane?"
+
+The wretched girl raised her hands beseechingly to him, crying: "Oh, do
+not leave me, Gaumata!  Take me with you!  I forgive you all the misery
+you have brought on me and my poor mistress.  I love you so much, I will
+take care of you and nurse you as if I were the lowest servant-girl."
+
+A short struggle passed in Gaumata's mind.  He was just going to open the
+carriage-door and clasp Mandane-his earliest love-in his arms, when the
+sound of horses' hoofs coming nearer struck on his ear, and looking round
+he saw, a carriage full of Magi, among whom were several who had been his
+companions at the school for priests.  He felt ashamed and afraid of
+being seen by the very youths, whom he had often treated proudly and
+haughtily because he was the brother of the high-priest, threw Mandane a
+purse of gold, which his brother had given him at parting, and ordered
+the driver to go on as fast as possible.  The mules galloped off.
+Mandane kicked the purse away, rushed after the carriage and clung to it
+firmly.  One of the wheels caught her dress and dragged her down.  With
+the strength of despair she sprang up, ran after the mules, overtook them
+on a slight ascent which had lessened their speed, and seized the reins.
+The driver used his three-lashed whip, or scourge, the creatures reared,
+pulled the girl down and rushed on.  Her last cry of agony pierced the
+wounds of the mutilated man like a sharp lance-thrust.
+
+                    .....................
+
+On the twelfth day after Nitetis' death Cambyses went out hunting, in the
+hope that the danger and excitement of the sport might divert his mind.
+The magnates and men of high rank at his court received him with thunders
+of applause, for which he returned cordial thanks.  These few days of
+grief had worked a great change in a man so unaccustomed to suffering as
+Cambyses.  His face was pale, his raven-black hair and beard had grown
+grey, and the consciousness of victory which usually shone in his eyes
+was dimmed.  Had he not, only too painfully, experienced that there was a
+stronger will than his own, and that, easily as he could destroy, it did
+not he in his power to preserve the life of the meanest creature?  Before
+starting, Cambyses mustered his troop of sportsmen, and calling Gobryas,
+asked why Phanes was not there.
+
+"My King did not order .  .  ."
+
+"He is my guest and companion, once for all; call him and follow us."
+
+Gobryas bowed, dashed back to the palace, and in half an hour reappeared
+among the royal retinue with Phanes.
+
+The Athenian was warmly welcomed by many of the group, a fact which seems
+strange when we remember that courtiers are of all men the most prone to
+envy, and a royal favorite always the most likely object to excite their
+ill will.  But Phanes seemed a rare exception to this rule.  He had met
+the Achaemenidae in so frank and winning a manner, had excited so many
+hopes by the hints he had thrown out of an expected and important war,
+and had aroused so much merriment by well-told jests, such as the
+Persians had never heard before, that there were very few who did not
+welcome his appearance gladly, and when--in company with the king--he
+separated from the rest in chase of a wild ass, they openly confessed to
+one another, that they had never before seen so perfect a man.  The
+clever way in which he had brought the innocence of the accused to light,
+the finesse which he had shown in securing the king's favor, and the ease
+with which he had learnt the Persian language in so short a time, were
+all subjects of admiration.  Neither was there one even of the
+Achaemenidae themselves, who exceeded him in beauty of face or symmetry
+of figure.  In the chase he proved himself a perfect horseman, and in a
+conflict with a bear an exceptionally courageous and skilful sportsman.
+On the way home, as the courtiers were extolling all the wonderful
+qualities possessed by the king's favorite, old Araspes exclaimed,
+"I quite agree with you that this Greek, who by the way has proved
+himself a better soldier than anything else, is no common man, but I am
+sure you would not praise him half as much, if he were not a foreigner
+and a novelty."
+
+Phanes happened to be only separated from the speaker by some thick
+bushes, and heard these words.  When the other had finished, he went up
+and said, smiling: "I understood what you said and feel obliged to you
+for your kind opinion.  The last sentence, however, gave me even more
+pleasure than the first, because it confirmed my own idea that the
+Persians are the most generous people in the world--they praise the
+virtues of other nations as much, or even more, than their own."
+
+His hearers smiled, well pleased at this flattering remark, and Phanes
+went on: "How different the Jews are now, for instance!  They fancy
+themselves the exclusive favorites of the gods, and by so doing incur the
+contempt of all wise men, and the hatred of the whole world.  And then
+the Egyptians!  You have no idea of the perversity of that people.  Why,
+if the priests could have their way entirely, (and they have a great deal
+of power in their hands) not a foreigner would be left alive in Egypt,
+nor a single stranger allowed to enter the country.  A true Egyptian
+would rather starve, than eat out of the same dish with one of us.  There
+are more strange, astonishing and wonderful things to be seen in that
+country than anywhere else in the world.  And yet, to do it justice,
+I must say that Egypt has been well spoken of as the richest and most
+highly cultivated land under the sun.  The man who possesses that kingdom
+need not envy the very gods themselves.  It would be mere child's play to
+conquer that beautiful country.  Ten years there gave me a perfect
+insight into the condition of things, and I know that their entire
+military caste would not be sufficient to resist one such troop as your
+Immortals.  Well, who knows what the future may bring!  Perhaps we may
+all make a little trip together to the Nile some day.  In my opinion,
+your good swords have been rather long idle."  These well-calculated
+words were received with such shouts of applause, that the king turned
+his horse to enquire the cause.  Phanes answered quickly that the
+Achaemenidae were rejoicing in the thought that a war might possibly be
+near at hand.
+
+"What war?"  asked the king, with the first smile that had been seen on
+his face for many days.
+
+"We were only speaking in general of the possibility of such a thing,"
+answered Phanes carelessly; then, riding up to the king's side, his voice
+took an impressive tone full of feeling, and looking earnestly into his
+face, he began: "It is true, my Sovereign, that I was not born in this
+beautiful country as one of your subjects, nor can I boast of a long
+acquaintance with the most powerful of monarchs, but yet I cannot resist
+the presumptuous, perhaps criminal thought, that the gods at my birth
+appointed me to be your real friend.  It is not your rich gifts that have
+drawn me to you.  I did not need them, for I belong to the wealthier
+class of my countrymen, and I have no son,--no heir,--to whom I can
+bequeath my treasures.  Once I had a boy--a beautiful, gentle child;
+--but I was not going to speak of that,--I .  .  .  Are you offended at
+my freedom of speech, my Sovereign?"
+
+"What is there to offend me?"  answered the king, who had never been
+spoken to in this manner before, and felt strongly attracted to the
+original foreigner.
+
+"Till to-day I felt that your grief was too sacred to be disturbed, but
+now the time has come to rouse you from it and to make your heart glow
+once more.  You will have to hear what must be very painful to you."
+
+"There is nothing more now, that can grieve me."
+
+"What I am going to tell you will not give you pain; on the contrary, it
+will rouse your anger."
+
+"You make me curious."
+
+"You have been shamefully deceived; you and that lovely creature, who
+died such an early death a few days ago."
+
+Cambyses' eyes flashed a demand for further information.
+
+"Amasis, the King of Egypt, has dared to make sport of you, the lord of
+the world.  That gentle girl was not his daughter, though she herself
+believed that she was; she .  .  ."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"It would seem so, and yet I am speaking the simple truth.  Amasis spun a
+web of lies, in which he managed to entrap, not only the whole world, but
+you too, my Sovereign.  Nitetis, the most lovely creature ever born of
+woman, was the daughter of a king, but not of the usurper Amasis.
+Hophra, the rightful king of Egypt, was the father of this pearl among
+women.  You may well frown, my Sovereign.  It is a cruel thing to be
+betrayed by one's friends and allies."
+
+Cambyses spurred his horse, and after a silence of some moments, kept by
+Phanes purposely, that his words might make a deeper impression, cried,
+"Tell me more!  I wish to know everything."
+
+"Hophra had been living twenty years in easy captivity in Sais after his
+dethronement, when his wife, who had borne him three children and buried
+them all, felt that she was about to give birth to a fourth.  Hophra, in
+his joy, determined to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the temple of
+Pacht, the Egyptian goddess supposed to confer the blessing of children,
+when, on his way thither, a former magnate of his court, named
+Patarbemis, whom, in a fit of unjust anger, he had ignominiously
+mutilated, fell upon him with a troop of slaves and massacred him.
+Amasis had the unhappy widow brought to his palace at once, and assigned
+her an apartment next to the one occupied by his own queen Ladice, who
+was also expecting soon to give birth to a child.  A girl was born to
+Hophra's widow, but the mother died in the same hour, and two days later
+Ladice bore a child also.--But I see we are in the court of the palace.
+If you allow, I will have the report of the physician, by whom this
+imposture was effected, read before you.  Several of his notes have,
+by a remarkable conjuncture of circumstances, which I will explain to you
+later, fallen into my hands.  A former high-priest of Heliopolis,
+Onuphis, is now living in Babylon, and understands all the different
+styles of writing in use among his countrymen.  Nebenchari will, of
+course, refuse to help in disclosing an imposture, which must inevitably
+lead to the ruin of his country."
+
+"In an hour I expect to see you here with the man you have just spoken
+of.  Croesus, Nebenchari, and all the Achaemenidae who were in Egypt,
+will have to appear also.  I must have certainty before I can act, and
+your testimony alone is not sufficient, because I know from Amasis, that
+you have cause to feel a grudge against his house."
+
+At the time appointed all were assembled before the king in obedience to
+his command.
+
+Onuphis, the former high-priest, was an old man of eighty.  A pair of
+large, clear, intelligent, grey eyes looked out of a head so worn and
+wasted, as to be more like a mere skull than the head of a living man.
+He held a large papyrus-roll in his gaunt hand, and was seated in an easy
+chair, as his paralyzed limbs did not allow of his standing, even in the
+king's presence.  His dress was snow-white, as beseemed a priest, but
+there were patches and rents to be seen here and there.  His figure might
+perhaps once have been tall and slender, but it was now so bent and
+shrunk by age, privation and suffering, as to look unnatural and
+dwarfish, in comparison with the size of his head.
+
+Nebenchari, who revered Onuphis, not only as a high-priest deeply
+initiated in the most solemn mysteries, but also on account of his great
+age, stood by his side and arranged his cushions.  At his left stood
+Phanes, and then Croesus, Darius and Prexaspes.
+
+The king sat upon his throne.  His face was dark and stern as he broke
+the silence with the following words:--"This noble Greek, who, I am
+inclined to believe, is my friend, has brought me strange tidings.  He
+says that I have been basely deceived by Amasis, that my deceased wife
+was not his, but his predecessor's daughter."
+
+A murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly.  "This old man is here
+to prove the imposture."  Onuphis gave a sign of assent.
+
+"Prexaspes, my first question is to you.  When Nitetis was entrusted to
+your care, was it expressly said that she was the daughter of Amasis?"
+
+"Expressly.  Nebenchari had, it is true, praised Tachot to the noble
+Kassandane as the most beautiful of the twin sisters; but Amasis insisted
+on sending Nitetis to Persia.  I imagined that, by confiding his most
+precious jewel to your care, he meant to put you under a special
+obligation; and as it seemed to me that Nitetis surpassed her sister, not
+only in beauty but in dignity of character, I ceased to sue for the hand
+of Tachot.  In his letter to you too, as you will remember, he spoke of
+confiding to you his most beautiful, his dearest child."
+
+"Those were his words."
+
+"And Nitetis was, without question, the more beautiful and the nobler of
+the two sisters," said Croesus in confirmation of the envoy's remark.
+"But it certainly did strike me that Tachot was her royal parents'
+favorite."
+
+"Yes," said Darius, "without doubt.  Once, at a revel, Amasis joked
+Bartja in these words: "Don't look too deep into Tachot's eyes, for if
+you were a god, I could not allow you to take her to Persia!  Psamtik
+was evidently annoyed at this remark and said to the king, 'Father,
+remember Phanes.'"
+
+"Phanes!"
+
+"Yes, my Sovereign," answered the Athenian.  "Once, when he was
+intoxicated, Amasis let out his secret to me, and Psamtik was warning him
+not to forget himself a second time."
+
+"Tell the story as it occurred."
+
+"On my return from Cyprus to Sais as a conqueror, a great entertainment
+was given at court.  Amasis distinguished me in every way, as having won
+a rich province for him, and even, to the dismay of his own countrymen,
+embraced me.  His affection increased with his intoxication, and at last,
+as Psamtik and I were leading him to his private apartments, he stopped
+at the door of his daughter's room, and said: 'The girls sleep there.  If
+you will put away your own wife, Athenian, I will give you Nitetis.  I
+should like to have you for a son-in-law.  There's a secret about that
+girl, Phanes; she's not my own child.'  Before his drunken father could
+say more, Psamtik laid his hand before his mouth, and sent me roughly
+away to my lodging, where I thought the matter over and conjectured what
+I now, from reliable sources, know to be the truth.  I entreat you,
+command this old man to translate those parts of the physician
+Sonnophre's journal, which allude to this story."
+
+Cambyses nodded his consent, and the old man began to read in a voice far
+louder than any one could have supposed possible from his infirm
+appearance "On the fifth day of the month Thoth, I was sent for by the
+king.  I had expected this, as the queen was near her confinement.  With
+my assistance she was easily and safely delivered of a child--a weakly
+girl.  As soon as the nurse had taken charge of this child, Amasis led me
+behind a curtain which ran across his wife's sleeping-apartment.  There
+lay another infant, which I recognized as the child of Hophra's widow,
+who herself had died under my hands on the third day of the same month.
+The king then said, pointing to this strong child, 'This little creature
+has no parents, but, as it is written in the law that we are to show
+mercy to the desolate orphans, Ladice and I have determined to bring her
+up as our own daughter.  We do not, however, wish that this deed should
+be made known, either to the world or to the child herself, and I ask you
+to keep the secret and spread a report that Ladice has given birth to
+twins.  If you accomplish this according to our wish, you shall receive
+to-day five thousand rings of gold, and the fifth part of this sum
+yearly, during your life.  I made my obeisance in silence, ordered every
+one to leave the sick room, and, when I again called them in, announced
+that Ladice had given birth to a second girl.  Amasis' real child
+received the name of Tachot, the spurious one was called Nitetis."
+
+At these words Cambyses rose from his seat, and strode through the hall;
+but Onuphis continued, without allowing himself to be disturbed: "Sixth
+day of the month Thoth.  This morning I had just lain down to rest after
+the fatigues of the night, when a servant appeared with the promised gold
+and a letter from the king, asking me to procure a dead child, to be
+buried with great ceremony as the deceased daughter of King Hophra.
+After a great deal of trouble I succeeded, an hour ago, in obtaining one
+from a poor girl who had given birth to a child secretly in the house of
+the old woman, who lives at the entrance to the City of the Dead.  The
+little one had caused her shame and sorrow enough, but she would not be
+persuaded to give up the body of her darling, until I promised that it
+should be embalmed and buried in the most splendid manner.  We put the
+little corpse into my large medicine-chest, my son Nebenchari carried it
+this time instead of my servant Hib, and so it was introduced into the
+room where Hophra's widow had died.  The poor girl's baby will receive a
+magnificent funeral.  I wish I might venture to tell her, what a glorious
+lot awaits her darling after death.  Nebenchari has just been sent for by
+the king."
+
+At the second mention of this name, Cambyses stopped in his walk, and
+said: "Is our oculist Nebenchari the man whose name is mentioned in this
+manuscript?"
+
+"Nebenchari," returned Phanes, "is the son of this very Sonnophre who
+changed the children."
+
+The physician did not raise his eyes; his face was gloomy and sullen.
+
+Cambyses took the roll of papyrus out of Onuphis' band, looked at the
+characters with which it was covered, shook his head, went up to
+Nebenchari and said:
+
+"Look at these characters and tell me if it is your father's writing."
+
+Nebenchari fell on his knees and raised his hands.
+
+"I ask, did your father paint these signs?"
+
+"I do not know-whether .  .  .  Indeed .  .  ."
+
+"I will know the truth.  Yes or no?"
+
+"Yes, my King; but .  .  ."
+
+"Rise, and be assured of my favor.  Faithfulness to his ruler is the
+ornament of a subject; but do not forget that I am your king now.
+Kassandane tells me, that you are going to undertake a delicate operation
+to-morrow in order to restore her sight.  Are you not venturing too
+much?"
+
+"I can depend on my own skill, my Sovereign."
+
+"One more question.  Did you know of this fraud?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you allowed me to remain in error?"
+
+"I had been compelled to swear secrecy and an oath .  .  ."
+
+"An oath is sacred.  Gobryas, see that both these Egyptians receive a
+portion from my table.  Old man, you seem to require better food."
+
+"I need nothing beyond air to breathe, a morsel of bread and a draught of
+water to preserve me from dying of hunger and thirst, a clean robe, that
+I may be pleasing in the eyes of the gods and in my own, and a small
+chamber for myself, that I may be a hindrance to no man.  I have never
+been richer than to-day."
+
+"How so?"
+
+"I am about to give away a kingdom."
+
+"You speak in enigmas."
+
+"By my translation of to-day I have proved, that your deceased consort
+was the child of Hophra.  Now, our law allows the daughter of a king to
+succeed to the throne, when there is neither son nor brother living; if
+she should die childless, her husband becomes her legitimate successor.
+Amasis is a usurper, but the throne of Egypt is the lawful birthright of
+Hophra and his descendants.  Psamtik forfeits every right to the crown
+the moment that a brother, son, daughter or son-in-law of Hophra appears.
+I can, therefore, salute my present sovereign as the future monarch of my
+own beautiful native land."
+
+Cambyses smiled self-complacently, and Onuphis went on: "I have read in
+the stars too, that Psamtik's ruin and your own accession to the throne
+of Egypt have been fore-ordained."
+
+"We'll show that the stars were right," cried the king, "and as for you,
+you liberal old fellow, I command you to ask me any wish you like."
+
+"Give me a conveyance, and let me follow your army to Egypt.  I long to
+close my eyes on the Nile."
+
+"Your wish is granted.  Now, my friends, leave me, and see that all those
+who usually eat at my table are present at this evening's revel.  We will
+hold a council of war over the luscious wine.  Methinks a campaign in
+Egypt will pay better than a contest with the Massagetae."
+
+He was answered by a joyful shout of "Victory to the king!"  They all
+then left the hall, and Cambyses, summoning his dressers, proceeded for
+the first time to exchange his mourning garments for the splendid royal
+robes.
+
+Croesus and Phanes went into the green and pleasant garden lying on the
+eastern side of the royal palace, which abounded in groves of trees,
+shrubberies, fountains and flower-beds.  Phanes was radiant with delight;
+Croesus full of care and thought.
+
+"Have you duly reflected," said the latter, "on the burning brand that
+you have just flung out into the world?"
+
+"It is only children and fools that act without reflection," was the
+answer.
+
+"You forget those who are deluded by passion."
+
+"I do not belong to that number."
+
+"And yet revenge is the most fearful of all the passions."
+
+"Only when it is practised in the heat of feeling.  My revenge is as cool
+as this piece of iron; but I know my duty."
+
+"The highest duty of a good man, is to subordinate his own welfare to
+that of his country."
+
+"That I know."
+
+"You seem to forget, however, that with Egypt you are delivering your own
+country over to the Persians."
+
+"I do not agree with you there."
+
+"Do you believe, that when all the rest of the Mediterranean coasts
+belong to Persia, she will leave your beautiful Greece untouched?"
+
+"Certainly not, but I know my own countrymen; I believe them fully
+capable of a victorious resistance to the hosts of the barbarians, and am
+confident that their courage and greatness will rise with the nearness of
+the danger.  It will unite our divided tribes into one great nation, and
+be the ruin of the tyrants."
+
+"I cannot argue with you, for I am no longer acquainted with the state of
+things in your native country, and besides, I believe you to be a wise
+man--not one who would plunge a nation into ruin merely for the
+gratification of his own ambition.  It is a fearful thing that entire
+nations should have to suffer for the guilt of one man, if that man be
+one who wears a crown.  And now, if my opinion is of any importance to
+you, tell me what the deed was which has roused your desire of
+vengeance."
+
+"Listen then, and never try again to turn me from my purpose.  You know
+the heir to the Egyptian throne, and you know Rhodopis too.  The former
+was, for many reasons, my mortal enemy, the latter the friend of every
+Greek, but mine especially.  When I was obliged to leave Egypt, Psamtik
+threatened me with his vengeance; your son Gyges saved my life.  A few
+weeks later my two children came to Naukratis, in order to follow me out
+to Sigeum.  Rhodopis took them kindly under her protection, but some
+wretch had discovered the secret and betrayed it to the prince.  The very
+next night her house was surrounded and searched,--my children found and
+taken captive.  Amasis had meanwhile become blind, and allowed his
+miserable son to do what he liked; the wretch dared to .  .  ."
+
+"Kill your only son?"
+
+"You have said it."
+
+"And your other child?"
+
+"The girl is still in their hands."
+
+"They will do her an injury when they hear .  .  ."
+
+"Let her die.  Better go to one's grave childless, than unrevenged."
+
+"I understand.  I cannot blame you any longer.  The boy's blood must be
+revenged."
+
+And so saying, the old man pressed the Athenian's right hand.  The latter
+dried his tears, mastered his emotion, and cried: "Let us go to the
+council of war now.  No one can be so thankful for Psamtik's infamous
+deeds as Cambyses.  That man with his hasty passions was never made to be
+a prince of peace."
+
+"And yet it seems to me the highest duty of a king is to work for the
+inner welfare of his kingdom.  But human beings are strange creatures;
+they praise their butchers more than their benefactors.  How many poems
+have been written on Achilles!  but did any one ever dream of writing
+songs on the wise government of Pittakus?"
+
+"More courage is required to shed blood, than to plant trees."
+
+"But much more kindness and wisdom to heal wounds, than to make them.--
+I have still one question which I should very much like to ask you,
+before we go into the hall.  Will Bartja be able to stay at Naukratis
+when Amasis is aware of the king's intentions?"
+
+"Certainly not.  I have prepared him for this, and advised his assuming a
+disguise and a false name."
+
+"Did he agree?"
+
+"He seemed willing to follow my advice."
+
+"But at all events it would be well to send a messenger to put him on his
+guard."
+
+"We will ask the king's permission."
+
+"Now we must go.  I see the wagons containing the viands of the royal
+household just driving away from the kitchen."
+
+"How many people are maintained from the king's table daily?"
+
+"About fifteen thousand."
+
+"Then the Persians may thank the gods, that their king only takes one meal
+a day."
+
+     [This immense royal household is said to have cost 400 talents, that
+     is (L90,000.) daily.  Athenaus, Deipn.  p. 607.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+Six weeks after these events a little troop of horsemen might have been
+seen riding towards the gates of Sardis.  The horses and their riders
+were covered with sweat and dust.  The former knew that they were drawing
+near a town, where there would be stables and mangers, and exerted all
+their remaining powers; but yet their pace did not seem nearly fast
+enough to satisfy the impatience of two men, dressed in Persian costume,
+who rode at the head of the troop.
+
+The well-kept royal road ran through fields of good black, arable land,
+planted with trees of many different kinds.  It crossed the outlying
+spurs of the Tmolus range of mountains.  At their foot stretched rows of
+olive, citron and plane-trees, plantations of mulberries and vines; at a
+higher level grew firs, cypresses and nut-tree copses.  Fig-trees and
+date-palms, covered with fruit, stood sprinkled over the fields; and the
+woods and meadows were carpeted with brightly-colored and sweetly-scented
+flowers.  The road led over ravines and brooks, now half dried up by the
+heat of summer, and here and there the traveller came upon a well at the
+side of the road, carefully enclosed, with seats for the weary,
+and sheltering shrubs.  Oleanders bloomed in the more damp and shady
+places; slender palms waved wherever the sun was hottest.  Over this rich
+landscape hung a deep blue, perfectly cloudless sky, bounded on its
+southern horizon by the snowy peaks of the Tmolus mountains, and on the
+west by the Sipylus range of hills, which gave a bluish shimmer in the
+distance.
+
+The road went down into the valley, passing through a little wood of
+birches, the stems of which, up to the very tree-top, were twined with
+vines covered with bunches of grapes.
+
+The horsemen stopped at a bend in the road, for there, before them, in
+the celebrated valley of the Hermus, lay the golden Sardis, formerly the
+capital of the Lydian kingdom and residence of its king, Croesus.
+
+Above the reed-thatched roofs of its numerous houses rose a black, steep
+rock; the white marble buildings on its summit could be seen from a great
+distance.  These buildings formed the citadel, round the threefold walls
+of which, many centuries before, King Meles had carried a lion in order
+to render them impregnable.  On its southern side the citadel-rock was
+not so steep, and houses had been built upon it.  Croesus' former palace
+lay to the north, on the golden-sanded Pactolus.  This reddish-colored
+river flowed above the market-place, (which, to our admiring travellers,
+looked like a barren spot in the midst of a blooming meadow), ran on in a
+westerly direction, and then entered a narrow mountain valley, where it
+washed the walls of the temple of Cybele.
+
+Large gardens stretched away towards the east, and in the midst of them
+lay the lake Gygaeus, covered with gay boats and snowy swans, and
+sparkling like a mirror.
+
+A short distance from the lake were a great number of artificial mounds,
+three of which were especially noticeable from their size and height.
+
+     [See also Hamilton's Asia Minor, I.  P. 145. Herodotus (I. 93.)
+     calls the tombs of the Lydian kings the largest works of human
+     hands, next to the Egyptian and Babylonian.  These cone-shaped hills
+     can be seen to this day, standing near the ruins of Sardis, not far
+     from the lake of Gygaea.  Hamilton (Asia Minor, I.  p. i) counted
+     some sixty of them, and could not ride round the hill of Alayattes
+     in less than ten minutes.  Prokesch saw l00 such tumuli. The
+     largest, tomb of Alyattes, still measures 3400 feet in
+     circumference, and the length of its slope is 650 feet.  According
+     to Prokesch, gigantic Phallus columns lie on some of these graves.]
+
+"What can those strange-looking earth-heaps mean?"  said Darius, the
+leader of the troop, to Prexaspes, Cambyses' envoy, who rode at his side.
+
+"They are the graves of former Lydian kings," was the answer.  "The
+middle one is in memory of the princely pair Panthea and Abradatas, and
+the largest, that one to the left, was erected to the father of Croesus,
+Alyattes.  It was raised by the tradesmen, mechanics, and girls, to their
+late king, and on the five columns, which stand on its summit, you can
+read how much each of these classes contributed to the work.  The girls
+were the most industrious.  Gyges' grandfather is said to have been their
+especial friend."
+
+"Then the grandson must have degenerated very much from the old stock."
+
+"Yes, and that seems the more remarkable, because Croesus himself in his
+youth was by no means averse to women, and the Lydians generally are
+devoted to such pleasures.  You see the white walls of that temple yonder
+in the midst of its sacred grove.  That is the temple of the goddess of
+Sardis, Cybele or Ma, as they call her.  In that grove there is many a
+sheltered spot where the young people of Sardis meet, as they say, in
+honor of their goddess."
+
+"Just as in Babylon, at the festival of Mylitta."
+
+"There is the same custom too on the coast of Cyprus.  When I landed
+there on the way back from Egypt, I was met by a troop of lovely girls,
+who, with songs, dances, and the clang of cymbals, conducted me to the
+sacred grove of their goddess."
+
+"Well, Zopyrus will not grumble at Bartja's illness."
+
+"He will spend more of his time in the grove of Cybele, than at his
+patient's bedside.  How glad I shall be to see that jolly fellow again!"
+
+"Yes, he'll keep you from falling into those melancholy fits that you
+have been so subject to lately."  "You are quite right to blame me for
+those fits, and I must not yield to them, but they are not without
+ground.  Croesus says we only get low-spirited, when we are either too
+lazy or too weak to struggle against annoyances, and I believe he is
+right.  But no one shall dare to accuse Darius of weakness or idleness.
+If I can't rule the world, at least I will be my own master."  And as he
+said these words, the handsome youth drew himself up, and sat erect in
+his saddle.  His companion gazed in wonder at him.
+
+"Really, you son of Hystaspes," he said, "I believe you must be meant for
+something great.  It was not by chance that, when you were still a mere
+child, the gods sent their favorite Cyrus that dream which induced him to
+order you into safe keeping."
+
+"And yet my wings have never appeared."
+
+"No bodily ones, certainly; but mental ones, likely enough.  Young man,
+young man, you're on a dangerous road."
+
+"Have winged creatures any need to be afraid of precipices?"
+
+"Certainly; when their strength fails them."
+
+"But I am strong."
+
+"Stronger creatures than you will try to break your pinions."
+
+"Let them.  I want nothing but what is right, and shall trust to my
+star."
+
+"Do you know its name?"
+
+"It ruled in the hour of my birth, and its name is Anahita."
+
+"I think I know better.  A burning ambition is the sun, whose rays guide
+all your actions.  Take care; I tried that way myself once; it leads to
+fame or to disgrace, but very seldom to happiness.  Fame to the ambitious
+is like salt water to the thirsty; the more he gets, the more he wants.
+I was once only a poor soldier, and am now Cambyses' ambassador.  But
+you, what can you have to strive for?  There is no man in the kingdom
+greater than yourself, after the sons of Cyrus .  .  .  Do my eyes
+deceive me?  Surely those two men riding to meet us with a troop of
+horsemen must be Gyges and Zopyrus.  The Angare, who left the inn before
+us, must have told them of our coming."
+
+"To be sure.  Look at that fellow Zopyrus, how he's waving and beckoning
+with that palm-leaf."
+
+"Here, you fellows, cut us a few twigs from those bushes-quick.  We'll
+answer his green palm-leaf with a purple pomegranate-branch."
+
+In a few minutes the friends had embraced one another, and the two bands
+were riding together into the populous town, through the gardens
+surrounding the lake Gygaeus, the Sardians' place of recreation.  It was
+now near sunset, a cooler breeze was beginning to blow, and the citizens
+were pouring through the gates to enjoy themselves in the open air.
+Lydian and Persian warriors, the former wearing richly-ornamented
+helmets, the latter tiaras in the form of a cylinder, were following
+girls who were painted and wreathed.  Children were being led to the lake
+by their nurses, to see the swans fed.  An old blind man was seated under
+a plane-tree, singing sad ditties to a listening crowd and accompanying
+them on the Magadis, the twenty-stringed Lydian lute.  Youths were
+enjoying themselves at games of ball, ninepins, and dice, and half-grown
+girls screaming with fright, when the ball hit one of their group or
+nearly fell into the water.
+
+The travellers scarcely noticed this gay scene, though at another time it
+would have delighted them.  They were too much interested in enquiring
+particulars of Bartja's illness and recovery.
+
+At the brazen gates of the palace which had formerly belonged to Croesus,
+they were met by Oroetes, the satrap of Sardis, in a magnificent court-
+dress overloaded with ornaments.  He was a stately man, whose small
+penetrating black eyes looked sharply out from beneath a bushy mass of
+eyebrow.  His satrapy was one of the most important and profitable in the
+entire kingdom, and his household could bear a comparison with that of
+Cambyses in richness and splendor.  Though he possessed fewer wives and
+attendants than the king, it was no inconsiderable troop of guards,
+slaves, eunuchs and gorgeously-dressed officials, which appeared at the
+palace-gates to receive the travellers.
+
+The vice-regal palace, which was still kept up with great magnificence,
+had been, in the days when Croesus occupied it, the most splendid of
+royal residences; after the taking of Sardis, however, the greater part
+of the dethroned king's treasures and works of art had been sent to
+Cyrus's treasure-house in Pasargadae.  When that time of terror had
+passed, the Lydians brought many a hidden treasure into the light of day
+once more, and, by their industry and skill in art during the peaceful
+years which they enjoyed under Cyrus and Cambyses, recovered their old
+position so far, that Sardis was again looked upon as one of the
+wealthiest cities of Asia Minor, and therefore, of the world.
+
+Accustomed as Darius and Prexaspes were to royal splendor, they were
+still astonished at the beauty and brilliancy of the satrap's palace.
+The marble work, especially, made a great impression on them, as nothing
+of the kind was to be found in Babylon, Susa or Ecbatane, where burnt
+brick and cedar-wood supply the place of the polished marble.
+
+     [The palace of Persepolis did not exist at the date of our story.
+     It was built partly of black stone from Mount Rachmed, and partly of
+     white marble; it was probably begun by Darius.  The palace of Susa
+     was built of brick, (Strabo p. 728) that of Ecbatana of wood
+     overlaid with plates of gold of immense value, and roofed with tiles
+     made of the precious metals.]
+
+They found Bartja lying on a couch in the great hall; he looked very
+pale, and stretched out his arms towards them.
+
+The friends supped together at the satrap's table and then retired to
+Bartja's private room, in order to enjoy an undisturbed conversation.
+
+"Well, Bartja, how did you come by this dangerous illness?"  was Darius'
+first question after they were seated.
+
+"I was thoroughly well, as you know," said Bartja, "when we left Babylon,
+and we reached Germa, a little town on the Sangarius, without the
+slightest hindrance.  The ride was long and we were very tired, burnt too
+by the scorching May sun, and covered with dust; the river flows by the
+station, and its waves looked so clear and bright--so inviting for a
+bathe--that in a minute Zopyrus and I were off our horses, undressed, and
+in the water.  Gyges told us we were very imprudent, but we felt
+confident that we were too much inured to such things to get any harm,
+and very much enjoyed our swim in the cool, green water.  Gyges,
+perfectly calm as usual, let us have our own way, waited till our bath
+was over, and then plunged in himself.
+
+"In two hours we were in our saddles again, pushing on as if for our very
+lives, changing horses at every station, and turning night into day.
+
+"We were near Ipsus, when I began to feel violent pains in the head and
+limbs.  I was ashamed to say anything about it and kept upright on my
+saddle, until we had to take fresh horses at Bagis.  Just as I was in the
+very act of mounting, I lost my senses and strength, and fell down on the
+ground in a dead faint."
+
+"Yes, a pretty fright you gave us,"  interrupted Zopyrus, "by dropping
+down in that fashion.  It was fortunate that Gyges was there, for I lost
+my wits entirely; he, of course, kept his presence of mind, and after
+relieving his feelings in words not exactly flattering to us two, he
+behaved like a circumspect general.--A fool of a doctor came running up
+and protested that it was all over with poor Bart, for which I gave him a
+good thrashing."
+
+"Which he didn't particularly object to," said the satrap, laughing,
+"seeing that you told them to lay a gold stater on every stripe."
+
+"Yes, yes, my pugnacity costs me very dear sometimes.  But to our story.
+As soon as Bartja had opened his eyes, Gyges sent me off to Sardis to
+fetch a good physician and an easy travelling-carriage.  That ride won't
+so soon be imitated.  An hour before I reached the gates my third horse
+knocked up under me, so I had to trust to my own legs, and began running
+as fast as I could.  The people must all have thought me mad.  At last I
+saw a man on horseback--a merchant from Kelaenze--dragged him from his
+horse, jumped into the saddle, and, before the next morning dawned, I was
+back again with our invalid, bringing the best physician in Sardis, and
+Oroetes' most commodious travelling-carriage.  We brought him to this
+house at a slow footpace, and here a violent fever came on, he became
+delirious, talked all the nonsense that could possibly come into a human
+brain, and made us so awfully anxious, that the mere remembrance of that
+time brings the big drops of perspiration to my forehead."
+
+Bartja took his friend's hand: "I owe my life to him and Gyges," said he,
+turning to Darius.  "Till to-day, when they set out to meet you, they
+have never left me for a minute; a mother could not have nursed her sick
+child more carefully.  And Oroetes, I am much obliged to you too; doubly
+so because your kindness subjected you to annoyance."
+
+"How could that be?"  asked Darius.
+
+"That Polykrates of Samos, whose name we heard so often in Egypt, has the
+best physician that Greece has ever produced.  While I was lying here
+ill, Oroetes wrote to this Democedes, making him immense promises, if he
+would only come to Sardis directly.  The Sainian pirates, who infest the
+whole Ionian coast, took the messenger captive and brought Oroetes'
+letter to their master Polykrates.  He opened it, and sent the messenger
+back with the answer, that Democedes was in his pay, and that if Oroetes
+needed his advice he must apply to Polykrates himself.  Our generous
+friend submitted for my sake, and asked the Samian to send his physician
+to Sardis."
+
+"Well," said Prexaspes, "and what followed?"  The proud island-prince
+sent him at once.  He cured me, as you see, and left us a few days ago
+loaded with presents."
+
+"Well," interrupted Zopyrus, "I can quite understand, that Polykrates
+likes to keep his physician near him.  I assure you, Darius, it would not
+be easy to find his equal.  He's as handsome as Minutscher, as clever as
+Piran Wisa, as strong as Rustem, and as benevolent and helpful as the god
+Soma. I wish you could have seen how well he threw those round metal
+plates he calls discs.  I am no weakling, but when we wrestled he soon
+threw me.  And then he could tell such famous stories--stories that made
+a man's heart dance within him."
+
+     [This very Oroetes afterwards succeeded in enticing Polykrates to
+     Sardis and there crucified him.  Herod. III. 120-125.  Valerius
+     Maximus VI.  9. 5.]
+
+"We know just such a fellow too," said Darius, smiling at his friend's
+enthusiasm.  "That Athenian Phanes, who came to prove our innocence."
+
+"The physician Democedes is from Crotona, a place which must he somewhere
+very near the setting sun."
+
+"But is inhabited by Greeks, like Athens."  added Oroetes.  "Ah, my young
+friends, you must beware of those fellows; they're as cunning, deceitful,
+and selfish, as they are strong, clever, and handsome."
+
+"Democedes is generous and sincere," cried Zopyrus.
+
+"And Croesus himself thinks Phanes not only an able, but a virtuous man,"
+added Darius.
+
+"Sappho too has always, and only spoken well of the Athenian," said
+Bartja, in confirmation of Darius's remark.  "But don't let us talk any
+more about these Greeks," he went on.  "They give Oroetes so much trouble
+by their refractory and stubborn conduct, that he is not very fond of
+them."
+
+"The gods know that," sighed the satrap.  "It's more difficult to keep
+one Greek town in order, than all the countries between the Euphrates and
+the Tigris."
+
+While Oroetes was speaking, Zopyrus had gone to the window.  "The stars
+are already high in the heavens," he said, "and Bartja is tired; so make
+haste, Darius, and tell us something about home."
+
+The son of Hystaspes agreed at once, and began by relating the events
+which we have heard already.  Bartja, especially, was distressed at
+hearing of Nitetis' sad end, and the discovery of Amasis' fraud filled
+them all with astonishment.  After a short pause, Darius went on:
+
+"When once Nitetis' descent had been fully proved, Cambyses was like a
+changed man.  He called a council of war, and appeared at table in the
+royal robes instead of his mourning garments.  You can fancy what
+universal joy the idea of a war with Egypt excited.  Even Croesus, who
+you know is one of Amasis' well-wishers, and advises peace whenever it is
+possible, had not a word to say against it.  The next morning, as usual,
+what had been resolved on in intoxication was reconsidered by sober
+heads; after several opinions had been given, Phanes asked permission to
+speak, and spoke I should think for an hour.  But how well!  It was as if
+every word he said came direct from the gods.  He has learnt our language
+in a wonderfully short time, but it flowed from his lips like honey.
+Sometimes he drew tears from every eye, at others excited stormy shouts
+of joy, and then wild bursts of rage.  His gestures were as graceful as
+those of a dancing-girl, but at the same time manly and dignified.  I
+can't repeat his speech; my poor words, by the side of his, would sound
+like the rattle of a drum after a peal of thunder.  But when at last,
+inspired and carried away by his eloquence, we had unanimously decided on
+war, he began to speak once more on the best ways and means of
+prosecuting it successfully."
+
+Here Darius was obliged to stop, as Zopyrus had fallen on his neck in an
+ecstasy of delight.  Bartja, Gyges and Oroetes were not less delighted,
+and they all begged him to go on with his tale.
+
+"Our army," began Darius afresh, "ought to be at the boundaries of Egypt
+by the month Farwardin, (March) as the inundation of the Nile, which
+would hinder the march of our infantry, begins in Murdad (July).  Phanes
+is now on his way to the Arabians to secure their assistance; in hopes
+that these sons of the desert may furnish our army with water and guides
+through their dry and thirsty land.  He will also endeavor to win the
+rich island of Cyprus, which he once conquered for Amasis, over to our
+side.  As it was through his mediation that the kings of the island were
+allowed to retain their crowns, they will be willing to listen to his
+advice.  In short the Athenian leaves nothing uncared for, and knows
+every road and path as if he were the sun himself  He showed us a picture
+of the world on a plate of copper."
+
+Oroetes nodded and said, "I have such a picture of the world too.  A
+Milesian named Hekataeus, who spends his life in travelling, drew it, and
+gave it me in exchange for a free-pass."
+
+     [Hekataeus of Miletus maybe called "the father of geography," as
+     Herodotus was "the father of history."  He improved the map made by
+     Anaximander, and his great work, "the journey round the world," was
+     much prized by the ancients; but unfortunately, with the exception
+     of some very small fragments, has now perished.  Herodotus assures
+     us, (V.  36.) that Hekataeus was intimately acquainted with every
+     part of the Persian empire, and had also travelled over Egypt.  he
+     lived at the date of our narrative, having been born at Miletus 550
+     B. C.  He lived to see the fall of his native city in 4966 B. C.
+     His map has been restored by Klausen and can be seen also in Mure's
+     Lan. and Lit. of Ancient Greece.  Vol. IV.  Maps existed, however,
+     much earlier, the earliest known being one of the gold-mines, drawn
+     very cleverly by an Egyptian priest, and so well sketched as to give
+     a pretty clear idea of the part of the country intended.  It is
+     preserved in the Egyptian Museum at Turin.]
+
+"What notions these Greeks have in their heads!"  exclaimed Zopyrus, who
+could not explain to himself what a picture of the world could look like.
+
+"To-morrow I will show you my copper tablet, said Oroetes, but now we
+must allow Darius to go on."
+
+"So Phanes has gone to Arabia," continued Darius, "and Prexaspes was sent
+hither not only to command you, Oroetes, to raise as many forces as
+possible, especially Ionians and Carians, of whom Phanes has offered to
+undertake the command, but also to propose terms of alliance to
+Polykrates."
+
+"To that pirate!"  asked Oroetes, and his face darkened.
+
+"The very same," answered Prexaspes, not appearing to notice the change
+in Oroetes' face.  "Phanes has already received assurances from this
+important naval power, which sound as if we might expect a favorable
+answer to my proposal."
+
+"The Phoenician, Syrian and Ionian ships of war would be quite sufficient
+to cope with the Egyptian fleet."
+
+"There you are right; but if Polykrates were to declare against us, we
+should not be able to hold our own at sea; you say yourself that he is
+all-powerful in the AEgean."
+
+"Still I decidedly disapprove of entering into treaty with such a
+robber."
+
+"We want powerful allies, and Polykrates is very powerful at sea.  It
+will be time to humble him, when we have used him to help us in
+conquering Egypt.  For the present I entreat you to suppress all personal
+feeling, and keep the success of our great plan alone in view.  I am
+empowered to say this in the king's name, and to show his ring in token
+thereof."
+
+Oroetes made a brief obeisance before this symbol of despotism, and
+asked: "What does Cambyses wish me to do?"
+
+"He commands you to use every means in your power to secure an alliance
+with the Samian; and also to send your troops to join the main army on
+the plains of Babylon as soon as possible."
+
+The satrap bowed and left the room with a look betraying irritation and
+defiance.
+
+When the echo of his footsteps had died away among the colonnades of the
+inner court, Zopyrus exclaimed: "Poor fellow, it's really very hard for
+him to have to meet that proud man, who has so often behaved insolently
+to him, on friendly terms.  Think of that story about the physician for
+instance."
+
+"You are too lenient,"  interrupted Darius.  "I don't like this Oroetes.
+He has no right to receive the king's commands in that way.  Didn't you
+see him bite his lips till they bled, when Prexaspes showed him the
+king's ring?"
+
+"Yes," cried the envoy, "he's a defiant, perverse man.  He left the room
+so quickly, only because he could not keep down his anger any longer."
+
+"Still," said Bartja, "I hope you will keep his conduct a secret from my
+brother, for he has been very good to me."
+
+Prexaspes bowed, but Darius said: "We must keep an eye on the fellow.
+Just here, so far from the king's gate and in the midst of nations
+hostile to Persia, we want governors who are more ready to obey their
+king than this Oroetes seems to be.  Why, he seems to fancy he is King of
+Lydia!"
+
+"Do you dislike the satrap?"  said Zopyrus.
+
+"Well, I think I do," was the answer.  "I always take an aversion or a
+fancy to people at first sight, and very seldom find reason to change my
+mind afterwards.  I disliked Oroetes before I heard him speak a word, and
+I remember having the same feeling towards Psamtik, though Amasis took my
+fancy."
+
+"There's no doubt that you're very different from the rest of us," said
+Zopyrus laughing, "but now, to please me, let this poor Oroetes alone.
+I'm glad he's gone though, because we can talk more freely about home.
+How is Kassandane? and your worshipped Atossa?  Croesus too, how is he?
+and what are my wives about?  They'll soon have a new companion.  To-
+morrow I intend to sue for the hand of Oroetes' pretty daughter.  We've
+talked a good deal of love with our eyes already.  I don't know whether
+we spoke Persian or Syrian, but we said the most charming things to one
+another."
+
+The friends laughed, and Darius, joining in their merriment, said: "Now
+you shall hear a piece of very good news.  I have kept it to the last,
+because it is the best I have.  Now, Bartja, prick up your ears.  Your
+mother, the noble Kassandane, has been cured of her blindness!  Yes, yes,
+it is quite true.--Who cured her?  Why who should it be, but that crabbed
+old Nebenchari, who has become, if possible, moodier than ever.  Come,
+now, calm yourselves, and let me go on with my story; or it will be
+morning before Bartja gets to sleep.  Indeed.  I think we had better
+separate now: you've heard the best, and have something to dream about
+What, you will not?  Then, in the name of Mithras, I must go on, though
+it should make my heart bleed.
+
+"I'll begin with the king.  As long as Phanes was in Babylon, he seemed
+to forget his grief for Nitetis.
+
+"The Athenian was never allowed to leave him.  They were as inseparable as
+Reksch and Rustem.  Cambyses had no time to think of his sorrow, for
+Phanes had always some new idea or other, and entertained us all, as well
+as the king, marvellously.  And we all liked him too; perhaps, because no
+one could really envy him.  Whenever he was alone, the tears came into
+his eyes at the thought of his boy, and this made his great cheerfulness
+--a cheerfulness which he always managed to impart to the king, Bartja,--
+the more admirable.  Every morning he went down to the Euphrates with
+Cambyses and the rest of us, and enjoyed watching the sons of the
+Achaemenidae at their exercises.  When he saw them riding at full speed
+past the sand-hills and shooting the pots placed on them into fragments
+with their arrows, or throwing blocks of wood at one another and cleverly
+evading the blows, he confessed that he could not imitate them in these
+exercises, but at the same time he offered to accept a challenge from any
+of us in throwing the spear and in wrestling.  In his quick way he sprang
+from his horse, stripped off his clothes--it was really a shame--and, to
+the delight of the boys, threw their wrestling-master as if he had been a
+feather.
+
+     [In the East, nudity was, even in those days, held to be
+     disgraceful, while the Greeks thought nothing so beautiful as the
+     naked human body.  The Hetaira Phryne was summoned before the judges
+     for an offence against religion.  Her defender, seeing that sentence
+     was about to be pronounced against his client, suddenly tore away
+     the garment which covered her bosom.  The artifice was successful.
+     The judges pronounced her not guilty, being convinced that such
+     wondrous grace and beauty could only belong to a favorite of
+     Aphrodite.  Athen. XIII.  p. 590]
+
+"Then he knocked over a number of bragging fellows, and would have thrown
+me too if he had not been too fatigued.  I assure you, I am really
+stronger than he is, for I can lift greater weights, but he is as nimble
+as an eel, and has wonderful tricks by which he gets hold of his
+adversary.  His being naked too is a great help.  If it were not so
+indecent, we ought always to wrestle stripped, and anoint our skins, as
+the Greeks do, with the olive-oil.  He beat us too in throwing the spear,
+but the king, who you know is proud of being the best archer in Persia,
+sent his arrow farther.  Phanes was especially pleased with our rule,
+that in a wrestling-match the one who is thrown must kiss the hand of his
+victor.  At last he showed us a new exercise:--boxing.  He refused,
+however, to try his skill on any one but a slave, so Cambyses sent for
+the biggest and strongest man among the servants--my groom, Bessus--a
+giant who can bring the hind legs of a horse together and hold them so
+firmly that the creature trembles all over and cannot stir.  This big
+fellow, taller by a head than Phanes, shrugged his shoulders
+contemptuously on hearing that he was to box with the little foreign
+gentleman.  He felt quite sure of victory, placed himself opposite his
+adversary, and dealt him a blow heavy enough to kill an elephant.  Phanes
+avoided it cleverly, in the same moment hitting the giant with his naked
+fist so powerfully under the eyes, that the blood streamed from his nose
+and mouth, and the huge, uncouth fellow fell on the ground with a yell.
+When they picked him up his face looked like a pumpkin of a greenish-blue
+color.  The boys shouted with delight at his discomfiture; but we admired
+the dexterity of this Greek, and were especially glad to see the king in
+such good spirits; we noticed this most when Phanes was singing Greek
+songs and dance-melodies to him accompanied by the lute.
+
+"Meanwhile  Kassandane's  blindness  had  been cured, and this of course
+tended not a little to disperse the king's melancholy.
+
+"In short it was a very pleasant time, and I was just going to ask for
+Atossa's hand in marriage, when Phanes went off to Arabia, and everything
+was changed.
+
+"No sooner had he turned his back on the gates of Babylon than all the
+evil Divs seemed to have entered into the king.  He went about, a moody,
+silent man, speaking to no one; and to drown his melancholy would begin
+drinking, even at an early hour in the morning, quantities of the
+strongest Syrian wine.  By the evening he was generally so intoxicated
+that he had to be carried out of the hall, and would wake up the next
+morning with headache and spasms.  In the day-time he would wander about
+as if looking for something, and in the night they often heard him
+calling Nitetis.  The physicians became very anxious about his health,
+but when they sent him medicine he threw it away.  It was quite right of
+Croesus to say, as he did once 'Ye Magi and Chaldaeans! before trying to
+cure a sick man we must discover the seat of his disease.  Do you know it
+in this case?  No?  Then I will tell you what ails the king.  He has an
+internal complaint and a wound.  The former is called ennui, and the
+latter is in his heart.  The Athenian is a good remedy for the first, but
+for the second I know of none; such wounds either scar over of
+themselves, or the patient bleeds to death inwardly.'"
+
+"I know of a remedy for the king though," exclaimed Otanes when he heard
+these words.  "We must persuade him to send for the women, or at least
+for my daughter Phaedime, back from Susa.  Love is good for dispersing
+melancholy, and makes the blood flow faster."  We acknowledged that he
+was right, and advised him to remind the king of his banished wives.  He
+ventured to make the proposal while we were at supper, but got such a
+harsh rebuff for his pains, that we all pitied him.  Soon after this,
+Cambyses sent one morning for all the Mobeds and Chaldaeans, and
+commanded them to interpret a strange dream which he had bad.  In his
+dream he had been standing in the midst of a dry and barren plain: barren
+as a threshing-floor, it did not produce a single blade of grass.
+Displeased at the desert aspect of the place, he was just going to seek
+other and more fruitful regions, when Atossa appeared, and, without
+seeing him, ran towards a spring which welled up through the arid soil as
+if by enchantment.  While he was gazing in wonder at this scene, he
+noticed that wherever the foot of his sister touched the parched soil,
+graceful terebinths sprang up, changing, as they grew, into cypresses
+whose tops reached unto heaven.  As he was going to speak to Atossa, he
+awoke.
+
+The Mobeds and Chaldaeans consulted together and interpreted the dream
+thus?  'Atossa would be successful in all she undertook.'
+
+"Cambyses seemed satisfied with this answer, but, as the next night the
+vision appeared again, he threatened the wise men with death, unless they
+could give him another and a different interpretation.  They pondered
+long,  and at  last answered, 'that Atossa would become a queen and the
+mother of mighty princes.'
+
+"This answer really contented the king, and he smiled strangely to
+himself as he told us his dream.  "The same day Kassandane sent for me
+and told me to give up all thoughts of her daughter, as I valued my life.
+
+"Just as I was leaving the queen's garden I saw Atossa behind a
+pomegranate-bush.  She beckoned.  I went to her; and in that hour we
+forgot danger and sorrow, but said farewell to each other for ever.  Now
+you know all; and now that I have given her up--now that I know it would
+be madness even to think of her again--I am obliged to be very stern with
+myself, lest, like the king, I should fall into deep melancholy for the
+sake of a woman.  And this is the end of the story, the close of which we
+were all expecting, when Atossa, as I lay under sentence of death, sent
+me a rose, and made me the happiest of mortals.  If I had not betrayed my
+secret then, when we thought our last hour was near, it would have gone
+with me to my grave.  But what am I talking about?  I know I can trust to
+your secrecy, but pray don't look at me so deplorably.  I think I am
+still to be envied, for I have had one hour of enjoyment that would
+outweigh a century of misery.  Thank you,--thank you: now let me finish
+my story as quickly as I can.
+
+"Three days after I had taken leave of Atossa I had to marry Artystone,
+the daughter of Gobryas.  She is beautiful, and would make any other man
+happy.  The day after the wedding the Angare reached Babylon with the
+news of your illness.  My mind was made up at once; I begged the king to
+let me go to you, nurse you, and warn you of the danger which threatens
+your life in Egypt--took leave of my bride, in spite of all my father-in-
+law's protestations, and went off at full speed with Prexaspes, never
+resting till I reached your side, my dear Bartja.  Now I shall go with
+you and Zopyrus to Egypt, for Gyges must accompany the ambassador to
+Samos, as interpreter.  This is the king's command; he has been in better
+spirits the last few days; the inspection of the masses of troops coming
+up to Babylon diverts him, besides which, the Chaldaeans have assured him
+that the planet Adar, which belongs to their wargod Chanon, promises a
+great victory to the Persian arms.  When do you think you shall be able
+to travel, Bartja?"
+
+"To-morrow, if you like," was the answer.  "The doctors say the sea-
+voyage will do me good, and the journey by land to Smyrna is very short."
+
+"And  I can assure you," added Zopyrus, "that Sappho will cure you sooner
+than all the doctors in the world."
+
+"Then we will start in three days;" said Darius after some consideration,
+"we have plenty to do before starting.  Remember we are going into what
+may almost be called an enemy's country.  I have been thinking the matter
+over, and it seems to me that Bartja must pass for a Babylonian carpet-
+merchant, I for his brother, and Zopyrus for a dealer in Sardian red."
+
+"Couldn't we be soldiers?"  asked Zopyrus.  "It's such an ignominious
+thing to be taken for cheating pedlers.  How would it be, for instance,
+if we passed ourselves off for Lydian soldiers, escaped from punishment,
+and seeking service in the Egyptian army?"
+
+"That's not a bad idea," said Bartja, "and I think too that we look more
+like soldiers than traders."
+
+"Looks and manner are no guide," said Gyges.  "Those great Greek
+merchants and ship-owners go about as proudly as if the world belonged
+to them.  But I don't find Zopyrus' proposal a bad one."
+
+"Then so let it be," said Darius, yielding.  "In that case Oroetes must
+provide us with the uniform of Lydian Taxiarchs."
+
+"You'd better take the splendid dress of the Chiliarchs" at once, I
+think," cried Gyges.
+
+"Why, on such young men, that would excite suspicion directly."
+
+"But we can't appear as common soldiers."
+
+"No, but as Hekatontarchs."
+
+"All right," said Zopyrus laughing.  "Anything you like except a shop-
+keeper.--So in three days we are off.  I am glad I shall just have time
+to make sure of the satrap's little daughter, and to visit the grove of
+Cybele at last.  Now, goodnight, Bartja; don't get up too early.  What
+will Sappho say, if you come to her with pale cheeks?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+The sun of a hot midsummer-day had risen on Naukratis.  The Nile had
+already begun to overflow its banks, and the fields and gardens of the
+Egyptians were covered with water.
+
+The harbor was crowded with craft of all kinds.  Egyptian vessels were
+there, manned by Phoenician colonists from the coasts of the Delta, and
+bringing fine woven goods from Malta, metals and precious stones from
+Sardinia, wine and copper from Cyprus.  Greek triremes laden with oil,
+wine and mastic-wood; metal-work and woollen wares from Chalcis,
+Phoenician and Syrian craft with gaily-colored sails, and freighted with
+cargoes of purple stuffs, gems, spices, glass-work, carpets and cedar-
+trees,--used in Egypt, where wood was very scarce, for building purposes,
+and taking back gold, ivory, ebony, brightly-plumaged tropical birds,
+precious stones and black slaves,--the treasures of Ethiopia; but more
+especially the far-famed Egyptian corn, Memphian chariots, lace from
+Sais, and the finer sorts of papyrus.  The time when commerce was carried
+on merely by barter was now, however, long past, and the merchants of
+Naukratis not seldom paid for their goods in gold coin and carefully-
+weighed silver.
+
+Large warehouses stood round the harbor of this Greek colony, and
+slightly-built dwelling-houses, into which the idle mariners were lured
+by the sounds of music and laughter, and the glances and voices of
+painted and rouged damsels.  Slaves, both white and colored, rowers and
+steersmen, in various costumes, were hurrying hither and thither, while
+the ships' captains, either dressed in the Greek fashion or in Phoenician
+garments of the most glaring colors, were shouting orders to their crews
+and delivering up their cargoes to the merchants.  Whenever a dispute
+arose, the Egyptian police with their long staves, and the Greek warders
+of the harbor were quickly at hand.  The latter were appointed by the
+elders of the merchant-body in this Milesian colony.
+
+The port was getting empty now, for the hour at which the market opened
+was near, and none of the free Greeks cared to be absent from the market-
+place then.  This time, however, not a few remained behind, curiously
+watching a beautifully-built Samian ship, the Okeia, with a long prow
+like a swan's neck, on the front of which a likeness of the goddess Hera
+was conspicuous.  It was discharging its cargo, but the public attention
+was more particularly attracted by three handsome youths, in the dress of
+Lydian officers, who left the ship, followed by a number of slaves
+carrying chests and packages.
+
+The handsomest of the three travellers, in whom of course our readers
+recognize their three young friends, Darius, Bartja and Zopyrus, spoke
+to one of the harbor police and asked for the house of Theopompus the
+Milesian, to whom they were bound on a visit.
+
+Polite and ready to do a service, like all the Greeks, the police
+functionary at once led the way across the market-place,--where the
+opening of business had just been announced by the sound of a bell,--to a
+handsome house, the property of the Milesian, Theopompus, one of the most
+important and respected men in Naukratis.
+
+The party, however, did not succeed in crossing the market-place without
+hindrance.  They found it easy enough to evade the importunities of
+impudent fishsellers, and the friendly invitations of butchers, bakers,
+sausage and vegetable-sellers, and potters.  But when they reached the
+part allotted to the flower-girls, Zopyrus was so enchanted with the
+scene, that he clapped his hands for joy.
+
+     [Separate portions of the market were set apart for the sale of
+     different goods.  The part appointed for the flower-sellers, who
+     passed in general for no better than they should be, was called the
+     "myrtle-market."  Aristoph.  Thesmoph. 448.]
+
+Three wonderfully-lovely girls, in white dresses of some half-transparent
+material, with colored borders, were seated together on low stools,
+binding roses, violets and orange-blossoms into one long wreath.  Their
+charming heads were wreathed with flowers too, and looked very like the
+lovely rosebuds which one of them, on seeing the young men come up, held
+out to their notice.
+
+"Buy my roses, my handsome gentlemen," she said in a clear, melodious
+voice, "to put in your sweethearts' hair."
+
+Zopyrus took the flowers, and holding the girl's hand fast in his own,
+answered, "I come from a far country, my lovely child, and have no
+sweetheart in Naukratis yet; so let me put the roses in your own golden
+hair, and this piece of gold in your white little hand."
+
+The girl burst into a merry laugh, showed her sister the handsome
+present, and answered: "By Eros, such gentlemen as you cannot want for
+sweethearts.  Are you brothers?"
+
+"No."
+
+"That's a pity, for we are sisters."
+
+"And you thought we should make three pretty couples?"
+
+"I may have thought it, but I did not say so."
+
+"And your sisters?"
+
+     [This passage was suggested by the following epigram of Dionysius
+     "Roses are blooming on thy cheek, with roses thy basket is laden,
+     Which dost thou sell?  The flowers?  Thyself?  Or both, my pretty
+     maiden?"]
+
+The girls laughed, as if they were but little averse to such a
+connection, and offered Bartja and Darius rosebuds too.
+
+The young men accepted them, gave each a gold piece in return, and were
+not allowed to leave these beauties until their helmets had been crowned
+with laurel.
+
+Meanwhile the news of the strangers' remarkable liberality had spread
+among the many girls, who were selling ribbons, wreaths and flowers close
+by.  They all brought roses too and invited the strangers with looks and
+words to stay with them and buy their flowers.
+
+Zopyrus, like many a young gentleman in Naukratis, would gladly have
+accepted their invitations, for most of these girls were beautiful, and
+their hearts were not difficult to win; but Darius urged him to come
+away, and begged Bartja to forbid the thoughtless fellow's staying any
+longer.  After passing the tables of the money-changers, and the stone
+seats on which the citizens sat in the open air and held their
+consultations, they arrived at the house of Theopompus.
+
+The stroke given by their Greek guide with the metal knocker on the
+house-door was answered at once by a slave.  As the master was at the
+market, the strangers were led by the steward, an old servant grown grey
+in the service of Theopompus, into the Andronitis, and begged to wait
+there until he returned.
+
+They were still engaged in admiring the paintings on the walls, and the
+artistic carving of the stone floor, when Theopompus, the merchant whom
+we first learnt to know at the house of Rhodopis, came back from the
+market, followed by a great number of slaves bearing his purchases.
+
+     [Men of high rank among the Greeks did not disdain to make purchases
+     at market, accompanied by their slaves, but respectable women could
+     not appear there.  Female slaves were generally sent to buy what was
+     needed.]
+
+He received the strangers with charming politeness and asked in what way
+he could be of use to them, on which Bartja, having first convinced
+himself that no unwished--for listeners were present, gave him the roll
+he had received from Phanes at parting.
+
+Theopompus had scarcely read its contents, when he made a low bow to the
+prince, exclaiming: "By Zeus, the father of hospitality, this is the
+greatest honor that could have been conferred upon my house!  All I
+possess is yours, and I beg you to ask your companions to accept with
+kindness what I can offer.  Pardon my not having recognized you at once
+in your Lydian dress.  It seems to me that your hair is shorter and your
+beard thicker, than when you left Egypt.  Am I right in imagining that
+you do not wish to be recognized?  It shall be exactly as you wish.  He
+is the best host, who allows his guests the most freedom.  All, now I
+recognize your friends; but they have disguised themselves and cut their
+curls also.  Indeed, I could almost say that you, my friend,
+whose name--"
+
+"My name is Darius."
+
+"That you, Darius, have dyed your hair black.  Yes?  Then you see my
+memory does not deceive me.  But that is nothing to boast of, for I saw
+you several times at Sais, and here too, on your arrival and departure.
+You ask, my prince, whether you would be generally recognized?  Certainly
+not.  The foreign dress, the change in your hair and the coloring of your
+eyebrows have altered you wonderfully.  But excuse me a moment, my old
+steward seems to have some important message to give."
+
+In a few minutes Theopompus came back, exclaiming: "No, no, my honored
+friends, you have certainly not taken the wisest way of entering
+Naukratis incognito.  You have been joking with the flower-girls and
+paying them for a few roses, not like runaway Lydian Hekatontarchs, but
+like the great lords you are.  All Naukratis knows the pretty, frivolous
+sisters, Stephanion, Chloris and Irene, whose garlands have caught many a
+heart, and whose sweet glances have lured many a bright obolus out of the
+pockets of our gay young men.  They're very fond of visiting the flower-
+girls at market-time, and agreements are entered into then for which more
+than one gold piece must be paid later; but for a few roses and good
+words they are not accustomed to be so liberal as you have been.  The
+girls have been boasting about you and your gifts, and showing your good
+red gold to their stingier suitors.  As rumor is a goddess who is very
+apt to exaggerate and to make a crocodile out of a lizard, it happened
+that news reached the Egyptian captain on guard at the market, that some
+newly-arrived Lydian warriors had been scattering gold broadcast among
+the flower-girls.  This excited suspicion, and induced the Toparch to
+send an officer here to enquire from whence you come, and what is the
+object of your journey hither.  I was obliged to use a little stratagem
+to impose upon him, and told him, as I believe you wish, that you were
+rich young men from Sardis, who had fled on account of having incurred
+the satrap's ill-will.  But I see the government officer coming, and with
+him the secretary who is to make out passports which will enable you to
+remain on the Nile unmolested.  I have promised him a handsome reward, if
+he can help you in getting admitted into the king's mercenaries.  He was
+caught and believed my story.  You are so young, that nobody would
+imagine you were entrusted with a secret mission."
+
+The talkative Greek had scarcely finished speaking when the clerk, a
+lean, dry-looking man, dressed in white, came in, placed himself opposite
+the strangers and asked them from whence they came and what was the
+object of their journey.
+
+The youths held to their first assertion, that they were Lydian
+Hekatontarchs, and begged the functionary to provide them with passes and
+tell them in what way they might most easily obtain admittance into the
+king's troop of auxiliaries.
+
+The man did not hesitate long, after Theopompus had undertaken to be
+their surety, and the desired documents were made out.
+
+Bartja's pass ran thus:
+
+"Smerdis, the son of Sandon of Sardis, about 22 years of age--figure,
+tall and slender-face, well-formed:--nose, straight:--forehead, high with
+a small scar in the middle:--is hereby permitted to remain in those parts
+of Egypt in which the law allows foreigners to reside, as surety has been
+given for him.
+                         "In the King's name.
+                                        "Sachons, Clerk."
+
+Darius and Zopyrus received passports similarly worded.
+
+When the government official had left the houses, Theopompus rubbed his
+hands and said: "Now if you will follow my advice on all points you can
+stay in Egypt safely enough.  Keep these little rolls as if they were the
+apple of your eye, and never part from them.  Now, however, I must beg
+you to follow me to breakfast and to tell me, if agreeable to you,
+whether a report which has just been making the round of the market is
+not, as usual, entirely false.  A trireme from Kolophon, namely, has
+brought the news that your powerful brother, noble Bartja, is preparing
+to make war with Amasis."
+
+                    .........................
+
+On the evening of the same day, Bartja and Sappho saw each other again.
+In that first hour surprise and joy together made Sappho's happiness too
+great for words.  When they were once more seated in the acanthus-grove
+whose blossoming branches had so often seen and sheltered their young
+love, she embraced him tenderly, but for a long time they did not speak
+one word.  They saw neither moon nor stars moving silently above them, in
+the warm summer night; they did not even hear the nightingales who were
+still repeating their favorite, flute-like, Itys-call to one another; nor
+did they feel the dew which fell as heavily on their fair heads as on the
+flowers in the grass around them.
+
+At last Bartja, taking both Sappho's hands in his own, looked long and
+silently into her face, as if to stamp her likeness for ever on his
+memory.  When he spoke at last, she cast down her eyes, for he said:
+"In my dreams, Sappho, you have always been the most lovely creature that
+Auramazda ever created, but now I see you again, you are more lovely even
+than my dreams."
+
+And when a bright, happy glance from her had thanked him for these words,
+he drew her closer to him, asking: "Did you often think of me?"
+
+"I thought only of you."
+
+"And did you hope to see me soon?"
+
+"Yes; hour after hour I thought, 'now he must be coming.' Sometimes I
+went into the garden in the morning and looked towards your home in the
+East, and a bird flew towards me from thence and I felt a twitching in my
+right eyelid; or when I was putting my box to rights and found the laurel
+crown which I put by as a remembrance, because you looked so well in it,
+--Melitta says such wreaths are good for keeping true love--then I used
+to clap my hands with joy and think, 'to-day he must come;' and I would
+run down to the Nile and wave my handkerchief to every passing boat, for
+every boat I thought must be bringing you to me."
+
+     [A bird flying from the right side, and a twitching of the right eye
+     were considered fortunate omens.  Theokrirus, III.  37]
+
+"But you did not come, and then I went sadly home, and would sit down by
+the fire on the hearth in the women's room, and sing, and gaze into the
+fire till grandmother would wake me out of my dream by saying: 'Listen to
+me, girl; whoever dreams by daylight is in danger of lying awake at
+night, and getting up in the morning with a sad heart, a tired brain and
+weary limbs.  The day was not given us for sleep, and we must live in it
+with open eyes, that not a single hour may be idly spent.  The past
+belongs to the dead; only fools count upon the future; but wise men hold
+fast by the ever young present; by work they foster all the various gifts
+which Zeus, Apollo, Pallas, Cypris lend; by work they raise, and perfect
+and ennoble them, until their feelings, actions, words and thoughts
+become harmonious like a well-tuned lute.  You cannot serve the man
+to whom you have given your whole heart,--to whom in your great love
+you look up as so much higher than yourself--you cannot prove the
+steadfastness and faithfulness of that love better, than by raising
+and improving your mind to the utmost of your power.  Every good and
+beautiful truth that you learn is an offering to him you love best,
+for in giving your whole self, you give your virtues too.  But no one
+gains this victory in dreams.  The dew by which such blossoms are
+nourished is called the sweat of man's brow.'  So she would speak to me,
+and then I started up ashamed and left the hearth, and either took my
+lyre to learn new songs, or listened to my loving teacher's words--she
+is wiser than most men--attentively and still.  And so the time passed
+on; a rapid stream, just like our river Nile, which flows unceasingly,
+and brings such changing scenes upon its waves, sometimes a golden boat
+with streamers gay,--sometimes a fearful, ravenous crocodile."
+
+"But now we are sitting in the golden boat.  Oh, if time's waves would
+only cease to flow!  If this one moment could but last for aye.  You
+lovely girl, how perfectly you speak, how well you understand and
+remember all this beautiful teaching and make it even more beautiful by
+your way of repeating it.  Yes, Sappho, I am very proud of you.  In you
+I have a treasure which makes me richer than my brother, though half
+the world belongs to him."
+
+"You proud of me?  you, a king's son, the best and handsomest of your
+family?"
+
+"The greatest worth that I can find in myself is, that you think me
+worthy of your love."
+
+"Tell me, ye gods, how can this little heart hold so much joy without
+breaking?  'Tis like a vase that's overfilled with purest, heaviest
+gold?"
+
+"Another heart will help you to bear it; and that is my own, for mine is
+again supported by yours, and with that help I can laugh at every evil
+that the world or night may bring."
+
+"Oh, don't excite the envy of the gods; human happiness often vexes them.
+Since you left us we have passed some very, very sad days.  The two poor
+children of our kind Phanes--a boy as beautiful as Eros, and a little
+girl as fair and rosy as a summer morning's cloud just lit up by the
+sun,--came for some happy days to stay with us.  Grandmother grew quite
+glad and young again while looking on these little ones, and as for me I
+gave them all my heart, though really it is your's and your's alone.  But
+hearts, you know, are wonderfully made; they're like the sun who sends
+his rays everywhere, and loses neither warmth nor light by giving much,
+but gives to all their due.  I loved those little ones so very much.  One
+evening we were sitting quite alone with Theopompus in the women's room,
+when suddenly we heard aloud, wild noise.  The good old Knakias, our
+faithful slave, just reached the door as all the bolts gave way, and,
+rushing through the entrance-hall into the peristyle, the andronitis,
+and so on to us, crashing the door between, came a troop of soldiers.
+Grandmother showed them the letter by which Amasis secured our house from
+all attack and made it a sure refuge, but they laughed the writing to
+scorn and showed us on their side a document with the crown-prince's
+seal, in which we were sternly commanded to deliver up Phanes' children
+at once to this rough troop of men.  Theopompus reproved the soldiers for
+their roughness, telling them that the children came from Corinth and had
+no connection with Phanes; but the captain of the troop defied and
+sneered at him, pushed my grandmother rudely away, forced his way into
+her own apartment, where among her most precious treasures, at the head
+of her own bed, the two children lay sleeping peacefully, dragged them
+out of their little beds and took them in an open boat through the cold
+night-air to the royal city.  In a few days we heard the boy was dead.
+They say he has been killed by Psamtik's orders; and the little girl, so
+sweet and dear, is lying in a dismal dungeon, and pining for her father
+and for us.  Oh, dearest, isn't it a painful thing that sorrows such as
+these should come to mar our perfect happiness?  My eyes weep joy and
+sorrow in the same moment, and my lips, which have just been laughing
+with you, have now to tell you this sad story."
