“Greeting to the royal Prince, Darius of Iran, son of King Hystaspis! May God have you in favor! Hearing that you are with the great army near Hamath, and having much to say of those you love well, I pray that you will appoint a time and place where I may meet you. I do not think it best to come into the King’s camp, unless you may assure me of a safe escort. My trusty servant, Joseph, will bear safely to me any message you may send. If you would visit me, he will guide you to my tent.
“Farewell,
“Belteshazzer.”
The Prince’s heart leaped with joy. Once only had he heard from the Princess Athura, and he knew not whether she had taken his advice and gone to Persepolis. Perhaps she had chosen to stay with Belteshazzer and was now with him. He handed the letter to Gobryas to read and said to the messenger: “I will go to your master. Lead the way!”
The messenger again saluted and, turning his face to the mountain, led the way with a long swinging stride, going so swiftly that the horses of the Persians occasionally galloped to keep near him. The road wound upward around the spurs of the mountain. Having surmounted a high ridge, they came at length upon a small plateau several acres in extent, from which the rugged heights went up still farther and upon which were several cedar and fir trees. At one side a dashing torrent poured out from a gulch, spread out in a swirling pool, leaped over a rocky barrier, and disappeared into a canyon. Near the pool on a grassy plot was a pavilion of dark cloth and, clustered near it, a score of lesser tents. Several horses grazed on the green before the tents, and a group of men armed with bows and spears stood near the pavilion. As the Persians drew near, a man of stately and benign aspect emerged from it and spoke reassuringly to the men, who were uneasily regarding the newcomers as possible enemies. Then he remained standing at the tent-door and waved a hand in greeting to the Prince. It was Belteshazzer. The Prince spurred his steed forward and, dismounting, hastened to Belteshazzer, embraced him affectionately, and kissed both his cheeks.
“Hail, Master,” he exclaimed. “How long it has been since I last saw you! Are you well?”
“My health is excellent, my son,” answered the Hebrew, cordially. “Glad indeed am I to behold you! Bid your men dismount. My servants shall set food before them and attend to their horses.”
He called a servant to him and gave the Prince’s retinue in his charge. Then he led the Prince into the pavilion and caused him to sit down and partake of refreshments. The Prince looked about him expectantly, but was disappointed in finding no indications that Athura was in the camp. Belteshazzer knew his thoughts and smilingly said: “She is not here, my son. When we received your letter bidding her go to your father, we considered your advice good and traveled thither by easy journeys. We were guests of your father many months. I left her there under his protection and in the love and care of your mother, when I journeyed hither. She was well. More beautiful than the morn, sweeter than the roses that bloom in Persian gardens, as pure as the snows of Demavend, she waits for you! Your father has established such a strong guard around his palace that it resembles a camp; and none go in or come out who are not known.”
“My gratitude is unspeakable, O Prophet of God!” said the Prince, fervently. “If there shall ever be any favor I may render you, it shall be rendered. Have you ever loved a woman? And know you the pain of separation from her?”
Belteshazzer sighed as he answered: “Yea, I have known the love of a wife. But she has gone before and awaits me on the shore of the river of life. Like a spring of water and a green tree in a desert, is the love of a good woman. I have much to tell you, my son; but I know you desire me to speak of her most.”
He then related the manner of Athura’s escape from the palace of Cambyses at Hamadan, and the manner of her life since. Then he gave to the Prince a large packet, containing letters from the Princess, from King Hystaspis, and from the Queen-mother.