[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 5. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

The next day Nitetis removed to the country-house in the hanging-gardens, and began a monotonous, but happy and industrious life there, accordingto the rules laid down by Croesus. Every day she was carried toKassandane and Atossa in a closely shut-up litter. Nitetis soon began tolook upon the blind queen as a beloved and loving mother, and the merry, spirited Atossa nearly made up to her for the loss of her sister Tachot, so far away on the distant Nile. She could not have desired a bettercompanion than this gay, cheerful girl, whose wit and merrimenteffectually prevented homesickness or discontent from settling in herfriend's heart. The gravity and earnestness of Nitetis' character werebrightened by Atossa's gaiety, and Atossa's exuberant spirits calmed andregulated by the thoughtful nature of Nitetis. 

Both Croesus and Kassandane were pleased and satisfied with their newdaughter and pupil, and Oropastes extolled her talents and industry dailyto Cambyses. She learnt the Persian language unusually well and quickly;Cambyses only visited his mother when he hoped to find Nitetis there, andpresented her continually with rich dresses and costly jewels. But thehighest proof of his favor consisted in his abstaining from visiting herat her house in the hanging-gardens, a line of conduct which proved thathe meant to include Nitetis in the small number of his real and lawfulwives, a privilege of which many a princess in his harem could not boast. 

The grave, beautiful girl threw a strange spell over this strong, turbulent man. Her presence alone seemed enough to soften his stubbornwill, and he would watch their games for hours, his eyes fixed on hergraceful movements. Once, when the ball had fallen into the water, theking sprang in after it, regardless of his costly apparel. Nitetisscreamed on seeing his intention, but Cambyses handed her the drippingtoy with the words: "Take care or I shall be obliged to frighten youagain. " At the same time he drew from his neck a gold chain set withjewels and gave it to the blushing girl, who thanked him with a lookwhich fully revealed her feelings for her future husband. 

Croesus, Kassandane and Atossa soon noticed that Nitetis loved the king. Her former fear of this proud and powerful being had indeed changed intoa passionate admiration. She felt as if she must die if deprived of hispresence. He seemed to her like a, glorious and omnipotent divinity, andher wish to possess him presumptuous and sacrilegious; but its fulfilmentshone before her as an idea more beautiful even than return to her nativeland and reunion with those who, till now, had been her only loved ones. 

Nitetis herself was hardly conscious of the strength of her feelings, and believed that when she trembled before the king's arrival it was fromfear, and not from her longing to behold him once more. Croesus, however, had soon discovered the truth, and brought a deep blush to hisfavorite's cheek by singing to her, old as he was, Anacreon's newestsong, which he had learnt at Sais from Ibykus

 "We read the flying courser's name Upon his side in marks of flame; And by their turban'd brows alone The warriors of the East are known. But in the lover's glowing eyes, The inlet to his bosom lies; Through them we see the tiny mark, Where Love has dropp'd his burning spark" --Paegnion 15

And thus, in work and amusement, jest, earnest, and mutual love, theweeks and months passed with Nitetis. Cambyses' command that she was tobe happy in his land had fulfilled itself, and by the time theMesopotamian spring-tide (January, February and March), which succeedsthe rainy month of December, was over, and the principal festival of theAsiatics, the New Year, had been solemnized at the equinox, and the Maysun had begun to glow in the heavens, Nitetis felt quite at home inBabylon, and all the Persians knew that the young Egyptian princess hadquite displaced Phaedime, the daughter of Otanes, in the king's favor, and would certainly become his first and favorite wife. 

Boges sank considerably in public estimation, for it was known thatCambyses had ceased to visit the harem, and the chief of the eunuchs hadowed all his importance to the women, who were compelled to coax fromCambyses whatever Boges desired for himself or others. Not a day passedon which the mortified official did not consult with the supplantedfavorite Phaedime, as to the best means of ruining Nitetis, but theirmost finely spun intrigues and artifices were baffled by the strength ofking's love and the blameless life of his royal bride. 

Phaedime, impatient, mortified, and thirsting for vengeance, wasperpetually urging Boges to some decided act; he, on the contrary, advised patience. 

At last, however, after many weeks, he came to her full of joy, exclaiming: "I have devised a little plan which must ruin the Egyptianwoman as surely as my name is Boges. When Bartja comes back, mytreasure, our hour will have arrived. "

While saying this the creature rubbed his fat, soft hands, and, with hisperpetual fulsome smile, looked as if he were feasting on some good deedperformed. He did not, however, give Phaedime the faintest idea of thenature of his "little plan, " and only answered her pressing questionswith the words: "Better lay your head in a lion's jaws, than your secretin the ears of a woman. I fully acknowledge your courage, but at thesame time advise you to remember that, though a man proves his couragein action, a woman's is shown in obedience. Obey my words and await theissue in patience. " Nebenchari, the oculist, continued to attend thequeen, but so carefully abstained from all intercourse with the Persians, that he became a proverb among them for his gloomy, silent ways. Duringthe day he was to be found in the queen's apartments, silently examininglarge rolls of papyri, which he called the book of Athotes and the sacredAmbres; at night, by permission of the king and the satraps of Babylon, he often ascended one of the high towers on the walls, calledTritantaechmes, in order to observe the stars. 

The Chaldaean priests, the earliest astronomers, would have allowed himto take his observations from the summit of the great temple of Bel, their own observatory, but he refused this offer decidedly, and persistedin his haughty reserve. When Oropastes attempted to explain to him thecelebrated Babylonian sun-dial, introduced by Anaximander of Miletus intoGreece, he turned from the Magian with a scornful laugh, saying: "We knewall this, before you knew the meaning of an hour. "

Nitetis had shown Nebenchari much kindness, yet he took no interest inher, seemed indeed to avoid her purposely, and on her asking whether shehad displeased or offended him, answered: "For me you are a stranger. How can I reckon those my friends, who can so gladly and so quicklyforget those they loved best, their gods, and the customs of their nativeland?"

Boges quickly discovered this state of feeling on the part of Nebenchari, and took much pains to secure him as an ally, but the physician rejectedthe eunuch's flatteries, gifts, and attentions with dignity. 

No sooner did an Angare appear in the court of the palace with despatchesfor the king, than Boges hastened to enquire whether news from the Tapurihad arrived. 

At length the desired messenger appeared, bringing word that the rebelswere subdued, and Bartja on the point of returning. 

Three weeks passed--fresh messengers arrived from day to day announcingthe approach of the victorious prince; the streets glittered once more infestal array, the army entered the gates of Babylon, Bartja thanked therejoicing multitude, and a short time after was in the arms of his blindmother. 

Cambyses received his brother with undisguised warmth, and took him tothe queen's apartments, when he knew that Nitetis would be there. 

For he was sure the Egyptian girl loved him; his previous jealousy seemeda silly fancy now, and he wished to give Bartja an opportunity of seeinghow entirely he trusted his bride. 

Cambyses' love had made him mild and gentle, unwearied in giving and indoing good. His wrath slumbered for a season, and around the spot wherethe heads of those who had suffered capital punishment were exhibited asa warning to their fellow-men, the hungry, screeching crows now wheeled, in vain. 

The influence of the insinuating eunuchs (a race who had never been seenwithin the gates of Cyrus until the incorporation of Media, Lydia andBabylon, in which countries they had filled many of the highest officesat court and in the state), was now waning, and the importance of thenoble Achaemenidae increasing in proportion; for Cambyses applied oftenerto the latter than to the former for advice in matters relating to thewelfare of the country. 

The aged Hystaspes, father of Darius, governor of Persia proper andcousin to the king; Pharnaspes, Cambyses' grandfather on the mother'sside; Otanes, his uncle and father-in-law. Intaphernes, Aspathines, Gobryas, Hydarnes, the general Megabyzus, father of Zopyrus, the envoyPrexaspes, the noble Croesus, and the old warrior Araspes; in short, theflower of the ancient Persian aristocracy, were now at the court ofCambyses. 

To this must be added that the entire nobility of the realm, the satrapsor governors of the provinces, and the chief priests from every town werealso assembled at Babylon to celebrate the king's birthday. 

 [The king's birthday was the principal feast among the Persians, and called "the perfect feast. " Herod. I. 133. Birthdays were held in much honor by the ancients, and more especially those of their kings. Both the great bilingual Egyptian tablets, which we possess (the Rosetta stone, line 10 of hieroglyphic text; Gr. Text, line 46. And the edict of Canopus ed. Lepsius, hieroglyphic text 1. 3. Gr. Text 1. 5. ) mention the celebration of the birthday of one of the Ptolemies; and even of Rameses II. , so early as the 14th century B. C. We read: "There was joy in heaven on his birthday. "]

The entire body of officials and deputies streamed from the provinces upto the royal city, bringing presents to their ruler and good wishes; theycame also to take part in the great sacrifices at which horses, stags, bulls and asses were slaughtered in thousands as offerings to the gods. 

At this festival all the Persians received gifts, every man was allowedto ask a petition of the king, which seldom remained unfulfilled, and inevery city the people were feasted at the royal expense. Cambyses hadcommanded that his marriage with Nitetis should be celebrated eight daysafter the birthday, and all the magnates of the realms should be invitedto the ceremony. 

The streets of Babylon swarmed with strangers, the colossal palaces onboth shores of the Euphrates were overfilled, and all the houses stoodadorned in festal brightness. 

The zeal thus displayed by his people, this vast throng of human beings, --representing and bringing around him, as it were, his entire kingdom, contributed not a little to raise the king's spirits. 

His pride was gratified; and the only longing left in his heart had beenstilled by Nitetis' love. For the first time in his life he believedhimself completely happy, and bestowed his gifts, not only from a senseof his duty as king of Persia, but because the act of giving was initself a pleasure. 

Megabyzus could not extol the deeds of Bartja and his friends too highly. Cambyses embraced the young warriors, gave them horses and gold chains, called them "brothers" and reminded Bartja, that he had promised to granthim a petition if he returned victorious. 

At this Bartja cast down his eyes, not knowing at first in what form tobegin his request, and the king answered laughing: "Look, my friends; ouryoung hero is blushing like a girl! It seems I shall have to grantsomething important; so he had better wait until my birthday, and then, at supper, when the wine has given him courage, he shall whisper in myear what he is now afraid to utter. Ask much, Bartja, I am happy myself, and wish all my friends to be happy too. " Bartja only smiled in answerand went to his mother; for he had not yet opened his heart to her on thematter which lay so near it. 

