Neither was he aware how ardently Nitetis longed to please her proud lord and master.

Even Amasis, who so revered the Samian philosopher, who had so often yielded to Hellenic influence, and who with good reason might be called a free-thinking Egyptian, would sooner have exchanged life for death, than his multiform gods for the one idea "Deity." "You are a teachable pupil," said Croesus, laying his hand on her head, "and as a reward, you shall be allowed either to visit Kassandane, or to receive Atossa in the hanging-gardens, every morning, and every afternoon until sunset." This joyful news was received with loud rejoicings by Atossa, and with a grateful smile by the Egyptian girl.
"And lastly," said Croesus, "I have brought some balls and hoops with me from Sais, that you may be able to amuse yourselves in Egyptian fashion." "Balls ?" asked Atossa in amazement; "what can we do with the heavy wooden things ?" "That need not trouble you," answered Croesus, laughing.

"The balls I speak of are pretty little things made of the skins of fish filled with air, or of leather.

A child of two years old can throw these, but you would find it no easy matter even to lift one of those wooden balls with which the Persian boys play.

Are you content with me, Nitetis ?" [In Persia games with balls are still reckoned among the amusements of the men.