It was rarely indeed, in those early days of his power, that he laid aside his breastplate for the tunic, or his helmet for the tiara and royal crown.

In his whole air and gait the character of the soldier dominated, and the look of the conqueror was already in his face.
Zoroaster strode forward a few paces, and stood still as the king caught sight of him, preparing to prostrate himself, according to the ancient custom.

But Darius checked him by a gesture; turning half round, he dismissed the guard, who filed back through the door as they had come, and the curtain fell behind them.
"I like not these elaborate customs," said the king.

"A simple salutation, the hand to the lips and forehead--it is quite enough.

A man might win a battle if he had all the time that it takes him to fall down at my feet and rise up again, twenty times in a day." As the king's speech seemed to require no answer, Zoroaster stood silently waiting for his orders.