+
+"I feel your pain with you, my child, but it makes my hand clench with
+rage instead of filling my eyes with tears.  That gentle boy whom you
+loved, that little girl who now sits weeping in the dark dungeon, shall
+both be revenged.  "Trust me; before the Nile has risen again, a powerful
+army will have entered Egypt, to demand satisfaction for this murder."
+
+"Oh, dearest, how your eyes are glowing!  I never saw you look so
+beautiful before.  Yes, yes, the boy must be avenged, and none but you
+must be his avenger."
+
+"My gentle Sappho is becoming warlike too."
+
+"Yes, women must feel warlike when wickedness is so triumphant; women
+rejoice too when such crimes are punished.  Tell me has war been declared
+already?"
+
+"Not yet; but hosts on hosts are marching to the valley of the Euphrates
+to join our main army."
+
+"My courage sinks as quickly as it rose.  I tremble at the word, the mere
+word, war.  How many childless mothers Ares makes, how many young fair
+heads must wear the widow's veil, how many pillows are wet through with
+tears when Pallas takes her shield."
+
+"But a man developes in war; his heart expands, his arm grows strong.
+And none rejoice more than you when he returns a conqueror from the
+field.  The wife of a Persian, especially, ought to rejoice in the
+thought of battle, for her husband's honor and fame are dearer to her
+than his life."
+
+"Go to the war.  I shall pray for you there."
+
+"And victory will be with the right.  First we will conquer Pharaoh's
+host, then release Phanes' little daughter .  .  ."
+
+"And then Aristomachus, the brave old man who succeeded Phanes when he
+fled.  He has vanished, no one knows whither, but people say that the
+crown-prince has either imprisoned him in a dismal dungeon on account of
+his having uttered threats of retaliating the cruelty shown to Phanes'
+children, or--what would be worse--has had him dragged off to some
+distant quarry.  The poor old man was exiled from his home, not for his
+own fault, but by the malice of his enemies, and the very day on which we
+lost sight of him an embassy arrived here from the Spartan people
+recalling Aristomachus to the Eurotas with all the honors Greece could
+bestow, because his sons had brought great glory to their country.  A
+ship wreathed with flowers was sent to fetch the honored old man, and at
+the head of the deputation was his own brave, strong son, now crowned
+with glory and fame."
+
+"I know him.  He's a man of iron.  Once he mutilated himself cruelly to
+avoid disgrace.  By the Anahita star, which is setting so beautifully in
+the east, he shall be revenged!"
+
+"Oh, can it be so late?  To me the time has gone by like a sweet breeze,
+which kissed my forehead and passed away.  Did not you hear some one
+call?  They will be waiting for us, and you must be at your friend's
+house in the town before dawn.  Good-bye, my brave hero."
+
+"Good-bye, my dearest one.  In five days we shall hear our marriage-hymn.
+But you tremble as if we were going to battle instead of to our wedding."
+
+"I'm trembling at the greatness of our joy; one always trembles in
+expectation of anything unusually great."
+
+"Hark, Rhodopis is calling again; let us go.  I have asked Theopompus to
+arrange everything about our wedding with her according to the usual
+custom; and I shall remain in his house incognito until I can carry you
+off as my own dear wife."
+
+"And I will go with you."
+
+The next morning, as the three friends were walking with their host in
+his garden, Zopyrus exclaimed: "Wily, Bartja, I've been dreaming all
+night of your Sappho.  What a lucky fellow you are!  Why I fancied my new
+wife in Sardis was no end of a beauty until I saw Sappho, and now when I
+think of her she seems like an owl.  If Araspes could see Sappho he would
+be obliged to confess that even Panthea had been outdone at last.  Such a
+creature was never made before.  Auramazda is an awful spendthrift; he
+might have made three beauties out of Sappho.  And how charmingly it
+sounded when she said 'good-night' to us in Persian."
+
+"While I was away," said Bartja, "she has been taking a great deal of
+trouble to learn Persian from the wife of a Babylonian carpet-merchant,
+a native of Susa, who is living at Naukratis, in order to surprise me.
+
+"Yes, she is a glorious girl," said Theopompus.  "My late wife loved the
+little one as if she had been her own child.  She would have liked to
+have had her as a wife for our son who manages the affairs of my house at
+Miletus, but the gods have ordained otherwise!  Ah, how glad she would
+have been to see the wedding garland at Rhodopis' door!"
+
+"Is it the custom here to ornament a bride's house with flowers?"  said
+Zopyrus.
+
+"Certainly," answered Theopompus.  "When you see a door hung with flowers
+you may always know that house contains a bride; an olive-branch is a
+sign that a boy has just come into the world, and a strip of woollen
+cloth hanging over the gate that a girl has been born; but a vessel of
+water before the door is the token of death.  But business-hour at the
+market is very near, my friends, and I must leave you, as I have affairs
+of great importance to transact."
+
+"I will accompany you," said Zopyrus, "I want to order some garlands for
+Rhodopis' house."
+
+"Aha," laughed the Milesian.  "I see, you want to talk to the flower-
+girls again.  Come, it's of no use to deny.  Well, if you like you can
+come with me, but don't be so generous as you were yesterday, and don't
+forget that if certain news of war should arrive, your disguise may prove
+dangerous."
+
+The Greek then had his sandals fastened on by his slaves and started for
+the market, accompanied by Zopyrus.  In a few hours he returned with such
+a serious expression on his usually cheerful face, that it was easy to
+see something very important had happened.
+
+"I found the whole town in great agitation," he said to the two friends
+who had remained at home; "there is a report that Amasis is at the point
+of death.  We had all met on the place of exchange in order to settle our
+business, and I was on the point of selling all my stored goods at such
+high prices as to secure me a first-rate profit, with which, when the
+prospect of an important war had lowered prices again, I could have
+bought in fresh goods--you see it stands me in good stead to know your
+royal brother's intentions so early--when suddenly the Toparch appeared
+among us, and announced that Amasis was not only seriously ill, but that
+the physicians had given up all hope, and he himself felt he was very
+near death.  We must hold ourselves in readiness for this at any moment,
+and for a very serious change in the face of affairs.  The death of
+Amasis is the severest loss that could happen to us Greeks; he was always
+our friend, and favored us whenever he could, while his son is our avowed
+enemy and will do his utmost to expel us from the country.  If his father
+had allowed, and he himself had not felt so strongly the importance and
+value of our mercenary troops, he would have turned us hateful foreigners
+out long ago.  Naukratis and its temples are odious to him.  When Amasis
+is dead our town will hail Cambyses' army with delight, for I have had
+experience already, in my native town Miletus, that you are accustomed to
+show respect to those who are not Persians and to protect their rights."
+
+"Yes," said Bartja, "I will take care that all your ancient liberties
+shall be confirmed by my brother and new ones granted you."
+
+"Well, I only hope he will soon be here," exclaimed the Greek, "for we
+know that Psamtik, as soon as he possibly can, will order our temples,
+which are an abomination to him, to be demolished.  The building of a
+place of sacrifice for the Greeks at Memphis has long been put
+a stop to."
+
+"But here," said Darius, "we saw a number of splendid temples as we came
+up from the harbor."
+
+"Oh, yes, we have  several.--Ah, there comes Zopyrus; the slaves are
+carrying a perfect grove of garlands behind him.  He's laughing so
+heartily, he must have amused himself famously with the flower-girls.
+Good-morning, my friend.  The sad news which fills all Naukratis does not
+seem to disturb you much."
+
+"Oh, for anything I care, Amasis may go on living a hundred years yet.
+But if be dies now, people will have something else to do beside looking
+after us.  When do you set off for Rhodopis' house, friends?"
+
+"At dusk."
+
+"Then please, ask her to accept these flowers from me.  I never thought I
+could have been so taken by an old woman before.  Every word she says
+sounds like music, and though she speaks so gravely and wisely it's as
+pleasant to the ear as a merry joke.  But I shan't go with you this time,
+Bartja; I should only be in the way.  Darius, what have you made up your
+mind to do?"
+
+"I don't want to lose one chance of a conversation with Rhodopis."
+
+"Well, I don't blame you.  You're all for learning and knowing
+everything, and I'm for enjoying.  Friends, what do you say to letting me
+off this evening?  You see..."
+
+"I know all about it," interrupted Bartja laughing: "You've only seen the
+flower-girls by daylight as yet, and you would like to know how they look
+by lamplight."
+
+"Yes, that's it," said Zopyrus, putting on a grave face.  "On that point
+I am quite as eager after knowledge as Darius."
+
+"Well, we wish you much pleasure with your three sisters."
+
+"No, no, not all three, if you please; Stephanion, the youngest, is my
+favorite."
+
+Morning had already dawned when Bartja, Darius and Theopompus left
+Rhodopis' house.  Syloson, a Greek noble who had been banished from his
+native land by his own brother, Polykrates the tyrant, had been spending
+the evening with them, and was now returning in their company to
+Naukratis, where he had been living many years.
+
+This man, though an exile, was liberally supplied with money by his
+brother, kept the most brilliant establishment in Naukratis, and was as
+famous for his extravagant hospitality as for his strength and
+cleverness.  Syloson was a very handsome man too, and so remarkable for
+the good taste and splendor of his dress, that the youth of Naukratis
+prided themselves on imitating the cut and hang of his robes.  Being
+unmarried, he spent many of his evenings at Rhodopis' house, and had been
+told the secret of her granddaughter's betrothal.
+
+On that evening it had been settled, that in four days the marriage
+should be celebrated with the greatest privacy.  Bartja had formally
+betrothed himself to Sappho by eating a quince with her, on the same day
+on which she had offered sacrifices to Zeus, Hera, and the other deities
+who protected marriage.  The wedding-banquet was to be given at the house
+of Theopompus, which was looked upon as the bridegroom's.  The prince's
+costly bridal presents had been entrusted to Rhodopis' care, and Bartja
+had insisted on renouncing the paternal inheritance which belonged to his
+bride and on transferring it to Rhodopis, notwithstanding her determined
+resistance.
+
+Syloson accompanied the friends to Rhodopis' house, and was just about to
+leave them, when a loud noise in the streets broke the quiet stillness of
+the night, and soon after, a troop of the watch passed by, taking a man
+to prison.  The prisoner seemed highly indignant, and the less his broken
+Greek oaths and his utterances in some other totally unintelligible
+language were understood by the Egyptian guards, the more violent he
+became.
+
+Directly Bartja and Darius heard the voice they ran up, and recognized
+Zopyrus at once.
+
+Syloson and Theopompus stopped the guards, and asked what their captive
+had done.  The officer on duty recognized them directly; indeed every
+child in Naukratis knew the Milesian merchant and the brother of the
+tyrant Polykrates by sight; and he answered at once, with a respectful
+salutation, that the foreign youth they were leading away had been guilty
+of murder.
+
+Theopompus then took him on one side and endeavored, by liberal promises,
+to obtain the freedom of the prisoner.  The man, however, would concede
+nothing but a permission to speak with his captive.  Meanwhile his
+friends begged Zopyrus to tell them at once what had happened, and heard
+the following story:  The thoughtless fellow had visited the flower-girls
+at dusk and remained till dawn.  He had scarcely closed their housedoor
+on his way home, when he found himself surrounded by a number of young
+men, who had probably been lying in wait for him, as he had already had a
+quarrel with one of them, who called himself the betrothed lover of
+Stephanion, on that very morning.  The girl had told her troublesome
+admirer to leave her flowers alone, and had thanked Zopyrus for
+threatening to use personal violence to the intruder.  When the young
+Achaemenidae found himself surrounded, he drew his sword and easily
+dispersed his adversaries, as they were only armed with sticks, but
+chanced to wound the jealous lover, who was more violent than the rest,
+so seriously, that he fell to the ground.  Meanwhile the watch had come
+up, and as Zopyrus' victim howled "thieves" and "murder" incessantly,
+they proceeded to arrest the offender.  This was not so easy.  His blood
+was up, and rushing on them with his drawn sword, he had already cut his
+way through the first troop when a second came up.  He was not to be
+daunted, attacked them too, split the skull of one, wounded another in
+the arm and was taking aim for a third blow, when he felt a cord round
+his neck.  It was drawn tighter and tighter till at last he could not
+breathe and fell down insensible.  By the time he came to his senses he
+was bound, and notwithstanding all his appeals to his pass and the name
+of Theopompus, was forced to follow his captors.
+
+When the tale was finished the Milesian did not attempt to conceal his
+strong disapprobation, and told Zopyrus that his most unseasonable love
+of fighting might be followed by the saddest consequences.  After saying
+this, he turned to the officer and begged him to accept his own personal
+security for the prisoner.  The other, however, refused gravely, saying
+he might forfeit his own life by doing so, as a law existed in Egypt by
+which the concealer of a murder was condemned to death.  He must, he
+assured them, take the culprit to Sais and deliver him over to the
+Nomarch  for punishment.  "He has murdered an Egyptian," were his last
+words, "and must therefore be tried by an Egyptian supreme court.  In any
+other case I should be delighted to render you any service in my power."
+
+During this conversation Zopyrus had been begging his friends not to take
+any trouble about him.  "By Mithras," he cried, when Bartja offered to
+declare himself to the Egyptians as a means of procuring his freedom, "I
+vow I'll stab myself without a second thought, if you give yourselves up
+to those dogs of Egyptians.  Why the whole town is talking about the war
+already, and do you think that if Psamtik knew he'd got such splendid
+game in his net, he would let you loose?  He would keep you as hostages,
+of course.  No, no, my friends.  Good-bye; may Auramazda send you his
+best blessings! and don't quite forget the jovial Zopyrus, who lived and
+died for love and war."
+
+The captain of the band placed himself at the head of his men, gave the
+order to march, and in a few minutes Zopyrus was out of sight.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs and vultures
+He is the best host, who allows his guests the most freedom
+The past belongs to the dead; only fools count upon the future
+They praise their butchers more than their benefactors
+We've talked a good deal of love with our eyes already
+Wise men hold fast by the ever young present
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 9.
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+According to the law of Egypt, Zopyrus had deserved death.
+
+As soon as his friends heard this, they resolved to go to Sais and try to
+rescue him by stratagem.  Syloson, who had friends there and could speak
+the Egyptian language well, offered to help them.
+
+Bartja and Darius disguised themselves so completely by dyeing their hair
+and eyebrows and wearing broad-brimmed felt-hats,--that they could
+scarcely recognize each other.  Theopompus provided them with ordinary
+Greek dresses, and, an hour after Zopyrus' arrest, they met the
+splendidly-got-up Syloson on the shore of the Nile, entered a boat
+belonging to him and manned by his slaves, and, after a short sail,
+favored by the wind, reached Sais,--which lay above the waters of the
+inundation like an island,--before the burning midsummer sun had reached
+its noonday height.
+
+They disembarked at a remote part of the town and walked across the
+quarter appropriated to the artisans.  The workmen were busy at their
+calling, notwithstanding the intense noonday heat.  The baker's men were
+at work in the open court of the bakehouse, kneading bread--the coarser
+kind of dough with the feet, the finer with the hands.  Loaves of various
+shapes were being drawn out of the ovens-round and oval cakes, and rolls
+in the form of sheep, snails and hearts.  These were laid in baskets, and
+the nimble baker's boys would put three, four, or even five such baskets
+on their heads at once, and carry them off quickly and safely to the
+customers living in other quarters of the city.  A butcher was
+slaughtering an ox before his house, the creature's legs having been
+pinioned; and his men were busy sharpening their knives to cut up a wild
+goat.  Merry cobblers were calling out to the passers-by from their
+stalls; carpenters, tailors, joiners and weavers--were all there, busy at
+their various callings.  The wives of the work-people were going out
+marketing, leading their naked children by the hand, and some soldiers
+were loitering near a man who was offering beer and wine for sale.
+
+But our friends took very little notice of what was going on in the
+streets through which they passed; they followed Syloson in silence.
+
+At the Greek guard-house he asked them to wait for him.  Syloson,
+happening to know the Taxiarch who was on duty that day, went in and
+asked him if he had heard anything of a man accused of murder having been
+brought from Naukratis to Sais that morning.
+
+"Of course," said the Greek.  "It's not more than half an hour since he
+arrived.  As they found a purse full of money in his girdle, they think
+he must be a Persian spy.  I suppose you know that Cambyses is preparing
+for war with Egypt."
+
+"Impossible!"
+
+"No, no, it's a fact.  The prince-regent has already received
+information.  A caravan of Arabian merchants arrived yesterday at
+Pelusium, and brought the news."
+
+"It will prove as false as their suspicions about this poor young Lydian.
+I know him well, and am very sorry for the poor fellow.  He belongs to
+one of the richest families in Sardis, and only ran away for fear of the
+powerful satrap Oroetes, with whom he had had a quarrel.  I'll tell you
+the particulars when you come to see me next in Naukratis.  Of course
+you'll stay a few days and bring some friends.  My brother has sent me
+some wine which beats everything I ever tasted.  It's perfect nectar, and
+I confess I grudge offering it to any one who's not, like you, a perfect
+judge in such matters."  The Taxiarch's face brightened up at these
+words, and grasping Syloson's hand, he exclaimed.  "By the dog, my
+friend, we shall not wait to be asked twice; we'll come soon enough and
+take a good pull at your wine-skins.  How would it be if you were to ask
+Archidice, the three flower-sisters, and a few flute-playing-girls to
+supper?"
+
+     [Archidice--A celebrated Hetaira of Naukratis mentioned by Herod.
+     II.  135.  Flute-playing girls were seldom missing at the young
+     Greeks' drinking-parties]
+
+"They shall all be there.  By the bye, that reminds me that the flower-
+girls were the cause of that poor young Lydian's imprisonment.  Some
+jealous idiot attacked him before their house with a number of comrades.
+The hot-brained young fellow defended himself .  .  .  ."
+
+"And knocked the other down?"
+
+
+"Yes; and so that he'll never get up again."
+
+"The boy must be a good boxer."
+
+"He had a sword."
+
+"So much the better for him."
+
+"No, so much the worse; for his victim was an Egyptian."
+
+"That's a bad job.  I fear it can only have an unfortunate end.  A
+foreigner, who kills an Egyptian, is as sure of death as if he had the
+rope already round his neck.  However, just now he'll get a few days'
+grace; the priests are all so busy praying for the dying king that they
+have no time to try criminals."
+
+"I'd give a great deal to be able to save that poor fellow.  I know his
+father."
+
+"Yes, and then after all he only did his duty.  A man must defend
+himself."
+
+"Do you happen to know where he is imprisoned?"
+
+"Of course I do.  The great prison is under repair, and so he has been
+put for the present in the storehouse between the principal guard-house
+of the Egyptian body-guard and the sacred grove of the temple of Neith.
+I have only just come home from seeing them take him there."
+
+"He is strong and has plenty of courage; do you think he could get away,
+if we helped him?"
+
+"No, it would be quite impossible; he's in a room two stories high; the
+only window looks into the sacred grove, and that, you know, is
+surrounded by a ten-foot wall, and guarded like the treasury.  There are
+double sentries at every gate.  There's only one place where it is left
+unguarded during the inundation season, because, just here, the water
+washes the walls.  These worshippers of animals are as cautious as water-
+wagtails."
+
+"Well, it's  a great  pity, but I suppose we must leave the poor fellow
+to his fate.  Good-bye, Doemones; don't forget my invitation."
+
+The Samian left the guard-room and went back directly to the two friends,
+who were waiting impatiently for him.
+
+They listened eagerly to his tidings, and when he had finished his
+description of the prison, Darius exclaimed: "I believe a little courage
+will save him.  He's as nimble as a cat, and as strong as a bear.  I have
+thought of a plan."
+
+"Let us hear it," said Syloson, "and let me give an opinion as to its
+practicability."
+
+"We will buy some rope-ladders, some cord, and a good bow, put all these
+into our boat, and row to the unguarded part of the temple-wall at dusk.
+You must then help me to clamber over it.  I shall take the things over
+with me and give the eagle's cry.  Zopyras will know at once, because,
+since we were children, we have been accustomed to use it when we were
+riding or hunting together.  Then I shall shoot an arrow, with the cord
+fastened to it, up into his window, (I never miss), tell him to fasten a
+weight to it and let it down again to me.  I shall then secure the rope-
+ladder to the cord, Zopyrus will draw the whole affair up again, and hang
+it on an iron nail,--which, by the bye, I must not forget to send up with
+the ladder, for who knows whether he may have such a thing in his cell.
+He will then come down on it, go quickly with me to the part of the wall
+where you will be waiting with the boat, and where there must be another
+rope-ladder, spring into the boat, and there he is-safe!"
+
+"First-rate, first-rate!"  cried Bartja.
+
+"But very dangerous," added Syloson.  "If we are caught in the sacred
+grove, we are certain to be severely punished.  The priests hold strange
+nightly festivals there, at which every one but the initiated is strictly
+forbidden to appear.  I believe, however, that these take place on the
+lake, and that is at some distance from Zopyrus' prison."
+
+"So much the better," cried Darius; "but now to the main point.  We must
+send at once, and ask Theopompus to hire a fast trireme for us, and have
+it put in sailing order at once.  The news of Cambyses' preparations have
+already reached Egypt; they take us for spies, and will be sure not to
+let either Zopyrus or his deliverers escape, if they can help it.  It
+would be a criminal rashness to expose ourselves uselessly to danger.
+Bartja, you must take this message yourself, and must marry Sappho this
+very day, for, come what may, we must leave Naukratis to-morrow.  Don't
+contradict me, my friend, my brother!  You know our plan, and you must
+see that as only one can act in it, your part would be that of a mere
+looker-on.  As it was my own idea I am determined to carry it out myself.
+We shall meet again to-morrow, for Auramazda protects the friendship of
+the pure."
+
+It was a long time before they could persuade Bartja to leave his friends
+in the lurch, but their entreaties and representations at last took
+effect, and he went down towards the river to take a boat for Naukratis,
+Darius and Syloson going at the same time to buy the necessary implements
+for their plan.
+
+In order to reach the place where boats were to be hired, Bartja had to
+pass by the temple of Neith.  This was not easy, as an immense crowd was
+assembled at the entrance-gates.  He pushed his way as far as the
+obelisks near the great gate of the temple with its winged sun-disc and
+fluttering pennons, but there the temple-servants prevented him from
+going farther; they were keeping the avenue of sphinxes clear for a
+procession.  The gigantic doors of the Pylon opened, and Bartja, who, in
+spite of himself, had been pushed into the front row, saw a brilliant
+procession come out of the temple.  The unexpected sight of many faces he
+had formerly known occupied his attention so much, that he scarcely
+noticed the loss of his broad-brimmed hat, which had been knocked off in
+the crowd.  From the conversation of two Ionian mercenaries behind him he
+learnt that the family of Amasis had been to the temple to pray for the
+dying king.
+
+The procession was headed by richly-decorated priests, either wearing
+long white robes or pantherskins.  They were followed by men holding
+office at the court, and carrying golden staves, on the ends of which
+peacocks' feathers and silver lotus-flowers were fastened, and these by
+Pastophori, carrying on their shoulders a golden cow, the animal sacred
+to Isis.  When the crowd had bowed down before this sacred symbol, the
+queen appeared.  She was dressed in priestly robes and wore a costly
+head-dress with the winged disc and the Uraeus.  In her left hand she
+held a sacred golden sistrum,  the tones of which were to scare away
+Typhon, and in her right some lotus-flowers.  The wife, daughter and
+sister of the high-priest followed her, in similar but less splendid
+ornaments.  Then came the heir to the throne, in rich robes of state, as
+priest and prince; and behind him four young priests in white carrying
+Tachot, (the daughter of Amasis and Ladice and the pretended sister of
+Nitetis,) in an open litter.  The heat of the day, and the earnestness of
+her prayers, had given the sick girl a slight color.  Her blue eyes,
+filled with tears, were fixed on the sistrum which her weak, emaciated
+hands had hardly strength to hold.
+
+A murmur of compassion ran through the crowd; for they loved their dying
+king, and manifested openly and gladly the sympathy so usually felt for
+young lives from whom a brilliant future has been snatched by disease.
+Such was Amasis' young, fading daughter, who was now being carried past
+them, and many an eye grew dim as the beautiful invalid came in sight.
+Tachot seemed to notice this, for she raised her eyes from the sistrum
+and looked kindly and gratefully at the crowd.  Suddenly the color left
+her face, she turned deadly pale, and the golden sistrum fell on to the
+stone pavement with a clang, close to Bartja's feet.  He felt that he had
+been recognized and for one moment thought of hiding himself in the
+crowd; but only for one moment--his chivalrous feeling gained the day, he
+darted forward, picked up the sistrum, and forgetting the danger in which
+he was placing himself, held it out to the princess.
+
+Tachot looked at him earnestly before taking the golden sistrum from his
+hands, and then said, in a low voice, which only he could understand:
+"Are you Bartja?  Tell me, in your mother's name--are you Bartja?"
+
+"Yes, I am," was his answer, in a voice as low as her own, "your friend,
+Bartja."
+
+He could not say more, for the priests pushed him back among the crowd.
+When he was in his old place, he noticed that Tachot, whose bearers had
+begun to move on again, was looking round at him.  The color had come
+back into her cheeks, and her bright eyes were trying to meet his.  He
+did not avoid them; she threw him a lotus-bud-he stooped to pick it up,
+and then broke his way through the crowd, for this hasty act had roused
+their attention.
+
+A quarter of an hour later, he was seated in the boat which was to take
+him to Sappho and to his wedding.  He was quite at ease now about
+Zopyrus.  In Bartja's eyes his friend was already as good as saved, and
+in spite of the dangers which threatened himself, he felt strangely calm
+and happy, he could hardly say why.
+
+Meanwhile the sick princess had been carried home, had had her oppressive
+ornaments taken off, and her couch carried on to one of the palace-
+balconies where she liked best to pass the hot summer days, sheltered by
+broad-leaved plants, and a kind of awning.
+
+From this veranda, she could look down into the great fore-court of the
+palace, which was planted with trees.  To-day it was full of priests,
+courtiers, generals and governors of provinces.  Anxiety and suspense
+were expressed in every face: Amasis' last hour was drawing very near.
+
+Tachot could not be seen from below; but listening with feverish
+eagerness, she could hear much that was said.  Now that they had to dread
+the loss of their king, every one, even the priests, were full of his
+praises.  The wisdom and circumspection of his plans and modes of
+government, his unwearied industry, the moderation he had always shown,
+the keenness of his wit, were, each and all, subjects of admiration.
+"How Egypt has prospered under Amasis' government!" said a Nomarch.
+"And what glory he gained for our arms, by the conquest of Cyprus and the
+war with the Libyans!"  cried one of the generals.  "How magnificently he
+embellished our temples, and what great honors he paid to the goddess of
+Sais!"  exclaimed one of the singers of Neith.  "And then how gracious
+and condescending he was!"  murmured a courtier.  "How cleverly he
+managed to keep peace with the great powers!"  said the secretary of
+state, and the treasurer, wiping away a tear, cried: "How thoroughly he
+understood the management of the revenue!  Since the reign of Rameses
+III. the treasury has not been so well filled as now."  "Psamtik comes
+into a fine inheritance," lisped the courtier, and the soldier exclaimed,
+"Yes, but it's to be feared that he'll not spend it in a glorious war;
+he's too much under the influence of the priests."  "No, you are wrong
+there," answered the temple-singer.  "For some time past, our lord and
+master has seemed to disdain the advice of his most faithful servants."
+"The successor of such a father will find it difficult to secure
+universal approbation," said the Nomarch.  "It is not every one who has
+the intellect, the good fortune and the wisdom of Amasis."  "The gods
+know that!"  murmured the warrior with a sigh.
+
+Tachot's tears flowed fast.  These words were a confirmation of what they
+had been trying to hide from her: she was to lose her dear father soon.
+
+After she had made this dreadful certainty clear to her own mind, and
+discovered that it was in vain to beg her attendants to carry her to her
+dying father, she left off listening to the courtiers below, and began
+looking at the sistrum which Bartja himself had put into her hand, and
+which she had brought on to the balcony with her, as if seeking comfort
+there.  And she found what she sought; for it seemed to her as if the
+sound of its sacred rings bore her away into a smiling, sunny landscape.
+
+That faintness which so often comes over people in decline, had seized
+her and was sweetening her last hours with pleasant dreams.
+
+The female slaves, who stood round to fan away the flies, said afterwards
+that Tachot had never looked so lovely.
+
+She had lain about an hour in this state, when her breathing became more
+difficult, a slight cough made her breast heave, and the bright red blood
+trickled down from her lips on to her white robe.  She awoke, and looked
+surprised and disappointed on seeing the faces round her.  The sight of
+her mother, however, who came on to the veranda at that moment, brought a
+smile to her face, and she said, "O mother, I have had such a beautiful
+dream."
+
+"Then our visit to the temple has done my dear child good?"  asked the
+queen, trembling at the sight of the blood on the sick girl's lips.
+
+"Oh, yes, mother, so much! for I saw him again."  Ladice's glance at the
+attendants seemed to ask "Has your poor mistress lost her senses?"
+Tachot understood the look and said, evidently speaking with great
+difficulty: "You think I am wandering, mother.  No, indeed, I really saw
+and spoke to him.  He gave me my sistrum again, and said he was my
+friend, and then he took my lotus-bud and vanished.  Don't look so
+distressed and surprised, mother.  What I say is really true; it is no
+dream.--There, you hear, Tentrut saw him too.  He must have come to Sais
+for my sake, and so the child-oracle in the temple-court did not deceive
+me, after all.  And now I don't feel anything more of my illness; I
+dreamt I was lying in a field of blooming poppies, as red as the blood of
+the young lambs that are offered in sacrifice; Bartja was sitting by my
+side, and Nitetis was kneeling close to us and playing wonderful songs on
+a Nabla  made of ivory.  And there was such a lovely sound in the air
+that I felt as if Horus, the beautiful god of morning, spring, and the
+resurrection, was kissing me.  Yes, mother, I tell you he is coming soon,
+and when I am well, then--then--ah, mother what is this?  .  .  .  I am
+dying!"
+
+Ladice knelt down by her child's bed and pressed her lips in burning
+kisses on the girl's eyes as they grew dim in death.
+
+An hour later she was standing by another bedside--her dying husband's.
+
+Severe suffering had disfigured the king's features, the cold
+perspiration was standing on his forehead, and his hands grasped the
+golden lions on the arms of the deep-seated invalid chair in which he was
+resting, almost convulsively.
+
+When Ladice came in he opened his eyes; they were as keen and intelligent
+as if he had never lost his sight.
+
+"Why do not you bring Tachot to me?"  he asked in a dry voice.
+
+"She is too ill, and suffers so much, that .  .  ."
+
+"She is dead!  Then it is well with her, for death is not punishment; it
+is the end and aim of life,--the only end that we can attain without
+effort, but through sufferings!--the gods alone know how great.  Osiris
+has taken her to himself, for she was innocent.  And Nitetis is dead too.
+Where is Nebenchari's letter?"
+
+"Here is the place: 'She took her own life, and died calling down a heavy
+curse on thee and thine.  The poor, exiled, scorned and plundered oculist
+Nebenchari in Babylon sends thee this intelligence to Egypt.  It is as
+true as his own hatred of thee.'  Listen to these words, Psamtik, and
+remember how on his dying bed thy father told thee that, for every drachm
+of pleasure purchased on earth by wrong-doing, the dying bed will be
+burdened by a talent's weight of remorse.  Fearful misery is coming on
+Egypt for Nitetis' sake.  Cambyses is preparing to make war on us.  He
+will sweep down on Egypt like a scorching wind from the desert.  Much,
+which I have staked my nightly sleep and the very marrow of my existence
+to bring into existence, will be annihilated.  Still I have not lived in
+vain.  For forty years I have been the careful father and benefactor of a
+great nation.  Children and children's children will speak of Amasis as a
+great, wise and humane king; they will read my name on the great works
+which I have built in Sais and Thebes, and will praise the greatness of
+my power.  Neither shall I be condemned by Osiris and the forty-two
+judges of the nether world; the goddess of truth, who holds the balances,
+will find that my good deeds outweigh my bad."--Here the king sighed
+deeply and remained silent for some time.  Then, looking tenderly at his
+wife, he said: "Ladice, thou hast been a faithful, virtuous wife to me.
+For this I thank thee, and ask thy forgiveness for much.  We have often
+misunderstood one another.  Indeed it was easier for me to accustom
+myself to the Greek modes of thought, than for a Greek to understand our
+Egyptian ideas.  Thou know'st my love of Greek art,--thou know'st how I
+enjoyed the society of thy friend Pythagoras, who was thoroughly
+initiated in all that we believe and know, and adopted much from us.  He
+comprehended the deep wisdom which lies in the doctrines that I reverence
+most, and he took care not to speak lightly of truths which our priests
+are perhaps too careful to hide from the people; for though the many bow
+down before that which they cannot understand, they would be raised and
+upheld by those very truths, if explained to them.  To a Greek mind our
+worship of animals presents the greatest difficulty, but to my own the
+worship of the Creator in his creatures seems more just and more worthy
+of a human being, than the worship of his likeness in stone.  The Greek
+deities are moreover subject to every human infirmity; indeed I should
+have made my queen very unhappy by living in the same manner as her great
+god Zeus."
+
+At these words the king smiled, and then went on: "And what has given
+rise to this?  The Hellenic love of beauty in form, which, in the eye of
+a Greek, is superior to every thing else.  He cannot separate the body
+from the soul, because he holds it to be the most glorious of formed
+things, and indeed, believes that a beautiful spirit must necessarily
+inhabit a beautiful body.  Their gods, therefore, are only elevated human
+beings, but we adore an unseen power working in nature and in ourselves.
+The animal takes its place between ourselves and nature; its actions are
+guided, not, like our own, by the letter, but by the eternal laws of
+nature,  which owe their origin to the Deity, while the letter is a
+device of man's own mind.  And then, too, where amongst ourselves do we
+find so earnest a longing and endeavor to gain freedom, the highest good,
+as among the animals?  Where such a regular and well-balanced life from
+generation to generation, without instruction or precept?"
+
+Here the king's voice failed.  He was obliged to pause for a few moments,
+and then continued: "I know that my end is near; therefore enough of
+these matters.  My son and successor, hear my last wishes and act upon
+them; they are the result of experience.  But alas! how often have I
+seen, that rules of life given by one man to another are useless.  Every
+man must earn his own experience.  His own losses make him prudent, his
+own learning wise.  Thou, my son, art coming to the throne at a mature
+age; thou hast had time and opportunity to judge between right and wrong,
+to note what is beneficial and what hurtful, to see and compare many
+things.  I give thee, therefore, only a few wholesome counsels, and only
+fear that though I offer them with my right hand, thou wilt accept them
+with the left.
+
+"First, however, I must say that, notwithstanding my blindness, my
+indifference to what has been going on during the past months has been
+only apparent.  I left you to your own devices with a good intention.
+Rhodopis told me once one of her teacher AEsop's fables: 'A traveller,
+meeting a man on his road, asked him how long it would be before he
+reached the nearest town.'  'Go on, go on,' cried the other.  'But I want
+to know first when I shall get to the town.'  'Go on, only go on,' was
+the answer.  The traveller left him with angry words and abuse; but he
+had not gone many steps when the man called after him: 'You will be there
+in an hour.  I could not answer your question until I had seen your
+pace.'
+
+"I bore this fable in my mind for my son's sake, and watched in silence
+at what pace he was ruling his people.  Now I have discovered what I wish
+to know, and this is my advice: Examine into everything your self.  It is
+the duty of every man, but especially of a king, to acquaint himself
+intimately with all that concerns the weal or woe of his people.  You, my
+son, are in the habit of using the eyes and ears of other men instead of
+going to the fountain-head yourself.  I am sure that your advisers, the
+priests, only desire what is good; but .  .  .  Neithotep, I must beg you
+to leave us alone for a few moments."
+
+When the priest was gone the king exclaimed "They wish for what is good,
+but good only for themselves.  But we are not kings of priests and
+aristocrats only, we are kings of a nation!  Do not listen to the advice
+of this proud caste alone, but read every petition yourself, and, by
+appointing Nomarchs devoted to the king and beloved by the people, make
+yourself acquainted with the needs and wishes of the Egyptian nation.  It
+is not difficult to govern well, if you are aware of the state of feeling
+in your land.  Choose fit men to fill the offices of state.  I have taken
+care that the kingdom shall be properly divided.  The laws are good, and
+have proved themselves so; hold fast by these laws, and trust no one who
+sets himself above them; for law is invariably wiser than the individual
+man, and its transgressor deserves his punishment.  The people understand
+this well, and are ready to sacrifice themselves for us, when they see
+that we are ready to give up our own will to the law.  You do not care
+for the people.  I know their voice is often rude and rough, but it
+utters wholesome truths, and no one needs to hear truth more than a king.
