“It leads the mind astray.”

“But it strengthens the heart.”

“Oh, this love!” cried Rhodopis.  “Inspired by Eros, the boy speaks as if he had been all his life studying under an Attic orator!”

“And yet,” answered Croesus, “these lovers are the most unteachable of pupils.  Convince them as clearly as you will, that their passion is only another word for poison, fire, folly, death, they still cry, ‘Tis sweet,’ and will not be hindered in their course.”

As he was speaking Sappho came in.  A white festal robe, with wide sleeves, and borders of purple embroidery, fell in graceful folds round her delicate figure, and was confined at the waist by a golden girdle.  Her hair was adorned with fresh roses, and on her bosom lay her lover’s first gift, the flashing diamond star.

She came up modestly and gracefully, and made a low obeisance to the aged Croesus.  His eyes rested long on the maidenly and lovely countenance, and the longer he gazed the kindlier became his gaze.  For a moment he seemed to grow young again in the visions conjured up by memory, and involuntarily he went up to the young girl, kissed her affectionately on the forehead, and, taking her by the hand, led her to Bartja with the words:  “Take her, thy wife she must be, if the entire race of the Achaemenidae were to conspire against us!”

“Have I no voice in the matter?” said Rhodopis, smiling through her tears.

On hearing these words, Bartja and Sappho each took one of her hands, and gazed entreatingly into her face.  She rose to her full stature, and like a prophetess exclaimed:  “Eros, who brought you to each other, Zeus and Apollo defend and protect you.  I see you now like two fair roses on one stem, loving and happy in the spring of life.  What summer, autumn and winter may have in store for you, lies hidden with the gods.  May the shades of thy departed parents, Sappho, smile approvingly when these tidings of their child shall reach them in the nether world.”

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

Three days later a densely packed crowd was once more surging round the Sais landing-place.  This time they had assembled to bid a last farewell to their king’s daughter, and in this hour the people gave clear tokens that, in spite of all the efforts of the priestly caste, their hearts remained loyal to their monarch and his house.  For when Amasis and Ladice embraced Nitetis for the last time with tears—­when Tachot, in presence of all the inhabitants of Sais, following her sister down the broad flight of steps that led to the river, threw her arms round her neck once more and burst into sobs—­when at last the wind filled the sails of the royal boat and bore the princess, destined to be the great king’s bride, from their sight, few eyes among that vast crowd remained dry.

The priests alone looked on at this sad scene with unmoved gravity and coldness; but when the south wind at last bore away the strangers who had robbed them of their princess, many a curse and execration followed from the Egyptians on the shore; Tachot alone stood weeping there and waving her veil to them.  For whom were these tears? for the play-fellow of her youth, or for the handsome, beloved prince?