The Good Book_ A Secular Bible - A. C. Grayling [203]
5. Accordingly he betrothed the two, and after the usual ceremonies were completed, went to his capital city of Susa.
6. When he received his new daughter-in-law, whose name was Artaynta, into his palace, a change came over him;
7. Losing all love for the wife of Masistes, he conceived a passion for Artaynta, who very soon returned his love.
8. After a while the affair was discovered by Xerxes’ wife Amestris.
9. She had woven a long robe of many colours, very curiously made, as a gift for her husband.
10. Xerxes, who was greatly pleased with it, immediately put it on; and went in it to visit Artaynta.
11. She happened on this day to please him greatly in their pleasures in bed, so he bade her ask him for whatever she liked,
12. And promised that, whatever it was, he would grant it. She then boldly asked for the robe.
13. Hereupon Xerxes tried all possible means to avoid the gift; not that he grudged to give it, but because he dreaded Amestris,
14. Who already suspected, and would now, he feared, detect his love.
15. So he offered Artaynta cities instead, and heaps of gold, and an army which should obey no other leader. (The last of these is a thoroughly Persian gift.)
16. But, as nothing could make her change her mind, at last he gave her the robe.
17. Artaynta greatly rejoiced, and often wore the garment and was proud of it.
18. But it quickly came to the ears of Amestris that the robe had been given to Artaynta.
19. She felt no anger against Artaynta; but, looking upon Artaynta’s mother, the wife of Masistes, as the cause of the mischief, she determined to kill her.
20. She waited until her husband gave the great royal banquet in celebration of his birthday, the feast called ‘Tykta’.
21. This is the only day in the year on which the king soaps his head, and distributes gifts to the Persians.
22. Amestris waited for this day, and then asked Xerxes to please give her, as her present, the wife of Masistes.
23. He refused; for it seemed to him monstrous to give into the power of another a woman who was not only his brother’s wife,
24. But was also wholly guiltless of what had happened – the more especially as he knew what Amestris intended.
25. At length, however, wearied by her importunity,
26. And constrained by the law of the feast, which required that no request made at the king’s board should be denied,
27. He yielded, but with a very ill will, and gave the woman into her power.
28. Having so done, the king called his brother and said,
29. ‘Masistes, you are my brother, and a good man. I ask you, live no longer with the wife you now have.
30. ‘I will give you instead my own daughter in marriage.’
31. Masistes, greatly astonished, answered, ‘My lord, how strange of you to ask this!
32. ‘You tell me put away my wife, who has borne me three good sons, and daughters besides,
33. ‘One of which you have taken to be your son’s wife – you ask me to put away this wife, who pleases me greatly, and marry a daughter of yours!
34. ‘In truth, O king! to be accounted worthy to wed your daughter is a great honour;
35. ‘Yet I am wholly unwilling to part with my wife. Do not force me to this.’
36. Xerxes angrily replied, ‘I will tell you what you have gained by these words.
37. ‘I will not give you my daughter; nor will you live any longer with your own wife. So you will learn, in time to come, to take what is offered.’
38. Masistes, when he heard this, withdrew, only saying, ‘Master, you have not yet taken my life.’
39. While these words were passing between Xerxes and his brother, Amestris sent for the spearmen of the royal bodyguard,
40. And caused the wife of Masistes to be mutilated in a horrible fashion.
41. Her two breasts, her nose, ears and lips were cut off and thrown to the dogs; her tongue was torn out by the roots, and thus disfigured, she was sent back to her home.
42. Masistes, who knew nothing of what had happened, but was fearful that some calamity impended, ran hastily to his house.
43. There, finding his wife so savagely used, he took counsel with