Daily Republican., 1879-05-03
QUEEN sEMIRAMIs.
A STARTLING EPISODE OF HISTORY.


None have charms and graces ike you,
and for you | would willingly resign
them all"
"Let the king consider well what he
says" replied Semiramis. "What II
was to take him at his word"
"Do so,'' returned the monarch
"while beloved by you, l am indifferent
to others"
so, then, if asked it, said Semi
ramis, "you would Danish all your
other wives and love me alone F.! alone
would be your consort, the partaKer OF
,Dur power, and Queen of Assyria -
Queen of Assyria Are you not SO
already" said Minus, "since you reign
by your beauty over its king "
"No. no." answered his lovely mis-
tress 81 am at present only slave
whom you love. reign not-l merely
charm. When give an order you are
consulted before am obeyed. y
"And to reign, then, you think so
great pleasure 7"
"Yes, to one who has never ex-
perenced it,"
"And do you wish, then, to exper-
icnce it ?" Would you like to reign a
few days in my place -
"Take care, o king do not offer to"
much"
"No, repeat it, said the captivated
monarch. "Would you like, for one
whole day, to be sovereign mistress OF
Assyria' If you would, | consent to
it,
"And shall all which command be
executed ?''
"Yes ; | will resi- n to you for one en-
tire day my power and my golden
sceptre:'
.'And when shall this be ~
''To-morrow, if you like"
II do" said Semiramis and she let
aer head fall upon the shoulder of the
king, like a 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 magnifcently. On her head
she were crown of precious stones,
and appeared thus before Minus, who,
enchanted with her beauty, ordered
all the Of GERS in the palace to assemble
in the state chamber, and his golden
seeptre to be brought from the treasury.
He then .etercd the chamber, leading
Semiramif Irv the hand. All prostra-
ted themselves before the aspect of the
king. who conducted Semiramis to the
throne and seated her upon it. Then
ordering the " hole assembly to rise, he
announced to the court that they Were
to obey, during the whole day, Semira-
mis- as himselt Sesaying, he took up the
golden sceptre. and placed it in the
hands Of SemirsmiF, Queen, said he.
II commit to you the emblem Of sacred
power: take it and command with
sovereign authority. All here are your
slaves, and myself am nothing more
than your servant for the whole oI
this day. Whoever shall be remSs in
executing your orders, let him b"
punished as if he had disobeyet the
commands Of the king
Having thus spoken the king knclt
down before Semiramis. who gave him
with a smile, her hand to kiss. The
rourters then passed in succession, ,cari
making oath to execute blinaly the or
der Of Semiramis. When the ceremonies
were finished, the kim made her his
compliments, and asked her how she
had managed to 90 through it with 50
grave and ma j"stic an al.
"While they We're promising t" obey
me-" said SemiramiS, Il was thinking
what should command eacn Of them
to do, / have but one day Of power,
will employ it well.'
TIL, king laughed at this reply. Sem
iramis appeared more plqu1nt amt
Amiable than ever.
she. Us see, - said Minus, show yo
will continne yoHr part. BY what or
derS will You begin ~
"Let the secretary Of the king ap
proach my throne,' said Scmirami', il
loud voice.
The SECRETARY appr@ac'i"d, and t"'
slaves placed lit | tab" before him
"Wrtr.' said Semi amis ; "und |
penalty Of death, the cove nor # tIl'
citadel Of Babylon is ordered 10 y;"I,
uD to the command Of the citldrl t, h'n
who shall bear this order. Fod Til
order, al it with til" kings sal. IN
deliver to me this decree. Wr.tr now
uni n p ,.llltv Of d"eth, the ."T"rn',
of the >lpv,S OF the prlH"" Is l"r' T.
resign the commanl "f ii slave, in'
Command o; the person W - shall ir'
sent to htm til order. Foli IT, seat i
with the ki H.. s Fl, anl trliY Yr t. III
this decree. Writ" again, unI,r I"n
atty Of dta h, the general Of tn" arm,
eucampri under the wall, Of I;abyIoi
is ordered to resign til o1nIHuI .. tn
army to Kim who shall Ic he bearer L"
this orHe'. FoId Sc u AID ir.irrr thir
Il cree t. M.
~n, took the tire, ord r. thu Z. .+r'''
and PIT them in her bo:"m. |ta ,"h"l,
court wl1 It uc'i with cons ."r i'}
the king i,imscl being $ r,rj~nl.
'Listcn, said >'rmiraul :. "in q.
hours hence l,t ail tn" otii'.r %, ,a''
come and offer m presents. a@ T. IA
custom on til" a.,r'e,ioN + i u't
princes and L.. a '.tlvaI be- p"rp1io
for this evening.
Now let all dop1rt. LIT n; tl;th'a
servant Minus Alonn re utiu. hat" :.
consult him upon affairs of .tl;r.
Whru AL the rest hqd EpI,. oHt
"You - said S"u;rmi- "thlt
know low tp piay H." queen.
Ninl. .nIthri.
"Hr h'rnr,tli qn".n," sail he, ".r,j
p'u@ ~ouH ..."t wouIrrhII.% Nrlj; .".
if your ,rI,3nt t,Hf dare - 4n'~',,.
you, what woGld you H. with the orl'r
you have dictated p"
81 should b" 10 longer queen wrr,
obliged to giYr account Of acti"uS.-
Nrverl,}y, tu.3 wn1 nv motive: | hqv
II vnnt,an'n tor%nru'"a ;ainst th' thra