Lives of Alcyone

FORTY-SEVENTH LIFE 241
Though Zarathushtra had returned to priestly work, he had by
no means resumed family life. All this time his children had been
growing up under the care of Alcyone, who was indeed now the
recognised master and administrator of the household. All of
Zarathushtra’ s children had turned out well under Alcyone’ s
fostering care, and most of all his love had always gone out towards
the youngest, Puruchista, who was now sixteen years of age, in the
first flush of dawning womanhood, and physically the exact image of
her mother. Indeed, just as in years gone by he had loved Mizar, so
did Alcyone now enfold within his heart her daughter Puruchista. He
yearned to make her his wife, but was restrained by the
consideration of the great difference in their age. Her beauty brought
her many suitors, but she rejected them all, telling Alcyone that she
could never love anyone but him.
For some time he put from his mind these avowals, fearing
lest he should be tempted to take advantage of her youth, her
gratitude, and her inexperience; but at last one day his feelings were
too strong for him, and he asked her in faltering tones whether she
really meant that she would be willing to line her fair young life with
that of a man so far advanced towards middle age as himself. She
eagerly and joyously accepted him,, and it seemed as though at last
his happiness was assured; yet even now the strange karma which
hung over him for so many lives overtook him once more, for when
they went hand in hand to Zarathushtra, hoping to receive his
blessing, he calmly told them that he had just arranged for the
marriage of Puruchista with Jamaspa Kherami (Mira), the son of the
old prime minister Castor, and that this marriage was absolutely