“’Thenconfusionwaspileduponconfusion，norcanmymemoryholdallthatcametopass。Forthisgameplayeditselfafreshinlands，andlives，andtongueswithoutnumber。Onlythelastboutandthewinnerwerenotrevealedtome。
“’AndinmydreamIcriedaloudtotheprotectingGodstoescapeoutofthedream，andIsoughtforlightthatImightseewhencethesethingswere。Then，asinavision，thePastopenedupitsgates。Itseemedthatuponatime，thousand，thousandagesagone，Iandthismanofmydreamhadarisenfromnothingnessandlookedineachother’seyes，andlovedwithaloveunspeakable，andvowedavowthatshallendurefromtimetotimeandworldtoworld。Forwewerenotmortalthen，butpartookofthenatureoftheGods，beingmorefairandgreatthananyofhumankind，andourhappinesswasthehappinessofHeaven。
ButinourgreatjoywehearkenedtotheVoiceoftheThatthouknowest，ofthatThing，Rei，withwhich，againstthycounsel，Ihavebutlatelydealt。ThekissofourloveawakenedThatwhichslept，thefireofourlovewarmedThatwhichwasa-cold！WedefiedtheholyGods，worshippingthemnot，butrathereachtheother，forweknewthatastheGodswewereeternal。AndtheGodswereangeredagainstusanddrewusupintotheirpresence。Andwhilewetrembledtheyspakeaswithavoice:
“’“Yetwainwhoareonelife，eachcompletingeach，becausewithyourkissesyehavewakenedThatwhichslept，andwiththefireofyourlovehavewarmedThatwhichwasa-cold:becauseyehaveforgottenthemthatgaveyoulifeandloveandjoy:hearkentoyourDoom！
“’“FromTwobeyemade/Three/，andthroughallTimestriveyetobeTwainagain。PassfromthisHolyPlacedowntotheHellofEarth，andthoughyebeimmortalputonthegarmentsofmortality。PassonfromLifetoLife，liveandloveandhateandseemtodie:haveacquaintancewitheverylot，andinyourblindforgetfulness，beingoneandbeingequal，workeachother’swoeaccordingtothelawofEarth，andforyourlove’ssakesinandbeshamed，perishandre-arise，appeartoconquerandbeconquered，pursuingyourthreefolddestiny，and，atthewordofFate，theunalteringcirclemeets，andtheveilofblindnessfallsfromyoureyes，and，asascroll，yourfollyisunrolled，andthehidpurposeofyoursorrowisaccomplishedandoncemoreyeareTwainandOne。“
“’Then，aswetrembled，clingingeachtoeach，againthegreatVoicespoke:
“’“YetwainwhoareOne——letThattowhichyehavehearkeneddivideyouandenfoldyou！BeyeThree！“
“’AndastheVoicespokeIwastornwithagony，andstrengthwentoutofme，andthere，byhimIloved，stoodthewomanofmydreamcrownedwitheverygloryandadornedwiththeStar。Andwewerethree。Andbetweenhimandme，yetenfoldinghimandme，writhedthatThingthouwottestof。AndhewhomIlovedturnedtolookuponthefairwoman，wondering，andshesmiledandstretchedoutherarmtowardshimasonewhowouldtakethatwhichisherown，andRei，inthathour，thoughitwasbutinadream，Iknewthemortalpainofjealousy，andawoketrembling。Andnowreadthouthisvision，Rei，thouwhoartlearnedintheinterpretationofdreamsandinthewaysofsleep。’
“’Oh，Lady，’Imadeanswer，’thisthingistoohighforme，Icannotinterpretit；butwherethouart，theremayIbetohelpthee。’
“’Iknowthylove，’shesaid，’butinthywordsislittlelight。So——
so——letitpass！Itwasbutadream，andifindeeditcamefromtheUnderWorld，why，itwasfromnohelpfulGod，butratherfromSet，theTormentor；orfromPasht，theTerrible，whothrowsthecreepingshadowofherdoomuponthemirrorofmysleep。Forthatwhichisdecreedwillsurelycometopass！IamblownlikethedustbythebreathofFate；nowtorestupontheTemple’sloftiesttops，nowtobetroddenunderfootofslaves，andnowtobeswallowedbythebitterdeep，andinseasonthencerolledforthagain。Ilovenotthislordofmine，whoshallbePharaoh，andnevermay/he/comewhomIshalllove。’TiswellthatIlovehimnot，fortoloveistobeaslave。Whentheheartiscoldthenthehandisstrong，andIamfaintobetheQueenleadingPharaohbythebeard，thefirstofalltheancientlandofKhem；forI
wasnotborntoserve。Nay，whileImay，Irule，awaitingtheendofrule。Lookforth，Rei，andseehowtheraysfromMotherIsis’thronefloodallthecourtsandallthecity’sstreetsandbreakinlightuponthewater’sbreast。SoshalltheMoon-child’sflamefloodallthislandofKhem。Whatmattersit，iferethemornIsismustpasstoherdominionoftheDead，andthevoiceofMeriamunbehushedwithinasepulchre？’
“Soshespokeandwentthence，andonherfacewasnobride’ssmile，butrathersuchagazeasthatwithwhichthegreatsphinx，Horemku，looksoutacrossthedesertsands。“
“AstrangeQueen，Rei，“saidtheWanderer，ashepaused，“butwhathaveItomakeinthistaleofabrideandhermaddreams？“
