The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-04-03
remain. ! have to consult him upon
affairs of State"


affairs Of State"
When all the rest had gone OUT
You see," said Semiramis, !" that /
know how to play queen.
Minus laughed.
my beautiful queen" said he, "you
play your part wonderfully we'll /; but if
your servant may question you, what
would you do with the orders you have
dictated? 2"
+" 1 should be no longer queen were 1
obliged to give account of my actions.
Nevertheless, this was my motive; l
have vengeance to execute against the
three officers whom these orders
menace"
Vengeance and wherefore?''
The first, the governor of the citadel,
is one-eyed, and frightens me every time
l meet him; the second, the chief of the
slaves, l hate because he threatens me
with rivals; the third, the general of
the army, depriyes 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 officersof 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 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
rescued the caravan in which the women
were from an enormous tiger.
".And you" said she to the three
brothers, as they passed the throne,
have you no present to make your
queenr'
" No other,n replied the first, Zopire,
!" than my life to defend her"
"None other" replied the second,
Artaban, than my saber against her
enemies"
/" None other" replied the third,
Assar. !" than the respect and admiration
which her presence inspires.v
> Slaves said Semiramis, it is you
who have made me the most valuable
presents of the whole court, and / will
moi be ungrateful. You who have
offered me your sword against my enc
mics, take this order, carry 1t to the gen.
eral 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 de-
fense, take this order to the governor of
the citadel, and see what he will do for
you. And you, who offer me the respect
and admiration which my presence in
spires, take this order to the command
ant 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 Ninusso captivated.
Nor were her charms lessened in his eyes,
when slave not having executed prop
erly an insignificant order, she COM
manded his head to be struck off, which
was Immediately done.
> Without bestowing thought on this
trivial matter, Minus still continued to
converse with Semiramis till the even
ing and the fete arrived When she
entered the saloon which had been pre-
pared for the occasion, slave brought
her plate on which was the head of the
decapitated eunuch.
"'Tis WE'LL" said she, after having
examined, it. Place it on stake in
the courtNof the palace, that all may see
it, AID 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 disebeyed my
will, his head was separated from his
body"
The fete was magnificent; sumptu-
GUS banquet was prepared in the gar
dens, and Semiramis received the hon.
age of ali with a grace and majesty
perfectly regal; she continually turned
to and converted with Minus, rendering
him the most distinguished honor.
g You are," said she, a 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 nurnuring, according
to the will of the queen. She seated her.
self near the three brothers of the eau
casus.
Are my orders executed? 2" she de
manded of them.
Yes,o they replied.
The fete was very gay. A slave hav
ing, by the force of habit, served the
King first, Semiramis had him beateI
with rods. His cries mingled with the
laughter of the guests. Every one wa
inclined to merriment 1t was comedy
in which each played his part. TowarG
the end of the repast, when wine hat
added to the general gayetg, Semiramil
rose from her elevated seat, and said
My lords, the treasurer of the empir,
has read me list of those who thi
morning have brought me their gifts o
congratulation on my joyful accession
to the throne. One grandee alone of tn,
court has failed to bring his gift"
"Who is it?" or ed Minus. +" He mus
be punished severely"
"It is yourself, my lord-you VIII
speak. What have you given to tn
queen this morningT'
Minus rose, and came with smiling
countenance to whisper something il
the ear of the queen.
"The queen is insulted by her ser
vant," exclaimed Semiramis.
Z" embrace your knees to obtain m,
pardon. Pardon me, beautiful queen,
said he;" pardon me-" And he added
in lower tone, /" would that this fet
were finished"
You wish, then, that l should add
cate?" said Semiramis. But no
have still two hours to reign" and a
the same time she withdrew her hanc
which the king was covering with kisse
I" 1 pardon not" said she, in lou
voice, "such an insult on the part of
slave. Slave, prepare thyself to die.
Silly child that thou art" sal
Minus, still on his knees, yet l Civ
way to thy folly; but patience, thy reig
will soon beover."
You will not then be angry" sal
she, in a whisper, " at something al
going to order this moment?"
Mop said he.
"S!aves," said she, aloud, " seize tn
man-this Ninusp