How white your neck is! The fair Peri would look dark by your side." "But--" "When your turn comes to ask a favor of the king, tell him you have no wishes, now that the sun of your life has withdrawn his light." "Yes, that I will do." "When your father asks after your welfare, you must weep." "I will do that too." "And so that all the Achaemenidae can see that you are weeping." "That will be a fearful humiliation!" "Not at all; only a means by which to rise the more surely.

Wash the red color from your cheeks and put on white powder.

Make yourself pale--paler still." "Yes, I shall need that to hide my blushes.

Boges, you are asking something fearful of me, but I will obey you if you will only give me a reason." "Girl, bring your mistress's new dark green robe." "I shall look like a slave." "True grace is lovely even in rags." "The Egyptian will completely eclipse me." "Yes, every one must see that you have not the slightest intention of comparing yourself with her.

Then people will say: 'Would not Phaedime be as beautiful as this proud woman, if she had taken the same pains to make herself so ?"' "But I cannot bow down to her." "You must." "You only want to humble and ruin me." "Short-sighted fool! listen to my reasons and obey.