The sun was already trying to break a path for his rays through the
thick curtains, that closed the window of the sick-room, but Nebenchari
had not moved from the Egyptian girl's bedside. Sometimes he felt her
pulse, or spread sweet-scented ointments on her forehead or chest, and
then he would sit gazing dreamily into vacancy. Nitetis seemed to have
sunk into a deep sleep after an attack of convulsions. At the foot of
her bed stood six Persian doctors, murmuring incantations under the
orders of Nebenchari, whose superior science they acknowledged, and who
was seated at the bed's head.
Every time he felt the sick girl's pulse he shrugged his shoulders, and
the gesture was immediately imitated by his Persian colleagues. From
time to time the curtain was lifted and a lovely head appeared, whose
questioning blue eyes fixed at once on the physician, but were always
dismissed with the same melancholy shrug. It was Atossa. Twice she had
ventured into the room, stepping so lightly as hardly to touch the thick
carpet of Milesian wool, had stolen to her friend's bedside and lightly
kissed her forehead, on which the pearly dew of death was standing, but
each time a severe and reproving glance from Nebenchari had sent her
back 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 had
fallen asleep; he flung himself on to his horse, and accompanied by
Phanes, Prexaspes, Otanes, Darius, and a number of courtiers, only just
aroused from their sleep, took a wild ride through the game-park. He
knew by experience, that he could best overcome or forget any violent
mental emotion when mounted on an unmanageable horse.
Nebenchari started on hearing the sound of horses' hoofs in the
distance. In a waking dream he had seen Cambyses enter his native land
at the head of immense hosts; he had seen its cities and temples on
fire, and its gigantic pyramids crumbling to pieces under the powerful
blows of his mighty hand. Women and children lay in the smouldering
ruins, and plaintive cries arose from the tombs in which the very
mummies moved like living beings; and all these-priests, warriors,
women, and children--the living and the dead--all had uttered
his,--Nebenchari's,--name, and had cursed him as a traitor to his
country. A cold shiver struck to his heart; it beat more convulsively
than the blood in the veins of the dying girl at his side. Again the
curtain was raised; Atossa stole in once more and laid her hand on his
shoulder. He started and awoke. Nebenchari had been sitting three days
and nights with scarcely any intermission by this sick-bed, and such
dreams were the natural consequence.
Atossa slipped back to her mother. Not a sound broke the sultry air of
the sick-room, and Nebenchiari's thoughts reverted to his dream. He told
himself 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 time
it was another, and a different one which gained the foremost place. The
forms of Amasis, who had laughed at and exiled him,--of Psamtik and the
priests,--who had burnt his works,--stood near him; they were heavily
fettered and besought mercy at his hands. His lips moved, but this was
not the place in which to utter the cruel words which rose to them. And
then 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 the
lamp, carefully painting every sign of the fine hieratic character
in which he committed his ideas and experience to writing. He had
discovered remedies for many diseases of the eye, spoken of in the
sacred books of Thoth and the writings of a famous old physician of
Byblos as incurable, but, knowing that he should be accused of sacrilege
by his colleagues, if he ventured on a correction or improvement of the
sacred writings, he had entitled his work, "Additional writings on
the treatment of diseases of the eye, by the great god Thoth, newly
discovered by the oculist Nebenchari."
He had resolved on bequeathing his works to the library at Thebes, that
his experience might be useful to his successors and bring forth fruit
for the whole body of sufferers. This was to be his reward for the long
nights which he had sacrificed to science--recognition after death, and
fame for the caste to which he belonged. And there stood his old rival
Petammon, by the side of the crown-prince in the grove of Neith, and
stirred the consuming fire, after having stolen his discovery of the
operation of couching. Their malicious faces were tinged by the red glow
of the flames, which rose with their spiteful laughter towards heaven,
as if demanding vengeance. A little further off he saw in his dream
Amasis receiving his father's letters from the hands of the high-priest.
