At this sight Psamtik wept aloud, and smote upon his forehead, calling on the name of his friend in a voice full of woe.

Cambyses was so astonished at this, that he came forward to the balustrade of the veranda, and pushing the flowers aside, exclaimed:  “Explain thyself, thou strange man; the misfortunes of a beggar, not even akin to thee, move thy compassion, but thou canst behold thy son on the way to execution and thy daughters in hopeless misery without shedding a tear, or uttering a lament!”

Psamtik looked up at his conqueror, and answered:  “The misfortunes of my own house, O son of Cyrus, are too great for tears; but I may be permitted to weep over the afflictions of a friend, fallen, in his old age, from the height of happiness and influence into the most miserable beggary.”

Cambyses’ face expresseed his approval, and on looking round he saw that his was not the only eye which was filled with tears.  Croesus, Bartja, and all the Persians-nay, even Phanes himself, who had served as interpreter to the kings-were weeping aloud.

The proud conqueror was not displeased at these signs of sympathy, and turning to the Athenian:  “I think, my Greek friend” he said, “we may consider our wrongs as avenged.  Rise, Psamtik, and endeavor to imitate yonder noble old man, (pointing to Croesus) by accustoming yourself to your fate.  Your father’s fraud has been visited on you and your family.  The crown, which I have wrested from you is the crown of which Amasis deprived my wife, my never-to-be-forgotten Nitetis.  For her sake I began this war, and for her sake I grant you now the life of your son—­she loved him.  From this time forward you can live undisturbed at our court, eat at our table and share the privileges of our nobles.  Gyges, fetch the boy hither.  He shall be brought up as you were, years ago, among the sons of the Achaemenidae.”

The Lydian was hastening to execute this delightful commission, but Phanes stopped him before he could reach the door, and placing himself proudly between the king and the trembling, thankful Psamtik, said:  “You would be going on a useless errand, noble Lydian.  In defiance of your command, my Sovereign, but in virtue of the full powers you once gave me, I have ordered the grandson of Amasis to be the executioner’s first victim.  You have just heard the sound of a horn; that was the sign that the last heir to the Egyptian throne born on the shores of the Nile has been gathered to his fathers.  I am aware of the fate I have to expect, Cambyses.  I will not plead for a life whose end has been attained.  Croesus, I understand your reproachful looks.  You grieve for the murdered children.  But life is such a web of wretchedness and disappointment, that I agree with your philosopher Solon in thinking those fortunate to whom, as in former days to Kleobis and Biton, the gods decree an early death.