At this mortifying intelligence Achæmenes, smiting his hands together, and uttering a deep groan--"I will make this wedding a fatal one to them all," said he; "only do you assist me in endeavouring to put it off for a few days. If any one inquires after me, say that I am indisposed and gone into the country. This precious stranger's calling her his betrothed is a mere pretext to break through the engagements that have been made to me; his kissing, his embracing her, nay, his sleeping with her, would not clearly convince me that she is not his sister. I will sift this business, and will vindicate the violated oaths and the insulted gods." So saying, raging with love, jealousy, and disappointment (feelings all the more violent in a barbarian's breast), he rushed out of the room; and without giving himself time for consideration, in the first moments of his passion, he secretly mounted, in the evening, an Armenian horse, reserved for state occasions, and fled full speed to Oroondates. The Viceroy was then in the neighbourhood of the celebrated Thebes,[26] marshalling all his forces, and preparing to lead them on an expedition against the Ethiopians. [Footnote 1: ἐκ τῆς νεκυίας,--Νεκυία--the title of the 11th Bk. of the Odyssey.] [Footnote 2: The description of "Gulbeyaz," in Don Juan, canto v., here and there illustrates amusingly the scenes between Theagenes and Arsace. "Her presence was as lofty as her state; Her beauty of that overpowering kind, Whose force description only would abate."--C. v. 97. ] [Footnote 3: See Book II.] [Footnote 4: ----"she had recourse to nods, and signs. And smiles, and sparkles of the speaking eye."--C. ii. 162. ] [Footnote 5: Κηρὐκειον, caduceus, the staff or mace carried by heralds and ambassadors in time of war.] [Footnote 6: "She did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention that the appetite of her eye did seem to scorch me up like a burning glass."--Merry Wives of Windsor.] [Footnote 7: Εἰρήνης αὑτὸς ἐyέvεro πρύτανις--literally, he became the president or manager, &c.] [Footnote 8: "Her rage was but a minute's, and 'twas well-- A moment's more had slain her; but the while It lasted 'twas like a short glimpse of hell: Nought's more sublime than energetic bile, Though horrible to see, yet grand to tell, Like ocean warring 'gainst a rocky isle; And the deep passions flashing through her form, Made her a beautiful embodied storm."--Byron. ] [Footnote 9: The original has τήμερον, to-day; but that must be an oversight, for a little before it is said that Arsace continued _all night_, παννύχιος, in agitation.] [Footnote 10: ἀπ' οἰκήματος καὶ ἐπιτιτηδευμενῳ κάλλει.] [Footnote 11: Like Glaucus with Diomed in the Iliad, vi. 235.] [Footnote 12: ποπάνοις. "tenui popano corruptus Osiris."--Juv. vi. 541. ] [Footnote 13: