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At length, however, wearied by her importunity, and constrained
moreover by the law of the feast, which required that no one who asked
a boon that day at the king's board should be denied his request, he
yielded, but with a very ill will, and gave the woman into her power.
Having so done, and told Amestris she might deal with her as she
chose, the king called his brother into his presence, and said -
"Masistes, thou art my brother, the son of my father Darius; and,
what is more, thou art a good man. I pray thee, live no longer with
the wife whom thou now hast. Behold, I will give thee instead my own
daughter in marriage; take her to live with thee. But part first with
the wife thou now hast - I like not that thou keep to her."
To this Masistes, greatly astonished, answered -
"My lord and master, how strange a speech hast thou uttered! Thou
biddest me put away my wife, who has borne me three goodly youths, and
daughters besides, whereof thou hast taken one and espoused her to a
son of thine own - thou biddest me put away this wife, notwithstanding
that she pleases me greatly, and marry a daughter of thine! In
truth, O king! that I am accounted worthy to wed thy daughter, is
an honour which I mightily esteem; but yet to do as thou sayest am I
in no wise willing. I pray thee, use not force to compel me to yield
to thy prayer. Be sure thy daughter will find a husband to the full as
worthy as myself. Suffer me then to live on with my own wife."
Thus did Masistes answer; and Xerxes, in wrath, replied - "I
will tell thee, Masistes, what thou hast gained by these words. I
will not give thee my daughter; nor shalt thou live any longer with thy
own wife. So mayest thou learn, in time to come, to take what is
offered thee." Masistes, when he heard this, withdrew, only saying
- "Master thou hast not yet taken my life."
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