+The Pharaoh who chooses priests and courtiers for his advisers, will hear
+plenty of flattering words, while he who tries to fulfil the wishes of
+the nation will have much to suffer from those around him; but the latter
+will feel peace in his own heart, and be praised in the ages to come.  I
+have often erred, yet the Egyptians will weep for me, as one who knew
+their needs and considered their welfare like a father.  A king who
+really knows his duties, finds it an easy and beautiful task to win the
+love of the people--an unthankful one to gain the applause of the great--
+almost an impossibility to content both.
+
+"Do not forget,--I say it again,--that kings and priests exist for the
+people, and not the people for their kings and priests.  Honor religion
+for its own sake and as the most important means of securing the
+obedience of the governed to their governors; but at the same time show
+its promulgators that you look on them, not as receptacles, but as
+servants, of the Deity.  Hold fast, as the law commands, by what is old;
+but never shut the gates of your kingdom against what is new, if better.
+Bad men break at once with the old traditions; fools only care for what
+is new and fresh; the narrowminded and the selfish privileged class cling
+indiscriminately to all that is old, and pronounce progress to be a sin;
+but the wise endeavor to retain all that has approved itself in the past,
+to remove all that has become defective, and to adopt whatever is good,
+from whatever source it may have sprung.  Act thus, my son.  The priests
+will try to keep you back--the Greeks to urge you forward.  Choose one
+party or the other, but beware of indecision--of yielding to the one
+to-day, to the other to-morrow.  Between two stools a man falls to the
+ground.  Let the one party be your friends, the other your enemies; by
+trying to please both, you will have both opposed to you.  Human beings
+hate the man who shows kindness to their enemies.  In the last few
+months, during which you have ruled independently, both parties have been
+offended by your miserable indecision.  The man who runs backwards and
+forwards like a child, makes no progress, and is soon weary.  I have till
+now--till I felt that death was near--always encouraged the Greeks and
+opposed the priests.  In the active business of life, the clever, brave
+Greeks seemed to me especially serviceable; at death, I want men who can
+make me out a pass into the nether regions.  The gods forgive me for not
+being able to resist words that sound so like a joke, even in my last
+hour!  They created me and must take me as I am.  I rubbed my hands for
+joy when I became king; with thee, my son, coming to the throne is a
+graver matter.--Now call Neithotep back; I have still something to say to
+you both."
+
+The king gave his hand to the high-priest as he entered, saving: "I leave
+you, Neithotep, without ill-will, though my opinion that you have been a
+better priest than a servant to your king, remains unaltered.  Psamtik
+will probably prove a more obedient follower than I have been, but one
+thing I wish to impress earnestly on you both: Do not dismiss the Greek
+mercenaries until the war with the Persians is over, and has ended
+we will hope--in victory for Egypt.  My former predictions are not worth
+anything now; when death draws near, we get depressed, and things begin
+to look a little black.  Without the auxiliary troops we shall be
+hopelessly lost, but with them victory is not impossible.  Be clever;
+show the Ionians that they are fighting on the Nile for the freedom of
+their own country--that Cambyses, if victorious, will not be contented
+with Egypt alone, while his defeat may bring freedom to their own
+enslaved countrymen in Ionia.  I know you agree with me, Neithotep, for
+in your heart you mean well to Egypt.--Now read me the prayers.  I feel
+exhausted; my end must be very near.  If I could only forget that poor
+Nitetis! had she the right to curse us?  May the judges of the dead-may
+Osiris--have mercy on our souls!  Sit down by me, Ladice; lay thy hand on
+my burning forehead.  And Psamtik, in presence of these witnesses, swear
+to honor and respect thy step-mother, as if thou wert her own child.  My
+poor wife!  Come and seek me soon before the throne of Osiris.  A widow
+and childless, what hast thou to do with this world?  We brought up
+Nitetis as our own daughter, and yet we are so heavily punished for her
+sake.  But her curse rests on us--and only on us;--not on thee, Psamtik,
+nor on thy children.  Bring my grandson.  Was that a tear?  Perhaps;
+well, the little things to which one has accustomed one's self are
+generally the hardest to give up."
+
+                    ......................
+
+Rhodopis entertained a fresh guest that evening; Kallias, the son of
+Phoenippus, the same who first appeared in our tale as the bearer of news
+from the Olympic games.
+
+The lively, cheerful Athenian had just come back from his native country,
+and, as an old and tried friend, was not only received by Rhodopis, but
+made acquainted with the secret of Sappho's marriage.
+
+Knakias, her old slave, had, it is true, taken in the flag which was the
+sign of reception, two days ago; but he knew that Kallias was always
+welcome to his mistress, and therefore admitted him just as readily as he
+refused every one else.
+
+The Athenian had plenty to tell, and when Rhodopis was called away on
+business, he took his favorite Sappho into the garden, joking and teasing
+her gaily as they looked out for her lover's coming.  But Bartja did not
+come, and Sappho began to be so anxious that Kallias called old Melitta,
+whose longing looks in the direction of Naukratis were, if possible, more
+anxious even than those of her mistress, and told her to fetch a musical
+instrument which he had brought with him.
+
+It was a rather large lute, made of gold and ivory, and as he handed it
+to Sappho, he said, with a smile: "The inventor of this glorious
+instrument, the divine Anakreon, had it made expressly for me, at my own
+wish.  He calls it a Barbiton, and brings wonderful tones from its
+chords--tones that must echo on even into the land of shadows.  I have
+told this poet, who offers his life as one great sacrifice to the Muses,
+Eros and Dionysus, a great deal about you, and he made me promise to
+bring you this song, which he wrote on purpose for you, as a gift from
+himself.
+
+"Now, what do you say to this song?  But by Hercules, child, how pale you
+are!  Have the verses affected you so much, or are you frightened at this
+likeness of your own longing heart?  Calm yourself, girl.  Who knows what
+may have happened to your lover?"
+
+"Nothing has happened,--nothing," cried a gay, manly voice, and in a few
+seconds Sappho was in the arms of him she loved.
+
+Kallias looked on quietly, smiling at the wonderful beauty of these two
+young lovers.
+
+"But now," said the prince, after Sappho had made him acquainted with
+Kallias, "I must go at once to your grandmother.  We dare not wait four
+days for our wedding.  It must be to-day!  There is danger in every hour
+of delay.  Is Theopompus here?"
+
+"I think he must be," said Sappho.  "I know of nothing else, that could
+keep my grandmother so long in the house.  But tell me, what is this
+about our marriage?  It seems to me .  .  ."
+
+"Let us go in first, love.  I fancy a thunder-storm must be coming on.
+The sky is so dark, and it's so intolerably sultry."
+
+"As you like, only make haste, unless you mean me to die of impatience.
+There is not the slightest reason to be afraid of a storm.  Since I was a
+child there has not been either lightning or thunder in Egypt at this
+time of year."
+
+"Then you will see something new to-day," said Kallias, laughing; for a
+large drop of rain has just fallen on my bald head, "the Nile-swallows
+were flying close to the water as I came here, and you see there is a
+cloud coming over the moon already.  Come in quickly, or you will get
+wet.  Ho, slave, see that a black lamb is offered to the gods of the
+lower world."
+
+They found Theopompus sitting in Rhodopis' own apartment, as Sappho had
+supposed.  He had finished telling her the story of Zopyrus' arrest, and
+of the journey which Bartja and his friends had taken on his behalf.
+
+Their anxiety on the matter was beginning to be so serious, that Bartja's
+unexpected appearance was a great relief.  His words flew as he repeated
+the events of the last few hours, and begged Theopompus to look out at
+once for a ship in sailing order, to convey himself and his friends from
+Egypt.
+
+"That suits famously," exclaimed Kallias.  "My own trireme brought me
+from Naukratis to-day; it is lying now, fully equipped for sea, in the
+port, and is quite at your service.  I have only to send orders to the
+steersman to keep the crew together and everything in sailing order.--You
+are under no obligations to me; on the contrary it is I who have to thank
+you for the honor you will confer on me.  Ho, Knakias!--tell my slave
+Philomelus, he's waiting in the hall,--to take a boat to the port, and
+order my steersman Nausarchus to keep the ship in readiness for starting.
+Give him this seal; it empowers him to do all that is necessary."
+
+"And my slaves?"  said Bartja.
+
+"Knakias can tell my old steward to take them to Kallias' ship," answered
+Theopompus.
+
+"And when they see this," said Bartja, giving the old servant his ring,
+"they will obey without a question."
+
+Knakias went away with many a deep obeisance, and the prince went on:
+"Now, my mother, I have a great petition to ask of you."
+
+"I guess what it is," said Rhodopis, with a smile.  "You wish your
+marriage to be hastened, and I see that I dare not oppose your wish."
+
+"If I'm not mistaken," said Kallias, "we have a remarkable case here.
+Two people are in great peril, and find that very peril a matter of
+rejoicing."
+
+"Perhaps you are right there," said Bartja, pressing Sappho's hand
+unperceived.  And then, turning to Rhodopis again, he begged her to delay
+no longer in trusting her dearest treasure to his care,--a treasure whose
+worth he knew so well.
+
+Rhodopis rose, she laid her right hand on Sappho's head and her left on
+Bartja's, and said: "There is a myth which tells of a blue lake in the
+land of roses; its waves are sometimes calm and gentle, but at others
+they rise into a stormy flood; the taste of its waters is partly sweet as
+honey, partly bitter as gall.  Ye will learn the meaning of this legend
+in the marriage-land of roses.  Ye will pass calm and stormy-sweet and
+bitter hours there.  So long as thou wert a child, Sappho, thy life
+passed on like a cloudless spring morning, but when thou becam'st a
+maiden, and hadst learnt to love, thine heart was opened to admit pain;
+and during the long months of separation pain was a frequent guest there.
+This guest will seek admission as long as life lasts.  Bartja, it will be
+your duty to keep this intruder away from Sappho, as far as it lies in
+your power.  I know the world.  I could perceive,--even before Croesus
+told me of your generous nature,--that you were worthy of my Sappho.
+This justified me in allowing you to eat the quince with her; this
+induces me now to entrust to you, without fear, what I have always looked
+upon as a sacred pledge committed to my keeping.  Look upon her too only
+as a loan.  Nothing is more dangerous to love, than a comfortable
+assurance of exclusive possession--I have been blamed for allowing such
+an inexperienced child to go forth into your distant country, where
+custom is so unfavorable to women; but I know what love is;--I know that
+a girl who loves, knows no home but the heart of her husband;--the woman
+whose heart has been touched by Eros no misfortune but that of separation
+from him whom she has chosen.  And besides, I would ask you, Kallias and
+Theopompus, is the position of your own wives so superior to that of the
+Persian women?  Are not the women of Ionia and Attica forced to pass
+their lives in their own apartments, thankful if they are allowed to
+cross the street accompanied by suspicious and distrustful slaves?  As to
+the custom which prevails in Persia of taking many wives, I have no fear
+either for Bartja or Sappho.  He will be more faithful to his wife than
+are many Greeks, for he will find in her what you are obliged to seek, on
+the one hand in marriage, on the other in the houses of the cultivated
+Hetaere:--in the former, housewives and mothers, in the latter, animated
+and enlivening intellectual society.  Take her, my son.  I give her to
+you as an old warrior gives his sword, his best possession, to his
+stalwart son:--he gives it gladly and with confidence.  Whithersoever she
+may go she will always remain a Greek, and it comforts me to think that
+in her new home she will bring honor to the Greek name and friends to our
+nation, Child, I thank thee for those tears.  I can command my own, but
+fate has made me pay an immeasurable price for the power of doing so.
+The gods have heard your oath, my noble Bartja.  Never forget it, but
+take her as your own, your friend, your wife.  Take her away as soon as
+your friends return; it is not the will of the gods that the Hymenaeus
+should be sung at Sappho's nuptial rites."
+
+As she said these words she laid Sappho's hand in Bartja's, embraced her
+with passionate tenderness, and breathed a light kiss on the forehead of
+the young Persian.  Then turning to her Greek friends, who stood by, much
+affected:
+
+"That was a quiet nuptial ceremony," she said; "no songs, no torch-light!
+May their union be so much the happier.  Melitta, bring the bride's
+marriage-ornaments, the bracelets and necklaces which lie in the bronze
+casket on my dressing-table, that our darling may give her hand to her
+lord attired as beseems a future princess."
+
+"Yes, and do not linger on the way," cried Kallias, whose old
+cheerfulness had now returned.  "Neither can we allow the niece of the
+greatest of Hymen's poets to be married without the sound of song and
+music.  The young husband's house is, to be sure, too far off for our
+purpose, so we will suppose that the andronitis is his dwelling.
+
+     [The Hymenaeus was the wedding-song, so called because of its
+     refrain "Hymen O!  Hymenae' O!"  The god of marriage, Hymen, took
+     his origin and name from the hymn, was afterwards decked out richly
+     with myths, and finally, according to Catullus, received a seat on
+     Mount Helikon with the Muses.]
+
+     [A Greek bride was beautifully adorned for her marriage, and her
+     bridesmaids received holiday garments.  Homer, Odyss.  VI.  27.
+     Besides which, after the bath, which both bride and bridegroom were
+     obliged to take, she was anointed with sweet-smelling essences.
+     Thucyd. II. 15.  Xenoph.  Symp. II. 3.]
+
+"We will conduct the maiden thither by the centre door, and there we will
+enjoy a merry wedding-feast by the family hearth.  Here, slavegirls, come
+and form yourselves into two choruses.  Half of your number take the part
+of the youths; the other half that of the maidens, and sing us Sappho's
+Hymenaeus.  I will be the torch-bearer; that dignity is mine by right.
+You must know, Bartja, that my family has an hereditary right to carry
+the torches at the Eleusinian mysteries and we are therefore called
+Daduchi or torch-bearers.  Ho, slave!  see that the door of the
+andronitis is hung with flowers, and tell your comrades to meet us with a
+shower of sweetmeats as we enter.  That's right, Melitta; why, how did
+you manage to get those lovely violet and myrtle marriage-crowns made so
+quickly?  The rain is streaming through the opening above.  You see,
+Hymen has persuaded Zeus to help him; so that not a single marriage-rite
+shall be omitted.  You could not take the bath, which ancient custom
+prescribes for the bride and bridegroom on the morning of their wedding-
+day, so you have only to stand here a moment and take the rain of Zeus as
+an equivalent for the waters of the sacred spring.  Now, girls, begin
+your song.  Let the maidens bewail the rosy days of childhood, and the
+youths praise the lot of those who marry young."
+
+Five well-practised treble voices now began to sing the chorus of virgins
+in a sad and plaintive tone.
+
+Suddenly the song was hushed, for a flash of lightning had shone down
+through the aperture beneath which Kallias had stationed the bride and
+bridegroom, followed by a loud peal of thunder.  "See!"  cried the
+Daduchus, raising his hand to heaven, "Zeus himself has taken the
+nuptial-torch, and sings the Hymenaeus for his favorites."
+
+At dawn the next morning, Sappho and Bartja left the house and went into
+the garden.  After the violent storm which had raged all night, the
+garden was looking as fresh and cheerful in the morning light as the
+faces of the newly-married pair.
+
+Bartja's anxiety for his friends, whom he had almost forgotten in the
+excitement of his marriage, had roused them so early.
+
+The garden had been laid out on an artificial hill, which overlooked the
+inundated plain.  Blue and white lotus-blossoms floated on the smooth
+surface of the water, and vast numbers of water-birds hovered along the
+shores or over the flood.  Flocks of white, herons appeared on the banks,
+their plumage gleaming like glaciers on distant mountain peaks; a
+solitary eagle circled upward on its broad pinions through the pure
+morning air, turtle-doves nestled in the tops of the palm-trees; pelicans
+and ducks fluttered screaming away, whenever a gay sail appeared.  The
+air had been cooled by the storm, a fresh north-wind was blowing, and,
+notwithstanding the early hour, there were a number of boats sailing over
+the deluged fields before the breeze.  The songs of the rowers, the
+plashing strokes of their oars and the cries of the birds, all
+contributed to enliven the watery landscape of the Nile valley, which,
+though varied in color, was somewhat monotonous.
+
+Bartja and Sappho stood leaning on each other by the low wall which ran
+round Rhodopis' garden, exchanging tender words and watching the scene
+below, till at last Bartja's quick eye caught sight of a boat making
+straight for the house and coming on fast by the help of the breeze and
+powerful rowers.
+
+A few minutes later the boat put in to shore and Zopyrus with his
+deliverers stood before them.
+
+Darius's plan had succeeded perfectly, thanks to the storm, which, by its
+violence and the unusual time of its appearance, had scared the
+Egyptians; but still there was no time to be lost, as it might reasonably
+be supposed that the men of Sais would pursue their fugitive with all the
+means at their command.
+
+Sappho, therefore, had to take a short farewell of her grandmother, all
+the more tender, however, for its shortness,--and then, led by Rartja and
+followed by old Melitta, who was to accompany her to Persia, she went on
+board Syloson's boat.  After an hour's sail they reached a beautifully-
+built and fast-sailing vessel, the Hygieia, which belonged to Kallias.
+
+He was waiting for them on board his trireme.  The leave-taking between
+himself and his young friends was especially affectionate.  Bartja hung a
+heavy and costly gold chain round the neck of the old man in token of his
+gratitude, while Syloson, in remembrance of the dangers they had shared
+together, threw his purple cloak over Darius' shoulders.  It was a
+master-specimen of Tynan dye, and had taken the latter's fancy.  Darius
+accepted the gift with pleasure, and said, as he took leave: "You must
+never forget that I am indebted to you, my Greek friend, and as soon as
+possible give me an opportunity of doing you service in return."
+
+"You ought to come to me first, though," exclaimed Zopyrus, embracing his
+deliverer.  "I am perfectly ready to share my last gold piece with you;
+or what is more, if it would do you a service, to sit a whole week in
+that infernal hole from which you saved me.  Ah! they're weighing anchor.
+Farewell, you brave Greek.  Remember me to the flower-sisters, especially
+to the pretty, little Stephanion, and tell her her long-legged lover
+won't be able to plague her again for some time to come at least.  And
+then, one more thing; take this purse of gold for the wife and children
+of that impertinent fellow, whom I struck too hard in the heat of the
+fray."
+
+The anchors fell rattling on to the deck, the wind filled the sails, the
+Trieraules--[Flute-player to a trireme]--took his flute and set the
+measure of the monotonous Keleusma or rowing-song, which echoed again
+from the hold of the vessel.  The beak of the ship bearing the statue of
+Hygieia, carved in wood, began to move.  Bartja and Sappho stood at the
+helm and gazed towards Naukratis, until the shores of the Nile vanished
+and the green waves of the Hellenic sea splashed their foam over the deck
+of the trireme.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+Our young bride and bridegroom had not travelled farther than Ephesus,
+when the news reached them that Amasis was dead.  From Ephesus they went
+to Babylon, and thence to Pasargadae, which Kassandane, Atossa and
+Croesus had made their temporary residence.  Kassandane was to accompany
+the army to Egypt, and wished, now that Nebenchari had restored her
+sight, to see the monument which had lately been built to her great
+husband's memory after Croesus' design, before leaving for so long a
+journey.  She rejoiced in finding it worthy of the great Cyrus, and spent
+hours every day in the beautiful gardens which had been laid out round
+the mausoleum.
+
+It consisted of a gigantic sarcophagus made of solid marble blocks, and
+resting like a house on a substructure composed of six high marble steps.
+The interior was fitted up like a room, and contained, beside the golden
+coffin in which were preserved such few remains of Cyrus as had been
+spared by the dogs, vultures, and elements, a silver bed and a table of
+the same metal, on which were golden drinking-cups and numerous garments
+ornamented with the rarest and most costly jewels.
+
+The building was forty feet high.  The shady paradises--[Persian
+pleasure-gardens]--and colonnades by which it was surrounded had been
+planned by Croesus, and in the midst of the sacred grove was a dwelling-
+house for the Magi appointed to watch over the tomb.
+
+The palace of Cyrus could be seen in the distance--a palace in which he
+had appointed that the future kings of Persia should pass at least some
+months of every year.  It was a splendid building in the style of a
+fortress, and so inaccessibly placed that it had been fixed on as the
+royal treasure-house.
+
+Here, in the fresh mountain air of a place dedicated to the memory of the
+husband she had loved so much, Kassandane felt well and at peace; she was
+glad too to see that Atossa was recovering the old cheerfulness, which
+she had so sadly lost since the death of Nitetis and the departure of
+Darius.  Sappho soon became the friend of her new mother and sister, and
+all three felt very loath to leave the lovely Pasargadm.
+
+Darius and Zopyrus had remained with the army which was assembling in the
+plains of the Euphrates, and Bartja too had to return thither before the
+march began.
+
+Cambyses went out to meet his family on their return; he was much
+impressed with Sappho's great beauty, but she confessed to her husband
+that his brother only inspired her with fear.
+
+The king had altered very much in the last few months.  His formerly pale
+and almost noble features were reddened and disfigured by the quantities
+of wine he was in the habit of drinking.  In his dark eyes there was the
+old fire still, but dimmed and polluted.  His hair and beard, formerly so
+luxuriant, and black as the raven's wing, hung down grey and disordered
+over his face and chin, and the proud smile which used so to improve his
+features had given way to an expression of contemptuous annoyance and
+harsh severity.
+
+Sometimes he laughed,--loudly, immoderately and coarsely; but this was
+only when intoxicated, a condition which had long ceased to be unusual
+with him.
+
+He continued to retain an aversion to his wives; so much so that the
+royal harem was to be left behind in Susa, though all his court took
+their favorite wives and concubines with them on the campaign.  Still no
+one could complain that the king was ever guilty of injustice; indeed he
+insisted more eagerly now than before on the rigid execution of the law;
+and wherever he detected an abuse his punishments were cruel and
+inexorable.  Hearing that a judge, named Sisamnes, had been bribed to
+pronounce an unjust sentence, he condemned the wretched man to be flayed,
+ordered the seat of justice to be covered with his skin, appointed the
+son to the father's vacant place and compelled him to occupy this fearful
+seat.--[Herodot.  V.  25.]--Cambyses was untiring as commander of the
+forces, and superintended the drilling of the troops assembled near
+Babylon with the greatest rigor and circumspection.
+
+The hosts were to march after the festival of the New Year, which
+Cambyses celebrated this time with immense expense and profusion.  The
+ceremony over, he betook himself to the army.  Bartja was there.  He came
+up to his brother, beaming with joy, kissed the hem of his robe, and told
+him in a tone of triumph that he hoped to become a father.  The king
+trembled as he heard the words, vouchsafed his brother no answer, drank
+himself into unconsciousness that evening, and the next morning called
+the soothsayers, Magi and Chaldaeans together, in order to submit a
+question to them.  "Shall I be committing a sin against the gods, if I
+take my sister to wife and thus verify the promise of the dream, which ye
+formerly interpreted to mean that Atossa should bear a future king to
+this realm?"
+
+The Magi consulted a short time together.  Then Oropastes cast himself at
+the king's feet and said, "We do not believe, O King, that this marriage
+would be a sin against the gods; inasmuch as, first: it is a custom among
+the Persians to marry with their own kin; and secondly, though it be not
+written in the law that the pure man may marry his sister, it is written
+that the king may do what seemeth good in his own eyes.  That which
+pleaseth thee is therefore always lawful."
+
+Cambyses sent the Magi away with rich gifts, gave Oropastes full powers
+as regent of the kingdom in his absence, and soon after told his
+horrified mother that, as soon as the conquest of Egypt and the
+punishment of the son of Amasis should have been achieved, he intended to
+marry his sister Atossa.
+
+At length the immense host, numbering more than 800,000 fighting men,
+departed in separate divisions, and reached the Syrian desert in two
+months.  Here they were met by the Arabian tribes whom Phanes had
+propitiated--the Amalekites and Geshurites--bringing camels and horses
+laden with water for the host.
+
+At Accho, in the land of the Canaanites, the fleets of the Syrians,
+Phoenicians and Ionians belonging to Persia, and the auxiliary ships from
+Cyprus and Samos, won by the efforts of Phanes, were assembled.  The case
+of the Samian fleet was a remarkable one.  Polykrates saw in Cambyses'
+proposal a favorable opportunity of getting rid of all the citizens who
+were discontented with his government, manned forty triremes with eight
+thousand malcontent Samians, and sent them to the Persians with the
+request that not one might be allowed to return home.--[Herod. III. 44.]
+
+As soon as Phanes heard this he warned the doomed men, who at once,
+instead of sailing to join the Persian forces, returned to Samos and
+attempted to overthrow Polykrates.  They were defeated, however, on land,
+and escaped to Sparta to ask help against the tyrant.
+
+A full month before the time of the inundation, the Persian and Egyptian
+armies were standing face to face near Pelusium on the north-east coast
+of the Delta.
+
+Phanes' arrangements had proved excellent.  The Arabian tribes had kept
+faith so well that the journey through the desert, which would usually
+have cost thousands of lives, had been attended with very little loss,
+and the time of year had been so well chosen that the Persian troops
+reached Egypt by dry roads and without inconvenience.
+
+The king met his Greek friend with every mark of distinction, and
+returned a friendly nod when Phanes said: "I hear that you have been less
+cheerful than usual since the death of your beautiful bride.  A woman's
+grief passes in stormy and violent complaint, but the sterner character
+of a man cannot so soon be comforted.  I know what you feel, for I have
+lost my dearest too.  Let us both praise the gods for granting us the
+best remedy for our grief--war and revenge."  Phanes accompanied the king
+to an inspection of the troops and to the evening revel.  It was
+marvellous to see the influence he exercised over this fierce spirit, and
+how calm--nay even cheerful--Cambyses became, when the Athenian was near.
+
+The Egyptian army was by no means contemptible, even when compared with
+the immense Persian hosts.  Its position was covered on the right by the
+walls of Pelusium, a frontier fortress designed by the Egyptian kings as
+a defence against incursions from the east.  The Persians were assured by
+deserters that the Egyptian army numbered altogether nearly six hundred
+thousand men.  Beside a great number of chariots of war, thirty thousand
+Karian and Ionian mercenaries, and the corps of the Mazai, two hundred
+and fifty thousand Kalasirians, one hundred and sixty thousand
+Hermotybians, twenty thousand horsemen, and auxiliary troops, amounting
+to more than fifty thousand, were assembled under Psamtik's banner;
+amongst these last the Libyan Maschawascha were remarkable for their
+military deeds, and the Ethiopians for their numerical superiority.
+
+The infantry were divided into regiments and companies, under different
+standards, and variously equipped.
+
+     [In these and the descriptions immediately following, we have drawn
+     our information, either from the drawings made from Egyptian
+     monuments in Champollion, Wilkinson, Rosellini and Lepsius, or from
+     the monuments themselves.  There is a dagger in the Berlin Museum,
+     the blade of which is of bronze, the hilt of ivory and the sheath of
+     leather.  Large swords are only to be seen in the hands of the
+     foreign auxiliaries, but the native Egyptians are armed with small
+     ones, like daggers.  The largest one of which we have any knowledge
+     is in the possession of Herr E.  Brugsch at Cairo.  It is more than
+     two feet long.]
+
+The heavy-armed soldiers carried large shields, lances, and daggers; the
+swordsmen and those who fought with battle-axes had smaller shields and
+light clubs; beside these, there were slingers, but the main body of the
+army was composed of archers, whose bows unbent were nearly the height of
+a man.  The only clothing of the horse-soldiers was the apron, and their
+weapon a light club in the form of a mace or battle-axe.  Those warriors,
+on the contrary, who fought in chariots belonged to the highest rank of
+the military caste, spent large sums on the decoration of their two-
+wheeled chariots and the harness of their magnificent horses, and went to
+battle in their most costly ornaments.  They were armed with bows and
+lances, and a charioteer stood beside each, so that their undivided
+attention could be bestowed upon the battle.
+
+The Persian foot was not much more numerous than the Egyptian, but they
+had six times the number of horse-soldiers.
+
+As soon as the armies stood face to face, Cambyses caused the great
+Pelusian plain to be cleared of trees and brushwood, and had the sand-
+hills removed which were to be found here and there, in order to give his
+cavalry and scythe-chariots a fair field of action.  Phanes' knowledge of
+the country was of great use.  He had drawn up a plan of action with
+great military skill, and succeeded in gaining not only Cambyses'
+approval, but that of the old general Megabyzus and the best tacticians
+among the Achaemenidae.  His local knowledge was especially valuable on
+account of the marshes which intersected the Pelusian plain, and might,
+unless carefully avoided, have proved fatal to the Persian enterprise.
+At the close of the council of war Phanes begged to be heard once more:
+"Now, at length," he said, "I am at liberty to satisfy your curiosity in
+reference to the closed waggons full of animals, which I have had
+transported hither.  They contain five thousand cats!  Yes, you may
+laugh, but I tell you these creatures will be more serviceable to us than
+a hundred thousand of our best soldiers.  Many of you are aware that the
+Egyptians have a superstition which leads them rather to die than kill a
+cat,  I, myself, nearly paid for such a murder once with my life.
+Remembering this, I have been making a diligent search for cats during my
+late journey; in Cyprus, where there are splendid specimens, in Samos
+and in Crete.  All I could get I ordered to be caught, and now propose
+that they be distributed among those troops who will be opposed to the
+native Egyptian soldiers.  Every man must be told to fasten one firmly to
+his shield and hold it out as he advances towards the enemy.  I will
+wager that there's not one real Egyptian, who would not rather fly from
+the battle-field than take aim at one of these sacred animals."
+
+This speech was met by a loud burst of laughter; on being discussed,
+however, it was approved of, and ordered to be carried out at once.  The
+ingenious Greek was honored by receiving the king's hand to kiss, his
+expenses were reimbursed by a magnificent present, and he was urged to
+take a daughter of some noble Persian family in marriage.
+
+     [Themistocles too, on coming to the Persian court, received a high-
+     born Persian wife in marriage.  Diod. XI. 57.]
+
+The king concluded by inviting him to supper, but this the Athenian
+declined, on the plea that he must review the Ionian troops, with whom he
+was as yet but little acquainted, and withdrew.
+
+At the door of his tent he found his slaves disputing with a ragged,
+dirty and unshaven old man, who insisted on speaking with their master.
+Fancying he must be a beggar, Phanes threw him a piece of gold; the old
+man did not even stoop to pick it up, but, holding the Athenian fast by
+his cloak, cried, "I am Aristomachus the Spartan!"
+
+Cruelly as he was altered, Phanes recognized his old friend at once,
+ordered his feet to be washed and his head anointed, gave him wine and
+meat to revive his strength, took his rags off and laid a new chiton over
+his emaciated, but still sinewy, frame.
+
+Aristomachus received all in silence; and when the food and wine had
+given him strength to speak, began the following answer to Phanes' eager
+questions.
+
+On the murder of Phanes' son by Psamtik, he had declared his intention of
+leaving Egypt and inducing the troops under his command to do the same,
+unless his friend's little daughter were at once set free, and a
+satisfactory explanation given for the sudden disappearance of the boy.
+Psamtik promised to consider the matter.  Two days later, as Aristomachus
+was going up the Nile by night to Memphis, he was seized by Egyptian
+soldiers, bound and thrown into the dark hold of a boat, which, after a
+voyage of many days and nights, cast anchor on a totally unknown shore.
+The prisoners were taken out of their dungeon and led across a desert
+under the burning sun, and past rocks of strange forms, until they
+reached a range of mountains with a colony of huts at its base.  These
+huts were inhabited by human beings, who, with chains on their feet, were
+driven every morning into the shaft of a mine and there compelled to hew
+grains of gold out of the stony rock.  Many of these miserable men had
+passed forty years in this place, but most died soon, overcome by the
+hard work and the fearful extremes of heat and cold to which they were
+exposed on entering and leaving the mine.
+
+     [Diodorus (III. 12.) describes the compulsory work in the gold mines
+     with great minuteness.  The convicts were either prisoners taken in
+     war, or people whom despotism in its blind fury found it expedient
+     to put out of the way.  The mines lay in the plain of Koptos, not
+     far from the Red Sea.  Traces of them have been discovered in modern
+     times.  Interesting inscriptions of the time of Rameses the Great,
+     (14 centuries B. C.) referring to the gold-mines, have been found,
+     one at Radesich, the other at Kubnn, and have been published and
+     deciphered in Europe.]
+
+"My companions," continued Aristomachus, "were either condemned murderers
+to whom mercy had been granted, or men guilty of high treason whose
+tongues had been cut out, and others such as myself whom the king had
+reason to fear.  Three months I worked among this set, submitting to the
+strokes of the overseer, fainting under the fearful heat, and stiffening
+under the cold dews of night.  I felt as if picked out for death and only
+kept alive by the hope of vengeance.  It happened, however, by the mercy
+of the gods, that at the feast of Pacht, our guards, as is the custom of
+the Egyptians, drank so freely as to fall into a deep sleep, during which
+I and a young Jew who had been deprived of his right hand for having used
+false weights in trade, managed to escape unperceived; Zeus Lacedaemonius
+and the great God whom this young man worshipped helped us in our need,
+and, though we often heard the voices of our pursuers, they never
+succeeded in capturing us.  I had taken a bow from one of our guards;
+with this we obtained food, and when no game was to be found we lived on
+roots, fruits and birds' eggs.  The sun and stars showed us our road.  We
+knew that the gold-mines were not far from the Red Sea and lay to the
+south of Memphis.  It was not long before we reached the coast; and then,
+pressing onwards in a northerly direction, we fell in with some friendly
+mariners, who took care of us until we were taken up by an Arabian boat.
+The young Jew understood the language spoken by the crew, and in their
+care we came to Eziongeber in the land of Edom.  There we heard that
+Cambyses was coming with an immense army against Egypt, and travelled as
+far as Harma under the protection of an Amalekite caravan bringing water
+to the Persian army.  From thence I went on to Pelusium in the company of
+some stragglers from the Asiatic army, who now and then allowed me a seat
+on their horses, and here I heard that you had accepted a high command in
+Cambyses' army.  I have kept my vow, I have been true to my nation in
+Egypt; now it is your turn to help old Aristomachus in gaining the only
+thing he still cares for--revenge on his persecutors."
+
+"And that you shall have!"  cried Phanes, grasping the old man's hand.
+"You shall have the command of the heavy-armed Milesian troops, and
+liberty to commit what carnage you like among the ranks of our enemies.
+This, however, is only paying half the debt I owe you.  Praised be the
+gods, who have put it in my power to make you happy by one single
+sentence.  Know then, Aristomachus, that, only a few days after your
+disappearance, a ship arrived in the harbor of Naukratis from Sparta.
+It was guided by your own noble son and expressly sent by the Ephori in
+your honor--to bring the father of two Olympic victors back to his native
+land."
+
+The old man's limbs trembled visibly at these words, his eyes filled with
+tears and he murmured a prayer.  Then smiting his forehead, he cried in a
+voice trembling with feeling: "Now it is fulfilled! now it has become a
+fact!  If I doubted the words of thy priestess, O Phoebus Apollo! pardon
+my sin!  What was the promise of the oracle?
+
+     "If once the warrior hosts from the snow-topped mountains
+     descending,
+     Come to the fields of the stream watering richly the plain,
+     Then shall the lingering boat to the beckoning meadows convey thee,
+     Which to the wandering foot peace and a home can afford.
+     When those warriors come, from the snow-topped mountains descending,
+     Then will the powerful Five grant thee what long they refused."
+
+"The promise of the god is fulfilled.  Now I may return home, and I will;
+but first I raise my hands to Dice, the unchanging goddess of justice,
+and implore her not to deny me the pleasure of revenge."
+
+"The day of vengeance will dawn to-morrow," said Phanes, joining in the
+old man's prayer.  "Tomorrow I shall slaughter the victims for the dead--
+for my son--and will take no rest until Cambyses has pierced the heart of
+Egypt with the arrows which I have cut for him.  Come, my friend, let me
+take you to the king.  One man like you can put a whole troop of
+Egyptians to flight."
+
+                    .......................
