He took up the largest packet, broke the seal, and untied the cord around it. The vellum wrappings having been removed, two clay tablets, written closely in the cuneiform script of official decrees, were revealed. He read aloud:
“I, Cambyses the Achæmenian, son of Cyrus, King of Kings, King of all the Earth, Ruler of All Nations, the Great King, have decreed:
“First: That it is lawful for the King of Kings to take to wife any woman whether it be his sister or another.
“Second: That the Princesses Athura and Artistone shall be his wives.”
The Prince stopped reading. He was speechless with amazement. He trembled and seemed about to fall; but Gobryas seized his arm and supported him.
“Am I dreaming? Read it, brother, and say if what I read is there!” he exclaimed, handing the tablets to Gobryas.
The latter seized the tablets and looked at them.
“There is no mistake!” he said. “So runs the writing! But God forbid that such act of a maniac could be accomplished! Will he dare do this thing and the Persian nobles not tear him from the throne?”
The Prince, with a mighty effort, recovered his strength and drew up his tall form to its full height, as he might if facing death. He looked as in a dream at the distant mountains, at the sparkling sea and the deep blue of the heavens filled with the soft golden light of the afternoon sun. His words, when he spoke, were low and tense:
“This I know, that the Princess Athura will not become his wife! She may be at this moment dead or in prison! She would never submit to such infamy! This is a deadly insult to me, the son of the King of Iran, the son of kings better in the right to rule than he; and it shall not be borne! I will march to Hamadan! I will throw down that cursed beast from the throne! By the living God, I recall my oath to Cyrus! I am not bound because he has broken faith. He may have slain her. He shall die! Come, Gobryas! Not a moment is to be lost. Gather together my officers. Call into the ranks every man. We will march before the sun goes down!”