Page:Woman in the Nineteenth Century 1845.djvu/84

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WOMAN IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

what he should do to please you. He is dead, therefore,’ said she, ‘without reproach, and I, who urged him on, sit here alive.’ Cyrus, shedding tears for some time in silence, then spoke—‘He has died, woman, the noblest death; for he has died victorious! do you adorn him with these things that I furnish you with.’ (Gobryas and Gadatas were then come up and had brought rich ornaments in great abundance with them.) ‘Then,’ said he, ‘be assured that he shall not want respect and honor in all other things: but, over and above, multitudes shall concur in raising him a monument that shall be worthy of us, and all the sacrifices shall be made him that are proper to be made in honor of a brave man. You shall not be left destitute, but, for the sake of your modesty and every other virtue, I will pay you all other honors, as well as place those about you who will conduct you wherever you please. Do you but make it known to me where it is that you desire to be conveyed to.’ And Panthea replied, ‘Be confident, Cyrus,’ said she, ‘I will not conceal from you to whom it is that I desire to go.’

“He, having said this, went away with great pity for her that she should have lost such a husband, and for the man that he should have left such a wife behind him, never to see her more. Panthea then gave orders for her servants to retire, ‘Till such time,’ said she, ‘as I shall have lamented my husband, as I please.’ Her nurse she bid to stay, and gave orders that, when she was dead, she would wrap her and her husband up in one mantle together. The nurse, after having repeatedly begged her not to do this, and meeting with no success, but observing her