The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-03-28

wonders to me, o my servant, for have
little knowledge. Yet my heart is large,
and fain would fill it, tor have the wit
could but find the teacher"
Thereon, being right glad to find footing on
a safer shore, and marveling somewhat to
learn that Cleopatra had place for lofty
thoughts, spoke and told her willingly
such things as are lawful l told her how
the sky is liquid mass pressing round the
earth and resting on the elastic pillars of
the air, and how above is the heavenly
ocean Nout, wherein the planets float like
ships as they rush upon their radians way.
Many things l told her, and among them
how through the certain, never-ceasing
movement of the orbs of light the planet
that was called Donaou (Venus) when she
showed as the morning star, became the
planet Bonou when she came as the sweet
Star of Eve. THE motion of the planets
appears to have been familiar to the Egyp-
tiansl. And, while stood and spoke
watching the stars, she sat, her hands
c!asped upon her knee, and watched my
face.
"Ah!" she broke in at length, sand so
Venus is to be seen both in the morning and
the evening sky. Well, of a truth, she is
night. But thou lowest not that should use
these Latin names to thee. Come, we will
talk in the ancient tongue Of Khem, which
know right well; the first, mark thou, of
all the Lagide am who know it. And
now," she went on, speaking IN mine own
tongue, but with little foreign accent that
did but make her talk more sweet, ''enough
of stars, for, when all is said, they are but
tickle things, and perchance may even now
be storing up an evil hour for thee or me,
or for US both together. Not but what l
love to hear thee speak Of them, for then
thy face doth lose that gloomy cloud of
thought wherewith thou drapest it and
grows quick and human. Harmachis, thou
art too young for such a solemn trade; me-
thinks that must find thee better. Youth
comes but once; why waste it in these
musings? Time is it to think when we can
no longer act. Tell me how old art thou,
Harmachis?"
81 am six and twenty years, o Queen"
answered, "for / was born In the first
month of Shomou, in the summer season,
and on the third day Of the month";
"Why, we are of an age even to a day."
she cried, '.tor 1, too, have six and twenty
years, and ], too, was born on the third day
of the first month Of shomou. Well, this
may we say-those who begot US need have
no shame. For if be the fairest woman
in Egypt, methinks, Harmachis, that there
is in Egypt no man more fair and strong
than thou, aye, or more learned. Born on
the same day, why, lis manifest that we
were destined to stand together, as the
Queen, and thou, perchance, Harmachis, as
one of the chief pillars of my throne, and
thus to work each others wealD
''Or, perchance, each others Woe"
answered, hooking up; for her sweet
speeches stung my ears, and brought more
color to my face than I loved that she
should see therein.
''Nay, never talk of woe. Be seated here
by me, Harmachis, and let US talk, not as
Queen and subject, but as friend to friend.
Thou vast angered with me at the feast to-
night-was it not so!-in that l Knocked
thee with yonder WREATH Nay, twas but
a jest. Didst thou know how heavy is the
task Of monarchs, and how wearisome are
their hours, thou wouldst not be wroth be-
cause lit my dullness with jest. Oh,
they weary me, those princes and those
mobiles, and those stiff-necked, pompous
Romans. To my face they VOW themselves
my slaves, and behind my back they mock
me and proclaim me the servant Of their
triumvirate, or their empire, or their re-
public, as the wheel of fortune turns, and
each rises on its round! There is never a
man among them-nothing but fools, para
sites and puppets-never man since with |
their cowardly daggers they slew that |
Caesar whom all the world in arms was not |
strong enough to tame. And / must play |
of one against the other, if, may be, by so |
doing 1 can keep Egypt from their grip |
And for reward, what! Why, this is my |
reward; that all men speak ill of me and-I |
know Tiny subjects hate me! Yea, be- |
leve that woman though be, they would |
murder me could they find meansr' And |
she paused, covering her eyes with her
hand, and itw'- well, for her words pierced |