+
+It was night.  The Persian soldiers, their position being unfortified,
+were in order of battle, ready to meet any unexpected attack.  The foot-
+soldiers stood leaning on their shields, the horsemen held their horses
+saddled and bridled near the camp-fires.  Cambyses was riding through the
+ranks, encouraging his troops by words and looks.  Only one part of the
+army was not yet ranged in order of battle--the centre.  It was composed
+of the Persian body-guard, the apple-bearers, Immortals, and the king's
+own relatives, who were always led into battle by the king in person.
+
+The Ionian Greeks too had gone to rest, at Phanes' command.  He wanted to
+keep his men fresh, and allowed them to sleep in their armor, while he
+kept watch.  Aristomachus was welcomed with shouts of joy by the Greeks,
+and kindly by Cambyses, who assigned him, at the head of one half the
+Greek troops, a place to the left of the centre attack, while Phanes,
+with the other half, had his place at the right.  The king himself was to
+take the lead at the head of the ten thousand Immortals, preceded by the
+blue, red and  gold  imperial  banner and  the  standard  of Kawe.
+Bartja was to lead the regiment of mounted guards numbering a thousand
+men, and that division of the cavalry which was entirely clothed in mail.
+
+Croesus commanded a body of troops whose duty it was to guard the camp
+with its immense treasures, the wives of Cambyses' nobles, and his own
+mother and sister.
+
+At last Mithras appeared and shed his light upon the earth; the spirits
+of the night retired to their dens, and the Magi stirred up the sacred
+fire which had been carried before the army the whole way from Babylon,
+until it became a gigantic flame.  They and the king united in feeding it
+with costly perfumes, Cambyses offered the sacrifice, and, holding the
+while a golden bowl high in the air, besought the gods to grant him
+victory and glory.  He then gave the password, "Auramazda, the helper and
+guide," and placed himself at the head of his guards, who went into the
+battle with wreaths on their tiaras.  The Greeks offered their own
+sacrifices, and shouted with delight on hearing that the omens were
+auspicious.  Their war-cry was "Hebe."
+
+Meanwhile the Egyptian priests had begun their day also with prayer and
+sacrifice, and had then placed their army in order of battle.
+
+Psamtik, now King of Egypt, led the centre.  He was mounted on a golden
+chariot; the trappings of his horses were of gold and purple, and plumes
+of ostrich feathers nodded on their proud heads.  He wore the double
+crown of Upper and Lower Egypt, and the charioteer who stood at his left
+hand holding the reins and whip, was descended from one of the noblest
+Egyptian families.
+
+The Hellenic and Karian mercenaries were to fight at the left of the
+centre, the horse at the extreme of each wing, and the Egyptian and
+Ethiopian foot were stationed, six ranks deep, on the right and left of
+the armed chariots, and Greek mercenaries.
+
+Psamtik drove through the ranks of his army, giving encouraging and
+friendly words to all the men.  He drew up before the Greek division, and
+addressed them thus: "Heroes of Cyprus and Libya! your deeds in arms are
+well known to me, and I rejoice in the thought of sharing your glory to-
+day and crowning you with fresh laurels.  Ye have no need to fear, that
+in the day of victory I shall curtail your liberties.  Malicious tongues
+have whispered that this is all ye have to expect from me; but I tell
+you, that if we conquer, fresh favors will be shown to you and your
+descendants; I shall call you the supporters of my throne.  Ye are
+fighting to-day, not for me alone, but for the freedom of your own
+distant homes.  It is easy to perceive that Cambyses, once lord of Egypt,
+will stretch out his rapacious hand over your beautiful Hellas and its
+islands.  I need only remind you, that they be between Egypt and your
+Asiatic brethren who are already groaning under the Persian yoke.  Your
+acclamations prove that ye agree with me already, but I must ask for a
+still longer hearing.  It is my duty to tell you who has sold, not only
+Egypt, but his own country to the King of Persia, in return for immense
+treasures.  The man's name is Phanes!  You are angry and inclined to
+doubt?  I swear to you, that this very Phanes has accepted Cambyses' gold
+and promised not only to be his guide to Egypt, but to open the gates of
+your own Greek cities to him.  He knows the country and the people, and
+can be bribed to every perfidy.  Look at him! there he is, walking by the
+side of the king.  See how he bows before him!  I thought I had heard
+once, that the Greeks only prostrated themselves before their gods.  But
+of course, when a man sells his country, he ceases to be its citizen.  Am
+I not right?  Ye scorn to call so base a creature by the name of
+countryman?  Yes?  then I will deliver the wretch's daughter into your
+hands.  Do what ye will with the child of such a villain.  Crown her with
+wreaths of roses, fall down before her, if it please you, but do not
+forget that she belongs to a man who has disgraced the name of Hellene,
+and has betrayed his countrymen and country!"
+
+As he finished speaking the men raised a wild cry of rage and took
+possession of the trembling child.  A soldier held her up, so that her
+father--the troops not being more than a bow-shot apart--could see all
+that happened.  At the same moment an Egyptian, who afterwards earned
+celebrity through the loudness of his voice, cried: "Look here, Athenian!
+see how treachery and corruption are rewarded in this country!"  A bowl
+of wine stood near, provided by the king, from which the soldiers had
+just been drinking themselves into intoxication.  A Karian seized it,
+plunged his sword into the innocent child's breast, and let the blood
+flow into the bowl; filled a goblet with the awful mixture, and drained
+it, as if drinking to the health of the wretched father.  Phanes stood
+watching the scene, as if struck into a statue of cold stone.  The rest
+of the soldiers then fell upon the bowl like madmen, and wild beasts
+could not have lapped up the foul drink with greater eagerness.--
+[Herodotus tells this fearful tale (III. ii.)]
+
+In the same moment Psamtik triumphantly shot off his first arrow into the
+Persian ranks.
+
+The mercenaries flung the child's dead body on to the ground; drunk with
+her blood, they raised their battle-song, and rushed into the strife far
+ahead of their Egyptian comrades.
+
+But now the Persian ranks began to move.  Phanes, furious with pain and
+rage, led on his heavy-armed troops, indignant too at the brutal
+barbarity of their countrymen, and dashed into the ranks of those very
+soldiers, whose love he had tried to deserve during ten years of faithful
+leadership.
+
+At noon, fortune seemed to be favoring the Egyptians; but at sunset the
+Persians had the advantage, and when the full-moon rose, the Egyptians
+were flying wildly from the battle-field, perishing in the marshes and in
+the arm of the Nile which flowed behind their position, or being cut to
+pieces by the swords of their enemies.
+
+Twenty thousand Persians and fifty thousand Egyptians lay dead on the
+blood-stained sea-sand.  The wounded, drowned, and prisoners could
+scarcely be numbered.
+
+     [Herod. III. 12.  Ktesias, Persica 9.  In ancient history the loss
+     of the conquered is always far greater than that of the conquerors.
+     To a certain extent this holds good in the present day, but the
+     proportion is decidedly not so unfavorable for the vanquished.]
+
+Psamtik had been one of the last to fly.  He was well mounted, and, with
+a few thousand faithful followers, reached the opposite bank of the Nile
+and made for Memphis, the well-fortified city of the Pyramids.
+
+Of the Greek mercenaries very few survived, so furious had been Phanes'
+revenge, and so well had he been supported by his Ionians.  Ten thousand
+Karians were taken captive and the murderer of his little child was
+killed by Phanes' own hand.
+
+Aristomachus too, in spite of his wooden leg, had performed miracles of
+bravery; but, notwithstanding all their efforts, neither he, nor any of
+his confederates in revenge, had succeeded in taking Psamtik prisoner.
+
+When the battle was over, the Persians returned in triumph to their
+tents, to be warmly welcomed by Croesus and the warriors and priests who
+had remained behind, and to celebrate their victory by prayers and
+sacrifices.
+
+The next morning Cambyses assembled his generals and rewarded them with
+different tokens of distinction, such as costly robes, gold chains,
+rings, swords, and stars formed of precious stones.  Gold and silver
+coins were distributed among the common soldiers.
+
+The principal attack of the Egyptians had been directed against the
+centre of the Persian army, where Cambyses commanded in person; and with
+such effect that the guards had already begun to give way.  At that
+moment Bartja, arriving with his troop of horsemen, had put fresh courage
+into the wavering, had fought like a lion himself, and by his bravery and
+promptitude decided the day in favor of the Persians.
+
+The troops were exultant in their joy: they shouted his praises, as "the
+conqueror of Pelusium" and the "best of the Achaemenidae."
+
+Their cries reached the king's ears and made him very angry.  He knew he
+had been fighting at the risk of life, with real courage and the strength
+of a giant, and yet the day would have been lost if this boy had not
+presented him with the victory.  The brother who had embittered his days
+of happy love, was now to rob him of half his military glory.  Cambyses
+felt that he hated Bartja, and his fist clenched involuntarily as he saw
+the young hero looking so happy in the consciousness of his own well-
+earned success.
+
+Phanes had been wounded and went to his tent; Aristomachus lay near him,
+dying.
+
+"The oracle has deceived me, after all," he murmured.  "I shall die
+without seeing my country again."
+
+"The oracle spoke the truth,"  answered Phanes.  "Were not the last words
+of the Pythia?"
+
+     'Then shall the lingering boat to the beckoning meadows convey thee,
+     Which to the wandering foot peace and a home will afford?'
+
+"Can you misunderstand their meaning?  They speak of Charon's lingering
+boat, which will convey you to your last home, to the one great resting-
+place for all wanderers--the kingdom of Hades."
+
+"Yes, my friend, you are right there.  I am going to Hades."
+
+"And the Five have granted you, before death, what they so long refused,
+--the return to Lacedaemon.  You ought to be thankful to the gods for
+granting you such sons and such vengeance on your enemies.  When my wound
+is healed, I shall go to Greece and tell your son that his father died a
+glorious death, and was carried to the grave on his shield, as beseems a
+hero."
+
+"Yes, do so, and give him my shield as a remembrance of his old father.
+There is no need to exhort him to virtue."
+
+"When Psamtik is in our power, shall I tell him what share you had in his
+overthrow?"
+
+"No; he saw me before he took to flight, and at the unexpected vision his
+bow fell from his hand.  This was taken by his friends as a signal for
+flight, and they turned their horses from the battle."
+
+"The gods ordain, that bad men shall be ruined by their own deeds.
+Psamtik lost courage, for he must have believed that the very spirits of
+the lower world were fighting against him."
+
+"We mortals gave him quite enough to do.  The Persians fought well.  But
+the battle would have been lost without the guards and our troops."
+
+"Without doubt."
+
+"I thank thee, O Zeus Lacedaemonius."
+
+"You are praying?"
+
+"I am praising the gods for allowing me to die at ease as to my country.
+These heterogeneous masses can never be dangerous to Greece.  Ho,
+physician, when am I likely to die?"
+
+The Milesian physician, who had accompanied the Greek troops to Egypt,
+pointed to the arrow-head sticking fast in his breast, and said with a
+sad smile, "You have only a few hours more to live.  If I were to draw
+the arrow from your wound, you would die at once."
+
+The Spartan thanked him, said farewell to Phanes, sent a greeting to
+Rhodopis, and then, before they could prevent him, drew the arrow from
+his wound with an unflinching hand.  A few moments later Aristomachus was
+dead.
+
+The same day a Persian embassy set out for Memphis on board one of the
+Lesbian vessels.  It was commissioned to demand from Psamtik the
+surrender of his own person and of the city at discretion.  Cambyses
+followed, having first sent off a division of his army under Megabyzus to
+invest Sais.
+
+At Heliopolis he was met by deputations from the Greek inhabitants of
+Naukratis and the Libyans, praying for peace and his protection, and
+bringing a golden wreath and other rich presents.  Cambyses received them
+graciously and assured them of his friendship; but repulsed the
+messengers from Cyrene and Barka indignantly, and flung, with his own
+hand, their tribute of five hundred silver mince among his soldiers,
+disdaining to accept so contemptible an offering.
+
+In Heliopolis he also heard that, at the approach of his embassy, the
+inhabitants of Memphis had flocked to the shore, bored a hole in the
+bottom of the ship, torn his messengers in pieces without distinction,
+as wild beasts would tear raw flesh, and dragged them into the fortress.
+On hearing this he cried angrily: "I swear, by Mithras, that these
+murdered men shall be paid for; ten lives for one."
+
+Two days later and Cambyses with his army stood before the gates of
+Memphis.  The siege was short, as the garrison was far too small for the
+city, and the citizens were discouraged by the fearful defeat at
+Pelusium.
+
+King Psamtik himself came out to Cambyses, accompanied by his principal
+nobles, in rent garments, and with every token of mourning.  Cambyses
+received him coldly and silently, ordering him and his followers to be
+guarded and removed.  He treated Ladice, the widow of Amasis, who
+appeared at the same time as her step-son, with consideration, and, at
+the intercession of Phanes, to whom she had always shown favor, allowed
+her to return to her native town of Cyrene under safe conduct.  She
+remained there until the fall of her nephew, Arcesilaus III. and the
+flight of her sister Pheretime, when she betook herself to Anthylla, the
+town in Egypt which belonged to her, and where she passed a quiet,
+solitary existence, dying at a great age.
+
+Cambyses not only scorned to revenge the imposture which had been
+practised on him on a woman, but, as a Persian, had far too much respect
+for a mother, and especially for the mother of a king, to injure Ladice
+in any way.
+
+While he was engaged in the siege of Sais, Psamtik passed his
+imprisonment in the palace of the Pharaohs, treated in every respect
+as a king, but strictly guarded.
+
+Among those members of the upper class who had incited the people to
+resistance, Neithotep, the high-priest of Neith, had taken the foremost
+place.  He was therefore sent to Memphis and put in close confinement,
+with one hundred of his unhappy confederates.  The larger number of the
+Pharaoh's court, on the other hand, did homage voluntarily to Cambyses at
+Sais, entitled him Ramestu, "child of the sun," and suggested that he
+should cause himself to be crowned King of Upper and Lower Egypt, with
+all the necessary formalities, and admitted into the priestly caste
+according to ancient custom.  By the advice of Croesus and Phanes,
+Cambyses gave in to these proposals, though much against his own will:
+he went so far, indeed, as to offer sacrifice in the temple of Neith,
+and allowed the newly-created high-priest of the goddess to give him a
+superficial insight into the nature of the mysteries.  Some of the
+courtiers he retained near himself, and promoted different administrative
+functionaries to high posts; the commander of Amasis' Nile fleet
+succeeded so well in gaining the king's favor, as to be appointed one of
+those who ate at the royal table.
+
+     [On a statue in the Gregorian Museum in the Vatican, there is an
+     inscription giving an account of Cambyses' sojourn at Sais, which
+     agrees with the facts related in our text.  He was lenient to his
+     conquered subjects, and, probably in order to secure his position as
+     the lawful Pharaoh, yielded to the wishes of the priests, was even
+     initiated into the mysteries and did much for the temple of Neith.
+     His adoption of the name Ramestu is also confirmed by this statue.
+     E. de Rough, Memoire sur la statuette naophore du musee Gregorian,
+     au Vatican. Revue Archeol. 1851.]
+
+On leaving Sais, Cambyses placed Megabyzus in command of the city; but
+scarcely had the king quitted their walls than the smothered rage of the
+people broke forth; they murdered the Persian sentinels, poisoned the
+wells, and set the stables of the cavalry on fire.  Megabyzus at once
+applied to the king, representing that such hostile acts, if not
+repressed by fear, might soon be followed by open rebellion.  "The two
+thousand noble youths from Memphis whom you have destined to death as an
+indemnification for our murdered ambassadors," said he, "ought to be
+executed at once; and it would do no harm if the son of Psamtik were
+added to the number, as he can some day become a rallying centre for the
+rebels.  I hear that the daughters of the dethroned king and of the high-
+priest Neithotep have to carry water for the baths of the noble Phanes."
+
+The Athenian answered with a smile: "Cambyses has allowed me to employ
+these aristocratic female attendants, my lord, at my own request."
+
+"But has forbidden you to touch the life of one member of the royal
+house," added Cambyses.  "None but a king has the right to punish kings."
+
+Phanes bowed.  The king turned to Megabyzus and ordered him to have the
+prisoners executed the very next day, as an example.  He would decide the
+fate of the young prince later; but at all events he was to be taken to
+the place of execution with the rest.  "We must show them," he concluded,
+"that we know how to meet all their hostile manifestations with
+sufficient rigor."
+
+Croesus ventured to plead for the innocent boy.  "Calm yourself, old
+friend," said Cambyses with a smile; "the child is not dead yet, and
+perhaps will be as well off with us as your own son, who fought so well
+at Pelusium.  I confess I should like to know, whether Psamtik bears his
+fate as calmly and bravely as you did twenty-five years ago."
+
+"That we can easily discover, by putting him on trial," said Phanes.
+"Let him be brought into the palace-court to-morrow, and let the captives
+and the condemned be led past him.  Then we shall see whether he is a man
+or a coward."
+
+"Be it so," answered Cambyses.  "I will conceal myself and watch him
+unobserved.  You, Phanes, will accompany me, to tell me the name and rank
+of each of the captives."
+
+The next morning Phanes accompanied the king on to a balcony which ran
+round the great court of the palace--the court we have already described
+as being planted with trees.  The listeners were hidden by a grove of
+flowering shrubs, but they could see every movement that took place, and
+hear every word that was spoken beneath them.  They saw Psamtik,
+surrounded by a few of his former companions.  He was leaning against a
+palm-tree, his eyes fixed gloomily on the ground, as his daughters
+entered the court.  The daughter of Neithotep was with them, and some
+more young girls, all dressed as slaves; they were carrying pitchers of
+water.  At sight of the king, they uttered such a loud cry of anguish as
+to wake him from his reverie.  He looked up, recognized the miserable
+girls, and bowed his head lower than before; but only for a moment.
+Drawing himself up quickly, he asked his eldest daughter for whom she was
+carrying water.  On hearing that she was forced to do the work of a slave
+for Phanes, he turned deadly pale, nodded his head, and cried to the
+girls, "Go on."
+
+A few minutes later the captives were led into the court, with ropes
+round their necks, and bridles in their mouths.
+
+     [This statement of Herodotus (III. 14.) is confirmed by the
+     monuments, on which we often see representations of captives being
+     led along with ropes round their necks.  What follows is taken
+     entirely from the same passage in Herodotus.]
+
+At the head of the train was the little prince Necho.  He stretched his
+hands out to his father, begging him to punish the bad foreigners who
+wanted to kill him.  At this sight the Egyptians wept in their exceeding
+great misery; but Psamtik's eyes were dry.  He bowed his tearless face
+nearly to the earth, and waved his child a last farewell.
+
+After a short interval, the captives taken in Sais entered.  Among them
+was Neithotep, the once powerful high-priest, clothed in rags and moving
+with difficulty by the help of a staff.  At the entrance-gate he raised
+his eyes and caught sight of his former pupil Darius.  Reckless of all
+the spectators around him, he went straight up to the young man, poured
+out the story of his need, besought his help, and ended by begging an
+alms.  Darius complied at once, and by so doing, induced others of the
+Achaemenidae, who were standing by, to hail the old man jokingly and
+throw him little pieces of money, which he picked up laboriously and
+thankfully from the ground.
+
+At this sight Psamtik wept aloud, and smote upon his forehead, calling on
+the name of his friend in a voice full of woe.
+
+Cambyses was so astonished at this, that he came forward to the
+balustrade of the veranda, and pushing the flowers aside, exclaimed:
+"Explain thyself, thou strange man; the misfortunes of a beggar, not even
+akin to thee, move thy compassion, but thou canst behold thy son on the
+way to execution and thy daughters in hopeless misery without shedding a
+tear, or uttering a lament!"
+
+Psamtik looked up at his conqueror, and answered: "The misfortunes of my
+own house, O son of Cyrus, are too great for tears; but I may be
+permitted to weep over the afflictions of a friend, fallen, in his old
+age, from the height of happiness and influence into the most miserable
+beggary."
+
+Cambyses' face expresseed his approval, and on looking round he saw that
+his was not the only eye which was filled with tears.  Croesus, Bartja,
+and all the Persians-nay, even Phanes himself, who had served as
+interpreter to the kings-were weeping aloud.
+
+The proud conqueror was not displeased at these signs of sympathy, and
+turning to the Athenian: "I think, my Greek friend" he said, "we may
+consider our wrongs as avenged.  Rise, Psamtik, and endeavor to imitate
+yonder noble old man, (pointing to Croesus) by accustoming yourself to
+your fate.  Your father's fraud has been visited on you and your family.
+The crown, which I have wrested from you is the crown of which Amasis
+deprived my wife, my never-to-be-forgotten Nitetis.  For her sake I began
+this war, and for her sake I grant you now the life of your son--she
+loved him.  From this time forward you can live undisturbed at our court,
+eat at our table and share the privileges of our nobles.  Gyges, fetch
+the boy hither.  He shall be brought up as you were, years ago, among the
+sons of the Achaemenidae."
+
+The Lydian was hastening to execute this delightful commission, but
+Phanes stopped him before he could reach the door, and placing himself
+proudly between the king and the trembling, thankful Psamtik, said: "You
+would be going on a useless errand, noble Lydian.  In defiance of your
+command, my Sovereign, but in virtue of the full powers you once gave me,
+I have ordered the grandson of Amasis to be the executioner's first
+victim.  You have just heard the sound of a horn; that was the sign that
+the last heir to the Egyptian throne born on the shores of the Nile has
+been gathered to his fathers.  I am aware of the fate I have to expect,
+Cambyses.  I will not plead for a life whose end has been attained.
+Croesus, I understand your reproachful looks.  You grieve for the
+murdered children.  But life is such a web of wretchedness and
+disappointment, that I agree with your philosopher Solon in thinking
+those fortunate to whom, as in former days to Kleobis and Biton, the gods
+decree an early death.
+
+     [Croesus, after having shown Solon his treasures, asked him whom he
+     held to be the most fortunate of men, hoping to hear his own name.
+     The sage first named Tellus, a famous citizen of Athens, and then
+     the brothers Kleobis and Biton.  These were two handsome youths, who
+     had gained the prize for wrestling, and one day, when the draught-
+     animals had not returned from the field, dragged their mother
+     themselves to the distant temple, in presence of the people.  The
+     men of Argos praised the strength of the sons,--the women praised
+     the mother who possessed these sons.  She, transported with delight
+     at her sons' deed and the people's praise, went to the statue of the
+     goddess and besought her to give them the best that could fall to
+     the lot of men.  When her prayer was over and the sacrifice offered,
+     the youths fell asleep, and never woke again.  They were dead.
+     Herod. I, 31.  Cicero. Tuscul. I. 47.]
+
+"If I have ever been dear to you, Cambyses--if my counsels have been of
+any use, permit me as a last favor to say a few more words.  Psamtik
+knows the causes that rendered us foes to each other.  Ye all, whose
+esteem is worth so much to me, shall know them too.  This man's father
+placed me in his son's stead at the head of the troops which had been
+sent to Cyprus.  Where Psamtik had earned humiliation, I won success and
+glory.  I also became unintentionally acquainted with a secret, which
+seriously endangered his chances of obtaining the crown; and lastly, I
+prevented his carrying off a virtuous maiden from the house of her
+grandmother, an aged woman, beloved and respected by all the Greeks.
+These are the sins which he has never been able to forgive; these are the
+grounds which led him to carry on war to the death with me directly I had
+quitted his father's service.  The struggle is decided now.  My innocent
+children have been murdered at thy command, and I have been pursued like
+a wild beast.  That has been thy revenge.  But mine!--I have deprived
+thee of thy throne and reduced thy people to bondage.  Thy daughter I
+have called my slave, thy son's death-warrant was pronounced by my lips,
+and my eyes have seen the maiden whom thou persecutedst become the happy
+wife of a brave man.  Undone, sinking ever lower and lower, thou hast
+watched me rise to be the richest and most powerful of my nation.  In the
+lowest depth of thine own misery--and this has been the most delicious
+morsel of my vengeance--thou wast forced to see me--me, Phanes shedding
+tears that could not be kept back, at the sight of thy misery.  The man,
+who is allowed to draw even one breath of life, after beholding his enemy
+so low, I hold to be happy as the gods themselves  I have spoken."
+
+He ceased, and pressed his hand on his wound.  Cambyses gazed at him in
+astonishment, stepped forward, and was just going to touch his girdle--
+an action which would have been equivalent to the signing of a death-
+warrant when his eye caught sight of the chain, which he himself had hung
+round the Athenian's neck as a reward for the clever way in which he had
+proved the innocence of Nitetis.
+
+     [The same sign was used by the last Darius to denote that his able
+     Greek general Memnon, who had offended him by his plainness of
+     speech, was doomed to death.  As he was being led away, Memnon
+     exclaimed, in allusion to Alexander, who was then fast drawing near:
+     "Thy remorse will soon prove my worth; my avenger is not far off."
+     Droysen, Alex. d. Grosse,  Diod. XVII. 30.  Curtius III. 2.]
+
+The sudden recollection of the woman he loved, and of the countless
+services rendered him by Phanes, calmed his wrath his hand dropped.  One
+minute the severe ruler stood gazing lingeringly at his disobedient
+friend; the next, moved by a sudden impulse, he raised his right hand
+again, and pointed imperiously to the gate leading from the court.
+
+Phanes bowed in silence, kissed the king's robe, and descended slowly
+into the court.  Psamtik watched him, quivering with excitement, sprang
+towards the veranda, but before his lips could utter the curse which his
+heart had prepared, he sank powerless on to the ground.
+
+Cambyses beckoned to his followers to make immediate preparations for a
+lion-hunt in the Libyan mountains.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+Between two stools a man falls to the ground
+Human beings hate the man who shows kindness to their enemies
+Misfortune too great for tears
+Nothing is more dangerous to love, than a comfortable assurance
+Ordered his feet to be washed and his head anointed
+Rules of life given by one man to another are useless
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS.
+
+By Georg Ebers
+
+Volume 10.
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+The waters of the Nile had begun to rise again.  Two months had passed
+away since Phanes' disappearance, and much had happened.
+
+The very day on which he left Egypt, Sappho had given birth to a girl,
+and had so far regained strength since then under the care of her
+grandmother, as to be able to join in an excursion up the Nile, which
+Croesus had suggested should take place on the festival of the goddess
+Neith.  Since the departure of Phanes, Cambyses' behavior had become so
+intolerable, that Bartja, with the permission of his brother, had taken
+Sappho to live in the royal palace at Memphis, in order to escape any
+painful collision.  Rhodopis, at whose house Croesus and his son, Bartja,
+Darius and Zopyrus were constant guests, had agreed to join the party.
+
+On the morning of the festival-day they started in a gorgeously decorated
+boat, from a point between thirty and forty miles below Memphis, favored
+by a good north-wind and urged rapidly forward by a large number of
+rowers.
+
+A wooden roof or canopy, gilded and brightly painted, sheltered them from
+the sun.  Croesus sat by Rhodopis, Theopompus the Milesian lay at her
+feet.  Sappho was leaning against Bartja.  Syloson, the brother of
+Polykrates, had made himself a comfortable resting-place next to Darius,
+who was looking thought fully into the water.  Gyges and Zopyrus busied
+themselves in making wreaths for the women, from the flowers handed them
+by an Egyptian slave.
+
+"It seems hardly possible," said Bartja, "that we can be rowing against
+the stream.  The boat flies like a swallow."
+
+"This fresh north-wind brings us forward," answered Theopompus.  "And
+then the Egyptian boatmen understand their work splendidly."
+
+"And row all the better just because we are sailing against the stream,"
+added Croesus.  "Resistance always brings out a man's best powers."
+
+"Yes," said Rhodopis, "sometimes we even make difficulties, if the river
+of life seems too smooth."
+
+"True," answered Darius.  "A noble mind can never swim with the stream.
+In quiet inactivity all men are equal.  We must be seen fighting, to be
+rightly estimated."
+
+"Such noble-minded champions must be very cautious,  though," said
+Rhodopis, "lest  they become contentious, and  quarrelsome.  Do you see
+those melons lying on the black soil yonder, like golden balls?  Not one
+would have come to perfection if the sower had been too lavish with his
+seed.  The fruit would have been choked by too luxuriant tendrils and
+leaves.  Man is born to struggle and to work, but in this, as in
+everything else, he must know how to be moderate if his efforts are to
+succeed.  The art of true wisdom is to keep within limits."
+
+"Oh, if Cambyses could only hear you!"  exclaimed Croesus.  "Instead of
+being contented with his immense conquests, and now thinking for the
+welfare of his subjects, he has all sorts of distant plans in his head.
+He wishes to conquer the entire world, and yet, since Phanes left,
+scarcely a day has passed in which he has not been conquered himself by
+the Div of drunkenness."
+
+"Has his mother no influence over him?"  asked Rhodopis.  "She is a noble
+woman."
+
+"She could not even move his resolution to marry Atossa, and was forced
+to be present at the marriage feast."
+
+"Poor Atossa!" murmured Sappho.
+
+"She does not pass a very happy life as Queen of Persia," answered
+Croesus; "and her own naturally impetuous disposition makes it all the
+more difficult or her to live contentedly with this husband and mother;
+I am sorry to hear it said that Cambyses neglects her sadly, and treats
+her like a child.  But the marriage does not seem to have astonished the
+Egyptians, as brothers and sisters often marry here."
+
+"In Persia too," said Darius, putting on an appearance of the most
+perfect composure, "marriages with very near relations are thought to be
+the best."
+
+"But to return to the king," said Croesus, turning the conversation for
+Darius' sake.  "I can assure you, Rhodopis, that he may really be called
+a noble man.  His violent and hasty deeds are repented of almost as soon
+as committed, and the resolution to be a just and merciful ruler has
+never forsaken him.  At supper, for instance, lately, before his mind was
+clouded by the influence of wine, he asked us what the Persians thought
+of him in comparison with his father."
+
+"And what was the answer?"  said Rhodopis.  "Intaphernes got us out of
+the trap cleverly enough," answered Zopyrus, laughing.  "He exclaimed:
+'We are of opinion that you deserve the preference, inasmuch as you have
+not only preserved intact the inheritance bequeathed you by Cyrus, but
+have extended his dominion beyond the seas by your conquest of Egypt.'
+This answer did not seem to please the king, however, and poor
+Intaphernes was not a little horrified to hear him strike his fist
+on the table and cry, 'Flatterer, miserable flatterer!'  He then turned
+to Croesus and asked his opinion.  Our wise friend answered at once:
+'My  opinion  is  that  you  have not attained to the greatness of your
+father; for,' added he in a pacifying tone, 'one thing is wanting to you
+--a son such as Cyrus bequeathed us in yourself."
+
+"First-rate, first-rate," cried Rhodopis clapping her hands and laughing.
+"An answer that would have done honor to the ready-witted Odysseus
+himself.  And how did the king take your honeyed pill?"
+
+"He was very much pleased, thanked Croesus, and called him his friend."
+
+"And I," said Croesus taking up the conversation, "used the favorable
+opportunity to dissuade him from the campaigns he has been planning
+against the long lived Ethiopians, the Ammonians and the Carthaginians.
+Of the first of these three nations we know scarcely anything but through
+fabulous tales; by attacking them we should lose much and gain little.
+The oasis of Ammon is scarcely accessible to a large army, on account of
+the desert by which it is surrounded; besides which, it seems to me
+sacrilegious to make war upon a god in the hope of obtaining possession
+of his treasures, whether we be his worshippers or not.  As to the
+Carthaginians, facts have already justified my predictions.  Our fleet is
+manned principally by Syrians and Phoenicians, and they have, as might be
+expected, refused to go to war against their brethren.  Cambyses laughed
+at my reasons, and ended by swearing, when he was already somewhat
+intoxicated, that he could carry out difficult undertakings and subdue
+powerful nations, even without the help of Bartja and Phanes."
+
+"What could that allusion to you mean, my son?"  asked Rhodopis.
+
+"He won the battle of Pelusiam," cried Zopyrus, before his friend could
+answer.  "He and no one else!"
+
+"Yes," added Croesus, "and you might have been more prudent, and have
+remembered that it is a dangerous thing to excite the jealousy of a man
+like Cambyses.  You all of you forget that his heart is sore, and that
+the slightest vexation pains him.  He has lost the woman he really loved;
+his dearest friend is gone; and now you want to disparage the last thing
+in this world that he still cares for,--his military glory."
+
+"Don't blame him," said Bartja, grasping the old man's hand.  "My brother
+has never been unjust, and is far from envying me what I must call my
+good fortune, for that my attack arrived just at the right time can
+hardly be reckoned as a merit on my part.  You know he gave me this
+splendid sabre, a hundred thorough-bred horses, and a golden hand-mill
+as rewards of my bravery."
+
+Croesus' words had caused Sappho a little anxiety at first; but this
+vanished on hearing her husband speak so confidently, and by the time
+Zopyrus had finished his wreath and placed it on Rhodopis' head, all her
+fears were forgotten.
+
+Gyges had prepared his for the young mother.  It was made of snow-white
+water-lilies, and, when she placed it among her brown curls, she looked
+so wonderfully lovely in the simple ornament, that Bartja could not help
+kissing her on the forehead, though so many witnesses were present.  This
+little episode gave a merry turn to the conversation; every one did his
+best to enliven the others, refreshments of all kinds were handed round,
+and even Darius lost his gravity for a time and joined in the jests that
+were passing among his friends.
+
+When the sun had set, the slaves set elegantly-carved chairs, footstools,
+and little tables on the open part of the deck.  Our cheerful party now
+repaired thither and beheld a sight so marvellously beautiful as to be
+quite beyond their expectations.
+
+The feast of Neith, called in Egyptian "the lampburning," was celebrated
+by a universal illumination, which began at the rising of the moon.  The
+shores of the Nile looked like two long lines of fire.  Every temple,
+house and but was ornamented with lamps according to the means of its
+possessors.  The porches of the country-houses and the little towers on
+the larger buildings were all lighted up by brilliant flames, burning in
+pans of pitch and sending up clouds of smoke, in which the flags and
+pennons waved gently backwards and forwards.  The palm-trees and
+sycamores were silvered by the moonlight and threw strange fantastic
+reflections on the red waters of the Nile-red from the fiery glow of the
+houses on their shores.  But strong and glowing as was the light of the
+illumination, its rays had not power to reach the middle of the giant
+river, where the boat was making its course, and the pleasure-party felt
+as if they were sailing in dark night between two brilliant days.  Now
+and then a brightly-lighted boat would come swiftly across the river and
+seem, as it neared the shore, to be cutting its way through a glowing
+stream of molten iron.
+
+Lotus-blossoms, white as snow, lay on the surface of the river, rising
+and falling with the waves, and looking like eyes in the water.  Not a
+sound could be heard from either shore.  The echoes were carried away by
+the north-wind, and the measured stroke of the oars and monotonous song
+of the rowers were the only sounds that broke the stillness of this
+strange night--a night robbed of its darkness.
+
+For a long time the friends gazed without speaking at the wonderful
+sight, which seemed to glide past them.  Zopyrus was the first to break
+the silence by saying, as he drew a long breath: "I really envy you,
+Bartja.  If things were as they should be, every one of us would have his
+dearest wife at his side on such a night as this."
+
+"And who forbade you to bring one of your wives?"  answered the happy
+husband.
+
+"The other five," said the youth with a sigh.  "If I had allowed Oroetes'
+little daughter Parysatis, my youngest favorite, to come out alone with
+me to-night, this wonderful sight would have been my last; tomorrow there
+would have been one pair of eyes less in the world."
+
+Bartja took Sappho's hand and held it fast, saying, "I fancy one wife
+will content me as long as I live."  The young mother pressed his hand
+warmly again, and said, turning to Zopyrus: "I don't quite trust you, my
+friend.  It seems to me that it is not the anger of your wives you fear,
+so much as the commission of an offence against the customs of your
+country.  I have been told that my poor Bartja gets terribly scolded in
+the women's apartments for not setting eunuchs to watch over me, and for
+letting me share his pleasures."
+
+"He does spoil you terribly," answered Zopyrus, "and our wives are
+beginning to quote him as an example of kindness and indulgence, whenever
+we try to hold the reins a little tight.  Indeed there will soon be a
+regular women's mutiny at the king's gate, and the Achaemenidae who
+escaped the swords and arrows of the Egyptians, will fall victims to
+sharp tongues and floods of salt tears."
+
+"Oh! you most impolite Persian!"  said Syloson laughing.  "We must make
+you more respectful to these images of Aphrodite."
+
+"You Greeks! that's a good idea," answered the youth.  "By Mithras, our
+wives are quite as well off as yours.  It's only the Egyptian women, that
+are so wonderfully free."
