“ReithePriestIamindeed，“heanswered，“therestIamnomore，forMeriamuntheQueenhasstrippedmeofmywealthandoffices，becauseofthee，thouWanderer，andtheImmortalwhoselovethouhastwon，andbywhomthouhastdealtsoill。Hearken！IlearnedbyartsknowntomeofthedreamofPharaoh，andofthysendingforthtodobattlewiththebarbarians。ThenIdisguisedmyselfasthouseest，andtooktheswiftestcamelinTanis，andamcomehitherbyanotherwaytomeetthee。NowIwouldasktheeonething。HowcameitthatthoudidstplaytheImmortalfalsethatnight？Knowestthouthatshewaitedfortheetherebythepylongate？Ay，thereIfoundherandledhertothePalace，andforthatIamstrippedofmyrankandgoodsbyMeriamun，andnowtheLadyofBeautyisreturnedtohershrine，grievingbitterlyforthyfaithlessness；thoughhowshepassedthitherIknownot。“
“MethoughtIheardhervoiceasthoseknavesboremetomydungeon，“
saidtheWanderer。“Andshedeemedmefaithless！Say，Rei，dostthouknowthemagicofMeriamun？DostthouknowhowshewonmetoherselfintheshapeofArgiveHelen？“
Andthen，inasfewwordsasmightbe，hetoldReihowhehadbeenledawaybythemagicofMeriamun，howhewhoshouldhaveswornbytheStarhadswornbytheSnake。
WhenReiheardthattheWandererhadswornbytheSnake，heshuddered。
“NowIknowall，“hesaid。“Fearnot，thouWanderer，notontheeshallalltheevilfall，noronthatImmortalwhomthoudostlove；theSnakethatbeguiledtheeshallavengetheealso。“
“Rei，“theWanderersaid，“onethingIchargethee。IknowthatIgodowntomydeath。ThereforeIpraytheeseekoutherwhomthounamesttheHathorandtellherallthetaleofhowIwasbetrayed。SoshallI
diehappily。TellheralsothatIcraveherforgivenessandthatI
loveherandheronly。“
“ThisIwilldoifImay，“Reianswered。“AndnowthesoldiersmurmurandImustbegone。Listen，themightoftheNine-bowbarbariansrollsuptheeasternbranchofSihor。Butoneday’smarchfromOnthemountainsrundowntotheedgeoftheriver，andthosemountainsarepiercedbyarockypassthroughwhichthefoewillsurelycome。Setthouthyambushthere，Wanderer，thereatProsopis——soshaltthousmitethem。Farewell。IwillseekouttheHathorifinanywayIcancomeather，andtellherall。ButofthisIwarnthee，thehourisbigwithFate，andsoonwillspawnamonstrousbirth。StrangevisionsofdoomanddeathpassedbeforemineeyesasIsleptlastnight。
Farewell！“
Thenhewentbacktothecamelandclimbedit，andpassingroundthearmyvanishedswiftlyinacloudofdust。
TheWandereralsowentbacktothehost，wherethecaptainsmurmuredbecauseofthehalt，andmountedhischariot。Buthewouldtellnothingofwhatthemanhadsaidtohim，savethathewassurelyamessengerfromtheUnder-worldtoinstructhiminthewagingofthewar。
Thenthechariotandthehorsemenpassedonagain，tilltheycametothecityofOn，andfoundthehostofPharaohgatheringinthegreatwalledspacethatisbeforetheTempleofRa。Andtheretheypitchedtheircamphardbythegreatobelisksthatstandattheinnergate，whichReithearchitectfashionedbyThebes，andthedivineRamesesMiamunsetuptothegloryofRaforever。
WhenMeriamuntheQueenhadwatchedthechariotoftheWanderertillitwaslostinthedustofthedesert，shepasseddownfromthePalacerooftothesolitudeofherchamber。
Hereshesatinherchambertillthedarknessgathered，astheevilthoughtsgatheredinherheart，thatwasrentwithloveofhimwhomshehadwonbuttolose。Thingshadgoneillwithher，tolittlepurposeshehadsinnedaftersuchafashionasmaynotbeforgiven。
Yettherewashope。HehadswornthathewouldwedherwhenPharaohwasdead，andwhenArgiveHelenhadfollowedPharaohtotheShades。
Shouldsheshrinkthenfromthedeedofblood？Nay，fromeviltoevilshewouldgo。Shelaidherhanduponthedouble-headedsnakethatwoundherabout，andspakeintothegloom:
“Osiriswaitsthee，Meneptah——Osiriswaitsthee！TheShadesofthosewhohavediedforthylove，Helen，aregatheringatthegates。Itshallbedone。Pharaoh，thoudiestto-night。To-morrownight，thouGoddessHelen，shallallthytalebetold。/Man/maynotharmtheeindeed，butshallfirerefusetokissthyloveliness？Arethereno/women’s/handstolightthyfuneralpile？“
Thensherose，andcallingherladies，wasattiredinhermostsplendidrobes，andcausedtheuraeuscrowntobesetuponherhead，thesnakecircletofpoweronherbrow，thesnakegirdleofwisdomatherheart。Andnowshehidsomewhatinherbreast，andpassedtotheante-chamber，wherethePrincesgatheredforthefeast。
Pharaohlookedupandsawherloveliness。Soglorioussheseemedinherroyalbeautythathisheartforgotitswoes，andonceagainhelovedherashehaddoneinyearsgoneby，whensheconqueredhimattheGameofPieces，andhehadcasthisarmsaboutherandshestabbedhim。
Shesawthelookoflovegrowonhisheavyface，andallhergatheredhateroseinherbreast，thoughshesmiledgentlywithherlipsandspakehimfair。
TheysatatthefeastandPharaohdrank。Andeverashedrankshesmileduponhimwithherdarkeyesandspakehimwordsofgentlestmeaning，tillatlengththerewasnothinghedesiredmorethanthattheyshouldbeatoneagain。
Nowthefeastwasdone。Theysatintheante-chamber，forallweregonesaveMeneptahandMeriamun。Thenhecametoherandtookherhand，lookingintohereyes，nordidshesayhimnay。
Therewasalutelyingonagoldentable，andtheretoo，asitchanced，wasaboardfortheGameofPieces，withthedice，andthepiecesthemselveswroughtingold。
Pharaohtookupthegoldkingfromtheboardandtoyedwithitinhishand。“Meriamun，“hesaid，“forthesefiveyearswehavebeenapart，thouandI。ThyloveIhavelost，asagameislostforonefalsemove，oronethrowofthedice；andourchildisdeadandourarmiesarescattered，andthebarbarianscomelikeflieswhenSihorstirswithinhisbanks。Loveonlyislefttous，Meriamun。“
Shelookedathimnotunkindly，asifsorrowandwronghadsoftenedherheartalso，butshedidnotspeak。
“CandeadLovewaken，Meriamun，andcanangryLoveforgive？“
Shehadliftedtheluteandherfingerstouchedlistlesslyonthecords。
“Nay，Iknownot，“shesaid；“whoknows？HowdidPentaursingofLove’srenewal，Pentaurthegloriousminstrelofourfather，RamesesMiamun？“
Helaidthegoldkingontheboard，andbeganlistlesslytocastthedice。Hethrewthe“Hathor“asitchanced，theluckycast，twosixes，andathoughtofbetterfortunecametohim。
“Howdidthesongrun，Meriamun？ItismanyayearsinceIheardtheesing。“
Shetouchedthelutelowlyandsweetly，andthenshesang。HerthoughtswereoftheWanderer，buttheKingdeemedthatshethoughtofhimself。
OjoyofLove’srenewing，CouldLovebebornagain；
Relentingforthyrueing，Andpityingmypain:
OjoyofLove’sawaking，CouldLovearisefromsleep，ForgivingourforsakingThefieldswewouldnotreap！
Fleet，fleetwefly，pursuingTheLovethatfledamain，Butwillhelistourwooing，Orcallwebutinvain？
Ah！vainisallourwooing，Andallourprayersarevain，Lovelistethnotoursuing，Lovewillnotwakeagain。
“Willhenotwakenagain？“saidPharaoh。“Iftwopraytogether，willLoverefusetheirprayer？“
“Itmightbeso，“shesaid，“iftwoprayedtogether；foriftheyprayed，hewouldhaveheardalready！“
“Meriamun，“saidthePharaoheagerly，forhethoughtherheartwasmovedbypityandsorrow，“oncethoudidstwinmycrownatthePieces，wiltthouplaymeforthylove？“
