CHAPTER VIII.
The sun was already trying to break a path for his rays through thethick curtains, that closed the window of the sick-room, but Nebencharihad not moved from the Egyptian girl's bedside. Sometimes he felt herpulse, or spread sweet-scented ointments on her forehead or chest, andthen he would sit gazing dreamily into vacancy. Nitetis seemed to havesunk into a deep sleep after an attack of convulsions. At the foot ofher bed stood six Persian doctors, murmuring incantations under theorders of Nebenchari, whose superior science they acknowledged, and whowas seated at the bed's head.
Every time he felt the sick girl's pulse he shrugged his shoulders, andthe gesture was immediately imitated by his Persian colleagues. Fromtime to time the curtain was lifted and a lovely head appeared, whosequestioning blue eyes fixed at once on the physician, but were alwaysdismissed with the same melancholy shrug. It was Atossa. Twice she hadventured into the room, stepping so lightly as hardly to touch the thickcarpet of Milesian wool, had stolen to her friend's bedside and lightlykissed her forehead, on which the pearly dew of death was standing, buteach time a severe and reproving glance from Nebenchari had sent herback again into the next room, where her mother Kassandane was lying,awaiting the end.
Cambyses had left the sick-room at sunrise, on seeing that Nitetis hadfallen asleep; he flung himself on to his horse, and accompanied byPhanes, Prexaspes, Otanes, Darius, and a number of courtiers, only justaroused from their sleep, took a wild ride through the game-park. Heknew by experience, that he could best overcome or forget any violentmental emotion when mounted on an unmanageable horse.
Nebenchari started on hearing the sound of horses' hoofs in thedistance. In a waking dream he had seen Cambyses enter his native landat the head of immense hosts; he had seen its cities and temples onfire, and its gigantic pyramids crumbling to pieces under the powerfulblows of his mighty hand. Women and children lay in the smoulderingruins, and plaintive cries arose from the tombs in which the verymummies moved like living beings; and all these-priests, warriors,women, and children--the living and the dead--all had utteredhis,--Nebenchari's,--name, and had cursed him as a traitor to hiscountry. A cold shiver struck to his heart; it beat more convulsivelythan the blood in the veins of the dying girl at his side. Again thecurtain was raised; Atossa stole in once more and laid her hand on hisshoulder. He started and awoke. Nebenchari had been sitting three daysand nights with scarcely any intermission by this sick-bed, and suchdreams were the natural consequence.
Atossa slipped back to her mother. Not a sound broke the sultry air ofthe sick-room, and Nebenchiari's thoughts reverted to his dream. He toldhimself that he was on the point of becoming a traitor and a criminal,the visions he had just beheld passed before him again, but this timeit was another, and a different one which gained the foremost place. Theforms of Amasis, who had laughed at and exiled him,--of Psamtik and thepriests,--who had burnt his works,--stood near him; they were heavilyfettered and besought mercy at his hands. His lips moved, but this wasnot the place in which to utter the cruel words which rose to them. Andthen the stern man wiped away a tear as he remembered the long nights,in which he had sat with the reed in his hand, by the dull light of thelamp, carefully painting every sign of the fine hieratic characterin which he committed his ideas and experience to writing. He haddiscovered remedies for many diseases of the eye, spoken of in thesacred books of Thoth and the writings of a famous old physician ofByblos as incurable, but, knowing that he should be accused of sacrilegeby his colleagues, if he ventured on a correction or improvement of thesacred writings, he had entitled his work, "Additional writings onthe treatment of diseases of the eye, by the great god Thoth, newlydiscovered by the oculist Nebenchari."
He had resolved on bequeathing his works to the library at Thebes, thathis experience might be useful to his successors and bring forth fruitfor the whole body of sufferers. This was to be his reward for the longnights which he had sacrificed to science--recognition after death, andfame for the caste to which he belonged. And there stood his old rivalPetammon, by the side of the crown-prince in the grove of Neith, andstirred the consuming fire, after having stolen his discovery of theoperation of couching. Their malicious faces were tinged by the red glowof the flames, which rose with their spiteful laughter towards heaven,as if demanding vengeance. A little further off he saw in his dreamAmasis receiving his father's letters from the hands of the high-priest.Scornful and mocking words were being uttered by the king; Neithoteplooked exultant.--In these visions Nebenchari was so lost, that one ofthe Persian doctors was obliged to point out to him that his patient wasawake. He nodded in reply, pointing to his own weary eyes with a smile,felt the sick girl's pulse, and asked her in Egyptian how she had slept.
