[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D. W. ]

AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Part 1. 

By Georg Ebers

Volume 3. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Psamtik went at once from his father's apartments to the temple of thegoddess Neith. At the entrance he asked for the high-priest and wasbegged by one of the inferior priests to wait, as the great Neithotepwas at that moment praying in the holiest sanctuary of the exalted Queenof 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 hissuperior awaited the Prince's visit. Psamtik had seated himself underthe shadow of the sacred grove of silver poplars bordering the shores ofthe consecrated lake, holy to the great Neith. He rose immediately, crossed the temple-court, paved with stone and asphalte, on which thesun's rays were darting like fiery arrows, and turned into one of thelong avenues of Sphinxes which led to the isolated Pylons before thegigantic temple of the goddess. He then passed through the principalgate, ornamented, as were all Egyptian temple-entrances, with the wingedsun's disc. Above its widely-opened folding doors arose on either side, tower-like buildings, slender obelisks and waving flags. The front ofthe temple, rising from the earth in the form of an obtuse angle, hadsomewhat the appearance of a fortress, and was covered with coloredpictures and inscriptions. Through the porch Psamtik passed on into alofty entrance-chamber, and from thence into the great hall itself, theceiling of which was strewn with thousands of golden stars, and supportedby four rows of lofty pillars. Their capitals were carved in imitationof the lotus-flower, and these, the shafts of the columns, the walls ofthis huge hall, and indeed every niche and corner that met the eye werecovered with brilliant colors and hieroglyphics. The columns rose to agigantic height, the eye seemed to wander through immeasurable space, andthe air breathed by the worshippers was heavy with the fragrance of Kyphiand incense, and the odors which arose from the laboratory attached tothe temple. Strains of soft music, proceeding from invisible hands, flowed on unceasingly, only occasionally interrupted by the deep lowingof the sacred cows of Isis, or the shrill call of the sparrow-hawk ofHorus, whose habitations were in one of the adjoining halls. No soonerdid the prolonged low of a cow break like distant thunder on the ear, orthe sharp cry of the sparrow-hawk shoot like a flash of lightning throughthe nerves of the worshippers, than each crouching form bent lower still, and touched the pavement with his forehead. On a portion of thispavement, raised above the rest, stood the priests, some wearing ostrich-feathers on their bald and shining heads; others panther-skins over theirwhite-robed shoulders. Muttering and singing, bowing low and risingagain, they swung the censers and poured libations of pure water to thegods out of golden vessels. In this immense temple man seemed a dwarf inhis own eyes. All his senses even to the organs of respiration, wereoccupied by objects far removed from daily life, objects that thrilledand almost oppressed him. Snatched from all that was familiar in hisdaily 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 sacredanimals were believed to prove a divinity at hand. 

Psamtik assumed the posture of a worshipper on the low, gilded andcushioned couch set apart for him, but was unable to pay any realdevotion, and passed on to the adjoining apartment before mentioned, where the sacred cows of Isis-Neith and the sparrow-hawk of Horus werekept. These creatures were concealed from the gaze of the worshippers bya curtain of rich fabric embroidered with gold; the people were onlyallowed an occasional and distant glimpse of the adorable animals. WhenPsamtik passed they were just being fed; cakes soaked in milk, salt andclover-blossoms were placed in golden cribs for the cows, and small birdsof many-colored plumage in the beautifully-wrought and ornamented cage ofthe sparrow-hawk. But, in his present mood, the heir to the throne ofEgypt had no eye for these rare sights; but ascended at once, by means ofa hidden staircase, to the chambers lying near the observatory, where thehigh-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 behindhim 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 beenhandsome, and in the large blue eyes there still lay evidence of a quickintellect and a dignified self-respect. 

His artificial curls had been laid aside, and the bald, smooth headformed a strange contrast to the furrowed countenance, giving anappearance of unusual height to the forehead, generally so very low amongthe Egyptians. The brightly-colored walls of the room, on which numeroussentences in hieroglyphic characters were painted, the different statuesof the goddess painted likewise in gay colors, and the snow-whitegarments of the aged priest, were calculated to fill a stranger notonly 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 atriumphant 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 ourlord, thy father. "

"After having first experienced his wrath. For, when I laid before himthe petition with which thou hadst entrusted me, he was exceeding wrothand nearly crushed me by his awful words. "

"Thou hadst surely grieved him by thy language. Didst thou approach himas I advised thee, with lowliness, as a son humbly beseeching hisfather?"

"No, my father, I was irritated and indignant. "

"Then was Amasis right to be wrathful, for never should a son meet hisfather 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 shallbe 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 endsthou usest violence and roughness, where good and gentle words would moresurely prevail. A kind word hath far more power than an angry one, andmuch may depend on the way in which a man ordereth his speech. Hearkento that which I will now relate. In former years there was a king inEgypt named Snefru, who ruled in Memphis. And it came to pass that hedreamed, and in his dream his teeth fell out of his mouth. And he sentfor the soothsayers and told them the dream. The first interpreteranswered: 'Woe unto thee, O king, all thy kinsmen shall die before thee!'Then was Snefru wroth, caused this messenger of evil to be scourged, andsent for a second interpreter. He answered: 'O king, live for ever, thylife shall be longer than the life of thy kinsmen and the men of thyhouse!' Then the king smiled and gave presents unto this interpreter, for though the interpretations were one, yet he had understood to clothehis message in a web of fair and pleasant words. Apprehendest thou?then hearken to my voice, and refrain from harsh words, remembering thatto the ear of a ruler the manner of a man's speech is weightier than itsmatter. "

"Oh my father, how often hast thou thus admonished me! how often have Ibeen convinced of the evil consequences of my rough words and angrygestures! but I cannot change my nature, I cannot . . . "

"Say rather: I will not; for he that is indeed a man, dare never againcommit those sins of which he has once repented. But I have admonishedsufficiently. Tell me now how thou didst calm the wrath of Amasis. "

"Thou knowest my father. When he saw that he had wounded me in thedepths of my soul by his awful words, he repented him of his anger. Hefelt 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 takencaptive, " cried the priest. "What might not Amasis do for Egypt, wouldhe 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 ofPhanes!"

"Thine eyes flash, Psamtik! that pleaseth me not. The Athenian must die, for he has offended the gods; but though he that condemns must letjustice have her way, he should have no pleasure in the death of thecondemned; rather should he mourn. Now speak; didst thou obtain aughtfurther?"

"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 thoucanst tell me. "

"But didst thou not charge me but yesterday to ask my father thisquestion?"

"I did do so to prove thee, and know whether thou wert resigned to theDivine will, and wert walking in those ways wherein alone thou canstbecome worthy of initiation into the highest grade of knowledge. Thou hast told us faithfully all that thou hast heard, and therebyproved 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 horoscopepassed like awful visions through his mind. The priest detected at oncethe change in his features and said gently: "Thou deem'st thyself a lostman because the heavens prognosticated evil at thy birth; but takecomfort, Psamtik; I observed another sign in the heavens at that moment, which escaped the notice of the astrologers. Thy horoscope was athreatening, a very threatening one, but its omens may be averted, theymay . . . "

"O tell me, father, tell me how!"

