Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-07-04

4 you have dietated?'
II should be no longer Queen were
Obliged to give account OF my actions.
Nevertheless this was my motive: |
have vengeance to execute against
the three officers whom these orders
menace"
Vengeance! and wherefore9"
The first, the Governor of the cita-
del, Is one-eyed, and frghtens me every
time | meet him; the second, the chief
OF slaves, hate because he threatens
me with rivals; the third, the General
of the army, deprives me too Otter Of
your company? you are constantly il
the camp"
This reply, in which caprice and
battery were mingled, enchanted
Minus.
Good said be laughmgly. 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 Il
lower rank, flowers and fruits, and the
slaves, having nothing to give, gave
nothing. Among these last We're the
three brothers who had come from the
Caucasus with Semiramis, and had res
cued 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
Queen ?"
None other" replied the fast, Zo-
pire, than my life to defend her.
None other" replied the second,
Artaban, ethan my saber against her
enemies"
None other" replied the third,
Assar, than the respect which her
presence inspires"
Slaves" said Semiramis, "it is you
who have made me the most valuable
presents Of the whole court, and l will
not be ungrateful. You have offered
me your sword against my enemies;
take this order, carry it to the general
Of the army, encamped under the
walls Of Babylon; give it to him and
sec what he will do for you. You, who
have offered me your life for my de-
Tense, take this order tothe governor of
the citadel and see what he will do for
you. And you who have offered ME
the respect and admiration which my
presence inspires, take this order to the
commandant of the palace, and see
what will be the result"
Never had Semiramis displayed 80
much gayety, SO much folly, and so
much grace, and never was Minus 50
captivated. Nor were her charms less
sened in his eyes when, a slave not
having executed properly an insight
tioant order, she commanded his head
to he struck off, which was Immediate
! ~ done.
Without hestowng 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, slave brought her II
plate on which was the head of the de-
capitated eunuch.
It's we'll" said she, after having ex-
amined it. place it on stalk in the
court yard Of the palace, that all may
see it, and be you there on tho spot to
proclaim it to every one that the man
to whom this head belonged lived three
hours ago, but that, having disobcyed
my Will, his head was separated from
his body"
The fete was magnificent a sumptu-
Gus banquet was prepared III the gar
dens, and Semiramis received the hom-
age of all with n grace and majesty per-
fectlv regal. She continually turned to
and conversed with Minus, rendering
him the most distinguished honor.
"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
Semirami i COMPOUNDED and reversed all
ranks. Minus was placed at the bot
tom ofthe table. He was the first TO
laugh at this caprice, and tho court,
following his example, allowed them
selves to be placed, without murmur-
ing, 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 comedy
in which each played his part. Toward
the end Of the repast, when wine had
added to the general gayety, Semiramis
rose from the elevated seat and said
"My Lords, the treasurer Of the empire
has read me list of those who this
morning have brought me their gifts Of
congratu,atlon on my joyful accession
to the throne. One grandee alone Of
the court has failed to bring his gift"
"Who is it?" cried Minus. "He must
be punished severely"
ut is yourself, my ord-you who
speak. What have you given to the
Queen this morning."
Minus rose, and came with smiling
countenance To whisper something in
the ear of the Queen.
"The Queen is insulted by her SER
want" exclaimed Semiramis.