"I do not know," she answered, in a voice that was hardly audible. "Itseemed to me that I was asleep, and yet I saw and heard everything thathad happened in the room. I felt so weak that I hardly knew whether Iwas awake or asleep. Has not Atossa been here several times?"
"Yes."
"And Cambyses stayed with Kassandane until sunrise; then he went out,mounted his horse Reksch, and rode into the game-park."
"How do you know that?"
"I saw it."
Nebenchari looked anxiously into the girl's shining eyes. She went on:"A great many dogs have been brought into the court behind this house."
"Probably the king has ordered a hunt, in order to deaden the pain whichhe feels at seeing you suffer."
"Oh, no. I know better what it means. Oropastes taught me, that whenevera Persian dies dogs' are brought in, that the Divs may enter into them."
"But you are living, my mistress, and..."
"Oh, I know very well that I shall die. I knew that I had not many hoursmore to live, even if I had not seen how you and the other physiciansshrugged your shoulders whenever you looked at me. That poison isdeadly."
"You are speaking too much, my mistress, it will hurt you."
"Oh let me speak, Nebenchari! I must ask you to do something for mebefore I die."
"I am your servant."
"No, Nebenchari, you must be my friend and priest. You are not angrywith me for having prayed to the Persian gods? Our own Hathor was alwaysmy best friend still. Yes, I see by your face that you forgiven me. Thenyou must promise not to allow my corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs andvultures. The thought is so very dreadful. You will promise to embalm mybody and ornament it with amulets?"
"If the king allows."
"Of course he will. How could Cambyses possibly refuse my last request?"
"Then my skill is at your service."
"Thank you; but I have still something else to ask."
"You must be brief. My Persian colleagues are already making signs tome, to enjoin silence on you."
"Can't you send them away for a moment?"
"I will try to do so."
Nebenchari then went up and spoke to the Magi for a few minutes, andthey left the room. An important incantation, at which no one but thetwo concerned might be present, and the application of a new and secretantidotal poison were the pretexts which he had used in order to get ridof them.
When they were alone, Nitetis drew a breath of relief and said: "Giveme your priestly blessing on my long journey into the nether world, andprepare me for my pilgrimage to Osiris."
Nebenchari knelt down by her bed and in a low voice repeated hymns,Nitetis making devotional responses.
The physician represented Osiris, the lord of the nether world--Nitetisthe soul, justifying itself before him.
When these ceremonies were ended the sick girl breathed more freely.Nebenchari could not but feel moved in looking at this young suicide. Hefelt confident that he had saved a soul for the gods of his nativeland, had cheered the last sad and painful hours of one of God's goodcreatures. During these last moments, compassion and benevolence hadexcluded every bitter feeling; but when he remembered that this lovelycreature owed all her misery to Amasis too, the old black cloud ofthought darkened his mind again.--Nitetis, after l
ying silent for sometime, turned to her new friend with a pleasant smile, and said: "I shallfind mercy with the judges of the dead now, shall not I?"
"I hope and believe so."
"Perhaps I may find Tachot before the throne of Osiris, and myfather...."
"Your father and mother are waiting for you there. Now in your last hourbless those who begot you, and curse those who have robbed you of yourparents, your crown and your life."
"I do not understand you."
"Curse those who robbed you of your parents, crown and life, girl!"cried the physician again, rising to his full height, breathing hardas he said the words, and gazing down on the dying girl. "Curse thosewretches, girl! that curse will do more in gaining mercy from the judgesof the dead, than thousands of good works!" And as he said this heseized her hand and pressed it violently.
Nitetis looked up uneasily into his indignant face, and stammered inblind obedience, "I curse those who robbed my parents of their throneand lives!"
"Those who robbed my parents of their throne and their lives," sherepeated after him, and then crying, "Oh, my heart!" sank back exhaustedon the bed.
Nebenchari bent down, and before the royal physicians could return,kissed her forehead gently, murmuring: "She dies my confederate. Thegods hearken to the prayers of those who die innocent. By carrying thesword into Egypt, I shall avenge king Hophra's wrongs as well as myown."
When Nitetis opened her eyes once more, a few hours later, Kassandanewas holding her right hand, Atossa kneeling at her feet, and Croesusstanding at the head of her bed, trying, with the failing strengthof old age, to support the gigantic frame of the king, who was socompletely overpowered by his grief, that he staggered like a drunkenman. The dying girl's eyes lighted up as she looked round on thiscircle. She was wonderfully beautiful. Cambyses came closer and kissedher lips; they were growing cold in death. It was the first kiss he hadever given her, and the last. Two large tears sprang to her eyes; theirlight was fast growing dim; she murmured Cambyses' name softly, fellback in Atossa's arms, and died.