"They must turn to good, if thou, forgetful of all else, canst live aloneto the gods, paying a ready obedience to the Divine voice audible to ustheir 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 continuedkindly, "lengthened devotions and the weight of years bring weariness. If possible, delay the death of Phanes, I wish to speak with him beforehe 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 bestagents for getting rid of the doomed man, as their ignorance of thelanguage and the circumstances render treachery or gossip impossible. Before starting for Naukratis, they must know nothing of the design oftheir journey; the deed once accomplished, we can send them back toKush. --[The Egyptian name for Ethiopia. ] Remember, a secret can never betoo carefully kept! Farewell. " Psamtik had only left the room a fewmoments, 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 andPsamtik has escaped thine ears. May Isis preserve them long to thee!"

"Ah, father, a deaf man could have heard every word in the ante-chamberto-day, for Amasis bellowed like an ox. "

"The great Neith has smitten him with the lack of prudence, yet I commandthee to speak of the Pharaoh with more reverence. But now return, keepthine eyes open and inform me at once if Amasis, as is possible, shouldattempt to thwart the conspiracy against Phanes. Thou wilt certainlyfind me here. Charge the attendants to admit no one, and to say I am atmy devotions in the Holy of holies. May the ineffable One protect thyfootsteps!"

 [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 royalbark, and was on his way down the Nile to spend the evening withRhodopis. 

His son Gyges and the three young Persians remained in Sais, passing thetime in a manner most agreeable to them. 

Amasis loaded them with civilities, allowed them, according to Egyptiancustom, the society of his queen and of the twin-sisters, as they werecalled, taught Gyges the game of draughts, and looking on while thestrong, dexterous, young heroes joined his daughters in the game ofthrowing balls and hoops, so popular among Egyptian maidens, enlivenedtheir 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 ivoryrod, "really we must introduce this game at home. We Persians are sodifferent 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 Ourmother Kassandane, and she will be delighted to allow my brother's wivesthis new amusement. "

"Yes, do, do!" exclaimed the fair Tachot blushing deeply. "Then Nitetiscan play too, and fancy herself back again at home and among those sheloves; and Bartja, " she added in a low voice, "whenever you watch thehoops flying, you too must remember this hour. "

"I shall never forget it, " answered he with a smile, and then, turning tohis future sister-in-law, he called out cheerfully, "Be of good courage, Nitetis, you will be happier than you fancy with us. We Asiatics knowhow to honor beauty; and prove it by taking many wives. "

Nitetis sighed, and the queen Ladice exclaimed, "On the contrary, thatvery fact proves that you understand but poorly how to appreciate woman'snature! You can have no idea, Bartja, what a woman feels on finding thather husband--the man who to her is more than life itself, and to whom shewould gladly and without reserve give up all that she treasures as mostsacred--looks down on her with the same kind of admiration that hebestows 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 whichevery woman has a right to possess for herself alone, must be shared witha hundred others!"

"There speaks the jealous wife!" exclaimed Amasis. "Would you not fancythat I had often given her occasion to doubt my faithfulness?"

"No, no, my husband, " answered Ladice, "in this point the Egyptian mensurpass other nations, that they remain content with that which they haveonce loved; indeed I venture to assert that an Egyptian wife is thehappiest 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 Greekgirls pass their sad childhood in close rooms, kept to the wheel andthe loom by their mothers and those who have charge of them, and whenmarriageable, are transferred to the quiet house of a husband they donot know, and whose work in life and in the state allows him but seldomto visit his wife's apartments. Only when the most intimate friends andnearest relations are with her husband, does she venture to appear intheir midst, and then shyly and timidly, hoping to hear a little of whatis going on in the great world outside. Ah, indeed! we women thirst forknowledge too, and there are certain branches of learning at least, whichit cannot be right to withhold from those who are to be the mothers andeducators of the next generation. What can an Attic mother, withoutknowledge, without experience, give to her daughters? Naught but herown ignorance. And so it is, that a Hellene, seldom satisfied withthe society of his lawful, but, mentally, inferior wife, turns forsatisfaction to those courtesans, who, from their constant intercoursewith men, have acquired knowledge, and well understand how to adorn itwith the flowers of feminine grace, and to season it with the salt of awoman's more refined and delicate wit. In Egypt it is different. Ayoung girl is allowed to associate freely with the most enlightened men. Youths and maidens meet constantly on festive occasions, learn to knowand love one another. The wife is not the slave, but the friend of herhusband; the one supplies the deficiencies of the other. In weightyquestions the stronger decides, but the lesser cares of life are leftto her who is the greater in small things. The daughters grow up undercareful guidance, for the mother is neither ignorant nor inexperienced. To be virtuous and diligent in her affairs becomes easy to a woman, forshe sees that it increases his happiness whose dearest possession sheboasts of being, and who belongs to her alone. The women only do thatwhich pleases us! but the Egyptian men understand the art of making uspleased with that which is really good, and with that alone. On theshores of the Nile, Phocylides of Miletus and Hipponax of Ephesus wouldnever have dared to sing their libels on women, nor could the fable ofPandora 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 tolearn, but I am very glad now that I did not give it up in despair, andreally paid attention to Croesus' lessons. "

Who could those men have been, " asked Darius, "who dared to speak evil ofwomen?"

"A couple of Greek poets, " answered Amasis, "the boldest of men, for Iconfess I would rather provoke a lioness than a woman. But these Greeksdo not know what fear is. I will give you a specimen of Hipponax'sPoetry:

 "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 ajoke, he will laugh at those who hold precisely the same opinion ashimself. There could not be a better husband. 

"Nor a worse wife, " laughed Amasis. "Thou wilt make men think that I ama too obedient husband. But now farewell, my children; our young heroesmust look at this our city of Sais; before parting, however, I willrepeat 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 poorPersia and instil fresh courage into my future sister-in-law; but no!Darius, thou must speak, thine eloquence is as great as thy skill infigures and swordsmanship!"

"Thou speakst of me as if I were a gossip or a shopkeeper, "--[Thisnickname, which Darius afterwards earned, is more fully spoken of]--answered the son of Hystaspes. "Be it so; I have been burning all thistime to defend the customs of our country. Know then, Ladice, that ifAuramazda dispose the heart of our king in his own good ways, yourdaughter will not be his slave, but his friend. Know also, that inPersia, though certainly only at high festivals, the king's wives havetheir places at the men's table, and that we pay the highest reverence toour wives and mothers. A king of Babylon once took a Persian wife; inthe broad plains of the Euphrates she fell sick of longing for her nativemountains; he caused a gigantic structure to be raised on arches, and thesummit thereof to be covered with a depth of rich earth; caused thechoicest trees and flowers to be planted there, and watered by artificialmachinery. This wonder completed, he led his wife thither; from its topshe could look down into the plains below, as from the heights ofRachined, and with this costly gift he presented her. Tell me, couldeven 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 andhappy in our country. "

"And now, " said Ladice with a smile, what, think you, contributed mostto the young queen's recovery? the beautiful mountain or the love of thehusband, 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, shehas the hanging-gardens for her residence. "

"But now come, " exclaimed Amasis, "unless you wish to see the city indarkness. Two secretaries have been awaiting me yonder for the last twohours. Ho! Sachons! give orders to the captain of the guard to accompanyour noble guests with a hundred men. "

"But why? a single guide, perhaps one of the Greek officers, would beamply sufficient. "

"No, my young friends, it is better so. Foreigners can never be tooprudent in Egypt. Do not forget this, and especially be careful not toridicule the sacred animals. And now farewell, my young heroes, till wemeet 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 languageswith 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 coveredwith pictures or hieroglyphics; galleries with balustrades of carved andgaily-painted wood-work, supported by columns also brightly painted, ranround the walls surrounding the courts. In many cases the proprietor'sname and rank was to be read on the door, which was, however, well closedand locked. Flowers and shrubs ornamented the flat roofs, on which theEgyptians loved to spend the evening hours, unless indeed, they preferredascending the mosquito-tower with which nearly every house was provided. These troublesome insects, engendered by the Nile, fly low, and theselittle watch-towers were built as a protection from them. 

