en such a benefactor to his mother, and granted him
full power to do what he wished. On arriving at Amasis' capital, he went
at once to the temple of Neith, caused the high-priest (who had moreover
placed himself at the head of the citizens hostile to Persia), to be
arrested, and with him a certain oculist named Petammon. He then informed
them that, as punishment for the burning of certain papers, they would be
condemned to serve a Persian to whom he should sell them, for the term of
their natural lives, and to perform the most menial services of slaves in
a foreign country. I was present at this scene, and I assure you I
trembled before the Egyptian as he said these words to his enemies.
Neithotep, however, listened quietly, and when Nebenchari had finished,
answered him thus: If thou, foolish son, hast betrayed thy country for
the sake of thy burnt manuscripts, the deed has been neither just nor
wise. I preserved thy valuable works with the greatest care, laid them up
in our temple, and sent a complete copy to the library at Thebes. Nothing
was burnt but the letters from Amasis to thy father, and a worthless old
chest. Psamtik and Petammon were present, and it was then and there
resolved that a new family tomb in the city of the dead should be built
for thee as a compensation for the loss of papers, which, in order to
save Egypt, we were unfortunately forced to destroy. On its walls thou
canst behold pleasing paintings of the gods to whom thou hast devoted thy
life, the most sacred chapters from the book of the dead, and many other
beautiful pictures touching thine own life and character."

"The physician turned very pale--asked first to see his books, and then
his new and beautifully-fitted-up tomb. He then gave his slaves their
freedom, (notwithstanding which they were still taken to Memphis as
prisoners of war), and went home, often passing his hand across his
forehead on the way, and with the uncertain step of one intoxicated. On
reaching his house he made a will, bequeathing all he possessed to the
grandson of his old servant Hib, and, alleging that he was ill, went to
bed. The next morning he was found dead. He had poisoned himself with the
fearful strychnos-juice."

"Miserable man" said Croesus. "The gods had blinded him, and he reaped
despair instead of revenge, as a reward for his treachery."

"I pity him," murmured Rhodopis. "But look, the rowers are taking in
their oars. We are at the end of our journey; t