.

She began to weep loud and bitterly, raising her hands and eyes to her angry lord in such a beseeching manner that his anger was changed into compassion, and he raised her from the ground with the question: "Have you a petition to ask of me ?" "What can I find to wish for, now that the sun of my life has withdrawn his light ?" was her faltering answer, hindered by sobs.
Cambyses shrugged his shoulders, and asked again "Is there nothing then that you wish for?
I used to be able to dry your tears with presents; ask me for some golden comfort to-day." "Phaedime has nothing left to wish for now.

For whom can she put on jewels when her king, her husband, withdraws the light of his countenance ?" "Then I can do nothing for you," exclaimed Cambyses, turning away angrily from the kneeling woman.

Boges had been quite right in advising Phaedime to paint herself with white, for underneath the pale color her cheeks were burning with shame and anger.

But, in spite of all, she controlled her passionate feelings, made the same deep obeisance to Nitetis as to the queen-mother, and allowed her tears to flow fast and freely in sight of all the Achaemenidae.
Otanes and Intaphernes could scarcely suppress their indignation at seeing their daughter and grandchild thus humbled, and many an Achaemenidae looked on, feeling deep sympathy with the unhappy Phaedime and a hidden grudge against the favored, beautiful stranger.
The formalities were at last at an end and the feast began.