He was afraid of meeting with decided opposition; but Croesus had clearedthe way far him by telling Kassandane so much in praise of Sappho, hervirtues and her graces, her talents and skill, that Nitetis and Atossamaintained she must have given the old man a magic potion, andKassandane, after a short resistance, yielded to her darling'sentreaties. 

"A Greek woman the lawful wife of a Persian prince of the blood!" criedthe blind woman. "Unheard of! What will Cambyses say? How can we gainhis consent?"

"On that matter you may be at ease, my mother, " answered Bartja, "I am ascertain that my brother will give his consent, as I am that Sappho willprove an ornament and honor to our house. "

"Croesus has already told me much in favor of this maiden, " answeredKassandane, " and it pleases me that thou hast at last resolved to marry;but never-the-less this alliance does not seem suitable for a son ofCyrus. And have you forgotten that the Achaemenidae; will probablyrefuse to recognize the child of a Greek mother as their future king, if Cambyses should remain childless?"

"Mother, I fear nothing; for my heart is not set upon the crown. Andindeed many a king of Persia has had a mother of far lower parentage thanmy Sappho. " I feel persuaded that when my relations see the preciousjewel I have won on the Nile, not one of them will chide me. "

"The gods grant that Sappho may be equal to our Nitetis!" answeredKassandane, "I love her as if she were my own child, and bless the daywhich brought her to Persia. The warm light of her eyes has melted yourbrother's hard heart; her kindness and gentleness bring beauty into thenight of my blind old age, and her sweet earnestness and gravity havechanged your sister Atossa from an unruly child into a gentle maiden. But now call them, (they are playing in the garden), and we will tellthem of the new friend they are to gain through you. "

"Pardon me, my mother, " answered Bartja, "but I must beg you not to tellmy sister until we are sure of the king's consent. "

"You are right, my son. We must conceal your wish, to save Nitetis andAtossa from a possible disappointment. A bright hope unfulfilled isharder to bear than an unexpected sorrow. So let us wait for yourbrother's consent, and may the gods give their blessing!" Early in themorning of the king's birthday the Persians offered their sacrifices onthe shores of the Euphrates. A huge altar of silver had been raised onan artificial hill. On this a mighty fire had been kindled, from whichflames and sweet odors rose towards heaven. White-robed magi fed thefire with pieces of daintily-cut sandal-wood, and stirred it with bundlesof rods. 

A cloth, the Paiti-dhana, was bound round the heads of the priests, theends of which covered the mouth, and thus preserved the pure fire frompollution by human breath. 

 [The Persians were ordered to hold this little square piece of cloth before their mouths when they prayed. It was from 2 to 7 fingers broad. Anquetil gives a drawing of it in his Zend-Avesia. Strabo speaks of the Paiti-dhana p. 733. He says the ends of the cloth used as a covering for the head hung down over the mouth. ]

The victims had been slaughtered in a meadow near the river, the fleshcut into pieces, sprinkled with salt, and laid out on tender grasses, sprouts of clover, myrtle-blossoms, and laurel-leaves, that the beautifuldaughter of Ormuzd, the patient, sacred Earth, might not be touched byaught that was dead or bleeding. 

Oropastes, the chief Destur, --[Priest]--now drew near the fire and castfresh butter into it. The flames leapt up into the air and all thePersians fell on their knees and hid their faces, in the belief that thefire was now ascending to their great god and father. The Magian thentook a mortar, laid some leaves and stalks of the sacred herb Haomaswithin it, crushed them and poured the ruddy juice, the food of the gods, into the flames. 

After this he raised his hands to heaven, and, while the other priestscontinually fed the flames into a wilder blaze by casting in freshbutter, sang a long prayer out of the sacred books. In this prayer theblessing of the gods was called down on everything pure and good, butprincipally on the king and his entire realm. The good spirits of light, life and truth; of all noble deeds; of the Earth, the universal giver; ofthe refreshing waters, the shining metals, the pastures, trees andinnocent creatures, were praised: the evil spirits of darkness; of lying, the deceiver of mankind; of disease, death and sin; of the rigid cold;the desolating heat; of all odious dirt and vermin, were cursed, togetherwith their father the malignant Ahriman. At the end all present joinedin singing the festival prayer: "Purity and glory are sown for them thatare pure and upright in heart. "

The sacrificial ceremony was concluded with the king's prayer, and thenCambyses, arrayed in his richest robes, ascended a splendid chariot drawnby four snow-white Nicoean horses, and studded with topazes, cornelianand amber, and was conveyed to the great reception-hall, where thedeputies and officers from the provinces awaited him. 

As soon as the king and his retinue had departed, the priests selected, for themselves, the best pieces of the flesh which had been offered insacrifice, and allowed the thronging crowd to take the rest. 

The Persian divinities disdained sacrifices in the light of food, requiring only the souls of the slaughtered animals, and many a poor man, especially among the priests, subsisted on the flesh of the abundantroyal sacrifices. 

The prayer offered up by the Magian was a model for those of the Persianpeople. No man was allowed to ask anything of the gods for himselfalone. Every pious soul was rather to implore blessings for his nation;for was not each only a part of the whole? and did not each man share inthe blessings granted to the whole kingdom? But especially they werecommanded to pray for the king, in whom the realm was embodied andshadowed forth. It was this beautiful surrender of self for the publicweal, that had made the Persians great. The doctrines of the Egyptianpriesthood represented the Pharaohs as actual divinities, while thePersian monarchs were only called "sons of the gods;" yet the power ofthe latter was far more absolute and unfettered than that of the former;the reason for this being that the Persians had been wise enough to freethemselves from priestly domination, while the Pharaohs, as we have seen, if not entirely under the dominion of the priestly caste, were yet underits influence in the most important matters. 

The Egyptian intolerance of all strange religions was unknown in Asia. The conquered Babylonians were allowed by Cyrus to retain their own gods, after their incorporation in the great Asiatic kingdom. The Jews, Ionians and inhabitants of Asia Minor, in short, the entire mass ofnations subject to Cambyses remained unmolested in possession of theirhereditary religions and customs. 

Beside the great altar, therefore, might be seen many a smallersacrificial flame, kindled in honor of their own divinities, by theenvoys from the conquered provinces to this great birthday feast. 

Viewed from a distance, the immense city looked like a gigantic furnace. Thick clouds of smoke hovered over its towers, obscuring the light of theburning May sun. 

By the time the king had reached the palace, the multitude who had cometo take part in the festival had formed themselves into a procession ofinterminable length, which wandered on through the straight streets ofBabylon towards the royal palace. 

Their road was strewn with myrtle and palm-branches, roses, poppy andoleander-blossoms, and with leaves of the silver poplar, palm and laurel;the air perfumed with incense, myrrh, and a thousand other sweet odors. Carpets and flags waved and fluttered from the houses. 

Music too was there; the shrill peal of the Median trumpet, and soft toneof the Phrygian flute; the Jewish cymbal and harp, Paphlagoniantambourines and the stringed instruments of Ionia; Syrian kettle-drumsand cymbals, the shells and drums of the Arians from the mouth of theIndus, and the loud notes of the Bactrian battle-trumpets. But above allthese resounded the rejoicing shouts of the Babylonian multitude, subjugated by the Persians only a few short years before, and yet, likeall Asiatics, wearing their fetters with an air of gladness so long asthe fear of their tyrant was before their eyes. 

The fragrant odors, the blaze of color and sparkling of gold and jewels, the neighing of the horses, and shouts and songs of human beings, allunited to produce a whole, at once bewildering and intoxicating to thesenses and the feelings. 

The messengers had not been sent up to Babylon empty-handed. Beautifulhorses, huge elephants and comical monkeys; rhinoceroses and buffaloesadorned with housings and tassels; double-humped Bactrian camels withgold collars on their shaggy necks; waggon-loads of rare woods and ivory, woven goods of exquisite texture, casks of ingots and gold-dust, gold andsilver vessels, rare plants for the royal gardens, and foreign animalsfor the preserves, the most remarkable of which were antelopes, zebras, and rare monkeys and birds, these last being tethered to a tree in fullleaf and fluttering among the branches. Such were the offerings sent tothe great king of Persia. 

They were the tribute of the conquered nations and, after having beenshown to the king, were weighed and tested by treasurers and secretaries, either declared satisfactory, or found wanting and returned, in whichcase the niggardly givers were condemned to bring a double tribute later. 

 [At the time of which we are writing, the kings of Persia taxed their kingdom at whatever time and to whatever extent seemed good in their own eyes. Cambyses' successor, Darius, was the first to introduce a regular system of taxation, in consequence of which he was nicknamed "the shopkeeper. " Up to a much later period it still remained the duty of certain districts to send natural products to the court Herod. I. 192. Xenoph. Anab. IV. 5. ]

The palace-gates were reached without hindrance, the way being kept clearby lines of soldiers and whipbearers stationed on either side of thestreet. 

If the royal progress to the place of sacrifice, when five hundredrichly-caprisoned horses had been led behind the king's chariot, could becalled magnificent, and the march of the envoys a brilliant spectacle, the great throne-room presented a vision of dazzling and magic beauty. 

In the background, raised on six steps, each of which was guarded, as itwere, by two golden clogs, stood the throne of gold; above it, supportedby four golden pillars studded with precious stones, was a purple canopy, on which appeared two winged discs, the king's Feruer. 

 [The Feruer or Ferwer is the spiritual part of every man-his soul and reason. It was in existence before the man was horn, joins him at his birth and departs at his death. The Ferwer keeps up a war with the Diws or evil spirits, and is the element of man's preservation in life. The moment he departs, the body returns to its original elements. After death he becomes immortal if he has done well, but if his deeds have been evil he is cast into hell. It is right to call upon the Ferwer and entreat his help. He will bring the prayer before God and on this account is represented as a winged disc. ]

Fan-bearers, high in office at the court, stood behind the throne, and, on either side, those who sat at the king's table, his relations andfriends, and the most important among the officers of state, the priestlycaste and the eunuchs. 

The walls and ceiling of the entire hall were covered with plates ofburnished gold, and the floor with purple carpets. 