Scornful and mocking words were being uttered by the king; Neithotep
looked exultant.--In these visions Nebenchari was so lost, that one of
the Persian doctors was obliged to point out to him that his patient was
awake. 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. "It
seemed to me that I was asleep, and yet I saw and heard everything that
had happened in the room. I felt so weak that I hardly knew whether I
was 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 which
he feels at seeing you suffer."
"Oh, no. I know better what it means. Oropastes taught me, that whenever
a 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 hours
more to live, even if I had not seen how you and the other physicians
shrugged your shoulders whenever you looked at me. That poison is
deadly."
"You are speaking too much, my mistress, it will hurt you."
"Oh let me speak, Nebenchari! I must ask you to do something for me
before I die."
"I am your servant."
"No, Nebenchari, you must be my friend and priest. You are not angry
with me for having prayed to the Persian gods? Our own Hathor was always
my best friend still. Yes, I see by your face that you forgiven me. Then
you must promise not to allow my corpse to be torn in pieces by dogs and
vultures. The thought is so very dreadful. You will promise to embalm my
body 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 to
me, 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, and
they left the room. An important incantation, at which no one but the
two concerned might be present, and the application of a new and secret
antidotal poison were the pretexts which he had used in order to get rid
of them.
When they were alone, Nitetis drew a breath of relief and said: "Give
me your priestly blessing on my long journey into the nether world, and
prepare 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--Nitetis
the 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. He
felt confident that he had saved a soul for the gods of his native
land, had cheered the last sad and painful hours of one of God's good
creatures. During these last moments, compassion and benevolence had
excluded every bitter feeling; but when he remembered that this lovely
creature owed all her misery to Amasis too, the old black cloud of
thought darkened his mind again.--Nitetis, after lying silent for some
time, turned to her new friend with a pleasant smile, and said: "I shall
find 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 my
father...."
"Your father and mother are waiting for you there. Now in your last hour
bless those who begot you, and curse those who have robbed you of your
parents, 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 hard
as he said the words, and gazing down on the dying girl. "Curse those
wretches, girl! that curse will do more in gaining mercy from the judges
of the dead, than thousands of good works!" And as he said this he
seized her hand and pressed it violently.
Nitetis looked up uneasily into his indignant face, and stammered in
blind obedience, "I curse those who robbed my parents of their throne
and lives!"
"Those who robbed my parents of their throne and their lives," she
repeated after him, and then crying, "Oh, my heart!" sank back exhausted
on the bed.
Nebenchari bent down, and before the royal physicians could return,
kissed her forehead gently, murmuring: "She dies my confederate. The
gods hearken to the prayers of those who die innocent. By carrying the
sword into Egypt, I shall avenge king Hophra's wrongs as well as my
own."
When Nitetis opened her eyes once more, a few hours later, Kassandane
was holding her right hand, Atossa kneeling at her feet, and Croesus
standing at the head of her bed, trying, with the failing strength
of old age, to support the gigantic frame of the king, who was so
completely overpowered by his grief, that he staggered like a drunken
man. The dying girl's eyes lighted up as she looked round on this
circle. She was wonderfully beautiful. Cambyses came closer and kissed
her lips; they were growing cold in death. It was the first kiss he had
ever given her, and the last. Two large tears sprang to her eyes; their
light was fast growing dim; she murmured Cambyses' name softly, fell
back in Atossa's arms, and died.
We shall not give a detailed account of the next few hours: it would
be an unpleasant task to describe how, at a signal from the principal
Persian doctor, every one, except Nebenchari and Croesus, hastily left
the room; how dogs were brought in and their sagacious heads turned
towards the corpse in order to scare the demon of death;--how, directly
after Nitetis' death, Kassandane, Atossa and their entire retinue
moved into another house in order to avoid defilement;--how fire was
extinguished throughout the dwelling, that the pure element might be
removed from the polluting spirits of death;--how spells and exorcisms
were muttered, and how every person and thing, which had approached or
been brought into contact with the dead body, was subjected to numerous
purifications with water and pungent fluids.
