"Tell me what I am to do; I am ready for anything and everything."
"That was well and bravely spoken; like a true lioness. If you obey me we must succeed; and the harder the task, the higher the reward. Don't dispute what I am going to say, for we have not a minute to lose. Take off all your useless ornaments and only wear the chain the king gave you on your marriage. Put on a dark simple dress instead of this bright one; and when you have prostrated yourself before Kassandane, bow down humbly before the Egyptian Princess too."
"Impossible!"
"I will not be contradicted. Take off those ornaments at once, I entreat you. There, that is right. We cannot succeed unless you obey me. How white your neck is! The fair Peri would look dark by your side."
"But—"
"When your turn comes to ask a favor of the king, tell him you have no wishes, now that the sun of your life has withdrawn his light."
"Yes, that I will do."
"When your father asks after your welfare, you must weep."
"I will do that too."
"And so that all the Achaemenidae can see that you are weeping."