Before the silver gates lay winged bulls, and the king's body-guard-theirdress consisting of a gold cuirass under a purple overcoat, and the highPersian cap, their swords in golden scabbards glittering with jewels, andtheir lances ornamented with gold and silver apples, were stationed inthe court of the palace. Among them the band of the "Immortals" waseasily to be distinguished by their stately forms and dauntless bearing. 

Officers, whose duty consisted in announcing and presenting strangers, and who carried short ivory staves, led the deputies into the hall, andup to the throne, where they cast themselves on the ground as though theywould kiss the earth, concealing their hands in the sleeves of theirrobes. A cloth was bound over the mouth of every man before he wasallowed to answer the king's questions, lest the pure person of the kingshould be polluted by the breath of common men. 

Cambyses' severity or mildness towards the deputations with whose chiefshe spoke, was proportioned to the obedience of their province and themunificence of their tribute-offerings. Near the end of the trainappeared an embassy from the Jews, led by two grave men with sharply-cutfeatures and long beards. Cambyses called on them in a friendly tone tostop. 

The first of these men was dressed in the fashion of the Babylonianaristocracy. The other wore a purple robe woven without seam, trimmedwith bells and tassels, and held in at the waist by a girdle of blue, redand white. A blue garment was thrown over his shoulders and a little bagsuspended around his neck containing the sacred lots, the Urim andThummin, adorned with twelve precious stones set in gold, and bearing thenames of the tribes of Israel. The high-priest's brow was grave andthoughtful. A white cloth was wound round his head, the ends of whichhung down to the shoulders. 

"I rejoice to behold you once more, Belteshazzar, " exclaimed the king tothe former of the two men. "Since the death of my father you have notbeen seen at my gate. "

The man thus addressed bowed humbly and answered: "The favor of the kingrejoices his servant! If it seem good unto thee, to cause the sun of thyfavor to shine on me, thine unworthy servant, so hearken unto my petitionfor my nation, which thy great father caused to return unto the land oftheir fathers' sepulchres. This old man at my side, Joshua, the high-priest of our God, hath not feared the long journey to Babylon, that hemight bring his request before thy face. Let his speech be pleasing inthine ears and his words bring forth fruit in thine heart. "

"I foresee what ye desire of me, " cried the king. "Am I wrong, priest, in supposing that your petition refers to the building of the temple inyour native land?"

"Nothing can be hidden from the eyes of my lord, " answered the priest, bowing low. "Thy servants in Jerusalem desire to behold the face oftheir ruler, and beseech thee by my mouth to visit the land of theirfathers, and to grant them permission to set forward the work of thetemple, concerning which thine illustrious father (the favor of our Godrest upon him), made a decree. "

The king answered with a smile: "You have the craft of your nation, andunderstand how to choose the right time and words for your petition. Onmy birthday it is difficult for me to refuse my faithful people even onerequest. I promise you, therefore, so soon as possible to visitJerusalem and the land of your fathers. "

"By so doing thou wilt make glad the hearts of thy servants, " answeredthe priest; "our vines and olives will bear more fruit at thine approach, our gates will lift up their heads to receive thee, and Israel rejoicewith shouts to meet his lord doubly blessed if as lord of the building--"

"Enough, priest, enough!" cried Cambyses. "Your first petition, I havesaid it, shall not remain unfulfilled; for I have long desired to visitthe wealthy city of Tyre, the golden Sidon, and Jerusalem with itsstrange superstitions; but were I to give permission for the buildingnow, what would remain for me to grant you in the coming year?"

"Thy servants will no more molest thee by their petitions, if thou grantunto them this one, to finish the temple of the Lord their God, " answeredthe priest. 

"Strange beings, these men of Palestine!" exclaimed Cambyses. "I haveheard it said that ye believe in one God alone, who can be represented byno likeness, and is a spirit. Think ye then that this omnipresent Beingrequires a house? Verily, your great spirit can be but a weak andmiserable creature, if he need a covering from the wind and rain, and ashelter from the heat which he himself has created. If your God be likeours, omnipresent, fall down before him and worship as we do, in everyplace, and feel certain that everywhere ye will be heard of him!"

"The God of Israel hears his people in every place, " exclaimed the high-priest. "He heard us when we pined in captivity under the Pharaohs farfrom our land; he heard us weeping by the rivers of Babylon. He chosethy father to be the instrument of our deliverance, and will hear myprayer this day and soften thine heart like wise. O mighty king, grantunto thy servants a common place of sacrifice, whither our twelve tribesmay repair, an altar on the steps of which they can pray together, a house in which to keep their holy feasts! For this permission we willcall down the blessing of God upon thine head and his curse upon thineenemies. "

"Grant unto my brethren the permission to build their temple!" addedBelteshazzar, who was the richest and most honorable and respected of theJews yet remaining in Babylon; a man whom Cyrus had treated with muchconsideration, and of whom he had even taken counsel from time to time. 

"Will ye then be peaceable, if I grant your petition?" asked the king. "My father allowed you to begin the work and granted the means for itscompletion. Of one mind, happy and content, ye returned to your nativeland, but while pursuing your work strife and contention entered amongyou. Cyrus was assailed by repeated letters, signed by the chief men ofSyria, entreating him to forbid the work, and I also have been latelybesought to do the same. Worship your God when and where ye will, butjust because I desire your welfare, I cannot consent to the prosecutionof a work which kindles discord among you. "

"And is it then thy pleasure on this day to take back a favor, which thyfather made sure unto us by a written decree?" asked Belteshazzar. 

"A written decree?"

"Which will surely be found even to this day laid up in the archives ofthy kingdom. "

"Find this decree and show it me, and I will not only allow the buildingto be continued, but will promote the same, " answered the king; "for myfather's will is as sacred to me as the commands of the gods. "

"Wilt thou allow search to be made in the house of the rolls atEcbatana?" asked Belteshazzar. "The decree will surely be found there. "

"I consent, but I fear ye will find none. Tell thy nation, priest, thatI am content with the equipment of the men of war they have sent to takethe field against the Massagetae. My general Megabyzus commends theirlooks and bearing. May thy people prove as valiant now as in the wars ofmy father! You, Belteshazzar, I bid to my marriage feast, and charge youto tell your fellows, Meshach and Abednego, next unto you the highest inthe city of Babylon, that I expect them this evening at my table. "

"The God of my people Israel grant thee blessing and happiness, " answeredBelteshazzar bowing low before the king. 

"A wish which I accept!" answered the king, "for I do not despise thepower of your wonder-working great Spirit. But one word more, Belteshazzar. Many Jews have lately been punished for reviling the godsof the Babylonians. Warn your people! They bring down hatred onthemselves by their stiff-necked superstition, and the pride with whichthey declare their own great spirit to be the only true God. Takeexample by us; we are content with our own faith and leave others toenjoy theirs in peace. Cease to look upon yourselves as better than therest of the world. I wish you well, for a pride founded on self-respectis pleasing in mine eyes; but take heed lest pride degenerate intovainglory. Farewell! rest assured of my favor. "

The Jews then departed. They were disappointed, but not hopeless; forBelteshazzar knew well that the decree, relative to the building of thetemple, must be in the archives at Ecbatana. 

They were followed by a deputation from Syria, and by the Greeks ofIonia; and then, winding up the long train, appeared a band of wild-looking men, dressed in the skins of animals, whose features bespoke themforeigners in Babylon. They wore girdles and shoulderbands of solid, unwrought gold; and of the same precious metal were their bow-cases, axes, lance-points, and the ornaments on their high fur caps. They werepreceded by a man in Persian dress, whose features proved him, however, to be of the same race as his followers. 

The king gazed at first on these envoys with wonder; then his browdarkened, and beckoning the officer whose duty it was to presentstrangers, he exclaimed "What can these men have to crave of me? If Imistake not they belong to the Massagetae, to that people who are so soonto tremble before my vengeance. Tell them, Gobryas, that an armed hostis standing on the Median plains ready to answer their demands with thesword. "

Gobryas answered, bowing low: "These men arrived this morning during thesacrifice bringing huge burdens of the purest gold to purchase yourforbearance. When they heard that a great festival was being celebratedin your honor, they urgently besought to be admitted into your presence, that they might declare the message entrusted to them by their country. "

The king's brow cleared and, after sharply scrutinizing the tall, beardedMassageta:, he said: "Let them come nearer. I am curious to know whatproposals my father's murderers are about to make me. "

Gobryas made a sign, and the tallest and eldest of the Massagetae came upclose to the throne and began to speak loudly in his native tongue. Hewas accompanied by the man in a Persian dress, who, as one of Cyrus'prisoners of war, had learnt the Persian language, and now interpretedone by one the sentences uttered by the spokesman of this wanderingtribe. 

"We know, " began the latter, "that thou, great king, art wroth with theMassagetae because thy father fell in war with our tribe--a war which healone had provoked with a people who had done naught to offend him. "

"My father was justified in punishing your nation, " interrupted the king. "Your Queen Tomyris had dared to refuse him her hand in marriage. "

"Be not wroth, O King, " answered the Massagetan, "when I tell thee thatour entire nation approved of that act. Even a child could see that thegreat Cyrus only desired to add our queen to the number of his wives, hoping, in his insatiable thirst for more territories, to gain our landwith her. "

Cambyses was silent and the envoy went on. "Cyrus caused a bridge to bemade over our boundary river, the Araxes. We were not dismayed at this, and Tomyris sent word that he might save himself this trouble, for thatthe Massagetae were willing either to await him quietly in their ownland, leaving the passage of the river free, or to meet him in his. Cyrus decided, by the advice of the dethroned king of Lydia, (as welearnt afterwards, through some prisoners of war) on meeting us in ourown land and defeating us by a stratagem. With this intention he sentat first only a small body of troops, which could be easily dispersed anddestroyed by our arrows and lances, and allowed us to seize his campwithout striking a blow. Believing we had defeated this insatiableconqueror, we feasted on his abundant stores, and, poisoned by the sweetunknown drink which you call wine, fell into a stupefied slumber, duringwhich his soldiers fell upon us, murdered the greater number of ourwarriors and took many captives. Among the latter was the brave, youngSpargapises, our queen's son. 

