CHAPTER XIV.

While our friends were enjoying their row on the Nile, Cambyses’ envoy, Prexaspes, had returned from a mission to the long-lived Ethiopians.  He praised their strength and stature, described the way to their country as almost inaccessible to a large army, and had plenty of marvellous tales to tell.  How, for instance; they always chose the strongest and handsomest man in their nation for their king, and obeyed him unconditionally:  how many of them reached the age of 120 years, and some even passed it:  how they ate nothing but boiled flesh, drank new milk and washed in a spring the waters of which had the scent of violets, gave a remarkable lustre to their skins, and were so light that wood could not swim in them:  how their captives wore golden fetters, because other metals were rare and dear in their country; and lastly, how they covered the bodies of the dead with plaster or stucco, over which a coating of some glass-like material was poured, and kept the pillars thus formed one year in their houses, during which time sacrifices were offered them, and at the year’s end they were placed in rows around the town.

The king of this strange people had accepted Cambyses’ presents, saying, in a scornful tone, that he new well his friendship was of no importance to the Persians, and Prexaspes had only been sent to spy out the land.  If the prince of Asia were a just man, he would be contented with his own immense empire and not try to subjugate a people who had done him no wrong.  “Take your king this bow,” he said, “and advise him not to begin the war with us, until the Persians are able to bend such weapons as easily as we do.  Cambyses may thank the gods, that the Ethiopians have never taken it into their heads to conquer countries which do not belong to them.”

He then unbent his mighty bow of ebony, and gave it to Prexaspes to take to his lord.

Cambyses laughed at the bragging African, invited his nobles to a trial of the bow the next morning, and awarded Prexaspes for the clever way in which he had overcome the difficulties of his journey and acquitted himself of his mission.  He then went to rest, as usual intoxicated, and fell into a disturbed sleep, in which he dreamed that Bartja was seated on the throne of Persia, and that the crown of his head touched the heavens.

This was a dream, which he could interpret without the aid of soothsayer or Chaldean.  It roused his anger first, and then made him thoughtful.

He could not sleep, and such questions as the following came into his mind:  “Haven’t you given your brother reason to feel revengeful?  Do you think he can forget that you imprisoned and condemned him to death, when he was innocent?  And if he should raise his hand against you, would not all the Achaemenidae take his part?  Have I ever done, or have I any intention of ever doing anything to win the love of these venal courtiers?  Since Nitetis died and that strange Greek fled, has there been a single human being, in whom I have the least confidence or on whose affection I can rely?”