CHAPTER IX.
Six weeks after these events a little troop of horsemen might have beenseen riding towards the gates of Sardis. The horses and their riderswere covered with sweat and dust. The former knew that they were drawingnear a town, where there would be stables and mangers, and exerted alltheir remaining powers; but yet their pace did not seem nearly fastenough to satisfy the impatience of two men, dressed in Persian costume,who rode at the head of the troop.
The well-kept royal road ran through fields of good black, arable land,planted with trees of many different kinds. It crossed the outlyingspurs of the Tmolus range of mountains. At their foot stretched rows ofolive, citron and plane-trees, plantations of mulberries and vines; ata higher level grew firs, cypresses and nut-tree copses. Fig-trees anddate-palms, covered with fruit, stood sprinkled over the fields; andthe woods and meadows were carpeted with brightly-colored andsweetly-scented flowers. The road led over ravines and brooks, now halfdried up by the heat of summer, and here and there the traveller cameupon a well at the side of the road, carefully enclosed, with seats forthe weary, and sheltering shrubs. Oleanders bloomed in the more dampand shady places; slender palms waved wherever the sun was hottest. Overthis rich landscape hung a deep blue, perfectly cloudless sky, boundedon its southern horizon by the snowy peaks of the Tmolus mountains, andon the west by the Sipylus range of hills, which gave a bluish shimmerin the distance.
The road went down into the valley, passing through a little wood ofbirches, the stems of which, up to the very tree-top, were twined withvines covered with bunches of grapes.
The horsemen stopped at a bend in the road, for there, before them, inthe celebrated valley of the Hermus, lay the golden Sardis, formerly thecapital of the Lydian kingdom and residence of its king, Croesus.
Above the reed-thatched roofs of its numerous houses rose a black, steeprock; the white marble buildings on its summit could be seen from agreat distance. These buildings formed the citadel, round the threefoldwalls of which, many centuries before, King Meles had carried a lion inorder to render them impregnable. On its southern side the citadel-rockwas not so steep, and houses had been built upon it. Croesus'former palace lay to the north, on the golden-sanded Pactolus. Thisreddish-colored river flowed above the market-place, (which, to ouradmiring travellers, looked like a barren spot in the midst of ablooming meadow), ran on in a westerly direction, and then entereda narrow mountain valley, where it washed the walls of the temple ofCybele.
Large gardens stretched away towards the east, and in the midst ofthem lay the lake Gygaeus, covered with gay boats and snowy swans, andsparkling like a mirror.
A short distance from the lake were a great number of artificial mounds,three of which were especially noticeable from their size and height.
[See also Hamilton's Asia Minor, I. P. 145. Herodotus (I. 93.) calls the tombs of the Lydian kings the largest works of human hands, next to the Egyptian and Babylonian. These cone-shaped hills can be seen to this day, standing near the ruins of Sardis, not far from the lake of Gygaea. Hamilton (Asia Minor, I. p. i) counted some sixty of them, and could not ride round the hill of Alayattes in less than ten minutes. Prokesch saw 100 such tumuli. The largest, tomb of Alyattes, still measures 3400 feet in circumference, and the length of its slope is 650 feet. According to Prokesch, gigantic Phallus columns lie on some of these graves.]
"What can those strange-looking earth-heaps mean?" said Darius, theleader of the troop, to Prexaspes, Cambyses' envoy, who rode at hisside.
"They are the graves of former Lydian kings," was the answer. "Themiddle one is in memory of the princely pair Panthea and Abradatas, andthe largest, that one to the left, was erected to the father of Croesus,Alyattes. It was raised by the tradesmen, mechanics, and girls, to theirlate king, and on the five columns, which stand on its summit, you canread how much each of these classes contributed to the work. The girlswere the most industrious. Gyges' grandfather is said to have been theirespecial friend."
"Then the grandson must have degenerated very much from the old stock."