"Hearing in his captivity, that his mother was willing to conclude peacewith your nation as the price of his liberty, he asked to have his chainstaken off. The request was granted, and on obtaining the use of hishands he seized a sword and stabbed himself, exclaiming: 'I sacrifice mylife for the freedom of my nation. '"

"No sooner did we hear the news that the young prince we loved so wellhad died thus, than we assembled all the forces yet left to us from yourswords and fetters. Even old men and boys flew to arms to revenge ournoble Spargapises, and sacrifice themselves, after his example, forMassagetaen freedom. Our armies met; ye were worsted and Cyrus fell. When Tomyris found his body lying in a pool of human blood, she cried:'Methinks, insatiable conqueror, thou art at last sated with blood!'The troop, composed of the flower of your nobility, which you call theImmortals, drove us back and carried your father's dead body forth fromour closest ranks. You led them on, fighting like a lion. I know youwell, and that wound across your manly face, which adorns it like apurple badge of honor, was made by the sword now hanging at my side. "

A movement passed through the listening crowd; they trembled for the boldspeaker's life. Cambyses, however, looked pleased, nodded approvingly tothe man and answered: "Yes, I recognize you too now; you rode a red horsewith golden trappings. You shall see that the Persians know how to honorcourage. Bow down before this man, my friends, for never did I see asharper sword nor a more unwearied arm than his; and such heroic couragedeserves honor from the brave, whether shown by friend or foe. As foryou, Massagetae, I would advise you to go home quickly and prepare forwar; the mere recollection of your strength and courage increases mylonging to test it once more. A brave foe, by Mithras, is far betterthan a feeble friend. You shall be allowed to return home in peace; butbeware of remaining too long within my reach, lest the thought of thevengeance I owe my father's soul should rouse my anger, and your end drawsuddenly nigh. "

A bitter smile played round the bearded mouth of the warrior as he madeanswer to this speech. "The Massagetae deem your father's soul too wellavenged already. The only son of our queen, his people's pride, and inno way inferior to Cyrus, has bled for him. The shores of the Araxeshave been fertilized by the bodies of fifty thousand of my countrymen, slain as offerings for your dead king, while only thirty thousand fellthere on your own side. We fought as bravely as you, but your armor isbetter able to resist the arrows which pierce our clothing of skins. Andlastly, as the most cruel blow of all, ye slew our queen. "

"Tomyris is dead?" exclaimed Cambyses interrupting him. "You mean totell me that the Persians have killed a woman? Answer at once, what hashappened to your queen?"

"Tomyris died ten months ago of grief for the loss of her only son, and Ihave therefore a right to say that she too fell a sacrifice to the warwith Persia and to your father's spirit. "

"She was a great woman, " murmured Cambyses, his voice unsteady fromemotion. "Verily, I begin to think that the gods themselves haveundertaken to revenge my father's blood on your nation. Yet I tell youthat, heavy as your losses may seem, Spargapises, Tomyris and fiftythousand Massagetae can never outweigh the spirit of one king of Persia, least of all of a Cyrus. "

"In our country, " answered the envoy, "death makes all men equal. Thespirits of the king and the slave are of equal worth. Your father was agreat man, but we have undergone awful sufferings for his sake. My taleis not yet ended. After the death of Tomyris discord broke out among theMassagetae. Two claimants for the crown appeared; half our nation foughtfor the one, half for the other, and our hosts were thinned, first bythis fearful civil war and then by the pestilence which followed in itstrack. We can no longer resist your power, and therefore come with heavyloads of pure gold as the price of peace. "

"Ye submit then without striking a blow?" asked Cambyses. "Verily, Ihad expected something else from such heroes; the numbers of my host, which waits assembled on the plains of Media, will prove that. We cannotgo to battle without an enemy. I will dismiss my troops and send asatrap. Be welcome as new subjects of my realm. "

The red blood mounted into the cheeks of the Massagetan warrior onhearing these words, and he answered in a voice trembling withexcitement: "You err, O King, if you imagine that we have lost our oldcourage, or learnt to long for slavery. But we know your strength; weknow that the small remnant of our nation, which war and pestilence havespared, cannot resist your vast and well-armed hosts. This we admit, freely and honestly as is the manner of the Massagetae, declaring howeverat the same time, that we are determined to govern ourselves as of yore, and will never receive laws or ordinances from a Persian satrap. You arewroth, but I can bear your angry gaze and yet repeat my declaration. "

"And my answer, " cried Cambyses, "is this: Ye have but one choice: eitherto submit to my sceptre, become united to the kingdom of Persia under thename of the Massagetan province, and receive a satrap as myrepresentative with due reverence, or to look upon yourselves as myenemies, in which case you will be forced by arms to conform to thoseconditions which I now offer you in good part. To-day you could securea ruler well-affected to your cause, later you will find in me only aconqueror and avenger. Consider well before you answer. "

"We have already weighed and considered all, " answered the warrior, "and, as free sons of the desert, prefer death to bondage. Hear what thecouncil of our old men has sent me to declare to you:--The Massageta;have become too weak to oppose the Persians, not through their own fault, but through the heavy visitation of our god, the sun. We know that youhave armed a vast host against us, and we are ready to buy peace andliberty by a yearly tribute. But if you persist in compelling us tosubmit by force of arms, you can only bring great damage on yourselves. The moment your army nears the Araxes, we shall depart with our wives andchildren and seek another home, for we have no fixed dwellings likeyours, but are accustomed to rove at will on our swift horses, and torest in tents. Our gold we shall take with us, and shall fill up, destroy, and conceal the pits in which you could find new treasures. Weknow every spot where gold is to be found, and can give it in abundance, if you grant us peace and leave us our liberty; but, if you venture toinvade our territory, you win nothing but an empty desert and an enemyalways beyond your reach, --an enemy who may become formidable, when hehas had time to recover from the heavy losses which have thinned hisranks. Leave us in peace and freedom and we are ready to give every yearfive thousand swift horses of the desert, besides the yearly tribute ofgold; we will also come to the help of the Persian nation when threatenedby any serious danger. "

The envoy ceased speaking. Cambyses did not answer at once; his eyeswere fixed on the ground in deep thought. At last he said, rising at thesame time from his throne: "We will take counsel on this matter over thewine to-night, and to-morrow you shall hear what answer you can bring toyour people. Gobryas, see that these men are well cared for, and sendthe Massagetan, who wounded me in battle, a portion of the best dishesfrom my own table. "

CHAPTER XV. 

During these events Nitetis had been sitting alone in her house on thehanging-gardens, absorbed in the saddest thoughts. To-day, for the firsttime, she had taken part in the general sacrifice made by the king'swives, and had tried to pray to her new gods in the open air, before thefire-altars and amidst the sound of religious songs strange to her ears. 

Most of the inhabitants of the harem saw her to-day for the first time, and instead of raising their eyes to heaven, had fixed them on her duringthe ceremony. The inquisitive, malevolent gaze of her rivals, and theloud music resounding from the city, disquieted and distracted her mind. Her thoughts reverted painfully to the solemn, sultry stillness of thegigantic temples in her native land where she had worshipped the gods ofher childhood so earnestly at the side of her mother and sister; and muchas she longed, just on this day, to pray for blessings on her belovedking, all her efforts were in vain; she could arouse no devotionalfeeling. Kassandane and Atossa knelt at her side, joining heartily inthe very hymns which to Nitetis were an empty sound. 

It cannot be denied, that many parts of these hymns contain true poetry;but they become wearisome through the constant repetition and invocationof the names of good and bad spirits. The Persian women had been taughtfrom childhood, to look upon these religious songs as higher and holierthan any other poetry. Their earliest prayers had been accompanied bysuch hymns, and, like everything else which has come down to us from ourfathers, and which we have been told in the impressionable time ofchildhood is divine and worthy of our reverence, they were still sacredand dear to them and stirred their most devotional feelings. 

But for Nitetis, who had been spoilt for such things by an intimateacquaintance with the best Greek poets, they could have but little charm. What she had lately been learning in Persia with difficulty had not yetbecome a part of herself, and so, while Kassandane and Atossa wentthrough all the outward rites as things of course and perfectly naturalto them, Nitetis could only prevent herself from forgetting theprescribed ceremonials by a great mental effort, and dreaded lest sheshould expose her ignorance to the jealous, watchful gaze of her rivals. 

And then, too, only a few minutes before the sacrifice, she had receivedher first letter from Egypt. It lay unread on her dressing-table, andcame into her mind whenever she attempted to pray. She could not helpwondering what news it might bring her. How were her parents? and howhad Tachot borne the parting from herself, and from the prince she lovedso well?

The ceremony over, Nitetis embraced Kassandane and Atossa, and drew along, deep breath, as if delivered from some threatening danger. Thenordering her litter, she was carried back to her dwelling, and hastenedeagerly to the table where her letter lay. Her principal attendant, theyoung girl who on the journey had dressed her in her first Persian robes, received her with a smile full of meaning and promise, which changedhowever, into a look of astonishment, on seeing her mistress seize theletter, without even glancing at the articles of dress and jewelery whichlay on the table. 

Nitetis broke the seal quickly and was sitting down, in order to beginthe difficult work of reading her letter, when the girl came up, and withclasped hands, exclaimed: "By Mithras, my mistress, I cannot understandyou. Either you are ill, or that ugly bit of grey stuff must containsome magic which makes you blind to everything else. Put that roll awayand look at the splendid presents that the great king (Auramazda granthim victory!) has sent while you were at the sacrifice. Look at thiswonderful purple robe with the white stripe and the rich silverembroidery; and then the tiara with the royal diamonds! Do not you knowthe high meaning of these gifts? Cambyses begs, (the messenger said'begs, ' not 'commands') you to wear these splendid ornaments at thebanquet to-day. How angry Phaedime will be! and how the others willlook, for they have never received such presents. Till now onlyKassandane has had a right to wear the purple and diamonds; so by sendingyou these gifts, Cambyses places you on a level with his mother, andchooses you to be his favorite wife before the whole world. ' O prayallow me to dress you in these new and beautiful things. How lovely youwill look! How angry and envious the others will feel! If I could onlybe there when you enter the hall! Come, my mistress, let me take offyour simple dress, and array you, (only as a trial you know, ) in therobes that as the new queen you ought to wear. "

Nitetis listened in silence to the chattering girl, and admired the giftswith a quiet smile. She was woman enough to rejoice at the sight, forhe, whom she loved better than life itself, had sent them; and they werea proof that she was more to the king than all his other wives;--thatCambyses really loved her. The long wished-for letter fell unread to theground, the girl's wish to dress her was granted without a word, and in ashort time the splendid toilette was completed. The royal purple addedto her beauty, the high flashing tiara made her slender, perfect figureseem taller than it really was, and when, in the metal mirror which layon her dressing table, she beheld herself for the first time in theglorious likeness of a queen, a new expression dawned on her features. It seemed as if a portion of her lord's pride were reflected there. Thefrivolous waiting-woman sank involuntarily on her knees, as her eyes, full of smiling admiration, met the radiant glance of Nitetis, --of thewoman who was beloved by the most powerful of men. 

