第9章
shallgivemyselftohim——hatinghimthewhile。Andthenthenextgame；thatshallbeforlifeandloveandallthingsdear，andIshallwinit，andmineshallbetheuraeuscrest，andmineshallbethedoublecrownofancientKhem，andIshallrulelikeHatshepu，thegreatQueenofold，forIamstrong，andtothestrongisvictory。’
“’Yes，’Imadeanswer，’but，Lady，seethouthattheGodsturnnotthystrengthtoweakness；thouarttoopassionatetobeallstrength，andinawoman’sheartpassionisthedoorbywhichKingFollyenters。
To-daythouhatest，beware，lestto-morrowthoushould’stlove。’
“’Love，’shesaid，gazingscornfully；’Meriamunlovesnottillshefindamanworthyofherlove。’
“’Ay，andthen？’
“’Andthenshelovestoalldestruction，andwoetothemwhocrossherpath。Rei，farewell。’
“Thensuddenlyshespoketomeinanothertongue，thatfewknowsaveherandme，andthatnonecanreadsaveherandme，adeadtongueofadeadpeople，thepeopleofthatancientCityoftheRock，whenceallourfatherscame。[*]
[*]Probablythemysteriousandindecipherableancientbooks，whichwereoccasionallyexcavatedinoldEgypt，werewritteninthisdeadlanguageofamoreancientandnowforgottenpeople。SuchwasthebookdiscoveredatCoptos，inthesanctuarythere，byapriestoftheGoddess。“Thewholeearthwasdark，butthemoonshoneallabouttheBook。“AscribeoftheperiodoftheRamessidsmentionsanotherindecipherableancientwriting。“Thoutellestmethouunderstandestnowordofit，goodorbad。Thereis，asitwere，awallaboutitthatnonemayclimb。Thouartinstructed，yetthouknowestitnot；thismakesmeafraid。“Birch，/Zeitschrift/，1871，pp。61-64。/PapyrusAnastasi/I，pl。X。1。8，pl。X。1。4。
Maspero，/Hist。Anc。/7。
“’Igo，’shesaid，andItrembledasshespoke，fornomanspeaksinthislanguagewhenhehasanygoodthoughtinhisheart。’IgotoseekthecounselofThatthouknowest，’andshetouchedthegoldensnakewhichshehadwon。
“ThenIthrewmyselfontheearthatherfeet，andclaspedherknees，crying，’Mydaughter，mydaughter，sinnotthisgreatsin。Nay，forallthekingdomoftheworld，wakenotThatwhichsleepeth，norwarmagainintolifeThatwhichisa-cold。’
“Butsheonlynodded，andputmefromher，“——andtheoldman’sfacegrewpaleashespoke。
“Whatmeantshe？“saidtheWanderer。
“Nay，wakenot/thou/Thatwhichsleepeth，Wanderer，“hesaid，atlength。“Mytongueissealed。ItelltheemorethatIwouldtellanother。Donotask，——buthark！Theycomeagain！NowmayRaandPashtandAmencursethem；maytheredswine’smouthofSetgnawupontheminAmenti；maytheFishofSebekfleshhisteethofstoneinthemforever，andfeedandfeedagain！“
“Whydostthoucursethus，Rei，andwhoaretheythatgoby？“saidtheWanderer。“Iheartheirtrampingandtheirsong。“
Indeedtherecamealightnoiseofmanyshufflingfeet，patteringoutsidethePalacewall，andthewordsofasongrangouttriumphantly:
TheLordourGodHedothsignandwonder，TokensHeshowsinthelandofKhem，HehathshatteredtheprideoftheKingsasunderAndcastethHisshoeo’ertheGodsofthem！
Hehathbroughtforthfrogsintheirholyplaces，Hehathsprinkledthedustuponcrownandhem，Hehathhatedtheirkingsandhathdarkenedtheirfaces；
WondersHeworksinthelandofKhem。
“Thesearetheaccursedblasphemingconjurorsandslaves，theApura，“
saidRei，asthemusicandthetrampingdiedaway。“Theirmagicisgreaterthantheloreevenofuswhoareinstructed，fortheirleaderwasoneofourselves，ashavenpriest，andknowsourwisdom。Neverdotheymarchandsingthusbutevilcomesofit。Eredaydawnweshallhavenewsofthem。MaytheGodsdestroythem，theyaregoneforthehour。ItwerewellifMeriamuntheQueenwouldletthemgoforever，astheydesire，totheirdeathinthedesert，butshehardenstheKing’sheart。“