We shall not give a detailed account of the next few hours: it wouldbe an unpleasant task to describe how, at a signal from the principalPersian doctor, every one, except Nebenchari and Croesus, hastily leftthe room; how dogs were brought in and their sagacious heads turnedtowards the corpse in order to scare the demon of death;--how, directlyafter Nitetis' death, Kassandane, Atossa and their entire retinuemoved into another house in order to avoid defilement;--how fire wasextinguished throughout the dwelling, that the pure element might beremoved from the polluting spirits of death;--how spells and exorcismswere muttered, and how every person and thing, which had approached orbeen brought into contact with the dead body, was subjected to numerouspurifications with water and pungent fluids.
The same evening Cambyses was seized by one of his old epilepticattacks. Two days later he gave Nebenchari permission to embalm Nitetis'body in the Egyptian manner, according to her last wish. The king gaveway to the most immoderate grief; he tore the flesh of his arms, renthis clothes and strewed ashes on his head, and on his couch. All themagnates of his court were obliged to follow his example. The troopsmounted guard with rent banners and muffled drums. The cymbals andkettle-drums of the "Immortals" were bound round with crape. The horseswhich Nitetis had used, as well as all which were then in use by thecourt, were colored blue and deprived of their tails; the entire courtappeared in mourning robes of dark brown, rent to the girdle, and theMagi were compelled to pray three days and nights unceasingly for thesoul of the dead, which was supposed to be awaiting its sentence foreternity at the bridge Chinvat on the third night.
Neither the king, Kassandane, nor Atossa shrank from submitting to thenecessary purifications; they repeated, as if for one of their nearestrelations, thirty prayers for the dead, while, in a house outsidethe city gates Nebenchari began to embalm her body in the most costlymanner, and according to the strictest rules of his art.
[Embalming was practised in three different ways. The first cost a talent of silver (L225.); the second 20 Minae (L60.) and the third was very inexpensive. Herod. II. 86-88. Diod. I. 9. The brain was first drawn out through the nose and the skull filled with spices. The intestines were then taken out, and the body filled in like manner with aromatic spices. When all was finished, the corpse was left 70 days in a solution of soda, and then wrapped in bandages of byssus spread over with gum. The microscopical examinations of mummy-bandages made by Dr. Ure and Prof. Czermak have proved that byssus is linen, not cotton. The manner of embalming just described is the most expensive, and the latest chemical researches prove that the description given of it by the Greeks was tolerably correct. L. Penicher maintains that the bodies were first somewhat dried in ovens, and that then resin of the cedar-tree, or asphalte, was poured into every opening. According to Herodotus, female corpses were embalmed by women. Herod. II. 89. The subject is treated in great detail by Pettigrew, History of Egyptian Mummies. London. 1834. Czermak's microscopical examinations of Egyptian mummies show how marvellously the smallest portions of the bodies were preserved, and confirm the statements of Herodotus on many points. The monuments also contain much information in regard to embalming, and we now know the purpose of nearly all the amulets placed with the dead.]
For nine days Cambyses remained in a condition, which seemed littleshort of insanity. At times furious, at others dull and stupefied, hedid not even allow his relations or the high-priest to approach him. Onthe morning of the tenth day he sent for the chief of the sevenjudges and commanded, that as lenient a sentence as possible shouldbe pronounced on Gaumata. Nitetis, on her dying-bed, had begged him tospare the life of this unhappy youth.
One hour later the sentence was submitted to the king for ratification.It ran thus: "Victory to the king! Inasmuch as Cambyses, the eye of theworld and the sun of righteousness, hath, in his great mercy, whichis as broad as the heavens and as inexhaustible as the great deep,commanded us to punish the crime of the son of the Magi, Gaumata, withthe indulgence of a mother instead of with the severity of a judge, we,the seven judges of the realm, have determined to grant his forfeitedlife. Inasmuch, however, as by the folly of this youth the lives ofthe noblest and best in this realm have been imperilled, and it mayreasonably be apprehended that he may again abuse the marvellouslikeness to Bartja, the noble son of Cyrus, in which the gods have beenpleased in their mercy to fashion his form and face, and thereby bringprejudice upon the pure and righteous, we have determined to disfigurehim in such wise, that in the time to come it will be a light matter todiscern between this, the most worthless subject of the realm, andhim who is most worthy. We therefore, by the royal Will and command,pronounce sentence, that both the ears of Gaumata be cut off, for thehonor of the righteous and shame of the impure."
Cambyses confirmed this sentence at once, and it was executed the sameday.
