This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
AN EGYPTIAN PRINCESS, Part 2.
By Georg Ebers
The principal steward of the banquet went forward to meet the guests asthey entered, and, assisted by other noble staff-bearers (chamberlainsand masters of the ceremonies), led them to their appointed places.
When they were all seated, a flourish of trumpets announced that the kingwas near. As he entered the hall every one rose, and the multitudereceived him with a thundering shout of "Victory to the king!" again andagain repeated.
The way to his seat was marked by a purple Sardian carpet, only to betrodden by himself and Kassandane. His blind mother, led by Croesus,went first and took her seat at the head of the table, on a thronesomewhat higher than the golden chair for Cambyses, which stood by it.The king's lawful wives sat on his left hand; Nitetis next to him, thenAtossa, and by her side the pale, plainly-dressed Phaedime; next to thislast wife of Cambyses sat Boges, the eunuch. Then came the high-priestOropastes, some of the principal Magi, the satraps of various provinces(among them the Jew Belteshazzar), and a number of Persians, Medes andeunuchs, all holding high offices under the crown.
Bartja sat at the king's right hand, and after him Croesus, Hystaspes,Gobryas, Araspes, and others of the Achaemenidae, according to their rankand age. Of the concubines, the greater number sat at the foot of thetable; some stood opposite to Cambyses, and enlivened the banquet bysongs and music. A number of eunuchs stood behind them, whose duty itwas to see that they did not raise their eyes towards the men.
Cambyses' first glance was bestowed on Nitetis; she sat by him in all thesplendor and dignity of a queen, but looking very, very pale in her newpurple robes.
Their eyes met, and Cambyses felt that such a look could only come fromone who loved him very dearly. But his own love told him that somethinghad troubled her. There was a sad seriousness about her mouth, and aslight cloud, which only he could see, seemed to veil the usually calm,clear and cheerful expression of her eyes. "I will ask her afterwardswhat has happened," thought he, "but it will not do to let my subjects seehow much I love this girl."
He kissed his mother, sister, brother and his nearest relations on theforehead—said a short prayer thanking the gods for their mercies andentreating a happy new year for himself and the Persians—named theimmense sum he intended to present to his countrymen on this day, andthen called on the staff bearers to bring the petitioners before hisface, who hoped to obtain some reasonable request from the king on thisday of grace.
As every petitioner had been obliged to lay his request before theprincipal staff bearer the day before, in order to ascertain whether itwas admissible, they all received satisfactory answers. The petitions ofthe women had been enquired into by the eunuchs in the same manner, andthey too were now conducted before their lord and master by Boges,Kassandane alone remaining seated.
The long procession was opened by Nitetis and Atossa, and the twoprincesses were immediately followed by Phaedime and another beauty. Thelatter was magnificently dressed and had been paired with Phaedime byBoges, in order to make the almost