Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-08-28
QUEEN SEMIRAMIS.
A Startling Episode OF History.

A Startling Episode OF History.
"Of all my wives" said King Minus to
Semiramis, "it is you love best. None
have charms and graces like you, and for
you l would willingly resign themall."
''Let the King consider well what he
says" replied Semiramis. What if 1
were to take him at his wOrd?"
do So" returned the monarch; while
beloved by you, am Indifferent to 9th
ers"
so, then, if I 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 ?"
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; Il am at present only a slave
whom you love. reign nOt-I merely
charm. When l give an order, you are
consulted before l am obeyed."
"And to reign, then, you think SO great
pleasure?"
"Yes, to one who has never expert
enced it."
"And do you wish, then, to experience
it? Would you like to reign few days
in my place."
Take care, oh, King! do not offer too
much"
mo, 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 l command be
executed?"
Yes; will resign to you, for one en-
tire day, my power and my golden scep-
| ter"
"And when shall this bc?"
Tomorrow, if you like
81 do" said Semiramis; and she let her
head fall upon the shoulder of the King,
| like beautiful woman asning pardon
for some caprice which has ucen yielded
to.
The next morning Semira!niS called
her women and commanded them to
dress her magnifcently. On her head
she wore crown of precious stones, land
appeared thus before Minus, who, en-
chanted with her beauty, ordered all the
officers of the palace to assemble in the
|
to be brought from the treasury. He
then entered the chamber, leading Semi
ramis by the hand. All Frustrated them
selves before the aspect of the King.
who conducted Semiramis to the throne,
and seated her upon it. Then, ordering
the whole assembly to rise, he announ-
ced to the court that they were to obey,
during the whole day, Semiramis as
himself. So saying, he took up the gold
ed scepter, and, placing it in the hands of
Semiramis, Queen" said he, 81 commit
to you the emblem of sacred power; take
it, and command with sovereign author
ity. All here are your slaves, and l my
self am nothing more than your servant
for the whole of this day. Whoever
shall be remiss in executing your orders,
let him be punished as if he had DISC
beyed the commands of the King"
Having thus spoken, the King knelt
down before Semiramis, who gave him,
with smile, her hand to kiss. The
courties then passed in succession, each
making oath to execute blindly the Or
ders of Semiramis. When the ceremony
was finished, the King made her his
compliments, and asked her how she
had managed to go through it with so
grave and majestic an air.
while they were promising to obey
me-" said SemiramiS, 81 was thinking
what 1 should command each one of
them to do. have but one day of pow
er, and 1 will employ it we'll"
The King laughed at this reply. Sem
iramis appeared more piquante and ami
able than ever.
LET US see," said Minus, show you
will continue your part. By what orders
will you begin?"
Let the Secretary of the King ap-
proach my throne" said Semiramis, in
loud voice.
The secretary approached, and two
slaves placed little table before him.
Write" said Semiramis; under pen
atty of death, the Governor of the cita-
del of Babylon is ordered to yield up the
command of the citadel to him who shall
bear this order. Fold this Or
der, seal it with the Kings seal,
and deliver to me this decree. Write
now, under penalty of death, the Cover
nor of the slaves of the palace is order
ed to resign the command of the slaves
into the hands of the person who shall
present to him this order. Fold it, seal
it with the Kings seal, and deliver to me
this decree. Write again, under penalty
of death, the General of the army en-
camped under the walls of Babylon is
ordered to resign the command of the
army to him who shall be the bearer of
this order. Fold, seal, and deliver this
decree to me-"
She took the three orders thus dicta-
ted and put them in her bosom. The
whole court was struck with cOnsterra-
ton; 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 of new Princes, and let a
festival be prepared for this evening.
Now let all depart. Let my faithful
servant Minus alone remain. have to
consult him upon affairs of state"
When all the rest had gone out:
"You see," said Semiramis, that l
know how to play the Queen
Ninns laughed.
"My beautiful Queen" said he, "you
play your part wonderfully well; but, if
your servant may dare to question you.
what would you do with the orders you
have dictated2"