The same evening Cambyses was seized by one of his old epileptic
attacks. Two days later he gave Nebenchari permission to embalm Nitetis'
body in the Egyptian manner, according to her last wish. The king gave
way to the most immoderate grief; he tore the flesh of his arms, rent
his clothes and strewed ashes on his head, and on his couch. All the
magnates of his court were obliged to follow his example. The troops
mounted guard with rent banners and muffled drums. The cymbals and
kettle-drums of the "Immortals" were bound round with crape. The horses
which Nitetis had used, as well as all which were then in use by the
court, were colored blue and deprived of their tails; the entire court
appeared in mourning robes of dark brown, rent to the girdle, and the
Magi were compelled to pray three days and nights unceasingly for the
soul of the dead, which was supposed to be awaiting its sentence for
eternity at the bridge Chinvat on the third night.
Neither the king, Kassandane, nor Atossa shrank from submitting to the
necessary purifications; they repeated, as if for one of their nearest
relations, thirty prayers for the dead, while, in a house outside
the city gates Nebenchari began to embalm her body in the most costly
manner, 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 little
short of insanity. At times furious, at others dull and stupefied, he
did not even allow his relations or the high-priest to approach him. On
the morning of the tenth day he sent for the chief of the seven
judges and commanded, that as lenient a sentence as possible should
be pronounced on Gaumata. Nitetis, on her dying-bed, had begged him to
spare 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 the
world and the sun of righteousness, hath, in his great mercy, which
is 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, with
the indulgence of a mother instead of with the severity of a judge, we,
the seven judges of the realm, have determined to grant his forfeited
life. Inasmuch, however, as by the folly of this youth the lives of
the noblest and best in this realm have been imperilled, and it may
reasonably be apprehended that he may again abuse the marvellous
likeness to Bartja, the noble son of Cyrus, in which the gods have been
pleased in their mercy to fashion his form and face, and thereby bring
prejudice upon the pure and righteous, we have determined to disfigure
him in such wise, that in the time to come it will be a light matter to
discern between this, the most worthless subject of the realm, and
him who is most worthy. We therefore, by the royal Will and command,
pronounce sentence, that both the ears of Gaumata be cut off, for the
honor of the righteous and shame of the impure."
Cambyses confirmed this sentence at once, and it was executed the same
day.
[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 this
ignominious punishment mortified his ambitious mind more than even
a sentence of death could have done. As he was afraid that his own
influence and consideration might suffer through this mutilated brother,
he ordered him to leave Babylon at once for a country-house of his own
on Mount Arakadris.
During the few days which had just passed, a shabbily-dressed and
closely-veiled woman had watched day and night at the great gate of the
palace; neither the threats of the sentries nor the coarse jests of the
palace-servants could drive her from her post. She never allowed one of
the less important officials to pass without eagerly questioning him,
first as to the state of the Egyptian Princess, and then what had
become of Gaumata. When his sentence was told her as a good joke by a
chattering lamp-lighter, she went off into the strangest excitement, and
astonished the poor man so much by kissing his robe, that he thought
she must be crazed, and gave her an alms. She refused the money, but
remained at her post, subsisting on the bread which was given her by the
compassionate distributors of food. Three days later Gaumata himself,
with his head bound up, was driven out in a closed harmamaxa. She rushed
to the carriage and ran screaming by the side of it, until the driver
stopped his mules and asked what she wanted. She threw back her veil
and showed the poor, suffering youth her pretty face covered with deep
blushes. Gaumata uttered a low cry as he recognized her, collected
himself, however, in a moment, and said: "What do you want with me,
Mandane?"
The wretched girl raised her hands beseechingly to him, crying: "Oh, do
not leave me, Gaumata! Take me with you! I forgive you all the misery
you have brought on me and my poor mistress. I love you so much, I will
take 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 the
carriage-door and clasp Mandane-his earliest love-in his arms, when
the sound of horses' hoofs coming nearer struck on his ear, and looking
round he saw, a carriage full of Magi, among whom were several who
had been his companions at the school for priests. He felt ashamed
and afraid of being seen by the very youths, whom he had often treated
proudly and haughtily because he was the brother of the high-priest,
threw Mandane a purse of gold, which his brother had given him at
parting, and ordered the driver to go on as fast as possible. The mules
galloped off. Mandane kicked the purse away, rushed after the carriage
and clung to it firmly. One of the wheels caught her dress and dragged
her down. With the strength of despair she sprang up, ran after the
mules, 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 last
cry of agony pierced the wounds of the mutilated man like a sharp
lance-thrust.