+
+"Yes, you are quite right," said Rhodopis.  "The inhabitants of this
+strange land have for thousands of years granted our weaker sex the same
+rights, that they demand for themselves.  Indeed, in many respects, they
+have given us the preference.  For instance, by the Egyptian law it is
+the daughters, not the sons, who are commanded to foster and provide for
+their aged parents, showing how well the fathers of this now humbled
+people understood women's nature, and how rightly they acknowledged that
+she far surpasses man in thoughtful solicitude and self-forgetful love.
+Do not laugh at these worshippers of animals.  I confess that I cannot
+understand them, but I feel true admiration for a people in the teaching
+of whose priests, even Pythagoras, that great master in the art of
+knowledge, assured me lies a wisdom as mighty as the Pyramids."
+
+"And your great master was right," exclaimed Darius.  "You know that I
+obtained Neithotep's freedom, and, for some weeks past, have seen him and
+Onuphis very constantly, indeed they have been teaching me.  And oh, how
+much I have learnt already from those two old men, of which I had no idea
+before!  How much that is sad I can forget, when I am listening to them!
+They are acquainted with the entire history of the heavens and the earth.
+They know the name of every king, and the circumstances of every
+important event that has occurred during the last four thousand years,
+the courses of the stars, the works of their own artists and sayings of
+their sages, during the same immense period of time.  All this knowledge
+is recorded in huge books, which have been preserved in a palace at
+Thebes, called the "place of healing for the soul.  Their laws are a
+fountain of pure wisdom, and a comprehensive intellect has been shown in
+the adaptation of all their state institutions to the needs of the
+country.  I wish we could boast of the same regularity and order at home.
+The idea that lies at the root of all their knowledge is the use of
+numbers, the only means by which it is possible to calculate the course
+of the stars, to ascertain and determine the limits of all that exists,
+and, by the application of which in the shortening and lengthening of the
+strings of musical instruments, tones can be regulated.
+
+     [We agree with Iamblichus in supposing, that these Pythagorean views
+     were derived from the Egyptian mysteries.]
+
+"Numbers are the only certain things; they can neither be controlled nor
+perverted.  Every nation has its own ideas of right and wrong; every law
+can be rendered invalid by circumstances; but the results obtained from
+numbers can never be overthrown.  Who can dispute, for instance, that
+twice two make four?  Numbers determine the contents of every existing
+thing; whatever is, is equal to its contents, numbers therefore are the
+true being, the essence of all that is."
+
+"In the name of Mithras, Darius, do leave off talking in that style,
+unless you want to turn my brain," interrupted Zopyrus.  "Why, to hear
+you, one would fancy you'd been spending your life among these old
+Egyptian speculators and had never had a sword in your hand.  What on
+earth have we to do with numbers?"
+
+"More  than  you fancy," answered  Rhodopis.  "This theory of numbers
+belongs to the mysteries of the Egyptian priests, and Pythagoras learnt
+it from the very Onuphis who is now teaching you, Darius.  If you will
+come to see me soon, I will show you how wonderfully that great Samian
+brought the laws of numbers and of the harmonies into agreement.  But
+look, there are the Pyramids!"
+
+The whole party rose at these words, and stood speechless, gazing at the
+grand sight which opened before them.
+
+The Pyramids lay on the left bank of the Nile, in the silver moonshine,
+massive and awful, as if bruising the earth beneath them with their
+weight; the giant graves of mighty rulers.  They seemed examples of man's
+creative power, and at the same time warnings of the vanity and
+mutability of earthly greatness.  For where was Chufu now,--the king who
+had cemented that mountain of stone with the sweat of his subjects?
+Where was the long-lived Chafra who had despised the gods, and, defiant
+in the consciousness of his own strength, was said to have closed the
+gates of the temples in order to make himself and his name immortal by
+building a tomb of superhuman dimensions?
+
+     [Herodotus repeats, in good faith, that the builders of the great
+     Pyramids were despisers of the gods.  The tombs of their faithful
+     subjects at the foot of these huge structures prove, however, that
+     they owe their bad repute to the hatred of the people, who could not
+     forget the era of their hardest bondage, and branded the memories of
+     their oppressors wherever an opportunity could be found.  We might
+     use the word "tradition" instead of "the people," for this it is
+     which puts the feeling and tone of mind of the multitude into the
+     form of history.]
+
+Their empty sarcophagi are perhaps tokens, that the judges of the dead
+found them unworthy of rest in the grave, unworthy of the resurrection,
+whereas the builder of the third and most beautiful pyramid, Menkera, who
+contented himself with a smaller monument, and reopened the gates of the
+temples, was allowed to rest in peace in his coffin of blue basalt.
+
+There they lay in the quiet night, these mighty pyramids, shone on by the
+bright stars, guarded by the watchman of the desert--the gigantic
+sphinx,--and overlooking the barren rocks of the Libyan stony mountains.
+At their feet, in beautifully-ornamented tombs, slept the mummies of
+their faithful subjects, and opposite the monument of the pious Menkera
+stood a temple, where prayers were said by the priests for the souls of
+the many dead buried in the great Memphian city of the dead.  In the
+west, where the sun went down behind the Libyan mountains, where the
+fruitful land ended and the desert began--there the people of Memphis had
+buried their dead; and as our gay party looked towards the west they felt
+awed into a solemn silence.
+
+But their boat sped on before the north-wind; they left the city of the
+dead behind them and passed the enormous dikes built to protect the city
+of Menes from the violence of the floods; the city of the Pharaohs came
+in sight, dazzlingly bright with the myriads of flames which had been
+kindled in honor of the goddess Neith, and when at last the gigantic
+temple of Ptah appeared, the most ancient building of the most ancient
+land, the spell broke, their tongues were loosed, and they burst out into
+loud exclamations of delight.
+
+It was illuminated by thousands of lamps; a hundred fires burnt on its
+Pylons, its battlemented walls and roofs.  Burning torches flared between
+the rows of sphinxes which connected the various gates with the main
+building, and the now empty house of the god Apis was so surrounded by
+colored fires that it gleamed like a white limestone rock in a tropical
+sunset.  Pennons, flags and garlands waved above the brilliant picture;
+music and loud songs could be heard from below.
+
+"Glorious," cried Rhodopis in enthusiasm, "glorious!  Look how the
+painted walls and columns gleam in the light, and what marvellous figures
+the shadows of the obelisks and sphinxes throw on the smooth yellow
+pavement!"
+
+"And how mysterious the sacred grove looks yonder!"  added Croesus.  "I
+never saw anything so wonderful before."
+
+"I have seen something more wonderful still," said Darius.  "You will
+hardly believe me when I tell you that I have witnessed a celebration of
+the mysteries of Neith."
+
+"Tell us what you saw, tell us!"  was the universal outcry.
+
+"At first Neithotep refused me admission, but when I promised to remain
+hidden, and besides, to obtain the freedom of his child, he led me up to
+his observatory, from which there is a very extensive view, and told me
+that I should see a representation of the fates of Osiris and his wife
+Isis.
+
+"He had scarcely left, when the sacred grove became so brightly
+illuminated by colored lights that I was able to see into its innermost
+depths.
+
+"A lake, smooth as glass, lay before me, surrounded by beautiful trees
+and flower-beds.  Golden boats were sailing on this lake and in them sat
+lovely boys and girls dressed in snow-white garments, and singing sweet
+songs as they passed over the water.  There were no rowers to direct
+these boats, and yet they moved over the ripples of the lake in a
+graceful order, as if guided by some magic unseen hand.  A large ship
+sailed in the midst of this little fleet.  Its deck glittered with
+precious stones.  It seemed to be steered by one beautiful boy only, and,
+strange to say, the rudder he guided consisted of one white lotusflower,
+the delicate leaves of which seemed scarcely to touch the water.  A very
+lovely woman, dressed like a queen, lay on silken cushions in the middle
+of the vessel; by her side sat a man of larger stature than that of
+ordinary mortals.  He wore a crown of ivy on his flowing curls, a
+panther-skin hung over his shoulders and he held a crooked staff in the
+right hand.  In the back part of the ship was a roof made of ivy, lotus-
+blossoms and roses; beneath it stood a milk-white cow with golden horns,
+covered with a cloth of purple.  The man was Osiris, the woman Isis, the
+boy at the helm their son Horus, and the cow was the animal sacred to the
+immortal Isis.  The little boats all skimmed over the water, singing glad
+songs of joy as they passed by the ship, and receiving in return showers
+of flowers and fruits, thrown down upon the lovely singers by the god and
+goddess within.  Suddenly I heard the roll of thunder.  It came crashing
+on, louder, and louder, and in the midst of this awful sound a man in the
+skin of a wild boar, with hideous features and bristling red hair, came
+out of the gloomiest part of the sacred grove, plunged into the lake,
+followed by seventy creatures like himself, and swam up to the ship of
+Osiris.
+
+     [We have taken our description of this spectacle entirely from the
+     Osiris-myth, as we find it in Plutarch, Isis and Orisis 13-19.
+     Diod. I. 22. and a thousand times repeated on the monuments.  Horus
+     is called "the avenger of his father," &c.  We copy the battle with
+     all its phases from an inscription at Edfu, interpreted by Naville.]
+
+"The little boats fled with the swiftness of the wind, and the trembling
+boy helmsman dropped his lotusblossom.
+
+"The dreadful monster then rushed on Osiris, and, with the help of his
+comrades, killed him, threw the body into a coffin and the coffin into
+the lake, the waters of which seemed to carry it away as if by magic.
+Isis meanwhile had escaped to land in one of the small boats, and was now
+running hither and thither on the shores of the lake, with streaming
+hair, lamenting her dead husband and followed by the virgins who had
+escaped with her.  Their songs and dances, while seeking the body of
+Osiris, were strangely plaintive and touching, and the girls accompanied
+the dance by waving black Byssus scarfs in wonderfully graceful curves.
+Neither were the youths idle; they busied themselves in making a costly
+coffin for the vanished corpse of the god, accompanying their work with
+dances and the sound of castanets.  When this was finished they joined
+the maidens in the train of the lamenting Isis and wandered on the shore
+with them, singing and searching.
+
+"Suddenly a low song rose from some invisible lips.  It swelled louder
+and louder and announced, that the body of the god had been transported
+by the currents of the Mediterranean to Gebal in distant Phoenicia.  This
+singing voice thrilled to my very heart; Neithotep's son, who was my
+companion, called it 'the wind of rumor.'
+
+"When Isis heard the glad news, she threw off her mourning garments and
+sang a song of triumphant rejoicing, accompanied by the voices of her
+beautiful followers.  Rumor had not lied; the goddess really found the
+sarcophagus and the dead body of her husband on the northern shore of the
+lake.
+
+     [It is natural, that Isis should find the body of her husband in the
+     north.  The connection between Phoenicia and Egypt in this myth, as
+     it has been handed down to us by Plutarch, is very remarkable.  We
+     consider the explanation of the close affinity between the Isis and
+     Osiris and the Adonis myths to be in the fact, that Egyptians and
+     Phoenicians lived together on the shores of the Delta where the
+     latter had planted their colonies.  Plutarch's story of the finding
+     of Osiris' dead body is very charming.  Isis and Osiris.  Ed. Parth.
+     15.]
+
+"They brought both to land with dances; Isis threw herself on the beloved
+corpse, called on the name of Osiris and covered the mummy with kisses,
+while the youths wove a wonderful tomb of lotus-flowers and ivy.
+
+"When the coffin had been laid under this beautiful vault, Isis left the
+sad place of mourning and went to look for her son.  She found him at the
+east end of the lake, where for a long time I had seen a beautiful youth
+practising arms with a number of companions.
+
+"While she was rejoicing over her newly-found child, a fresh peal of
+thunder told that Typhon had returned.  This time the monster rushed upon
+the beautiful flowering grave, tore the body out of its coffin, hewed it
+into fourteen pieces, and strewed them over the shores of the lake.
+
+"When Isis came back to the grave, she found nothing but faded flowers
+and an empty coffin; but at fourteen different places on the shore
+fourteen beautiful colored flames were burning.  She and her virgins ran
+to these flames, while Horus led the youths to battle against Typhon on
+the opposite shore.
+
+"My eyes and ears hardly sufficed for all I had to see and hear.  On the
+one shore a fearful and interesting struggle, peals of thunder and the
+braying of trumpets; on the other the sweet voices of the women, singing
+the most captivating songs to the most enchanting dances, for Isis had
+found a portion of her husband's body at every fire and was rejoicing.
+
+"That was something for you, Zopyrus!  I know of no words to describe the
+grace of those girls' movements, or how beautiful it was to see them
+first mingling in intricate confusion, then suddenly standing in
+faultless, unbroken lines, falling again into the same lovely tumult and
+passing once more into order, and all this with the greatest swiftness.
+Bright rays of light flashed from their whirling ranks all the time, for
+each dancer had a mirror fastened between her shoulders, which flashed
+while she was in motion, and reflected the scene when she was still.
+
+"Just as Isis had found the last limb but one of the murdered Osiris,
+loud songs of triumph and the flourish of trumpets resounded from the
+opposite shore.
+
+"Horus had conquered Typhon, and was forcing his way into the nether
+regions to free his father.  The gate to this lower world opened on the
+west side of the lake and was guarded by a fierce female hippopotamus.
+
+"And now a lovely music of flutes and harps came nearer and nearer,
+heavenly perfumes rose into the air, a rosy light spread over the sacred
+grove, growing brighter every minute, and Osiris came up from the lower
+world, led by his victorious son.  Isis hastened to embrace her risen and
+delivered husband, gave the beautiful Horus his lotus-flower again
+instead of the sword, and scattered fruits and flowers over the earth,
+while Osiris seated himself under a canopy wreathed with ivy, and
+received the homage of all the spirits of the earth and of the Amenti."
+
+     [The lower world, in Egyptian Amenti, properly speaking, the West or
+     kingdom of death, to which the soul returns at the death of the
+     body, as the sun at his setting.  In a hieroglyphic inscription of
+     the time of the Ptolemies the Amenti is called Hades.]
+
+Darius was silent.  Rhodopis began:
+
+"We thank you for your charming account; but this strange spectacle must
+have a higher meaning, and we should thank you doubly if you would
+explain that to us."
+
+"Your idea is quite right," answered Darius, "but what I know I dare not
+tell.  I was obliged to promise Neithotep with an oath, not to tell tales
+out of school."
+
+"Shall I tell you," asked Rhodopis, "what conclusions various hints from
+Pythagoras and Onuphis have led me to draw, as to the meaning of this
+drama?  Isis seems to me to represent the bountiful earth; Osiris,
+humidity or the Nile, which makes the earth fruitful; Horus, the young
+spring; Typhon, the scorching drought.  The bounteous earth, robbed of
+her productive power, seeks this beloved husband with lamentations in the
+cooler regions of the north, where the Nile discharges his waters.  At
+last Horus, the young springing power of nature, is grown up and conquers
+Typhon, or the scorching drought.  Osiris, as is the case with the
+fruitful principle of nature, was only apparently dead, rises from the
+nether regions and once more rules the blessed valley of the Nile, in
+concert with his wife, the bounteous earth."
+
+"And as the murdered god behaved properly in the lower regions," said
+Zopyrus, laughing, "he is allowed, at the end of this odd story, to
+receive homage from the inhabitants of Hamestegan, Duzakh and Gorothman,
+or whatever they call these abodes for the Egyptian spirit-host."
+
+"They are called Amenti," said Darius, falling into his friend's merry
+mood; but you must know that the history of this divine pair represents
+not only the life of nature, but also that of the human soul, which, like
+the murdered Osiris, lives an eternal life, even when the body is dead."
+
+"Thank you," said the other; "I'll try to remember that if I should
+chance to die in Egypt.  But really, cost what it may, I must see this
+wonderful sight soon."
+
+"Just my own wish," said Rhodopis.  "Age is inquisitive."
+
+"You will never be old," interrupted Darius.  "Your conversation and your
+features have remained alike beautiful, and your mind is as clear and
+bright as your eyes."
+
+"Forgive me for interrupting you," said Rhodopis, as if she had not heard
+his flattering words, "but the word 'eyes' reminds me of the oculist
+Nebenchari, and my memory fails me so often, that I must ask you what has
+become of him, before I forget.  I hear nothing now of this skilful
+operator to whom the noble Kassandane owes her sight."
+
+"He is much to be pitied," replied Darius.  "Even before we reached
+Pelusium he had begun to avoid society, and scorned even to speak with
+his countryman Onuphis.  His gaunt old servant was the only being allowed
+to wait on or be with him.  But after the battle his whole behavior
+changed.  He went to the king with a radiant countenance, and asked
+permission to accompany him to Sais, and to choose two citizens of that
+town to be his slaves.  Cambyses thought he could not refuse anything to
+the man, who had been such a benefactor to his mother, and granted him
+full power to do what he wished.  On arriving at Amasis' capital, he went
+at once to the temple of Neith, caused the high-priest (who had moreover
+placed himself at the head of the citizens hostile to Persia), to be
+arrested, and with him a certain oculist named Petammon.  He then
+informed them that, as punishment for the burning of certain papers, they
+would be condemned to serve a Persian to whom he should sell them, for
+the term of their natural lives, and to perform the most menial services
+of slaves in a foreign country.  I was present at this scene, and I
+assure you I trembled before the Egyptian as he said these words to his
+enemies.  Neithotep, however, listened quietly, and when Nebenchari had
+finished, answered him thus: If thou, foolish son, hast betrayed thy
+country for the sake of thy burnt manuscripts, the deed has been neither
+just nor wise.  I preserved thy valuable works with the greatest care,
+laid them up in our temple, and sent a complete copy to the library at
+Thebes.  Nothing was burnt but the letters from Amasis to thy father,
+and a worthless old chest.  Psamtik and Petammon were present, and it was
+then and there resolved that a new family tomb in the city of the dead
+should be built for thee as a compensation for the loss of papers, which,
+in order to save Egypt, we were unfortunately forced to destroy.  On its
+walls thou canst behold pleasing paintings of the gods to whom thou hast
+devoted thy life, the most sacred chapters from the book of the dead, and
+many other beautiful pictures touching thine own life and character."
+
+"The physician turned very pale--asked first to see his books, and then
+his new and beautifully-fitted-up tomb.  He then gave his slaves their
+freedom, (notwithstanding which they were still taken to Memphis as
+prisoners of war), and went home, often passing his hand across his
+forehead on the way, and with the uncertain step of one intoxicated.
+On reaching his house he made a will, bequeathing all he possessed to the
+grandson of his old servant Hib, and, alleging that he was ill, went to
+bed.  The next morning he was found dead.  He had poisoned himself with
+the fearful strychnos-juice."
+
+"Miserable man" said Croesus.  "The gods had blinded him, and he reaped
+despair instead of revenge, as a reward for his treachery."
+
+"I pity him," murmured Rhodopis.  "But look, the rowers are taking in
+their oars.  We are at the end of our journey; there are your litters and
+carriages waiting for you.  It was a beautiful trip.  Farewell, my dear
+ones; come to Naukratis soon,  I shall return at once with Theopompus and
+Syloson.  Give little Parmys a thousand kisses from me, and tell Melitta
+never to take her out at noon.  It is dangerous for the eyes.  Good-
+night, Croesus; good-night, friends, farewell my dear son."
+
+The Persians left the vessel with many a nod and farewell word, and
+Bartja, looking round once more, missed his footing and fell on the
+landing-pier.
+
+He sprang up in a moment without Zopyrus' help, who came running back,
+calling out, "Take care, Bartja!  It's unlucky to fall in stepping
+ashore.  I did the very same thing, when we left the ship that time at
+Naukratis."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+While our friends were enjoying their row on the Nile, Cambyses' envoy,
+Prexaspes, had returned from a mission to the long-lived Ethiopians.  He
+praised their strength and stature, described the way to their country as
+almost inaccessible to a large army, and had plenty of marvellous tales
+to tell.  How, for instance; they always chose the strongest and
+handsomest man in their nation for their king, and obeyed him
+unconditionally: how many of them reached the age of 120 years, and some
+even passed it: how they ate nothing but boiled flesh, drank new milk and
+washed in a spring the waters of which had the scent of violets, gave a
+remarkable lustre to their skins, and were so light that wood could not
+swim in them: how their captives wore golden fetters, because other
+metals were rare and dear in their country; and lastly, how they covered
+the bodies of the dead with plaster or stucco, over which a coating of
+some glass-like material was poured, and kept the pillars thus formed one
+year in their houses, during which time sacrifices were offered them, and
+at the year's end they were placed in rows around the town.
+
+The king of this strange people had accepted Cambyses' presents, saying,
+in a scornful tone, that he new well his friendship was of no importance
+to the Persians, and Prexaspes had only been sent to spy out the land.
+If the prince of Asia were a just man, he would be contented with his own
+immense empire and not try to subjugate a people who had done him no
+wrong.  "Take your king this bow," he said, "and advise him not to begin
+the war with us, until the Persians are able to bend such weapons as
+easily as we do.  Cambyses may thank the gods, that the Ethiopians have
+never taken it into their heads to conquer countries which do not belong
+to them."
+
+He then unbent his mighty bow of ebony, and gave it to Prexaspes to take
+to his lord.
+
+Cambyses laughed at the bragging African, invited his nobles to a trial
+of the bow the next morning, and awarded Prexaspes for the clever way in
+which he had overcome the difficulties of his journey and acquitted
+himself of his mission.  He then went to rest, as usual intoxicated, and
+fell into a disturbed sleep, in which he dreamed that Bartja was seated
+on the throne of Persia, and that the crown of his head touched the
+heavens.
+
+This was a dream, which he could interpret without the aid of soothsayer
+or Chaldean.  It roused his anger first, and then made him thoughtful.
+
+He could not sleep, and such questions as the following came into his
+mind: "Haven't you given your brother reason to feel revengeful?  Do you
+think he can forget that you imprisoned and condemned him to death, when
+he was innocent?  And if he should raise his hand against you, would not
+all the Achaemenidae take his part?  Have I ever done, or have I any
+intention of ever doing anything to win the love of these venal
+courtiers?  Since Nitetis died and that strange Greek fled, has there
+been a single human being, in whom I have the least confidence or on
+whose affection I can rely?"
+
+These thoughts and questionings excited him so fearfully, that he sprang
+from his bed, crying: "Love and I have nothing to do with one another.
+Other men maybe kind and good if they like; I must be stern, or I shall
+fall into the hands of those who hate me--hate me because I have been
+just, and have visited heavy sins with heavy chastisements.  They whisper
+flattering words in my ear; they curse me when my back is turned.  The
+gods themselves must be my enemies, or why do they rob me of everything
+I love, deny me posterity and even that military glory which is my just
+due?  Is Bartja so much better than I, that everything which I am forced
+to give up should be his in hundred-fold measure?  Love, friendship,
+fame, children, everything flows to him as the rivers to the sea, while
+my heart is parched like the desert.  But I am king still.  I can show
+him which is the stronger of us two, and I will, though his forehead may
+touch the heavens.  In Persia there can be only one great man.  He or I,
+--I or he.  In a few days I'll send him back to Asia and make him satrap
+of Bactria.  There he can nurse his child and listen to his wife's songs,
+while I am winning glory in Ethiopia, which it shall not be in his power
+to lessen.  Ho, there, dressers!  bring my robes and a good morning-
+draught of wine.  I'll show the Persians that I'm fit to be King of
+Ethiopia, and can beat them all at bending a bow.  Here, give me another
+cup of wine.  I'd bend that bow, if it were a young cedar and its string
+a cable!"  So saying he drained an immense bowl of wine and went into the
+palace-garden, conscious of his enormous strength and therefore sure of
+success.
+
+All his nobles were assembled waiting for him there, welcomed him with
+loud acclamations, and fell on their faces to the ground before their
+king.
+
+Pillars, connected by scarlet cords, had been quickly set up between the
+closely-cut hedges and straight avenues.  From these cords, suspended by
+gold and silver rings, yellow and dark blue hangings fluttered in the
+breeze.  Gilded wooden benches had been placed round in a large circle,
+and nimble cup-bearers handed wine in costly vessels to the company
+assembled for the shooting-match.
+
+At a sign from the king the Achaemenidae rose from the earth.
+
+Cambyses glanced over their ranks, and his face brightened on seeing
+that Bartja was not there.  Prexaspes handed him the Ethiopian bow, and
+pointed out a target at some distance.  Cambyses laughed at the large
+size of the target, weighted the bow with his right hand, challenged his
+subjects to try their fortune first, and handed the bow to the aged
+Hystaspes, as the highest in rank among the Achaemenidae.
+
+While Hystaspes first, and then all the heads of the six other highest
+families in Persia, were using their utmost efforts to bend this monster
+weapon in vain, the king emptied goblet after goblet of wine, his spirits
+rising as he watched their vain endeavors to solve the Ethiopian's
+problem.  At last Darius, who was famous for his skill in archery, took
+the bow.  Nearly the same result.  The wood was inflexible as iron and
+all his efforts only availed to move it one finger's breadth.  The king
+gave him a friendly nod in reward for his success, and then, looking
+round on his friends and relations in a manner that betokened the most
+perfect assurance, he said: "Give me the bow now, Darius.  I will show
+you, that there is only one man in Persia who deserves the name of king;
+--only one who can venture to take the field against the Ethiopians;--
+only one who can bend this bow."
+
+He grasped it tightly with his left hand, taking the string, which was as
+thick as a man's finger and made from the intestines of a lion, in his
+right, fetched a deep breath, bent his mighty back and pulled and pulled;
+collected all his strength for greater and greater efforts, strained his
+sinews till they threatened to break, and the veins in his forehead were
+swollen to bursting, did not even disdain to use his feet and legs, but
+all in vain.  After a quarter of an hour of almost superhuman exertion,
+his strength gave way, the ebony, which he had succeeded in bending even
+farther than Darius, flew back and set all his further endeavors at
+nought.  At last, feeling himself thoroughly exhausted, he dashed the bow
+on to the ground in a passion, crying: "The Ethiopian is a liar! no
+mortal man has ever bent that bow.  What is impossible for my arm is
+possible for no other.  In three days we will start for Ethiopia.  I will
+challenge the impostor to a single combat, and ye shall see which is the
+stronger.  Take up the bow, Prexaspes, and keep it carefully.  The black
+liar shall be strangled with his own bow-string.  This wood is really
+harder than iron, and I confess that the man who could bend it, would
+really be my master.  I should not be ashamed to call him so, for he must
+be of better stuff than I."
+
+As he finished speaking, Bartja appeared in the circle of assembled
+Persians.  His glorious figure was set off to advantage by his rich
+dress, his features were bright with happiness and a feeling of conscious
+strength.  He passed through the ranks of the Achaemenidae with many a
+friendly nod, which was warmly returned, and going straight to his
+brother, kissed his robe, looked up frankly and cheerfully into his
+gloomy eyes, and said: "I am a little late, and ask your forgiveness, my
+lord and brother.  Or have I really come in time?  Yes, yes, I see
+there's no arrow in the target yet, so I am sure you, the best archer in
+the world, cannot have tried your strength yet.  But you look so
+enquiringly at me.  Then I will confess that our child kept me.  The
+little creature laughed to-day for the first time, and was so charming
+with its mother, that I forgot how time was passing while I watched them.
+You have all full leave to laugh at my folly; I really don't know how to
+excuse myself.  See, the little one has pulled my star from the chain.
+But I think, my brother, you will give me a new one to-day if I should
+hit the bull's eye.  Shall I shoot first, or will you begin, my
+Sovereign?"
+
+"Give him the bow, Prexaspes," said Cambyses, not even deigning to look
+at his brother.
+
+Bartja took it and was proceeding to examine the wood and the string,
+when Cambyses suddenly called out, with a mocking laugh: "By Mithras, I
+believe you want to try your sweet looks on the bow, and win its favor in
+that fashion, as you do the hearts of men.  Give it back to Prexaspes.
+It's easier to play with beautiful women and laughing children, than with
+a weapon like this, which mocks the strength even of real men."
+
+Bartja blushed with anger and annoyance at this speech, which was uttered
+in the bitterest tone, picked up the giant arrow that lay before him,
+placed himself opposite the target, summoned all his strength, bent the
+bow, by an almost superhuman effort, and sent the arrow into the very
+centre of the target, where its iron point remained, while the wooden
+shaft split into a hundred shivers.
+
+     [Herodotus tells this story (III, 30.), and we are indebted to him
+     also for our information of the events which follow.  The following
+     inscription, said to have been placed over the grave of Darius, and
+     communicated by Onesikritus, (Strabo 730.) proves that the Persians
+     were very proud of being reputed good archers: "I was a friend to my
+     friends, the best rider and archer, a first-rate hunter; I could do
+     everything."]
+
+Most of the Achaemenidae burst into loud shouts of delight at this
+marvellous proof of strength; but Bartja's nearest friends turned pale
+and were silent; they were watching the king, who literally quivered with
+rage, and Bartja, who was radiant with pride and joy.
+
+Cambyses was a fearful sight at that moment.  It seemed to him as if that
+arrow, in piercing the target, had pierced his own heart, his strength,
+dignity and honor.  Sparks floated before his eyes, in his ears was a
+sound like the breaking of a stormy sea on the shore; his cheeks glowed
+and he grasped the arm of Prexaspes who was at his side.  Prexaspes only
+too well understood what that pressure meant, when given by a royal hand,
+and murmured: "Poor Bartja!"
+
+At last the king succeeded in recovering his presence of mind.  Without
+saying a word, he threw a gold chain to his brother, ordered his nobles
+to follow him, and left the garden, but only to wander restlessly up and
+down his apartments, and try to drown his rage in wine.  Suddenly he
+seemed to have formed a resolution and ordered all the courtiers, except
+Prexaspes, to leave the hall.  When they were alone, he called out in a
+hoarse voice and with a look that proved the extent of his intoxication:
+"This life is not to be borne!  Rid me of my enemy, and I will call you
+my friend and benefactor."
+
+Prexaspes trembled, threw himself at the king's feet and raised his hands
+imploringly; but Cambyses was too intoxicated, and too much blinded by
+his hatred to understand the action.  He fancied the prostration was
+meant as a sign of devotion to his will, signed to him to rise, and
+whispered, as if afraid of hearing his own words: "Act quickly and
+secretly; and, as you value your life, let no one know of the upstart's
+death.  Depart, and when your work is finished, take as much as you like
+out of the treasury.  But keep your wits about you.  The boy has a strong
+arm and a winning tongue.  Think of your own wife and children, if he
+tries to win you over with his smooth words."
+
+As he spoke he emptied a fresh goblet of pure wine, staggered through the
+door of the room, calling out as he turned his back on Prexaspes: "Woe be
+to you if that upstart, that woman's hero, that fellow who has robbed me
+of my honor, is left alive."
+
+Long after he had left the hall, Prexaspes stood fixed on the spot where
+he had heard these words.  The man was ambitious, but neither mean nor
+bad, and he felt crushed by the awful task allotted to him.  He knew that
+his refusal to execute it would bring death or disgrace on himself and on
+his family; but he loved Bartja, and besides, his whole nature revolted
+at the thought of becoming a common, hired murderer.  A fearful struggle
+began in his mind, and raged long after he left the palace.  On the way
+home he met Croesus and Darius.  He fancied they would see from his looks
+that he was already on the way to a great crime, and hid himself behind
+the projecting gate of a large Egyptian house.  As they passed, he heard
+Croesus say: "I reproached him bitterly, little as he deserves reproach
+in general, for having given such an inopportune proof of his great
+strength.  We may really thank the gods, that Cambyses did not lay
+violent hands on him in a fit of passion.  He has followed my advice now
+and gone with his wife to Sais.  For the next few days Bartja must not
+come near the king; the mere sight of him might rouse his anger again,
+and a monarch can always find unprincipled servants .  .  ."
+
+The rest of the sentence died away in the distance, but the words he had
+heard were enough to make Prexaspes start, as if Croesus had accused him
+of the shameful deed.  He resolved in that moment that, come what would,
+his hands should not be stained with the blood of a friend.  This
+resolution restored him his old erect bearing and firm gait for the time,
+but when he reached the dwelling which had been assigned as his abode in
+Sais his two boys ran to the door to meet him.  They had stolen away from
+the play-ground of the sons of the Achaemenidae, (who, as was always the
+case, had accompanied the king and the army), to see their father for a
+moment.  He felt a strange tenderness, which he could not explain to
+himself, on taking them in his arms, and kissed the beautiful boys once
+more on their telling him that they must go back to their play-ground
+again, or they should be punished.  Within, he found his favorite wife
+playing with their youngest child, a sweet little girl.  Again the same
+strange, inexplicable feeling of tenderness.  He overcame it this time
+for fear of betraying his secret to his young wife, and retired to his
+own apartment early.
+
+Night had come on.
+
+The sorely-tried man could not sleep; he turned restlessly from side to
+side.  The fearful thought, that his refusal to do the king's will would
+be the ruin of his wife and children, stood before his wakeful eyes in
+the most vivid colors.  The strength to keep his good resolution forsook
+him, and even Croesus' words, which, when he first heard them had given
+his nobler feelings the victory, now came in as a power on the other
+side.  "A monarch can always find unprincipled servants."  Yes, the words
+were an affront, but at the same time a reminder, that though he might
+defy the king's command a hundred others would be ready to obey it.  No
+sooner had this thought become clear to him, than he started up, examined
+a number of daggers which hung, carefully arranged, above his bed, and
+laid the sharpest on the little table before him.
+
+He then began to pace the room in deep thought, often going to the
+opening which served as a window, to cool his burning forehead and see
+if dawn were near.
+
+When at last daylight appeared, he heard the sounding brass calling the
+boys to early prayer.  That reminded him of his sons and he examined the
+dagger a second time.  A troop of gaily-dressed courtiers rode by on
+their way to the king.  He put the dagger in his girdle; and at last, on
+hearing the merry laughter of his youngest child sound from the women's
+apartments, he set the tiara hastily on his head, left the house without
+taking leave of his wife, and, accompanied by a number of slaves, went
+down to the Nile.  There he threw himself into a boat and ordered the
+rowers to take him to Sais.
+
+                    .........................
+
+A few hours after the fatal shooting-match, Bartja had followed Croesus'
+advice and had gone off to Sais with his young wife.  They found Rhodopis
+there.  She had yielded to an irresistible impulse and, instead of
+returning to Naukratis, had stopped at Sais.  Bartja's fall on stepping
+ashore had disturbed her, and she had with her own eyes seen an owl fly
+from the left side close by his head.  These evil omens, to a heart which
+had by no means outgrown the superstitions of the age, added to a
+confused succession of distressing dreams which had disturbed her
+slumbers, and her usual wish to be always near Bartja and Sappho,
+led her to decide quickly on waiting for her granddaughter at Sais.
+
+Bartja and Sappho were delighted to find such a welcome guest, and
+after she had dandled and played with her great grandchild, the little
+Parmys, to her heart's content, they led her to the rooms which had been
+prepared for her.
+
+     [Herodotus states, that beside Atossa, &c..  Darius took a daughter
+     of the deceased Bartja, named Parmys, to be his wife.  Herod. III.
+     88.  She is also mentioned VII. 78.]
+
+They were the same in which the unhappy Tachot had spent the last months
+of her fading existence.  Rhodopis could not see all the little trifles
+which showed, not only the age and sex of the former occupant, but her
+tastes and disposition, without feeling very sad.  On the dressing-table
+were a number of little ointment-boxes and small bottles for perfumes,
+cosmetics, washes and oils.  Two larger boxes, one in the form of a Nile-
+goose, and another on the side of which a woman playing on a lute had
+been painted, had once contained the princess's costly golden ornaments,
+and the metal mirror with a handle in the form of a sleeping maiden, had
+once reflected her beautiful face with its pale pink flush.  Everything
+in the room, from the elegant little couch resting on lions' claws, to
+the delicately-carved ivory combs on the toilet-table, proved that the
+outward adornments of life had possessed much charm for the former owner
+of these rooms.  The golden sisirum and the delicately-wrought nabla,
+the strings of which had long ago been broken, testified to her taste for
+music, while the broken spindle in the corner, and some unfinished nets
+of glass beads shewed that she had been fond of woman's usual work.
+
+It was a sad pleasure to Rhodopis to examine all these things, and the
+picture which she drew in her own mind of Tachot after the inspection,
+differed very little from the reality.  At last interest and curiosity
+led her to a large painted chest.  She lifted the light cover and found,
+first, a few dried flowers; then a ball, round which some skilful hand
+had wreathed roses and leaves, once fresh and bright, now, alas, long ago
+dead and withered.  Beside these were a number of amulets in different
+forms, one representing the goddess of truth, another containing spells
+written on a strip of papyrus and concealed in a little golden case.