For a few moments Nitetis gazed on the girl, lying in the dust at herfeet; but soon shook her beautiful head, and blushing for shame, raisedher kindly, kissed her forehead, gave her a gold bracelet, and then, perceiving her letter on the ground, told her she wished to be alone. Mandane ran, rather than walked, out of the room in her eagerness to showthe splendid present she had just received to the inferior attendants andslaves; and Nitetis, her eyes glistening and her heart beating withexcess of happiness, threw herself on to the ivory chair which stoodbefore her dressing-table, uttered a short prayer of thanksgiving to herfavorite Egyptian goddess, the beautiful Hathor, kissed the gold chainwhich Cambyses had given her after plunging into the water for her ball, then her letter from home, and rendered almost over-confident by hergreat happiness, began to unroll it, slowly sinking back into the purplecushions as she did so and murmuring: "How very, very happy I am! Poorletter, I am sure your writer never thought Nitetis would leave you aquarter of an hour on the ground unread. "

In this happy mood she began to read, but her face soon grew serious andwhen she had finished, the letter fell once more to the ground. 

Her eyes, whose proud glance had brought the waiting-maid to her feet, were dimmed by tears; her head, carried so proudly but a few minutesbefore, now lay on the jewels which covered the table. Tears rolled downamong the pearls and diamonds, as strange a contrast as the proud tiaraand its unhappy, fainting wearer. 

The letter read as follows:

"Ladice the wife of Amasis and Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt, to herdaughter Nitetis, consort of the great King of Persia. 

"It has not been our fault, my beloved daughter, that you have remainedso long without news from home. The trireme by which we sent our lettersfor you to AEgae was detained by Samian ships of war, or rather piratevessels, and towed into the harbor of Astypalaea. 

"Polykrates' presumption increases with the continual success of hisundertakings, and since his victory over the Lesbians and Milesians, whoendeavored to put a stop to his depredations, not a ship is safe from theattacks of his pirate vessels. 

"Pisistratus is dead, " but his sons are friendly to Polykrates. Lygdamisis under obligations to him, and cannot hold his own in Naxos withoutSamian help. He has won over the Amphiktyonic council to his side bypresenting the Apollo of Delos with the neighboring island of Rhenea. His fifty-oared vessels, requiring to be manned by twenty-thousand men, do immense damage to all the seafaring nations; yet not one dares toattack him, as the fortifications of his citadel and his splendid harborare almost impregnable, and he himself always surrounded by a well-drilled body-guard. 

"Through the traders, who followed the fortunate Kolxus to the far west, and these pirate ships, Samos will become the richest of islands andPolykrates the most powerful of men, unless, as your father says, thegods become envious of such unchanging good fortune and prepare him asudden and speedy downfall. 

"In this fear Amasis advised Polykrates as his old friend, to put awayfrom him the thing he held dearest, and in such a manner that he might besure of never receiving it again. Polykrates adopted this advice andthrew into the sea, from the top of the round tower on his citadel, hismost valuable signet-ring, an unusually large sardonyx held by twodolphins. This ring was the work of Theodorus, and a lyre, the symbol ofthe ruler, was exquisitely engraved on the stone. "

"Six days later, however, the ring was found by Polykrates' cooks in thebody of a fish. He sent us news at once of this strange occurrence, butinstead of rejoicing your father shook his grey head sadly, saying: 'hesaw now it was impossible for any one to avoid his destiny!' On the sameday he renounced the friendship of Polykrates and wrote him word, that heshould endeavor to forget him in order to avoid the grief of seeing hisfriend in misfortune. 

"Polykrates laughed at this message and returned the letters his pirateshad taken from our trireme, with a derisive greeting. For the future allyour letters will be sent by Syria. 

"You will ask me perhaps, why I have told you this long story, which hasso much less interest for you than any other home news. I answer: toprepare you for your father's state. Would you have recognized thecheerful, happy, careless Amasis in that gloomy answer to his Samianfriend?

"Alas, my husband has good reason to be sad, and since you left us, myown eyes have seldom been free from tears. My time is passed either atthe sick-bed of your sister or in comforting your father and guiding hissteps; and though much in need of sleep I am now taking advantage ofnight to write these lines. 

"Here I was interrupted by the nurses, calling me to your sister Tachot, your own true friend. 

"How often the dear child has called you in her feverish delirium; andhow carefully she treasures your likeness in wax, that wonderful portraitwhich bears evidence not only of the height to which Greek art has risen, but of the master hand of the great Theodorus. To-morrow it will be sentto AEgina, to be copied in gold, as the soft wax becomes injured fromfrequent contact with your sister's burning hands and lips. 

"And now, my daughter, you must summon all your courage to hear what Ineed all my strength of mind to tell-the sad story of the fate which thegods have decreed for our house. 

"For three days after you left us Tachot wept incessantly. Neither ourcomforting words nor your father's good advice--neither offerings norprayers--could avail to lessen her grief or divert her mind. At last onthe fourth day she ceased to weep and would answer our questions in a lowvoice, as if resigned; but spent the greater part of every day sittingsilently at her wheel. Her fingers, however, which used to be soskilful, either broke the threads they tried to spin, or lay for hoursidle in her lap, while she was lost in dreams. Your father's jokes, atwhich she used to laugh so heartily, made no impression on her, and whenI endeavored to reason with her she listened in anxious suspense. 

"If I kissed her forehead and begged her to control herself, she wouldspring up, blushing deeply, and throw herself into my arms, then sit downagain to her wheel and begin to pull at the threads with almost franticeagerness; but in half an hour her hands would be lying idle in her lapagain and her eyes dreamily fixed, either on the ground, or on some spotin the air. If we forced her to take part in any entertainment, shewould wander among the guests totally uninterested in everything that waspassing. 

"We took her with us on the great pilgrimage to Bubastis, during whichthe Egyptians forget their usual gravity, and the shores of the Nile looklike a great stage where the wild games of the satyrs are being performedby choruses, hurried on in the unrestrained wantonness of intoxication. When she saw thus for the first time an entire people given up to thewildest and most unfettered mirth and enjoyment, she woke up from hersilent brooding thoughts and began to weep again, as in the first daysafter you went away. 

"Sad and perplexed, we brought our poor child back to Sais. 

"Her looks were not those of a common mortal. She grew thinner, and weall fancied, taller; her complexion was white, and almost transparent, with a tender bloom on her cheek, which I can only liken to a young rose-leaf or the first faint blush of sunrise. Her eyes are still wonderfullyclear and bright. It always seems to me as if they looked beyond theheaven and earth which we see. 

"As she continued to suffer more and more from heat in the head andhands, while her tender limbs often shivered with a slight chill, we sentto Thebes for Thutmes, the most celebrated physician for inwardcomplaints. 

"The experienced priest shook his head on seeing your sister and foretolda serious illness. He forbade her to spin or to speak much. Potions ofall kinds were given her to drink, her illness was discussed andexorcised, the stars and oracles consulted, rich presents and sacrificesmade to the gods. The priest of Hathor from the island of Philae sent usa consecrated amulet, the priest of Osiris in Abydos a lock of hair fromthe god himself set in gold, and Neithotep, the high-priest of our ownguardian goddess, set on foot a great sacrifice, which was to restoreyour sister to health. 

"But neither physicians nor charms were of any avail, and at lastNeithotep confessed that Tachot's stars gave but little ground for hope. Just then, too, the sacred bull at Memphis died and the priests coulddiscover no heart in his entrails, which they interpreted asprognosticating evil to our country. They have not yet succeeded infinding a new Apis, and believe that the gods are wroth with yourfather's kingdom. Indeed the oracle of Buto has declared that theImmortals will show no favor to Egypt, until all the temples that havebeen built in the black land for the worship of false gods are destroyedand their worshippers banished. 

 [Egypt was called by its ancient inhabitants Cham, the black, or black-earthed. ]

"These evil omens have proved, alas, only too true. Tachot fell ill of adreadful fever and lay for nine days hovering between life and death; sheis still so weak that she must be carried, and can move neither hand norfoot. 

"During the journey to Bubastis, Amasis' eyes, as so often happens here, became inflamed. Instead of sparing them, he continued to work as usualfrom sunrise until mid-day, and while your sister was so ill he neverleft her bed, notwithstanding all our entreaties. But I will not enterinto particulars, my child. His eyes grew worse, and on the very daywhich brought us the news of your safe arrival in Babylon, Amasis becametotally blind. 

"The cheerful, active man has become old, gloomy and decrepit since thatday. The death of Apis, and the unfavorable constellations and oraclesweigh on his mind; his happy temper is clouded by the unbroken night inwhich he lives; and the consciousness that he cannot stir a step alonecauses indecision and uncertainty. The daring and independent ruler willsoon become a mere tool, by means of which the priests can work theirwill. 

"He spends hours in the temple of Neith, praying and offering sacrifices;a number of workmen are employed there in building a tomb for his mummy, and the same number at Memphis in levelling the temple which the Greekshave begun building to Apollo. He speaks of his own and Tachot'smisfortunes as a just punishment from the Immortals. 

"His visits to Tachot's sick-bed are not the least comfort to her, forinstead of encouraging her kindly, he endeavors to convince her that shetoo deserves punishinent from the gods. He spends all his remarkableeloquence in trying to persuade her, that she must forget this worldentirely and only try to gain the favor of Osiris and the judges of thenether world by ceaseless prayers and sacrifices. In this manner he onlytortures our poor sick child, for she has not lost her love of life. Perhaps I have still too much of the Greek left in me for a queen ofEgypt; but really, death is so long and life so short, that I cannot helpcalling even wise men foolish, when they devote the half of even thisshort term to a perpetual meditation on the gloomy Hades. 