The young Persians admired the great, almost excessive cleanliness, withwhich each house, nay, even the streets themselves, literally shone. Thedoor-plates and knockers sparkled in the sun; paintings, balconies andcolumns all had the appearance of having been only just finished, andeven 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, thestreets became smaller. Sais was built on the slope of a moderately highhill, and had only been the residence of the Pharaohs for two centuriesand a half, but, during that comparatively short interval, had risen froman 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. Duringhis father's absence he was responsible as their guide and protector, andnow perceived that the crowd of curious spectators, which had hithertofollowed 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 forforeigners I should think that would be of great interest. "

"Go forward!" cried Bartja. "For what did we leave Persia, if not tobehold 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 thecrowd 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 louderthan the rest was heard exclaiming: "Come hither to the fore-court of thetemple, and see the works of the great magician, who comes from thewestern 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 youwill behold a strange spectacle. " He pushed a way for himself and thePersians through the crowd, obstructed in his course by many a sallowwoman and naked child; and at length came back with a priest, whoconducted the strangers into the fore-court of the temple. Here, surrounded by various chests and boxes, stood a man in the dress of apriest; beside him on the earth knelt two negroes. The Libyan was a manof gigantic stature, with great suppleness of limb and a pair of piercingblack eyes. In his hand he held a wind-instrument resembling a modernclarionet, and a number of snakes, known in Egypt to be poisonous, laycoiling themselves over his breast and arms. 

On finding himself in the presence of the Persians he bowed low, invitingthem by a solemn gesture to gaze at his performances; he then cast offhis 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 andperform a kind of dancing evolution; by spitting into their jaws hetransformed 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 seemedstarting from his head and a bloody foam issued from his lips. 

Suddenly he fell to the ground, apparently lifeless. A slight movementof 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 likeliving rings around his neck, legs and body. At last he rose, sang ahymn in praise of the divine power which had made him a magician, andthen laid the greater number of his snakes in one of the chests, retaining a few, probably his favorites, to serve as ornaments for hisneck and arms. 

The second part of this performance consisted of clever conjuring-tricks, in which he swallowed burning flax, balanced swords while dancing, theirpoints standing in the hollow of his eye; drew long strings and ribbonsout of the noses of the Egyptian children, exhibited the well-known cup-and-ball trick, and, at length, raised the admiration of the spectatorsto its highest pitch, by producing five living rabbits from as manyostrich-eggs. 

The Persians formed no unthankful portion of the assembled crowd; on thecontrary, this scene, so totally new, impressed them deeply. 

They felt as if in the realm of miracles, and fancied they had now seenthe rarest of all Egyptian rarities. In silence they took their way backto the handsomer streets of Sais, without noticing how many mutilatedEgyptians crossed their path. These poor disfigured creatures wereindeed no unusual sight for Asiatics, who punished many crimes by theamputation of a limb. Had they enquired however, they would have heardthat, in Egypt, the man deprived of his hand was a convicted forger, thewoman of her nose, an adulteress; that the man without a tongue had beenfound guilty of high treason or false witness; that the loss of the earsdenoted a spy, and that the pale, idiotic-looking woman yonder had beenguilty of infanticide, and had been condemned to hold the little corpsethree days and three nights in her arms. What woman could retain hersenses after these hours of torture?--[Diodorus I. 77. ]

The greater number of the Egyptian penal laws not only secured thepunishment of the criminal, but rendered a repetition of the offenceimpossible. 

The Persian party now met with a hindrance, a large crowd havingassembled before one of the handsomest houses in the street leading tothe temple of Neith. The few windows of this house that could be seen(the greater number opening on the garden and court) were closed withshutters, and at the door stood an old man, dressed in the plain whiterobe of a priest's servant. He was endeavoring, with loud cries, toprevent a number of men of his own class from carrying a large chest outof 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 (maythe gods destroy that land!) he bade me take especial care of this chestin which his manuscripts lay. "

"Compose yourself, old Hib!" shouted one of these inferior priests, thesame 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, yourmaster's master. There must be queer papers in this box, or Neithotepwould not have honored us with his commands to fetch them. "

"But I will not allow my master's papers to be stolen, " shrieked the oldman. "My master is the great physician Nebenchari, and I will secure hisrights, 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 morewisely to hold your tongue and remember that the high-priest is yourmaster 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!" Sosaying, he slammed the heavy door, the old man was flung backward intothe house and the crowd saw him no more. 

The Persians had watched this scene and obtained an explanation of itsmeaning from their interpreter. Zopyrus laughed on hearing that thepossessor of the stolen chest was the oculist Nebenchari, the same whohad been sent to Persia to restore the sight of the king's mother, andwhose grave, even morose temper had procured him but little love at thecourt of Cambyses. 

Bartja wished to ask Amasis the meaning of this strange robbery, butGyges begged him not to interfere in matters with which he had noconcern. Just as they reached the palace, and darkness, which in Egyptso quickly succeeds the daylight, was already stealing over the city, Gyges felt himself hindered from proceeding further by a firm hand on hisrobe, and perceived a stranger holding his finger on his lips in token ofsilence. 

"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 weightymatters 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 canI 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 gateof the palace. "

"I shall expect you. "

So saying the man vanished. Once within the palace, Gyges left Bartjaand Zopyrus, fastened his sword into his girdle, begged Darius to do thesame and to follow him, and was soon standing again under the greatportico with the stranger, but this time in total darkness. 

"Auramazda be praised that you are there!" cried the latter in Persianto 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 Egyptianhad accompanied you. "

"No, we are alone and willing to hear you; but be brief. Who are you andwhat 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 firstallowed to plunder freely; but on your wise father's representing toCyrus 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 todeliver up their booty to their captains, and the latter to causeeverything of worth, when brought to them, to be collected in the market-place. Gold and silver trappings lay there in abundance, costly articlesof 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 anointment-box sparkling with jewels, taken from your father's palace, Iforfeited my life. Croesus, however, pleaded for me with his conquerorCyrus; my life and liberty were granted me, but I was declared adishonored man. Life in Persia became impossible with disgrace lyingheavily on my soul; I took ship from Smyrna to Cyprus, entered the armythere, fought against Amasis, and was brought hither by Phanes as aprisoner-of-war. Having always served as a horse-soldier, I was placedamong those slaves who had charge of the king's horses, and in six yearsbecame an overseer. Never have I forgotten the debt of gratitude I oweto 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 tocast myself at his feet. "

"And did you succeed?"

"Certainly. He spoke a few gracious words with me, but could not wait tohear what I would say, as his companions were already on board when hearrived. His slave Sandon, whom I know, told me that they were going toNaukratis, 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-placewas 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 thecommand of an Egyptian captain, were sent off to Naukratis to surroundthe 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 knowthat 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. Imyself 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 earsopen, and let the house of Rhodopis be surrounded, lest he should escapeby the back door. If possible spare his life, and kill him only if heresist. Bring him alive to Sais, and you shall receive twenty rings ofgold. '"

 [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 cannever 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 theroad 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 theservants to get ready. "

"But Gyges--"

"Yes, you will stay here and excuse me to Amasis. Say I could not cometo 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 onDarius'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! ProtectBartja! Once more, farewell!"

CHAPTER VIII. 

It wanted two hours of midnight. Bright light was streaming through theopen windows of Rhodopis' house, and sounds of mirth and gaiety fell onthe ear. Her table had been adorned with special care in Croesus' honor. 

On the cushions around it lay the guests with whom we are alreadyacquainted: Theodorus, Ibykus, Phanes, Aristomachus, the merchantTheopompus of Miletus, Croesus and others, crowned with chaplets ofpoplar and roses. 

Theodorus the sculptor was speaking: "Egypt seems to me, " he said, "likea girl who persists in wearing a tight and painful shoe only because itis of gold, while within her reach he beautiful and well-fitting slippersin which she could move at ease, if she only would. "

"You refer to the Egyptians' pertinacity in retaining traditional formsand customs?" asked Croesus. 

"Certainly I do, " answered the sculptor. "Two centuries ago Egypt wasunquestionably the first of the nations. In Art and Science she farexcelled 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 leftour masters far behind us. But how was this possible? simply because theEgyptians, bound by unalterable laws, could make no progress; we, on thecontrary, were free to pursue our course in the wide arena of art as faras will and power would allow. "

"But how can an artist be compelled to fashion statues alike, which aremeant to differ from each other in what they represent?"

"In this case that can be easily explained. The entire human body isdivided by the Egyptians into 21 1/4 parts, in accordance with whichdivision the proportion of each separate limb is regulated. I, myself, have laid a wager with Amasis, in presence of the first Egyptiansculptor, (a priest of Thebes), that, if I send my brother Telekles, inEphesus, dimensions, proportion and attitude, according to the Egyptianmethod, he and I together can produce a statue which shall look as ifsculptured from one block and by one hand, though Telekles is to carvethe lower half at Ephesus, and I the upper here in Sais, and under theeye 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 aslittle deserve the name of a work of art, as any Egyptian statue. "

"And yet there are single sculptures here which are of exquisiteworkmanship; such, for instance, as the one Amasis sent to Samos as apresent to Polykrates. In Memphis I saw a statue said to be about threethousand years old, and to represent a king who built the great Pyramid, which excited my admiration in every respect. With what certainty andprecision that unusually hard stone has been wrought! the muscles, howcarefully carved! especially in the breast, legs and feet; the harmony ofthe features too, and, above all, the polish of the whole, leave nothingto be desired. "

"Unquestionably. In all the mechanism of art, such as precision andcertainty in working even the hardest materials, the Egyptians, thoughthey 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 intothe stone, they will never learn until their old notions on this subjecthave been entirely abandoned. Even the pleasing varieties of corporeallife cannot be represented by a system of mere proportions, much lessthose which are inner and spiritual. Look at the countless statues whichhave been erected during the last three thousand years, in all thetemples and palaces from Naukratis up to the Cataracts. They are all ofone type, and represent men of middle age, with grave but benevolentcountenances. Yet they are intended, some as statues of aged monarchs, others to perpetuate the memory of young princes. The warrior and thelawgiver, the blood-thirsty tyrant and the philanthropist are onlydistinguished from each other by a difference in size, by which theEgyptian sculptor expresses the idea of power and strength. Amasisorders a statue just as I should a sword. Breadth and length beingspecified, we both of us know quite well, before the master has begun hiswork, what we shall receive when it is finished. How could I possiblyfashion an infirm old man like an eager youth? a pugilist like a runnerin the foot-race? a poet like a warrior? Put Ibykus and our Spartanfriend side by side, and tell me what you would say, were I to give tothe stern warrior the gentle features and gestures of our heart-ensnaringpoet. "

"Well, and how does Amasis answer your remarks on this stagnation inart?"

"He deplores it; but does not feel himself strong enough to abolish therestrictive laws of the priests. "

"And yet, " said the Delphian, "he has given a large sum towards theembellishment of our new temple, expressly, (I use his own words) for thepromotion of Hellenic art!"

"That is admirable in him, " exclaimed Croesus. "Will the Alkmaeonidaesoon have collected the three hundred talents necessary for thecompletion of the temple? Were I as rich as formerly I would gladlyundertake the entire cost; notwithstanding that your malicious god socruelly deceived me, after all my offerings at his shrine. For when Isent to ask whether I should begin the war with Cyrus, he returned thisanswer: I should destroy a mighty kingdom by crossing the river Halys. I trusted the god, secured the friendship of Sparta according to hiscommands, crossed the boundary stream, and, in so doing, did indeeddestroy a mighty kingdom; not however that of the Medes and Persians, butmy own poor Lydia, which, as a satrapy of Cambyses, finds its loss ofindependence a hard and uncongenial yoke. "

"You blame the god unjustly, " answered Phryxus. It cannot be his faultthat you, in your human conceit, should have misinterpreted his oracle. The answer did not say 'the kingdom of Persia, ' but 'a kingdom' shouldbe destroyed through your desire for war. Why did you not enquire whatkingdom was meant? Was not your son's fate truly prophesied by theoracle? and also that on the day of misfortune he would regain hisspeech? And when, after the fall of Sardis, Cyrus granted your wish toenquire at Delphi whether the Greek gods made a rule of requiting theirbenefactors by ingratitude, Loxias answered that he had willed the bestfor you, but was controlled by a mightier power than himself, by thatinexorable fate which had foretold to thy great ancestor, that his fifthsuccessor was doomed to destruction. "

"In the first days of my adversity I needed those words far more thannow, " interrupted Croesus. "There was a time when I cursed your god andhis oracles; but later, when with my riches my flatterers had left me, and I became accustomed to pronounce judgment on my own actions, I sawclearly 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 mightyrealm of the powerful Croesus, the friend of the gods, the hithertounconquered leader? Had a friend hinted at this interpretation of theambiguous oracle, I should have derided, nay, probably caused him to bepunished. For a despotic ruler is like a fiery steed; the latterendeavors to kick him who touches his wounds with intent to heal; theformer punishes him who lays a hand on the weak or failing points of hisdiseased mind. Thus I missed what, if my eyes had not been dazzled, Imight easily have seen; and now that my vision is clearer, though I havenothing to lose, I am far more often anxious than in the days when nonecould 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; willbe sure to erect a beautiful edifice, for they are rich and ambitious, and desirous of gaining favor with the Amphiktyons, in order, by theiraid, to overthrow the tyrants, secure to themselves a higher positionthan that of the family to which I belong, and with this, the guidance ofstate-affairs. "

"Is it true, as people say, " asked Ibykus, "that next to Agarista withwhom Megakles received so rich a dowry, you, Croesus, have been thelargest 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 nearme for some time. One day I showed him my treasure-chambers, at thesight of which he fell into despair, called himself a common beggar anddeclared that one good handful of these precious things would make hima happy man. I at once allowed him to take as much gold away as he couldcarry. What think you did Alkaemmon on this? sent for high Lydianriding-boots, an apron and a basket, had the one secured behind him, putthe others on, and filled them all with gold, till they could hold nomore. Not content with this, he strewed gold-dust in his hair and beardand filled his mouth to that extent that he appeared in the act ofchoking. In each hand he grasped a golden dish, and thus laden draggedhimself out of the treasure-house, falling exhausted as he crossed thethreshold. 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 toodearly 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 backon me, and answered with a bitter laugh: 'Collect money for thedestruction of your temple, and I am ready to double my father'sdonation!'"

"The wretch!"

"Say rather: the true Egyptian! to Psamtik everything foreign is anabomination. "

"How much have the Greeks in Naukratis contributed?"

"Beside munificent private donations, each community has given twentyminae. "

"That is much. "

"Philoinus, the Sybarite, alone sent me a thousand drachmm, " andaccompanied his gift with a most singular epistle. May I read it aloud, Rhodopis?"

"Certainly, " answered she, "it will show you that the drunkard hasrepented of his late behaviour. "

The Delphian began: "Philoinus to Phryxus: It grieves me that atRhodopis' house the other night I did not drink more; for had I done soI should have lost consciousness entirely, and so have been unable tooffend even the smallest insect. My confounded abstemiousness istherefore to blame, that I can no longer enjoy a place at the best tablein 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 tobuy 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 begthey may be placed in some treasure-house at Delphi as an offering fromRhodopis. As for myself, being a rich man, I sign my name for a thousanddrachmae, and beg that my gift may be publicly announced at the nextPythian games. To that rude fellow, Aristomachus of Sparta, express mythanks for the effectual manner in which he fulfilled my intention incoming to Egypt. I came hither for the purpose of having a toothextracted by an Egyptian dentist said to take out teeth without causingmuch 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 mefrom an operation, the thought of which had often made me tremble. Onrecovering consciousness, I found that three teeth had been knocked intomy mouth, the diseased one and two others, which though healthy, wouldprobably at some future time have caused me pain. Salute Rhodopis andthe handsome Phanes from me. You I invite to an entertainment at myhouse in Sybaris, this day year. We are accustomed to issue invitationssomewhat early, on account of my necessary preparations. I have causedthis epistle to be written by my slave Sophotatus in an adjoiningchamber, as merely to behold the labor of writing causes cramp in myfingers. "

A burst of laughter arose at these words, but Rhodopis said: "This lettergives me pleasure; it proves that Philoinus is not bad at heart. Broughtup a Sybarite" . . . She was suddenly interrupted by the voice of astranger, who had entered unperceived, and, after apologizing to thevenerable hostess and her guests for appearing without invitation amongthem, continued thus: "I am Gyges the son of Croesus; and it has not beenmerely for pastime, that I have ridden over from Sais in two hours lest Ishould arrive too late!"

"Menon, a cushion for our guest!" cried Rhodopis. "Be welcome to myhouse 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'sside . . . But how thou look'st! what is the matter? has aughthappened? speak, speak!"

In the first moment Gyges could not answer a word. To see his belovedfather, for whose very life he had been in such anxiety, a safe and happyguest at this rich banquet, seemed to rob him of his speech a secondtime. At last, however, he was able to say: "The gods be praised, myfather, that I see thee safe once more! Think not I forsook my postthoughtlessly. Alas! I am forced to appear as a bird of evil omen inthis cheerful assembly. Know at once, ye guests, for I dare not losetime in preparing my words, that a treacherous assault awaits ye!"

They all sprang up as if struck by lightning. Aristomachus silentlyloosened his sword in its scabbard; Phanes extended his arms as if todiscern 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 onone of your number; he was to be taken alive if possible, but killed ifhe resisted. Dreading lest thou shouldst be this victim, my father, I sped hither. The fellow had not lied. This house is surrounded. Myhorse shied on reaching your garden-gate, Rhodopis, jaded as he was. Idismounted, and could discern behind every bush the glitter of weaponsand the eager eyes of men lying in ambush. They allowed us, however, toenter unmolested. "

At this moment Knakias rushed in crying, "Important news! On my way tothe Nile to fetch water with which to prepare the wine-cup, I have justmet 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 hesprang out of the boat to bathe, a royal bark came alongside and asoldier asked the rest of the crew in whose service they were. On thehelmsman answering, 'in Phanes' service, ' the royal boat passed onslowly. He, however, (the rower who was bathing), seated himself in funon the rudder of the royal boat, and heard one Ethiopian soldier on boardsay to another, 'Keep that craft well in sight; now we know where thebird sits, and it will be easy to catch him. Remember, Psamtik haspromised us fifty gold rings if we bring the Athenian to Sais dead oralive. ' This is the report of Sebek, who has been in your service sevenyears, O Phanes. "

To both these accounts Phanes listened calmly. Rhodopis trembled. Aristomachus exclaimed, "Not a hair of your head shall be touched, ifEgypt perish for it!" Croesus advised prudence. A tremendous excitementhad mastered the whole party. 

At last Phanes broke silence, saying: "Reflection is never more necessarythan in a time of danger. I have thought the matter over, and seeclearly that escape will be difficult. The Egyptians will try to getrid of me quietly. They know that I intend going on board a Phoeceantrireme, which sets sail for Sigeum at a very early hour to-morrowmorning, and have therefore no time to lose, if they will seize me. Yourgarden, Rhodopis, is entirely surrounded, and were I to remain here, yourhouse would no longer be respected as a sanctuary; it would be searchedand I taken in it. There can be no doubt that a watch has been set overthe 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. "Atsunrise to-morrow a ship sails for Miletus laden with Egyptian corn, butnot from Naukratis, from Canopus. Take the noble Persian's horse andride thither. We will cut a way for you through the garden. "

"But, " said Gyges, "our little band is not strong enough to carry outsuch an attempt. We number in all ten men, and of these only three haveswords; our enemies, on the other hand, number at least a hundred, andare armed to the teeth. "

"Lydian!" cried Aristomachus, "wert thou ten times more faintheartedthan thou art, and were our enemies double their number, I at least, willfight them!"

Phanes grasped his friend's hand. Gyges turned pale. This brave warriorhad called him fainthearted; and again he could find no words to answer;for at every stirring emotion his tongue failed him. Suddenly the bloodmounted 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, Phanesis safe, Farewell, father!"

The remaining guests surveyed these two departing men in silent wonder. As they stood there, silently listening, the sound of two horsesgalloping swiftly away fell on their ear, and after a longer interval aprolonged 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 inthe 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 owncurls he placed the pointed Persian cap. The stranger wrapped himself inthe Athenian's chiton and mantle, placed the golden circlet above hisbrow, caused the hair to be shaved from his upper lip, and ordered me tofollow him into the garden. Phanes, whom in his present dress, nonecould imagine to be other than a Persian, mounted one of the horses stillwaiting before the gate; the stranger called after him, 'Farewell Gyges, farewell beloved Persian, a pleasant journey to thee, Gyges!' Theservant, who had been waiting, followed on the other horse. I could hearthe clatter of arms among the bushes, but the Athenian was allowed todepart unmolested, the soldiers, without doubt, believing him to be aPersian. 

"On returning to the house the stranger's orders were: 'Accompany me toPhanes' bark, and cease not to call me by the Athenian's name. ' 'But theboatmen will betray you, ' I said. 'Then go alone to them, ' he answered, 'and command them to receive me as their master, Phanes. ' Then I prayedhim to allow me to take the dress of the fugitive and become a prey tothe pursuers; but he would by no means allow this, and said my gait andcarriage would betray me. There alas! he spoke truly, for only the freeman can walk erect; the neck of the slave is bent; the schools in whichthe noble and the freeborn learn grace and beauty of movement are not forhim. 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 ahyacinth? Constant bondage bows the neck of the slave, but theconsciousness 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 thatmoment a cloud crossed the moon; and from out the thick darkness I heardscreams, and cries for help; they did not, however, last long, a shrillwhistle followed, then all was silent; and the measured strokes of oarswere the only sounds that fell on my ear. I was on the point ofreturning to relate what I had seen, when the boatman Sebek swam up oncemore and told as follows: The Egyptians had caused a leak to be made inPhanes' boat, and at a short distance from land it had filled and beganto sink. On the boatmen crying for help, the royal bark, which wasfollowing, had come up and taken the supposed Phanes on board, but hadprevented the rowers from leaving their benches. They all went down withthe leaking boat, the daring Sebek alone excepted. Gyges is on board theroyal boat; Phanes has escaped, for that whistle must have been intendedfor 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 andweapons on their way back to Sais. "

The guests listened with eager attention to this tale. At its close amingled feeling of relief and anxiety was felt by all; relief that theirfavorite companion had escaped so fearful a danger, anxiety for the braveyoung Lydian who had risked his life to save him. They praised hisgenerosity, congratulated Croesus on possessing such a son, and finallyagreed in the conclusion, that, when the crown-prince discovered theerror into which his emissaries had fallen, he must certainly releaseGyges, and even make him compensation for what he had suffered at theirhands. 

The friendship already shown by Amasis, and the fear in which heevidently stood of the Persian power, were the thoughts which had powerto calm Croesus, who soon left, in order to pass the night at the houseof Theopompus, the Milesian merchant. At parting, Aristomachus said:"Salute Gyges in my name; tell him I ask his forgiveness, and hope oneday either to enjoy his friendship, or, if that cannot be, to meet him asa fair foe on the field of battle. "

"Who knows what the future may bring?" answered Croesus giving his handto 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, laysparkling like jewels on the leaves and blossoms, and the morning air, freshened by a north-west wind, invited those to enjoy it who could notbear the heat of mid-day. 

Through the door of the country-house, now so well known to us, twofemale figures have just passed; Melitta, the old slave, and Sappho, thegrandchild 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 morningrobe with its wide sleeves falling in graceful drapery over her lithelimbs, the thick brown hair straying from beneath the purple kerchiefover her head, and a merry, roguish smile lurking round her rosy mouthand in the dimples of her cheeks and chin. 

She stooped to pick a rose, dashed the dew from it into the face of herold nurse, laughing at her naughty trick till the clear bell-like tonesrang through the garden; fixed the flower in her dress and began to singin 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 stupidof little Eros to mistake a bee for a winged snake! Grandmother saysthat the great poet Anacreon wrote another verse to this song, but shewill 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 youcan't teach it me. "

"That is a new song, " answered the old woman, evading her darling'squestion, "I only know the songs of the good old times. But hark! didnot 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. Goand see who seeks admission so early. Perhaps, after all, our kindPhanes did not go away yesterday, and has come to bid us farewell oncemore. "

"Phanes is gone, " said Melitta, becoming serious, "and Rhodopis hasordered me to send you in when visitors arrive. Go child, that I mayopen 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 ofthese early guests. In the fear of needlessly distressing her, she hadnot been told of the events of the previous evening, and at this earlyhour could only expect to see some very intimate friend of hergrandmother's. 

Melitta opened the gate and admitted a youth splendidly apparelled, andwith fair curling hair. 

It was Bartja, and Sappho was so lost in wonder at his beauty, and thePersian dress, to her so strange, that she remained motionless in herhiding-place, her eyes fixed on his face. Just so she had pictured toherself Apollo with the beautiful locks, guiding the sun-chariot. 

As Melitta and the stranger came nearer she thrust her little headthrough the roses to hear what the handsome youth was saying so kindly inhis broken Greek. 

She heard him ask hurriedly after Croesus and his son; and then, fromMelitta's answer, she gathered all that had passed the evening before, trembled for Phanes, felt so thankful to the generous Gyges, and againwondered who this youth in royal apparel could possibly be. Rhodopis hadtold her about Cyrus's heroic deeds, the fall of Croesus and the powerand wealth of the Persians, but still she had always fancied them a wild, uncultivated people. Now, however, her interest in Persia increased withevery look at the handsome Bartja. At last Melitta went in to wake hergrandmother and announce the guest, and Sappho tried to follow her, butEros, the foolish boy whose ignorance she had been mocking a momentbefore, had other intentions. Her dress caught in the thorns, and beforeshe 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, andstood smiling and ashamed, with downcast eyes. 

Bartja, too, generally so full of fun and spirit, looked down at herwithout speaking, the color mounting to his cheeks. 

The silence, however, did not last long, for Sappho, recovering from herfright, burst into a laugh of childish delight at the silent stranger andthe odd scene, and fled towards the house like a timid fawn. 

In a moment Bartja was himself again; in two strides he reached the younggirl, quick as thought seized her hand and held it fast, notwithstandingall her struggles. 

"Let me go!" she cried half in earnest and half laughing, raising herdark eyes appealingly to him. 

"Why should I?" he answered. "I took you from the rose-bush and shallhold you fast until you give me your sister there, the other rose, fromyour bosom, to take home with me as a keepsake. "

"Please let me go, " repeated Sappho, "I will promise nothing unless youlet 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 yourrose. "

"There are plenty on the bush yonder, and more beautiful ones; choosewhichever you like. Why do you want just this one?"

