sword
and held it as if to attack. Then Sargon raised his steel blade, struck
and cut a slice from the weapon of the other man.

In the hall rose a murmur of astonishment, and an intense flush came
out on the face of Ramses.

"That foreigner," thought he, "took the bull from me in the circus, he
wishes to marry Kama, and now he shows a sword which cuts our blades
into shavings."

And he felt a still deeper hatred toward King Assar, toward all
Assyrians in general, and toward Sargon especially. But he endeavored
to command himself, and with politeness begged the envoy to show those
gifts intended for the pharaoh.

They brought immediately immense packs made of fragrant wood; from one
of these the higher Assyrian officials took articles, goblets,
pitchers, steel weapons, bows made of goat horns, gilded weapons, and
shields set with jewels.

But the most splendid gift was a model of King Assar's palace in gold
and silver. It looked like three edifices, the second smaller than the
first, the third smaller than the second; the second built upon the
first, the third upon the second. Each was surrounded thickly by
columns, and instead of a roof had a flat pavement. Each entrance was
guarded by lions or winged bulls with human heads. On both sides of the
stairs stood statues of vassals of the king, bearing gifts; on both
sides of the entrance were carved horses in various positions. Sargon
removed one wall of the model, and showed rich chambers filled with
priceless furniture. Special wonder was roused by the audience hall,
where were figures representing the king on a lofty throne, and near
him courtiers, warriors, and vassals giving homage.

The entire model was as long as twice the height of a man, and almost
as high as the height of one man. The Egyptians whispered that that
gift alone was worth a hundred and fifty talents.

When the packs were carried out, the heir invited the ambassadors and
their retinue to a feast, during which abundant gifts were bestowed on
the Assyrians. Ramses pushed his politeness so far that when one of the
women pleased Sargon the prince presented her to the ambassador, of
course with her consent and the permission of her mother.

The prince was polite and bountiful, but his face was still clouded.
And when Tutmosis asked him if King Assar had not a beautiful palace,
the prince answered,

"Its ruins on the ashes of Nineveh would be more beautiful to my eyes."

At that feast the Assy