Amestris, Xerxes’ wife, gave him a long robe of well-woven colours; it was very beautiful and she had created it with her own hands. Very pleased with it, he put it on and, still wearing it, went to visit Artaynte - who pleased him no less, with the result that he told her to ask for anything she desire as a reward for her favours, and he promised to grant it. Doomed to come to a bad end (with the rest of her family), Artaynte asked if His Majesty really meant what he said and that she could ask for whatever she wished and Xerxes, never suspecting what her request would be, pledged his word to do so. Thereupon she boldly demanded the robe. Xerxes did all he could to get out of his promise because he was afraid of Amestris, who had already guessed what was going on, and would, he feared, have all her suspicions confirmed. He offered her cities, unlimited gold, an army of her own (a very Persian gift) - but all to no effect. Nothing would do for her but the robe. So he gave it to her and she, delighted, wore it, and gloried in wearing it. Soon afterwards Amestris discovered that Artaynte had the robe, but her anger was not directed against her. On the contrary, Amestris thought that the girl’s mother, Masistes’ wife, was the person responsible for all the trouble and therefore she plotted her destruction. Amestris waited for the day when her husband gave his Royal Supper - a once-a-year occasion, held on the king’s birthday. . . . It is the one time of the year when the king anoints his head and bestows gifts on the Persians. When, then, the day of the supper arrived, she asked Xerxes for a present: Masistes’ wife. Fully understanding the reason for her request, Xerxes was horrified, not just at the prospect of handing over his brother’s wife, but also because he knew that she was completely innocent. But Amestris persisted - moreover, the law of the Royal Supper stated that on that day no one should be refused a request. So, at last, and much against his will, Xerxes was forced to consent. Then, having told his wife to do with the woman as she pleased, he sent for his brother. ‘Masistes’, he said, ‘you are my brother and the son of Darius; moreover, you are a good man. Do not live with your wife any longer - I will give to you instead the hand of my own daughter. Marry her and repudiate your present wife - I do not approve of you keeping her’.
Masistes replied in astonishment, ‘My lord, this is a strange suggestion! Why would you tell me to repudiate my wife who is the mother of grown up sons and daughters - one of whom [Artaynte] married your own son. Besides, my wife is everything I could wish for, so why should I marry your daughter? Sire, no, I will do neither of these things, despite the pride I feel at being thought worthy of your daughter. I beg you, do not force this request upon me, but allow me to live peacefully with my wife. You will find another man as worthy as I for your daughter’s hand’. This reply angered Xerxes and he shouted, ‘Very well! I tell you now Masistes the damage you have done for yourself. I will no longer offer you my daughter. Thus may you learn to accept a proffered gift’. ‘Master’, replied Masistes, ‘you have not killed me yet!’ And without saying another word he left the room.
In the meantime, while Xerxes and Masistes were talking, Amestris sent for soldiers from the royal bodyguard and had Masistes’ wife dreadfully mutilated: her breasts, nose, ears, and lips were cut off and thrown to the dogs; then her tongue was torn out and, in this dire state, she was sent home. Masistes, who as yet knew nothing of this, suspected mischief of some sort and quickly returned home; when he saw his wife’s gruesome mutilations, he took immediate council with his sons and they all, with certain other friends, set off for Bactria, with the aim of stirring up rebellion and of bringing great harm to the king.
World History