[With reference to Gaumata's punishment, the same which Herodotus says was inflicted on the pretended Smerdis, we would observe that even Persians of high rank were sometimes deprived of their ears. In the Behistan inscription (Spiegel p. 15 and 21.) the ears, tongue and nose of the man highest in rank among the rebels, were cut off. Similar punishments are quoted by Brisson.]
Oropastes did not dare to intercede for his brother, though thisignominious punishment mortified his ambitious mind more than evena sentence of death could have done. As he was afraid that his owninfluence and consideration might suffer through this mutilated brother,he ordered him to leave Babylon at once for a country-house of his ownon Mount Arakadris.
During the few days which had just passed, a shabbily-dressed andclosely-veiled woman had watched day and night at the great gate of thepalace; neither the threats of the sentries nor the coarse jests of thepalace-servants could drive her from her post. She never allowed one ofthe less important officials to pass without eagerly questioning him,first as to the state of the Egyptian Princess, and then what hadbecome of Gaumata. When hi
s sentence was told her as a good joke by achattering lamp-lighter, she went off into the strangest excitement, andastonished the poor man so much by kissing his robe, that he thoughtshe must be crazed, and gave her an alms. She refused the money, butremained at her post, subsisting on the bread which was given her by thecompassionate distributors of food. Three days later Gaumata himself,with his head bound up, was driven out in a closed harmamaxa. She rushedto the carriage and ran screaming by the side of it, until the driverstopped his mules and asked what she wanted. She threw back her veiland showed the poor, suffering youth her pretty face covered with deepblushes. Gaumata uttered a low cry as he recognized her, collectedhimself, however, in a moment, and said: "What do you want with me,Mandane?"
The wretched girl raised her hands beseechingly to him, crying: "Oh, donot leave me, Gaumata! Take me with you! I forgive you all the miseryyou have brought on me and my poor mistress. I love you so much, I willtake care of you and nurse you as if I were the lowest servant-girl."
A short struggle passed in Gaumata's mind. He was just going to open thecarriage-door and clasp Mandane-his earliest love-in his arms, whenthe sound of horses' hoofs coming nearer struck on his ear, and lookinground he saw, a carriage full of Magi, among whom were several whohad been his companions at the school for priests. He felt ashamedand afraid of being seen by the very youths, whom he had often treatedproudly and haughtily because he was the brother of the high-priest,threw Mandane a purse of gold, which his brother had given him atparting, and ordered the driver to go on as fast as possible. The mulesgalloped off. Mandane kicked the purse away, rushed after the carriageand clung to it firmly. One of the wheels caught her dress and draggedher down. With the strength of despair she sprang up, ran after themules, overtook them on a slight ascent which had lessened their speed,and seized the reins. The driver used his three-lashed whip, or scourge,the creatures reared, pulled the girl down and rushed on. Her lastcry of agony pierced the wounds of the mutilated man like a sharplance-thrust.
.....................
On the twelfth day after Nitetis' death Cambyses went out hunting, inthe hope that the danger and excitement of the sport might divert hismind. The magnates and men of high rank at his court received him withthunders of applause, for which he returned cordial thanks. These fewdays of grief had worked a great change in a man so unaccustomed tosuffering as Cambyses. His face was pale, his raven-black hair and beardhad grown grey, and the consciousness of victory which usually shone inhis eyes was dimmed. Had he not, only too painfully, experienced thatthere was a stronger will than his own, and that, easily as he coulddestroy, it did not be in his power to preserve the life of the meanestcreature? Before starting, Cambyses mustered his troop of sportsmen, andcalling Gobryas, asked why Phanes was not there.
"My King did not order..."
"He is my guest and companion, once for all; call him and follow us."
Gobryas bowed, dashed back to the palace, and in half an hour reappearedamong the royal retinue with Phanes.
The Athenian was warmly welcomed by many of the group, a fact whichseems strange when we remember that courtiers are of all men the mostprone to envy, and a royal favorite always the most likely object toexcite their ill will. But Phanes seemed a rare exception to thisrule. He had met the Achaemenidae in so frank and winning a manner, hadexcited so many hopes by the hints he had thrown out of an expected andimportant war, and had aroused so much merriment by well-told jests,such as the Persians had never heard before, that there were very fewwho did not welcome his appearance gladly, and when--in company withthe king--he separated from the rest in chase of a wild ass, they openlyconfessed to one another, that they had never before seen so perfect aman. The clever way in which he had brought the innocence of the accusedto light, the finesse which he had shown in securing the king's favor,and the ease with which he had learnt the Persian language in so short atime, were all subjects of admiration. Neither was there one even of theAchaemenidae themselves, who exceeded him in beauty of face or symmetryof figure. In the chase he proved himself a perfect horseman, and in aconflict with a bear an exceptionally courageous and skilful sportsman.On the way home, as the courtiers were extolling all the wonderfulqualities possessed by the king's favorite, old Araspes exclaimed, "Iquite agree with you that this Greek, who by the way has proved himselfa better soldier than anything else, is no common man, but I am sureyou would not praise him half as much, if he were not a foreigner and anovelty."
