to his wife's songs,
while I am winning glory in Ethiopia, which it shall not be in his power
to lessen. Ho, there, dressers! bring my robes and a good morning-draught
of wine. I'll show the Persians that I'm fit to be King of Ethiopia, and
can beat them all at bending a bow. Here, give me another cup of wine.
I'd bend that bow, if it were a young cedar and its string a cable!" So
saying he drained an immense bowl of wine and went into the
palace-garden, conscious of his enormous strength and therefore sure of
success.

All his nobles were assembled waiting for him there, welcomed him with
loud acclamations, and fell on their faces to the ground before their
king.

Pillars, connected by scarlet cords, had been quickly set up between the
closely-cut hedges and straight avenues. From these cords, suspended by
gold and silver rings, yellow and dark blue hangings fluttered in the
breeze. Gilded wooden benches had been placed round in a large circle,
and nimble cup-bearers handed wine in costly vessels to the company
assembled for the shooting-match.

At a sign from the king the Achaemenidae rose from the earth.

Cambyses glanced over their ranks, and his face brightened on seeing that
Bartja was not there. Prexaspes handed him the Ethiopian bow, and pointed
out a target at some distance. Cambyses laughed at the large size of the
target, weighted the bow with his right hand, challenged his subjects to
try their fortune first, and handed the bow to the aged Hystaspes, as the
highest in rank among the Achaemenidae.

While Hystaspes first, and then all the heads of the six other highest
families in Persia, were using their utmost efforts to bend this monster
weapon in vain, the king emptied goblet after goblet of wine, his spirits
rising as he watched their vain endeavors to solve the Ethiopian's
problem. At last Darius, who was famous for his skill in archery, took
the bow. Nearly the same result. The wood was inflexible as iron and all
his efforts only availed to move it one finger's breadth. The king gave
him a friendly nod in reward for his success, and then, looking round on
his friends and relations in a manner that betokened the most perfect
assurance, he said: "Give me the bow now, Darius. I will show you, that
there is only one man in Persia who deserves the name of king;--only one
who can venture to take the field against the Ethiopians;--only one who
can bend this bow."

He grasped it tightly with his left ha