“Though he be head over the house of the women,” answered Nitetis, “surely your wife is bound to obey no other earthly will than yours.  Your slightest look shall be for me a command; but remember that I am a king’s daughter, that in my native land the weaker and the stronger sex have equal rights, and that the same pride reigns in my breast, which I see kindling in your eyes, my lord and king!  My obedience to you, my husband and my ruler, shall be that of a slave, but I can never stoop to sue for the favor, or obey the orders of a venal servant, the most unmanly of his kind!”

Cambyses’ wonder and satisfaction increased.  He had never heard any woman speak in this way before, except his mother; the clever way in which Nitetis acknowledged, and laid stress on, his right to command her every act, was very flattering to his self-love, and her pride found an echo in his own haughty disposition.  He nodded approvingly and answered:  “You have spoken well.  A separate dwelling shall be appointed you.  I, and no one else, will prescribe your rules of life and conduct.  This day the pleasant palace on the hanging-gardens shall be prepared for your reception.”

“A thousand, thousand thanks,” cried Nitetis.  “You little know the blessing you are bestowing in this permission.  Again and again I have begged your brother Bartja to repeat the story of these gardens, and the love of the king who raised that verdant and blooming hill, pleased us better than all the other glories of your vast domains.”

“To-morrow,” answered the king, “you can enter your new abode.  But tell me now how my messengers pleased you and your countrymen.”

“How can you ask?  Who could know the noble Croesus without loving him?  Who could fail to admire the beauty of the young heroes, your friends?  They have all become dear to us, but your handsome brother Bartja especially, won all hearts.  The Egyptians have no love for strangers, and yet the gaping crowd would burst into a murmur of admiration, when his beautiful face appeared among them.”

At these words the king’s brow darkened; he struck his horse so sharply that the creature reared, and then turning it quickly round he gallopped to the front and soon reached the walls of Babylon.

...........................

Though Nitetis had been brought up among the huge temples and palaces of Egypt, she was still astonished at the size and grandeur of this gigantic city.

Its walls seemed impregnable; they measured more than seventy-five feet —­[Fifty ells.  The Greek ell is equal to one foot and a half English.]—­ in height and their breadth was so great, that two chariots could conveniently drive abreast upon them.  These mighty defences were crowned and strengthened by two hundred and fifty high towers, and even these would have been insufficient, if Babylon had not been protected on one side by impassable morasses.  The gigantic city lay on both shores of the Euphrates.  It was more than forty miles in circumference, and its walls enclosed buildings surpassing in size and grandeur even the Pyramids and the temples of Thebes.