"To keep it carefully in remembrance of the most beautiful maiden I eversaw. "

"Then I shall certainly not give it to you; for those are not my realfriends 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 inthe 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 Ishould be indoors now instead of talking to you here. My grandmotherhas forbidden me ever to stay in the garden when visitors are here, andindeed I don't care for all those strange men who always talk aboutthings 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 sobeautifully as our poor Phanes for example, who was obliged to escape somiserably 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 alwaysbrought me balls, dolls ninepins from Memphis and Sais; and now that I amolder 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 goingto call Argos, because he is so white and swiftfooted. But in a few dayswe 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 littlevisitors we are expecting; but I feel as if I had known you a long timealready, 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 talkto about it, except old Melitta and my grandmother, and, I don't know howit is, that, though they love me so much, they sometimes cannotunderstand how trifles can make me so happy. "

"That is because they are old, and have forgotten what made them happy intheir youth. But have you no companions of your own age that you arefond of?"

"Not one. Of course there are many other young girls beside me inNaukratis, 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 musttell 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 neverto part, and to give up our lives for one another, " and that is why Icame to-day, so early and quite in secret, to help my friend Gyges, incase 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 apoetess called Sappho. Are you related to her?"

"Of course. She was the sister of my grandfather Charaxus, and is calledthe tenth muse or the Lesbian swan. I suppose then, your friend Gygesspeaks Greek better than you do?"

"Yes, he learnt Greek and Lydian together as a little child, and speaksthem both equally well. He can speak Persian too, perfectly; and what ismore, 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 isobedience; these three, joined with veneration for the gods, have made usPersians 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 theEgyptians, for the whole creation is their dwelling. The Divinity, whomust be in every place, and must see and hear everything, cannot beconfined 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 thesummit of a mountain. There we are nearest to our own god, Mithras, themighty sun, and to Auramazda, the pure creative light; for there thelight 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 hisfavorite resting-place. Have you never stood on the wooded summit of ahigh mountain, and felt, amid the solemn silence of nature, the still andsoft, but awful breath of Divinity hovering around you? Have youprostrated yourself in the green forest, by a pure spring, or beneath theopen sky, and listened for the voice of God speaking from among theleaves and waters? Have you beheld the flame leaping up to its parentthe sun, and bearing with it, in the rising column of smoke, our prayersto the radiant Creator? You listen now in wonder, but I tell you, youwould kneel and worship too with me, could I but take you to one of ourmountain-altars. "

"Oh! if I only could go there with you! if I might only once look downfrom some high mountain over all the woods and meadows, rivers andvalleys. I think, up there, where nothing could be hidden from my eyes, I should feel like an all-seeing Divinity myself. But hark, mygrandmother 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 timethat I killed a bear with my own hand, and it has been my dearesttreasure till to-day, but now you shall have it, for you are dearer to methan anything else in the world. "

Saying this, he took the chain and star from his breast, and tried tohang it round Sappho's neck. She resisted, but Bartja threw his armsround her, kissed her forehead, called her his only love, and lookingdown deep into the eyes of the trembling child, placed it round her neckby gentle force. 

Rhodopis called a third time. Sappho broke from the young prince'sembrace, and was running away, but turned once more at his earnestentreaty and the question, "When may I see you again?" and answeredsoftly, "To-morrow morning at this rose-bush. "

"Which held you fast to be my friend. "

Sappho sped towards the house. Rhodopis received Bartja, andcommunicated to him all she knew of his friend's fate, after which theyoung Persian departed for Sais. 

When Rhodopis visited her grandchild's bed that evening, she did not findher 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 onceon hearing of their friend's secret departure. They little guessed thatinstead of encountering an enemy, Bartja had met his first love. Croesusreached Sais a short time before the three friends. He went at once tothe king and informed him without reserve of the events of the precedingevening. Amasis pretended much surprise at his son's conduct, assuredhis friend that Gyges should be released at once, and indulged in someironical jokes at the discomfiture of Psamtik's attempt to revengehimself. 

Croesus had no sooner quitted the king than the crown-prince wasannounced. 

CHAPTER X. 

Amasis received his son with a burst of laughter, and without noticingPsamtik'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 Greekfox? I would have given ten cities to have been by, when thy captiveproved to be the stammering Lydian instead of the voluble Athenian. "

Psamtik grew paler and paler, and trembling with rage, answered in asuppressed voice: "Is it well, my father, thus to rejoice at an affrontoffered 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. Butwhat is it to thee, that thy son becomes a laughing-stock to thesebeggarly 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, inviolation of all established precedents; the envoy of a foreign power hadnot 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 executionof a judicial sentence, but of the success or failure of an attempt atpersonal revenge. "

"The agents employed were, however, commissioned by the king, andtherefore the smallest satisfaction that I can demand of thee, is tosolicit from Cambyses the punishment of him who has interfered in theexecution of the royal decrees. In Persia, where men bow to the king'swill as to the will of a god, this crime will be seen in all itsheinousness. The punishment of Gyges is a debt which Cambyses owes us. "

"But I have no intention of demanding the payment of this debt, " answeredAmasis. "On the contrary, I am thankful that Phanes has escaped. Gygeshas saved my soul from the guilt of shedding innocent blood, and thinefrom the reproach of having revenged thyself meanly on a man, to whom thyfather 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 atthe same time caution him against Phanes. I shall tell him that he hasbarely escaped my vengeance, and will therefore certainly endeavor tostir up the power of Persia against Egypt; and shall entreat my futureson-in-law to close his ears to this false accuser. Croesus and Gygescan help us by their friendship more than Phanes can injure by hishatred. "

"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 onewho holds thee in his power, and who himself is in ours. "

"Thou thinkest to alarm me; thou wouldst rend the bond formed onlyyesterday? Psamtik, Psamtik, I counsel thee to remember, that thoustandest before thy father and thy king. "

"And thou, forget not that I am thy son! If thou compell'st me to forgetthat the gods appointed thee to be my father--if I can hope for no helpfrom 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 isin our power. "

Amasis turned pale. 

"Before thou couldst possibly imagine that Cambyses would sue for thehand of thy daughter, thou sentest this man to the distant realm ofPersia, in order to rid thyself of one who shared thy knowledge of thereal descent of my, so-called, sister Nitetis. He is still there, and ata hint from the priests will disclose to Cambyses that he has beendeceived, and that thou hast ventured to send him, instead of thine own, the child of thy dethroned predecessor Hophra. All Nebenchari's papersare in our possession, the most important being a letter in thine ownhand promising his father, who assisted at Nitetis' birth, a thousandgold 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 theescaped 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 beprevented from erecting any more temples to their false gods in Egypt, and that the building of the temple to Apollo, in Memphis, shall bediscontinued. "

"I expected these demands. The priests have discovered a sharp weapon towield against me. Well, I am prepared to yield to the wishes of myenemies, with whom thou hast leagued thyself, but only on two conditions. First, I insist that the letter, which I confess to have written to thefather 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 thecontemptible 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 forthe punishment of Gyges so imprudent, that I refuse to grant it. Nowleave 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 notokens of a love and humility, which thou hast never felt. Go to thepriests when thou needest comfort and counsel, and see if they can supplya father's place. Tell Neithotep, in whose hands thou art as wax, thathe has found the best means of forcing me to grant demands, whichotherwise I should have refused. Hitherto I have been willing to makeevery 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 moveme by the threat of treachery to their own country, I feel inclined toregard this privileged caste as a more dangerous enemy to Egypt, thaneven the Persians. Beware, beware! This once, having brought dangerupon Egypt through my own fatherly weakness, I give way to the intriguesof 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 besacrificed rather than the smallest fraction of my royal will! Silence--depart!"