+Then her eyes fell on some letters written in the Greek character.  She
+read them by the light of the lamp.  They were from Nitetis in Persia to
+her supposed sister, and were written in ignorance of the latter's
+illness.  When Rhodopis laid them down her eyes were full of tears.  The
+dead girl's secret lay open before her.  She knew now that Tachot had
+loved Bartja, that he had given her the faded flowers, and that she had
+wreathed the ball with roses because he had thrown it to her.  The
+amulets must have been intended either to heal her sick heart, or to
+awaken love in his.
+
+As she was putting the letters back in their old place, she touched some
+cloths which seemed put in to fill up the bottom of the chest, and felt a
+hard round substance underneath.  She raised them, and discovered a bust
+made of colored wax, such a wonderfully-exact portrait of Nitetis, that
+an involuntary exclamation of surprise broke from her, and it was long
+before she could turn her eyes away from Theodorus' marvellous work.
+
+She went to rest and fell asleep, thinking of the sad fate of Nitetis,
+the Egyptian Princess.
+
+The next morning Rhodopis went into the garden--the same into which we
+led our readers during the lifetime of Amasis-and found Bartja and Sappho
+in an arbor overgrown with vines.
+
+Sappho was seated in a light wicker-work chair.  Her child lay on her
+lap, stretching out its little hands and feet, sometimes to its father,
+who was kneeling on the ground before them, and then to its mother whose
+laughing face was bent down over her little one.
+
+Bartja was very happy with his child.  When the little creature buried
+its tiny fingers in his curls and beard, he would draw his head back to
+feel the strength of the little hand, would.  kiss its rosy feet, its
+little round white shoulders and dimpled arms.  Sappho enjoyed the fun,
+always trying to draw the little one's attention to its father.
+
+Sometimes, when she stooped down to kiss the rosy baby lips, her forehead
+would touch his curls and he would steal the kiss meant for the little
+Parmys.
+
+Rhodopis watched them a long time unperceived, and, with tears of joy in
+her eyes, prayed the gods that they might long be as happy as they now
+were.  At last she came into the arbor to wish them good-morning, and
+bestowed much praise on old Melitta for appearing at the right moment,
+parasol in hand, to take her charge out of the sunshine before it became
+too bright and hot, and put her to sleep.
+
+The old slave had been appointed head-nurse to the high-born child, and
+acquitted herself in her new office with an amount of importance which
+was very comical.  Hiding her old limbs under rich Persian robes, she
+moved about exulting in the new and delightful right to command, and kept
+her inferiors in perpetual motion.
+
+Sappho followed Melitta into the palace, first whispering in her
+husband's ear with her arm round his neck: "Tell my grandmother
+everything and ask whether you are right."
+
+Before he could answer, she had stopped his mouth with a kiss, and then
+hurried after the old woman who was departing with dignified steps.
+
+The prince smiled as he watched her graceful walk and beautiful figure,
+and said, turning to Rhodopis: "Does not it strike you, that she has
+grown taller lately."
+
+"It seems so," answered Rhodopis.  "A woman's girlhood has its own
+peculiar charm, but her true dignity comes with motherhood.  It is the
+feeling of having fulfilled her destiny, which raises her head and makes
+us fancy she has grown taller."
+
+"Yes," said Bartja, "I think she is happy.  Yesterday our opinions
+differed for the first time, and as she was leaving us just now, she
+begged me, privately, to lay the question before you, which I am very
+glad to do, for I honor your experience and wisdom just as much, as I
+love her childlike inexperience."
+
+Bartja then told the story of the unfortunate shooting-match, finishing
+with these words: "Croesus blames my imprudence, but I know my brother; I
+know that when he is angry he is capable of any act of violence, and it
+is not impossible that at the moment when he felt himself defeated he
+could have killed me; but I know too, that when his fierce passion has
+cooled, he will forget my boastful deed, and only try to excel me by
+others of the same kind.  A year ago he was by far the best marksman in
+Persia, and would be so still, if drink and epilepsy had not undermined
+his strength.  I must confess I feel as if I were becoming stronger every
+day."
+
+"Yes," interrupted Rhodopis, "pure happiness strengthens a man's arm,
+just as it adds to the beauty of a woman, while intemperance and mental
+distress ruin both body and mind far more surely even than old age.  My
+son, beware of your brother; his strong arm has become paralyzed, and his
+generosity can be forfeited too.  Trust my experience, that the man who
+is the slave of one evil passion, is very seldom master of the rest;
+besides which, no one feels humiliation so bitterly as he who is sinking
+--who knows that his powers are forsaking him.  I say again, beware of
+your brother, and trust the voice of experience more than that of your
+own heart, which, because it is generous itself, believes every one else
+to be so."
+
+"I see," said Bartja, "that you will take Sappho's side.  Difficult as it
+will be for her to part from you, she has still begged me to return with
+her to Persia.  She thinks that Cambyses may forget his anger, when I am
+out of sight.  I thought she was over-anxious, and besides, it would
+disappoint me not to take part in the expedition against the Ethiopians."
+
+"But I entreat you," interrupted Rhodopis, "to follow her advice.  The
+gods only know what pain it will give me to lose you both, and yet I
+repeat a thousand times: Go back to Persia, and remember that none but
+fools stake life and happiness to no purpose.  As to the war with
+Ethiopia, it is mere madness; instead of subduing those black inhabitants
+of the south, you yourselves will be conquered by heat, thirst and all
+the horrors of the desert.  In saying this I refer to the campaigns in
+general; as to your own share in them, I can only say that if no fame is
+to be won there, you will be putting your own life and the happiness of
+your family in jeopardy literally for nothing, and that if, on the other
+hand, you should distinguish yourself again, it would only be giving
+fresh cause of jealousy and anger to your brother.  No, go to Persia, as
+soon as you can."
+
+Bartja was just beginning to make various objections to these arguments,
+when he caught sight of Prexaspes coming up to them, looking very pale.
+
+After the usual greeting, the envoy whispered to Bartja, that he should
+like to speak with him alone.  Rhodopis left them at once, and he began,
+playing with the rings on his right hand as he spoke, in a constrained,
+embarrassed way.  "I come from the king.  Your display of strength
+irritated him yesterday, and he does not wish to see you again for some
+time.  His orders are, that you set out for Arabia to buy up all the
+camels that are to be had.
+
+     [Camels are never represented on the Egyptian monuments, whereas
+     they were in great use among the Arabians and Persians, and are now
+     a necessity on the Nile.  They must have existed in Egypt, however.
+     Hekekyan-Bey discovered the bones of a dromedary in a deep bore.
+     Representations of these creatures were probably forbid We know this
+     was the case with the cock, of which bird there were large numbers
+     in Egypt:  It is remarkable, that camels were not introduced into
+     Barbary until after the birth of Christ.]
+
+"As these animals can bear thirst very long, they are to be used in
+conveying food and water for our army on the Ethiopian campaign.  There
+must be no delay.  Take leave of your wife, and (I speak by the king's
+command) be ready to start before dark.  You will be absent at least a
+month.  I am to accompany you as far as Pelusium.  Kassandane wishes to
+have your wife and child near her during your absence.  Send them to
+Memphis as soon as possible; under the protection of the queen mother,
+they will be in safety."
+
+Prexaspes' short, constrained way of speaking did not strike Bartja.
+He rejoiced at what seemed to him great moderation on the part of his
+brother, and at receiving a commission which relieved him of all doubt
+on the question of leaving Egypt, gave his friend, (as he supposed him
+to be), his hand to kiss and an invitation to follow him into the palace.
+
+In the cool of the evening, he took a short but very affectionate
+farewell of Sappho and his child, who was asleep in Melitta's arms, told
+his wife to set out as soon as possible on her journey to Kassandane,
+called out jestingly to his mother-in-law, that at least this time she
+had been mistaken in her judgment of a man's character, (meaning his
+brother's), and sprang on to his horse.
+
+As Prexaspes was mounting, Sappho whispered to him, "Take care of that
+reckless fellow, and remind him of me and his child, when you see him
+running into unnecessary danger."
+
+"I shall have to leave him at Pelusium," answered  the envoy, busying
+himself with the bridle of his horse in order to avoid meeting her eyes.
+
+"Then may the gods take him into their keeping!"  exclaimed Sappho,
+clasping her husband's hand, and bursting into tears, which she could not
+keep back.  Bartja looked down and saw his usually trustful wife in
+tears.  He felt sadder than he had ever felt before.  Stooping down
+lovingly from his saddle, he put his strong arm round her waist, lifted
+her up to him, and as she stood supporting herself on his foot in the
+stirrup, pressed her to his heart, as if for a long last farewell.  He
+then let her safely and gently to the ground, took his child up to him on
+the saddle, kissed and fondled the little creature, and told her
+laughingly to make her mother very happy while he was away, exchanged
+some warm words of farewell with Rhodopis, and then, spurring his horse
+till the creature reared, dashed through the gateway of the Pharaohs'
+palace, with Prexaspes at his side.
+
+When the sound of the horses' hoofs had died away in the distance, Sappho
+laid her head on her grandmother's shoulder and wept uncontrollably.
+Rhodopis remonstrated and blamed, but all in vain, she could not stop her
+tears.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+On the morning after the trial of the bow, Cambyses was seized by such a
+violent attack of his old illness, that he was forced to keep his room
+for two days and nights, ill in mind and body; at times raging like a
+madman, at others weak and powerless as a little child.
+
+On the third day he recovered consciousness and remembered the awful
+charge he had laid on Prexaspes, and that it was only too possible he
+might have executed it already.  At this thought he trembled, as he had
+never trembled in his life before.  He sent at once for the envoy's
+eldest son, who was one of the royal cup-bearers.  The boy said his
+father had left Memphis, without taking leave of his family.  He then
+sent for Darius, Zopyrus and Gyges, knowing how tenderly they loved
+Bartja, and enquired after their friend.  On hearing from them that he
+was at Sais, he sent the three youths thither at once, charging them, if
+they met Prexaspes on the way, to send him back to Memphis without delay.
+This haste and the king's strange behavior were quite incomprehensible to
+the young Achaemenidae; nevertheless they set out on their journey with
+all speed, fearing that something must be wrong.
+
+Cambyses, meanwhile, was miserably restless, inwardly cursed his habit of
+drinking and tasted no wine the whole of that clay.  Seeing his mother in
+the palace-gardens, he avoided her; he durst not meet her eye.
+
+The next eight days passed without any sign of Prexaspes' return; they
+seemed to the king like a year.  A hundred times he sent for the young
+cup-bearer and asked if his father had returned; a hundred times he
+received the same disappointing answer.
+
+At sunset on the thirteenth day, Kassandane sent to beg a visit from him.
+The king went at once, for now he longed to look on the face of his
+mother; he fancied it might give him back his lost sleep.
+
+After he had greeted her with a tenderness so rare from him, that it
+astonished her, he asked for what reason she had desired his presence.
+She answered, that Bartja's wife had arrived at Memphis under singular
+circumstances and had said she wished to present a gift to Cambyses.  He
+gave Sappho an audience at once, and heard from her that Prexaspes had
+brought her husband an order to start for Arabia, and herself a summons
+to Memphis from the queen-mother.  At these words the king turned very
+pale, and his features were agitated with pain as he looked at his
+brother's lovely young wife.  She felt that something unusual was passing
+in his mind, and such dreadful forebodings arose in her own, that she
+could only offer him the gift in silence and with trembling hands.
+
+"My husband sends you this," she said, pointing to the ingeniously-
+wrought box, which contained the wax likeness of Nitetis.  Rhodopis had
+advised her to take this to the king in Bartja's name, as a propitiatory
+offering.
+
+Cambyses showed no curiosity as to the contents of the box, gave it in
+charge to a eunuch, said a few words which seemed meant as thanks to his
+sister-in law, and left the women's apartments without even so much as
+enquiring after Atossa, whose existence he seemed to have forgotten.
+
+He had come to his mother, believing that the visit would comfort and
+calm his troubled mind, but Sappho's words had destroyed his last hope,
+and with that his last possibility of rest or peace.  By this time either
+Prexaspes would already have committed the murder, or perhaps at that
+very moment might be raising his dagger to plunge it into Bartja's heart.
+
+How could he ever meet his mother again after Bartja's death?  how could
+he answer her questions or those of that lovely Sappho, whose large,
+anxious, appealing eyes had touched him so strangely?
+
+A voice within told him, that his brother's murder would be branded as a
+cowardly, unnatural, and unjust deed, and he shuddered at the thought.
+It seemed fearful, unbearable, to be called an assassin.  He had already
+caused the death of many a man without the least compunction, but that
+had been done either in fair fight, or openly before the world.  He was
+king, and what the king did was right.  Had he killed Bartja with his own
+hand, his conscience would not have reproached him; but to have had him
+privately put out of the way, after he had given so many proofs of
+possessing first-rate manly qualities, which deserved the highest praise
+--this tortured him with a feeling of rage at his own want of principle,
+-a feeling of shame and remorse which he had never known before.  He
+began to despise himself.  The consciousness of having acted, and wished
+to act justly, forsook him, and he began to fancy, that every one who had
+been executed by his orders, had been, like Bartja, an innocent victim of
+his fierce anger.  These thoughts became so intolerable, that he began to
+drink once more in the hope of drowning them.  But now the wine had
+precisely the opposite effect, and brought such tormenting thoughts,
+that, worn out as he was already by epileptic fits and his habit of
+drinking, both body and mind threatened to give way to the agitation
+caused by the events of the last months.  Burning and shivering by turns,
+he was at last forced to lie down.  While the attendants were disrobing
+him, he remembered his brother's present, had the box fetched and opened,
+and then desired to be left alone.  The Egyptian paintings on the outside
+of the box reminded him of Nitetis, and then he asked himself what she
+would have said to his deed.  Fever had already begun, and his mind was
+wandering as he took the beautiful wax bust out of the box.  He stared in
+horror at the dull, immovable eyes.  The likeness was so perfect, and his
+judgment so weakened by wine and fever, that he fancied himself the
+victim of some spell, and yet could not turn his eyes from those dear
+features.  Suddenly the eyes seemed to move.  He was seized with terror,
+and, in a kind of convulsion, hurled what he thought had become a living
+head against the wall.  The hollow, brittle wax broke into a thousand
+fragments, and Cambyses sank back on to his bed with a groan.
+
+From that moment the fever increased.  In his delirium the banished
+Phanes appeared, singing a scornful Greek song and deriding him in such
+infamous words, that his fists clenched with rage.  Then he saw his
+friend and adviser, Croesus, threatening him in the very same words of
+warning, which he had used when Bartja had been sentenced to death by his
+command on account of Nitetis: "Beware of shedding a brother's blood; the
+smoke thereof will rise to heaven and become a cloud, that must darken
+the days of the murderer, and at last cast down the lightnings of heaven
+upon his head."
+
+And in his delirious fancy this figure of speech became a reality.  A
+rain of blood streamed down upon him from dark clouds; his clothes and
+hands were wet with the loathsome moisture.  He went down to the Nile to
+cleanse himself, and suddenly saw Nitetis coming towards him.  She had
+the same sweet smile with which Theodorus had modelled her.  Enchanted
+with this lovely vision, he fell down before her and took her hand, but
+he had scarcely touched it, when drops of blood appeared at the tips of
+her delicate fingers, and she turned away from him with every sign of
+horror.  He humbly implored her to forgive him and come back; she
+remained inexorable.  He grew angry, and threatened her, first with his
+wrath, and then with awful punishments.  At last, as she only answered
+his threats by a low scornful laugh, he ventured to throw his dagger at
+her.  She crumbled at once into a thousand pieces, like the wax statue.
+But the derisive laughter echoed on, and became louder.  Many voices
+joined in it, each trying to outbid the other.  And the voices of Bartja
+and Nitetis were the loudest,--their tone the most bitter.  At last he
+could bear these fearful sounds no longer and stopped his ears; this was
+of no use, and he buried his head, first in the glowing desert-sand and
+then in the icy cold Nile-water, until his senses forsook him.  On
+awaking, the actual state of things seemed incomprehensible to him.  He
+had gone to bed in the evening, and yet he now saw, by the direction of
+the sun's rays which fell on his bed, that, instead of dawning as he had
+expected, the day was growing dark.  There could be no mistake; he heard
+the chorus of priests singing farewell to the setting Mithras.
+
+Then he heard a number of people moving behind a curtain, which had been
+hung up at the head of his bed.  He tried to turn in his bed, but could
+not; he was too weak.  At last, finding it impossible to discover whether
+he was in real life or still in a dream, he called for his dressers and
+the courtiers, who were accustomed to be present when he rose.  They
+appeared in a moment, and with them his mother, Prexaspes, a number of
+the learned among the Magi, and some Egyptians who were unknown to him.
+They told him, that he had been lying in a violent fever for weeks, and
+had only escaped death by the special mercy of the gods, the skill of the
+physicians, and the unwearied nursing of his mother.  He looked
+enquiringly first at Kassandane, then at Prexaspes, lost consciousness
+again, and fell into a deep sleep, from which he awoke the next morning
+with renewed strength.
+
+In four days he was strong enough to sit up and able to question
+Prexaspes on the only subject, which occupied his thoughts.
+
+In consideration of his master's weakness the envoy was beginning an
+evasive reply, when a threatening movement of the king's gaunt, worn
+hand, and a look which had by no means lost its old power of awing into
+submission, brought him to the point at once, and in the hope of giving
+the king a great pleasure and putting his mind completely at rest, he
+began: "Rejoice, O King!  the youth, who dared to desire the
+disparagement of thy glory, is no more.  This hand slew him and buried
+his body at Baal-Zephon.  The sand of the desert and the unfruitful waves
+of the Red Sea were the only witnesses of the deed; and no creature knows
+thereof beside thyself, O King, thy servant Prexaspes, and the gulls and
+cormorants, that hover over his grave."
+
+The king uttered a piercing shriek of rage, was seized by a fresh
+shivering-fit, and sank back once more in raving delirium.
+
+Long weeks passed, every day of which threatened its death.  At last,
+however, his strong constitution gained the day, but his mind had given
+way, and remained disordered and weak up to his last hour.
+
+When he was strong enough to leave the sick-room and to ride and shoot
+once more, he abandoned himself more than ever to the pleasure of
+drinking, and lost every remnant of self-control.
+
+The delusion had fixed itself in his disordered mind, that Bartja was not
+dead, but transformed into the bow of the King of Ethiopia, and that the
+Feruer (soul) of his father Cyrus had commanded him to restore Bartja to
+its original form, by subjugating the black nation.
+
+This idea, which he confided to every one about him as a great secret,
+pursued him day and night and gave him no rest, until he had started for
+Ethiopia with an immense host.  He was forced, however, to return without
+having accomplished his object, after having miserably lost the greater
+part of his army by heat and the scarcity of provisions.  An historian,
+who may almost be spoken of as contemporary, tells us that the wretched
+soldiers, after having subsisted on herbs as long as they could, came to
+deserts where there was no sign of vegetation, and in their despair
+resorted to an expedient almost too fearful to describe.  Lots were drawn
+by every ten men, and he on whom the lot fell was killed and eaten by the
+other nine.
+
+     [Herodotus visited Egypt some 60 years after the death of Cambyses,
+     454 B.C.  He describes the Ethiopian campaign, III. 25.]
+
+At last things went so far, that his subjects compelled this madman to
+return, but only, with their slavish Asiatic feelings, to obey him all
+the more blindly, when they found themselves once more in inhabited
+regions.
+
+On reaching Memphis with the wreck of his army, he found the Egyptians in
+glorious apparel celebrating a festival.  They had found a new Apis and
+were rejoicing over the reappearance of their god, incarnate in the
+sacred bull.
+
+As Cambyses had heard at Thebes, that the army he had sent against the
+oasis of Ammon in the Libyan desert, had perished miserably in a Khamsin,
+or Simoom, and that his fleet, which was to conquer Carthage, had refused
+to fight with a people of their own race, he fancied that the Memphians
+must be celebrating a festival of joy at the news of his misfortunes,
+sent for their principal men, and after reproaching them with their
+conduct, asked why they had been gloomy and morose after his victories,
+but joyous at hearing of his misfortunes.  The Memphians answered by
+explaining the real ground for their merry-making, and told him, that
+the appearance of the sacred bull was always celebrated in Egypt with the
+greatest rejoicings.  Cambyses called them liars, and, as such, sentenced
+them to death.  He then sent for the priests; received, however, exactly
+the same answer from them.
+
+With the bitterest irony he asked to be allowed to make the acquaintance
+of this new god, and commanded them to bring him.  The bull Apis was
+brought and the king told that he was the progeny of a virgin cow and a
+moonbeam, that he must be black, with a white triangular spot on the
+forehead, the likeness of an eagle on his back, and on his side the
+crescent moon.  There must be two kinds of hair on his tail, and on his
+tongue an excrescence in the form of the sacred beetle Scarabaeus.
+
+When Cambyses saw this deified creature he could discover nothing
+remarkable in him, and was so enraged that he plunged his sword into its
+side.  As the blood streamed from the wound and the animal fell, he broke
+out into a piercing laugh, and cried: "Ye fools! so your gods are flesh
+and blood; they can be wounded.  Such folly is worthy of you.  But ye
+shall find, that it is not so easy to make a fool of me.  Ho, guards!
+flog these priests soundly, and kill every one whom you find taking part
+in this mad celebration."  The command was obeyed and fearfully
+exasperated the Egyptians.
+
+     [According to Herod. III. 29.  Cambyses' sword slipped and ran into
+     the leg of the sacred bull.  As the king died also of a wound in the
+     thigh, this just suits Herodotus, who always tries to put the
+     retribution that comes after presumptuous crime in the strongest
+     light; but it is very unlikely that the bull should have died of a
+     mere thigh wound.]
+
+Apis died of his wound; the Memphians buried him secretly in the vaults
+belonging to the sacred bulls, near the Serapeum, and, led by Psamtik,
+attempted an insurrection against the Persians.  This was very quickly
+put down, however, and cost Psamtik his life,--a life the stains and
+severities of which deserve to be forgiven, in consideration of his
+unwearied, ceaseless efforts to deliver his people from a foreign yoke,
+and his death in the cause of freedom.
+
+Cambyses' madness had meanwhile taken fresh forms.  After the failure of
+his attempt to restore Bartja, (transformed as he fancied into a bow) to
+his original shape, his irritability increased so frightfully that a
+single word, or even a look, was sufficient to make him furious.  Still
+his true friend and counsellor, Croesus, never left him, though the king
+had more than once given him over to the guards for execution.  But the
+guards knew their master; they took good care not to lay hands on the old
+man, and felt sure of impunity, as the king would either have forgotten
+his command, or repented of it by the next day, Once, however, the
+miserable whip bearers paid a fearful penalty for their lenity.
+Cambyses, while rejoicing that Croesus was saved, ordered his deliverers
+to be executed for disobedience without mercy.
+
+It would be repugnant to us to repeat all the tales of barbarous
+cruelties, which are told of Cambyses at this insane period of his life;
+but we cannot resist mentioning a few which seem to us especially
+characteristic.
+
+While sitting at table one day, already somewhat intoxicated, he asked
+Prexaspes what the Persians thought of him.  The envoy, who in hopes of
+deadening his tormenting conscience by the performance of noble and
+dangerous acts, let no opportunity pass of trying to exercise a good
+influence over his sovereign, answered that they extolled him on every
+point, but thought he was too much addicted to wine.
+
+These words, though spoken half in jest, put the king into a violent
+passion, and he almost shrieked: "So the Persians say, that the wine has
+taken away my senses, do they? on the contrary, I'll show them that
+they've lost their own."  And as he spoke he bent his bow, took aim for a
+moment at Prexaspes' eldest son, who, as cup-bearer, was standing at the
+back of the hall waiting for and watching every look of his sovereign,
+and shot him in the breast.  He then gave orders that the boy's body
+should be opened and examined.  The arrow had pierced the centre of his
+heart.  This delighted the senseless tyrant, and he called out with a
+laugh: "Now you see, Prexaspes, it's the Persians who have lost their
+judgment, not I.  Could any one have hit the mark better?"
+
+Prexaspes stood there, pale and motionless, compelled to watch the horrid
+scene, like Niobe when chained to Sipylus.  His servile spirit bowed
+before the ruler's power, instead of arming his right hand with the
+dagger of revenge, and when the frantic king asked him the same question
+a second time, he actually answered, pressing his hand on his heart: "A
+god could not have hit the mark more exactly."
+
+A few weeks after this, the king went to Sais, and there was shown the
+rooms formerly occupied by his bride.  This brought back all the old
+painful recollections in full force, and at the same time his clouded
+memory reminded him, though without any clearness of detail, that Amasis
+had deceived both Nitetis and himself.  He cursed the dead king and
+furiously demanded to be taken to the temple of Neith, where his mummy
+was laid.  There he tore the embalmed body out of its sarcophagus, caused
+it to be scourged, to be stabbed with pins, had the hair torn off and
+maltreated it in every possible way.  In conclusion, and contrary to the
+ancient Persian religious law, which held the pollution of pure fire by
+corpses to be a deadly sin, he caused Amasis' dead body to be burnt, and
+condemned the mummy of his first wife, which lay in a sarcophagus at
+Thebes, her native place, to the same fate.
+
+On his return to Memphis, Cambyses did not shrink from personally ill-
+treating his wife and sister, Atossa.
+
+He had ordered a combat of wild beasts to take place, during which,
+amongst other entertainments of the same kind, a dog was to fight with a
+young lion.  The lion had conquered his antagonist, when another dog, the
+brother of the conquered one, broke away from his chain, attacked the
+lion, and with the help of the wounded dog, vanquished him.
+
+This scene delighted Cambyses, but Kassandane and Atossa, who had been
+forced by the king's command to be present, began to weep aloud.
+
+The tyrant was astonished, and on asking the reason for their tears,
+received as answer from the impetuous Atossa, that the brave creature who
+had risked its own life to save its brother, reminded her of Bartja.  She
+would not say by whom he had been murdered, but his murder had never been
+avenged.
+
+These words so roused the king's anger, and so goaded his conscience,
+that in a fit of insane fury he struck the daring woman, and might
+possibly have killed her, if his mother had not thrown herself into his
+arms and exposed her own body to his mad blows.
+
+Her voice and action checked his rage, for he had not lost reverence for
+his mother; but her look of intense anger and contempt, which he clearly
+saw and could not forget, begot a fresh delusion in his mind.  He
+believed from that moment, that the eyes of women had power to poison
+him; he started and hid himself behind his companions whenever he saw a
+woman, and at last commanded that all the female inhabitants of the
+palace at Memphis, his mother not excepted, should be sent back to
+Ecbatana.  Araspes and Gyges were appointed to be their escort thither.
+
+                    ......................
+
+The caravan of queens and princesses had arrived at Sais; they alighted
+at the royal palace.  Croesus had accompanied them thus far on their way
+from Egypt.
+
+Kassandane had altered very much during the last few years.  Grief and
+suffering had worn deep lines in her once beautiful face, though they had
+had no power to bow her stately figure.
+
+Atossa, on the contrary, was more beautiful than ever, notwithstanding
+all she had suffered.  The refractory and impetuous child, the daring
+spirited girl, had developed into a dignified, animated and determined
+woman.  The serious side of life, and three sad years passed with her
+ungovernable husband and brother, had been first-rate masters in the
+school of patience, but they had not been able to alienate her heart from
+her first love.  Sappho's friendship had made up to her in some measure
+for the loss of Darius.
+
+The young Greek had become another creature, since the mysterious
+departure of her husband.  Her rosy color and her lovely smile were both
+gone.  But she was wonderfully beautiful, in spite of her paleness, her
+downcast eyelashes and languid attitude.  She looked like Ariadne waiting
+for Theseus.  Longing and expectation lay in every look, in the low tone
+of her voice, in her measured walk.  At the sound of approaching steps,
+the opening of a door or the unexpected tones of a man's voice, she would
+start, get up and listen, and then sink back into the old waiting,
+longing attitude, disappointed but not hopeless.  She began to dream
+again, as she had been so fond of doing in her girlish days.
+
+She was her old self only when playing with her child.  Then the color
+came back to her cheeks, her eyes sparkled, she seemed once more to live
+in the present, and not only in the past or future.
+
+Her child was everything to her.  In that little one Bartja seemed to be
+still alive, and she could love the child with all her heart and
+strength, without taking one iota from her love to him.  With this little
+creature the gods had mercifully given her an aim in life and a link with
+the lower world, the really precious part of which had seemed to vanish
+with her vanished husband.  Sometimes, as she looked into her baby's blue
+eyes, so wonderfully like Bartja's, she thought: Why was not she born a
+boy?  He would have grown more like his father from day to day, and at
+last, if such a thing indeed could ever be, a second Bartja would have
+stood before me.
+
+But such thoughts generally ended soon in her pressing the little one
+closer than ever to her heart, and blaming herself for ingratitude and
+folly.
+
+One day Atossa put the same idea in words, exclaiming: "If Parmys were
+only a boy!  He would have grown up exactly like his father, and have
+been a second Cyrus for Persia."  Sappho smiled sadly at her friend, and
+covered the little one with kisses, but Kassandane said: "Be thankful to
+the gods, my child, for having given you a daughter.  If Parmys were a
+boy, he would be taken from you as soon as he had reached his sixth year,
+to be brought up with the sons of the other Achaemenidae, but your
+daughter will remain your own for many years."
+
+Sappho trembled at the mere thought of parting from her child; she
+pressed its little fair curly head close to her breast, and never found,
+fault with her treasure again for being a girl.
+
+Atossa's friendship was a great comfort to her poor wounded heart.  With
+her she could speak of Bartja as much and as often as she would, and was
+always certain of a kind and sympathizing listener.  Atossa had loved her
+vanished brother very dearly.  And even a stranger would have enjoyed
+hearing Sappho tell of her past happiness.  Her words rose into real
+eloquence in speaking of those bright days; she seemed like an inspired
+poetess.  Then she would take her lyre, and with her clear, sweet,
+plaintive voice sing the love-songs of the elder Sappho, in which all her
+own deepest feelings were so truly expressed, and fancy herself once more
+with her lover sitting under the sweet-scented acanthus in the quiet
+night, and forget the sad reality of her present life.  And when, with a
+deep sigh, she laid aside the lyre and came back out of this dream-
+kingdom, the tears were always to be seen in Kassandane's eyes, though
+she did not understand the language in which Sappho had been singing,
+and Atossa would bend down and kiss her forehead.
+
+Thus three long years had passed, during which Sappho had seldom seen her
+grandmother, for, as the mother of Parmys, she was by the king's command,
+forbidden to leave the harem, unless permitted and accompanied either by
+Kassandane or the eunuchs.
+
+On the present occasion Croesus, who had always loved, and loved her
+still, like a daughter, had sent for Rhodopis to Sais.  He, as well as
+Kassandane, understood her wish to take leave of this, her dearest and
+most faithful friend, before setting out for Persia; besides which
+Kassandane had a great wish to see one in whose praise she had heard so
+much.  When Sappho's tender and sad farewell was over therefore, Rhodopis
+was summoned to the queen-mother.
+
+A stranger, who saw these two women together, would have thought both
+were queens; it was impossible to decide which of the two had most right
+to the title.
+
+Croesus, standing as he did in as close a relation to the one as to the
+other, undertook the office of interpreter, and the ready intellect of
+Rhodopis helped him to carry on an uninterrupted flow of conversation.
+
+Rhodopis, by her own peculiar attractions, soon won the heart of
+Kassandane, and the queen knew no better way of proving this than by
+offering, in Persian fashion, to grant her some wish.
+
+Rhodopis hesitated a moment; then raising her hands as if in prayer, she
+cried: "Leave me my Sappho, the consolation and beauty of my old age."
+
+Kassandane smiled sadly.  "It is not in my power to grant that wish," she
+answered.  "The laws of Persia command, that the children of the
+Achaemenidae shall be brought up at the king's gate.  I dare not allow
+the little Parmys, Cyrus' only grandchild, to leave me, and, much as
+Sappho loves you, you know she would not part from her child.  Indeed,
+she has become so dear to me now, and to my daughter, that though I well
+understand your wish to have her, I could never allow Sappho to leave
+us."
+
+Seeing that Rhodopis' eyes were filling with tears, Kassandane went on:
+"There is, however, a good way out of our perplexity.  Leave Naukratis,
+and come with us to Persia.  There you can spend your last years with us
+and with your granddaughter, and shall be provided with a royal
+maintenance."
+
+Rhodopis shook her head, hoary but still so beautiful, and answered
+in a suppressed voice: "I thank you, noble queen, for this gracious
+invitation, but I feel unable to accept it.  Every fibre of my heart
+is rooted in Greece, and I should be tearing my life out by leaving it
+forever.  I am so accustomed to constant activity, perfect freedom, and a
+stirring exchange of thought, that I should languish and die in the
+confinement of a harem.  Croesus had already prepared me for the gracious
+proposal you have just made, and I have had a long and difficult battle
+to fight, before I could decide on resigning my dearest blessing for my
+highest good.  It is not easy, but it is glorious, it is more worthy of
+the Greek name--to live a good and beautiful life, than a happy one--to
+follow duty rather than pleasure.  My heart will follow Sappho, but my
+intellect and experience belong to the Greeks; and if you should ever
+hear that the people of Hellas are ruled by themselves alone, by their
+own gods, their own laws, the beautiful and the good, then you will know
+that the work on which Rhodopis, in league with the noblest and best of
+her countrymen, has staked her life, is accomplished.  Be not angry with
+the Greek woman, who confesses that she would rather die free as a beggar
+than live in bondage as a queen, though envied by the whole world."
+
+Kassandane listened in amazement.  She only understood part of what
+Rhodopis had said, but felt that she had spoken well and nobly, and at
+the conclusion gave her her hand to kiss.  After a short pause,
+Kassandane said: "Do what you think right, and remember, that as long as
+I and my daughter live, your granddaughter will never want for true and
+faithful love."
+
+"Your noble countenance and the fame of your great virtue are warrant
+enough for that."  answered Rhodopis.
+
+"And also," added the queen, "the duty which lies upon me to make good
+the wrong, that has been done your Sappho."
+
+She sighed painfully and went on: "The little Parmys shall be carefully
+educated.  She seems to have much natural talent, and can sing the songs
+of her native country already after her mother.  I shall do nothing to
+check her love of music, though, in Persia the religious services are the
+only occasions in which that art is studied by any but the lower
+classes."
+
+At these words Rhodopis' face glowed.  "Will you permit me to speak
+openly, O Queen?"  she said.  "Speak without fear," was Kassandane's
+answer.  "When you sighed so painfully just now in speaking of your dear
+lost son, I thought: Perhaps that brave young hero might have been still
+living, if the Persians had understood better how to educate their sons.
+Bartja told me in what that education consisted.  To shoot, throw the
+spear, ride, hunt, speak the truth, and perhaps also to distinguish
+between the healing and noxious properties of certain plants: that is
+deemed a sufficient educational provision for a man's life.  The Greek
+boys are just as carefully kept to the practice of exercises for
+hardening and bracing the body; for these exercises are the founders and
+preservers of health, the physician is only its repairer and restorer.
+If, however, by constant practice a Greek youth were to attain to the
+strength of a bull, the truth of the Deity, and the wisdom of the most
+learned Egyptian priest, we should still look down upon him were he
+wanting in two things which only early example and music, combined with
+these bodily exercises, can give: grace and symmetry.  You smile because
+you do not understand me, but I can prove to you that music, which, from
+what Sappho tells me, is not without its moving power for your heart, is
+as important an element in education as gymnastics, and, strange as it
+may sound, has an equal share in effecting the perfection of both body
+and mind.  The man who devotes his attention exclusively to music will,
+if he be of a violent disposition, lose his savage sternness at first; he
+will become gentle and pliable as metal in the fire.  But at last his
+courage will disappear too; his passionate temper will have changed into
+irritability, and he will be of little worth as a warrior, the calling
+and character most desired in your country.  If, on the other hand, he
+confines himself to gymnastics only, he will, like Cambyses, excel in
+manliness and strength; but his mind--here my comparison ceases--will
+remain obtuse and blind, his perceptions will be confused, He will not
+listen to reason, but will endeavor to carry everything by force, and,
+lacking grace and proportion, his life will probably become a succession
+of rude and violent deeds.  On this account we conclude that music is
+necessary not only for the mind, and gymnastics not only for the body,
+but that both, working together, elevate and soften the mind and
+strengthen the body--give manly grace, and graceful manliness."
