A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

'
The authorities
want an
alliance with
Persia, but
Justown will
not hear of it.
The dress is
wonderfully
gay.
A High Inspector
of the
Persian king
was called
the "King's
Eye."
His huge eye
looks like the
eye painted
on a ship's
prow.
1 98 The Age of Pericles
Just.
Except I hear a motion about peace.
Her.
Just.
By Zeus, but I won't be silent,
Ho, there! the Ambassadors from the King of Persia.
What King of Persia? what Ambassadors?
I'm sick of foreigners and foreign animals.
Peacocks and coxcombs and Ambassadors.
Her. Keep silence there.
Just. What's here? What dress is that?
In the name of Ecbatana! What does it mean?
Ambassadors. You sent us when Euthymenes was Archon,
Some few years back, Ambassadors to Persia,
With an appointment of two drachmas each
For daily maintenance.
Just. Alas, poor drachmas! . . .
Amb.
Finally,
We've brought you here a nobleman, Shamartabas
By name, by rank and office the King's Eye.
Just. God send a crow to pick it out I say,
And yours the Ambassadors' into the bargain!
Her.
Let the King's Eye come forward.
Just.
Hercules!
What's here? an eye for the head of a ship? What point,
What headland is he weathering? what's your course?
What makes you steer so slowly and so steadily?
Amb. Come now, Shamartabas, stand forth; declare
The King's intentions to the Athenian people.
Amh.
(Shamartabas here utters some words, which Orientalists have supposed
to be the common formula prefixed to the edicts of the
Persian monarch—lartaman exarksan apissonai satra)
You understand it?
Just. No, by Zeus, not I.
Amb. (to Just.) He says the King intends to send us gold, (to
Shamartabas) Explain about the gold; speak more distinctly.
Shamartabas.
Sen gooly Jaonau aphooly chest.
Just. Well, that's distinct enough!
Her.
What does he say?
Just. That it's a foolish jest for the lonians
To imagine their King would send them gold.
Amb. No, no'.—He's teUing ye of chests full of gold.