.....................
On the twelfth day after Nitetis' death Cambyses went out hunting, in
the hope that the danger and excitement of the sport might divert his
mind. The magnates and men of high rank at his court received him with
thunders of applause, for which he returned cordial thanks. These few
days of grief had worked a great change in a man so unaccustomed to
suffering as Cambyses. His face was pale, his raven-black hair and beard
had grown grey, and the consciousness of victory which usually shone in
his eyes was dimmed. Had he not, only too painfully, experienced that
there was a stronger will than his own, and that, easily as he could
destroy, it did not be in his power to preserve the life of the meanest
creature? Before starting, Cambyses mustered his troop of sportsmen, and
calling 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 reappeared
among the royal retinue with Phanes.
The Athenian was warmly welcomed by many of the group, a fact which
seems strange when we remember that courtiers are of all men the most
prone to envy, and a royal favorite always the most likely object to
excite their ill will. But Phanes seemed a rare exception to this
rule. He had met the Achaemenidae in so frank and winning a manner, had
excited so many hopes by the hints he had thrown out of an expected and
important war, and had aroused so much merriment by well-told jests,
such as the Persians had never heard before, that there were very few
who did not welcome his appearance gladly, and when--in company with
the king--he separated from the rest in chase of a wild ass, they openly
confessed to one another, that they had never before seen so perfect a
man. The clever way in which he had brought the innocence of the accused
to 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 a
time, were all subjects of admiration. Neither was there one even of the
Achaemenidae themselves, who exceeded him in beauty of face or symmetry
of figure. In the chase he proved himself a perfect horseman, and in a
conflict with a bear an exceptionally courageous and skilful sportsman.
On the way home, as the courtiers were extolling all the wonderful
qualities possessed by the king's favorite, old Araspes exclaimed, "I
quite agree with you that this Greek, who by the way has proved himself
a better soldier than anything else, is no common man, but I am sure
you would not praise him half as much, if he were not a foreigner and a
novelty."
Phanes happened to be only separated from the speaker by some thick
bushes, and heard these words. When the other had finished, he went up
and said, smiling: "I understood what you said and feel obliged to you
for your kind opinion. The last sentence, however, gave me even more
pleasure than the first, because it confirmed my own idea that the
Persians are the most generous people in the world--they praise the
virtues of other nations as much, or even more, than their own."
His hearers smiled, well pleased at this flattering remark, and Phanes
went on: "How different the Jews are now, for instance! They fancy
themselves the exclusive favorites of the gods, and by so doing incur
the contempt of all wise men, and the hatred of the whole world. And
then the Egyptians! You have no idea of the perversity of that people.
Why, if the priests could have their way entirely, (and they have a
great deal of power in their hands) not a foreigner would be left alive
in Egypt, nor a single stranger allowed to enter the country. A true
Egyptian would rather starve, than eat out of the same dish with one of
us. There are more strange, astonishing and wonderful things to be
seen in that country than anywhere else in the world. And yet, to do it
justice, I must say that Egypt has been well spoken of as the richest
and most highly cultivated land under the sun. The man who possesses
that kingdom need not envy the very gods themselves. It would be mere
child's play to conquer that beautiful country. Ten years there gave me
a perfect insight into the condition of things, and I know that their
entire military caste would not be sufficient to resist one such troop
as your Immortals. Well, who knows what the future may bring! Perhaps we
may all make a little trip together to the Nile some day. In my opinion,
your good swords have been rather long idle." These well-calculated
words were received with such shouts of applause, that the king turned
his horse to enquire the cause. Phanes answered quickly that the
Achaemenidae were rejoicing in the thought that a war might possibly be
near at hand.
