ommander, Megabyzus, could have subdued that small nation alone."

"Of that I have no doubt," replied the king, "but Bartja desired an
opportunity of distinguishing himself in the field; and for that reason
I sent him."

"Would he not gladly have waited until the war with the Massageta; where
more glory might be gained?" asked the blind woman.

"Yes," said Atossa, "and if he should fall in this war, you will
have deprived him of the power of fulfilling his most sacred duty, of
avenging the soul of our father!"

"Be silent!" cried Cambyses in an overbearing tone, "or I shall have to
teach you what is becoming in women and children. Bartja is on far too
good terms with fortune to fall in the war. He will live, I hope, to
deserve the love which is now so freely flung into his lap like an
alms."

"How canst thou speak thus?" cried Kassandane. "In what manly virtue is
Bartja wanting? Is it his fault, that he has had no such opportunity of
distinguishing himself in the field as thou hast had? You are the
king and I am bound to respect your commands, but I blame my son for
depriving his blind mother of the greatest joy left to her in her old
age. Bartja would have gladly remained here until the Massagetan war, if
your self-will had not determined otherwise."

"And what I will is good!" exclaimed Cambyses interrupting his mother,
and pale with anger, "I desire that this subject be not mentioned
again."

So saying, he left the room abruptly and went into the reception-hall,
followed by the immense retinue which never quitted him, whithersoever
he might direct his steps.

An hour passed, and still Nitetis and the lovely Atossa were sitting
side by side, at the feet of the queen. The Persian women listened
eagerly to all their new friend could tell them about Egypt and its
wonders.

"Oh! how I should like to visit your home!" exclaimed Atossa. "It must
be quite, quite different from Persia and everything else that I have
seen yet. The fruitful shores of your great river, larger even than the
Euphrates, the temples with their painted columns, those huge artificial
mountains, the Pyramids, where the ancient kings be buried--it must
all be wonderfully beautiful. But what pleases me best of all is your
description of the entertainments, where men and women converse together
as they like. The only meals we are allowed to take in the society
of men are on New Year's Day and the king's birthday, and then we are
forbidden to s