The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-03-20

y
pany; yOu are constantly in the camp
TDis reply, in which caprice and fat
terry wee mingled, enchanted Minus.
Good" said he, laughing. Here
are the first three officers of the empire
dismissed for very sufficient reasons
The gentlemen of the court now came
to present their gifts to the queen
Some gave precious stones Others, of 8
| lower 1ank, flowers and fruits, and the
slaves, having nothing to give, gave
nothing. Among these last were the
three brothers, who had come from the
Caucasus with Semiramis, and had
rescued the caravan in which the women
| we're from an enormous tiger.
And you," said she to the three
brothers, as they passed the throne
have you no present to make your
queen?"
q No other" replied the first, Z1pire
than nay lie to defend her"
"None other" replied the second, Ar,
taban, than my sabre against her enc
mics"
None other,' replied the third, AS
which her presence inspires
" "Slayes, J" said S,miramis, &c it is you
who have made me the most valuable
/
not be ungrateful You who have of.
feTed me your sword against my ene-
mics, take this order, carry it to the
| general of the army encsmped 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 defense,
! take this order to the governor of the
| citadel and gee what he viii do for you.
And you, who have offered me the re-
| spect and admiration which my presence
| inspires, take this order to the commauN
dant of the palace and see what viii be
the result"
Never had Semiramis displayed so
much gayety, 50 much folly, and so
much grace, and never was Minus so
captivated. Nor were her charms les
sened in his eyes, when a slave not hav>
ing executed properly an Insignificant
order, she com manded 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 evening and
the fete arrived. When she entered the
salon which had been prepared for the
occasion, q slave brought her plate on
which was the head OF the decapitated
eunuch.
"'Tis WELL" said she, alter having ex,
| amined it. Place it on 8 stake in the
court of the palace, that all may see it,
and be you there on the spot to proclaim
to every one that the man to whom this
head belonged lived three hours ago,
but tnat having disobeyed my will, his
head was separated from his body"
The tete was magnificent; q sunptu-
GUS banquet was prepared in the gardens,
apI = Tlacjvnd tho hproaUo M
all with q grace and majesty perfectly
regal. She continually turned to and
cOnYersed with Minus, rendering him
the most distinguished honor.
You are," said she, s. foreign king
CONS to visit me in my palace l 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 10 laugh
at this caprice, and the court following
his example, allowed themselves to be
placed, without murmuring, according
to the viii of the queen. She seated
herself near the three brothers Of the
Caucasus.
care my orders executed ?" she de-
manded of them.
Yes," they replied.
The fete was very gay. A slave having
by force of habit, served the king first,
Semiramis had him beaten with rods.
His cries mingled with the laughter OF
the guests. Every one as inclined to
merrinent. II was & comedy, in which
each played his part. Toward the end
of the repast, when wine had added to
the general gayety, Semiramis rose from
her elevated seat and said: " My lords
the treasurer of the empire has read me q
list of those who this morning have
brought me their gifts of congrstulatiOn
on my Joyful accession to the throne
One grsndee alone of the court has failed
to bring his gift"
, must be punished severely"
"It is you yourself, nay l0rd-yoU
who speak. What have you given K
the queen this morning ?"
Minus rose, and came with q smiling
countenance to whisper something in The
The queen is insulted by her ser
fY-vant!" exclaimed Ssmiramis.
"I embrace your knees to obtain my
/ pardon, Pardon me, beautiful queen,
said he, " pardon me-" And he added
in lower tone, 20 would that this fet:
= were finished :"
/ You wish, then, that I should abdi
cate ?" ssid Semiranlis. & But no
} still have two hours to reign; " and a
the same time she withdrew her hand
r which the king was covering with kisses
7 % [ pardon not" she said in g loud voice
, &c such an insult on the part OF a slave
| Slave. prepare thYself to die
t "Silfv child that thou art" ssit
2 Minus. still on his knees, "yet 1 Civ
? woy to thy folly. But patience; tn.
f reign will soon be over"
q You will not then be angry" sale
q she, in a whisper, " at something / an
8 going to order at this moment ?"
g "No," said he.
f. Slaves" said she, aloud, seizs thi
j, man--that Minus
8 Minus smiled and put himself into In
q hands of the slaves.
( tTake him ont of the salon, lead hin
r into the court of the SeTsgliO, prepan
every rythiDg for his death, and wait m,
: orders"
The slaves obeyed, and Minus followet
: them, laughing, into the court of tn
> Seraglio They passed by the head OF tb
disobedient eunuch. Then Semirami
. placed herself on balcony. Minus ha'
= | suffered his hands to be tied
: 20 Hasten to the fortress. Zopire yO1
: to the camp, Artaban Assar, do yol
y secure all the gates in the palace"
= These orders were given in 8 whisper
and executed Immediately.
+ Beautiful queen, said Minus, laugh
ing, this comedy only wants its denoue
ment pray let it be prompt one
"Iwill," said Semira5ais. "Sla7ei
L recolIect the eunuch-strikei I"
They struck Minus had hardly tim
to utter a cry when his head fell upo
u the pavement the smile was still uPo
L his lips.