The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-05

head, through the great portal, Saleme- | nes, answering the last words of the l King, said: You are liable to lose both, and both forever. o, that l could rouse
 thee though it were against myselfl'
 By the god Baal." exclaimed the
 King at once relaxing into his habitual
 easy, careless habit, the man would | make me a tyrant.'
 ''So you are tyrant," replied Saleme-
 nes. Think you there Is no tyrant but
 that of blood and chainso The despotism
 of vice, weakness. luxury and wicked ness; the negligence, apathy and evils l of sensual sloth produce 10000 tyrants who surpass in cruelty the worst acts of an energetic master, however harsh | he may be. The example of your lusts has corrupted as well as oppressed and
 so sapped your power that domestic re-
 bellion or foreign foe would prove fatal | to your throne. The latter thy subjects have no heart to oppose, and the first | they would rather aid than oppose. All | the nations which thy father left-and they were many-are loud in wrath against thee.''
 Against me?" cried Sardanapalus in
 the slaves have?"
 "A king
 And what am ], then?" "A nothing in their eyes; but in mine l a man who might be something if he | would"
 | Sardanapalus returned to his flercer
 mood and cried out: 'The railing drunk
 ards, have they not peace and plenty? | What do they want? Perhaps they would
 have mo go forth as a conqueror. The nringrateful and ungracious slaves! By
 Baal they deserve that they have their wish. o, I will write an edict for them thus; Obey the king. Fall down and wor- | ship and get up and toll. Contribute to | his treasury, spill your blood without murmuring, recruit the phalanx. And then I will go forth to battle and put up
 monument 'Sardanapalus on this spot slew 50,000 of his enemies. No. no, my | good brother, leave such things to con- querors. Enough for me if l can make my subjects feel less weight of misery and no license which I deny them We are all men"
 Your ancestors were worshiped as gods" said Salemenes
 l "Yes," replied the King smiling again, | "after they were dead and neither gods nor men. feel nothing godlile about me except that disposition which ou l condemn, to be merciful, and pardon the follies of my species"
 The seeming impossiblity of arousing
 Sardanapalus so affected Salemenes that he threw both arms into tho air, and taking long strides through the hall. big armor clashing and shining with thou sand reflected rays cried out: Alas, woe, woe, the doom of Ninneh is sealed. Woe, woe, the unrivaled city! Why, what do you so dread?' OK
 claimed the King. impressed by the fer
 yor of the general.
 Saiesmenes turned once more to Sard-
 anapalus and told hini pointedly and
 briefly that he was guarded by his ene- mics; that conspirators were formentlng
 revolution which had for its end the
 taking of his crown and his life; that the
 tempest was likely to break at any mo-
 ment; that only prompt and drastice
 treasures could save the The of Nimrod.
 Sardanapalu1 asked the names of the cor, sprators, but Salenenes said: T wish you would not ask me The next moment some incautious word from .Aem will send the news through all the troop Of Labblng paramours: The news will fly through the palace and to the city and spoil all Sire, it has been so before wi{h state secrets. Give me your siSnet. Trust me-
 sardanapalus blushed and hung his head Hero take the signet,' he said, siving Snlemenes the ring from his fn- ger. What he. cup bearer, a goblet of wine,n .continued he. going to the door way and sending his voice down the long passage. Presently a boy appeared bearing a great goblet of solid gold en-