"Yes, and that seems the more remarkable, because Croesus himself inhis youth was by no means averse to women, and the Lydians generally aredevoted to such pleasures. You see the white walls of that temple yonderin the midst of its sacred grove. That is the temple of the goddess ofSardis, Cybele or Ma, as they call her. In that grove there is many asheltered spot where the young people of Sardis meet, as they say, inhonor of their goddess."
"Just as in Babylon, at the festival of Mylitta."
"There is the same custom too on the coast of Cyprus. When I landedthere on the way back from Egypt, I was met by a troop of lovely girls,who, with songs, dances, and the clang of cymbals, conducted me to thesacred grove of their goddess."
"Well, Zopyrus will not grumble at Bartja's illness."
"He will spend more of his time in the grove of Cybele, than at hispatient's bedside. How glad I shall be to see that jolly fellow again!"
"Yes, he'll keep you from falling into those melancholy fits that youhave been so subject to lately." "You are quite right to blame me forthose fits, and I must not yield to them, but they are not withoutground. Croesus says we only get low-spirited, when we are either toolazy or too weak to struggle against annoyances, and I believe he isright. But no one shall dare to accuse Darius of weakness or idleness.If I can't rule the world, at least I will be my own master." And as hesaid these words, the handsome youth drew himself up, and sat erect inhis saddle. His companion gazed in wonder at him.
"Really, you son of Hystaspes," he said, "I believe you must be meantfor something great. It was not by chance that, when you were still amere child, the gods sent their favorite Cyrus that dream which inducedhim to order you into safe keeping."
"And yet my wings have never appeared."
"No bodily ones, certainly; but mental ones, likely enough. Young man,young man, you're on a dangerous road."
"Have winged creatures any need to be afraid of precipices?"
"Certainly; when their strength fails them."
"But I am strong."
"Stronger creatures than you will try to break your pinions."
"Let them. I want nothing but what is right, and shall trust to mystar."
"Do you know its name?"
"It ruled in the hour of my birth, and its name is Anahita."
"I think I know better. A burning ambition is the sun, whose rays guideall your actions. Take care; I tried that way myself once; it leads tofame or to disgrace, but very seldom to happiness. Fame to the ambitiousis like salt water to the thirsty; the more he gets, the more he wants.I was once only a poor soldier, and am now Cambyses' ambassador. Butyou, what can you have to strive for? There is no man in the kingdomgreater than yourself, after the sons of Cyrus... Do my eyes deceive me?Surely those two men riding to meet us with a troop of horsemen mustbe Gyges and Zopyrus. The Angare, who left the inn before us, must havetold them of our coming."
"To be sure. Look at that fellow Zopyrus, how he's waving and beckoningwith that palm-leaf."
"Here, you fellows, cut us a few twigs from those bushes-quick. We'llanswer his green palm-leaf with a purple pomegranate-branch."
In a few minutes the friends had embraced one another, and the twobands were riding together into the populous town, through the gardenssurrounding the lake Gygaeus, the Sardians' place of recreation. It wasnow near sunset, a cooler breeze was beginning to blow, and the citizenswere pouring through the gates to enjoy themselves in the open air.Lydian and Persian warriors, the former wearing richly-ornamentedhelmets, the latter tiaras in the form of a cylinder, were followinggirls who were painted and wreathed. Children were being led to the lakeby their nurses, to see the swans fed. An old blind man was seated undera plane-tree, singing sad ditties to a listening crowd and accompanyingthem on the Magadis, the twenty-stringed Lydian lute. Youths wereenjoying themselves at games of ball, ninepins, and dice, and half-growngirls screaming with fright, when the ball hit one of thei
r group ornearly fell into the water.
The travellers scarcely noticed this gay scene, though at another timeit would have delighted them. They were too much interested in enquiringparticulars of Bartja's illness and recovery.
At the brazen gates of the palace which had formerly belongedto Croesus, they were met by Oroetes, the satrap of Sardis, in amagnificent court-dress overloaded with ornaments. He was a stately man,whose small penetrating black eyes looked sharply out from beneath abushy mass of eyebrow. His satrapy was one of the most importantand profitable in the entire kingdom, and his household could bear acomparison with that of Cambyses in richness and splendor. Thoughhe possessed fewer wives and attendants than the king, it was noinconsiderable troop of guards, slaves, eunuchs and gorgeously-dressedofficials, which appeared at the palace-gates to receive the travellers.
