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 su