"What war?" asked the king, with the first smile that had been seen on
his 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, his
voice took an impressive tone full of feeling, and looking earnestly
into his face, he began: "It is true, my Sovereign, that I was not born
in this beautiful country as one of your subjects, nor can I boast of a
long acquaintance with the most powerful of monarchs, but yet I cannot
resist the presumptuous, perhaps criminal thought, that the gods at my
birth appointed me to be your real friend. It is not your rich gifts
that have drawn me to you. I did not need them, for I belong to the
wealthier class of my countrymen, and I have no son,--no heir,--to
whom I can bequeath my treasures. Once I had a boy--a beautiful, gentle
child;--but I was not going to speak of that,--I... Are you offended at
my freedom of speech, my Sovereign?"
"What is there to offend me?" answered the king, who had never been
spoken to in this manner before, and felt strongly attracted to the
original foreigner.
"Till to-day I felt that your grief was too sacred to be disturbed, but
now the time has come to rouse you from it and to make your heart glow
once 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, it
will rouse your anger."
"You make me curious."
"You have been shamefully deceived; you and that lovely creature, who
died such an early death a few days ago."
Cambyses' eyes flashed a demand for further information.
"Amasis, the King of Egypt, has dared to make sport of you, the lord
of the world. That gentle girl was not his daughter, though she herself
believed that she was; she..."
"Impossible!"
"It would seem so, and yet I am speaking the simple truth. Amasis spun
a 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 born
of 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 among
women. You may well frown, my Sovereign. It is a cruel thing to be
betrayed by one's friends and allies."
Cambyses spurred his horse, and after a silence of some moments, kept by
Phanes 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 his
dethronement, when his wife, who had borne him three children and buried
them all, felt that she was about to give birth to a fourth. Hophra, in
his joy, determined to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the temple
of Pacht, the Egyptian goddess supposed to confer the blessing of
children, when, on his way thither, a former magnate of his court,
named Patarbemis, whom, in a fit of unjust anger, he had ignominiously
mutilated, fell upon him with a troop of slaves and massacred him.
Amasis had the unhappy widow brought to his palace at once, and assigned
her an apartment next to the one occupied by his own queen Ladice, who
was also expecting soon to give birth to a child. A girl was born to
Hophra's widow, but the mother died in the same hour, and two days later
Ladice 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 this
imposture was effected, read before you. Several of his notes have, by
a remarkable conjuncture of circumstances, which I will explain to
you later, fallen into my hands. A former high-priest of Heliopolis,
Onuphis, is now living in Babylon, and understands all the different
styles of writing in use among his countrymen. Nebenchari will, of
course, refuse to help in disclosing an imposture, which must inevitably
lead to the ruin of his country."
"In an hour I expect to see you here with the man you have just spoken
of. Croesus, Nebenchari, and all the Achaemenidae who were in Egypt,
will have to appear also. I must have certainty before I can act, and
your testimony alone is not sufficient, because I know from Amasis, that
you have cause to feel a grudge against his house."
At the time appointed all were assembled before the king in obedience to
his command.
Onuphis, the former high-priest, was an old man of eighty. A pair of
large, clear, intelligent, grey eyes looked out of a head so worn and
wasted, 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 an
easy chair, as his paralyzed limbs did not allow of his standing, even
in 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 figure
might perhaps once have been tall and slender, but it was now so bent
and shrunk by age, privation and suffering, as to look unnatural and
dwarfish, in comparison with the size of his head.
Nebenchari, who revered Onuphis, not only as a high-priest deeply
initiated in the most solemn mysteries, but also on account of his great
age, stood by his side and arranged his cushions. At his left stood
Phanes, and then Croesus, Darius and Prexaspes.
The king sat upon his throne. His face was dark and stern as he broke
the silence with the following words:--"This noble Greek, who, I am
inclined to believe, is my friend, has brought me strange tidings. He
says that I have been basely deceived by Amasis, that my deceased wife
was not his, but his predecessor's daughter."
A murmur of astonishment ran through the assembly. "This old man is here
to prove the imposture." Onuphis gave a sign of assent.