The vice-regal palace, which was still kept up with great magnificence,had been, in the days when Croesus occupied it, the most splendid ofroyal residences; after the taking of Sardis, however, the greater partof the dethroned king's treasures and works of art had been sent toCyrus's treasure-house in Pasargadae. When that time of terror hadpassed, the Lydians brought many a hidden treasure into the light of dayonce more, and, by their industry and skill in art during the peacefulyears which they enjoyed under Cyrus and Cambyses, recovered theirold position so far, that Sardis was again looked upon as one of thewealthiest cities of Asia Minor, and therefore, of the world.
Accustomed as Darius and Prexaspes were to royal splendor, they werestill astonished at the beauty and brilliancy of the satrap's palace.The marble work, especially, made a great impression on them, as nothingof the kind was to be found in Babylon, Susa or Ecbatana, where burntbrick and cedar-wood supply the place of the polished marble.
[The palace of Persepolis did not exist at the date of our story. It was built partly of black stone from Mount Rachmed, and partly of white marble; it was probably begun by Darius. The palace of Susa was built of brick, (Strabo p. 728) that of Ecbatana of wood overlaid with plates of gold of immense value, and roofed with tiles made of the precious metals.]
They found Bartja lying on a couch in the great hall; he looked verypale, and stretched out his arms towards them.
The friends supped together at the satrap's table and then retired toBartja's private room, in order to enjoy an undisturbed conversation.
"Well, Bartja, how did you come by this dangerous illness?" was Darius'first question after they were seated.
"I was thoroughly well, as you know," said Bartja, "when we leftBabylon, and we reached Germa, a little town on the Sangarius, withoutthe slightest hindrance. The ride was long and we were very tired, burnttoo by the scorching May sun, and covered with dust; the river flows bythe station, and its waves looked so clear and bright--so inviting fora bathe--that in a minute Zopyrus and I were off our horses, undressed,and in the water. Gyges told us we were very imprudent, but we feltconfident that we were too much inured to such things to get anyharm, and very much enjoyed our swim in the cool, green water. Gyges,perfectly calm as usual, let us have our own way, waited till our bathwas over, and then plunged in himself.
"In two hours we were in our saddles again, pushing on as if for ourvery lives, changing horses at every station, and turning night intoday.
"We were near Ipsus, when I began to feel violent pains in the head andlimbs. I was ashamed to say anything about it and kept upright on mysaddle, until we had to take fresh horses at Bagis. Just as I was in thevery act of mounting, I lost my senses and strength, and fell down onthe ground in a dead faint."
"Yes, a pretty fright you gave us," interrupted Zopyrus, "by droppingdown in that fashion. It was fortunate that Gyges was there, for I lostmy wits entirely; he, of course, kept his presence of mind, and afterrelieving his feelings in words not exactly flattering to us two, hebehaved like a circumspect general.--A fool of a doctor came running upand protested that it was all over with poor Bart, for which I gave hima good thrashing."
"Which he didn't particularly object to," said the satrap, laughing,"seeing that you told them to lay a gold stater on every stripe."
"Yes, yes, my pugnacity costs me very dear sometimes. But to our story.As soon as Bartja had opened his eyes, Gyges sent me off to Sardis tofetch a good physician and an easy travelling-carriage. That ride won'tso soon be imitated. An hour before I reached the gates my third horseknocked up under me, so I had to trust to my own legs, and began runningas fast as I could. The people must all have thought me mad. At last Isaw a man on horseback--a merchant from Kelaenze--dragged him from hishorse, jumped into the saddle, and, before the next morning dawned, Iwas back again with our invalid, bringing the best physician in Sardis,and Oroetes' most commodious travelling-carriage. We brought him to thishouse at a slow footpace, and here a violent fever came on, he becamedelirious, talked all the nonsense that could possibly come into a humanbrain, and made us so awfully anxious, that the mere remembrance of thattime brings the big drops of perspiration to my forehead."
Bartja took his friend's hand: "I owe my life to him and Gyges," saidhe, turning to Darius. "Till to-day, when they set out to meet you, theyhave never left me for a minute; a mother could not have nursed her sickchild more carefully. And Oroetes, I am much obliged to you too; doublyso because your kindness subjected you to annoyance."
"How could that be?" asked Darius.
"That Polykrates of Samos, whose name we heard so often in Egypt, hasthe best physician that Greece has ever produced. While I was lying hereill, Oroetes wrote to this Democedes, making him immense promises, if hewould only come to Sardis directly. The Sainian pirates, who infestthe whole Ionian coast, took the messenger captive and brought Oroetes'letter to their master Polykrates. He opened it, and sent the messengerback with the answer, that Democedes was in his pay, and that if Oroetesneeded his advice he must apply to Polykrates himself. Our generousfriend submitted for my sake, and asked the Samian to send his physicianto Sardis."
"Well," said Prexaspes, "and what followed?"
"The proud island-prince sent him at once. He cured me, as you see, andleft us a few days ago loaded with presents."
"Well," interrupted Zopyrus, "I can quite understand, that Polykrateslikes to keep his physician near him. I assure you, Darius, it would notbe easy to find his equal. He's as handsome as Minutscher, as clever asPiran Wisa, as strong as Rustem, and as benevolent and helpful as thegod Soma. I wish you could have seen how well he threw those round metalplates he calls discs. I am no weakling, but when we wrestled he soonthrew me. And then he could tell such famous stories--stories that madea man's heart dance within him."
[This very Oroetes afterwards succeeded in enticing Polykrates to Sardis and there crucified him. Herod. III. 120-125. Valerius Maximus VI. 9. 5.]
"We know just such a fellow too," said Darius, smiling at his friend'senthusiasm. "That Athenian Phanes, who came to prove our innocence."
"The physician Democedes is from Crotona, a place which must besomewhere very near the setting sun."
"But is inhabited by Greeks, like Athens." added Oroetes. "Ah, myyoung friends, you must beware of those fellows; they're as cunning,deceitful, and selfish, as they are strong, clever, and handsome."
"Democedes is generous and sincere," cried Zopyrus.
"And Croesus himself thinks Phanes not only an able, but a virtuousman," added Darius.
"Sappho too has always, and only spoken well of the Athenian," saidBartja, in confirmation of Darius's remark. "But don't let us talk anymore about these Greeks," he went on. "They give Oroetes so much troubleby their refractory and stubborn conduct, that he is not very fond ofthem."
"The gods know that," sighed the satrap. "It's more difficult to keepone Greek town in order, than all the countries between the Euphratesand the Tigris."
While Oroetes was speaking, Zopyrus had gone to the window. "The starsare already high in the heavens," he said, "and Bartja is tired; so makehaste, Darius, and tell us something about home.
"
The son of Hystaspes agreed at once, and began by relating the eventswhich we have heard already. Bartja, especially, was distressed athearing of Nitetis' sad end, and the discovery of Amasis' fraud filledthem all with astonishment. After a short pause, Darius went on:
"When once Nitetis' descent had been fully proved, Cambyses was like achanged man. He called a council of war, and appeared at table inthe royal robes instead of his mourning garments. You can fancy whatuniversal joy the idea of a war with Egypt excited. Even Croesus, whoyou know is one of Amasis' well-wishers, and advises peace wheneverit is possible, had not a word to say against it. The next morning, asusual, what had been resolved on in intoxication was reconsideredby sober heads; after several opinions had been given, Phanes askedpermission to speak, and spoke I should think for an hour. But how well!It was as if every word he said came direct from the gods. He has learntour language in a wonderfully short time, but it flowed from his lipslike honey. Sometimes he drew tears from every eye, at others excitedstormy shouts of joy, and then wild bursts of rage. His gestures wereas graceful as those of a dancing-girl, but at the same time manly anddignified. I can't repeat his speech; my poor words, by the side of his,would sound like the rattle of a drum after a peal of thunder. But whenat last, inspired and carried away by his eloquence, we had unanimouslydecided on war, he began to speak once more on the best ways and meansof prosecuting it successfully."
