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diff --git a/2855-h/2855-h.htm b/2855-h/2855-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ff05ee --- /dev/null +++ b/2855-h/2855-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8397 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Elissa, by H. 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Rider Haggard</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Elissa</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: H. Rider Haggard</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: October, 2001 [eBook #2855]<br /> +[Most recently updated: May 28, 2021]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: John Bickers, Dagny and David Widger</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELISSA ***</div> + +<h1>Elissa</h1> + +<h3>OR THE DOOM OF ZIMBABWE </h3> + +<h2 class="no-break">by H. Rider Haggard</h2> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref01">DEDICATION</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref02">AUTHOR’S NOTE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#pref03">NOTE</a><br /><br /></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I. THE CARAVAN</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II. THE GROVE OF BAALTIS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III. ITHOBAL THE KING</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV. THE DREAM OF ISSACHAR</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V. THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI. THE HALL OF AUDIENCE</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII. THE BLACK DWARF</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII. AZIEL PLIGHTS HIS TROTH</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap09">CHAPTER IX. GREETING TO THE BAALTIS</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap10">CHAPTER X. THE EMBASSY</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap11">CHAPTER XI. METEM SELLS IMAGES</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap12">CHAPTER XII. THE TRYST</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap13">CHAPTER XIII. THE SACRILEGE OF AZIEL</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap14">CHAPTER XIV. THE MARTYRDOM OF ISSACHAR</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap15">CHAPTER XV. ELISSA TAKES SANCTUARY</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap16">CHAPTER XVI. THE CAGE OF DEATH</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#chap17">CHAPTER XVII. “THERE IS HOPE”</a></td> +</tr> + + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref01"></a>DEDICATION</h2> + +<p class="center"> +To the Memory of the Child<br /> +Nada Burnham, +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +who “bound all to her” and, while her father cut his way through +the hordes of the Ingobo Regiment, perished of the hardships of war at Buluwao +on 19th May, 1896, I dedicate these tales—and more particularly the last, +that of a Faith which triumphed over savagery and death. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +H. Rider Haggard. +</p> + +<p class="letter"> +Ditchingham. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref02"></a> +AUTHOR’S NOTE</h2> + +<p> +Of the three stories that comprise this volume[*], one, “The +Wizard,” a tale of victorious faith, first appeared some years ago as a +Christmas Annual. Another, “Elissa,” is an attempt, difficult +enough owing to the scantiness of the material left to us by time, to recreate +the life of the ancient Phœnician Zimbabwe, whose ruins still stand in +Rhodesia, and, with the addition of the necessary love story, to suggest +circumstances such as might have brought about or accompanied its fall at the +hands of the surrounding savage tribes. The third, “Black Heart and White +Heart,” is a story of the courtship, trials and final union of a pair of +Zulu lovers in the time of King Cetywayo. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +[*] This text was prepared from a volume published in 1900 titled “Black +Heart and White Heart, and Other Stories.”— JB. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="pref03"></a> +NOTE</h2> + +<p> +The world is full of ruins, but few of them have an origin so utterly lost in +mystery as those of Zimbabwe in South Central Africa. Who built them? What +purpose did they serve? These are questions that must have perplexed many +generations, and many different races of men. +</p> + +<p> +The researches of Mr. Wilmot prove to us indeed that in the Middle Ages +Zimbabwe or Zimboe was the seat of a barbarous empire, whose ruler was named +the Emperor of Monomotapa, also that for some years the Jesuits ministered in a +Christian church built beneath the shadow of its ancient towers. But of the +original purpose of those towers, and of the race that reared them, the +inhabitants of mediæval Monomotapa, it is probable, knew less even than we know +to-day. The labours and skilled observation of the late Mr. Theodore Bent, +whose death is so great a loss to all interested in such matters, have shown +almost beyond question that Zimbabwe was once an inland Phœnician city, or at +the least a city whose inhabitants were of a race which practised Phœnician +customs and worshipped the Phœnician deities. Beyond this all is conjecture. +How it happened that a trading town, protected by vast fortifications and +adorned with temples dedicated to the worship of the gods of the +Sidonians—or rather trading towns, for Zimbabwe is only one of a group of +ruins—were built by civilised men in the heart of Africa perhaps we shall +never learn with certainty, though the discovery of the burying-places of their +inhabitants might throw some light upon the problem. +</p> + +<p> +But if actual proof is lacking, it is scarcely to be doubted—for the +numerous old workings in Rhodesia tell their own tale—that it was the +presence of payable gold reefs worked by slave labour which tempted the +Phœnician merchants and chapmen, contrary to their custom, to travel so far +from the sea and establish themselves inland. Perhaps the city Zimboe was the +Ophir spoken of in the first Book of Kings. At least, it is almost certain that +its principal industries were the smelting and the sale of gold, also it seems +probable that expeditions travelling by sea and land would have occupied quite +three years of time in reaching it from Jerusalem and returning thither laden +with the gold and precious stones, the ivory and the almug trees (1 Kings x.). +Journeying in Africa must have been slow in those days; that it was also +dangerous is testified by the ruins of the ancient forts built to protect the +route between the gold towns and the sea. +</p> + +<p> +However these things may be, there remains ample room for speculation both as +to the dim beginnings of the ancient city and its still dimmer end, whereof we +can guess only, when it became weakened by luxury and the mixture of races, +that hordes of invading savages stamped it out of existence beneath their +blood-stained feet, as, in after ages, they stamped out the Empire of +Monomotapa. In the following romantic sketch the writer has ventured—no +easy task—to suggest incidents such as might have accompanied this first +extinction of the Phœnician Zimbabwe. The pursuit indeed is one in which he +can only hope to fill the place of a humble pioneer, since it is certain that +in times to come the dead fortress-temples of South Africa will occupy the pens +of many generations of the writers of romance who, as he hopes, may have more +ascertained facts to build upon than are available to-day. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>ELISSA</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap01"></a>CHAPTER I<br /> +THE CARAVAN</h2> + +<p> +The sun, which shone upon a day that was gathered to the past some three +thousand years ago, was setting in full glory over the expanses of +south-eastern Africa—the Libya of the ancients. Its last burning rays +fell upon a cavalcade of weary men, who, together with long strings of camels, +asses and oxen, after much toil had struggled to the crest of a line of stony +hills, where they were halted to recover breath. Before them lay a plain, +clothed with sere yellow grass—for the season was winter—and +bounded by mountains of no great height, upon whose slopes stood the city which +they had travelled far to seek. It was the ancient city of Zimboe, whereof the +lonely ruins are known to us moderns as Zimbabwe. +</p> + +<p> +At the sight of its flat-roofed houses of sun-dried brick, set upon the side of +the opposing hill, and dominated by a huge circular building of dark stone, the +caravan raised a great shout of joy. It shouted in several tongues, in the +tongues of Phœnicia, of Egypt, of the Hebrews, of Arabia, and of the coasts of +Africa, for all these peoples were represented amongst its numbers. Well might +the wanderers cry out in their delight, seeing that at length, after eight +months of perilous travelling from the coast, they beheld the walls of their +city of rest, of the golden Ophir of the Bible. Their company had started from +the eastern port, numbering fifteen hundred men, besides women and children, +and of those not more than half were left alive. Once a savage tribe had +ambushed them, killing many. Once the pestilential fever of the low lands had +taken them so that they died of it by scores. Twice also had they suffered +heavily through hunger and thirst, to say nothing of their losses by the fangs +of lions, crocodiles, and other wild beasts which with the country swarmed. Now +their toils were over; and for six months, or perhaps a year, they might rest +and trade in the Great City, enjoying its wealth, its flesh-pots, and the +unholy orgies which, among people of the Phœnician race, were dignified by the +name of the worship of the gods of heaven. +</p> + +<p> +Soon the clamour died away, and although no command was given, the caravan +started on at speed. All weariness faded from the faces of the wayworn +travellers, even the very camels and asses, shrunk, as most of them were, to +mere skeletons, seemed to understand that labour and blows were done with, and +forgetting their loads, shambled unurged down the stony path. One man lingered, +however. Clearly he was a person of rank, for eight or ten attendants +surrounded him. +</p> + +<p> +“Go,” said he, “I wish to be alone, and will follow +presently.” So they bowed to the earth, and went. +</p> + +<p> +The man was young, perhaps six or eight and twenty years of age. His dark skin, +burnt almost to blackness by the heat of the sun, together with the fashion of +his short, square-cut beard and of his garments, proclaimed him of Jewish or +Egyptian blood, while the gold collar about his neck and the gold graven ring +upon his hand showed that his rank was high. Indeed this wanderer was none +other than the prince Aziel, nick-named the Ever-living, because of a curious +mole upon his shoulder bearing a resemblance to the <i>crux ansata</i>, the +symbol of life eternal among the Egyptians. By blood he was a grandson of +Solomon, the mighty king of Israel, and born of a royal mother, a princess of +Egypt. +</p> + +<p> +In stature Aziel was tall, but somewhat slimly made, having small bones. His +face was oval in shape, the features, especially the mouth, being fine and +sensitive; the eyes were large, dark, and full of thought—the eyes of a +man with a destiny. For the most part, indeed, they were sombre and over-full +of thought, but at times they could light up with a strange fire. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel the prince placed his hand against his forehead in such fashion as to +shade his face from the rays of the setting sun, and from beneath its shadow +gazed long and earnestly at the city of the hill. +</p> + +<p> +“At length I behold thee, thanks be to God,” he murmured, for he +was a worshipper of Jehovah, and not of his mother’s deities, “and +it is time, since, to speak the truth, I am weary of this travelling. Now what +fortune shall I find within thy walls, O City of Gold and devil-servers?” +</p> + +<p> +“Who can tell?” said a quiet voice at his elbow. “Perhaps, +Prince, you will find a wife, or a throne, or—a grave.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel started, and turned to see a man standing at his side, clothed in robes +that had been rich, but were now torn and stained with travel, and wearing on +his head a black cap in shape not unlike the fez that is common in the East +to-day. The man was past middle age, having a grizzled beard, sharp, hard +features and quick eyes, which withal were not unkindly. He was a Phœnician +merchant, much trusted by Hiram, the King of Tyre, who had made him captain of +the merchandise of this expedition. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! is it you, Metem?” said Aziel. “Why do you leave your +charge to return to me?” +</p> + +<p> +“That I may guard a more precious charge—yourself, Prince,” +replied the merchant courteously. “Having brought the child of Israel so +far in safety, I desire to hand him safely to the governor of yonder city. Your +servants told me that by your command they had left you alone, so I returned to +bear you company, for after nightfall robbers and savages wander without these +walls.” +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you for your care, Metem, though I think there is little danger, +and at the worst I can defend myself.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not thank me, Prince; I am a merchant, and now, as in the past, I +protect you, knowing that for it I shall be paid. The governor will give me a +rich reward when I lead you to him safely, and when in years to come I return +with you still safe to the court of Jerusalem, then the great king will fill my +ship’s hold with gifts.” +</p> + +<p> +“That depends, Metem,” replied the prince. “If my grandfather +still reigns it may be so, but he is very old, and if my uncle wears his crown, +then I am not sure. Truly you Phœnicians love money. Would you, then, sell me +for gold also, Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“I said not so, Prince, though even friendship has its +price——” +</p> + +<p> +“Among your people, Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“Among all people, Prince. You reproach us with loving money; well, we +do, since money gives everything for which men strive—honour, and place, +and comfort, and the friendship of kings.” +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot give you love, Metem.” +</p> + +<p> +The Phœnician laughed contemptuously. “Love! with gold I will buy as +much of it as I need. Are there no slaves upon the market, and no free women +who desire ornaments and ease and the purple of Tyre? You are young, Prince, to +say that gold cannot buy us love.” +</p> + +<p> +“And you, Metem, who are growing old, do not understand what I mean by +love, nor will I stay to explain it to you, for were my words as wise as +Solomon’s, still you would not understand. At the least your money cannot +bring you the blessing of Heaven, nor the welfare of your spirit in the eternal +life that is to come.” +</p> + +<p> +“The welfare of my spirit, Prince? No, it cannot, since I do not believe +that I have a spirit. When I die, I die, and there is an end. But the blessing +of Heaven, ah! that can be bought, as I have proved once and again, if not with +gold, then otherwise. Did I not in bygone years pass the first son of my +manhood through the fire to Baal-Sidon? Nay, shrink not from me; it cost me +dear, but my fortune was at stake, and better that the boy should die than that +all of us should live on in penury and bonds. Know you not, Prince, that the +gods must have the gifts of the best, gifts of blood and virtue, or they will +curse us and torment us?” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know it, Metem, for such gods are no gods, but devils, children +of Beelzebub, who has no power over the righteous. Truly I would have none of +your two gods, Phœnician; upon earth the god of gold, and in heaven the devil +of slaughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“Speak no ill of him, Prince,” answered Metem solemnly, “for +here you are not in the courts of Jehovah, but in his land, and he may chance +to prove his power on you. For the rest, I had sooner follow after gold than +the folly of a drunken spirit which you name Love, seeing that it works its +votary less mischief. Say now, it was a woman and her love that drove you +hither to this wild land, was it not, Prince? Well, be careful lest a woman and +her love should keep you here.” +</p> + +<p> +“The sun sets,” said Aziel coldly; “let us go forward.” +</p> + +<p> +With a bow and a murmured salute, for his quick courtier instinct told him that +he had spoken too freely, Metem took the bridle of the prince’s mule, +holding the stirrup while he mounted. Then he turned to seek his own, but the +animal had wandered, and a full half hour went by before it could be captured. +</p> + +<p> +By now the sun had set, and as there is little or no twilight in Southern +Africa it became difficult for the two travellers to find their way down the +rough hill path. Still they stumbled on, till presently the long dead grass +brushing against their knees told them that they had lost the road, although +they knew that they were riding in the right direction, for the watch-fires +burning on the city walls were a guide to them. Soon, however, they lost sight +of these fires, the boughs of a grove of thickly-leaved trees hiding them from +view, and in trying to push their way through the wood Metem’s mule +stumbled against a root and fell. +</p> + +<p> +“Now there is but one thing to be done,” said the Phœnician, as he +dragged the animal from the ground, “and it is to stay here till the moon +rises, which should be within an hour. It would have been wiser, Prince, if we +had waited to discuss love and the gods till we were safe within the walls of +the city, for the end of it is that we have fallen into the hands of king +Darkness, and he is the father of many evil things.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is so, Metem,” answered the prince, “and I am to blame. +Let us bide here in patience, since we must.” +</p> + +<p> +So, holding their mules by the bridles, they sat down upon the ground and +waited in silence, for each of them was lost in his own thoughts. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap02"></a>CHAPTER II<br /> +THE GROVE OF BAALTIS</h2> + +<p> +At length, as the two men sat thus silently, for the place and its gloom +oppressed them, a sound broke upon the quiet of the night, that beginning with +a low wail such as might come from the lips of a mourner, ended in a chant or +song. The voice, which seemed close at hand, was low, rich and passionate. At +times it sank almost to a sob, and at times, taking a higher note, it thrilled +upon the air in tones that would have been shrill were they not so sweet. +</p> + +<p> +“Who is it that sings?” said Aziel to Metem. +</p> + +<p> +“Be silent, I pray you,” whispered the other in his ear; “we +have wandered into one of the sacred groves of Baaltis, which it is death for +men to enter save at the appointed festivals, and a priestess of the grove +chants her prayer to the goddess.” +</p> + +<p> +“We did not come of our own will, so doubtless we shall be +forgiven,” answered Aziel indifferently; “but that song moves me. +Tell me the words of it, which I can scarcely follow, for her accent is strange +to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince, they seem to be holy words to which I have little right to +hearken. The priestess sings an ancient hallowed chant of life and death, and +she prays that the goddess may touch her soul with the wing of fire and make +her great and give her vision of things that have been and that shall be. More +I dare not tell you now; indeed I can barely hear, and the song is hard to +understand. Crouch down, for the moon rises, and pray that the mules may not +stir. Presently she will go, and we can fly the holy place.” +</p> + +<p> +The Israelite obeyed and waited, searching the darkness with eager eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Now the edge of the great moon appeared upon the horizon, and by degrees her +white rays of light revealed a strange scene to the watchers. About an open +space of ground, some eighty paces in diameter, grew seven huge and ancient +baobab trees, so ancient indeed that they must have been planted by the +primæval hand of nature rather than by that of man. Aziel and his companion +were hidden with their mules behind the trunk of one of these trees, and +looking round it they perceived that the open space beyond the shadow of the +branches was not empty. In the centre of this space stood an altar, and by it +was placed the rude figure of a divinity carved in wood and painted. On the +head of this figure rose a crescent symbolical of the moon, and round its neck +hung a chain of wooden stars. It had four wings but no hands, and of these +wings two were out-spread and two clasped a shapeless object to its breast, +intended, apparently, to represent a child. By these symbols Aziel knew that +before him was an effigy sacred to the goddess of the Phœnicians, who in +different countries passed by the various names of Astarte, or Ashtoreth, or +Baaltis, and who in their coarse worship was at once the personification of the +moon and the emblem of fertility. +</p> + +<p> +Standing before this rude fetish, between it and the altar, whereon lay some +flowers, and in such fashion that the moonlight struck full upon her, was a +white-robed woman. She was young and very beautiful both in shape and feature, +and though her black hair streaming almost to the knees took from her height, +she still seemed tall. Her rounded arms were outstretched; her sweet and +passionate face was upturned towards the sky, and even at that distance the +watchers could see her deep eyes shining in the moonlight. The sacred song of +the priestess was finished. Now she was praying aloud, slowly, and in a clear +voice, so that Aziel could hear and understand her; praying from her very +heart, not to the idol before her, however, but to the moon above. +</p> + +<p> +“O Queen of Heaven,” she said, “thou whose throne I see but +whose face I cannot see, hear the prayer of thy priestess, and protect me from +the fate I fear, and rid me of him I hate. Safe let me dwell and pure, and as +thou fillest the night with light, so fill the darkness of my soul with the +wisdom that I crave. O whisper into my ears and let me hear the voice of +heaven, teaching me that which I would know. Read me the riddle of my life, and +let me learn wherefore I am not as my sisters are; why feasts and offerings +delight me not; why I thirst for knowledge and not for wealth, and why I crave +such love as here I cannot win. Satisfy my being with thy immortal lore and a +love that does not fail or die, and if thou wilt, then take my life in payment. +Speak to me from the heaven above, O Baaltis, or show me some sign upon the +earth beneath; fill up the vessel of my thirsty soul and satisfy the hunger of +my spirit. Oh! thou that art the goddess, thou that hast the gift of power, +give me, thy servant, of thy power, of thy godhead, and of thy peace. Hear me, +O Heaven-born, hear me, Elissa, the daughter of Sakon, the dedicate of thee. +Hear, hear, and answer now in the secret holy hour, answer by voice, by wonder, +or by symbol.” +</p> + +<p> +The woman paused as though exhausted with the passion of her prayer, hiding her +face in her hands, and as she stood thus silent and expectant, the sign came, +or at least that chanced which for a while she believed to have been an answer +to her invocation. Her face was hidden, so she could not see, and fascinated by +her beauty as it appeared to them in that unhallowed spot, and by the depth and +dignity of her wild prayer, the two watchers had eyes for her alone. Therefore +it happened that not until his arm was about to drag her away, did either of +them perceive a huge man, black as ebony in colour, clad in a cloak of leopard +skins and carrying in his right hand a broad-bladed spear who, following the +shadow of the trees, had crept upon the priestess from the farther side of the +glade. +</p> + +<p> +With a guttural exclamation of triumph he gripped her in his left arm, and, +despite her struggles and her shrill cry for help, began half to drag and half +to carry her towards the deep shade of the baobab grove. Instantly Aziel and +Metem sprang up and rushed forward, drawing their bronze swords as they ran. As +it chanced, however, the Israelite caught his foot in one of the numerous +tree-roots, which stood above the surface of the ground and fell heavily upon +his face. In a few seconds, twenty perhaps, he found his breath and feet again, +to see that Metem had come up with the black giant who, hearing his approach, +suddenly wheeled round to meet him, still holding the struggling priestess in +his grasp. Now the Phœnician was so close upon him that the savage could find +no time to shift the grip upon his spear, but drove at him with the knobbed end +of its handle, striking him full upon the forehead and felling him as a butcher +fells an ox. Then once more he turned to fly with his captive, but before he +had covered ten yards the sound of Aziel’s approaching footsteps caused +him to wheel round again. +</p> + +<p> +At sight of the Israelite advancing upon him with drawn sword, the great +barbarian freed himself from the burden of the girl by throwing her heavily to +the ground, where she lay, for the breath was shaken out of her. Then snatching +the cloak from his throat he wound it over his left arm to serve as a shield, +and with a savage yell, rushed straight at Aziel, purposing to transfix him +with the broad-headed spear. +</p> + +<p> +Well was it for the prince that he had been trained in sword-play from his +youth, also, notwithstanding his slight build, that he was strong and active as +a leopard. To await the onslaught would be to die, for the spear must pierce +him before ever he could reach the attacker’s body with his short sword. +Therefore, as the weapon flashed upward he sprang aside, avoiding it, at the +same time, with one swift sweep of his sword, slashing its holder across the +back as he passed him. +</p> + +<p> +With a howl of pain and rage the savage sprang round and charged him a second +time. Again Aziel leapt to one side, but now he struck with all his force at +the spear shaft which his assailant lifted to guard his head. So strong was the +blow and so sharp the heavy sword, that it shore through the wood, severing the +handle from the spear, which fell to the ground. Casting away the useless +shaft, the warrior drew a long knife from his girdle, and before Aziel could +strike again faced him for the third time. But he no longer rushed onward like +a bull, for he had learnt caution; he stood still, holding the skin cloak +before him shield fashion, and peering at his adversary from over its edge. +</p> + +<p> +Now it was Aziel’s turn to take the offensive, and slowly he circled +round the huge barbarian, watching his opportunity. At length it came. In +answer to a feint of his the protecting cloak was dropped a little, enabling +him to prick its bearer in the neck, but only with the point of his sword. The +thrust delivered, he leapt back, and not too soon, for forgetting his caution +in his fury, the savage charged straight at him with a roar like that of a +lion. So swift and terrible was his onset that Aziel, having no time to spring +aside, did the only thing possible. Gripping the ground with his feet, he bent +his body forward, and with outstretched arm and sword, braced up his muscles to +receive the charge. Another instant, and the leopard skin cloak fluttered +before him. With a quick movement of his left arm he swept it aside; then there +came a sudden pressure upon his sword ending in a jarring shock, a flash of +steel above his head, and down he went to the ground beneath the weight of the +black giant. +</p> + +<p> +“Now there is an end,” he thought; “Heaven receive my +spirit.” And his senses left him. +</p> + +<p> +When they returned again, Aziel perceived dimly that a white-draped figure bent +over him, dragging at something black which crushed his breast, who, as she +dragged, sobbed in her grief and fear. Then he remembered, and with an effort +sat up, rolling from him the corpse of his foe, for his sword had pierced the +barbarian through breast and heart and back. At this sight the woman ceased her +sobbing, and said in the Phœnician tongue:— +</p> + +<p> +“Sir, do you indeed live? Then the protecting gods be thanked, and to +Baaltis the Mother I vow a gift of this hair of mine in gratitude.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, lady,” he answered faintly, for he was much shaken, +“that would be a pity; also, if any, it is my hair which should be +vowed.” +</p> + +<p> +“You bleed from the head,” she broke in; “say, stranger, are +you deeply wounded.” +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you nothing of my head,” he replied, with a smile, +“unless you promise that you will not offer up your hair.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it, stranger, since I must; I will give the goddess this gold +chain instead; it is of more worth.” +</p> + +<p> +“You would do better, lady,” said the shrill voice of Metem, who by +now had found his wits again, “to give the gold chain to me whose scalp +has been broken in rescuing you from that black thief.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sir,” she answered, “I am grateful to you from my heart, but +it is this young lord who killed the man and saved me from slavery worse than +death, and he shall be rewarded by my father.” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen to her,” grumbled Metem. “Did I not rush in first in +my folly and receive what I deserved for my pains? But am I to have neither +thanks nor pay, who am but an old merchant; they are for the young prince who +came after. Well, so it ever was; the thanks I can spare, and the reward I +shall claim from the treasury of the goddess. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Prince, let me see your hurt. Ah! a cut on the ear, no more, and +thank your natal star that it is so, for another inch and the great vein of the +neck would have been severed. Prince, if you are able, draw out your sword from +the carcase of that brute, for I have tried and cannot loosen the blade. Then +perhaps this lady will guide us to the city before his fellows come to seek +him, seeing that for one night I have had a stomach full of fighting.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sirs, I will indeed. It is close at hand, and my father will thank you +there; but if it is your pleasure, tell me by what names I shall make known to +him you whose rank seems to be so high?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, I am Metem the Phœnician, captain of the merchandise of the +caravan of Hiram, King of Tyre, and this lord who slew the thief is none other +than the prince Aziel, the twice royal, for he is grandson to the glorious King +of Israel, and through his mother of the blood of the Pharaohs of Egypt.” +</p> + +<p> +“And yet he risked his life to save me,” the girl murmured +astonished; then dropping to her knees before Aziel, she touched the ground +with her forehead in obeisance, giving him thanks, and praising him after the +fashion of the East. +</p> + +<p> +“Rise, lady,” he broke in, “because I chance to be a prince I +have not ceased to be a man, and no man could have seen you in such a plight +without striking a blow on your behalf.” +</p> + +<p> +“No,” added Metem, “none; that is, as you happen to be noble +and young and lovely. Had you been old and ugly and humble, then the black man +might have carried you from here to Tyre ere I risked my neck to stop him, or +for the matter of that, although he will deny it, the prince either.” +</p> + +<p> +“Men do not often show their hearts so clearly,” she answered with +sarcasm. “But now, lords, I will guide you to the city before more harm +befalls us, for this dead man may have companions.” +</p> + +<p> +“Our mules are here, lady; will you not ride mine?” asked Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“I thank you, Prince, but my feet will carry me.” +</p> + +<p> +“And so will mine,” said Aziel, ceasing from a prolonged and +fruitless effort to loosen his sword from the breast-bone of the savage, +“on such paths they are safer than any beasts. Friend, will you lead my +mule with yours?” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, Prince,” grumbled Metem, “for so the world goes with the +old; you take the fair lady for company and I a she-ass. Well, of the two give +me the ass which is more safe and does not chatter.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they started, Aziel leaving his short sword in the keeping of the dead +man. +</p> + +<p> +“How are you named, lady?” he said presently, adding “or +rather I need not ask; you are Elissa, the daughter of Sakon, Governor of +Zimboe, are you not?” +</p> + +<p> +“I am so called, though how you know it I cannot guess.” +</p> + +<p> +“I heard you name yourself, lady, in the prayer you made before the +altar.” +</p> + +<p> +“You heard my prayer, Prince?” she said starting. “Do you not +know that it is death to that man who hearkens to the prayer of a priestess of +Baaltis, uttered in her holy grove? Still, none know it save the goddess, who +sees all, therefore I beseech you for your own sake and the sake of your +companion, say nothing of it in the city, lest it should come to the ears of +the priests of El.” +</p> + +<p> +“Certainly it would have been death to you had I <i>not</i> chanced to +hear it, having lost my way in the darkness,” answered the prince +laughing. “Well, since I did hear it I will add that it was a beautiful +prayer, revealing a heart high and pure, though I grieve that it should have +been offered to one whom I hold to be a demon.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am honoured,” she answered coldly; “but, Prince, you +forget that though you, being a Hebrew, worship Him they call Jehovah, or so I +have been told, I, being of the blood of the Sidonians, worship the lady +Baaltis, the Queen of Heaven the holy one of whom I am a priestess.” +</p> + +<p> +“So it is, alas!” he said, with a sigh, adding:— +</p> + +<p> +“Well, let us not dispute of these matters, though, if you wish, the +prophet Issachar, the Levite who accompanies me, can explain the truth of them +to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Elissa made no reply, and for a while they walked on in silence. +</p> + +<p> +“Who was that black robber whom I slew?” Aziel asked presently. +</p> + +<p> +“I am not sure, Prince,” she answered, hesitating, “but +savages such as he haunt the outskirts of the city seeking to steal white women +to be their wives. Doubtless he watched my steps, following me into the holy +place.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why, then, did you venture there alone, lady?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because, to be heard, such prayers as mine must be offered in solitude +in the consecrated grove, and at the hour of the rising of the moon. Moreover, +cannot Baaltis protect her priestess, Priest, and did she not protect +her?” +</p> + +<p> +“I thought, lady, that I had something to do with the matter,” he +answered. +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, Prince, it was your hand that struck the blow which killed the +thief, but Baaltis, and no other, led you to the place to rescue me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand, lady. To save you, Baaltis, laying aside her own power, +led a mortal man to the grove, which it is death that mortal man should +violate.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who can fathom the way of the gods?” she replied with passion, +then added, as though reasoning with a new-born doubt, “Did not the +goddess hear my prayer and answer it?” +</p> + +<p> +“In truth, lady, I cannot say. Let me think. If I understood you rightly, +you prayed for heavenly wisdom, but whether or not you have gained it within +this last hour, I do not know. And then you prayed for love, an immortal love. +O, maiden, has it come to you since yonder moon appeared upon the sky? And you +prayed——” +</p> + +<p> +“Peace!” she broke in, “peace and mock me not, or, prince +that you are, I will publish your crime of spying upon the prayer of a +priestess of Baaltis. I tell you that I prayed for a symbol and a sign, and the +prayer was answered. +</p> + +<p> +“Did not the black giant spring upon me to bear me away to be his +slave—his, or another’s? And is he not a symbol of the evil and the +ignorance which are on the earth and that seek to drag down the beauty and the +wisdom of the earth to their own level? Then the Phœnician ran to rescue me +and was defeated, since the spirit of Mammon cannot overcome the black powers +of ill. Next you came and fought hard and long, till in the end you slew the +mighty foe, you a Prince born of the royal blood of the +world——” and she ceased. +</p> + +<p> +“You have a pretty gift of parable, lady, as it should be with one who +interprets the oracles of a goddess. But you have not told me of what I, your +servant, am the symbol.” +</p> + +<p> +She stopped in her walk and looked him full in the face. +</p> + +<p> +“I never heard,” she said, “that either the Jews or the +Egyptians, being instructed, were blind to the reading of an allegory. But, +Prince, if you cannot read this one it is not for me, who am but a woman, to +set it out to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Just then their glances met, and in the clear moonlight Aziel saw a wave of +doubt sweep over his companion’s dark and beautiful eyes, and a faint +flush appear upon her brow. He saw, and something stirred at his heart that +till this hour he had never felt, something which even now he knew it would +trouble him greatly to escape. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me, lady,” he asked, his voice sinking almost to a whisper, +“in this fable of yours am I even for an hour deemed worthy to play the +part of that immortal love embodied which you sought so earnestly a while +ago?” +</p> + +<p> +“Immortal love, Prince,” she answered, in a new voice, a voice low +and deep, “is not for one hour, but for all hours that are and are to be. +You, and you alone, can know if you would dare to play such a part as +this—even in a fable.” +</p> + +<p> +“Perchance, lady, there lives a woman for whom it might be dared.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince, no such woman lives, since immortal love must deal, not with the +flesh, but with the spirit. If a spirit worthy to be thus loved and worshipped +now wanders in earthly shape upon the world, seeking its counterpart and its +completion, I cannot tell. Yet were it so, and should they chance to meet, it +might be happy for such brave spirits, for then the answer to the great riddle +would be theirs.” +</p> + +<p> +Wondering what this riddle might be, Aziel bent towards her to reply, when +suddenly round a bend in the path but a few paces from them came a body of +soldiers and attendants, headed by a man clad in a white robe and walking with +a staff. This man was grey-headed and keen-eyed, thin in face and ascetic in +appearance, with a brow of power and a bearing of dignity. At the sight of the +pair he halted, looking at them in question, and with disapproval. +</p> + +<p> +“Our search is ended,” he said in Hebrew, “for here is he +whom we seek, and alone with him a heathen woman, robed like a priestess of the +Groves.” +</p> + +<p> +“Whom do you seek, Issachar?” asked Aziel hurriedly, for the sudden +appearance of the Levite disturbed him. +</p> + +<p> +“Yourself, Prince. Surely you can guess that your absence has been noted. +We feared lest harm should have come to you, or that you had lost your path, +but it seems that you have found a guide,” and he stared at his companion +sternly. +</p> + +<p> +“That guide, Issachar,” answered Aziel, “being none other +than the lady Elissa, daughter of Sakon, governor of this city, and our host, +whom it has been my good fortune to rescue from a woman-stealer yonder in the +grove of the goddess Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“And whom it was my bad fortune to try to rescue in the said grove, as my +broken head bears witness,” added Metem, who by now had come up, dragging +the two mules after him. +</p> + +<p> +“In the grove of the goddess Baaltis!” broke in the Levite with a +kindling eye, and striking the ground with his staff to emphasise his words. +“You, a Prince of Israel, alone in the high place of abomination with the +priestess of a fiend? Fie upon you, fie upon you! Would you also walk in the +sin of your forefathers, Aziel, and so soon?” +</p> + +<p> +“Peace!” said Aziel in a voice of command; “I was not in the +grove alone or by my own will, and this is no time or place for insults and +wrangling.” +</p> + +<p> +“Between me and those who seek after false gods, or the women who worship +them, there is no peace,” replied the old priest fiercely. +</p> + +<p> +Then, followed by all the company, he turned and strode towards the gates of +the city. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap03"></a>CHAPTER III<br /> +ITHOBAL THE KING</h2> + +<p> +Two hours had gone by, and the prince Aziel, together with his retinue, the +officers of the caravan, and many other guests, were seated at a great feast +made in their honour, by Sakon, the governor of the city. This feast was held +in the large pillared hall of Sakon’s house, built beneath the northern +wall of the temple fortress, and not more than a few paces from its narrow +entrance, through which in case of alarm the inhabitants of the palace could +fly for safety. All down this chamber were placed tables, accommodating more +than two hundred feasters, but the principal guests were seated by themselves +upon a raised daïs at the head of the hall. Among them sat Sakon himself, a +middle-aged man stout in build, and thoughtful of face, his daughter Elissa, +some other noble ladies, and a score or more of the notables of the city and +its surrounding territories. +</p> + +<p> +One of these strangers immediately attracted the attention of Aziel, who was +seated in the place of honour at the right of Sakon, between him and the lady +Elissa. This man was of large stature, and about forty years of age; the +magnificence of his apparel and the great gold chain set with rough diamonds +which hung about his neck showing him to be a person of importance. His tawny +complexion marked him of mixed race. This conclusion his features did not +belie, for the brow, nose, and cheek-bones were Semitic in outline, while the +full, prominent eyes, and thick, sensuous lips could with equal certainty be +attributed to the Negroid stock. In fact, he was the son of a native African +queen, or chieftainess, and a noble Phœnician, and his rank no less than that +of absolute king and hereditary chief of a vast and undefined territory which +lay around the trading cities of the white men, whereof Zimboe was the head and +largest. Aziel noticed that this king, who was named Ithobal, seemed angry and +ill at ease, whether because he was not satisfied with the place which had been +allotted to him at the table, or for other reasons, he could not at the time +determine. +</p> + +<p> +When the meats had been removed, and the goblets were filled with wine, men +began to talk, till presently Sakon called for silence, and rising, addressed +Aziel:— +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” he said, “in the name of this great and free +city—for free it is, though we acknowledge the king of Tyre as our +suzerain—I give you welcome within our gates. Here, far in the heart of +Libya, we have heard of the glorious and wise king, your grandfather, and of +the mighty Pharaoh of Egypt, whose blood runs also within your veins. Prince, +we are honoured in your coming, and for the asking, whatever this land of gold +can boast is yours. Long may you live; may the favour of those gods you worship +attend you, and in the pursuit of wisdom, of wealth, of war, and of love, may +the good grain of all be garnered in your bosom, and the wind of prosperity +winnow out the chaff of them to fall beneath your feet. Prince, I have greeted +you as it behoves me to greet the blood of Solomon and Pharaoh; now I add a +word. Now I greet you as a father greets the man who has saved his only and +beloved daughter from death, or shameful bondage. Know you, friends, what this +stranger did since to-night’s moonrise? My daughter was at worship alone +yonder without the walls, and a great savage set on her, purposing to bear her +away captive. Ay, and he would have done it had not the prince Aziel here given +him battle, and, after a fierce fight, slain him.” +</p> + +<p> +“No great deed to kill a single savage,” broke in the king Ithobal, +who had been listening with impatience to Sakon’s praises of this +high-born stranger. +</p> + +<p> +“No great deed you say, King,” answered Sakon. “Guards, bring +in the body of the man and set it before us.” +</p> + +<p> +There was a pause, till presently six men staggered up the hall bearing between +them the corpse of the barbarian, which, still covered with the leopard skin +mantle, they threw down on the edge of the daïs. +</p> + +<p> +“See!” said one of the bearers, withdrawing the cloak from the huge +body. Then pointing to the sword which still transfixed it, he added, +“and learn what strength heaven gives to the arms of princes.” +</p> + +<p> +Such of the guests as were near enough rose to look at the grizzly sight, then +turned to offer their congratulations to the conqueror, but there was one of +them—the king Ithobal—who offered none; indeed, as his eyes fell +upon the face of the corpse, they grew alight with rage. +</p> + +<p> +“What ails you, King? Are you jealous of such a blow?” asked Sakon, +watching him curiously. +</p> + +<p> +“Speak no more of that thrust, I pray you,” said Aziel, “for +it was due to the weight of the man rushing on the sword, which after he was +dead I could not find the power to loosen from his breast-bone.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will do you that service, Prince,” sneered Ithobal, and, +setting his foot upon the breast of the corpse, with a sudden effort of his +great frame, he plucked out the sword and cast it down upon the table. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, one might think,” said Aziel, flushing with anger, +“that you, King, who do a courtesy to a man of smaller strength, mean a +challenge. Doubtless, however, I am mistaken, who do not understand the manners +of this country.” +</p> + +<p> +“Think what you will, Prince,” answered the chieftain, “but +learn that he who lies dead before us by your hand—as you say—was +no slave to be killed at pleasure, but a man of rank, none other, indeed, than +the son of my mother’s sister.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it so?” replied Aziel, “then surely, King, you are well +rid of a cousin, however highly born, who made it his business to ravish +maidens from their homes.” +</p> + +<p> +By way of answer to these words Ithobal sprang from his seat again, laying hand +upon his sword. But before he could speak or draw it, the governor Sakon +addressed him in a cold and meaning voice:— +</p> + +<p> +“Of your courtesy, King,” he said, “remember that the prince +here is my guest, as you are, and give us peace. If that dead man was your +cousin, at least he well deserved to die, not at the hand of one of royal +blood, but by that of the executioner, for he was the worst of thieves—a +thief of women. Now tell me, King, I pray you, how came your cousin here, so +far from home, since he was not numbered in your retinue?” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not know, Sakon,” answered Ithobal, “and if I knew I +would not say. You tell me that my dead kinsman was a thief of women, which, in +Phœnician eyes, must be a crime indeed. So be it; but thief or no thief, I say +that there is a blood feud between me and the man who slew him, and were he +great Solomon himself, instead of one of fifty princelets of his line, he +should pay bitterly for the deed. To-morrow, Sakon, I will meet you before I +leave for my own land, for I have words to speak to you. Till then, +farewell!”—and rising, he strode down the hall, followed by his +officers and guard. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +The sudden departure of king Ithobal in anger was the signal for the breaking +up of the feast. +</p> + +<p> +“Why is that half-bred chief so wrath with me?” asked Aziel in a +low voice of Elissa as they followed Sakon to another chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“Because—if you would know the truth—he set his dead cousin +to kidnap me, and you thwarted him,” she answered, looking straight +before her. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel made no reply, for at that moment Sakon turned to speak with him, and his +face was anxious. +</p> + +<p> +“I crave your pardon, Prince,” he said, drawing him aside, +“that you should have met with such insults at my board. Had it been any +other man who spoke thus to you, by now he had rued his words, but this Ithobal +is the terror of our city, for if he chooses he can bring a hundred thousand +savages upon us, shutting us within our walls to starve, and cutting us off +from the working of the mines whence we win gold. Therefore, in this way or +that, he must be humoured, as indeed we have humoured him and his father for +years, though now,” he added, his brow darkening, “he demands a +price that I am loth to pay,” and he glanced towards his daughter, who +stood watching them at a little distance, looking most beautiful in her white +robes and ornaments of gold. +</p> + +<p> +“Can you not make war upon him, and break his power?” asked Aziel, +with a strange anxiety, guessing that this price demanded by Ithobal was none +other than Elissa, the woman whom he had rescued, and whose wisdom and beauty +had stirred his heart. +</p> + +<p> +“It might be done, Prince, but the risk would be great, and we are here +to work the mines and grow rich in trade—not to make war. The policy of +Zimboe has always been a policy of peace.” +</p> + +<p> +“I have a better and cheaper plan,” said a calm voice at his +elbow—that of Metem. “It is this: Slip a bow-string over the +brute’s head as he lies snoring, and pull it tight. An eagle in a cage is +easy to deal with, but once on the wing the matter is different.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is wisdom in your counsel,” said Sakon, in a hesitating +voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Wisdom!” broke in Aziel; “ay, the wisdom of the assassin. +What, noble Sakon, would you murder a sleeping guest?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, Prince, I would not,” he answered hastily; “also, such a +deed would bring the Tribes upon us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, Sakon, you are more foolish than you used to be,” said Metem +laughing. “A man who will not despatch a foe, whenever he can catch him, +by means fair or foul, is not the man to govern a rich city set in the heart of +a barbarous land, and so I shall tell Hiram, our king, if ever I live to see +Tyre again. As for you, most high Prince, forgive the humblest of your servants +if he tells you that the tenderness of your heart and the nobility of your +sentiments will, I think, bring you to an early and evil end;” and, +glancing towards Elissa as though to put a point upon his words, Metem smiled +sarcastically and withdrew. +</p> + +<p> +At this moment a messenger, whose long white hair, wild eyes and red robe +announced him to be a priest of El, by which name the people of Zimboe +worshipped Baal, entered the room, and whispered something into the ear of +Sakon which seemed to disturb him much. +</p> + +<p> +“Pardon me, Prince, and you, my guests, if I leave you,” said the +governor, “but I have evil tidings that call me to the temple. The lady +Baaltis is seized with the black fever, and I must visit her. For an hour, +farewell.” +</p> + +<p> +This news caused consternation among the company, and in the general confusion +that followed its announcement Aziel joined Elissa, who had passed on to the +balcony of the house, and was seated there alone, looking out over the moonlit +city and the plains beyond. At his approach she rose in token of respect, then +sat herself down again, motioning him to do likewise. +</p> + +<p> +“Give me of your wisdom, lady,” he said. “I thought that +Baaltis was the goddess whom I heard you worshipping yonder in the grove; how, +then, can she be stricken with a fever?” +</p> + +<p> +“She is the goddess,” Elissa answered smiling; “but the +<i>lady</i> Baaltis is a woman whom we revere as the incarnation of that +goddess upon earth, and being but a woman in her hour she must die.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, what becomes of the incarnation of the goddess?” +</p> + +<p> +“Another is chosen by the college of the priests of El, and the company +of the priestesses of Baaltis. If that lady Baaltis who is dead chances to +leave a daughter, it is usual for the lot to fall upon her; if not, upon such +one of the noble maidens as may be chosen.” +</p> + +<p> +“Does the lady Baaltis marry, then?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince, within a year of her consecration, she must choose herself +a husband, and he may be whom she will, provided only that he is of white +blood, and does public sacrifice to El and Baaltis. Then after she has named +him, this husband takes the title of Shadid, and for so long as his wife shall +live he is the high priest of the god El, and clothed with the majesty of the +god, as his wife is clothed with the majesty of Baaltis. But should she die, +another wins his place.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a strange faith,” said Aziel, “which teaches that the +Lord of Heaven can find a home in mortal breasts. But, lady, it is yours, so of +it I say no more. Now tell me, if you will, what did you mean when you said +that this barbarian king, Ithobal, set the savage whom I slew to kidnap you? Do +you know this, or do you suspect it only?” +</p> + +<p> +“I suspected it from the first, Prince, and for good reasons; moreover, I +read it in the king’s face as he looked upon the corpse, and when he +perceived me among the feasters.” +</p> + +<p> +“And why should he wish to carry you away this brutally, lady, when he is +at peace with the great city?” +</p> + +<p> +“Perchance, Prince, after what passed to-night you can guess,” she +answered lowering her eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, lady, I can guess, and though it is shameful that such an one +should dare to think of you, still, since he is a man, I cannot blame him +overmuch. But why should he press his suit in this rough and secret fashion +instead of openly as a king might do?” +</p> + +<p> +“He may have pressed it openly and been repulsed,” she replied in a +low voice. “But if he could have carried me to some far fortress, how +should I flout him there, that is, if I still lived? There, with no price to +pay in gold or lands or power, he would have been my master, and I should have +been his slave till such time as he wearied of me. That is the fate from which +you have saved me, Prince, or rather from death, for I am not one who could +bear such shame at the hands of a man I hate.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said bowing, “I think that perhaps for the first +time in my life I am glad to-night that I was born.