Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-06-15
"Let us see," sald Minus, chow will you

you begin? ?"
"Let the secretary of the king approach
my throne,'' said Semiramis, in a louC
voice.
The secretary approached, two slaves
placed little table before him.
"Write," said Semiramis eeUnder pen.
atty of death, the governor of the citadel o
Babylon is ordered TO yield up the com.
mand OF the citadel to him who shall beal
to him this order.' Fold this order, seal il
with the kings seal, and deliver to me this
decree. Write now, 'Under penalty o.
death, the governor of the slaves of the
palace is ordered TO resign the command oI
the slaves into the hands of the person who
shall present to him this order.' Fold it,
seal it with the kings seal, and deliver to
me this decree. Write again, under pen
atty of death, the general of the army en-
camped under the walls of Babylon is or
dered to resign the command of the army
to him who shall be the bearer of this Or
der.' Fold, seal and deliver this decree to
me-"
She took the three orders thus dictated,
and put them in her bosom. The whole
court was struck with CONSERVATION the
king himself was surprised.
''Listen,' said Semiramis. ain two
hours hence let all the officers of the state
come and offer me presents, as is the Gus
tom on the accession Of new princes, and
let festival be prepared for this evening.
Now let all depart. Let my faithful SER
want, Minus, alone remain. have to con-
suit him upon affairs of state"
When all the rest had gone out, "You
see," said Semiramis, "that | know how to
play the queen"
Minus laughed.
"My beautiful queen," said he, Eyou play
your part to astonishment. But II your ser
want may dare to question you, what
would you do with the orders you have die
tated 20
81 should be no longer queen, were l
obliged to give account of my actions
Nevertheless, this was my motive. l have
a vengeance TO execute against the three
officers whom these orders menace"
"Vengeance, and wherefore p"
"The first, the governor of the citadel, is
one-eyed, and frightens me every time
meet him; the second, the chief Of the
slaves, hate because he threatens me with
rivals; the third, the general of the army,
deprIves me too often of your company !:
you are constantly in the camp"
This reply, in which caprice and hattery
were mingled, enchanted Minus.
"Good," said he, laughing. "Here are
the three first officers Of the empire dimsis-
sed for very sufficient reasons.''
The gentlemen of the court now came
to present their gifts to the queen. Some
gave precious stones, others Of lower
rank, flowers and fruits, and the slaves,
having nothing 10 give, gave nothing
Among these last were the three young
brothers, who had come from the Caucasus
with SemiramlS, and had rescued the cara
van, in which the women were, from an
enormous tiger When they passed the
throne,
"And you," said she to the three broth
ers, Shave you no present to make your
queen!"
"No other" replied the first, Zopire,
''than my life to defend hers
"None other," replied the second, Arta-
ban, ethan my sabre against her enemeS.''
"None other," replied the third, Assar,
''than the respect and admiration which
her presence inspires"
"SlaveS," said SemiramiS, ''it is you who
have made the most valuable presents oi
the whole court, and | will not be ungrate-
lul. You who have offered me your sword
against my enemies, take this order, carry
it to the general of the army encamped un-
der the walls OF Babylon, give it to him,
and see what he will do for you. You
who have offered me your life for my de-
fence, take this order TO the governor OF the
citadel, and see what he will do for you.-
And you, who offered me the respect and
admiration which my presence inspires
take this order to the commandant of the
palace, and see what will be the result"
Never had Semirams displayed so much
gaiety, so much folly and so much grace
and never was Minus so captlvated. MOI
were her charms lessened in his eyes, wher
slave, not having executed properly al
insignificant order, she commanded his heac
to be struck of, which was Immediately
done.
Without bestowing a thought on this tri
vial matter, Minus still continued to con
verse with Semramis till the evening anC
the fete arrived. When she entered tn,
saloon which had been prepared for the oc
caslon, slave brought her plate in which
was the head of the decapitated eunuch.
"'Tis WELL" said she, after having ex
amined it. "Place it on a stake in thu
court of the palace, that all may see it, ant
be you there on the spot to proclaim tc
every one, that the man to whom this heaC
belonged, lived three hours ago, but tina
having disobeyed my will, his head wa
separated from his body"
The fete was magnificent; a sumptuou
banquet was prepared IN the gardens, ant
Semiramis received the homage of all will
a grace and majesty perfectly regal sh
, continually turned to, and conversed will
Minus, rendering him the most distinguishe,
honor. "You are" said she, ga foreigr
! king come to visit me in my palace
must make your visit agreeable to you."