Phanes happened to be only separated from the speaker by some thickbushes, and heard these words. When the other had finished, he went upand said, smiling: "I understood what you said and feel obliged to youfor your kind opinion. The last sentence, however, gave me even morepleasure than the first, because it confirmed my own idea that thePersians are the most generous people in the world--they praise thevirtues of other nations as much, or even more, than their own."
His hearers smiled, well pleased at this flattering remark, and Phaneswent on: "How different the Jews are now, for instance! They fancythemselves the exclusive favorites of the gods, and by so doing incurthe contempt of all wise men, and the hatred of the whole world. Andthen the Egyptians! You have no idea of the perversity of that people.Why, if the priests could have their way entirely, (and they have agreat deal of power in their hands) not a foreigner would be left alivein Egypt, nor a single stranger allowed to enter the country. A trueEgyptian would rather starve, than eat out of the same dish with one ofus. There are more strange, astonishing and wonderful things to beseen in that country than anywhere else in the world. And yet, to do itjustice, I must say that Egypt has been well spoken of as the richestand most highly cultivated land under the sun. The man who possessesthat kingdom need not envy the very gods themselves. It would be merechild's play to conquer that beautiful country. Ten years there gave mea perfect insight into the condition of things, and I know that theirentire military caste would not be sufficient to resist one such troopas your Immortals. Well, who knows what the future may bring! Perhaps wemay all make a little trip together to the Nile some day. In my opinion,your good swords have been rather long idle." These well-calculatedwords were received with such shouts of applause, that the king turnedhis horse to enquire the cause. Phanes answered quickly that theAchaemenidae were rejoicing in the thought that a war might possibly benear at hand.
"What war?" asked the king, with the first smile that had been seen onhis face for many days.
"We were only speaking in general of the possibility of such a thing,"answered Phanes carelessly; then, riding up to the king's side, hisvoice took an impressive tone full of feeling, and looking earnestlyinto his face, he began: "It is true, my Sovereign, that I was not bornin this beautiful country as one of your subjects, nor can I boast of along acquaintance with the most powerful of monarchs, but yet I cannotresist the presumptuous, perhaps criminal thought, that the gods at mybirth appointed me to be your real friend. It is not your rich giftsthat have drawn me to you. I did not need them, for I belong to thewealthier class of my countrymen, and I have no son,--no heir,--towhom I can bequeath my treasures. Once I had a boy--a beautiful, gentlechild;--but I was not going to speak of that,--I... Are you offended atmy freedom of speech, my Sovereign?"
"What is there to offend me?" answered the king, who had never beenspoken to in this manner before, and felt strongly attracted to theoriginal foreigner.
"Till to-day I felt that your grief was too sacred to be disturbed, butnow the time has come to rouse you from it and to make your heart glowonce more. You will have to hear what must be very painful to you."
"There is nothing more now, that can grieve me."
"What I am going to tell you will not give you pain; on the contrary, itwill rouse your anger."
"You make me curious."
"You have been shamefully deceived; you and that lovely creature, whodied such an early death a few days ago."
Cambyses' eyes flashed a demand for further information.
"Amasis, the Ki
ng of Egypt, has dared to make sport of you, the lordof the world. That gentle girl was not his daughter, though she herselfbelieved that she was; she..."
"Impossible!"
"It would seem so, and yet I am speaking the simple truth. Amasis spuna web of lies, in which he managed to entrap, not only the whole world,but you too, my Sovereign. Nitetis, the most lovely creature ever bornof woman, was the daughter of a king, but not of the usurper Amasis.Hophra, the rightful king of Egypt, was the father of this pearl amongwomen. You may well frown, my Sovereign. It is a cruel thing to bebetrayed by one's friends and allies."
Cambyses spurred his horse, and after a silence of some moments, kept byPhanes purposely, that his words might make a deeper impression, cried,"Tell me more! I wish to know everything."