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I,” she answered, “who am but a Phœnician maiden, am +glad that I should have lived to hear one who is as royal in thought and soul +as he is in rank speak thus to me. Oh! Prince,” she added, clasping her +hands, “if your words are not those of empty courtesy alone, hear me, for +you are great, a Lord of the Earth whom none refuse, and it may be in your +power to give me aid. Prince, I am in a sore strait, for that danger from which +I prayed to be delivered this night presses me hard. Prince, it is true that +Ithobal has been refused my hand, both by myself and by my father, and +therefore it was that he strove to steal me away. But the evil is not done +with, for the great nobles of the city and the chief priests of El came to my +father at sunset and prayed him that he would let Ithobal take me, seeing that +otherwise in his rage he will make war upon Zimboe. When a man placed as is my +father must choose between the safety of thousands and the honour and happiness +of one poor girl, what will his answer be, think you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” said Aziel, “save that no wrong can right a wrong, I +almost grieve that I cried shame upon the counsel of Metem. Sweet lady, be sure +of this, that I will give all I have, even to my life, to protect you from the +vile fate you dread—yes, all I have—except my soul.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” she cried with a sudden flash of her dark eyes, “all +except your soul. If we women could find the man who would risk both life and +soul for us, then, were he but a slave, we would worship him as never man was +worshipped since Baaltis mounted her heavenly throne.” +</p> + +<p> +“Were I not a Hebrew you would tempt me, lady,” Aziel answered +smiling, “but being one I may not risk my soul even were such a prize +within my reach.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Prince,” she broke in, “I did but jest; forget my +words, for they were wrung from a heart torn with fears. Oh! did you know the +terror of this half-savage Ithobal which oppresses me, you would forgive me +all—a terror that to-night lies upon me with a tenfold weight.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why so, lady?” +</p> + +<p> +“Doubtless because it is nearer,” Elissa whispered, but her +beautiful pleading eyes and quivering lips seemed to belie her words and say, +“because <i>you</i> are near, and a change has come upon me.” +</p> + +<p> +For the second time that day Aziel’s glance met hers, and for the second +time a strange new pang that was more pain than joy, and yet half-divine, +snatched at his heart-strings, for a while numbing his reason and taking from +him the power of speech. +</p> + +<p> +“What was it?” he wondered vaguely. He had seen many lovely faces, +and many noble women had shown him favour, but why had none of them stirred him +thus? Could it be that this stranger Gentile maiden was his soul-mate—she +whom he was destined to love above all upon the earth, nay, whom he did already +love, and so soon? +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said, taking a step towards her, +“lady——” and he paused. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa bowed her dark head till her gold-bedecked and scented hair almost fell +upon his feet, but she made no answer. +</p> + +<p> +Then another voice broke upon the silence, a clear, strident voice that +said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Prince, forgive me, if for the second time to-day I disturb you; but the +guests have gone; your chamber is made ready, and, not knowing the customs of +the women of this country, I sought you, little guessing that, at such an hour, +I should find you alone with one of them.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel looked up, although there was no need for him to do so, for he knew that +voice well, to see the tall form of the Levite Issachar standing before them, a +cold light of anger shining in his eyes. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa saw also, and, with some murmured words of farewell, she turned and +went, leaving them together. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap04"></a>CHAPTER IV<br /> +THE DREAM OF ISSACHAR</h2> + +<p> +For a moment there was silence, which Aziel broke, saying:— +</p> + +<p> +“It seems to me, Issachar, that you are somewhat over zealous for my +welfare.” +</p> + +<p> +“I think otherwise, Prince,” replied the Levite sternly. “Did +not your grandsire give you into my keeping, and shall I not be faithful to my +trust, and to a higher duty than any which he could lay upon me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Your meaning, Issachar?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is plain, Prince; but I will set it out. The great king said to me +yonder in the hall of his golden palace at Jerusalem, ‘To others, men of +war, I have given charge of the body of my grandson to keep him safe. To you, +Issachar the Levite, who have fostered him, I give charge over his soul to keep +it safe—a higher task, and more difficult. Guard him, Issachar, from the +temptation of strange doctrines and the whisperings of strange gods, but guard +him most of all from the wiles of strange women who bow the knee to Baal, for +such are the gate of Gehenna upon earth, and those who enter by it shall find +their place in Tophet.’” +</p> + +<p> +“Truly my grandsire speaks wisely on this matter as on all others,” +answered Aziel, “but still I do not understand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I will be more clear, Prince. How comes it that I find you alone +with this beautiful sorceress, this worshipper of the she-devil, Baaltis, with +whom you should scorn even to speak, except such words as courtesy +demands?” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it then forbidden to me,” asked Aziel angrily, “to talk +with the daughter of my host, a lady whom I chanced to save from death, of the +customs of her country and the mysteries of worship?” +</p> + +<p> +“The mysteries of worship!” answered Issachar scornfully. +“Ay! the mysteries of the worship of that fair body of hers, that ivory +chalice filled with foulness—whereof, if a man drink, his faith shall be +rotted and his soul poisoned. The mysteries of that worship was it, Prince, +that caused you but now to lean towards this woman as though to embrace her, +with words of love burning in your heart if not between your lips? Ah! these +witches of Baaltis know their trade well; they are full of evil gifts, and of +the wisdom given to them by the fiend they serve. With touch and sigh and look +they can stir the blood of youth, having much practice in the art, till it +seethes within the veins and drowns conscience in its flood. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Prince, hear the truth,” continued Issachar. “Till +moonrise you had never seen this woman, and now your quick blood is aflame, and +you love her. Deny it if you can—deny it on your honour and I will +believe you, for you are no liar.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel thought for a moment and answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Issachar, you have no right to question me on this matter, yet since you +have adjured me by my honour, I will be open with you. I do not know if I love +this woman, who, as you say, is a stranger to me, but it is true that my heart +turns towards her like flowers to the sun. Till to-day I had never seen her, +yet when my eyes first fell upon her face yonder in that accursed grove, it +seemed to me that I had been born only that I might find her. It seemed to me +even that for ages I had known her, that for ever she was mine and that I was +hers. Read me the riddle, Issachar? Is this but passion born of youth and the +sudden sight of a fair woman? That cannot be, for I have known others as fair, +and have passed through some such fires. Tell me, Issachar, you who are old and +wise and have seen much of the hearts of men, what is this wave that overwhelms +me?” +</p> + +<p> +“What is it, Prince? It is witchery; it is the wile of Beelzebub waiting +to snatch your soul, and if you hearken to it you shall pass through the +fire—through the fire to Moloch, if not in the flesh, then in the spirit, +which is to all eternity. Oh! not in vain do I fear for you, my son, and not +without reason was I warned in a dream. Listen: Last night, as I lay in my tent +yonder upon the plain, I dreamed that some danger overshadowed you, and in my +sleep I prayed that your destiny might be revealed to me. As I prayed thus, I +heard a voice saying, ‘Issachar, you seek to learn the future; know then +that he who is dear to you shall be tried in the furnace indeed. Yes, because +of his great love and pity, he shall forswear his faith, and with death and +sorrow he shall pay the price of his sin.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Then I was troubled and besought Heaven that you, my son, might be saved +from this unknown temptation, but the voice answered me:— +</p> + +<p> +“‘Of their own will only can they who were one from the beginning +be held apart. Through good and ill let them work each other’s woe or +weal. The goal is sure, but they must choose the road.’ +</p> + +<p> +“Now as I wondered what these dark sayings might mean, the gloom opened +and I saw you, Aziel, standing in a grove of trees, while towards you with +outstretched hands drew a veiled woman who bore upon her brow the golden bow of +Baaltis. Then fire raged about you, and in the fire I beheld many things which +I have forgotten, and moving through it was the Prince of Death, who slew and +slew and spared not. So I awoke heavy at heart, knowing that there had fallen +on me who love you a shadow of doom to come.” +</p> + +<p> +In these latter days any educated man would set aside Issachar’s wild +vision as the vapourings of a mind distraught. But Aziel lived in the time of +Solomon, when men of his nation guided their steps by the light of prophecy, +and believed that it was the Divine pleasure, by means of dreams and wonders +and through the mouths of chosen seers, to declare the will of Jehovah upon +earth. To this faith, indeed, we still hold fast, at least so far as that +period and people are concerned, seeing that we acknowledge Isaiah, David, and +their company, to have been inspired from above. Of that company Issachar the +Levite was one, for to him, from his youth up, voices had spoken in the watches +of the night, and often he had poured his warnings and denunciations into the +ears of kings and peoples, telling them with no uncertain voice of the +consequences of sin and idolatry, and of punishment to come. This Aziel, who +had been his ward and pupil, knew well, and therefore he did not mock at the +priest’s dream or set it aside as naught, but bowed his head and +listened. +</p> + +<p> +“I am honoured indeed,” he said with humility, “that the +destiny of my poor soul and body should be a thing of weight to those on +high.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of your poor soul, Aziel?” broke in Issachar. “That soul of +yours, of which you speak so lightly, is of as great value in the eyes of +Heaven as that of any cherubim within its gates. The angels who fell were the +first and chiefest of the angels, and though now we are clad with mortal shape +in punishment of our sins, again redeemed and glorified we can become among the +mightiest of their hosts. Oh! my son, I beseech you, turn from this woman while +there yet is time, lest to you her lips should be a cup of woe and your soul +shall pay the price of them, sharing the hell of the worshippers of +Ashtoreth.” +</p> + +<p> +“It may be so,” said Aziel; “but, Issachar, what said the +voice? That this, the woman of your dream and I were one from the beginning? +Issachar, you believe that the lady Elissa is she of whom the voice spoke in +your sleep and you bid me turn from her because she will bring me sin and +punishment. In truth, if I can, I will obey you, since rather than forswear my +faith, as your dream foretold, I would die a hundred deaths. Nor do I believe +that for any bribe of woman’s love I shall forswear it in act or thought. +Yet if such things come about it is fate that drives me on, not my +will—and what man can flee his fate? But even though this lady be she +whom I am doomed to love, you say that because she is heathen I must reject +her. Shame upon the thought, for if she is heathen it is through ignorance, and +it may be mine to change her heart. Because I stand in danger shall I suffer +her who, as you tell me, was one with me from the beginning, to be lost in that +hell of Baal of which you speak? Nay, your dream is false. I will not renounce +my faith, but rather will win her to share it, and together we shall triumph, +and that I swear to you, Issachar.” +</p> + +<p> +“Truly the evil one has many wiles,” answered the Levite, +“and I did ill to tell you of my dream, seeing that it can be twisted to +serve the purpose of your madness. Have your will, Aziel, and reap the fruit of +it, but of this I warn you—that while I can find a way to thwart it, +never, Prince, shall you take that witch to your bosom to be the ruin of your +life and soul.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, Issachar, on this matter there may be war between us!” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay! there is war,” said the Levite, and left him. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +The sun was already high in the heavens when Aziel awoke from the deep and +dreamless sleep which followed on the excitements and exhaustion of the +previous day. After his servants had waited upon him and robed him, bringing +him milk and fruit to eat, he dismissed them, and sat himself down by the +casement of his chamber to think a while. +</p> + +<p> +Below him lay the city of flat-roofed houses enclosed with a double wall, +without the ring of which were thousands of straw huts, shaped like bee-hives, +wherein dwelt natives of the country, slaves or servants of the occupying +Phœnician race. To Aziel’s right, and not more than a hundred paces from +the governor’s house in which he was, rose the round and mighty +battlements of the temple, where the followers of El and Baaltis worshipped, +and the gold refiners carried on their business. At intervals on its +flat-topped walls stood towers of observation, alternating with pointed +monoliths of granite and soapstone columns supporting vultures, rudely carved +emblems of Baaltis. Between these towers armed soldiers walked continually, +watching the city below and the plain beyond, for though the mission of the +Phœnicians here was one of peaceful gain it was evident that they considered +it necessary to be always prepared for war. On the hillside above the great +temple towered another fortress of stone—a citadel deemed to be +impregnable even should the temple fall into the hands of an enemy—while +on the crest of the precipitous slope, stretching as far to right and left as +the eye could reach, were many smaller detached strongholds. +</p> + +<p> +The scene that Aziel saw from his window was a busy one, for beneath him a +market was being held in an open square in the city. Here, sheltered from the +sun by grass-thatched booths, the Phœnician merchants who had been his +companions in their long and perilous journey from the coast were already in +treaty with numerous customers, hoping, not in vain, to recoup themselves amply +for the toils and dangers which they had survived. Beneath these booths were +spread their goods; silks from Cos, bronze weapons and copper rods, or ingots +from the rich mines of Cyprus, linens and muslins from Egypt; beads, idols, +carven bowls, knives, glass ware, pottery in all shapes, and charms made of +glazed faience or Egyptian stone; bales of the famous purple cloth of Tyre; +surgical instruments, jewellery, and objects of toilet; scents, pots of rouge, +and other unguents for the use of ladies in little alabaster and earthenware +vases; bags of refined salt, and a thousand other articles of commerce produced +or stored in the workshops of Phœnicia. These the chapmen bartered for raw +gold by weight, tusks of ivory, ostrich feathers, and girls of approved beauty, +slaves taken in war, or in some instances maidens whom their unnatural parents +or relatives did not scruple to sell into bondage. +</p> + +<p> +In another portion of the square, provisions and stock, alive and dead, were +being offered for sale, for the most part by natives of the country. Here were +piles of vegetables and fruits grown in the gardens, sacks of various sorts of +grain, bundles of green forage from the irrigated lands without the walls, +calabashes full of curdled milk, thick native beer and trusses of reed for +thatching. Here again were oxen, mules and asses, or great bucks such as we now +know as eland or kudoo, carried in on rough litters of boughs to be disposed of +by parties of savage huntsmen who had shot them with arrows or trapped them in +pitfalls. Every Eastern tribe and nation seemed to be represented in the motley +crowd. Yonder stalked savages, naked except for their girdles, and armed with +huge spears, who gazed with bewilderment on the wonders of this mart of the +white man; there moved grave, long-bearded Arab merchants or Phœnicians in +their pointed caps, or bare-headed white-robed Egyptians, or half-bred +mercenaries clad in mail. Their variety was without end, while from them came a +very babel of different tongues as they cried their wares, bargained and +quarrelled. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel gazed at this novel sight with interest, till, as he was beginning to +weary of it, the crowd parted to right and left, leaving a clear lane across +the market-place to the narrow gate of the temple. Along this lane advanced a +procession of the priests of El clad in red robes, with tall red caps upon +their heads, beneath which their straight hair hung down to their shoulders. In +their hands were gilded rods, and round their necks hung golden chains, to +which were attached emblems of the god they worshipped. They walked two-and-two +to the number of fifty, chanting a melancholy dirge, one hand of each priest +resting upon his fellow’s shoulder, and as they passed, with the +exception of certain Jews, all the spectators uncovered, while some of the more +pious of them even fell upon their knees. +</p> + +<p> +After the priests came a second procession, that of the priestesses of Baaltis. +These women, who numbered at least a hundred, were clad in white, and wore upon +their heads a gauze-like veil that fell to the knees, and was held in place by +a golden fillet surmounted with the symbol of a crescent moon. Instead of the +golden rods, however, each of them held in her left hand a growing stalk of +maize, from the sheathed cob of which hung the bright tassel of its bloom. On +her right wrist, moreover, a milk-white dove was fastened by a wire, both corn +and dove being tokens of that fertility which, under various guises, was the +real object of worship of these people. The sight of these white-veiled women +about whose crescent-decked brows the doves fluttered, wildly striving to be +free, was very strange and beautiful as they advanced also singing a low and +melancholy chant. Aziel searched their faces with his eyes while they passed +slowly towards him, and presently his heart bounded, for there among them, +clasping the dove she bore to her breast, as though to still its frightened +strugglings, was the Lady Elissa. He noticed, too, that as she went beneath the +palace walls, she glanced at the window-place of his chamber, but without +seeing him for he was seated in the shadow. +</p> + +<p> +Presently the long line of priestesses, followed by hundreds of worshippers, +had vanished through the tortuous and narrow entrance of the temple, and Aziel +leaned back to think. +</p> + +<p> +There, among the principal votaries of a goddess, the wickedness of whose +worship was a scandal and a by-word even in the ancient world, walked the woman +to whom he felt so strangely drawn and with whom, if there were any truth in +the visions of Issachar and the mysterious warnings of his own soul, his fate +was intertwined. As he thought of it a sudden revulsion filled his heart. She +was wise and beautiful, and she seemed innocent, but Issachar was right; this +girl was the minister of an abominable creed; nay, for aught he knew, she was +herself defiled with its abominations, and her wisdom but an evil gift from the +evil powers she served. Could he, a prince of the royal blood of the House of +Israel and of the ancient Pharaohs of Khem, desire to have anything to do with +such an one, he a child of the Chosen People, a worshipper of the true and only +God? Yesterday she had thrown a spell upon him, a spell of black magic, or the +spell of her imperial beauty, which, it mattered not, but to-day he was the +lord of his own mind, and would shake himself free of it and her. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +In the market-place below, the Levite Issachar also had watched the passing of +the priests and priestesses of El and Baaltis. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me, Metem,” he asked of the Phœnician who stood beside him, +his head respectfully uncovered, “what mummery is this?” +</p> + +<p> +“It is no mummery, worthy Issachar, but a ceremony of public sacrifice, +which is to be offered in the temple yonder, for the recovery from her sickness +of the Lady Baaltis, the high-priestess.” +</p> + +<p> +“Where then is the offering. I see none, unless it be those doves that +are tied to the wrists of the women?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Issachar,” answered Metem smiling darkly, “the gods ask +nobler blood than that of doves. The offering is within, and it is the +first-born child of a priestess of Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Lord of Heaven!” said Issachar lifting up his eyes, “how +long will you suffer that this murderous and accursed race should defile the +face of earth?” +</p> + +<p> +“Softly, friend,” broke in Metem, “I have read your +Scriptures, and is it not set out in them that your great forefather was +commanded to offer up his first-born in such a sacrifice?” +</p> + +<p> +“Blaspheme not,” answered the Jew. “He was commanded indeed, +that his heart might be proved, but his hand was stayed. He Whom I worship +delights not in the blood of children.” +</p> + +<p> +Here Issachar broke off, suddenly recognising the lady Elissa among the +white-robed priestesses. Watching her, he noted her glance at the window of +Aziel’s chamber, and saw what she could not see, that the prince was +seated there. “This daughter of Satan spreads her nets,” he +muttered between his teeth. Then a thought struck him, and he added aloud, +“Say, Metem, is it permitted to strangers to witness the rites in yonder +temple?” +</p> + +<p> +“Surely,” answered the Phœnician; “that is, if they guard +their tongues, and do nothing to offend.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I desire to see them, Metem, and so doubtless does the prince +Aziel. Therefore, if it is your will, do me the service to enter his chamber in +the palace where he is sitting, and bid him to a great ceremony that goes +forward in the temple. And, Metem, if he asks what that ceremony is, I charge +you, say only that a dove is to be sacrificed. +</p> + +<p> +“I will wait for you at the gate of the temple, but do not tell him that +I send you on this errand. Metem, you love gain; remember that if you humour me +in this and other matters which may arise, doing my bidding faithfully, I have +the treasury of Jerusalem to draw upon.” +</p> + +<p> +“No ill paymaster,” replied Metem cheerfully. “Certainly I +will obey you in all things, holy Issachar, as the king commanded me yonder in +Judea.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” he reflected to himself, as he went upon his message, +“I see how the bird flies. The prince Aziel is in love with the lady +Elissa, or far upon the road to it, as at his age it is right and proper that +he should be, after a twelve months’ journey by sea and land with never a +pretty face to sigh for. The holy Issachar, on the other hand, is minded that +his charge shall have naught to do with a priestess of Baaltis, as, his age and +calling considered, is also right and proper. Then there is that black savage +Ithobal, who wishes to win the girl, and the girl herself, who after the +fashion of her sex, will probably play them all off one against the other. +Well, so much the better for me, since I shall be a richer man even than I am +before this affair is done with. I have two hands, and gold is gold whoever be +the giver,” and smiling craftily to himself Metem passed into the palace. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap05"></a>CHAPTER V<br /> +THE PLACE OF SACRIFICE</h2> + +<p> +Suddenly Aziel, looking up from his reverie, saw the Phœnician bowing before +him, cap in hand. +</p> + +<p> +“May the Prince live for ever,” he said, “yet if he suffer +melancholy to overcome him thus, his life, however long, will be but +sad.” +</p> + +<p> +“I was only thinking, Metem,” answered Aziel with a start. +</p> + +<p> +“Of the lady Elissa, whom you rescued, Prince? Ah! I guessed as much. She +is beautiful, is she not—I have never seen the equal of those dreamy eyes +and that mysterious smile—and learned also, though myself, in a woman I +prefer the beauty without the learning. It is a pity now that she should chance +to be a priestess of our worship, for that will not please the holy Issachar +whom, I fear, Prince, you find a stern guide for the feet of youth.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your business, merchant?” broke in Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“I crave your pardon, Prince,” answered the Phœnician, spreading +out his hands in deprecation. “I struck a good bargain for my wares this +morning, and drank wine to seal it, therefore, let me be forgiven if I have +spoken too freely in your presence, Prince. This is my business: Yonder in the +temple they celebrate a service which it is lawful for strangers to witness, +and as the opportunity is rare, I thought that, having heard something of our +mysteries in the grove last night, you might wish to see the office. If this be +so, I am come to guide you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Aziel’s first impulse was to refuse to go; indeed, the words of +dismissal were on his lips when another purpose entered his mind. For this once +he would look upon these abominations and learn what part Elissa played in +them, and thus be cured for ever of the longings that had seized him. +</p> + +<p> +“What is the ceremony?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“A sacrifice for the recovery of the lady Baaltis who is sick, +Prince.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what is the sacrifice?” asked Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“A dove, as I am told,” was the indifferent answer. +</p> + +<p> +“I will come with you, Metem.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it, Prince. Your retinue awaits you at the gate.” +</p> + +<p> +At the main entrance to the palace Aziel found his guard and other servants +gathered there to escort him. With them was Issachar, whom he greeted, asking +him if he knew the errand upon which they were bent. +</p> + +<p> +“I do, Prince; it is to witness the abomination of a sacrifice of these +heathens.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will you then accompany me there, Issachar?” +</p> + +<p> +“Where my lord goes I go,” answered the Levite gravely. +“Moreover, Prince, if you have your reasons for wishing to see this +devil-worship, I may have mine.” +</p> + +<p> +Then they set out, Metem guiding them. At the north gate of the temple, which +was not more than a yard in width, the Phœnician spoke to the guards on duty, +who drew back to let them pass. In single file, for the passages were too +narrow to allow of any other means of progression, they threaded the tortuous +and mazy paths of the great building, passing between huge walls built of +granite blocks laid without mortar, till at length they reached a large open +space. Here the ceremony had already begun. Almost in the centre of this space, +which was paved with blocks of granite, stood two conical towers, the larger of +which measured thirty feet in height and the smaller about half as much. These +towers, also built of blocks of stone, were, as Metem informed them, sacred to +and emblematical of the gods El and Baaltis. In front of them was a platform +surmounted by a stone altar, and between them, built in a pit in the ground, +burned a great furnace of wood. All the centre of the enclosure was occupied by +the marshalled ranks of the priests and priestesses. Without this sacred ring +stood the closely packed masses of spectators, amongst whom Aziel and his +following were given place, though some of the more pious worshippers murmured +audibly at the admission of these Jews. +</p> + +<p> +When they entered, the companies of priests and priestesses were finishing a +prayer, the sentences of which they chanted alternately with strange effect. In +part it was formal, and in part an improvised supplication to the protecting +gods to restore health to that woman or high-priestess who was known as the +lady Baaltis. The prayer ended, a beautiful bold-faced girl advanced to an open +space in front of the altar, and with a sudden movement threw off her white +robe, revealing herself to the spectators in a many-coloured garment of gauze, +through which her fair flesh gleamed. +</p> + +<p> +The black hair of this woman was adorned with a coronet of scarlet flowers and +hung loose about her; her feet and arms were naked, and in each hand she held a +knife of bronze. Very slowly she began to dance, her painted lips parted as +though to speak, and her eyes, brightened with pigments, turned up to heaven. +By degrees her movements grew more rapid, till at length, as she whirled round, +her long locks streamed out straight upon the air and the crown of flowers +looked like a scarlet ring. Suddenly the bronze knife in her right hand +flashed, and a spot of red appeared above her left breast; then the knife in +the left hand flashed, and another spot appeared over the right breast. At each +stroke the multitude cried, “<i>Ah!</i>” as with one voice, and +then were silent. +</p> + +<p> +Now the maddened dancer, ceasing her whirlings, leapt high into the air, +clashing the knives above her head and crying, “Hear me, hear me, +Baaltis!” +</p> + +<p> +Again she leapt, and this time the answer that came from her lips was spoken in +another voice, which said, “I am present. What seek you?” +</p> + +<p> +A third time the priestess leapt, replying in her own voice, “Health for +thy servant who is sick.” Then came the answer in the second +voice—“I hear you, but I see no sacrifice.” +</p> + +<p> +“What sacrifice would’st thou, O Queen? A dove?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay.” +</p> + +<p> +“What then, Queen?” +</p> + +<p> +“One only, the first-born child of a woman.” +</p> + +<p> +As this command, which they supposed to be divine and from above, issued out of +the lips of the gashed and bleeding Pythoness, the multitude that hitherto had +listened in perfect silence, shouted aloud, while the girl herself, utterly +exhausted, fell to the earth swooning. +</p> + +<p> +Now the high priest of El, who was named the Shadid, none other indeed than the +husband of her who lay sick, sprang upon the platform and cried:— +</p> + +<p> +“The goddess has spoken by the mouth of her oracle. She who is the mother +of all demands one life out of the many she has given, that the Lady Baaltis, +who is her priestess upon earth, may be recovered of her sickness. Say, who +will lay down a life for the honour of the goddess, and that her regent in this +land may be saved alive?” +</p> + +<p> +Now—for all this scene had been carefully prepared—a woman stepped +forward, wearing the robe of a priestess, who bore in her arms a drugged and +sleeping child. +</p> + +<p> +“I, father,” she cried in a shrill, hard voice, though her lips +trembled as she spoke. “Let the goddess take this child, the first-fruit +of my body, that our mother the Lady Baaltis may be cured of her sickness, and +that I, her daughter, may be blessed by the goddess, and through me, all we who +worship her.” And she held out the little victim towards him. +</p> + +<p> +The Shadid stretched out his arms to take it, but he never did take it, for at +that moment appeared upon the platform the tall and bearded figure of Issachar +clad in his white robes. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold!” he cried in a loud, clear voice, “and touch not the +innocent child. Spawn of Satan, would you do murder to appease the devils whom +you worship? Well shall they repay you, people of Zimboe. Oh! mine eyes are +open and I see,” he went on, shaking his thin arms above his head in a +prophetic frenzy. “I see the sword of the true God, and it flames above +this city of idolaters and abominations. I see this place of sacrifice, and I +tell you that before the moon is young again it shall run red with the blood of +you, idol worshippers, and of you, women of the groves. The heathen is at your +gates, ye followers of demons, and my God sends them as He sends the locusts of +the north wind to devour you like grass, to sweep you away like the dust of the +desert. Cry then upon El and Baaltis, and let El and Baaltis save you if they +can. Doom is upon you; Azrael, angel of death, writes his name upon your +foreheads, every one of you, giving your city to the owls, your bodies to the +jackals, and your souls to Satan——” +</p> + +<p> +Thus far the priests and the spectators had listened to Issachar’s +denunciations in bewildered amazement not unmixed with fear. Now with a roar of +wrath they awoke, and suddenly he was dragged from the platform by a score of +hands and struck down with many blows. Indeed, he would then and there have +been torn to pieces had not a guard of soldiers, knowing that he was +Sakon’s guest and in the train of the prince Aziel, snatched him from the +maddened multitude, and borne him swiftly to a place of safety without the +enclosure. +</p> + +<p> +While the tumult was at its height, a Phœnician, who had arrived in the temple +breathless with haste, might have been seen to pluck Metem by the sleeve. +</p> + +<p> +“What is it?” Metem asked of the man, who was his servant. +</p> + +<p> +“This: the lady Baaltis is dead. I watched as you bade me, and, as she +had promised to do, in token of the end, her woman waved a napkin from the +casement of that tower where she lies.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do any know of this?” +</p> + +<p> +“None.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then say no word of it,” and Metem hurried off in search of Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +Presently he found him seeking for Issachar in company with his guards. +</p> + +<p> +“Have no fear, Prince,” Metem said, in answer to his eager +questions, “he is safe enough, for the soldiers have borne the fool away. +Pardon me that I should speak thus of a holy man, but he has put all our lives +in danger.” +</p> + +<p> +“I do not pardon you,” answered Aziel hotly, “and I honour +Issachar for his act and words. Let us begone from this accursed place whither +you entrapped me.” +</p> + +<p> +Before Metem could reply a voice cried, “Close the doors of the +sanctuary, so that none can pass in or go out, and let the sacrifice be +offered.” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, Prince,” said Metem, “you must stay here till the +ceremony is done.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I tell you, Phœnician,” answered Aziel, “that rather +than suffer that luckless child to be butchered before my eyes I will cut my +way to it with my guards, and rescue it alive.” +</p> + +<p> +“To leave yourself dead in place of it,” answered Metem +sarcastically; “but, see, a woman desires to speak with you,” and +he pointed to a girl in the robe of a priestess, whose face was hidden with a +veil, and who, in the tumult and confusion, had worked her way to Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” whispered the veiled form, “I am Elissa. For your +life’s sake keep still and silent, or you will be stabbed, for your words +have been overheard, and the priests are mad at the insult that has been put +upon them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Away with you, woman,” answered Aziel; “what have I to do +with a girl of the groves and a murderess of children?” +</p> + +<p> +She winced at his bitter words, but said quietly:— +</p> + +<p> +“Then on your own head be your blood, Prince, which I have risked much to +keep unshed. But before you die, learn that I knew nothing of this foul +sacrifice, and that gladly would I give my own life to save that of yonder +child.” +</p> + +<p> +“Save it, and I will believe you,” answered the prince, turning +from her. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa slipped away, for she saw that the priestesses, her companions, were +reforming their ranks, and that she must not tarry. When she had gone a few +yards, a hand caught her by the sleeve, and the voice of Metem, who had +overheard something of this talk, whispered in her ear:— +</p> + +<p> +“Daughter of Sakon, what will you give me if I show you a way to save the +life of the child, and with it that of the prince, and at the same time to make +him think well of you again?” +</p> + +<p> +“All my jewels and ornaments of gold, and they are many,” she +answered eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +“Good; it is a bargain. Now listen: The lady Baaltis is dead; she died a +few minutes since, and none here know it save myself and one other, my servant, +nor can any learn it, for the gates are shut. Do you be, therefore, suddenly +inspired—of the gods—and say so, for then the sacrifice must cease, +seeing that she for whom it was to be offered is dead. Do you +understand?” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand,” she answered, “and though the blasphemy bring +on me the vengeance of Baaltis, yet it shall be dared. Fear not, your pay is +good,” and she pressed forward to her place, keeping the veil wrapped +about her head till she reached it unobserved, for in the general confusion +none had noticed her movements. +</p> + +<p> +When the noise of shouting and angry voices had at length died away, and the +spectators were driven back outside the sacred circle, the priest upon the +platform cried:— +</p> + +<p> +“Now that the Jew blasphemer has gone, let the sacrifice be offered, as +is decreed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yea, let the sacrifice be offered,” answered the multitude, and +once more the woman with the sleeping child stepped forward. But before the +priest could take it another figure approached him, that of Elissa, with arms +outstretched and eyes upturned. +</p> + +<p> +“Hold, O priest!” she said, “for the goddess, breathing on my +brow, inspires me, and I have a message from the goddess.” +</p> + +<p> +“Draw near, daughter, and speak it in the ears of men,” the priest +answered wondering, for he found it hard to believe in such inspiration, and +indeed would have denied her a hearing had he dared. +</p> + +<p> +So Elissa climbed the platform, and standing upon it still with outstretched +hands and upturned face, she said in a clear voice:— +</p> + +<p> +“The goddess refuses the sacrifice, since she has taken to herself her +for whom it was to have been offered—the Lady Baaltis is dead.” +</p> + +<p> +At this tidings a groan went up from the people, partly of grief for the loss +of a spiritual dignitary who was popular, and partly of disappointment because +now the sacrifice could not be offered. For the Phœnicians loved these +horrible spectacles, which were not, however, commonly celebrated by daylight +and in the presence of the people. +</p> + +<p> +“It is a lie,” cried a voice, “but now the Lady Baaltis was +living.” +</p> + +<p> +“Let the gates be opened, and send to see whether or no I lie,” +said Elissa, quietly. +</p> + +<p> +Then for a while there was silence while a priest went upon the errand. At +length he was seen returning. Pushing his way through the crowd, he mounted the +platform, and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“The daughter of Sakon speaks truth; alas! the lady Baaltis is +dead.” +</p> + +<p> +Elissa sighed in relief, for had her tidings proved false she could scarcely +have hoped to escape the fury of the crowd. +</p> + +<p> +“Ay!” she cried, “she is dead, as I told you, and because of +your sin, who would have offered human sacrifice in public, against the custom +of our faith and city and without the command of the goddess.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +Then in sullen silence the priests and priestesses reformed their ranks, and +departed from the sanctuary, whence they were followed by the spectators, the +most of them in no good mood, for they had been baulked of the promised +spectacle. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap06"></a>CHAPTER VI<br /> +THE HALL OF AUDIENCE</h2> + +<p> +When Elissa reached her chamber after the break up of the procession, she threw +herself upon her couch, and burst into a passion of tears. Well might she weep, +for she had been false to her oath as a priestess, uttering as a message from +the goddess that which she had learnt from the lips of man. More, she could not +rid herself of the remembrance of the scorn and loathing with which the Prince +Aziel had looked upon her, or of the bitter insult of his words when he called +her, “a girl of the groves, and a murderess of children.” +</p> + +<p> +It chanced that, so far as Elissa was concerned, these charges were utterly +untrue. None could throw a slur upon her, and as for these rare human +sacrifices, she loathed the very name of them, nor, unless forced to it, would +she have been present had she guessed that any such offering was intended. +</p> + +<p> +Like most of the ancient religions, that of the Phœnicians had two sides to +it—a spiritual and a material side. The spiritual side was a worship of +the far-off unknown divinity, symbolised by the sun, moon and planets, and +visible only in their majestic movements, and in the forces of nature. To this +Elissa clung, knowing no truer god, and from those forces she strove to wring +their secret, for her heart was deep. Lonely invocations to the goddess beneath +the light of the moon appealed to her, for from them she seemed to draw +strength and comfort, but the outward ceremonies of her faith, or the more +secret and darker of them, of which in practice she knew little, were already +an abomination in her eyes. And now what if the Jew prophet spoke truly? What +if this creed of hers were a lie, root and branch, and there did lie in the +heavens above a Lord and Father who heard and answered the prayers of men, and +who did not seek of them the blood of the children He had given? +</p> + +<p> +A great doubt took hold of Elissa and shook her being, and with the doubt came +hope. How was it—if her faith were true—that when she took the name +of the goddess in vain, nothing had befallen her? She desired to learn more of +this matter, but who was to teach her? The Levite turned from her with loathing +as from a thing unclean, and there remained, therefore, but the prince Aziel, +who had put her from him with those bitter words of scorn. Ah! why did they +pain her so, piercing her heart as with a spear? Was it +because—because—he had grown dear to her? Yes, that was the truth. +She had learned it even as he cursed her; all her quick southern blood was +alight with a new fire, the like of which she had never known before. And not +her blood only, it was her spirit—her spirit that yearned to his. Had it +not leapt within her at the first sight of him as to one most dear, one +long-lost and found again? She loved him, and he loathed her, and oh! her lot +was hard. +</p> + +<p> +As Elissa lay brooding thus in her pain, the door opened and Sakon, her father, +hurried into the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“What is it that chanced yonder?” he asked, for he had not been +present in the sanctuary, “and, daughter, why do you weep?” +</p> + +<p> +“I weep, father, because your guest, the prince Aziel, has called me +‘a girl of the groves, and a murderess of children,’” she +replied. +</p> + +<p> +“Then, by my head, prince that he is, he shall answer for it to +me,” said Sakon, grasping at his sword-hilt. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, father, since to him I must have seemed to deserve the words. +Listen.” And she told him all that had passed, hiding nothing. +</p> + +<p> +“Now it seems that trouble is heaped upon trouble,” said the +Phœnician when she had finished, “and they were mad who suffered the +prince and that fierce Issachar to be present at the sacrifice. Daughter, I +tell you this: though I am a worshipper of El and Baaltis, as my fathers were +before me, I know that Jehovah of the Jews is a great and powerful Lord, and +that His prophets do not prophesy falsely, for I have seen it in my youth, +yonder in the coasts of Sidon. What did Issachar say? That before the moon was +young again, this temple should run red with blood? Well, so it may happen, for +Ithobal threatens war against us, and for your sake, my daughter.” +</p> + +<p> +“How for my sake, father?” she asked heavily, as one who knew what +the answer would be. +</p> + +<p> +“You know well, girl. Ever since you danced before him at the great +welcoming feast I made in his honour a month ago the man is besotted of you; +moreover, he is mad with jealousy of this new-comer, the prince Aziel. He has +demanded public audience of me this afternoon, and I have it privately that +then he will formally ask you in marriage before the people, and if he is +refused will declare war upon the city, with which he has many an ancient +quarrel. Yes, yes, king Ithobal is that sword of God which the Jew said he saw +hanging over us, and should it fall it will be because of you, Elissa.” +</p> + +<p> +“The Jew did not say that, father; he said it would be because of the +sins of the people and their idolatries.” +</p> + +<p> +“What does it matter what he said?” broke in Sakon hastily. +“How shall I answer Ithobal?” +</p> + +<p> +“Tell him,” she replied with a strange smile, “that he does +wisely to be jealous of the prince Aziel.” +</p> + +<p> +“What! Of the stranger who this very day reviled you in words of such +shame, and so soon?” asked her father astonished. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa did not speak in answer; she only looked straight before her, and nodded +her head. +</p> + +<p> +“Had ever man such a daughter?” Sakon went on in petulant dismay. +“Truly it is a wise saying which tells that women love those best who +beat them, be it with the tongue or with the fist. Not but what I would gladly +see you wedded to a prince of Israel and of Egypt rather than of this half-bred +barbarian, but the legions of Solomon and of Pharaoh are far away, whereas +Ithobal has a hundred thousand spears almost at our gate.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is no need to speak of such things, father,” she said, +turning aside, “since, even were I willing, the prince would have nought +to do with me, who am a priestess of Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“The matter of religion might be overcome,” suggested Sakon; +“but, no, for many reasons it is impossible. Well, this being so, +daughter, I may answer Ithobal that you will wed him.” +</p> + +<p> +“I!” she said; “I wed that black-hearted savage? My father, +you may answer what you will, but of this be sure, that I will go to my grave +before I pass as wife to the board of Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Oh! my daughter,” pleaded Sakon, “think before you say it. +As his wife at least you, who are not of royal blood, will be a queen, and the +mother of kings. But if you refuse, then either I must force you, which is +hateful to me, or there will be such a war as the city has not known for +generations, for Ithobal and his tribes have many grievances against us. By the +gift of yourself, for a while, at any rate, you can, as it chances, make peace +between us, but if that is withheld, then blood will run in rivers, and perhaps +this city, with all who live in it, will be destroyed, or at the least its +trade must be ruined and its wealth stolen away.” +</p> + +<p> +“If it is decreed that all these things are to be, they will be,” +answered Elissa calmly, “seeing that this war has threatened us for many +years, and that a woman must think of herself first, and of the fate of cities +afterwards. Of my own free will I shall never take Ithobal for husband. Father, +I have said.” +</p> + +<p> +“Of the fate of cities, yes; but how of my fate, and that of those we +love? Are we all to be ruined, and perhaps slaughtered, to satisfy your whim, +girl?” +</p> + +<p> +“I did not say so, father. I said that of my own free will I would not +wed Ithobal. If you choose to give me to him you have the right to do it, but +know then that you give me to my death. Perhaps it is best that it should be +thus.” +</p> + +<p> +Sakon knew his daughter well, and it did not need that he should glance at her +face to learn that she meant her words. Also he loved her, his only child, more +dearly than anything on earth. +</p> + +<p> +“In truth my strait is hard, and I know not which way to turn,” he +said, covering his face with his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Father,” she replied, laying her fingers lightly on his shoulder, +“what need is there to answer him at once? Take a month, or if he will +not give it, a week. Much may happen in that time.” +</p> + +<p> +“The counsel is wise,” he said, catching at this straw. +“Daughter, be in the great hall of audience with your attendants three +hours after noon, for then we must receive Ithobal boldly in all pomp, and deal +with him as best we may. And now I go to ask peace for the Levite from the +priests of El, and to discover whom the sacred colleges desire to nominate as +the new Baaltis. Doubtless it will be Mesa, the daughter of her who is dead, +though many are against her. Oh! if there were no priests and no women, this +city would be easier to govern,” and with an impatient gesture Sakon left +the room. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +It was three o’clock in the afternoon, and the great hall of audience in +Zimboe was crowded with a brilliant assemblage. There sat Sakon, the governor, +and with him his council of the notables of the city; there were prince Aziel +and among his retinue, Issachar the prophet, fierce-eyed as ever, though hardly +recovered from the rough handling he had experienced in the temple. There were +representatives of the college of the priests of El. There were many ladies, +wives and daughters of dignitaries and wealthy citizens, and with them a great +crowd of spectators of all classes gathered in the lower part of the hall, for +a rumour had spread about that the farewell audience given by Sakon to King +Ithobal was likely to be stormy. +</p> + +<p> +When all were gathered, a herald announced that Ithobal, King of the Tribes, +waited to take his leave of Sakon, Governor of Zimboe, before departing to his +own land on the morrow. +</p> + +<p> +“Let him be admitted,” said Sakon, who looked weary and ill at +ease. Then as the herald bowed and left, he turned and whispered something into +the ear of his daughter Elissa, who stood behind his chair, her face immovable +as that of an Egyptian Sphinx, but magnificently apparelled in gleaming robes +and jewelled ornaments—which Metem, looking on them, reflected with +satisfaction were now his property. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, preceded by a burst of savage music, Ithobal entered. He was +gorgeously arrayed in a purple Tyrian robe decked with golden chains, while on +the brow, in token of his royalty, he wore a golden circlet in which was set a +single blood-red stone. Before him walked a sword-bearer carrying a sword of +ceremony, a magnificent ivory-handled weapon encrusted with rough gems and +inlaid with gold, while behind him, clad in barbaric pomp, marched a number of +counsellors and attendants, huge and half-savage men who glared wonderingly at +the splendour of the place and its occupants. As the king came, Sakon rose from +his chair of state and, advancing down the hall, took him by the hand and led +him to a similar chair placed at a little distance. +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal seated himself and looked around the hall. Presently his glance fell +upon Aziel, and he scowled. +</p> + +<p> +“Is it common, Sakon,” he asked, “that the seat of a prince +should be set higher than that of a crowned king?” And he pointed to the +chair of Aziel, which was placed a little above his own upon the daïs. +</p> + +<p> +The governor was about to answer when Aziel said coldly:— +</p> + +<p> +“Where it was pointed out to me that I should sit, there I sat, though, +for aught I care, the king Ithobal may take my place. The grandson of Pharaoh +and of Solomon does not need to dispute for precedence with the savage ruler of +savage tribes.” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal sprang to his feet and cried, grasping his sword:— +</p> + +<p> +“By my father’s soul, you shall answer for this, Princelet.” +</p> + +<p> +“You should have sworn by your mother’s soul, King Ithobal,” +replied Aziel quietly, “for doubtless it is the black blood in your veins +that causes you to forget your courtesy. For the rest, I answer to no man save +to my king.