Here Darius was obliged to stop, as Zopyrus had fallen on his neck in anecstasy of delight. Bartja, Gyges and Oroetes were not less delighted,and they all begged him to go on with his tale.
"Our army," began Darius afresh, "ought to be at the boundaries of Egyptby the month Farwardin, (March) as the inundation of the Nile, whichwould hinder the march of our infantry, begins in Murdad (July). Phanesis now on his way to the Arabians to secure their assistance; in hopesthat these sons of the desert may furnish our army with water and guidesthrough their dry and thirsty land. He will also endeavor to win therich island of Cyprus, which he once conquered for Amasis, over to ourside. As it was through his mediation that the kings of the island wereallowed to retain their crowns, they will be willing to listen to hisadvice. In short the Athenian leaves nothing uncared for, and knowsevery road and path as if he were the sun himself He showed us a pictureof the world on a plate of copper."
Oroetes nodded and said, "I have such a picture of the world too. AMilesian named Hekataeus, who spends his life in travelling, drew it,and gave it me in exchange for a free-pass."
[Hekataeus of Miletus maybe called "the father of geography," as Herodotus was "the father of history." He improved the map made by Anaximander, and his great work, "the journey round the world," was much prized by the ancients; but unfortunately, with the exception of some very small fragments, has now perished. Herodotus assures us, (V. 36.) that Hekataeus was intimately acquainted with every part of the Persian empire, and had also travelled over Egypt. he lived at the date of our narrative, having been born at Miletus 550 B. C. He lived to see the fall of his native city in 4966 B. C. His map has been restored by Klausen and can be seen also in Mure's Lan. and Lit. of Ancient Greece. Vol. IV. Maps existed, however, much earlier, the earliest known being one of the gold-mines, drawn very cleverly by an Egyptian priest, and so well sketched as to give a pretty clear idea of the part of the country intended. It is preserved in the Egyptian Museum at Turin.]
"What notions these Greeks have in their heads!" exclaimed Zopyrus,who could not explain to himself what a picture of the world could looklike.
"To-morrow I will show you my copper tablet, said Oroetes, but now wemust allow Darius to go on."
"So Phanes has gone to Arabia," continued Darius, "and Prexaspes wassent hither not only to command you, Oroetes, to raise as many forces aspossible, especially Ionians and Carians, of whom Phanes has offeredto undertake the command, but also to propose terms of alliance toPolykrates."
"To that pirate!" asked Oroetes, and his face darkened.
"The very same," answered Prexaspes, not appearing to notice the changein Oroetes' face. "Phanes has already received assurances from thisimportant naval power, which sound as if we might expect a favorableanswer to my proposal."
"The Phoenician, Syrian and Ionian ships of war would be quitesufficient to cope with the Egyptian fleet."
"There you are right; but if Polykrates were to declare against us, weshould not be able to hold our own at sea; you say yourself that he isall-powerful in the AEgean."
"Still I decidedly disapprove of entering into treaty with such arobber."
"We want powerful allies, and Polykrates is very powerful at sea.It will be time to humble him, when we have used him to help us inconquering Egypt. For the present I entreat you to suppress all personalfeeling, and keep the success of our great plan alone in view. I amempowered to say this in the king's name, and to show his ring in tokenthereof."
Oroetes made a brief obeisance before this symbol of despotism, andasked: "What does Cambyses wish me to do?"
"He commands you to use every means in your power to secure an alliancewith the Samian; and also to send your troops to join the main army onthe plains of Babylon as soon as possible."
The satrap bowed and left the room with a look betraying irritation anddefiance.