"Hophra had been living twenty years in easy captivity in Sais after hisdethronement, when his wife, who had borne him three children and buriedthem all, felt that she was about to give birth to a fourth. Hophra, inhis joy, determined to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the templeof Pacht, the Egyptian goddess supposed to confer the blessing ofchildren, when, on his way thither, a former magnate of his court,named Patarbemis, whom, in a fit of unjust anger, he had ignominiouslymutilated, fell upon him with a troop of slaves and massacred him.Amasis had the unhappy widow brought to his palace at once, and assignedher an apartment next to the one occupied by his own queen Ladice, whowas also expecting soon to give birth to a child. A girl was born toHophra's widow, but the mother died in the same hour, and two days laterLadice bore a child also.--But I see we are in the court of the palace.If you allow, I will have the report of the physician, by whom thisimposture was effected, read before you. Several of his notes have, bya remarkable conjuncture of circumstances, which I will explain toyou later, fallen into my hands. A former high-priest of Heliopolis,Onuphis, is now living in Babylon, and understands all the differentstyles of writing in use among his countrymen. Nebenchari will, ofcourse, refuse to help in disclosing an imposture, which must inevitablylead to the ruin of his country."
"In an hour I expect to see you here with the man you have just spokenof. Croesus, Nebenchari, and all the Achaemenidae who were in Egypt,will have to appear also. I must have certainty before I can act, andyour testimony alone is not sufficient, because I know from Amasis, thatyou have cause to feel a grudge against his house."
At the time appointed all were assembled before the king in obedience tohis command.
Onuphis, the former high-priest, was an old man of eighty. A pair oflarge, clear, intelligent, grey eyes looked out of a head so worn andwasted, as to be more like a mere skull than the head of a living man.He held a large papyrus-roll in his gaunt hand, and was seated in aneasy chair, as his paralyzed limbs did not allow of his standing, evenin the king's presence. His dress was snow-white, as beseemed a priest,but there were patches and rents to be seen here and there. His figuremight perhaps once have been tall and slender, but it was now so bentand shrunk by age, privation and suffering, as to look unnatural anddwarfish, in comparison with the size of his head.
Nebenchari, who revered Onuphis, not only as a high-priest deeplyinitiated in the most solemn mysteries, but also on account of his greatage, stood by his side and arranged his cushions. At his left stoodPhanes, and then Croesus, Darius and Prexaspes.
The king sat upon his throne. His face was dark and stern as he brokethe silence with the following words:--"This noble Greek, who, I aminclined to believe, is my friend, has brought me strange tidings. Hesays that I have been basely deceived by Amasis, that my deceased wifewas not his, but his predecessor's daughter."
A murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly. "This old man is hereto prove the imposture." Onuphis gave a sign of assent.
"Prexaspes, my first question is to you. When Nitetis was entrusted toyour care, was it expressly said that she was the daughter of Amasis?"
"Expressly. Nebenchari had, it is true, praised Tachot to the nobleKassandane as the most beautiful of the twin sisters; but Amasisinsisted on sending Nitetis to Persia. I imagined that, by confiding hismost precious jewel to your care, he meant to put you under a specialobligation; and as it seemed to me that Nitetis surpassed her sister,not only in beauty but in dignity of character, I ceased to sue for thehand of Tachot. In his letter to you too, as you will remember, he spokeof confiding to you his most beautiful, his dearest child."
"Those were his words."
"And Nitetis was, without question, the more beautiful and the noblerof the two sisters," said Croesus in confirmation of the envoy's remark."But it certainly did strike me that Tachot was her royal parents'favorite."
"Yes," said Darius, "without doubt. Once, at a revel, Amasis jokedBartja in these words: 'Don't look too deep into Tachot's eyes, for ifyou were a god, I could not allow you to take her to Persia!' Psamtikwas evidently annoyed at this remark and said to the king, 'Father,remember Phanes.'"
"Phanes!"
"Yes, my Sovereign," answered the Athenian. "Once, when he wasintoxicated, Amasis let out his secret to me, and Psamtik was warninghim not to forget himself a second time."
"Tell the story as it occurred."
"On my return from Cyprus to Sais as a conqueror, a great entertainmentwas given at court. Amasis distinguished me in every way, as having wona rich province for him, and even, to the dismay of his own countrymen,embraced me. His affection increased with his intoxication, and at last,as Psamtik and I were leading him to his private apartments, he stoppedat the door of his daughter's room, and said: 'The girls sleep there.If you will put away your own wife, Athenian, I will give you Nitetis.I should like to have you for a son-in-law. There's a secret about thatgirl, Phanes; she's not my own child.' Before his drunken father couldsay more, Psamtik laid his hand before his mouth, and sent me roughlyaway to my lodging, where I thought the matter over and conjecturedwhat I now, from reliable sources, know to be the truth. I entreatyou, command this old man to translate those parts of the physicianSonnophre's journal, which allude to this story."