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yet there is one other who will make you answer,” replied Ithobal, +in a voice thick with rage, “and here he is,” and he drew his sword +and flashed it before the prince’s eyes. “Or if you fear to face +him, then the wands of my slaves shall cause you to cry me pardon.” +</p> + +<p> +“If you desire to challenge me to combat, king Ithobal, for this purpose +only I am your servant, though the fashion of your challenging is not that of +any nation which I know.” +</p> + +<p> +Before Ithobal could reply, Sakon cried out in a loud voice:— +</p> + +<p> +“Enough, enough! Is this a place for brawling, king Ithobal, and would +you seek to fix a quarrel upon my guest, the prince Aziel, here in my council +chamber, and to bring upon me the wrath of Israel, of Tyre, and of Egypt? Be +sure that the prince shall cross no swords with you; no, not if I have to set +him under guard to keep him safe. To your business, king Ithobal, or I break up +this assembly and send you under escort to our gates.” +</p> + +<p> +Now his counsellors plucked Ithobal by the sleeve and whispered to him some +advice, which at last he seemed to take with an ill grace, for, turning, he +said, “So be it. This is my business, Sakon: For many years I and the +countless tribes whom I rule have suffered much at the hands of you +Phœnicians, who centuries ago settled here in my country as traders. That you +should trade we are content, but not that you should establish yourselves as a +sovereign power, pretending to be my equals who are my servants. Therefore, in +the name of my nation, I demand that the tribute which you pay to me for the +use of the mines of gold shall henceforth be doubled; that the defences of this +city be thrown down; and that you cease to enslave the natives of the land to +labour in your service. I have spoken.” +</p> + +<p> +Now as these arrogant demands reached their ears, the company assembled in the +hall murmured with anger and astonishment, then turned to wait for +Sakon’s answer. +</p> + +<p> +“And if we refuse these small requests of yours, O King?” asked the +governor sarcastically, “what then? Will you make war upon us?” +</p> + +<p> +“First tell me, Sakon, if you do refuse them?” +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of the cities of Tyre and Sidon whom I serve, and of Hiram +my master, I refuse them one and all,” answered Sakon with dignity. +</p> + +<p> +“Then, Sakon, I am minded to bring up a hundred thousand men against you +and to sweep you and your city from the face of earth,” said Ithobal. +“Yet I remember that I also have Phœnician blood in my veins mixed with +the nobler and more ancient blood at which yonder upstart jeers, and therefore +I would spare you. I remember also that for generations there has been peace +and amity between my forefathers and the Council of this city, and therefore I +would spare you. Behold, then, I build a bridge whereby you may escape, asking +but one little thing of you in proof that you are indeed my friend, and it is +that you give me your daughter, the lady Elissa, whom I seek to make my queen. +Think well before you answer, remembering that upon this answer may hang the +lives of all who listen to you, ay, and of many thousand others.” +</p> + +<p> +For a while there was silence in the assemblage, and every eye was fixed upon +Elissa, who stood neither moving nor speaking, her face still set like that of +a Sphinx, and almost as unreadable. Aziel gazed at her with the rest, and his +eyes she felt alone of all the hundreds that were bent upon her. Indeed, so +strongly did they draw her, that against her own will she turned her head and +met them. Then remembering what had passed between herself and the prince that +very day, she coloured faintly and looked down, neither the glance nor the +blush escaping the watchful Ithobal. +</p> + +<p> +Presently Sakon spoke:— +</p> + +<p> +“King Ithobal,” he said, “I am honoured indeed that you +should seek my daughter as your queen, but she is my only child, whom I love, +and I have sworn to her that I will not force her to marry against her will, +whoever be the suitor. Therefore, King, take your answer from her own lips, for +whatever it be it is my answer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” said Ithobal, “you have heard your father’s +words; be pleased to say that you look with favour upon my suit, and that you +will deign to share my throne and power.” +</p> + +<p> +Elissa took a step forward on the daïs and curtseyed low before the king. +</p> + +<p> +“O King!” she said, “I am your handmaid, and great indeed is +the favour that you would do your servant. Yet, King, I pray of you search out +some fairer woman of a more royal rank to share your crown and sceptre, for I +am all unworthy of them, and to those words on this matter which I have spoken +in past days I have none to add.” Then again she curtseyed, adding, +“King, I am your servant.” +</p> + +<p> +Now a murmur of astonishment went up from the audience, for few of them thought +it possible that Elissa, who, however beautiful, was but the daughter of a +noble, could refuse to become the wife of a king. Ithobal alone did not seem to +be astonished, for he had expected this answer. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said, repressing with an effort the passions which were +surging within him, “I think that I have something to offer to the woman +of my choice, and yet you put me aside as lightly as though I had neither name, +nor power, nor station. This, as it seems to me, can be read in one way only, +that your heart is given elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have it as you will, King,” answered Elissa, “my heart is +given elsewhere.” +</p> + +<p> +“And yet, lady, not four suns gone you swore to me that you loved no man. +Since then it seems that you have learned to love, and swiftly, and it is +yonder Jew whom you have chosen.” And he pointed to the prince Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +Again Elissa coloured, this time to the eyes, but she showed no other sign of +confusion. +</p> + +<p> +“May the king pardon me,” she said, “and may the prince +Aziel, whose name has thus been coupled with mine, pardon me. I said indeed +that my heart was given elsewhere, but I did not say it was given to any man. +May not the heart of a mortal maid-priestess be given to the +Ever-living?” +</p> + +<p> +Now for a moment the king was silenced, while a murmur of applause at her ready +wit went round the audience. But before it died away a voice at the far end of +the hall called out:— +</p> + +<p> +“Perchance the lady does not know that yonder in Egypt, and in Jerusalem +also, prince Aziel is named the Ever-living.” +</p> + +<p> +Now it was Elissa’s turn to be overcome. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, I knew it not,” she said; “how should I know it? I +spoke of that Dweller in the heavens whom I worship——” +</p> + +<p> +“And behold, the title fits a dweller on the earth whom you must also +worship, for such omens do not come by chance,” cried the same voice, but +from another quarter of the crowded hall. +</p> + +<p> +“I ask pardon,” broke in Aziel, “and leave to speak. It is +true that owing to a certain birth-mark which I bear, among the Egyptians I +have been given the bye-name of the Ever-living, but it is one which this lady +can scarcely have heard, therefore jest no more upon a chance accident of +words. Moreover, if you be men, cease to heap insult upon a woman. I who am +almost a stranger here have not dared to ask the lady Elissa for her +favour.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay, but you will ask and she will grant,” answered the same voice, +the owner of which none could discover—for he seemed to speak from every +part of the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed,” went on Aziel, not heeding the interruption, “the +last words between us were words of anger, for we quarrelled on a matter of +religion.” +</p> + +<p> +“What of that?” cried the voice; “love is the highest of +religions, for do not the Phœnicians worship it?” +</p> + +<p> +“Seize yonder knave,” shouted Sakon, and search was made but +without avail. Afterwards, however, Aziel remembered that once, when they were +weather-bound on their journey from the coast, Metem had amused them by making +his voice sound from various quarters of the hut in which they lay. Then +Ithobal rose and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Enough of this folly; I am not here to juggle with words, or to listen +to such play. Whether the lady Elissa spoke of the gods she serves or of a man +is one to me. I care not of whom she spoke, but for her words I do care. Now +hearken, you city of traders: If this is to be thy answer, then I break down +that bridge which I have built, and it is war between you and my Tribes, war to +the end. But let her change her words, and whether she loves me or loves me +not, come to be my wife, and, for my day, the bridge shall stand; for once that +we are wed I can surely teach her love, or if I cannot, at least it is she I +seek with or without her love. Reflect then, lady, and reply again, remembering +how much hangs upon your lips.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you think, king Ithobal,” Elissa answered, looking at him with +angry eyes, “that a woman such as I am can be won by threats? I have +spoken, king Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know not,” he replied; “but I do know that she can be won +by force, and then surely, lady, your pride shall pay the price, for you shall +be mine, but not my queen.” +</p> + +<p> +Now one of the council rose and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“It seems, Sakon, that there is more in this matter than whether or no +the king Ithobal pleases your daughter. Is the city then to be plunged into a +great war, of which none can see the end, because one woman looks askance upon +a man? Better that a thousand girls should be wedded where they would not than +that such a thing should happen. Sakon, according to our ancient law you have +the right to give your daughter in marriage where and when you will. We demand, +therefore, that for the good of the commonwealth, you should exercise this +right, and hand over the lady Elissa to king Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +This speech was received with loud and general shouts of approval, for no +Phœnician audience would have been willing to sacrifice its interests for a +thing so trivial as the happiness of a woman. +</p> + +<p> +“Between the desire of a beloved daughter to whom I have pledged my word +and my duty to the great city over which I rule, my strait is hard +indeed,” answered Sakon. “Hearken, king Ithobal, I must have time. +Give me eight days from now in which to answer you, for if you will not, I deny +your suit.” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal seemed about to refuse the demand of Sakon. Then once more his +counsellors plucked him by the sleeve, pointing out to him that if he did this, +it was likely that none of them would leave the city alive. At some sign from +the governor, they whispered, the captains of the guard were already hastening +from the hall. +</p> + +<p> +“So be it, Sakon,” he said. “To-night I camp without your +walls, which are no longer safe for one who has threatened war against them, +and on the eighth day from this see to it that your heralds being me the Lady +Elissa and peace—or I make good my threat. Till then, farewell.” +And placing himself in the midst of his company king Ithobal left the hall. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap07"></a>CHAPTER VII<br /> +THE BLACK DWARF</h2> + +<p> +Some two hours had passed since the break-up of the assembly in the great hall. +Prince Aziel was seated in his chamber, when the keeper of the door announced +that a woman was without who desired to speak with him. He gave orders that she +should be admitted, and presently a veiled figure entered the room and bowed +before him. +</p> + +<p> +“Be pleased to unveil, and to tell me your business,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +With some reluctance his visitor withdrew the wrapping from her head, revealing +a face which Aziel recognised as one that he had seen among the waiting women +who attended on Elissa. +</p> + +<p> +“My message is for your ear, Prince,” she said, glancing at the man +who had ushered her into the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“It is not my custom to receive strangers thus alone,” said the +prince; “but be it as you will,” and he motioned to the servant to +retire without the door. “I await your pleasure,” he added, when +the man had gone. +</p> + +<p> +“It is here,” she answered, and drew from her bosom a little +papyrus roll. +</p> + +<p> +“Who wrote this?” he asked. +</p> + +<p> +“I know not, Prince; it was given to me to pass on to you.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he opened the roll and read. It ran thus: “Though we parted with +bitter words, still in my sore distress I crave the comfort of your counsel. +Therefore, since I am forbidden to speak with you openly, meet me, I beseech +you, at moonrise in the palace garden under the shade of the great fig tree +with five roots, where I shall be accompanied only by one I trust. Bring no man +with you for my safety’s sake.—Elissa.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel thrust the scroll into his robe, and thought awhile. Then he gave the +waiting lady a piece of gold and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Tell her who sent you that I obey her words. Farewell.” +</p> + +<p> +This message seemed to puzzle the woman, who opened her lips to speak. Then, +changing her mind, she turned and went. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely had she gone when the Phœnician, Metem, was ushered into the room. +</p> + +<p> +“O Prince,” he said maliciously, “pardon me if I caution you. +Yet in truth if veiled ladies flit thus through your apartments in the light of +day, it will reach the ears of the holy but violent Issachar, of whose doings I +come to speak. Then, Prince, I tremble for you.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel made a movement half-impatient and half-contemptuous. “The woman is +a serving-maid,” he said, “who brought me a message that I +understand but little. Tell me, Metem, for you know this place of old, does +there stand in the palace garden a great fig tree with five roots?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince; at least such a tree used to grow there when last I visited +this country. It was one of the wonders of the town, because of its size. What +of it?” +</p> + +<p> +“Little, except that I must be under it at moonrise. See and read, since +whatever you may say of yourself, you are, I think, no traitor.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not if I am well paid to keep counsel, Prince,” Metem answered +with a smile. Then he read the scroll. +</p> + +<p> +“I am glad that the noble lady brings an attendant with her,” he +said as he returned it, with a bow. “The gossips of Zimboe are +censorious, and might misinterpret this moonlight meeting, as indeed would +Sakon and Issachar. Well, doves will coo and maids will woo, and unless I can +make money out of it the affair is none of mine.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have I not told you that there is no question of wooing?” asked +the prince angrily. “I go only to give her what counsel I can in the +matter of the suit of this savage, Ithobal. The lady Elissa and I have +quarrelled beyond repair over that accursed sacrifice——” +</p> + +<p> +“Which her ready wit prevented,” put in Metem. +</p> + +<p> +“But I promised last night that I would help her if I could,” the +prince went on, “and I always keep my word.” +</p> + +<p> +“I understand, Prince. Well, since you turn from the lady, whose name +with yours is so much in men’s mouths just now, doubtless you will give +her wise counsel, namely, to wed Ithobal, and lift the shadow of war from this +city. Then, indeed, we shall all be grateful to you, for it seems that no one +else can move her stubbornness. And, by the way: If, when she has listened to +your wisdom, the daughter of Sakon should chance to explain to you that the +sight of this day’s attempted sacrifice filled her with horror, and that +she parted with every jewel she owns to put an end to it—well, her words +will be true. But, since you have quarrelled, they will have no more interest +for you, Prince, than has my talk about them. So now to other matters.” +And Metem began to speak of the conduct of Issachar in the sanctuary, and of +the necessity of guarding him against assassination at the hands of the priests +of El as a consequence of his religious zeal. Presently he was gone, leaving +Aziel somewhat bewildered. +</p> + +<p> +Could it be true, as she herself had told him, and as Metem now asserted, that +Elissa had not participated willingly in the dark rites in the temple? If so he +had misjudged her and been unjust; indeed, what atonement could suffice for +such words as he had used towards her? Well, to some extent she must have +understood and forgiven them, otherwise she would scarcely have sought his aid, +though he knew not how he could help her in her distress. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +When Elissa returned from the assembly, she laid herself down to rest, worn out +in mind and body. Soon sleep came to her, and with the sleep dreams. At first +these were vague and shadowy, then they grew more clear. She dreamed that she +saw a dim and moonlit garden, and in it a vast tree with twisted roots that +seemed familiar to her. Something moving among the branches of this tree +attracted her attention, but for a long while she watched it without being able +to discover what it was. Now she saw. The moving thing was a hideous black +dwarf with beady eyes, who held in his hand a little ivory tipped bow, on the +string of which was set an arrow. Her consciousness concentrated itself upon +this arrow, and though she knew not how, she became aware that it was poisoned. +What was the dwarf doing in the tree with a bow and poisoned arrow, she +wondered? Suddenly a sound seemed to strike her ear, the sound of a man’s +footsteps walking over grass, and she perceived that the figure of the dwarf, +crouched upon the bough, became tense and alert, and that his fingers tightened +upon the bow-string until the blood was driven from their yellow tips. +Following the glance of his wicked black eyes, she saw advancing through the +shadow a tall man clad in a dark robe. Now he emerged into a patch of moonlight +and stood looking around him as though he were searching for some one. Then the +dwarf raised himself to his knees upon the bough, and, aiming at the bare +throat of the man, drew the bow-string to his ear. At this moment the victim +turned his head and the moonlight shone full upon his face. It was that of the +prince Aziel. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +Elissa awoke from her vision with a little cry, then rose trembling, and strove +to comfort herself in the thought that although it was so very vivid she had +dreamed but a dream. Still shaken and unnerved, she passed into another +chamber, and made pretence to eat of the meal that was made ready for her, for +it was now the hour of sunset. While she was thus employed, it was announced +that the Phœnician, Metem, desired to speak with her, and she commanded that +he should be admitted. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said bowing, so soon as her attendants had withdrawn to +the farther end of the chamber, “you can guess my errand. This morning I +gave you certain tidings which proved both true and useful, and for those +tidings you promised a reward.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is so,” she said, and going to a chest she drew from it an +ivory casket full of ornaments of gold and among them necklaces and other +objects set with uncut precious stones. “Take them,” she said, +“they are yours; that is, save this gold chain alone, for it is vowed to +Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“But lady,” he asked, “how can you appear before Ithobal the +king thus robbed of all your ornaments?” +</p> + +<p> +“I shall not appear before Ithobal the king,” she answered sharply. +</p> + +<p> +“You say so! Then what will the prince Aziel think of you when he sees +you thus unadorned?” +</p> + +<p> +“My beauty is my adornment,” she replied, “not these gems and +gold. Moreover, it is nought to me what he thinks, for he hates me, and has +reviled me.