Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-06-15
4 Select Gale.
QUEEN SIMIRAAIIS.
BY MAssENIUs, A GERMAN JESUIT, 1857.

"Of all my wives" said King Minus to
Semirams, sit is you [ love best. None
have charms and graces like you, and for
you | would willingly resign them ALL"
"Let the king consider well what he
says" replied Semiramis. sWhat il were
to take him at his word %
"Do So" returned the monarch "while
beloved by you, am Indifferent to Others"
$50, then, if asked it," said SemramS,
"you would Danish all your other wives
and love Inc alone? ! should be alone
your consort, the partaker Of your power,
and queen of Assyria 2"
"Queen of Assyria Are you not so al
ready" said Minus, ''since you reign by
your beauty over IFS king!"
''No, no." answered his lovely mistress !;
81 am at present only slave whom you
love. | reign not I merely charm
When | give an order, you are consulted
before am obeyed."
"And TO reign, then, you think so great
a pleasure ?"
''Yes, to one who has never experienced
| it,"
'And do you wish, then, TO experience
it? Would you like 10 reign few days
in my place?"
"Take care, 0 King do not offer too
much"
"No, I repeat it," said the captivated
monarch. "Would you like for one day,
to be sovereign mistress of ASsyria? If you
would, consent TO it."
"And all which command, then, be
executed ~
eyes, will resign to you, for one en-
tire day, my power and my golden scep-
tre."
"And when shall this be 20
"To-morrow, if you like"
81 do,' said Semiramis; and she let her
head fall upon the shoulder of the king,
like beautiful woman asking pardon for
some caprice which has been yielded to.
The next morning Semiramis called her
women, and commanded them to dress her
magnificently. On her head she wore a
crown of precious stones, and appeared
thus before Minus, who, enchanted with
her beauty, ordered all the officers of the
palace TO assemble in the state chamber,
and his golden Sceptre to be brought from
the treasury. He then entered the cham
ber, leading Semiramis by the hand. All
proStrated themselves before the aspect OF
the King, who conducted Semirams to the
throne, and seated her upon it. Then or
derng the whole assembly to rise, he an
nounced TO the court that they were to
obey, during the whole day, SemiramiS as
himself. So saying, he took up the golden
scrptre, and placing it in the hands of Se-
miramis,
"Queen," said he, 81 commit to you the
emblem of sacred power; take it, and com
mand with sovereign authority. All here
are your slaves, and l myself am nothing
more than your servant for the whole o
this day. Whoever shall be remiss in exc
cutting your orders, let him be punished a.
if he had disobeyed the commands of The
king"
Having thus spoken, the king knelt dowr
before SemiramlS, who gave him, with ;
smile, her hand to kiss. The courtiers ther
passed in succession, each making oath t.
execute blndly the orders of Semiramis.-
When the ceremony was finished, the kin!
made her his compliments, and asked he
how she had managed to 90 through witt
it with so grave and majestical an air.
"While they were promising to ODE,
me,p said Semiramis, 81 was thinking wha
should command each of them to do.
have but one day Of power, and will EN-
ploy it WE'LL"
The king laughed at this reply. Semi
ramus appeared more piquante and amiabl
than ever.