River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-09-12

IT was the day of the great kings
1 hunting in the Towering month
of Nissan and many lions were to be
offered to Nergal and to Bel. Artax-
serxes was proceeding to the chase.
Erect, eXultant, he drove, holding the
areins lightly in his long fingers, while
about him roared the chariot wheels
OF his huntsmen and the trampling
feet of many horses. The darkened
rims of his large, almond eyes drew
close together as he faced the level
sun-rays. The golden light caught the
jewels in his royal tiara and shone on
the twin lions of his dagger hlt.
Three horses, fieet-footed and black
MS the night, drew on his chariot. In
gilded harnesses and tassels of gold
and scarlet they swept along the river
road which traversed Babylon from
wall to wall.
The pleasure-loving king was hap
Ply, for who in the two kingdoms could
equal him in craftsmanship? His
thoughts leaped high as his eyes
greeted the royal sun and he delighted
in the swift rush of his horses. Foot
to foot with them dashed the white
steeds of Amytis, sister of the king.
The royal beauty held the reins, dis
daining the charioteer who stood idly
by her side. Behind her, swaying I'M
comfortably in the swiftly rolling
chariot a long-robed eunuch held a
golden umbrella over her head. Her
beautiful arms, yellow and polished
as ripe fruit, emerged from her wide
embroidered tunic, which after the
Babylonian custom was fastened over
one shoulder only, leaving her right
breast and shoulder free A iewelIed
fillet was bound low about her brows.
Her brilliant eyes, mobile, almond
shaped like her brothers., yeIvet-dark
and exquisitely drawn as if by pen
ell, We're wide open and flashing with
the JOY of the chase. Her beauty
was still in its perfection, but it was
not that of girl. The full curved
lips were powerful as they were petu-
lent. The face blazed with vitality
and insolent pride. She stood far for
ward in her chariot holding the three
horses with light and practice6
hand. while her scarlet draperies
streamed behind her in the swift wind
OF their fight, and her long black
curls whipped about her face.
The king looked down upon Amytis
with bright glance of pleasure. Ir
all his childish sports she had been hi.
companion. While he was passing be
fore the eyes of his people he had re
manned as calm as a sculptured idol
but now as they emerged into The
open plain, leaving the city with It.
shouting crowds behind, the imperia
face changed suddenly into that of ;
youth, smiling 18th JOY at the pros
pect of his favorite sport. This lates
monarch of the Achaemenian line wa.
famed throughout Asia for his mighty
statue and for his beauty which wa,
the very perfection of the aristocrati
Persian race. As far as Greece, ant
in all the provinces of Italy and Ash;
Minor, ArtaXerXes Longimanus wa
considered the most splendid monarch
of his time, Spending the larger par
of the year at Shushan-the capita
of his hereditary kingdom he con
sidered conquered Babylon as a win
ter residence, and brought to it
palaces a luxurious Persian retinue
and with banquets and hunting festi
walls provided constant and magniii
cent spectacle TO the pleasure-lovin,
Babylonians. 1t was his custom I,
follow the monthly hunts, but tina
which fell in Nissan the month o
flowers was the important one of al
the year. Now, lilies and tulips, pop
pies and flowers Of every hue car
peted the Babylonian plain. The tow
ering palms and tamarisks by tn
bank of the Euphrates and the inter
secting canals were freshly green
The sun was bright, but tolerable
a few weeks later what was now
garden of flowers would be a desert
swept with burning winds. and saur
storms, So quickly did the merciles
sun of summer destroy the beaut,