“As it was beginning to grow dusk I was taken to the king.

“He received me graciously, confirmed the Taxiarch’s statement with his own mouth, and said how grieved he should be to lose a commander so generally beloved.  I must confess that I owe Amasis no grudge for his conduct to me, on the contrary I pity him.  You should have heard how he, the powerful king, complained that he could never act according to his own wishes, that even in his most private affairs he was crossed and compromised by the priests and their influence.

   [See the parallel in the history of 2000 years later in the reigns
   of Henry III. and IV. confronting the Jesuit influence, finally
   culminating in assassination.  D.W.]

“Had it only depended on himself, he could easily have pardoned the transgression of a law, which I, as a foreigner, could not be expected to understand, and might (though unjustly) esteem as a foolish superstition.  But for the sake of the priests he dare not leave me unpunished.  The lightest penalty he could inflict must be banishment from Egypt.

“He concluded his complaint with these words:  ’You little know what concessions I must make to the priests in order to obtain your pardon.  Why, our supreme court of justice is independent even of me, its king!’

“And thus I received my dismissal, after having taken a solemn oath to leave Memphis that very day, and Egypt, at latest, in three weeks.

“At the palace-gate I met Psamtik, the crown-prince.  He has long been my enemy, on account of some vexatious matters which I cannot divulge, (you know them, Rhodopis).  I was going to offer him my parting salutation, but he turned his back upon me, saying:  Once more you have escaped punishment, Athenian; but you cannot elude my vengeance.  Whithersoever you may go, I shall be able to find you!’—­’That remains to be proved,’ I answered, and putting myself and my possessions on board a boat, came to Naukratis.  Here, by good fortune, I met my old friend Aristomachus of Sparta, who, as he was formerly in command of the Cyprian troops, will most likely be nominated my successor.  I should rejoice to know that such a first-rate man was going to take my place, if I did not at the same time fear that his eminent services will make my own poor efforts seem even more insignificant than they really were.”

But here he was interrupted by Aristomachus, who called out:  “Praise enough, friend Phanes!  Spartan tongues are stiff; but if you should ever stand in need of my help, I will give you an answer in deeds, which shall strike the right nail on the head.”

Rhodopis smiled her approval, and giving her hand to each, said:  “Unfortunately, the only conclusion to be drawn from your story, my poor Phanes, is that you cannot possibly remain any longer in this country.  I will not blame you for your thoughtlessness, though you might have known that you were exposing yourself to great danger for a mere trifle.  The really wise and brave man never undertakes a hazardous enterprise, unless the possible advantage and disadvantage that may accrue to him from it can be reckoned at least as equal.  Recklessness is quite as foolish, but not so blamable as cowardice, for though both do the man an injury, the latter alone can dishonor him.