CHAPTER XVI.
Sad realities follow bright anticipations nearly as surely as a rainyday succeeds a golden sunrise. Nitetis had been so happy in the thoughtof reading the very letter, which poured such bitter drops of wormwoodinto her 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 ofthe windows of the room where Nitetis lay weeping. On being disturbedin his watching and listening, he turned at once to the girl and greetedher in a 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 livein such 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. Halfthe people here are Medes, and if I had as many friends as I havecountrymen, 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 thegreat queen Kassandane. 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 earlyand you 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 wantedto marry 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 appointedregent of Persia while the king is away at the Massagetan war, and wouldtherefore give a great deal to connect himself by marriage in someway or 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 windowof the 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,and he made me tell him a great deal about his darling. Indeed his blueeyes, his golden curls and his lovely complexion, like the bloom ona peach, were so irresistible that I felt inclined to try andwork impossibilities for him. Spare your blushes, my littlepomegranate-blossom, till I have told you all; and then perhaps infuture you will not be so hard upon poor Boges; you will see that hehas a good heart, full of kindness for his beautiful, saucy littlecountrywoman."
"I do not trust you," she answered, interrupting these assurances. "Ihave 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 todo? Look, the-western sky is beginning to glow. Evening is coming on,and I must arrange my mistress's dress and ornaments for the banquet."
"Well, I will not keep you long," said the eunuch, becoming so 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 plotand intrigue as he likes, that you shall marry Gaumata. To-morrowevening, after the Tistar-star has risen, your lover shall come tosee you. I will see that all the guards are away, so that he can comewithout danger, stay one hour and talk over the future with you; butremember, only one hour. I see clearly that your mistress will beCambyses' favorite wife, and will then forward your marriage, for sheis very fond of you, and thinks no praise too high for your fidelityand skill. So to-morrow evening," he continued, falling back into thejesting tone peculi
ar to him, "when the Tistar-star rises, fortunewill begin to shine on you. Why do you look down? Why don't you answer?Gratitude stops your pretty little mouth, eh? is that the reason? Well,my little bird, I hope you won't be quite so silent, if you should everhave a chance of praising poor Boges to your powerful mistress. And whatmessage shall I bring to the handsome Gaumata? May I say that you havenot forgotten him and will be delighted to see him again? You hesitate?Well, I am very sorry, but it is getting dark and I must go. I have toinspect the women's dresses for the birthday banquet. Ah! one thing Iforgot to mention. Gaumata must leave Babylon to-morrow. Oropastes isafraid, that he may chance to see you, and told him to return to Rhagedirectly the festival was over. What! still silent? Well then, I reallycannot help you or that poor fellow either. But I shall gain my endsquite as well without you, and perhaps after all it is better that youshould forget 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," whenher eye 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 misgivingsand her prudence, and before Boges could finish his farewell, she calledout, almost in spite of herself and flying towards the house like afrightened fawn: "I shall expect him."
Boges passed quickly through the flowery paths of the hanging-gardens.He stopped at the parapet end cautiously opened a hidden trap-door,admitting to a secret staircase which wound down through one of thehuge pillars 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,and murmured: "It can't fail to succeed now; the girl is caught, herlover is at my beck and call, the old secret flight of steps is ingood order, Nitetis has been weeping bitterly on a day of universalrejoicing, and the blue lily opens to-morrow night. Ah, ha! my littleplan can't possibly fail now. And to-morrow, my pretty Egyptian kitten,your little velvet paw will be fast in a trap set by the poor despisedeunuch, who was 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 youmust not reckon on the king, as I do not expect he will visit thehanging-gardens before his marriage with the Egyptian. Some of theArchimenidae, however, will be sure to come; they are such lovers ofhorticulture that they would not like to miss this rare sight. Perhaps,too, I may succeed in bringing Croesus. It is true that he does notunderstand flowers or doat on them as the Persians do, but he makesamends for this by his thorough 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;he took his seat by the driver, the horses, decked out with bells andtassels, were urged into a sharp trot and quickly brought him to thegate of 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 theroof of 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 hervoice because 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, anda little knot of fair-haired Persians were slandering Nitetis sofearfully, that a by-stander would have fancied our beautiful Egyptianwas some awful 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 bagsmade of soft camels' hair, the slightest outward trace of the moisturewhich penetrated 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 entirebody should not be disturbed by quarrelsome or petulant individuals.Their efforts, however, were seldom so successful as to-day, when everyone knew that a disturbance of the peace would be punished by exclusionfrom the banquet. They had probably been lying a full hour inthis dreamy silence, when the sound of a gong produced anothertransformation.
The reposing figures sprang from their cushions, a troop of femaleslaves pressed into the hall, the beauties were annointed and perfumed,their luxuriant hair ingeniously braided, plaited, and adorned withprecious stones. Costly ornaments and silken and woolen robes in all thecolors of the rainbow were brought in, shoes stiff with rich embroideryof pearls and jewels were tied on to their tender feet, and goldengirdles fastened round their waists.
[Some kings gave their wives the revenues of entire cities as "girdle-money" (pin-money).]
By the time Boges came in, th
e 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, singinga simple 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 backwith jests 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 impossibleto get rid of these importunate petitioners, he blew a little goldenwhistle. Its shrill tones acted like magic on the eager crowd; theraised hands fell in a moment, the little tripping feet stood still, theopening lips closed 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 exertall his influence with the king in behalf of his dear little whitedoves, and wound up by telling them to arrange themselves in two longrows.
The women obeyed and submitted to his scrutiny like soldiers on drill,or slaves being examined by their buyer.
With the dress and ornaments of most he was satisfied, ordering,however, to one a little more rouge, to another a little white powderto subdue a too healthy color, here a different arrangement of thehair--there a deeper tinge to the eyebrows, or more pains to be taken inanointing the lips.
When this was over he left the hall and went to Phaedime, who as oneof the 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 beneathher tiara, 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 calledout, 'Will he admire me?' for passion had turned your blue eyes blackas night, 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 knowmy eyes 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 thered color from your cheeks and put on white powder. Make yourselfpale--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 especiallyto excite 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 fearsa fall from his horse."
And she, princess as she was, answered: "I will obey you."
"Then we are certain of victory," said the eunuch. "There, now youreyes are 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 get readyand enter their litters. I will go on and be there to show them theirplaces."
..........................
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 andsilver cups, plates, dishes, bowls, jugs, goblets, ornaments andincense-a
ltars, 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, thoughthe liquid formed a wide curve in its descent. He then presentedthe goblet to the head-steward with the tips of his fingers, bowinggracefully as he did 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 stayso long 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 daysafter our marriage. I should like to show the Egyptian Princess thatwe understand 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 moreill-will for it than I should the gods for depriving me of my parents.Here, you fellows! draw the curtains back; the guests are coming. Looksharp, you dogs, and do your duty! Farewell, Artabazos, we shall havewarm work to-night."
BOOK 2.