"I have just been interrupted again. Our great physician, Thutmes, cameto enquire after his patient. He gives very little hope, and seemssurprised that her delicate frame has been able to resist death so long. He said yesterday: 'She would have sunk long ago if not kept up by herdetermined will, and a longing which gives her no rest. If she ceased tocare for life, she could allow death to take her, just as we dreamourselves asleep. If, on the other hand, her wish could be gratified, she might, (though this is hardly probable) live some years yet, but ifit remain but a short time longer unfulfilled, it will certainly wear herto death. 

"Have you any idea for whom she longs so eagerly? Our Tachot has allowedherself to be fascinated by the beautiful Bartja, the brother of yourfuture husband. I do not mean to say by this that he has employed magic, as the priest Ameneman believes, to gain her love; for a youth might befar less handsome and agreeable than Bartja, and yet take the heart of aninnocent girl, still half a child. But her passionate feeling is sostrong, and the change in her whole being so great, that sometimes I tooam tempted to believe in the use of supernatural influence. A short timebefore you left I noticed that Tachot was fond of Bartja. Her distressat first we thought could only be for you, but when she sank into thatdreamy state, Ibykus, who was still at our court, said she must have beenseized by some strong passion. 

"Once when she was sitting dreaming at her wheel, I heard him singingsoftly Sappho's little love-song to her:

 "I cannot, my sweet mother, Throw shuttle any more; My heart is full of longing, My spirit troubled sore, All for a love of yesterday A boy not seen before. "

 [Sappho ed. Neue XXXII. Translation from Edwin Arnold's Poets of Greece. ]

"She turned pale and asked him: 'Is that your own song?'

"'No, ' said he, 'Sappho wrote it fifty years ago. '

"'Fifty years ago, ' echoed Tachot musingly. 

"'Love is always the same, ' interrupted the poet; 'women loved centuriesago, and will love thousands of years to come, just as Sappho loved fiftyyears back. '

"The sick girl smiled in assent, and from that time I often heard herhumming the little song as she sat at her wheel. But we carefullyavoided every question, that could remind her of him she loved. In thedelirium of fever, however, Bartja's name was always on her burning lips. When she recovered consciousness we told her what she had said in herdelirium; then she opened her heart to me, and raising her eyes to heavenlike a prophetess, exclaimed solemnly: 'I know, that I shall not die tillI have seen him again. '

"A short time ago we had her carried into the temple, as she longed toworship there again. When the service was over and we were crossing thetemple-court, we passed some children at play, and Tachot noticed alittle girl telling something very eagerly to her companions. She toldthe bearers to put down the litter and call the child to her. 

"'What were you saying?' she asked the little one. 

"I was telling the others something about my eldest sister. '

"'May I hear it too?' said Tachot so kindly, that the little girl beganat once without fear: "Batau, who is betrothed to my sister, came backfrom Thebes quite unexpectedly yesterday evening. Just as the Isis-starwas rising, he came suddenly on to our roof where Kerimama was playing atdraughts with my father; and he brought her such a beutiful goldengbridal wreath. '

 [Among the Egyptians the planet Venus bore the name of the goddess Isis. Pliny II. 6. Arist De mundo II. 7. Early monuments prove that they were acquainted with the identity of the morning and evening star. Lepsius, Chronologie p. 94. ]

"Tachot kissed the child and gave her her own costly fan. When we wereat home again she smiled archly at me and said: 'You know, mother dear, that the words children say in the temple-courts are believed to beoracles. ' So, if the little one spoke the truth, he must come; and didnot you hear that he is to bring the bridal-wreath? O mother, I am sure, quite sure, that I shall see him again. '

"I asked her yesterday if she had any message for you, and she begged meto say that she sent you thousands of kisses, and messages of love, andthat when she was stronger she meant to write, as she had a great deal totell you. She has just brought me the little note which I enclose; it isfor you alone, and has cost her much fatigue to write. 

"But now I must finish my letter, as the messenger has been waiting forit some time. 

"I wish I could give you some joyful news, but sadness and sorrow meet mewhichever way I turn. Your brother yields more and more to the priests'tyranny, and manages the affairs of state for your poor blind fatherunder Neithotep's guidance. 

"Amasis does not interfere, and says it matters little whether his placebe filled a few days sooner or later by his successor. 

"He did not attempt to prevent Psamtik from seizing the children ofPhanes in Rhodopis' house, and actually allowed his son to enter into anegotiation with the descendants of those two hundred thousand soldiers, who emigrated to Ethiopia in the reign of Psamtik I. On account of thepreference shown to the Greek mercenaries. In case they declaredthemselves willing to return to their native land, the Greek mercenarieswere to have been dismissed. The negotiation failed entirely, butPsamtik's treatment of the children of Phanes has given bitter offence tothe Greeks. Aristomachus threatened to leave Egypt, taking with him tenthousand of his best troops, and on hearing that Phanes' son had beenmurdered at Psamtik's command applied for his discharge. From that timethe Spartan disappeared, no one knows whither; but the Greek troopsallowed themselves to be bribed by immense sums and are still in Egypt. 

"Amasis said nothing to all this, and looked on silently from the midstof his prayers and sacrifices, while your brother was either offendingevery class of his subjects or attempting to pacify them by means beneaththe dignity of a ruler. The commanders of the Egyptian and Greek troops, and the governors of different provinces have all alike assured me thatthe present state of things is intolerable. No one knows what to expectfrom this new ruler; he commands today the very thing, which he angrilyforbade the day before. Such a government must soon snap the beautifulbond, which has hitherto united the Fgyptian people to their king. 

"Farewell, my child, think of your poor friend, your mother; and forgiveyour parents when you hear what they have so long kept secret from you. Pray for Tachot, and remember us to Croesus and the young Persians whomwe know. Give a special message too from Tachot to Bartja; I beg him tothink of it as the last legacy of one very near death. If you could onlysend her some proof, that he has not forgotten her! Farewell, once morefarewell and be happy in your new and blooming home. "

CHAPTER XVI. 

Sad realities follow bright anticipations nearly as surely as a rainy daysucceeds a golden sunrise. Nitetis had been so happy in the thought ofreading the very letter, which poured such bitter drops of wormwood intoher cup of happiness. 

One beautiful element in her life, the remembrance of her dear home andthe companions of her happy childhood, had been destroyed in one moment, as if by the touch of a magician's wand. 

She sat there in her royal purple, weeping, forgetful of everything buther mother's grief, her father's misfortunes and her sister's illness. The joyful future, full of love, joy, and happiness, which had beenbeckoning her forward only a few minutes before, had vanished. Cambyses'chosen bride forgot her waiting, longing lover, and the future queen ofPersia could think of nothing but the sorrows of Egypt's royal house. 

It was long past mid-day, when the attendant Mandane came to put a lasttouch to Nitetis' dress and ornaments. 

"She is asleep, " thought the girl. "I can let her rest another quarterof an hour; the sacrifice this morning has tired her, and we must haveher fresh and beautiful for the evening banquet; then she will outshinethe others as the moon does the stars. "

Unnoticed by her mistress she slipped out of the room, the windows ofwhich commanded a splendid view over the hanging-gardens, the immensecity beneath, the river, and the rich and fruitful Babylonian plain, andwent into the garden. 

Without looking round she ran to a flower-bed, to pluck some roses. Hereyes were fixed on her new bracelet, the stones of which sparkled in thesun, and she did not notice a richly-dressed man peering in at one of thewindows of the room where Nitetis lay weeping. On being disturbed in hiswatching and listening, he turned at once to the girl and greeted her ina high treble voice. 

She started, and on recognizing the eunuch Boges, answered: "It is notpolite, sir, to frighten a poor girl in this way. By Mithras, if I hadseen you before I heard you, I think I should have fainted. A woman'svoice does not take me by surprise, but to see a man here is as rare asto find a swan in the desert. "

Boges laughed good-humoredly, though he well understood her saucyallusion to his high voice, and answered, rubbing his fat hands: "Yes, it is very hard for a young and pretty bird like you, to have to live insuch a lonely corner, but be patient, sweetheart. Your mistress willsoon be queen, and then she will look out a handsome young husband foryou. Ah, ha! you will find it pleasanter to live here alone with him, than with your beautiful Egyptian. "

"My mistress is too beautiful for some people's fancy, and I have neverasked any one to look out a husband for me, " she answered pertly. "I canfind one without your help either. "

"Who could doubt it? Such a pretty face is as good a bait for a man, asa worm for a fish. "

"But I am not trying to catch a husband, and least of all one like you. "

"That I can easily believe, " he answered laughing. But tell me, mytreasure, why are you so hard on me? Have I done anything to vex you?Wasn't it through me, that you obtained this good appointment, and arenot we both Medes?"

"You might just as well say that we are both human beings, and have fivefingers on each hand and a nose in the middle of our faces. Half thepeople here are Medes, and if I had as many friends as I have countrymen, I might be queen to-morrow. And as to my situation here, it was not you, but the high-priest Oropastes who recommended me to the great queenKassandane. Your will is not law here, "

"What are you talking about, my sweet one? don't you know, that not asingle waiting-woman can be engaged without my consent?"

"Oh, yes, I know that as well as you do, but . . . "

"But you women are an unthankful race, and don't deserve our kindness. "

"Please not to forget, that you are speaking to a girl of good family. "

"I know that very well, my little one. I know that your father was aMagian and your mother a Magian's daughter; that they both died early andyou were placed under the care of the Destur Ixabates, the father ofOropastes, and grew up with his children. I know too that when you hadreceived the ear-rings, Oropastes' brother Gaumata, (you need not blush, Gaumata is a pretty name) fell in love with your rosy face, and wanted tomarry you, though he was only nineteen. Gaumata and Mandane, how wellthe two names sound together! Mandane and Gaumata! If I were a poet Ishould call my hero Gaumata and his lady-love Mandane. "

"I insist on your ceasing to jest in this way, " cried Mandane, blushingdeeply and stamping her foot. 

