第14章
“’NowisHathorcomebacktoKhem，nowisHathorcomebacktoKhem，and，asofold，nonemaydrawnearherbeauty！’ThenIwenttosee，andlo！beforetheTempleofHathoragreatmultitudewasgathered，andthereonthepylonbrowstoodtheHathor’sselfshiningwithchangefulbeautyliketheDawn。Andasofoldshesangsweetsongs，and，toeachmanwhoheard，hervoicewasthevoiceofhisownbeloved，livingandlosttohim，ordeadandlost。NoweverymanhassuchagraveinhisheartasthatwhenceHathorseemstoriseinchangefulbeauty。Monthbymonthshesingsthus，onedayineverymonth，andmanyamanhassoughttowinherandherfavour，butinthedoorwaysaretheywhomeethimandpresshimback；andifhestillstruggleson，therecomesaclangofswordsandhefallsdead，butnowoundisfoundonhim。And，Wanderer，thisistruth，forImyselfhavestrivenandhavebeenpressedbackbythatwhichguardsher。ButI
aloneofmenwhohavelookedonherandheardher，strovenotasecondtime，andsosavedmyselfalive。“
“ThoualoneofmenlovestlifemorethantheWorld’sDesire！“saidtheQueen。“ThouhasteversickenedfortheloveofthisstrangeWitch，butthylifethoulovestevenbetterthanherbeauty，andthoudostnotdareattemptagaintheadventureofherembrace。Know，Eperitus，thatthissorrowiscomeupontheland，thatallmenloveyonderwitchandraveofher，andtoeachshewearsadifferentfaceandsingsinanothervoice。Whenshestandsuponthepylontower，thenthouwiltseethemadnesswithwhichshehassmittenthem。Fortheywillweepandprayandteartheirhair。Thentheywillrushthroughthetemplecourtsanduptothetempledoors，andbethrustbackagainbythatwhichguardsher。Butsomewillyetstrivemadlyon，andthouwiltheartheclashofarmsandtheywillfalldeadbeforethee。Accursedistheland，Itellthee，Wanderer；becauseofthatPhantomitisaccursed。ForitisshewhobringsthesewoesonKhem；fromher，notfromourslavesandtheirmadconjurers，comeplagues，Isay，andallevilthings。Andtillamanbefoundwhomaypassherguard，andcomefacetofacewiththewitchandslayher，plaguesandwoesandevilthingsshallbethedailybreadofKhem。Perchance，Wanderer，thouartsuchaman，“andshelookedonhimstrangely。“Yetifso，thisismycounsel，thatthougonotupagainsther，lestthoualsobebewitched，andagreatmanbelosttous。“
NowtheWandererturnedthematteroverinhisheartandmadeanswer:
“Perchance，Lady，mystrengthandthefavouroftheGodsmightservemeinsuchaquest。Butmethinksthatthiswomanismeeterforwordsofloveandthekissesofmenthantobeslainwiththesharpsword，if，indeed，shebenotofthenumberoftheimmortals。“
NowMeriamunflushedandfrowned。
“Itisnotfittingsototalkbeforeme，“shesaid。“Ofthisbesure，thatiftheWitchmaybecomeat，sheshallbeslainandgiventoOsirisforabride。“
NowtheWanderersawthattheLadyMeriamunwasjealousofthebeautyandrenownandloveofherwhodweltinthetemple，andwascalledtheStrangeHathor，andheheldhispeace，forheknewwhentobesilent。
Thefeastdraggedslowlyon，forFearwasofthecompany。Themenandwomenweresilent，andwhentheydrank，itwasasifonehadpouredalittleoilonadyingfire。Lifeflamedupinthemforamoment，theirlaughtercamelikethecracklingofthorns，andthentheyweresilentagain。MeanwhiletheWandererdranklittle，waitingtoseewhatshouldcome。ButtheQueenwaswatchinghimwhomalreadyherheartdesired，andsheonlyofallthecompanyhadpleasureinthisbanquet。Suddenlyaside-dooropenedbehindtheda？s，therewasastirinthehall，eachguestturninghisheadfearfully，forallexpectedsomeeviltidings。
ButitwasonlytheentranceofthosewhobearaboutinthefeastsofEgyptaneffigyoftheDead，thelikenessofamummycarvedinwood，andwhocry:“Drink，OKing，andbeglad，thoushaltsoonbeevenashe！Drink，andbeglad。“Thestiff，swathedfigure，withitsfoldedhandsandgildedface，wasbroughtbeforethePharaoh，andMeneptah，whohadsatlonginsullenbroodingsilence，startedwhenhelookedonit。Thenhebrokeintoanangrylaugh。
“Wehavelittleneedoftheeto-night，“hecried，ashesalutedthesymbolofOsiris。“Deathisnearenough，wewantnotthysilentpreaching。Death，Deathisnear！“
Hefellbackinhisgildedchair，andletthecupdropfromhishand，gnawingathisbeard。
“Artthouaman？“spokeMeriamun，inalowclearvoice；“areyoumen，andyetafraidofwhatcomestoall？Isitonlyto-nightthatwefirsthearthenameofDeath？RememberthegreatMen-kau-ra，remembertheoldPharaohwhobuiltthePyramidofHir。Hewasjustandkind，andhefearedtheGods，andforhisrewardtheyshowedhimDeath，comingonhiminsixshortyears。Didhescowlandtremble，likeallofyouto-night，whoarescaredbythethreatsofslaves？Nay，heoutwittedtheGods，hemadenightintoday，helivedouttwicehisyears，withrevelandloveandwineinthelamp-litgrovesofperseatrees。Come，myguests，letusbemerry，ifitbebutforanhour。Drink，andbebrave！“
