The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-06-04

OF the slaves, ! hate because he threat
ems me with rivals the third, the gen
eral Of the army. deprives me too often
OF your company; you are constantly in
the camp"
This reply, in which caprice and fat
terry We're mingled, enchanted Minus
Good, said he laughing Here
are the first three officers Of the en-
pire dismissed for very sufficient rea-
sons
The gentlemen Of the court now came
TO present their gifts to the queen.
Some gave precious stones; others, of a
lower rank, flowers and fruits; and the
slaves, having nothing TO give, gave
nothing. Among these last were three
young brothers, who had come from the
Caucasus with Semiramis, and had res
cued the caravan in which the women
were from an enormous tiger.
Aud YOU" said she To the three
brothers, as they passed the throne,
have you no present TO make your
queen p
mo other" replied the first, Zopire,
Ethan my life 10 defend her.
None other" replied the second, Ar
taban, ethan my saber against her enc
mics"
None other" replied the third, As
sar, than the respect and admiration
which her presence inspires.
''Slaves, said Semiramis, lit Is YOU
who have made me the most valuable
presents of the whole court, and | will
not be ungrateful. You who have
offered me your sword against my enc
al. II Il FL h.
general of the army encamped under
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 defence,
take this order to the Governor of the
citadel, and see what he will do for YOU
You who have offered me the respect
and admiration which my presence in
spires, take this order to the comman-
dant of the palace and see what will be
the result.
Never had Semiramis displayed so
much gayety, SO much folly, and SO
much grace, and never was Minus so
captivated. Nor were her charms les
sened In his eyes when slave not hav-
ing executed properly an insignificant
order, she commanded his head to be
struck off, which was Immediately
done.
Without bestowing a thought on this
trivial matter, Minus still continued
to converse with Semiramis till the
evening and the fete arrived. When
she entered the saloon which had been
prepared for the occasion, a slave
brought her plate on which was the
head of the decapitated eunuch.
q IT'S we'll" said she, after having
examined it. "Plaee it on stake in
the court of the palace, that all may see
it, and be you there on the spot to pro-
claim to every one that the man to
whom this head belonged lived three
hours ago, but that having disobeyed
my will, his head was separated from
his body"
The fete was magnificent; a sumptu-
Gus banquet was prepared in the gar
dens, and Semiramis received the hom-
age of all with grace and majesty per-
fectly regal; she continually turned to
and conversed with Minus, rendering
him the most distinguished honor.
"You are said she, foreign king
come to visit me in my palace; | must
make your visit agreeable to you"
Shortly after the banquet was served,
Semiramis confounded and reversed all
ranks. Minus was placed at the bottom
Of the table. He was the first to laugh
at this caprice; and the court, following
his example, allowed themselves to be
placed, without murmuring, according
to the will Of the queen. She seated
herself near the three brothers Of the
Caucasus.
care my orders executed?" she de-
manded Of them.
eyes, they replied.
The fete was very gay. A slave hav-
ing, by force of habit, served the king
first, Semiramis had him beaten with
rods. His cries mingled with the laugh
ter of the guests Every one was in
clined to merriment. 1t was a comedy
in which each played his part. To-
ward the end Of the repast, when wine
! had added to the general gayety, Semi
ramis rose from her elevated seat, and
said MY lords, the treasurer of the
empire has read me a list of those who
this morning have brought me their
gifts of congratulation on my joyful ac-
cession to the throne One grandee
alone of the court has failed to bring
his gift"
WHO is it?7 cried Minus. HE
must be punished severely"
1T is you, yourself, my lord-you
who speak. What you have given to
the queen this morning.
Minus rose, and came with smiling
the ear of the queen.
The queen is insulted by her SER
want" exclaimed Semiramis.
Il embrace your knees to obtain my
pardon. Pardon me, beautiful queen, +"
said he; ''pardon me-" And he added,
in lower tone, Il would that this fete
were finished"
'sYou wish, then, that l should abdi-
cate?" said Semiramis. but mo-
have still two hours to reign" and at
the same time she withdraw her hand,
which the king was covering with kiss
es. Il pardon not, said she, in a loud
voice, 'Esuch an insult on the part of a
slave. Slave, prepare myself to die. "
Silly child thou art" said Minus,
still on his knees. "Yet l give way to
thy folly; but patience, thy reign will
soon be over"
''You will not then be angry" said
she, in Whisper, sat something | am
going to order this moment?"
No Y said ha.
Slaves said she, aloud, "seize this
man-this Ninus?"
Minus smiled, and put himself into the
hands of the slaves.
Take him out of the saloon, lead
him into the court of the seraglio, pre-
pare everything for his death, and wait
my orders"
The slaves obeyed, and Minus follow.
ed them, laughing, into the court of the
seraglio. They passed by the head of
the disobedient eunuch Then Semi
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