"What, are you angry because I say the names sound well together? Youought rather to be angry with the proud Oropastes, who sent his youngerbrother to Rhagar and you to the court, that you might forget oneanother. "

"That is a slander on my benefactor. "

"Let my tongue wither away, if I am not speaking the truth and nothingbut the truth! Oropastes separated you and his brother because he hadhigher intentions for the handsome Gaumata, than a marriage with theorphan daughter of an inferior Magian. He would have been satisfied withAmytis or Menische for a sister-in-law, but a poor girl like you, whoowed everything to his bounty, would only have stood in the way of hisambitious plans. Between ourselves, he would like to be appointed regentof Persia while the king is away at the Massagetan war, and wouldtherefore give a great deal to connect himself by marriage in some wayor other with the Archemenidae. At his age a new wife is not to bethought of; but his brother is young and handsome, indeed people go sofar as to say, that he is like the Prince Bartja. "

"That is true, " exclaimed the girl. "Only think, when we went out tomeet my mistress, and I saw Bartja for the first time from the window ofthe station-house, I thought he was Gaumata. They are so like oneanother that they might be twins, and they are the handsomest men in thekingdom. "

"How you are blushing, my pretty rose-bud! But the likeness between themis not quite so great as all that. When I spoke to the high-priest'sbrother this morning . . . "

"Gaumata is here?" interrupted the girl passionately. "Have you reallyseen him or are you trying to draw me out and make fun of me?"

"By Mithras! my sweet one, I kissed his forehead this very morning, andhe made me tell him a great deal about his darling. Indeed his blueeyes, his golden curls and his lovely complexion, like the bloom on apeach, were so irresistible that I felt inclined to try and workimpossibilities for him. Spare your blushes, my little pomegranate-blossom, till I have told you all; and then perhaps in future you willnot be so hard upon poor Boges; you will see that he has a good heart, full of kindness for his beautiful, saucy little countrywoman. "

"I do not trust you, " she answered, interrupting these assurances. "I have been warned against your smooth tongue, and I do not know what Ihave done to deserve this kind interest. "

"Do you know this?" he asked, showing her a white ribbon embroidered allover with little golden flames. 

"It is the last present I worked for him, " exclaimed Mandane. 

"I asked him for this token, because I knew you would not trust me. Whoever heard of a prisoner loving his jailer?"

"But tell me at once, quickly--what does my old playfellow want me to do?Look, the-western sky is beginning to glow. Evening is coming on, and Imust arrange my mistress's dress and ornaments for the banquet. "

"Well, I will not keep you long, " said the eunuch, becoming so seriousthat Mandane was frightened. "If you do not choose to believe that Iwould run into any risk out of friendship to you, then fancy that Iforward your love affair to humble the pride of Oropastes. He threatensto supplant me in the king's favor, and I am determined, let him plot andintrigue as he likes, that you shall marry Gaumata. To-morrow evening, after the Tistar-star has risen, your lover shall come to see you. Iwill see that all the guards are away, so that he can come withoutdanger, stay one hour and talk over the future with you; but remember, only one hour. I see clearly that your mistress will be Cambyses'favorite wife, and will then forward your marriage, for she is very fondof you, and thinks no praise too high for your fidelity and skill. Soto-morrow evening, " he continued, falling back into the jesting tonepeculiar to him, "when the Tistar-star rises, fortune will begin to shineon you. Why do you look down? Why don't you answer? Gratitude stopsyour pretty little mouth, eh? is that the reason? Well, my little bird, I hope you won't be quite so silent, if you should ever have a chance ofpraising poor Boges to your powerful mistress. And what message shall Ibring to the handsome Gaumata? May I say that you have not forgotten himand will be delighted to see him again? You hesitate? Well, I am verysorry, but it is getting dark and I must go. I have to inspect thewomen's dresses for the birthday banquet. Ah! one thing I forgot tomention. Gaumata must leave Babylon to-morrow. Oropastes is afraid, that he may chance to see you, and told him to return to Rhage directlythe festival was over. What! still silent? Well then, I really cannothelp you or that poor fellow either. But I shall gain my ends quite aswell without you, and perhaps after all it is better that you shouldforget one another. Good-bye. "

It was a hard struggle for the girl. She felt nearly sure that Boges wasdeceiving her, and a voice within warned her that it would be better torefuse her lover this meeting. Duty and prudence gained the upper hand, and she was just going to exclaim: "Tell him I cannot see him, " when hereye caught the ribbon she had once embroidered for her handsomeplayfellow. Bright pictures from her childhood flashed through her mind, short moments of intoxicating happiness; love, recklessness and longinggained the day in their turn over her sense of right, her misgivings andher prudence, and before Boges could finish his farewell, she called out, almost in spite of herself and flying towards the house like a frightenedfawn: "I shall expect him. "

Boges passed quickly through the flowery paths of the hanging-gardens. He stopped at the parapet end cautiously opened a hidden trap-door, admitting to a secret staircase which wound down through one of the hugepillars supporting the hanging-gardens, and which had probably beenintended by their original designer as a means of reaching his wife'sapartments unobserved from the shores of the river. The door movedeasily on its hinges, and when Boges had shut it again and strewed a fewof the river-shells from the garden walks over it, it would have beendifficult to find, even for any one who had come with that purpose. Theeunuch rubbed his jeweled hands, smiling the while as was his custom, andmurmured: "It can't fail to succeed now; the girl is caught, her lover isat my beck and call, the old secret flight of steps is in good order, Nitetis has been weeping bitterly on a day of universal rejoicing, andthe blue lily opens to-morrow night. Ah, ha! my little plan can'tpossibly fail now. And to-morrow, my pretty Egyptian kitten, your littlevelvet paw will be fast in a trap set by the poor despised eunuch, whowas not allowed, forsooth, to give you any orders. "

His eyes gleamed maliciously as he said these words and hurried from thegarden. 

At the great flight of steps he met another eunuch, named Neriglissar, who held the office of head-gardener, and lived at the hanging-gardens. 

"How is the blue lily going on?" asked Boges. 

"It is unfolding magnificently!" cried the gardener, in enthusiasm atthe mere mention of his cherished flower. "To-morrow, as I promised, when the Tistar-star rises, it will be in all its beauty. My Egyptianmistress will be delighted, for she is very fond of flowers, and may Iask you to tell the king and the Achaemenidae, that under my care thisrare plant has at last flowered? It is to be seen in full beauty onlyonce in every ten years. Tell the noble Achaemenidae; this, and bringthem here. "

"Your wish shall be granted, " said Boges smiling, "but I think you mustnot reckon on the king, as I do not expect he will visit the hanging-gardens before his marriage with the Egyptian. Some of the Archimenidae, however, will be sure to come; they are such lovers of horticulture thatthey would not like to miss this rare sight. Perhaps, too, I may succeedin bringing Croesus. It is true that he does not understand flowers ordoat on them as the Persians do, but he makes amends for this by histhorough appreciation of everything beautiful. "

"Yes, yes, bring him too, " exclaimed the gardener. "He will really begrateful to you, for my queen of the night is the most beautiful flower, that has ever bloomed in a royal garden. You saw the bud in the clearwaters of the reservoir surrounded by its green leaves; that bud willopen into a gigantic rose, blue as the sky. My flower . . . "

The enthusiastic gardener would have said much more in praise of hisflower, but Boges left him with a friendly nod, and went down the flightof steps. A two-wheeled wooden carriage was waiting for him there; hetook his seat by the driver, the horses, decked out with bells andtassels, were urged into a sharp trot and quickly brought him to the gateof the harem-garden. 

That day was a busy, stirring one in Cambyses' harem. In order that thewomen might look their very best, Boges had commanded that they shouldall be taken to the bath before the banquet. He therefore went at onceto that wing of the palace, which contained the baths for the women. 

While he was still at some distance a confused noise of screaming, laughing, chattering and tittering reached his ears. In the broad porchof the large bathing-room, which had been almost overheated, more thanthree hundred women were moving about in a dense cloud of steam. 

 [We read in Diodorus XVII. 77. That the king of Persia had as many wives as there are days in the year. At the battle of Issus, Alexander the Great took 329 concubines, of the last Darius, captive. ]

The half-naked forms floated over the warm pavement like a motley crowdof phantoms. Their thin silken garments were wet through and clung totheir delicate figures, and a warm rain descended upon them from the roofof the bath, rising up again in vapor when it reached the floor. 

Groups of handsome women, ten or twenty together, lay gossiping saucilyin one part of the room; in another two king's wives were quarrellinglike naughty children. One beauty was screaming at the top of her voicebecause she had received a blow from her neighbor's dainty littleslipper, while another was lying in lazy contemplation, still as death, on the damp, warm floor. Six Armenians were standing together, singing asaucy love-song in their native language with clear-toned voices, and alittle knot of fair-haired Persians were slandering Nitetis so fearfully, that a by-stander would have fancied our beautiful Egyptian was someawful monster, like those nurses used to frighten children. 

Naked female slaves moved about through the crowd, carrying on theirheads well-warmed cloths to throw over their mistresses. The cries ofthe eunuchs, who held the office of door-keepers, and were continuallyurging the women to greater haste, --the screeching calls of those whoseslaves had not yet arrived, --the penetrating perfumes and the warm vaporcombined to produce a motley, strange and stupefying scene. 

A quarter of an hour later, however, the king's wives presented a verydifferent spectacle. 

They lay like roses steeped in dew, not asleep, but quite still anddreaming, on soft cushions placed along the walls of an immense room. The wet perfumes still lay on their undried and flowing hair, and nimblefemale slaves were busied in carefully wiping away, with little bags madeof soft camels' hair, the slightest outward trace of the moisture whichpenetrated deep into the pores of the skin. 

Silken coverlets were spread over their weary, beautiful limbs, and atroop of eunuchs took good care that the dreamy repose of the entire bodyshould not be disturbed by quarrelsome or petulant individuals. Theirefforts, however, were seldom so successful as to-day, when every oneknew that a disturbance of the peace would be punished by exclusion fromthe banquet. They had probably been lying a full hour in this dreamysilence, when the sound of a gong produced another transformation. 

The reposing figures sprang from their cushions, a troop of female slavespressed into the hall, the beauties were annointed and perfumed, theirluxuriant hair ingeniously braided, plaited, and adorned with preciousstones. Costly ornaments and silken and woolen robes in all the colorsof the rainbow were brought in, shoes stiff with rich embroidery ofpearls and jewels were tied on to their tender feet, and golden girdlesfastened round their waists. 