“Foroncethouspeakestwell，“saidtheKing。“Drinkandforget；theGodswhogiveDeathgivewine，“andhisangryeyesrangedthroughthehall，toseeksomeoccasionofmirthandscorn。
“ThouWanderer！“hesaid，suddenly。“Thoudrinkestnot:Ihavewatchedtheeasthecupsgoround；what，man，thoucomestfromtheNorth，thesunofthypalelandhasnotheatenoughtofosterthevine。Thouseemestcold，andadrinkerofwater；whywiltthoubecoldbeforethinehour？Come，pledgemeintheredwineofKhem。BringforththecupofPasht！“hecriedtothemwhowaited，“bringforththecupofPasht，theKingdrinks！“
ThenthechiefbutlerofPharaohwenttothetreasure-house，andcameagain，bearingahugegoldencup，fashionedintheformofalion’shead，andholdingtwelvemeasuresofwine。Itwasanancientcup，sacredtoPasht，andagiftoftheRutennutoThothmes，thegreatestofthatname。
“Fillitfullofunmixedwine！“criedtheKing。“Dostthougrowpaleatthesightofthecup，thouWandererfromtheNorth？Ipledgethee，pledgethoume！“
“Nay，King，“saidtheWanderer，“IhavetastedwineofIsmarusbeforeto-day，andIhavedrunkwithawildhost，theone-eyedManEater！“
ForhisheartwasangeredbytheKing，andheforgothiswisdom，buttheQueenmarkedthesaying。
“ThenpledgemeinthecupofPasht！“quoththeKing。
“Ipraythee，pardonme，“saidtheWanderer，“forwinemakeswisemenfoolishandstrongmenweak，andto-nightmethinksweshallneedourwitsandourstrength。“
“Craven！“criedtheKing，“givemethebowl。Idrinktothybettercourage，Wanderer，“andliftingthegreatgoldencup，hestoodupanddrankit，andthendroppedstaggeringintohischair，hisheadfallenonhisbreast。
“ImaynotrefuseaKing’schallenge，thoughitisilltocontendwithourhosts，“saidtheWanderer，turningsomewhatpale，forhewasinanger。“Givemethebowl！“
Hetookthecup，andheldithigh；thenpouringalittleforthtohisGods，hesaid，inaclearvoice，forhewasstirredtoangerbeyondhiswont:
“/IdrinktotheStrangeHathor！/“
Hespoke，anddrainedthemightycup，andsetitdownontheboard，andevenashelaiddownthecup，andastheQueenlookedathimwitheyesofwrath，therecamefromthebowbesidehisseatafaintshrillsound，aringingandasingingofthebow，anoiseofrunningstringsandasoundasofrushingarrows。
Thewarriorheardit，andhiseyesburnedwiththelightofbattle，forheknewwellthattheswiftshaftsshouldsoonflytotheheartsofthedoomed。Pharaohawokeandheardit，andheardittheLadyMeriamuntheQueen，andshelookedontheWandererastonished，andlookedonthebowthatsang。
“Theminstrel’stalewastrue！ThisisnoneotherbuttheBowofOdysseus，thesackerofcities，“saidMeriamun。“Hearkenthou，Eperitus，thygreatbowsingsaloud。Howcomesitthatthybowsings？“
“Forthiscause，Queen，“saidtheWanderer；“becausebirdsgatherontheBridgeofWar。Soonshallshaftsbeflyingandghostsgodowntodoom。SummonthyGuards，Ibidthee，forfoesarenear。“
TerrorconqueredthedrunkennessofPharaoh；hebadetheGuardswhostoodbehindhischairsummonalltheircompany。Theywentforth，andagreathushfellagainupontheHallofBanquetsanduponthosewhosatatmeattherein。Thesilencegrewdeadlystill，likeairbeforethethunder，andmen’sheartssankwithinthem，andturnedtowaterintheirbreasts。OnlyOdysseuswonderedandthoughtonthebattletobe，thoughwhencethefoemightcomeheknewnot，andMeriamunsaterectinherivorychairandlookeddowntheglorioushall。
Deepergrewthesilenceanddeeperyet，andmoreandmorethecloudoffeargatheredintheheartsofmen。Thensuddenlythroughallthehalltherewasarushliketherushofmightywings。ThedeepfoundationsofthePalacerocked，andtothesightofmentheroofaboveseemedtoburstasunder，andlo！abovethem，againstthedistanceofthesky，theresweptashapeofFear，andthestarsshonethroughitsraiment。
Thentheroofclosedinagain，andforamoment’sspaceoncemoretherewassilence，whilstmenlookedwithwhitefaces，eachoneach，andeventhestoutheartoftheWandererstoodstill。
Thensuddenlyalldownthehall，fromthisplaceandfromthat，menroseupandwithonegreatcryfelldowndead，thisoneacrosstheboard，andthatoneacrossthefloor。TheWanderergraspedhisbowandcounted。Fromamongthosewhosatatmeattwentyandonehadfallendead。Yetthosewholivedsatgazingemptily，forsostrickenwithfearweretheythatscarcedideachoneknowifitwashehimselfwholaydeadorhisbrotherwhohadsatbyhisside。
ButMeriamunlookeddownthehallwithcoldeyes，forshefearedneitherDeathnorLife，norGodnorman。
AndwhileshelookedandwhiletheWanderercounted，thereroseafaintmurmuringsoundfromthecitywithout，asoundthatgrewandgrew，thethunderofmyriadfeetthatrunbeforethedeathofkings。
Thenthedoorsburstasunderandawomanspedthroughtheminhernightrobes，andinherarmssheborethenakedbodyofaboy。
“Pharaoh！“shecried，“Pharaoh，andthou，OQueen，lookuponthyson