When the echo of his footsteps had died away among the colonnades of theinner court, Zopyrus exclaimed: "Poor fellow, it's really very hard forhim to have to meet that proud man, who has so often behaved insolentlyto him, on friendly terms. Think of that story about the physician forinstance."
"You are too lenient," interrupted Darius. "I don't like this Oroetes.He has no right to receive the king's commands in that way. Didn't yousee him bite his lips till they bled, when Prexaspes showed him theking's ring?"
"Yes," cried the envoy, "he's a defiant, perverse man. He left the roomso quickly, only because he could not keep down his anger any longer."
"Still," said Bartja, "I hope you will keep his conduct a secret from mybrother, for he has been very good to me."
Prexaspes bowed, but Darius said: "We must keep an eye on the fellow.Just here, so far from the king's gate and in the midst of nationshostile to Persia, we want governors who are more ready to obey theirking than this Oroetes seems to be. Why, he seems to fancy he is King ofLydia!"
"Do you dislike the satrap?" said Zopyrus.
"Well, I think I do," was the answer. "I always take an aversion or afancy to people at first sight, and very seldom find reason to change mymind afterwards. I disliked Oroetes before I heard him speak a word, andI remember having the same feeling towards Psamtik, though Amasis tookmy fancy."
"There's no doubt that you're very different from the rest of us," saidZopyrus laughing, "but now, to please me, let this poor Oroetes alone.I'm glad he's gone though, because we can talk more freely about home.How is Kassandane? and your worshipped Atossa? Croesus too, how ishe? and what are my wives about? They'll soon have a new companion.To-morrow I intend to sue for the hand of Oroetes' pretty daughter.We've talked a good deal of love with our eyes already. I don't knowwhether we spoke Persian or Syrian, but we said the most charming thingsto one another."
The friends laughed, and Darius, joining in their merriment, said: "Nowyou shall hear a piece of very good news. I have kept it to the last,because it is the best I have. Now, Bartja, prick up your ears. Yourmother, the noble Kassandane, has been cured of her blindness! Yes, yes,it is quite true.--Who cured her? Why who should it be, but that crabbedold Nebenchari, who has become, if possible, moodier than ever. Come,now, calm yourselves, and let me go on with my story; or it will bemorning before Bartja gets to sleep. Indeed. I think we had betterseparate now: you've heard the best, and have something to dream aboutWhat, you will not? Then, in the name of Mithras, I must go on, thoughit should make my heart bleed.
"I'll begin with the king. As long as Phanes was in Babylon, he seemedto forget his grief for Nitetis.
"The Athenian was never allowed to
leave him. They were as inseparableas Reksch and Rustem. Cambyses had no time to think of his sorrow, forPhanes had always some new idea or other, and entertained us all, aswell as the king, marvellously. And we all liked him too; perhaps,because no one could really envy him. Whenever he was alone, the tearscame into his eyes at the thought of his boy, and this made his greatcheerfulness--a cheerfulness which he always managed to impart to theking, Bartja,--the more admirable. Every morning he went down to theEuphrates with Cambyses and the rest of us, and enjoyed watching thesons of the Achaemenidae at their exercises. When he saw them riding atfull speed past the sand-hills and shooting the pots placed on them intofragments with their arrows, or throwing blocks of wood at one anotherand cleverly evading the blows, he confessed that he could not imitatethem in these exercises, but at the same time he offered to accept achallenge from any of us in throwing the spear and in wrestling. In hisquick way he sprang from his horse, stripped off his clothes--itwas really a shame--and, to the delight of the boys, threw theirwrestling-master as if he had been a feather.
