The Van Buren press., 1879-07-19
MISCELLANY.
QUEEN zSEMIRAMIS.
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to Semiramis, "it is you l love best
None have charms and graces like you,
and for you would willingly resign
them ALL
"Let the king consider well what he
says" replied Semiramis. What if !
were to take him at his word ?"
DO So replied the monarch, "while
beloved by you, | am Indifferent to 9TH
ers."
" So, then, if asked it," said Semira-
mis-, "you would Danish all your other
wives, and love me alone. l alone should
be your consort, the partaker of your
power, and queen of Assyria"
"Quecn of Assyria! Are you not so
already" said Minus, " since you reign
by your beauty over its king p
"No, no. answered his lovely mis-
tress; 1 am, at present, only slave
whom you love. reign not-l only
charm. When give an order, you are
consulted before am obeyed"
"And to reign. then, you think SO
great pleasure p
"Yes, to one who has never expert.
enced it,.
"And do you wish, then, to expert
ence it? Would you like to reign few
days in my place p
Take care, O, king do not offer too
much"
"No, / repeat it," said the captivated
monarch. Would you like, for one
whole day, to be sovereign mistress of
A syria? If you would, l consent to
it,
And shall all which l command be
executed p
Yes, l will resign to you for one en-
tire day, my power and my golden scep-
tre."
"And when shall this be?"
Tomorrow, If you like H
"I do" said oemiramis, and she let
her head fall upon the shoulder of the
king, like beautiful woman asking par
don for some caprice which had been
yielded to. @
The next morning Semiramis called
her women and commanded them to
dress her magniGcently. On her head
she wore crown of precious stones, and
appeared thus before Minus, who, en-
chanted with her beauty, ordered all the
officers in the palace to assemble in the
state chamber, and his golden sceptre to
be brought from the treasury. He then
entered the chamber, leading Semiramis
by the hand.
All prostrated themselves before the
aspeCg UI tHc Mug, uho .puuucIeu Seul-
iramis to the throne, and seated her up.
on it, Then, ordering the whole assem-
bly, to rise, he announced to the court
that they we're to obey, during the whole
day, Semiramis. as himself. So saying,
he took up the golden sceptre, and pla-
cling in the hands Of Semiramis, "queen,"
SAID he, l 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 o I
this day. Whoever shall be amiss in ex
ecutpg your orders, let him be punished
as if he had disobeyed the commands of
the king"
Having thus spoken, the king knelt
down before Semiramis, who gave him
with smile, her hand to kiss. The cour-
tiers then passed in succession, each ma
king oath to execute blindly the orders
of Semiramis. When the ceremony was
finished, the king paid her his compll
ments, and asked her how she managed
to go through it with SO grave and maj
estical an air.
"While they were promising to obey
me, was thinking what ] should com
mand each of them to do. | have but
one day of power, and / will employ it
we'll"
The king laughed Mt this reply. Semi
ramis seemed more piquant and amable
than ever.
Let us see," said Minus, chow you
will continue your part. By what orders
will you begin p
will you begin p ....
"Let the secretary Of the king ap-
proach my throne" said Semiramis, in
loud voice
The secretary approached, and two
slaves placed n little table before him.
Write" said Semiramis: " "Under
penalty of death, the governor of the
city of Babylon is ordered to yield up
the command Of the citadel to him who
shall bear this order Fold this order,
seal it, and deliver to me this decree.
Write now: Under the penalty of death,
the governor of the slaves of the palace
is ordered to resign the command of the
slaves into the hands of the person who
shall present this Fold it, seal it with
the kings deere Write again: Under
the penalty Of death, the general of the
army Of Babylon is ordered to resign
the command of the army to him who
shall be the bearer of this command
Fold. seal, and deliver this decree to
| him" d"
She took the three orders thus dictated
and pu, them in her bosom. The whole
court was struck with CONSERVATION the
king, himself, was surprised.
Listen" said Semiramis, In two
hours hence, let all the officers of the
state come and offer me presents, as is
the custom, on the accession OF new
princes, and let festival be prepared
for this evening. Now let all depart.
Let my faithful servant Minus alone re
main | have to consult him upon my
affairs Of state"
When all had gone out:
"You sec," said Semiramis, 4" that
know how to play the queen"
Minus laughed.
L 4 hn