Cambyses nodded his consent, and the old man began to read in a voicefar louder than any one could have supposed possible from his infirmappearance "On the fifth day of the month Thoth, I was sent for by theking. I had expected this, as the queen was near her confinement. Withmy assistance she was easily and safely delivered of a child--a weaklygirl. As soon as the nurse had taken charge of this child, Amasis led mebehind a curtain which ran across his wife's sleeping-apartment. Therelay another infant, which I recognized as the child of Hophra's widow,who herself had died under my hands on the third day of the same month.The king then said, pointing to this strong child, 'This little creaturehas no parents, but, as it is written in the law that we are to showmercy to the desolate orphans, Ladice and I have determined to bring herup as our own daughter. We do not, however, wish that this deed shouldbe made known, either to the world or to the child herself, and I askyou to keep the secret and spread a report that Ladice has given birthto twins. If you accomplish this according to our wish, you shallreceive to-day five thousand rings of gold, and the fifth part of thissum yearly, during your life. I made my obeisance in silence, orderedevery one to leave the sick room, and, when I again called them in,announced that Ladice had given birth to a second girl. Amasis' realchild received the name of Tachot, the spurious one was called Nitetis."
At these words Cambyses rose from his seat, and strode through the hall;but Onuphis continued, without allowing himself to be disturbed: "Sixthday of the month Thoth. This morning I had just lain down to rest afterthe fatigues of the night, when a servant appeared with the promisedgold and a letter from the king, asking me to procure a dead child, tobe buried with great ceremony as the deceased daughter of King Hophra.After a great deal of trouble I succeeded, an hour ago, in obtaining onefrom a poor girl who had given birth to a child secretly in the houseof the old woman, who lives at the entrance to the City of the Dead. Thelittle one had caused her shame and sorrow enough, but she would not bepersuaded to give up the bo
dy of her darling, until I promised that itshould be embalmed and buried in the most splendid manner. We put thelittle corpse into my large medicine-chest, my son Nebenchari carried itthis time instead of my servant Hib, and so it was introduced into theroom where Hophra's widow had died. The poor girl's baby will receive amagnificent funeral. I wish I might venture to tell her, what a gloriouslot awaits her darling after death. Nebenchari has just been sent for bythe king."
At the second mention of this name, Cambyses stopped in his walk, andsaid: "Is our oculist Nebenchari the man whose name is mentioned in thismanuscript?"
"Nebenchari," returned Phanes, "is the son of this very Sonnophre whochanged the children."
The physician did not raise his eyes; his face was gloomy and sullen.
Cambyses took the roll of papyrus out of Onuphis' band, looked atthe characters with which it was covered, shook his head, went up toNebenchari and said:
"Look at these characters and tell me if it is your father's writing."
Nebenchari fell on his knees and raised his hands.
"I ask, did your father paint these signs?"
"I do not know-whether... Indeed..."
"I will know the truth. Yes or no?"
"Yes, my King; but..."
"Rise, and be assured of my favor. Faithfulness to his ruler is theornament of a subject; but do not forget that I am your king now.Kassandane tells me, that you are going to undertake a delicateoperation to-morrow in order to restore her sight. Are you not venturingtoo much?"
"I can depend on my own skill, my Sovereign."
"One more question. Did you know of this fraud?"
"Yes."
"And you allowed me to remain in error?"
"I had been compelled to swear secrecy and an oath..."
"An oath is sacred. Gobryas, see that both these Egyptians receive aportion from my table. Old man, you seem to require better food."
"I need nothing beyond air to breathe, a morsel of bread and a draughtof water to preserve me from dying of hunger and thirst, a clean robe,that I may be pleasing in the eyes of the gods and in my own, and asmall chamber for myself, that I may be a hindrance to no man. I havenever been richer than to-day."
"How so?"
"I am about to give away a kingdom."
"You speak in enigmas."
"By my translation of to-day I have proved, that your deceased consortwas the child of Hophra. Now, our law allows the daughter of a king tosucceed to the throne, when there is neither son nor brother living; ifshe should die childless, her husband becomes her legitimate successor.Amasis is a usurper, but the throne of Egypt is the lawful birthrightof Hophra and his descendants. Psamtik forfeits every right to thecrown the moment that a brother, son, daughter or son-in-law of Hophraappears. I can, therefore, salute my present sovereign as the futuremonarch of my own beautiful native land."
Cambyses smiled self-complacently, and Onuphis went on: "I have read inthe stars too, that Psamtik's ruin and your own accession to the throneof Egypt have been fore-ordained."