 [Some kings gave their wives the revenues of entire cities as "girdle-money" (pin-money). ]

By the time Boges came in, the greater number of the women were alreadyfully adorned in their costly jewelry, which would have representedprobably, when taken together, the riches of a large kingdom. 

He was greeted by a shrill cry of joy from many voices. Twenty of thewomen joined hands and danced round their smiling keeper, singing asimple song which had been composed in the harem in praise of hisvirtues. On this day it was customary for the king to grant each of hiswives one reasonable petition. So when the ring of dancers had loosedhands, a troop of petitioners rushed in upon Boges, kissing his hands, stroking his cheeks, whispering in his ear all kinds of requests, andtrying by flattery to gain his intercession with the king. The woman'styrant smiled at it all, stopped his ears and pushed them all back withjests and laughter, promising Amytis the Median that Esther thePhoenician should be punished, and Esther the same of Amytis, --thatParmys should have a handsomer set of jewels than Parisatys, andParisatys a more costly one than Parmys, but finding it impossible to getrid of these importunate petitioners, he blew a little golden whistle. Its shrill tones acted like magic on the eager crowd; the raised handsfell in a moment, the little tripping feet stood still, the opening lipsclosed and the eager tumult was turned into a dead silence. 

Whoever disobeyed the sound of this little whistle, was certain ofpunishment. It was as important as the words "Silence, in the king'sname!" or the reading of the riot-act. To-day it worked even moreeffectually than usual. Boges' self-satisfied smile showed that he hadnoticed this; he then favored the assembly with a look expressive of hiscontentment with their conduct, promised in a flowery speech to exert allhis influence with the king in behalf of his dear little white doves, andwound up by telling them to arrange themselves in two long rows. 

The women obeyed and submitted to his scrutiny like soldiers on drill, orslaves being examined by their buyer. 

With the dress and ornaments of most he was satisfied, ordering, however, to one a little more rouge, to another a little white powder to subdue atoo healthy color, here a different arrangement of the hair--there adeeper tinge to the eyebrows, or more pains to be taken in anointing thelips. 

When this was over he left the hall and went to Phaedime, who as one ofthe king's lawful wives, had a private room, separated from thoseallotted to the concubines. 

This former favorite, --this humbled daughter of the Achaemenidae, hadbeen expecting him already some time. 

She was magnificently dressed, and almost overloaded with jewels. Athick veil of gauze inwrought with gold hung from her little tiara, andinterlaced with this was the blue and white band of the Achaemenidae. There could be no question that she was beautiful, but her figure wasalready too strongly developed, a frequent result of the lazy harem lifeamong Eastern women. Fair golden hair, interwoven with little silverchains and gold pieces, welled out almost too abundantly from beneath hertiara, and was smoothed over her white temples. 

She sprang forward to meet Boges, trembling with eagerness, caught ahasty glance at herself in the looking-glass, and then, fixing her eyeson the eunuch, asked impetuously: "Are you pleased with me? Will headmire me?"

Boges smiled his old, eternal smile and answered: "You always please me, my golden peacock, and the king would admire you too if he could see youas you were a moment ago. You were really beautiful when you called out, 'Will he admire me?' for passion had turned your blue eyes black asnight, and your lip was curled with hatred so as to show two rows ofteeth white as the snow on the Demawend!"

Phaedime was flattered and forced her face once more into the admiredexpression, saying: "Then take us at once to the banquet, for I know myeyes will be darker and more brilliant, and my teeth will gleam morebrightly, when I see that Egyptian girl sitting where I ought to sit. "

"She will not be allowed to sit there long. "

"What! is your plan likely to succeed then? Oh, Boges, do not hide itany longer from me--I will be as silent as the grave--I will help you--Iwill--"

"No, I cannot, I dare not tell you about it, but this much I will say inorder to sweeten this bitter evening: we have dug the pit for our enemy, and if my golden Phaedime will only do what I tell her, I hope to giveher back her old place, and not only that, but even a higher one. "

"Tell me what I am to do; I am ready for anything and everything. "

"That was well and bravely spoken; like a true lioness. If you obey mewe must succeed; and the harder the task, the higher the reward. Don'tdispute what I am going to say, for we have not a minute to lose. Takeoff all your useless ornaments and only wear the chain the king gave youon your marriage. Put on a dark simple dress instead of this bright one;and when you have prostrated yourself before Kassandane, bow down humblybefore the Egyptian Princess too. "

"Impossible!"

"I will not be contradicted. Take off those ornaments at once, I entreatyou. There, that is right. We cannot succeed unless you obey me. Howwhite your neck is! The fair Peri would look dark by your side. "

"But--"

"When your turn comes to ask a favor of the king, tell him you have nowishes, now that the sun of your life has withdrawn his light. "

"Yes, that I will do. "

"When your father asks after your welfare, you must weep. "

"I will do that too. "

"And so that all the Achaemenidae can see that you are weeping. "

"That will be a fearful humiliation!"

"Not at all; only a means by which to rise the more surely. Wash the redcolor from your cheeks and put on white powder. Make yourself pale--paler still. "

"Yes, I shall need that to hide my blushes. Boges, you are askingsomething fearful of me, but I will obey you if you will only give me areason. "

"Girl, bring your mistress's new dark green robe. "

"I shall look like a slave. "

"True grace is lovely even in rags. "

"The Egyptian will completely eclipse me. "

"Yes, every one must see that you have not the slightest intention ofcomparing yourself with her. Then people will say: 'Would not Phaedimebe as beautiful as this proud woman, if she had taken the same pains tomake herself so?"'

"But I cannot bow down to her. "

"You must. "

"You only want to humble and ruin me. "

"Short-sighted fool! listen to my reasons and obey. I want especially toexcite the Achaemenidae against our enemy. How it will enrage yourgrandfather Intaphernes, and your father Otanes to see you in the dustbefore a stranger! Their wounded pride will bring them over to our side, and if they are too 'noble, ' as they call it, to undertake anythingthemselves against a woman, still they will be more likely to help thanto hinder us, if I should need their assistance. Then, when the Egyptianis ruined, if you have done as I wish, the king will remember your sadpale face, your humility and forgetfulness of self. The Achaemenidae, and even the Magi, will beg him to take a queen from his own family; andwhere in all Persia is there a woman who can boast of better birth thanyou? Who else can wear the royal purple but my bright bird of Paradise, my beautiful rose Phaedime? With such a prize in prospect we must nomore fear a little humiliation than a man who is learning to ride fears afall from his horse. "

And she, princess as she was, answered: "I will obey you. "

"Then we are certain of victory, " said the eunuch. "There, now your eyesare flashing darkly again as I like to see them, my queen. And soCambyses shall see you when the tender flesh of the Egyptian shall havebecome food for dogs and the birds of the air, and when for the firsttime after long months of absence, I bring him once more to the door ofyour apartments. Here, Armorges! tell the rest of the women to getready and enter their litters. I will go on and be there to show themtheir places. "

 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

The great banqueting-hall was bright as day--even brighter, from thelight of thousands of candles whose rays were reflected in the goldplates forming the panelling of the walls. A table of interminablelength stood in the middle of the hall, overloaded with gold and silvercups, plates, dishes, bowls, jugs, goblets, ornaments and incense-altars, and looked like a splendid scene from fairy-land. 

"The king will soon be here, " called out the head-steward of the table, of the great court-lords, to the king's cup-bearer, who was a member ofthe royal family. "Are all the wine-jugs full, has the wine been tasted, are the goblets ranged in order, and the skins sent by Polykrates, havethey been emptied?"

"Yes, " answered the cup-bearer, "everything is ready, and that Chianwine is better than any I ever tasted; indeed, in my opinion, even theSyrian is not to be compared to it. Only taste it. "

So saying he took a graceful little golden goblet from the table in onehand, raised a wine-pitcher of the same costly metal with the other, swung the latter high into the air and poured the wine so cleverly intothe narrow neck of the little vessel that not a drop was lost, though theliquid formed a wide curve in its descent. He then presented the gobletto the head-steward with the tips of his fingers, bowing gracefully as hedid so. 

The latter sipped the delicious wine, testing its flavor with greatdeliberation, and said, on returning the cup: "I agree with you, it isindeed a noble wine, and tastes twice as well when presented with suchinimitable grace. Strangers are quite right in saying that there are nocupbearers like the Persian. "

"Thanks for this praise, " replied the other, kissing his friend'sforehead. "Yes, I am proud of my office, and it is one which the kingonly gives to his friends. Still it is a great plague to have to stay solong in this hot, suffocating Babylon. Shall we ever be off for thesummer, to Ecbatana or Pasargada?"

"I was talking to the king about it to-day. He had intended not to leavebefore the Massagetan war, and to go straight from Babylon into thefield, but to-day's embassy has changed matters; it is probable thatthere may be no war, and then we shall go to Susa three days after theking's marriage--that is, in one week from the present time. "

"To Susa?" cried the cup-bearer. "It's very little cooler there thanhere, and besides, the old Memnon's castle is being rebuilt. "

"The satrap of Susa has just brought word that the new palace isfinished, and that nothing so brilliant has ever been seen. DirectlyCambyses heard, it he said: Then we will start for Susa three days afterour marriage. I should like to show the Egyptian Princess that weunderstand the art of building as well as her own ancestors. She isaccustomed to hot weather on the Nile, and will not find our beautifulSusa too warm. ' The king seems wonderfully fond of this woman. "

"He does indeed! All other women have become perfectly indifferent tohim, and he means soon to make her his queen. "

"That is unjust; Phaedime, as daughter of the Achaemenidae, has an olderand better right. "

"No doubt, but whatever the king wishes, must be right. "

"The ruler's will is the will of God. "

"Well said! A true Persian will kiss his king's hand, even when drippingwith the blood of his own child. "

"Cambyses ordered my brother's execution, but I bear him no more ill-willfor it than I should the gods for depriving me of my parents. Here, youfellows! draw the curtains back; the guests are coming. Look sharp, youdogs, and do your duty! Farewell, Artabazos, we shall have warm workto-night. "

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Death is so long and life so shortNo man was allowed to ask anything of the gods for himselfTake heed lest pride degenerate into vainglory