“Morethanthoushaltdesire，“saidRei；“butletuscometotheend，andthoushalthearthypartintheFate。“
“TheDivinePharaohRamesesdiedandwasgatheredtoOsiris。WiththesehandsIclosedhiscoffinandsethiminhissplendidtomb，whereheshallrestunharmedforevertillthedayoftheawakening。
AndMeriamunandMeneptahreignedinKhem。ButtoPharaohshewasverycold，thoughhedidherwillineverything，andtheyhadbutonechild，sothatinawhileheweariedofherloveliness。
“Butherswasthemaster-mind，andsheruledPharaohassheruledallelse。
“Forme，mylotwasbettered；shetalkedmuchwithme，andadvancedmetogreatdignity，sothatIwasthefirstMasterBuilderinKhem，andCommanderofthelegionofAmen。
“NowitchancedthatMeriamunmadeafeast，wheresheentertainedPharaohandHataskasatbesidehim。ShewasthefirstladyabouttheQueen’sperson，abeautifulbutinsolentwoman，whohadgainedPharaoh’sfavourforthehour。NowwineworkedsowiththeKingthathetoyedopenlywiththeladyHataska’shand，butMeriamuntheQueentooknonote，thoughHataska，whohadalsodrunkofthewarmwineoftheLowerLand，grewinsolent，aswasherwont。Shequaffeddeepfromhercupofgold，andbadeaslavebearittotheQueen，crying，’Pledgeme，mysister。’
“Themeaningofhermessagewasplaintoallwhoheard；thiswaitingladyopenlydeclaredherselfwifetoPharaohandanequaloftheQueen。NowMeriamuncarednothingforPharaoh’slove，butforpowershedidcare，andshefrowned，whilealightshoneinherdarkeyes；
yetshetookthecupandtoucheditwithherlips。
“Presentlysheliftedherowncupinturnandtoyedwithit，thenmadepretencetodrink，andsaidsoftlytotheKing’sparamour，whohadpledgedher:
“’Pledgemeinanswer，Hataska，myservant，forsoon，methinks，thoushaltbegreaterthantheQueen。’
“Nowthisfoolishwomanreadhersayingwrong，andtookthegoldencupfromtheeunuchwhoboreit。
“WithalittlenodtotheQueen，andawaveofherslimhand，Hataskadrank，andinstantly，withagreatcry，shefelldeadacrosstheboard。Then，whileallthecompanysatinterror，neitherdaringtobesilentnortospeak，andwhileMeriamunsmiledscornfullyonthedarkheadlyinglowamongtherosesontheboard，Pharaohleapedup，madwithwrath，andcalledtotheguardstoseizetheQueen。Butshewavedthemback，and，speakinginaslow，coldvoice，shesaid:
“’DarenottotouchKhem’sanointedQueenlestyourfatebeas/her/
fate。Forthee，Meneptah，forgetnotthymarriageoath。What，amI
Queen，andshallthywantonsthrowtheirinsolenceinmyteethandnamemetheirsister？Notso，forifmyeyesbeblindyetmyearsareopen。Peace，sheisrightlyserved——choosethoualowliermistress！’
“AndPharaohmadenoanswer，forhefearedherwithanever-growingfear。Butshe，sinkingbackinherseatofstate，playedwiththegoldkepheronherbreast，andwatchedthembearthebodyforthtotheHouseofOsiris。Onebyoneallthecompanymadeobeisanceandpassedthence，gladtobegone，tillatthelasttherewereleftonlyPharaohandMeriamuntheQueen，andmyself——ReithePriest——forallweremuchafraid。ThenPharaohspoke，lookingneitherathernoratme，andhalfinfear，halfinanger。
“’Thouhatefulwoman，accursedbethedaywhenfirstIlookeduponthybeauty。Thouhastconqueredme，butbeware，forIamstillPharaohandthyLord。Crossmypurposeonceagain，and，byHimwhosleepsatPhil？，Iwilldiscrowntheeandgivethybodytothetormentors，andsetthysoulloosetofollowherwhomthouhastslain。’
“ThenMeriamunansweredproudly:
“’Pharaoh，bewarned:liftbutonefingeragainstmymajestyandthouartdoomed。Thoucanstnotslayme，butIcanover-matchthee，andI
swearbythesameoath！ByHimwhosleepsatPhil？，liftahandagainstme，ay，harbouronethoughtoftreachery，andthoudiest。NotlightlycanIbedeceived，forIhavemessengersthatthoucanstnothear。Something，RoyalMeneptah，doIknowofthemagicofthatQueenTaiawhowasbeforeme。Nowlisten——dothisonethingandallshallbewell。Goonthypathandleavemetofollowmine。QueenIam，QueenI
willremain，andinallmattersoftheStateminemustbeanequalvoicethoughitisthinethatspeaks。And，fortherest，weareaparthenceforth，forthoufearestme，andMeneptah，Ilovenotthee，noranyman。’
“’Asthouhastspoken，sobeit，’quothPharaoh，forhisheartsank，andhisfearcamebackuponhim。’Evilwasthedaywhenfirstwemet，andthisisthepriceofmydesire。Henceforthweareapartinbedandboard，butinthecouncilwearestillone，forourendsareone。I
knowthypower，Meriamun，thougiftedoftheevilGods；thouneedestnotfearthatIshallseektoslaythee，foraspearcastagainsttheheavensreturnsonhimwhothrewit。Rei，myservant，thouartwitnesstoouroaths；hearnowtheirundoing。Meriamun，theQueenofancientKhem，thouartnomorewifeofmine。Farewell。’