"We'll show that the stars were right," cried the king, "and as for you,you liberal old fellow, I command you to ask me any wish you like."
"Give me a conveyance, and let me follow your army to Egypt. I long toclose my eyes on the Nile."
"Your wish is granted. Now, my friends, leave me, and see that all thosewho usually eat at my table are present at this evening's revel. We willhold a council of war over the luscious wine. Methinks a campaign inEgypt will pay better than a contest with the Massagetae."
He was answered by a joyful shout of "Victory to the king!" They allthen left the hall, and Cambyses, summoning his dressers, proceeded forthe first time to exchange his mourning garments for the splendid royalrobes.
Croesus and Phanes went into the green and pleasant garden lying on theeastern side of the royal palace, which abounded in groves of trees,shrubberies, fountains and flower-beds. Phanes was radiant with delight;Croesus full of care and thought.
"Have you duly reflected," said the latter, "on the burning brand thatyou have just flung out into the world?"
"It is only children and fools that act without reflection," was theanswer.
"You forget those who are deluded by passion."
"I do not belong to that number."
"And yet revenge is the most fearful of all the passions."
"Only when it is practised in the heat of feeling. My revenge is as coolas this piece of iron; but I know my duty."
"The highest duty of a good man, is to subordinate his own welfare tothat of his country."
"That I know."
"You seem to forget, however, that with Egypt you are delivering yourown country over to the Persians."
"I do not agree with you there."
"Do you believe, that when all the rest of the Mediterranean coastsbelong to Persia, she will leave your beautiful Greece untouched?"
"Certainly not, but I know my own countrymen; I believe them fullycapable of a victorious resistance to the hosts of the barbarians,and am confident that their courage and greatness will rise with thenearness of the danger. It will unite our divided tribes into one greatnation, and be the ruin of the tyrants."
"I cannot argue with you, for I am no longer acquainted with the stateof things in your native country, and besides, I believe you to be awise man--not one who would plunge a nation into ruin merely for thegratification of his own ambition. It is a fearful thing that entirenations should have to suffer for the guilt of one man, if that man beone who wears a crown. And now, if my opinion is of any importanceto you, tell me what the deed was which has roused your desire ofvengeance."
"Listen then, and never try again to turn me from my purpose. You knowthe heir to the Egyptian throne, and you know Rhodopis too. The formerwas, for many reasons, my mortal enemy, the latter the friend of everyGreek, but mine especially. When I was obliged to leave Egypt, Psamtikthreatened me with his vengeance; your son Gyges saved my life. A fewweeks later my two children came to Naukratis, in order to follow meout to Sigeum. Rhodopis took them kindly under her protection, but somewretch had discovered the secret and betrayed it to the prince. The verynext night her house was surrounded and searched,--my children foundand taken captive. Amasis had meanwhile become blind, and allowed hismiserable son to do what he liked; the wretch dared to..."
"Kill your only son?"
"You have said it."
"And your other child?"
"The girl is still in their hands."
"They will do her an injury when they hear..."
"Let her die. Better go to one's grave childless, than unrevenged."
"I understand. I cannot blame you any longer. The boy's blood must berevenged."
And so saying, the old man pressed the Athenian's right hand. The latterdried his tears, mastered his emotion, and cried: "Let us go to thecouncil of war now. No one can be so thankful for Psamtik's infamousdeeds as Cambyses. That man with his hasty passions was never made to bea prince of peace."
"And yet it seems to me the highest duty of a king is to work for theinner welfare of his kingdom. But human beings are strange creatures;they praise their butchers more than their benefactors. How many poemshave been written on Achilles! but did any one ever dream of writingsongs on the wise government of Pittakus?"
"More courage is required to shed blood, than to plant trees."
"But much more kindness and wisdom to heal wounds, than to make them.--Ihave still one question which I should very much like to ask you, beforewe go into the hall. Will Bartja be able to stay at Naukratis whenAmasis is aware of the king's intentions?"
"Certainly not. I have prepared him for this, and advised his assuming adisguise and a false name."
"Did he agree?"
"He seemed willing to follow my advice."
"But at all events it would be well to send a messenger to put him onhis guard."
"We will ask the king's permission."
"Now we must go. I see the wagons containing the via
nds of the royalhousehold just driving away from the kitchen."
"How many people are maintained from the king's table daily?"
"About fifteen thousand."
"Then the Persians may thank the gods, that their king only takes onemeal a day."
[This immense royal household is said to have cost 400 talents, that is (L90,000.) daily. Athenaus, Deipn. p. 607.]