[In the East, nudity was, even in those days, held to be disgraceful, while the Greeks thought nothing so beautiful as the naked human body. The Hetaira Phryne was summoned before the judges for an offence against religion. Her defender, seeing that sentence was about to be pronounced against his client, suddenly tore away the garment which covered her bosom. The artifice was successful. The judges pronounced her not guilty, being convinced that such wondrous grace and beauty could only belong to a favorite of Aphrodite. Athen. XIII. p. 590]
"Then he knocked over a number of bragging fellows, and would havethrown me too if he had not been too fatigued. I assure you, I am reallystronger than he is, for I can lift greater weights, but he is asnimble as an eel, and has wonderful tricks by which he gets hold ofhis adversary. His being naked too is a great help. If it were not soindecent, we ought always to wrestle stripped, and anoint our skins, asthe Greeks do, with the olive-oil. He beat us too in throwing the spear,but the king, who you know is proud of being the best archer in Persia,sent his arrow farther. Phanes was especially pleased with our rule,that in a wrestling-match the one who is thrown must kiss the hand ofhis victor. At last he showed us a new exercise:--boxing. He refused,however, to try his skill on any one but a slave, so Cambyses sent forthe biggest and strongest man among the servants--my groom, Bessus--agiant who can bring the hind legs of a horse together and hold them sofirmly that the creature trembles all over and cannot stir. Thisbig fellow, taller by a head than Phanes, shrugged his shoulderscontemptuously on hearing that he was to box with the little foreigngentleman. He felt quite sure of victory, placed himself opposite hisadversary, and dealt him a blow heavy enough to kill an elephant. Phanesavoided it cleverly, in the same moment hitting the giant with his nakedfist so powerfully under the eyes, that the blood streamed from his noseand mouth, and the huge, uncouth fellow fell on the ground with ayell. When they picked him up his face looked like a pumpkin of agreenish-blue color. The boys shouted with delight at his discomfiture;but we admired the dexterity of this Greek, and were especially glad tosee the king in such good spirits; we noticed this most when Phanes wassinging Greek songs and dance-melodies to him accompanied by the lute.
"Meanwhile Kassandane's blindness had been cured, and this of coursetended not a little to disperse the king's melancholy.
"In short it was a very pleasant time, and I was just going to askfor Atossa's hand in marriage, when Phanes went off to Arabia, andeverything was changed.
"No sooner had he turned his back on the gates of Babylon than all theevil Divs seemed to have entered into the king. He went about, a moody,silent man, speaking to no one; and to drown his melancholy wouldbegin drinking, even at an early hour in the morning, quantities of thestrongest Syrian wine. By the evening he was generally so intoxicatedthat he had to be carried out of the hall, and would wake up the nextmorning with headache and spasms. In the day-time he would wander aboutas if looking for something, and in the night they often heard himcalling Nitetis. The physicians became very anxious about his health,but when they sent him medicine he threw it away. It was quite right ofCroesus to say, as he did once 'Ye Magi and Chaldaeans! before trying tocure a sick man we must discover the seat of his disease. Do you knowit in this case? No? Then I will tell you what ails the king. He hasan internal complaint and a wound. The former is called ennui, and thelatter is in his heart. The Athenian is a good remedy for the first,but for the second I know of none; such wounds either scar over ofthemselves, or the patient bleeds to death inwardly.'"
"I know of a remedy for the king though," exclaimed Otanes when he heardthese words. "We must persuade him to send for the women, or at leastfor my daughter Phaedime, back from Susa. Love is good for dispersingmelancholy, and makes the blood flow faster." We acknowledged that hewas right, and advised him to remind the king of his banished wives. Heventured to make the proposal while we were at supper, but got such aharsh rebuff for his pains, that we all pitied him. Soon after this,Cambyses sent one morning for all the Mobeds and Chaldaeans, andcommanded them to interpret a strange dream which he had bad. In hisdream he had been standing in the midst of a dry and barren plain:barren as a threshing-floor, it did not produce a single blade of grass.Displeased at the desert aspect of the place, he was just going to seekother and more fruitful regions, when Atossa appeared, and, withoutseeing him, ran towards a spring which welled up through the arid soilas if by enchantment. While he was gazing in wonder at this scene, henoticed that wherever the foot of his sister touched the parched soil,graceful terebinths sprang up, changing, as they grew, into cypresseswhose tops reached unto heaven. As he was going to speak to Atossa, heawoke.
