age of 120 years, and some
even passed it: how they ate nothing but boiled flesh, drank new milk
and washed in a spring the waters of which had the scent of violets,
gave a remarkable lustre to their skins, and were so light that wood
could not swim in them: how their captives wore golden fetters, because
other metals were rare and dear in their country; and lastly, how they
covered the bodies of the dead with plaster or stucco, over which a
coating of some glass-like material was poured, and kept the pillars
thus formed one year in their houses, during which time sacrifices were
offered them, and at the year's end they were placed in rows around the
town.

The king of this strange people had accepted Cambyses' presents, saying,
in a scornful tone, that he new well his friendship was of no importance
to the Persians, and Prexaspes had only been sent to spy out the land.
If the prince of Asia were a just man, he would be contented with his
own immense empire and not try to subjugate a people who had done him no
wrong. "Take your king this bow," he said, "and advise him not to begin
the war with us, until the Persians are able to bend such weapons as
easily as we do. Cambyses may thank the gods, that the Ethiopians have
never taken it into their heads to conquer countries which do not belong
to them."

He then unbent his mighty bow of ebony, and gave it to Prexaspes to take
to his lord.

Cambyses laughed at the bragging African, invited his nobles to a trial
of the bow the next morning, and awarded Prexaspes for the clever way
in which he had overcome the difficulties of his journey and acquitted
himself of his mission. He then went to rest, as usual intoxicated, and
fell into a disturbed sleep, in which he dreamed that Bartja was seated
on the throne of Persia, and that the crown of his head touched the
heavens.

This was a dream, which he could interpret without the aid of soothsayer
or Chaldean. It roused his anger first, and then made him thoughtful.

He could not sleep, and such questions as the following came into his
mind: "Haven't you given your brother reason to feel revengeful? Do you
think he can forget that you imprisoned and condemned him to death, when
he was innocent? And if he should raise his hand against you, would
not all the Achaemenidae take his part? Have I ever done, or have I
any intention of ever doing anything to win the love of these venal
courtiers? Since Nitetis died and that strange Gre