VII
THEQUEEN’SVISION
Therewassilencewithoutatlast；theclamourandthetreadoftheApurawerehushedinthedistance，dyingfaraway，andReigrewcalm，whenheheardnolongerthewildsong，andtheclashingofthetimbrels。
“Imusttellthee，Eperitus，“hesaid，“howthematterendedbetweenthedivinePrinceandMeriamun。Shebowedherpridebeforeherfatherandherbrother:herfather’swillwashers；sheseemedtolethersecretsleep，andshesetherownpriceonherhand。IneverythingshemustbetheequalofPharaoh——thatwasherprice；andinallthetemplesandallthecitiesshewastobesolemnlyproclaimedjointheirwithhimoftheUpperandLowerLand。Thebargainwasstruckandthepricewaspaid。AfterthatnightoverthegameofpiecesMeriamunwaschanged。ThenceforthshedidnotmockatthePrince，shemadeherselfgentleandsubmissivetohiswill。
“Sothetimedrewontillatlengthinthebeginningoftherisingofthewaterscamethedayofherbridal。WithamightypompwasPharaoh’sdaughterweddedtoPharaoh’sson。Butherhandwascoldasshestoodatthealtar，coldasthehandofonewhosleepsinOsiris。
ProudlyandcoldlyshesatinthegoldenchariotpassinginandoutthegreatgatesofTanis。Onlywhenshelistenedandheardtheacclaimingthousandscry/Meriamun/soloudlythatthecryof/Meneptah/waslostintheechoesofhername——thenonlydidshesmile。
“Cold，too，shesatinherwhiterobesatthefeastthatPharaohmade，andsheneverlookedatthehusbandbyherside，thoughhelookedkindlyonher。
“Thefeastwaslong，butitendedatlast，andthencamethemusicandthesingers，butMeriamun，makingexcuse，roseandwentout，attendedbyherladies。AndIalso，wearyandsadatheart，passedthencetomyownchamberandbusiedmyselfwiththeinstrumentsofmyart，for，stranger，Ibuildthehousesofgodsandkings。
“Presently，asIsat，therecameaknockingatthedoor，andawomanenteredwrappedinaheavycloak。Sheputasidethecloak，andbeforemewasMeriamuninallherbridalrobes。
“’Heedmenot，Rei，’shesaid，’Iamyetfreeforanhour；andIwouldwatchtheeatthylabour。Nay，itismyhumour；gainsaymenot，forI
lovewelltolookonthatwrinkledfaceofthine，scoredbythecunningchiselofthyknowledgeandthyyears。SofromachildhaveI
watchedtheetracingtheshapesofmightytemplesthatshallendurewhenourselves，andperchancetheveryGodsweworship，havelongsinceceasedtobe。Ah，Rei，thouwiseman，thineisthebetterpart，forthoubuildestincoldenduringstoneandattirestthywallsasthyfancybidsthee。ButI——Ibuildinthedustofhumanhearts，andmywilliswrittenintheirdust。WhenIamdead，raisemeatombmorebeautifulthaneverhasbeenknown，andwriteupontheportal，/Here，inthelasttempleofherpride，dwellsthattiredbuilder，Meriamun，theQueen/。’
“Thusshetalkedwildlyinwordswithlittlereason。
“’Nay，speaknotso，’Isaid，’forisitnotthybridalnight？Whatdostthouhereatsuchatime？’
“’WhatdoIhere？SurelyIcometobeachildagain！See，Rei，inallwideKhemthereisnowomansoshamed，solost，soutterlyundoneasisto-nighttheRoyalMeriamun，whomthoulovest。Iamlowerthanshewhopliesthestreetforbread，fortheloftierthespiritthegreateristhefall。Iamsoldintoshame，andpowerismyprice。Oh，cursedbethefateofwomanwhoonlybyherbeautycanbegreat。Oh，cursedbethatancientCounsellorthouwottestof，andcursedbeIwhowakenedThatwhichslept，andwarmedThatwhichwasa-coldinmybreathandinmybreast！Andcursedbethissintowhichheledme！
