her his brother's wife, especially since she was
innocent of this matter; for he understood why she was making the
request..

111. At last however as she continued to entreat urgently and he was
compelled by the rule, namely that it is impossible among them that he
who makes request when a royal feast is laid before the king should
fail to obtain it, at last very much against his will consented; and in
delivering her up he bade Amestris do as she desired, and meanwhile he
sent for his brother and said these words: "Masistes, thou art the son
of Dareios and my brother, and moreover in addition to this thou art
a man of worth. I say to thee, live no longer with this wife with whom
thou now livest, but I give thee instead of her my daughter; with her
live as thy wife, but the wife whom thou now hast, do not keep; for it
does not seem good to me that thou shouldest keep her." Masistes then,
marvelling at that which was spoken, said these words: "Master, how
unprofitable a speech is this which thou utterest to me, in that thou
biddest me send away a wife by whom I have sons who are grown up to be
young men, and daughters one of whom even thou thyself didst take as
a wife for thy son, and who is herself, as it chances, very much to my
mind,--that thou biddest me, I say, send away her and take to wife thy
daughter! I, O king, think it a very great matter that I am judged
worthy of thy daughter, but nevertheless I will do neither of these
things: and do not thou urge me by force to do such a thing as this: but
for thy daughter another husband will be found not in any wise inferior
to me, and let me, I pray thee, live still with my own wife." He
returned answer in some such words as these; and Xerxes being stirred
with anger said as follows: "This then, Masistes, is thy case,--I will
not give thee my daughter for thy wife, nor yet shalt thou live any
longer with that one, in order that thou mayest learn to accept that
which is offered thee." He then when he heard this went out, having
first said these words: "Master, thou hast not surely brought ruin upon
me?" 115.

112. During this interval of time, while Xerxes was conversing with his
brother, Amestris had sent the spearmen of Xerxes to bring the wife of
Masistes, and she was doing to her shameful outrage; for she cut away
her breasts and threw them to dogs, and she cut off her nose and ears
and lips and tongue, and sent her back home thus outraged.

113. Then Masistes, not