But the magnificent woman understood him
(she'd already heard some rumours about it)
and she encouraged him to get it out.
And she laughed, saying of course she'd go,
happy even that in her old age
she could be useful to Sparta still.
As for the humiliation -that didn't touch her at all.
Of course an upstart like the Lagid
couldn't possibly comprehend the Spartan spirit;
so his demand couldn't in fact humiliate
a Royal Lady like herself:
mother of a Spartan king.
Constantine P. Cavafy