Part 25 (1/2)
”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 G.o.ds 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 Ma.s.sagetae.”
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 pa.s.sion.”
”I do not belong to that number.”
”And yet revenge is the most fearful of all the pa.s.sions.”
”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 pa.s.sions 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 a.s.suming 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 G.o.ds, that their king only takes one meal a day.”