Spurnme，Rei；strikemeonthecheek，spituponme，onMeriamun，theRoyalharlotwhosellsherselftowinacrown。Oh，Ihatehim，hatehim，andIwillpayhiminshameforshame——him，theclowninking’sattire。Seehere，’——andfromherrobeshedrewawhiteflowerthatwasknowntoherandme——’twiceto-dayhaveIbeenmindedwiththisdeadlyblossomtomakeanendofme，andofallmyshame，andallmyemptygreedofglory。Butthisthoughthasheldmyhand:I，Meriamun，willlivetolookacrosshisgraveandbreakhisimages，andbeatoutthewritingsofhisnamefromeverytemplewallinKhem，astheybeatoutthehatednameofHatshepu。I——’andsuddenlysheburstintoarainoftears；shewhowasnotwonttoweep。
“’Nay，touchmenot，’shesaid。’Theywerebuttearsofanger。
MeriamunismistressofherFate，notFateofMeriamun。Andnow，mylordawaitsme，andImustbegone。Kissmeonthebrow，oldfriend，whilstyetIamtheMeriamunthouknewest，andthenkissmenomoreforever。Attheleastthisiswellforthee，forwhenMeriamunisQueenofKhemthoushaltbefirstinalltheland，andstandonthefootstepsofmythrone。Farewell。’Andshegatheredupherraimentandcastherwhiteflowerofdeathintheflameofthebrazier，andwasgone，leavingmeyetsadderatheart。FornowIknewthatshewasnotasotherwomenare，butgreaterforgoodorevil。
“OnthemorrownightIsatagainatmytask，andagaintherecameaknockingatthedoor，andagainawomanenteredandthrewasideherwrappings。ItwasMeriamun。Shewaspaleandstern，andasIroseshewavedmeback。
“’Has，then，thePrince——thyhusband——’Istammered。
“’SpeaknottomeofthePrince，Rei，myservant，’shemadeanswer。
’YesterdayIspoketotheewildly，mymindwasoverwrought；letitbeforgotten——awifeamI，ahappywife’；andshesmiledsostrangelythatIshrunkbackfromher。
“’Nowtomyerrand。Ihavedreamedadream，atroublousdream，andthouartwiseandinstructed，thereforeIpraytheeinterpretmyvision。Isleptanddreamedofaman，andinmydreamIlovedhimmorethanIcantell。Formyheartbeattohisheart，andinthelightofhimIlived，andallmysoulwashis，andIknewthatIlovedhimforever。AndPharaohwasmyhusband；but，inmydream，Ilovedhimnot。
Nowtherecameawomanrisingoutofthesea，morebeautifulthanI，withabeautyfairerandmorechangefulthanthedawnuponthemountains；andshe，too，lovedthisgodlikeman，andhelovedher。
Thenwestrovetogetherforhislove，matchingbeautyagainstbeauty，andwitagainstwit，andmagicagainstmagic。Nowoneconquered，andnowtheother；butintheendthevictorywasmine，andIwentarrayedasforamarriage-bed——andIclaspedacorpse。
“’Iwoke，andagainIslept，andsawmyselfwearinganothergarb，andspeakinganothertongue。BeforemewasthemanIloved，andthere，too，wasthewoman，wrappedaboutwithbeauty，andIwaschanged，andyetIwastheveryMeriamunthouseest。Andoncemorewestruggledforthemasteryandforthisman’slove，andinthatdaysheconqueredme。
“’Islept，andagainIwoke，andinanotherlandthanKhem——astrangeland，andyetmethoughtIknewitfromlongago。ThereIdweltamongthegraves，anddarkfaceswereaboutme，andIworeThatthouknowestforagirdle。Andthetombsoftherockwhereinwedweltwerescoredwiththewritingsofadeadtongue——thetongueofthatlandwhenceourfatherscame。Wewereallchanged，yetthesame，andoncemorethewomanandIstruggledforthemastery，andthoughIseemedtoconquer，yetaseaoffirecameoverme，andIwokeandIsleptagain。