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Here, in the fresh mountain air of a place dedicated to the memory of the husband she had loved so much, Kassandane felt well and at peace; she was glad too to see that Atossa was recovering the old cheerfulness, which she had so sadly lost since the death of Nitetis and the departure of Darius.
Since that happy day the happiest in my life I have never seen your sister, till yesterday evening, when we sat opposite to each other at the banquet. Our eyes met. I saw nothing but Atossa, and I think she has not forgotten the man who saved her. Kassandane . . ." "Oh, my mother would be delighted to have you for a son-in-law; I will answer for that.
Croesus, Kassandane and Atossa soon noticed that Nitetis loved the king. Her former fear of this proud and powerful being had indeed changed into a passionate admiration. She felt as if she must die if deprived of his presence.
She slept little, but waking she dreamed of the gold and the glitter of Shushan, of the magnificence of the young king, and of the brilliant hard-featured beauty of Atossa, whom she already hated or had determined to hate. The king interested her most. She tried to recall his features and manner as he had appeared when he tarried one night in the fortress a year previous.
The Queen-mother Atossa enters, resplendent with jewels; she too is anxious, for in a dream she had seen Xerxes yoke two women together who were at feud, one clad in Persian garb, the other in Greek. The former was obedient to the yoke, but the latter tore the car to pieces and broke the curb.
I think I am still to be envied, for I have had one hour of enjoyment that would outweigh a century of misery. Thank you, thank you: now let me finish my story as quickly as I can. "Three days after I had taken leave of Atossa I had to marry Artystone, the daughter of Gobryas. She is beautiful, and would make any other man happy.
Is not Gobryas' little daughter the noblest of all the young Persian girls after Atossa? and isn't she beautiful?" "Artystone has every talent and quality that a daughter of the Achaemenidae ought to possess," was Darius's answer, but his brow did not clear as he said the words. "Well, if you want more than that, you must be very hard to please."
"But if Kassandane or Atossa should send to her?" "Turn the messengers away, and send word that every attempt to see or communicate with Nitetis will be regarded by me as a personal offence." "May I ask a favor for myself, O King?" "The time is not well chosen for asking favors." "I feel ill. Permit some one else to take charge of the hanging-gardens for to-morrow only." "No! now leave me."
Cambyses and Smerdis were the only sons, but there were daughters, among whom Atossa was the most distinguished. The ladies of the court were accustomed to reside in different palaces, or in different suites of apartments in the same palace, so that they lived in a great measure isolated from each other.
On his return to Memphis, Cambyses did not shrink from personally ill-treating his wife and sister, Atossa. He had ordered a combat of wild beasts to take place, during which, amongst other entertainments of the same kind, a dog was to fight with a young lion.
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