Zoroaster hastily filled another goblet and offered it, kneeling before the monarch.

Darius paused before he took the cup, and looked at the kneeling warrior's pale proud face.

Then he spoke and his voice dropped to a less mirthful key, as he laid his hand on Zoroaster's shoulder.
"I love thee, prince," he said, "because thou art stronger than I; and as brave and more merciful.

Therefore shalt thou stand ever at my right hand and I will trust thee with my life in thy hand.

And in pledge hereunto I put my own chain of gold about thy neck, and I drink this cup to thee; and whosoever shall harm a hair of thine head shall perish in torments." The king drank; and Zoroaster, overcome with genuine admiration of the great soul that could so easily forgive so dire an offence, bent and embraced the king's knees in token of adherence, and as a seal of that friendship which was never to be broken until death parted the two men asunder.
Then they arose, and at Zoroaster's order, the princess's litter was brought, and leaving the encampment to follow after them, they went up to the palace.