"Prexaspes, my first question is to you. When Nitetis was entrusted to
your care, was it expressly said that she was the daughter of Amasis?"
"Expressly. Nebenchari had, it is true, praised Tachot to the noble
Kassandane as the most beautiful of the twin sisters; but Amasis
insisted on sending Nitetis to Persia. I imagined that, by confiding his
most precious jewel to your care, he meant to put you under a special
obligation; 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 the
hand of Tachot. In his letter to you too, as you will remember, he spoke
of confiding to you his most beautiful, his dearest child."
"Those were his words."
"And Nitetis was, without question, the more beautiful and the nobler
of 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 joked
Bartja in these words: 'Don't look too deep into Tachot's eyes, for if
you were a god, I could not allow you to take her to Persia!' Psamtik
was evidently annoyed at this remark and said to the king, 'Father,
remember Phanes.'"
"Phanes!"
"Yes, my Sovereign," answered the Athenian. "Once, when he was
intoxicated, Amasis let out his secret to me, and Psamtik was warning
him 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 entertainment
was given at court. Amasis distinguished me in every way, as having won
a 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 stopped
at 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 that
girl, Phanes; she's not my own child.' Before his drunken father could
say more, Psamtik laid his hand before his mouth, and sent me roughly
away to my lodging, where I thought the matter over and conjectured
what I now, from reliable sources, know to be the truth. I entreat
you, command this old man to translate those parts of the physician
Sonnophre's journal, which allude to this story."
Cambyses nodded his consent, and the old man began to read in a voice
far louder than any one could have supposed possible from his infirm
appearance "On the fifth day of the month Thoth, I was sent for by the
king. I had expected this, as the queen was near her confinement. With
my assistance she was easily and safely delivered of a child--a weakly
girl. As soon as the nurse had taken charge of this child, Amasis led me
behind a curtain which ran across his wife's sleeping-apartment. There
lay 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 creature
has no parents, but, as it is written in the law that we are to show
mercy to the desolate orphans, Ladice and I have determined to bring her
up as our own daughter. We do not, however, wish that this deed should
be made known, either to the world or to the child herself, and I ask
you to keep the secret and spread a report that Ladice has given birth
to twins. If you accomplish this according to our wish, you shall
receive to-day five thousand rings of gold, and the fifth part of this
sum yearly, during your life. I made my obeisance in silence, ordered
every one to leave the sick room, and, when I again called them in,
announced that Ladice had given birth to a second girl. Amasis' real
child 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: "Sixth
day of the month Thoth. This morning I had just lain down to rest after
the fatigues of the night, when a servant appeared with the promised
gold and a letter from the king, asking me to procure a dead child, to
be buried with great ceremony as the deceased daughter of King Hophra.
After a great deal of trouble I succeeded, an hour ago, in obtaining one
from a poor girl who had given birth to a child secretly in the house
of the old woman, who lives at the entrance to the City of the Dead. The
little one had caused her shame and sorrow enough, but she would not be
persuaded to give up the body of her darling, until I promised that it
should be embalmed and buried in the most splendid manner. We put the
little corpse into my large medicine-chest, my son Nebenchari carried it
this time instead of my servant Hib, and so it was introduced into the
room where Hophra's widow had died. The poor girl's baby will receive a
magnificent funeral. I wish I might venture to tell her, what a glorious
lot awaits her darling after death. Nebenchari has just been sent for by
the king."
At the second mention of this name, Cambyses stopped in his walk, and
said: "Is our oculist Nebenchari the man whose name is mentioned in this
manuscript?"
"Nebenchari," returned Phanes, "is the son of this very Sonnophre who
changed 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 at
the characters with which it was covered, shook his head, went up to
Nebenchari 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 the
ornament of a subject; but do not forget that I am your king now.
Kassandane tells me, that you are going to undertake a delicate
operation to-morrow in order to restore her sight. Are you not venturing
too 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 a
portion from my table. Old man, you seem to require better food."