The prince left, but this time a longer interval was necessary, beforethe king could regain even outward cheerfulness sufficient to enable himto appear before his guests. 

Psamtik went at once to the commander of the native troops, ordered himto banish the Egyptian captain who had failed in executing his revengefulplans, to the quarries of Thebais, and to send the Ethiopians back totheir native country. He then hurried to the high-priest of Neith, toinform him how much he had been able to extort from the king, Neithotep shook his head doubtfully on hearing of Amasis' threats, anddismissed the prince with a few words of exhortation, a practice he neveromitted. 

Psamtik returned home, his heart oppressed and his mind clouded with asense of unsatisfied revenge, of a new and unhappy rupture with hisfather, a fear of foreign derision, a feeling of his subjection to thewill of the priests, and of a gloomy fate which had hung over his headsince his birth. 

His once beautiful wife was dead; and, of five blooming children, onlyone 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 andlaughing mouth of his child were the only objects that ever thawed thisman's icy heart, and from these he now hoped for consolation and courageon 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 theman. 

At this moment the high-steward of the prince's household approached, andwith a low obeisance delivered to Psamtik a sealed papyrus letter, withthe words: "From your father, the king. "

In angry haste he broke the yellow wax of the seal bearing the king'sname, and read: "I have sent for thy son, that he may not become, likehis father, a blind instrument in the hands of the priesthood, forgetfulof what is due to himself and his country. His education shall be mycare, for the impressions of childhood affect the whole of a man's laterlife. Thou canst see him if thou wilt, but I must be acquainted with thyintention 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 withdifficulty. The mere wish of a royal father had, according to Egyptiancustom, as much weight as the strictest command. After reflecting a fewmoments, he called for huntsmen, dogs, bows and lances, sprang into alight chariot and commanded the charioteer to drive him to the westernmarshes, where, in pursuing the wild beasts of the desert, he couldforget the weight of his own cares and wreak on innocent creatures hishitherto baffled vengeance. 

Gyges was released immediately after the conversation between his fatherand Amasis, and welcomed with acclamations of joy by his companions. ThePharaoh seemed desirous of atoning for the imprisonment of his friend'sson by doubling his favors, for on the same day Gyges received from theking a magnificent chariot drawn by two noble brown steeds, and wasbegged to take back with him to Persia a curiously-wrought set ofdraughts, as a remembrance of Sais. The separate pieces were made ofebony and ivory, some being curiously inlaid with sentences, inhieroglyphics of gold and silver. 

Amasis laughed heartily with his friends at Gyges' artifice, allowed theyoung heroes to mix freely with his family, and behaved towards themhimself as a jovial father towards his merry sons. That the ancientEgyptian was not quite extinguished in him could only be discerned atmeal-times, when a separate table was allotted to the Persians. Thereligion of his ancestors would have pronounced him defiled, had he eatenat 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, declaredthat his daughter Nitetis would be prepared to depart for Asia in thecourse of two more weeks, all the Persians regretted that their stay inEgypt was so near its close. 

Croesus had enjoyed the society of the Samian poets and sculptors. Gygeshad shared his father's preference for Greek art and artists. Darius, who had formerly studied astronomy in Babylon, was one evening observingthe heavens, when, to his surprise, he was addressed by the agedNeithotep and invited to follow him on to the temple-roof. Darius, evereager to acquire knowledge, did not wait to be asked twice, and was to befound there every night in earnest attention to the old priest's lessons. 

On one occasion Psamtik met him thus with his master, and asked thelatter what could have induced him to initiate a Persian in the Egyptianmysteries. 

"I am only teaching him, " answered the high-priest, "what is as wellknown to every learned Chaldee in Babylon as to ourselves, and am therebygaining the friendship of a man, whose stars as far outshine those ofCambyses as the sun outshines the moon. This Darius, I tell thee, willbe a mighty ruler. I have even seen the beams of his planet shining overEgypt. The truly wise man extends his gaze into the future, regards theobjects 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 passestdaily, a future benefactor may not have been reared for thee. Leavenought unnoticed that lies in thy path, but above all direct thy gazeupward to the stars. As the faithful dog lies in wait night after nightfor thieves, so have I watched these pilgrims of the heavens fifty yearslong--these foretellers of the fates of men, burning in ethereal space, and announcing, not only the return of summer and winter, but the arrivalof good and bad fortune, honor and disgrace. These are the unerringguides, who have pointed out to me in Darius a plant, that will one daywax into a mighty tree. "

To Bartja, Darius' nightly studies were especially welcome; theynecessitated more sleep in the morning, and so rendered Bartja's stolenearly rides to Naukratis, (on which Zopyrus, to whom he had confided hissecret, accompanied him), easier of accomplishment. During theinterviews with Sappho, Zopyrus and the attendants used all theirendeavors to kill a few snipes, jackals or jerboas. They could then, ontheir return, maintain to their Mentor Croesus, that they had beenpursuing fieldsports, the favorite occupation of the Persian nobility. 

The change which the power of a first love had wrought in the innermostcharacter of Bartja, passed unnoticed by all but Tachot, the daughter ofAmasis. From the first day on which they had spoken together she hadloved him, and her quick feelings told her at once that something hadhappened to estrange him from herself. Formerly his behavior had beenthat of a brother, and he had sought her companionship; but now hecarefully avoided every approach to intimacy, for he had guessed hersecret and felt as if even a kind look would have been an offence againsthis 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 castlein the air, picturing to themselves the happiness of being alwaystogether at one court, and married to two royal brothers. But as thedays went by, the visits of the handsome prince became more and morerare, 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 handsomerand more manly during his stay in Egypt. An expression of proud and yetgentle consciousness lay beaming in his large eyes, and a strange dreamyair of rest often took the place of his former gay spirits. His cheekshad lost their brilliant color, but that added to his beauty, while itlessened hers, who, like him, became paler from day to day. 

Melitta, the old slave, had taken the lovers under her protection. Shehad surprised them one morning, but the prince had given her such richpresents, and her darling had begged, flattered and coaxed so sweetly, that at last Melitta promised to keep their secret, and later, yieldingto that natural impulse which moves all old women to favor lovers, hadeven given them every assistance in her power. She already saw her"sweet child" mistress of a hemisphere, often addressed her as "myPrincess" and "my Queen" when none were by to hear, and in many a weakmoment imagined a brilliant future for herself in some high office at thePersian court. 

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

A kind word hath far more power than an angry oneAbuse not those who have outwitted theeCannot understand how trifles can make me so happyConfess I would rather provoke a lioness than a womanCuriosity is a woman's viceI cannot . . . Say rather: I will notIn this immense temple man seemed a dwarf in his own eyesKnow how to honor beauty; and prove it by taking many wivesMosquito-tower with which nearly every house was providedNatural impulse which moves all old women to favor loversSent for a second interpreterSing their libels on women (Greek Philosophers)Those are not my real friends who tell me I am beautifulYoung Greek girls pass their sad childhood in close rooms