The Mobeds and Chaldaeans consulted together and interpreted the dreamthus? 'Atossa would be successful in all she undertook.'
"Cambyses seemed satisfied with this answer, but, as the next night thevision appeared again, he threatened the wise men with death, unlessthey could give him another and a different interpretation. Theypondered long, and at last answered, 'that Atossa would become a queenand the mother of mighty princes.'
"This answer really contented the king, and he smiled strangely tohimself as he told us his dream. 'The same day Kassandane sent for meand told me to give up all thoughts of her daughter, as I valued mylife.
"'Just as I was leaving the queen's garden I saw Atossa behind apomegranate-bush. She beckoned. I went to her; and in that hour weforgot danger and sorrow, but said farewell to each other for ever. Nowyou know all; and now that I have given her up--now that I know it wouldbe madness even to think of her again--I am obliged to be very sternwith myself, lest, like the king, I should fall into deep melancholyfor the sake of a woman. And this is the end of the story, the closeof which we were all expecting, when Atossa, as I lay under sentence ofdeath, sent me a rose, and made me the happiest of mortals. If I hadnot betrayed my secret then, when we thought our last hour was near, itwould have gone with me to my grave. But what am I talking about? I knowI can trust to your secrecy, but pray don't look at me so deplorably. Ithink I am still to be envied, for I have had one hour of enjoyment thatwould outweigh a century of misery. Thank you,--thank you: now let mefinish my story as quickly as I can.
"Three days after I had taken leave of Atossa I had to marry Artystone,the daughter of Gobryas. She is beautiful, and would make any other manhappy. The day after the wedding the Angare reached Babylon with thenews of your illness. My mind was made up at once; I begged the king tolet me go to you, nurse you, and warn you of the danger which threatensyour life in Egypt--took leave of my bride, in spite of all myfather-in-law's protestations, and went off at full speed withPrexaspes, never resting till I reached your side, my dear Bartja. NowI shall go with you and Zopyrus to Egypt, for Gyges must accompany theambassador to Samos, as interpreter. This is the king's command; he hasbeen in better spirits the last few days; the inspection of themasses of troops coming up to Babylon diverts him, besides which, theChaldaeans have assured
him that the planet Adar, which belongs to theirwar-god Chanon, promises a great victory to the Persian arms. When doyou think you shall be able to travel, Bartja?"
"To-morrow, if you like," was the answer. "The doctors say thesea-voyage will do me good, and the journey by land to Smyrna is veryshort."
"And I can assure you," added Zopyrus, "that Sappho will cure you soonerthan all the doctors in the world."
"Then we will start in three days;" said Darius after someconsideration, "we have plenty to do before starting. Remember we aregoing into what may almost be called an enemy's country. I have beenthinking the matter over, and it seems to me that Bartja must pass for aBabylonian carpet-merchant, I for his brother, and Zopyrus for a dealerin Sardian red."
"Couldn't we be soldiers?" asked Zopyrus. "It's such an ignominiousthing to be taken for cheating peddlers. How would it be, for instance,if we passed ourselves off for Lydian soldiers, escaped from punishment,and seeking service in the Egyptian army?"
"That's not a bad idea," said Bartja, "and I think too that we look morelike soldiers than traders."
"Looks and manner are no guide," said Gyges. "Those great Greekmerchants and ship-owners go about as proudly as if the world belongedto them. But I don't find Zopyrus' proposal a bad one."
"Then so let it be," said Darius, yielding. "In that case Oroetes mustprovide us with the uniform of Lydian Taxiarchs."
"You'd better take the splendid dress of the Chiliarchs at once, Ithink," cried Gyges.
"Why, on such young men, that would excite suspicion directly."
"But we can't appear as common soldiers."
"No, but as Hekatontarchs."
"All right," said Zopyrus laughing. "Anything you like except ashop-keeper.--So in three days we are off. I am glad I shall just havetime to make sure of the satrap's little daughter, and to visit thegrove of Cybele at last. Now, goodnight, Bartja; don't get up too early.What will Sappho say, if you come to her with pale cheeks?"