+
+     [The fundamental ideas of this speech are drawn from
+     Plato's ideal "State."]
+
+After a moment's pause Rhodopis went on: "The youth who has not received
+such an education, whose roughness has never been checked even in
+childhood, who has been allowed to vent his temper on every one,
+receiving flattery in return and never hearing reproof; who has been
+allowed to command before he has learnt to obey, and who has been brought
+up in the belief that splendor, power and riches are the highest good,
+can never possibly attain to the perfect manhood, which we beseech the
+gods to grant our boys.  And if this unfortunate being happens to have
+been born with an impetuous disposition, ungovernable and eager passions,
+these will be only nourished and increased by bodily exercise
+unaccompanied by the softening influence of music, so that at last a
+child, who possibly came into the world with good qualities, will, merely
+through the defects in his education, degenerate into a destructive
+animal, a sensual self-destroyer, and a mad and furious tyrant."
+
+Rhodopis had become animated with her subject.  She ceased, saw tears in
+the eyes of the queen, and felt that she had gone too far and had wounded
+a mother's heart,--a heart full of noble feeling.  She touched her robe,
+kissed its border, and said softly: "Forgive me."
+
+Kassandane looked her forgiveness, courteously saluted Rhodopis and
+prepared to leave the room.  On the threshold, however, she stopped and
+said: "I am not angry.  Your reproaches are just; but you too must
+endeavor to forgive, for I can assure you that he who has murdered the
+happiness of your child and of mine, though the most powerful, is of all
+mortals the most to be pitied.  Farewell!  Should you ever stand in need
+of ought, remember Cyrus' widow, and how she wished to teach you, that
+the virtues the Persians desire most in their children are magnanimity
+and liberality."
+
+After saying this she left the apartment.
+
+On the same day Rhodopis heard that Phanes was dead.  He had retired to
+Crotona in the neighborhood of Pythagoras and there passed his time in
+reflection, dying with the tranquillity of a philosopher.
+
+She was deeply affected at this news and said to Croesus: "Greece has
+lost one of her ablest men, but there are many, who will grow up to be
+his equals.  The increasing power of Persia causes me no fear; indeed, I
+believe that when the barbarous lust of conquest stretches out its hand
+towards us, our many-headed Greece will rise as a giant with one head of
+divine power, before which mere barbaric strength must bow as surely as
+body before spirit."
+
+Three days after this, Sappho said farewell for the last time to her
+grandmother, and followed the queens to Persia.  Notwithstanding the
+events which afterwards took place, she continued to believe that Bartja
+would return, and full of love, fidelity and tender remembrance, devoted
+herself entirely to the education of her child and the care of her aged
+mother-in-law, Kassandane.
+
+Little Parmys became very beautiful, and learnt to love the memory of her
+vanished father next to the gods of her native land, for her mother's
+tales had brought him as vividly before her as if he had been still alive
+and present with them.
+
+Atossa's subsequent good fortune and happiness did not cool her
+friendship.  She always called Sappho her sister.  The hanging-gardens
+were the latter's residence in summer, and in her conversations there
+with Kassandane and Atossa one name was often mentioned--the name of her,
+who had been the innocent cause of events which had decided the destinies
+of great kingdoms and noble lives--the Egyptian Princess.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+Here we might end this tale, but that we feel bound to give our readers
+some account of the last days of Cambyses.  We have already described the
+ruin of his mind, but his physical end remains still to be told, and also
+the subsequent fate of some of the other characters in our history.
+
+A short time after the departure of the queens, news reached Naukratis
+that Oroetes, the satrap of Lydia, had, by a stratagem, allured his old
+enemy, Polykrates, to Sardis and crucified him there,  thus fulfilling
+what Amasis had prophecied of the tyrant's mournful end.  This act the
+satrap had committed on his own responsibility, events having taken place
+in the Median kingdom which threatened the fall of the Achaemenidaean
+dynasty.
+
+The king's long absence in a foreign country had either weakened or
+entirely dissipated, the fear which the mere mention of his name had
+formerly inspired in those who felt inclined to rebel.  The awe that his
+subjects had formerly felt for him, vanished at the tidings of his
+madness, and the news that he had wantonly exposed the lives of thousands
+of their countrymen to certain death in the deserts of Libya and
+Ethiopia, inspired the enraged Asiatics with a hatred which, when
+skilfully fed by the powerful Magi, soon roused, first the Medes and
+Assyrians, and then the Persians, to defection and open insurrection.
+Motives of self-interest led the ambitious high-priest, Oropastes, whom
+Cambyses had appointed regent in his absence, to place himself at the
+head of this movement.  He flattered the people by remitting their taxes,
+by large gifts and larger promises, and finding his clemency gratefully
+recognized, determined on an imposture, by which he hoped to win the
+crown of Persia for his own family.
+
+He had not forgotten the marvellous likeness between his brother Gaumata
+(who had been condemned to lose his ears) and Bartja, the son of Cyrus,
+and on hearing that the latter, the universal favorite, as he well knew,
+of the Persian nation, had disappeared, resolved to turn this to account
+by passing off his brother as the vanished prince, and setting him on the
+throne in place of Cambyses.  The hatred felt throughout the entire
+kingdom towards their insane king, and the love and attachment of the
+nation to Bartja, made this stratagem so easy of accomplishment, that
+when at last messengers from Oropastes arrived in all the provinces of
+the empire declaring to the discontented citizens that, notwithstanding
+the rumor they had heard, the younger son of Cyrus was still alive, had
+revolted from his brother, ascended his father's throne and granted to
+all his subjects freedom from tribute and from military service during a
+period of three years, the new ruler was acknowledged throughout the
+kingdom with rejoicings.
+
+The pretended Bartja, who was fully aware of his brother's mental
+superiority, had obeyed his directions in every particular, had taken up
+his residence in the palace of Nisaea,--in the plains of Media, placed
+the crown on his head, declared the royal harem his own, and had shown
+himself once from a distance to the people, who were to recognize in him
+the murdered Bartja.  After that time, however, for fear of being at last
+unmasked, he concealed himself in his palace, giving himself up, after
+the manner of Asiatic monarchs, to every kind of indulgence, while his
+brother held the sceptre with a firm hand, and conferred all the
+important offices of state on his friends and family.
+
+No sooner did Oropastes feel firm ground under his feet, than he
+despatched the eunuch Ixabates to Egypt, to inform the army of the change
+of rulers that had taken place and persuade them to revolt in favor of
+Bartja, who he knew had been idolized by the Soldiers.
+
+The messenger had been well chosen, fulfilled his mission with much
+skill, and had already won over a considerable part of the army for the
+new king, when he was taken prisoner by some Syrians, who brought him to
+Memphis in hopes of reward.
+
+On arriving in the city of the Pyramids he was brought before the king,
+and promised impunity on condition of revealing the entire truth.
+
+The messenger then confirmed the rumor, which had reached Egypt, that
+Bartja had ascended the throne of Cyrus and had been recognized by the
+greater part of the empire.
+
+Cambyses started with terror at these tidings, as one who saw a dead man
+rise from his grave.  He was by this time fully aware that Bartja had
+been murdered by Prexaspes at his own command, but in this moment he
+began to suspect that the envoy had deceived him and spared his brother's
+life.  The thought had no sooner entered his mind than he uttered it,
+reproaching Prexaspes so bitterly with treachery, as to elicit from him a
+tremendous oath, that he had murdered and buried the unfortunate Bartja
+with his own hand.
+
+Oropastes' messenger was next asked whether he had seen the new king
+himself.  He answered that he had not, adding that the supposed brother
+of Cambyses had only once appeared in public, and had then shown himself
+to the people from a distance.  On hearing this, Prexaspes saw through
+the whole web of trickery at once, reminded the king of the unhappy
+misunderstandings to which the marvellous likeness between Bartja and
+Gaumata had formerly given rise, and concluded by offering to stake his
+own life on the correctness of his supposition.  The explanation pleased
+the king, and from that moment his diseased mind was possessed by one new
+idea to the exclusion of all others--the seizure and slaughter of the
+Magi.
+
+The host was ordered to prepare for marching.  Aryandes,--one of the
+Achaemenidae, was appointed satrap of Egypt, and the army started
+homeward without delay.  Driven by this new delusion, the king took no
+rest by day or night, till at last his over-ridden and ill-used horse
+fell with him, and he was severely wounded in the fall by his own dagger.
+
+After lying insensible for some days, he opened his eyes and asked first
+to see Araspes, then his mother, and lastly Atossa, although these three
+had set out on their journey home months before.  From all he said it
+appeared that during the last four years, from the attack of fever until
+the present accident, he had been living in a kind of sleep.  He seemed
+astonished and pained at hearing what had happened during these years.
+But of his brother's death he was fully aware.  He knew that Prexaspes
+had killed him by his--the king's--orders and had told him that Bartja
+lay buried on the shores of the Red Sea.--During the night which followed
+this return to his senses it became clear to himself also, that his mind
+had been wandering for along time.  Towards morning he fell into a deep
+sleep, and this so restored his strength, that on waking he called for
+Croesus and required an exact relation of the events that had passed
+during the last few years.
+
+His old friend and adviser obeyed; he felt that Cambyses was still
+entrusted to his care, and in the hope, faint as it was, of bringing him
+back to the right way, he did not suppress one of the king's acts of
+violence in his relation.
+
+His joy was therefore great at perceiving, that his words made a deep
+impression on the newly-awakened mind of the king.  With tears in his
+eyes, and with the ashamed look of a child, he grieved over his wrong
+deeds and his madness, begged Croesus to forgive him, thanked him for
+having borne so long and faithfully with him, and commissioned him to ask
+Kassandane and Sappho especially for forgiveness, but also, Atossa and
+all whom he had unjustly offended.
+
+The old man wept too, but his tears were tears of joy and he repeatedly
+assured Cambyses that he would recover and have ample opportunity of
+making amends for the past.  But to all this Cambyses shook his head
+resolutely, and, pale and wan as he looked, begged Croesus to have his
+couch carried on to a rising ground in the open air, and then to summon
+the Achaemenidae.  When these orders, in spite of the physicians, had
+been obeyed, Cambyses was raised into an upright sitting position, and
+began, in a voice which could be heard at a considerable distance:
+
+"The time to reveal my great secret has arrived, O ye Persians.  Deceived
+by a vision, provoked and annoyed by my brother, I caused him to be
+murdered in my wrath.  Prexaspes wrought the evil deed by my command, but
+instead of bringing me the peace I yearned for, that deed has tortured me
+into madness and death.  By this my confession ye will be convinced, that
+my brother Bartja is really dead.  The Magi have usurped the throne of
+the Achaemenidae.  Oropastes, whom I left in Persia as my vicegerent and
+his brother Gaumata, who resembles Bartja so nearly that even Croesus,
+Intaphernes and my uncle, the noble Hystaspes, were once deceived by the
+likeness, have placed themselves at their head.  Woe is me, that I have
+murdered him who, as my nearest kinsman, should have avenged on the Magi
+this affront to my honor.  But I cannot recall him from the dead, and I
+therefore appoint you the executors of my last will.  By the Feruer of my
+dead father, and in the name of all good and pure spirits, I conjure you
+not to suffer the government to fall into the hands of the unfaithful
+Magi.  If they have obtained possession thereof by artifice, wrest it
+from their hands in like manner; if by force, use force to win it back.
+Obey this my last will, and the earth will yield you its fruits
+abundantly; your wives, your flocks and herds shall be blessed and
+freedom shall be your portion.  Refuse to obey it, and ye shall suffer
+the corresponding evils; yea, your end, and that of every Persian shall
+be even as mine."
+
+After these words the king wept and sank back fainting, on seeing which,
+the Achaemenidae rent their clothes and burst into loud lamentations.  A
+few hours later Cambyses died in Croesus' arms.  Nitetis was his last
+thought; he died with her name on his lips and tears of penitence in his
+eyes.  When the Persians had left the unclean corpse, Croesus knelt down
+beside it and cried, raising his hand to heaven: "Great Cyrus, I have
+kept my oath.  I have remained this miserable man's faithful adviser
+even unto his end."
+
+The next morning the old man betook himself, accompanied by his son
+Gyges, to the town of Barene, which belonged to him, and lived there many
+years as a father to his subjects, revered by Darius and praised by all
+his contemporaries.
+
+                    ........................
+
+After Cambyses' death the heads of the seven Persian tribes held a
+council, and resolved, as a first measure, on obtaining certain
+information as to the person of the usurper.  With this view, Otanes sent
+a confidential eunuch to his daughter Phaedime, who, as they knew, had
+come into the possession of the new king with the rest of Cambyses'
+harem.
+
+     [The names of the seven conspiring chiefs, given by Herodotus agree
+     for the most part with those in the cuneiform inscriptions.  The
+     names are: Otanes, Intaphernes, Gobryas, Megabyzus, Aspatines,
+     Hydarnes and Darius Hystaspis.  In the inscription Otana:
+     Vindafrand, Gaubaruva, Ardumams, Vidarna, Bagabukhsa and Darayavus.]
+
+Before the messenger returned, the greater part of the army had
+dispersed, the soldiers seizing this favorable opportunity to return to
+their homes and families, after so many years of absence.  At last,
+however, the long-expected messenger came back and brought for answer,
+that the new king had only visited Phaedime once, but that during that
+visit she had, at great personal risk, discovered that he had lost both
+ears.  Without this discovery, however, she could assert positively that
+though there were a thousand points of similarity between the usurper and
+the murdered Bartja, the former was in reality none other than Gaumata,
+the brother of Oropastes.  Her old friend Boges had resumed his office of
+chief of the eunuchs, and had revealed to her the secrets of the Magi.
+The high-priest had met the former keeper of the women begging in the
+streets of Susa, and had restored him to his old office with the words:
+"You have forfeited your life, but I want men of your stamp."  In
+conclusion.  Phaedime entreated her father to use every means in his
+power for the overthrow of the Magi, as they treated her with the
+greatest contempt and she was the most miserable of women.
+
+Though none of the Achaemenidae hall really for a moment believed; that
+Bartja was alive and had seized on the throne, so clear an account of the
+real person of the usurper was very welcome to them, and they resolved at
+once to march on Nisaea with the remnant of the army and overthrow the
+Magi either by craft or force.
+
+They entered the new capital unassailed, and finding that the majority of
+the people seemed content with the new government, they also pretended to
+acknowledge the king as the son of Cyrus, to whom they were prepared to
+do homage.  The Magi, however, were not deceived; they shut themselves up
+in their palace, assembled an army in the Nisaean plain, promised the
+soldiers high pay, and used every effort to strengthen the belief of the
+people in Gaumata's disguise.  On this point no one could do them more
+injury, or, if he chose, be more useful to them, than Prexaspes.  He was
+much looked up to by the Persians, and his assurance, that he had not
+murdered Bartja, would have been sufficient to tame the fast-spreading
+report of the real way in which the youth had met his death.  Oropastes,
+therefore, sent for Prexaspes, who, since the king's dying words, had
+been avoided by all the men of his own rank and had led the life of an
+outlaw, and promised him an immense sum of money, if he would ascend a
+high tower and declare to the people, assembled in the court beneath,
+that evil-disposed men had called him Bartja's murderer, whereas he had
+seen the new king with his own eyes and had recognized in him the younger
+son of his benefactor.  Prexaspes made no objection to this proposal,
+took a tender leave of his family while the people were being assembled,
+uttered a short prayer before the sacred fire-altar and walked proudly to
+the palace.  On his way thither he met the chiefs of the seven tribes and
+seeing that they avoided him, called out to them: "I am worthy of your
+contempt, but I will try to deserve your forgiveness."
+
+Seeing Darius look back, he hastened towards him, grasped his hand and
+said: "I have loved you like a son; take care of my children when I am no
+more, and use your pinions, winged Darius."  Then, with the same proud
+demeanor he ascended the tower.
+
+Many thousands of the citizens of Nisaea were within reach of his voice,
+as he cried aloud: "Ye all know that the kings who have, up to the
+present time, loaded you with honor and glory, belonged to the house of
+the Achaemenidae.  Cyrus governed you like a real father, Cambyses was a
+stern master, and Bartja would have guided you like a bridegroom, if I,
+with this right hand which I now show you, had not slain him on the
+shores of the Red Sea.  By Mithras, it was with a bleeding heart that I
+committed this wicked deed, but I did it as a faithful servant in
+obedience to the king's command.  Nevertheless, it has haunted me by day
+and night; for four long years I have been pursued and tormented by the
+spirits of darkness, who scare sleep from the murderer's couch.  I have
+now resolved to end this painful, despairing existence by a worthy deed,
+and though even this may procure me no mercy at the bridge of Chinvat,
+in the mouths of men, at least, I shall have redeemed my honorable name
+from the stain with which I defiled it.  Know then, that the man who
+gives himself out for the son of Cyrus, sent me hither; he promised me
+rich rewards if I would deceive you by declaring him to be Bartja, the
+son of the Achaemenidae.  But I scorn his promises and swear by Mithras
+and the Feruers of the kings, the most solemn oaths I am acquainted with,
+that the man who is now ruling you is none other than the Magian Gaumata,
+he who was deprived of his ears, the brother of the king's vicegerent and
+high-priest, Oropastes, whom ye all know.  If it be your will to forget
+all the glory ye owe to the Achaemenidae, if to this ingratitude ye
+choose to add your own degradation, then acknowledge these creatures and
+call them your kings; but if ye despise a lie and are ashamed to obey
+worthless impostors, drive the Magi from the throne before Mithras has
+left the heavens, and proclaim the noblest of the Achaemenidae, Darius,
+the exalted son of Hystaspes, who promises to become a second Cyrus, as
+your king.  And now, in order that ye may believe my words and not
+suspect that Darius sent me hither to win you over to his side, I will
+commit a deed, which must destroy every doubt and prove that the truth
+and glory of the Achaemenidae are clearer to me, than life itself.
+Blessed be ye if ye follow my counsels, but curses rest upon you, if ye
+neglect to reconquer the throne from the Magi and revenge yourselves upon
+them.--Behold, I die a true and honorable man!"
+
+With these words he ascended the highest pinnacle of the tower and cast
+himself down head foremost, thus expiating the one crime of his life by
+an honorable death.
+
+The dead silence with which the people in the court below had listened to
+him, was now broken by shrieks of rage and cries for vengeance.  They
+burst open the gates of the palace and were pressing in with cries of
+"Death to the Magi," when the seven princes of the Persians appeared in
+front of the raging crowd to resist their entrance.
+
+At sight of the Achaemenidae the citizens broke into shouts of joy, and
+cried more impetuously than ever, "Down with the Magi!  Victory to King
+Darius!"
+
+The son of Hystaspes was then carried by the crowd to a rising ground,
+from which he told the people that the Magi had been slain by the
+Achaemenidae, as liars and usurpers.  Fresh cries of joy arose in answer
+to these words, and when at last the bleeding heads of Oropastes and
+Gaumata were shown to the crowd, they rushed with horrid yells through
+the streets of the city, murdering every Magian they could lay hold of.
+The darkness of night alone was able to stop this awful massacre.
+
+Four days later, Darius, the son of Hystaspes, was chosen as king by the
+heads of the Achaemenidae, in consideration of his high birth and noble
+character, and received by the Persian nation with enthusiasm.  Darius
+had killed Gaumata with his own hand, and the highpriest had received his
+death-thrust from the hand of Megabyzus, the father of Zopyrus.  While
+Prexaspes was haranguing the people, the seven conspiring Persian
+princes, Otanes, Intaphernes, Gobryas, Megabyzus, Aspatines, Hydarnes and
+Darius, (as representative of his aged father Hystaspes), had entered the
+palace by a carelessly-guarded gate, sought out the part of the building
+occupied by the Magi, and then, assisted by their own knowledge of the
+palace, and the fact that most of the guards had been sent to keep watch
+over the crowd assembled to hear Prexaspes easily penetrated to the
+apartments in which at that moment they were to be found.  Here they were
+resisted by a few eunuchs, headed by Boges, but these were overpowered
+and killed to a man.  Darius became furious on seeing Boges, and killed
+him at once.  Hearing the dying cries of these eunuchs, the Magi rushed
+to the spot and prepared to defend themselves.  Oropastes snatched a
+lance from the fallen Boges, thrust out one of Intaphernes' eyes and
+wounded Aspatines in the thigh, but was stabbed by Megabyzus.  Gaumata
+fled into another apartment and tried to bar the door, but was followed
+too soon by Darius and Gobryas; the latter seized, threw him, and kept
+him down by the weight of his own body, crying to Darius, who was afraid
+of making a false stroke in the half-light, and so wounding his companion
+instead of Gaumata, "Strike boldly, even if you should stab us both."
+Darius obeyed, and fortunately only hit the Magian.
+
+Thus died Oropastes, the high-priest, and his brother Gaumata, better
+known under the name of the "pseudo" or "pretended Smerdis."
+
+A few weeks after Darius' election to the throne, which the people said
+had been marvellously influenced by divine miracles and the clever
+cunning of a groom, he celebrated his coronation brilliantly at
+Pasargadae, and with still more splendor, his marriage with his beloved
+Atossa.  The trials of her life had ripened her character, and she proved
+a faithful, beloved and respected companion to her husband through the
+whole of that active and glorious life, which, as Prexaspes had foretold,
+made him worthy of the names by which he was afterwards known--Darius the
+Great, and a second Cyrus.
+
+     [Atossa is constantly mentioned as the favorite wife of Darius, and
+     be appointed her son Xerxes to be his successor, though he had three
+     elder sons by the daughter of Gobryas.  Herodotus (VII. 3.) speaks
+     with emphasis of the respect and consideration in which Atossa was
+     held, and Aeschylus, in his Persians, mentions her in her old age,
+     as the much-revered and noble matron.]
+
+As a general he was circumspect and brave, and at the same time
+understood so thoroughly how to divide his enormous realm, and to
+administer its affairs, that he must be classed with the greatest
+organizers of all times and countries.  That his feeble successors were
+able to keep this Asiatic Colossus of different countries together for
+two hundred years after his death, was entirely owing to Darius.  He was
+liberal of his own, but sparing of his subjects' treasures, and made
+truly royal gifts without demanding more than was his due.  He introduced
+a regular system of taxation, in place of the arbitrary exactions
+practised under Cyrus and Cambyses, and never allowed himself to be led
+astray in the carrying out of what seemed to him right, either by
+difficulties or by the ridicule of the Achaemenidae, who nicknamed him
+the "shopkeeper," on account of what seemed, to their exclusively
+military tastes, his petty financial measures.  It is by no means one of
+his smallest merits, that he introduced one system of coinage through his
+entire empire, and consequently through half the then known world.
+
+Darius respected the religions and customs of other nations.  When the
+writing of Cyrus, of the existence of which Cambyses had known nothing,
+was found in the archives of Ecbatana, he allowed the Jews to carry on
+the building of their temple to Jehovah;  he also left the Ionian cities
+free to govern their own communities independently.  Indeed, he would
+hardly have sent his army against Greece, if the Athenians had not
+insulted him.
+
+In Egypt he had learnt much; among other things, the art of managing the
+exchequer of his kingdom wisely; for this reason he held the Egyptians in
+high esteem, and granted them many privileges, amongst others a canal to
+connect the Nile with the Red Sea, which was greatly to the advantage of
+their commerce.
+
+     [Traces of this canal can be found as early as the days of Setos I;
+     his son Rameses II. caused the works to be continued.  Under Necho
+     they were recommenced, and possibly finished by Darius.  In the time
+     of the Ptolemies, at all events, the canal was already completed.
+     Herod. II.  158.  Diod. I. 33.  The French, in undertaking to
+     reconstruct the Suez canal, have had much to encounter from the
+     unfriendly commercial policy of the English and their influence over
+     the internal affairs of Egypt, but the unwearied energy and great
+     talent of Monsr. de Lesseps and the patriotism of the French nation
+     have at last succeeded in bringing their great work to a successful
+     close.  Whether it will pay is another question.  See G. Ebers, Der
+     Kanal von Suez.  Nordische Revue, October 1864.  The maritime canal
+     connecting the Mediterranean with the Red Sea has also been
+     completed since 1869.  We were among those, who attended the
+     brilliant inauguration ceremonies, and now willingly recall many of
+     the doubts expressed in our work 'Durch Gosen zum Sinai'.  The
+     number of ships passing through the canal is constantly increasing.]
+
+During the whole of his reign, Darius endeavored to make amends for the
+severity with which Cambyses had treated the Egyptians; even in the later
+years of his life he delighted to study the treasures of their wisdom,
+and no one was allowed to attack either their religion or customs, as
+long as he lived.  The old high-priest Neithotep enjoyed the king's favor
+to the last, and Darius often made use of his wise old master's
+astrological knowledge.
+
+The goodness and clemency of their new ruler was fully acknowledged by
+the Egyptians; they called him a deity,  as they had called their own
+kings, and yet, in the last years of his reign, their desire for
+independence led them to forget gratitude and to try to shake off his
+gentle yoke, which was only oppressive because it had originally been
+forced on them.
+
+     [The name of Darius occurs very often on the monuments as Ntariusch.
+     It is most frequently found in the inscriptions on the temple in the
+     Oasis el-Khargah, recently photographed by G. Rohlfs.  The Egypto-
+     Persian memorial fragments, bearing inscriptions in the hieroglyphic
+     and cuneiform characters are very interesting.  Darius' name in
+     Egyptian was generally "Ra, the beloved of Ammon."  On a porcelain
+     vessel in Florence, and in some papyri in Paris and Florence he is
+     called by the divine titles of honor given to the Pharaohs.]
+
+Their generous ruler and protector did not live to see the end of this
+struggle.
+
+     [The first rebellion in Egypt, which broke out under Aryandes, the
+     satrap appointed by Cambyses, was put down by Darius in person.  He
+     visited Egypt, and promised 100 talents (L22,500.) to any one who
+     would find a new Apis.  Polyaen. VII. ii. 7.  No second outbreak
+     took place until 486 B.C. about 4 years before the death of Darius.
+     Herod. VI i. Xerxes conquered the rebels two years after his
+     accession, and appointed his brother Achaemenes satrap of Egypt.]
+
+It was reserved for Xerxes, the successor and son of Darius and Atossa,
+to bring back the inhabitants of the Nile valley to a forced and
+therefore insecure obedience.
+
+Darius left a worthy monument of his greatness in the glorious palace
+which he built on Mount Rachmed, the ruins of which are the wonder and
+admiration of travellers to this day.  Six thousand Egyptian workmen,
+who had been sent to Asia by Cambyses, took part in the work and also
+assisted in building a tomb for Darius and his successors, the rocky and
+almost inaccessible chambers of which have defied the ravages of time,
+and are now the resort of innumerable wild pigeons.
+
+He caused the history of his deeds to be cut, (in the cuneiform character
+and in the Persian, Median and Assyrian languages), on the polished side
+of the rock of Bisitun or Behistan, not far from the spot where he saved
+Atossa's life.  The Persian part of this inscription can still be
+deciphered  with certainty, and contains an account of the events related
+in the last few chapters, very nearly agreeing with our own and that of
+Herodotus.  The following sentences occur amongst others: "Thus saith
+Darius the King: That which I have done, was done by the grace of
+Auramazda in every way.  I fought nineteen battles after the rebellion of
+the kings.  By the mercy of Auramazda I conquered them.  I took nine
+kings captive.  One was a Median, Gaumata by name.  He lied and said:
+'I am Bardiya (Bartja), the son of Cyrus.'  He caused Persia to rebel."
+
+Some distance lower down, he names the chiefs who helped him to dethrone
+the Magi, and in another place the inscription has these words: "Thus
+saith the King Darius: That which I have done was done in every way by
+the grace of Auramazda.  Auramazda helped me, and such other gods as
+there be.  Auramazda and the other gods gave me help, because I was not
+swift to anger, nor a liar, nor a violent ruler, neither I nor my
+kinsmen.  I have shown favor unto him who helped my brethren, and I have
+punished severely him who was my enemy.  Thou who shalt be king after me,
+be not merciful unto him who is a liar or a rebel, but punish him with a
+severe punishment.  Thus saith Darius the King: Thou who shalt hereafter
+behold this tablet which I have written, or these pictures, destroy them
+not, but so long as thou shalt live preserve them, &c."
+
+It now only remains to be told that Zopyrus, the son of Megabyzus,
+continued to the last the king's most faithful friend.
+
+A courtier once showed the king a pomegranate, and asked him of what one
+gift of fortune he would like so many repetitions, as there were seeds in
+that fruit.  Without a moment's hesitation Darius answered, "Of my
+Zopyrus."--[Plutarch]
+
+The following story will prove that Zopyrus, on his part, well understood
+how to return his royal friend's kindness.  After the death of Cambyses,
+Babylon revolted from the Persian empire.  Darius besieged the city nine
+months in vain, and was about to raise the siege, when one day Zopyrus
+appeared before him bleeding, and deprived of his ears and nose, and
+explained that he had mutilated himself thus in order to cheat the
+Babylonians, who knew him well, as he had formerly been on intimate terms
+with their daughters.  He said he wished to tell the haughty citizens,
+that Darius had thus disfigured him, and that he had come to them for
+help in revenging himself.  He thought they would then place troops at
+his disposal, with which he intended to impose upon them by making a few
+successful sallies at first.  His ultimate intention was to get
+possession of the keys, and open the Semiramis gate to his friends.
+
+These words, which were spoken in a joking tone, contrasted so sadly with
+the mutilated features of his once handsome friend, that Darius wept, and
+when at last the almost impregnable fortress was really won by Zopyrus'
+stratagem, he exclaimed: "I would give a hundred Babylons, if my Zopyrus
+had not thus mutilated himself."
+
+He then appointed his friend lord of the giant city, gave him its entire
+revenues, and honored him every year with the rarest presents.  In later
+days he used to say that, with the exception of Cyrus, who had no equal,
+no man had ever performed so generous a deed as Zopyrus.
+
+     [Herod. III.  160.  Among other presents Zopyrus received a gold
+     hand-mill weighing six talents, the most honorable and distinguished
+     gift a Persian monarch could bestow upon a subject.  According to
+     Ktesias, Megabaezus received this gift from Xerxes.]
+
+Few rulers possessed so many self-sacrificing friends as Darius, because
+few understood so well how to be grateful.
+
+When Syloson, the brother of the murdered Polykrates, came to Susa and
+reminded the king of his former services, Darius received him as a
+friend, placed ships and troops at his service, and helped him to recover
+Samos.
+
+The Samians made a desperate resistance, and said, when at last they were
+obliged to yield: "Through Syloson we have much room in our land."
+
+Rhodopis lived to hear of the murder of Hipparchus, the tyrant of Athens,
+by Harmodius and Aristogiton, and died at last in the arms of her best
+friends, Theopompus the Milesian and Kallias the Athenian, firm in her
+belief of the high calling of her countrymen.
+
+All Naukratis mourned for her, and Kallias sent a messenger to Susa, to
+inform the king and Sappho of her death.
+
+A few months later the satrap of Egypt received the following letter from
+the hand of the king:
+
+     "Inasmuch as we ourselves knew and honored Rhodopis, the Greek, who
+     has lately died in Naukratis,--inasmuch as her granddaughter, as
+     widow of the lawful heir to the Persian throne, enjoys to this day
+     the rank and honors of a queen,--and lastly, inasmuch as I have
+     lately taken the great-grandchild of the same Rhodopis, Parmys, the
+     daughter of Bartja and Sappho, to be my third lawful wife, it seems
+     to me just to grant royal honors to the ancestress of two queens.  I
+     therefore command thee to cause the ashes of Rhodopis, whom we have
+     always esteemed as the greatest and rarest among women, to be buried
+     in the greatest and rarest of all monuments, namely, in one of the
+     Pyramids.  The costly urn, which thou wilt receive herewith, is sent
+     by Sappho to preserve the ashes of the deceased."
+
+          Given in the new imperial palace at Persepolis.
+
+                         DARIUS, son of Hystaspes.
+
+                                   King.
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:
+
+A noble mind can never swim with the stream
+Age is inquisitive
+Apis the progeny of a virgin cow and a moonbeam
+Be not merciful unto him who is a liar or a rebel
+Canal to connect the Nile with the Red Sea
+I was not swift to anger, nor a liar, nor a violent ruler
+Introduced a regular system of taxation-Darius
+Numbers are the only certain things
+Resistance always brings out a man's best powers
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS FOR AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, COMPLETE:
+
+A kind word hath far more power than an angry one
+A first impression is often a final one
+A noble mind can never swim with the stream
+Abuse not those who have outwitted thee
+Age is inquisitive
+Apis the progeny of a virgin cow and a moonbeam
+Assigned sixty years as the limit of a happy life
+At my age every year must be accepted as an undeserved gift
+Avoid excessive joy as well as complaining grief
+Be not merciful unto him who is a liar or a rebel
+Between two stools a man falls to the ground
+Blessings go as quickly as they come
+Call everything that is beyond your comprehension a miracle
+Cambyses had been spoiled from his earliest infancy
+Canal to connect the Nile with the Red Sea
+Cannot understand how trifles can make me so happy
+Cast off all care; be mindful only of pleasure
+Confess I would rather provoke a lioness than a woman
+Corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs and vultures
+Creed which views life as a short pilgrimage to the grave
+Curiosity is a woman's vice
+Death is so long and life so short
+Devoid of occupation, envy easily becomes hatred
+Did the ancients know anything of love
+Does happiness consist then in possession
+Easy to understand what we like to hear
+Eros mocks all human efforts to resist or confine him
+Eyes are much more eloquent than all the tongues in the world
+Folly to fret over what cannot be undone
+For the errors of the wise the remedy is reparation, not regret
+Go down into the grave before us (Our children)
+Greeks have not the same reverence for truth
+Happiness has nothing to do with our outward circumstances
+Hast thou a wounded heart? touch it seldom
+He who kills a cat is punished (for murder)
+He is the best host, who allows his guests the most freedom
+He who is to govern well must begin by learning to obey
+Human beings hate the man who shows kindness to their enemies
+I cannot .  .  .  Say rather: I will not
+I was not swift to anger, nor a liar, nor a violent ruler
+In war the fathers live to mourn for their slain sons
+In our country it needs more courage to be a coward
+In this immense temple man seemed a dwarf in his own eyes
+In those days men wept, as well as women
+Inn, was to be found about every eighteen miles
+Introduced a regular system of taxation-Darius
+Know how to honor beauty; and prove it by taking many wives
+Lovers delighted in nature then as now
+Lovers are the most unteachable of pupils
+Misfortune too great for tears
+Mosquito-tower with which nearly every house was provided
+Multitude who, like the gnats, fly towards every thing brilliant
+Natural impulse which moves all old women to favor lovers
+Never so clever as when we have to find excuses for our own sins
+No man was allowed to ask anything of the gods for himself
+Nothing is more dangerous to love, than a comfortable assurance
+Nothing is perfectly certain in this world
+Numbers are the only certain things
+Observe a due proportion in all things
+Olympics--The first was fixed 776 B.C.
+One must enjoy the time while it is here
+Only two remedies for heart-sickness:--hope and patience
+Ordered his feet to be washed and his head anointed
+Papyrus Ebers
+Pilgrimage to the grave, and death as the only true life
+Pious axioms to be repeated by the physician, while compounding
+Remember, a lie and your death are one and the same
+Resistance always brings out a man's best powers
+Robes cut as to leave the right breast uncovered
+Romantic love, as we know it, a result of Christianity
+Rules of life given by one man to another are useless
+Scarcely be able to use so large a sum--Then abuse it
+Sent for a second interpreter
+Sing their libels on women (Greek Philosophers)
+So long as we are able to hope and wish
+Take heed lest pride degenerate into vainglory
+The past belongs to the dead; only fools count upon the future
+The priests are my opponents, my masters
+The gods cast envious glances at the happiness of mortals
+The beautiful past is all he has to live upon
+They praise their butchers more than their benefactors
+Those are not my real friends who tell me I am beautiful
+Time is clever in the healing art
+True host puts an end to the banquet
+Unwise to try to make a man happy by force
+War is a perversion of nature
+We live for life, not for death
+We've talked a good deal of love with our eyes already
+Whatever a man would do himself, he thinks others are capable of
+When love has once taken firm hold of a man in riper years
+Whether the historical romance is ever justifiable
+Wise men hold fast by the ever young present
+Ye play with eternity as if it were but a passing moment
+Young Greek girls pass their sad childhood in close rooms
+Zeus pays no heed to lovers' oaths
+
+
+
+
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, COMPLETE ***
+
+**********This file should be named ge22v10.txt or ge22v10.zip **********
+
+Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, ge22v11.txt
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