at Troy, lest some tumult of the people should work harm also unto him.  Scant truly and light have been my slumbers, and with many tears have I watched for thee.  And now thou art come, what shall I say?  Truly this man is to me as the strong pillar of a roof, as an only child to a father, as land seen beyond all hope by sailors, after much toil at sea, as a clear shining after storm, as a fountain springing forth to one that journeyeth in a thirsty land.  And now, my lord, I would that thou step from thy car, not setting thy foot upon the earth, seeing that it hath trampled upon the great city of Troy.  Why linger ye, ye maids?  Strew the pathway with carpeting of purple!”

And King Agamemnon made answer, “Truly, daughter of Leda, thy speech hath been even as my absence, exceeding long.  But why dost thou pamper me with luxury, or make my goings hateful to the Gods, strewing this purple under my feet?  It is not well, me thinks, that a man should trample on such wealth.”

[Illustration:  The return of Agamemnon]

“Nay,” said the Queen, “be content.  Thinkest thou that Priam would not have walked on purple if perchance he had been the conqueror?”

And after they had talked awhile, she prevailed, only the King bade them loose the sandals from under his feet, thinking it shame to waste the substance of his house.  Also he gave commandment that they should deal very kindly with the strange woman that had ridden with him in his chariot, for that the Gods have a favour unto them that use their victory with mercy.  And when he had said these things he went into the palace, the Queen leading the way.

Then one of the elders said, “There is a nameless fear in my heart; and when I should rejoice for the return of the King and the host, a voice of boding riseth to my lips.  If a man be wealthy above measure, let him fling over-board a part, and so escape shipwreck of his house.  But blood that hath been spilt upon the earth, what charmer can bring back?  Did not Zeus slay the man who raised the dead?  For a while ’twere best to be silent.”

Then the Queen came forth from the palace, and bade Cassandra descend from the car and enter the gates.  For why, she said, should she struggle against fate which made her to be a slave?  Happy indeed was the lot which had brought her to a house of ancient wealth.  ’Twas the newly rich that used harshness to their slaves.  But her persuasion availed nothing with the maiden, for she sat and made no answer; and though the old men joined their counsel to the same end, she moved not nor spake.  But when the Queen was departed again into the palace, she began to cry aloud, like unto one that was possessed, that there came a smell from the house, as the smell of a slaughter-house, and that she saw the shapes of children who had been cruelly murdered; and then, that another crime was now about to be wrought, a bath made ready, and an entangling robe, and a double-headed