The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-06


lips. Pursue not the fallen great with in
suits. Up-let us fly to Abouthis, that all
may be accomplished
Fly thou, Harmachis! = Harmachis.
fiy!-but fly not. To this end only have
fingered on the earth Now ! unite the
knot OF life and let my spirit freel Fare
thee well, prince, the pilgrimage IS done
Harmachis, from babe have / loved thee,
and love thee vet! But no more In this
world may share thy griefs. ! am spent.
Osir Is, take thou my spirit" And her
trembling knees gave way, and she sank to
the ground.
l ran to her side and looked upon her.
She was already dead. and was alone upon
the earth without q friend TO comfort me.
Then turned and went, no man hinder
ing me, for all was confusion in the city, and
departed from Alexandra in vessel had
made ready On the eighth day landed.
and, in the carrying out Of my purpose
travelled ON fast across the fields to
the holy shrines Of Abouthis. And here,
as / knew the worship of the gods
had been lately set up again, in the temple
OF the divine Seth Cfor Charmion had
caused Cleopatra to repent of her decree Of
vengeance and to restore the lands that she
had seized, though the treasure she re-
stored not), and the temple having been
purified, now, ut the season OF the feast OF
Isis, all the high priests Of the ancient tenn
pies Of Egypt were gathered together to
celebrate the coming home Of the gods into
their holy place.
gained the CITY. II was on the seventh
day Of the feast Of Isis. Even as came the
long array wendell through the welLrcmcm-
bered streets. joined In the multitude
that followed, and with my voice sweiled
tie chorus Of the solemn chant as we passed
through the pylons into the imperishable
halls. Eow well known were the holy
words:
!. Softly We tread, our measured footsteps fall
ing
Within the sanctuary seven-fold!
Soft on the dead that liveth are We calling.
Return, Osiris, from thy kin gdom cold,
Return TO them that worship thee OF old"
And then, when the sacred music ceased,
| a. aforetime on tie setting Of the majesty
| Of Rattle high priest raised the statue OF
the living God and held it on high before
tho multitude. With joyful shout OF
ssOsiris, our hopel Osiris! Osris!" the
people tore the black wrappings from their
dress, showing the white robes beneath,
and, a. one man, bowed before the God.
Then they went to feast, each at his home;
but l stayed in the court of the temple.
Presently priest Of the temple drew near,
and asked me Of my business; and an
swered him that came from Alexandria,
and would be led before the council Of the
high priest, for knew that the holy priests
were gathered together debating the tidings
| from Alexandra. Thereon the man left
and the high priests, hearing that was
from Alexandra, ordered that should be
led into their presence in the second hall Of
columns-and 30 was led in.
II was already dark. and between the
great pillars lights were set, as on that
night when was crowned Pharaoh Of the
upper and the lower land There, too, was
the long line Of dignitaries seated in their
carven chairs and taking counsel together.
All was the same. The same cold images
Of kings and Gods gazed with the same
empty eyes from the everlasting walls.
Anymore! Among those gathered there
were 1--WE Of the very men who, as leaders
Of the great plot, had sat here to see me
crowned. being the only consplrators who
had escaped the vengeance OF Cleopatra
and the clutching hand of time took my
stand on the spot where once l had been
crowned, and made me ready for the last
act Of shame, with such bitterness OF heart
as can not be written.
"Why, it 10 the physician Olympus :" said
one-.he who lived . hermit in the tombs
of Tape, and who but lately was Of the
household of Cleopatra. Is it, then, true
that the queen is dead by her own hand
physicians"
"Yea, holy sirs, am that physician; also
). Cleopatra is dead by my hand"
"By thy hands Why. how comes this
. though well she is dead, forsooth, the wick
J ed wanton!"
"Your pardon, slrs. and l will tell you all
for am come hither to that end. Per
J chance among you there may be some
methlnks l see some-who nigh eleven year,
! ago were gathered in this hall TO secretly
crown one Harmachis. Pharaoh Of Khcm.
} 1T is true" they said; ''but how knowes'
! thou these things, thou, Olympusr
!, s.Of the rest Of those seven-and-thirty no
bles," went on, making no answer, fare
|, two-and-lhirty missing. Some arc dead. a.
Amenemhat is dead; some are slain, q.
Sepa is slain; and some, perchance, vet la
J Dor Is slaves within the mines, or live afar
fearing vengeance"
, 1T is So" they said; '.alas it is 50. Har
} machis, the accursed, betrayed the plot, anl
sold himself to the wanton Cleopatra
! ut is So" went on, lifting up my head
I "Harmachis betrayed the plot and sold him
} self to Cleopatra; and, holy sirs-I am tha
Harmdchis.n The priests and dignitarie!
, gazed astonished. Some rose and spoke
some said naught. ~ am that Harmachis
am that traitor, trebly stepped in crime
/ q traitor to my Gods, traitor to my coun
E try. q traitor to my oath. come hi:her L
= say that have done this. | have execute,
E the divine vengeance on her who ruined IN
. and gave Egypt to the Roman. And nos
:: that, after years of toll and patient waiting
i this Is accomplished by my wisdom ana IN
4 help Of the angry Gods, behold, come
r with all my shame upon my head, TO dc
L clare the thing am, and take the traitor
L guerdon"
il ssMindest thou of the doom Of him VIII
4 hath broke the oath that may not be broke I
: asked he who first had spoken, in heav
! tones.
II know it WE'LL" answered; II coul
!. that awful DOOM
4 .sTell US more of this matter, thou VIII
4 vast Harmachls."
So, in cold, clear words, laid bare all m
: shame, keeping back nothing, and ever as
4 spoke saw their faces grow more hard, an
knew that for me there was no mercy; nc
+ did ask it; nor had / asked, could it hay
4 been granted When, at last, had don
they put me aside while they took counse
- Then they drew me forth again, and III
: eldest among them, q man very old and vel
= cradle, the priest of the temple of the divir
= Hatshepu at Tape, spoke in icy accents:
= Thou, Harmachis, we have considers
this matter. Thou hast sinned tie thre
i. fold deadly sin. On thy head lies the bu
y den of the woe q Khem, this day enthrallt
of Rome; 10 Isis, the mother mystery, tho
!. hast offered the deadly insult, and thou ha
!. broken thy holy oath. For all Of the
IA
reward, and that reward is thine. Naug
?, can it weigh in the balance of our justi
that thol hast slain her who was thy eau
:. y Of stumbling; naught that thou CONTEST
~ :. name myself the vllest thing who ev
y stood within these walls. On thee, ais
: must fall the curse Of Menka-ra, thou fall
priesti thou forsworn patriot! tn,