"I need nothing beyond air to breathe, a morsel of bread and a draught
of 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 a
small chamber for myself, that I may be a hindrance to no man. I have
never 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 consort
was the child of Hophra. Now, our law allows the daughter of a king to
succeed to the throne, when there is neither son nor brother living; if
she should die childless, her husband becomes her legitimate successor.
Amasis is a usurper, but the throne of Egypt is the lawful birthright
of Hophra and his descendants. Psamtik forfeits every right to the
crown the moment that a brother, son, daughter or son-in-law of Hophra
appears. I can, therefore, salute my present sovereign as the future
monarch of my own beautiful native land."
Cambyses smiled self-complacently, and Onuphis went on: "I have read in
the stars too, that Psamtik's ruin and your own accession to the throne
of 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 to
close my eyes on the Nile."
"Your wish is granted. Now, my friends, leave me, and see that all those
who usually eat at my table are present at this evening's revel. We will
hold a council of war over the luscious wine. Methinks a campaign in
Egypt will pay better than a contest with the Massagetae."
He was answered by a joyful shout of "Victory to the king!" They all
then left the hall, and Cambyses, summoning his dressers, proceeded for
the first time to exchange his mourning garments for the splendid royal
robes.
Croesus and Phanes went into the green and pleasant garden lying on the
eastern 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 that
you have just flung out into the world?"
"It is only children and fools that act without reflection," was the
answer.
"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 cool
as this piece of iron; but I know my duty."
"The highest duty of a good man, is to subordinate his own welfare to
that of his country."
"That I know."
"You seem to forget, however, that with Egypt you are delivering your
own country over to the Persians."
"I do not agree with you there."
"Do you believe, that when all the rest of the Mediterranean coasts
belong to Persia, she will leave your beautiful Greece untouched?"
"Certainly not, but I know my own countrymen; I believe them fully
capable of a victorious resistance to the hosts of the barbarians,
and am confident that their courage and greatness will rise with the
nearness of the danger. It will unite our divided tribes into one great
nation, and be the ruin of the tyrants."
"I cannot argue with you, for I am no longer acquainted with the state
of things in your native country, and besides, I believe you to be a
wise man--not one who would plunge a nation into ruin merely for the
gratification of his own ambition. It is a fearful thing that entire
nations should have to suffer for the guilt of one man, if that man be
one who wears a crown. And now, if my opinion is of any importance
to you, tell me what the deed was which has roused your desire of
vengeance."
"Listen then, and never try again to turn me from my purpose. You know
the heir to the Egyptian throne, and you know Rhodopis too. The former
was, for many reasons, my mortal enemy, the latter the friend of every
Greek, but mine especially. When I was obliged to leave Egypt, Psamtik
threatened me with his vengeance; your son Gyges saved my life. A few
weeks later my two children came to Naukratis, in order to follow me
out to Sigeum. Rhodopis took them kindly under her protection, but some
wretch had discovered the secret and betrayed it to the prince. The very
next night her house was surrounded and searched,--my children found
and taken captive. Amasis had meanwhile become blind, and allowed his
miserable 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 be
revenged."
And so saying, the old man pressed the Athenian's right hand. The latter
dried his tears, mastered his emotion, and cried: "Let us go to the
council of war now. No one can be so thankful for Psamtik's infamous
deeds as Cambyses. That man with his hasty passions was never made to be
a prince of peace."
"And yet it seems to me the highest duty of a king is to work for the
inner welfare of his kingdom. But human beings are strange creatures;
they praise their butchers more than their benefactors. How many poems
have been written on Achilles! but did any one ever dream of writing
songs 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.--I
have still one question which I should very much like to ask you, before
we go into the hall. Will Bartja be able to stay at Naukratis when
Amasis is aware of the king's intentions?"
"Certainly not. I have prepared him for this, and advised his assuming a
disguise 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 on
his guard."
"We will ask the king's permission."
"Now we must go. I see the wagons containing the viands of the royal
household 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 one
meal a day."
[This immense royal household is said to have cost 400 talents, that
is (L90,000.) daily. Athenaus, Deipn. p. 607.]