“To one only in the whole world!” was his reply, arising and looking down into her glorious eyes. “If I were not here on so sad an errand, this would be my happiest day. I bring to you the last message of love and farewell from the King of Kings. His last thoughts and words were of you and of the little sister here.”
He turned to greet Artistone, who now came forward from her litter, and gravely bent to kiss the little hand she gave him.
“Come!” said Bardya, “let us go and greet the dead. When we return to the palace we shall renew our acquaintance and you shall tell us all that our beloved father said.”
Without further conversation they walked between the lines of massed soldiery, who saluted as they passed, to the funeral car, around which stood a score of officers with drawn swords as a guard of honor. They ascended the great car, drew aside the heavy curtains, with which it was surrounded, and stood in the presence of the dead. The casket had been partially opened and some of the wrappings over the face of the remains had been removed, that they might look again upon the beloved features. Royalty for the moment was forgotten and the bereaved children wept; and, in an instant, a great wave of emotion swept over the vast multitude. Men of all stations, women of all classes and their children, lifted up their voices in loud lamentation. The hero, under whose mighty shadow they had so long rested and been safe, was no more! Cyrus, the well-beloved, was gone! Alas and alas! wailed the people. The glowing sun smiled upon the snowy peaks in the east, the green hills in the west, and the lovely valley with its rippling stream, and all nature seemed happy. Only this myriad of human beings voiced their woe. No greater tribute could have been given to the mighty dead.
But weeping must have an end. The Prince and his sisters descended from the car and returned to the palace. The casket, escorted by the multitudes, was conveyed to a temple, which stood in the park surrounding the palace, and was there kept while arrangements were made for its further transportation to Persia.
Prexaspes, having been given audience by Prince Bardya, was furnished with an escort and sent on his way to Cambyses at Hamadan. He was directed to inform the King of Kings that his brother and sisters would accompany the body of their father to Pasargadæ. The determination of Bardya to attend his father’s corpse to its tomb gave the Prince of Iran much concern. It would place Bardya within the power of King Cambyses, whose uncertain temper might lead him to fratricide. Knowing the disposition of Cambyses and his long-standing hatred towards Bardya, and fearing that a conflict would inevitably arise over the divided authority left them by the will of Cyrus, the Prince sought to persuade Bardya to remain in Bactra, whose people would protect him. But Bardya would not be persuaded. He was a bold youth and thought that he would be as safe among the Persians as among the Bactrians.
The palace of Bactra was the property of its ancient line of kings. Here the Kings of Iran were crowned, and from it went forth all royal decrees. Here King Hystaspis in early youth had resided with his queen, and here Darius, their son, had been born. But when Cyrus of Persia became conqueror of Medea and assumed the title of King of Kings, he admitted that Persia was a part of Iran and placed it likewise under the rule of Hystaspis, but on condition that the latter should acknowledge him as overlord of all. King Hystaspis entertained for his great cousin the most lively admiration and affection. He cared not to dispute with him world authority. He was a mystic, a lover of learning and of his fellow-men. He would much rather have sat at the feet of Zoroaster and delved into the mystery of life and the greater mystery of death than rule as King. But he accepted the duties of kingship as a trust for his people and stoutly protected them from their enemies as well as in the enjoyment of their ancient rights. He had accepted the proposition of Cyrus and under him had ruled all Iran, including Persia. His authority even extended over Medea in the absence of Cyrus, although, the capital of Cyrus’ empire being at Hamadan, the Great King generally regulated the internal affairs of Medea himself.
King Hystaspis had then built for himself a palace on the banks of the royal river Pulwar in Persia near where it flowed into the Araxes and about thirty miles below or west of Pasargadæ, around which arose a great city known to history as Persepolis, where in winter he might enjoy a less rigorous climate than at Bactra. There he and his queen loved to reside in the midst of a great park, surrounded by men and women of congenial spirit, embowered in the flowers and foliage of a semi-tropic vegetation with the great plain of Merv, a very paradise under irrigation, lying before them. His provinces were under the rule of governors. The load of executive duties fell upon his officers. Only in times of war did he leave his retreat, except that once each year he returned to Bactra for some weeks of administrative work.
During the absence of King Hystaspis and his son with Cyrus on the expedition against the Tourans, Bardya and his sisters had been guests in the palace at Bactra. This was a rambling structure, one story in height, adorned with a portico whose tall stone pillars supported a heavy wooden roof and gave to its front the appearance of a temple. The walls of the palace were of roughly hewn stone, thick and massive. There were many wings, all gable-roofed and rudely ornate with buttresses and overhanging eaves. Narrow windows and doors gave light and air to the interior. It being summer, the windows were protected by heavy wooden bars only, the winter-time shutters having been removed. Gauze curtains on the inside were hung over them, more to exclude insects than for beauty. The doors were of heavy wood, bound with brazen bands cut in ornate figures. Inside, the many rooms were fitted luxuriously, with bright, soft rugs on the stone floors and with figured draperies on the walls, where, also, hung armor and weapons. Divans, couches, chairs, and tables richly upholstered and set with precious metals and ivory constituted the furniture. In the midst of the palace was an open court, where a fountain gushed up from a rocky islet in the middle of a pool and where flowering shrubs perfumed the air. The servants’ quarters were at the rear, and, not far away, was another building where a company of soldiers had quarters.
The white stone walls of a small temple could be seen three hundred paces to the west of the palace, in the midst of great oaks and elms. There had Zoroaster taught and had exercised the offices of chief priest of Iran, and there beneath its altar lay buried his saintly bones. There a corps of priests kept the sacred fire ever burning and daily uttered prayers for the King and his people. There, before entering upon any long journey or going to war, the King of Iran offered his sacrifices and raised his hands to the Great Life-giving Spirit of Heaven. There, now, within its sacred portals, reposed for a time the body of the Great King.