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem lifted his eyebrows incredulously and went on: “Still, I will not +deprive you of this woman’s gear. Look now, I value it, and at no high +figure,” and drawing out his writer’s palette and a slip of +papyrus, he wrote upon it an acknowledgment of debt, which he asked her to +sign. +</p> + +<p> +“This document, lady,” he said, “I will present to your +father—or your husband—at a convenient season, nor do I fear that +either of them will refuse to honour it. And now I take my leave, for +you—have an appointment to keep—and,” he added with emphasis, +“the time of moonrise is at hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Your meaning, I pray you?” she asked. “I have no appointment +at moonrise, or at any other hour.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem bowed politely, but in a fashion which showed that he put no faith in her +words. +</p> + +<p> +“Again I ask your meaning, merchant,” she said, “for your +dark hintings are scarcely to be borne.” +</p> + +<p> +The Phœnician looked at her; there was a ring of truth in her voice. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said, “will you indeed deny, after I have seen it +written by yourself, that within some few minutes you meet the prince Aziel +beneath a great tree in the palace gardens, there—so said the +scroll—to ask his aid in this matter of the suit of Ithobal?” +</p> + +<p> +“Written by myself?” she said wonderingly. “Meet the prince +Aziel beneath a tree in the palace gardens? Never have I thought of it.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yet, lady, the scroll I saw purported to be written by you, and your own +woman bore it to the prince. As I think, she sits yonder at the end of the +chamber, for I know her shape.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come hither,” called Elissa, addressing the woman. “Now tell +me, what scroll was this that you carried to-day to the prince Aziel, saying +that I sent you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” answered the girl confusedly, “I never told the +prince Aziel that you sent him the scroll.” +</p> + +<p> +“The truth, woman, the truth,” said her mistress. “Lie not, +or it will be the worse for you.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, this is the truth. As I was walking through the market-place an +old black woman met me, and offered me a piece of gold if I would deliver a +letter into the hand of the prince Aziel. The gold tempted me, for I had need +of it, and I consented; but of who wrote the letter I know nothing, nor have I +ever seen the woman before.” +</p> + +<p> +“You have done wrong, girl,” said Elissa, “but I believe your +tale. Now go.” +</p> + +<p> +When she had gone, Elissa stood for a while thinking; and, as she thought, +Metem saw a look of fear gather on her face. +</p> + +<p> +“Say,” she asked him, “is there anything strange about the +tree of which the scroll tells?” +</p> + +<p> +“Its size is strange,” he answered, “and it has five roots +that stand above the ground.” +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke Elissa uttered a little cry. +</p> + +<p> +“Ah!” she said, “it is the tree of my dream. Now—now I +understand. Swift, oh! come with me swiftly, for see, the moon rises,” +and she sprang to the door followed by the amazed Metem. +</p> + +<p> +Another minute, and they were speeding down the narrow street so fast that +those who loitered there turned their heads and laughed, for they thought that +a jealous husband pursued his wife. As Elissa fumbled at the hasp of the door +of the garden, Metem overtook her. +</p> + +<p> +“What means this hunt?” he gasped. +</p> + +<p> +“That they have decoyed the prince here to murder him,” she +answered, and sped through the gateway. +</p> + +<p> +“Therefore we must be murdered also. A woman’s logic,” the +Phœnician reflected to himself as he panted after her. +</p> + +<p> +Swiftly as Elissa had run down the street, here she redoubled her speed, +flitting through the glades like some white spirit, and so rapidly that her +companion found it difficult to keep her in view. At length they came to a +large open space of ground where played the level beams of the rising moon, +striking upon the dense green foliage of an immense tree that grew there. Round +this tree Elissa ran, glancing about her wildly, so that for a few seconds +Metem lost sight of her, for its mass was between them. When he saw her again +she was speeding towards the figure of a man who stood in the open, about ten +paces from the outer boughs of the tree. To this she pointed as she came, +crying out aloud, “Beware! Beware!” +</p> + +<p> +Another moment and she had almost reached the man, and still pointing began to +gasp some broken words. Then, suddenly in the bright moonlight, Metem saw a +shining point of light flash towards the pair from the darkness of the tree. It +would seem that Elissa saw it also; at least, she leapt from the ground, her +arm lifted above her head as though to catch the object. Then as her feet once +more touched the earth her knees gave way, and she fell down with a moan of +pain. Metem running on towards her, as he went perceived a shape, which looked +like that of a black dwarf, slip from the shadow of the tree into some bushes +beyond where it was lost. Now he was there, to find Elissa half-seated, +half-lying on the ground, the prince Aziel bending over her, and fixed through +the palm of her right hand, which she held up piteously, a little ivory-pointed +arrow. +</p> + +<p> +“Draw it out from the wound,” he panted. +</p> + +<p> +“It will not help me,” she answered; “the arrow is +poisoned.” +</p> + +<p> +With an exclamation, Metem knelt beside her, and, not heeding her groans of +pain, drew the dart through the pierced palm. Then he tore a strip of linen +from his robe, and knotting it round Elissa’s wrist, he took a broken +stick that lay near and twisted the linen till it almost cut into her flesh. +</p> + +<p> +“Now, Prince,” he said, “suck the wound, for I have no breath +for it. Fear not, lady, I know an antidote for this arrow poison, and presently +I will be back with the salve. Till then, if you would live, do not suffer that +bandage to be loosed, however much it pains you,” and he departed +swiftly. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel put his lips to the hurt to draw out the poison. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” she said faintly, trying to pull away her hand, “it is +not fitting, the venom may kill you.” +</p> + +<p> +“It seems that it was meant for me,” he answered, “so at the +worst I do take but my own.” +</p> + +<p> +Presently, directing Elissa to hold her hand above her head, he put his arms +about her and carried her a hundred paces or more into the open glade. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you move me?” she asked, her head resting on his shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +“Because whoever it was that shot the arrow may return to try his fortune +a second time, and here in the open his darts cannot reach us.” Then he +set her down upon the grass and stood looking at her. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, prince Aziel,” Elissa said after a while, “the venom +with which these black men soak their weapons is very strong, and unless +Metem’s salve be good, it may well chance that I shall die. Therefore +before I die I wish to say a word to you. What brought you to this place +to-night?” +</p> + +<p> +“A letter from yourself, lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know it,” she said, “but I did not write that letter; it +was a snare, set, as I think, by the king Ithobal, who would do you to death in +this way or in that. A messenger of his bribed my waiting-maid to deliver it, +and afterwards I learnt the tale from Metem. Then, guessing all, I came hither +to try to save you.” +</p> + +<p> +“But how could you guess all, lady?” +</p> + +<p> +“In a strange fashion, Prince.” And in a few words she told him her +dream. +</p> + +<p> +“This is marvellous indeed, that you should be warned of my danger by +visions,” he said wondering, and half-doubtingly. +</p> + +<p> +“So marvellous, Prince, that you do not believe me,” Elissa +answered. “I know well what you think. You think that a woman to whom +this very morning you spoke such words as women cannot well forgive, being +revengeful laid a plot to murder you, and then, being a woman, changed her +mind. Well, it is not so; Metem can prove it to you!” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, I believe you,” he said, “without needing the +testimony of Metem. But now the story grows still more strange, for if you had +done me no wrong, how comes it that to preserve me from harm you set your +tender flesh between the arrow and one who had reviled you?” +</p> + +<p> +“It was by chance,” she answered faintly. “I learnt the truth +and ran to warn you. Then I saw the arrow fly towards your heart, and strove to +grasp it, and it pierced me. It was by chance, by such a chance as made me +dream your danger.” And she fainted. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap08"></a>CHAPTER VIII<br /> +AZIEL PLIGHTS HIS TROTH</h2> + +<p> +At first Aziel feared that the poison had done its work, and that Elissa was +dead, till placing his hand upon her heart he felt it beating faintly, and knew +that she did but swoon. To leave her to seek water or assistance was +impossible, since he dared not loose his hold of the bandage about her wrist. +So, patiently as he might, he knelt at her side awaiting the return of Metem. +</p> + +<p> +How beautiful her pale face seemed there in the moonlight, set in its frame of +dusky hair. And how strange was this tale of hers, of a dream that she had +dreamed, a dream which, to save his own, led her to offer her life to the +murderer’s arrow. Many would not believe it, but he felt that it was +true; he felt that even if she wished it she could not lie to him, for as he +had known since first they met, their souls were open to each other. Yes, +having thus been warned of his danger, she had offered her life for +him—for him who that morning had called her, unjustly so Metem said, +“a girl of the groves and a murderess.” How came it that she had +done this, unless indeed she loved him as—he loved her? +</p> + +<p> +Aziel could no longer palter with himself, it was the truth. Last night when +Issachar accused him, he had felt this, although then he would not admit it +altogether, and now to-night he knew that his fate had found him. They would +say that, after the common fashion of men, he had been conquered by a lovely +face and form and a brave deed of devotion. But it was not so. Something beyond +the flesh and its works and attributes drew him towards this woman, something +that he could neither understand nor define (unless, indeed, the vision of +Issachar defined it), but of which he had been conscious since first he set +eyes upon her face. It was possible, it was even probable, that before another +hour had gone by she would have passed beyond his reach, into the deeps of +death, whither for a while he could not follow her. Yet he knew that the +knowledge that she never could be his would not affect the love of her which +burnt in him, for his desire towards her was not altogether a desire of the +earth. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel bent down over the swooning girl, looking into her pale face, till her +lips almost touched his own, and his breath beating on her brow seemed to give +her life again. Now she stirred, and now she opened her eyes and gazed back at +him a while, deeply and with meaning, even as he gazed at her. +</p> + +<p> +He spoke no word, for his lips seemed to be smitten with silence, but his heart +said, “I love you, I love you,” and her heart heard it, for she +whispered back:— +</p> + +<p> +“Bethink you who and what I am.” +</p> + +<p> +“It matters not, for we are one,” he replied. +</p> + +<p> +“Bethink you,” she said again, “that soon I may be dead and +lost to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“It cannot be, for we are one,” he replied. “One we have +been, one we are to-day, and one we shall be through all the length of life and +death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” she said again, “once more and for the last time I +say: Bethink you well, for it comes upon me that your words are true, and that +if I take that which to-night you offer, it will be for ever and for +aye.” +</p> + +<p> +“For ever and aye, let it be,” Aziel said, leaning towards her. +</p> + +<p> +“For ever and for aye, let it be,” she repeated, holding up her +lips to his. +</p> + +<p> +And thus in the silent moonlit garden they plighted their strange troth. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +“Lady,” said a voice in their ears, the voice of Metem, “I +pray you let me dress your hand, for there is no time to lose.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel looked up to see the Phœnician bending over them with a sardonic smile, +and behind him the tall form of Issachar, who stood regarding them, his arms +folded on his breast. +</p> + +<p> +“Holy Issachar,” went on Metem with malice, “be pleased to +hold this lady’s hand, since it seems that the prince here can only tend +her lips.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” answered the Levite, “what have I to do with this +daughter of Baaltis? Cure her if you can, or if you cannot, let her die, for so +shall a stone of stumbling be removed from the feet of the foolish.” And +he glanced indignantly at Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Had it not been for this same stone at least the feet of the foolish by +now would have pointed skywards. The gods send me such a stone if ever a black +dwarf draws a poisoned arrow at me,” answered Metem, as he busied himself +with his drugs. Then he added, “Nay, Prince, do not stop to answer him, +but hold the lady’s hand to the light.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel obeyed, and having washed out the wound with water, Metem rubbed ointment +into it which burnt Elissa so sorely that she groaned aloud. +</p> + +<p> +“Be patient beneath the pain, lady,” he said, “for if it has +not already passed into your blood, this salve will eat away the poison of the +arrow.” +</p> + +<p> +Then half-leading and half-carrying her, they brought her back to the palace. +Here Metem gave her over into the care of her father, telling him as much of +the story as he thought wise, and cautioning him to keep silent concerning what +had happened. +</p> + +<p> +At the door of the palace Issachar spoke to Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Did I dream, Prince,” he said, “or did my ears indeed hear +you tell that idolatress that you loved her for ever, and did my eyes see you +kiss her on the lips?” +</p> + +<p> +“It seems that you saw and heard these things, Issachar,” said +Aziel, setting his face sternly. “Now hear this further, and then I pray +you give me peace on this matter of the lady Elissa: If in any way it is +possible, I shall make her my wife, and if it be not possible, then for so long +as she may live at least I will look upon no other woman.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then that is good news, Prince, to me, who am charged with your welfare, +for be sure, if I can prevent you, you shall never mix your life with that of +this heathen sorceress.” +</p> + +<p> +“Issachar,” the prince replied, “I have borne much from you +because I know well that you love me, and have stood to me in the place of a +father. But now, in my turn, I warn you, do not seek to work harm to the lady +Elissa, for in striking her you strike me, and such blows may bring my +vengeance after them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Vengeance?” mocked the Levite. “I fear but one vengeance, +and it is not yours, nor do I listen to the whisperings of love when duty +points the path. Rather would I see you dead, prince Aziel, then lured down to +hell by the wiles of yonder witch.” +</p> + +<p> +Then before Aziel could answer he turned and left him. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +As Issachar went to his own chamber full of bitterness and indignation, he +passed the door of Elissa’s apartments, and came face to face with Metem +issuing from them. +</p> + +<p> +“Will the woman live?” he asked of him. +</p> + +<p> +“Be comforted, worthy Issachar. I think so; that is, if the bandage does +not slip. I go to tell the prince.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gladly would I give a hundred golden shekels to him who brought me +tidings that it had slipped and the woman with it, down to the arms of her +father Beelzebub,” broke in the Levite passionately. +</p> + +<p> +“Pretty words for a holy man,” said Metem, feigning amazement. +“Well, Issachar, I will do most things for good money, but to shift that +bandage would be but murder, and this I cannot work even for the gold and to +win your favour.” +</p> + +<p> +“Fool,” answered Issachar, “did I ask you to do murder? I do +not fight with such weapons; let the woman live or die as it is decreed. Nay, +enter my chamber, for I would speak with you, who are a cunning man versed in +the craft of courts. Listen now: I love this prince Aziel, for I have reared +him from his childhood, and he has been a son to me who have none. More, I am +sent hither to this hateful land to watch him and hold him from harm, and for +all that chances to him I must account. And now, what has chanced? This woman, +Elissa, by her witcheries——” +</p> + +<p> +“Softly, Issachar; what witcheries does she need beyond those lips and +form and eyes?” +</p> + +<p> +“By her witcheries, I tell you, has ensnared him so that now he swears +that he will wed her.” +</p> + +<p> +“What of it, Issachar? He might travel far to find a lovelier +woman.” +</p> + +<p> +“What of it, do you ask, remembering who he is? What of it, when you know +his faith, and that this fair idolater will sap it, and cause him to cast away +his soul? What of it, when with your own ears you heard him swear to love her +through all the deeps of life and death? Man, are you mad?” +</p> + +<p> +“No, but some might say that you are, holy father, who forget that I am +also of this religion which you revile. But for good or ill, so the matter +stands; and now what is it that you wish of me?” +</p> + +<p> +“I wish that you should make it impossible that the prince Aziel should +take this woman to wife. Not by murder, indeed, for ‘thou shalt not +kill,’ saith the law, but by bringing it about that she should marry the +king Ithobal, or if that fail, in any other fashion which seems good to +you.” +</p> + +<p> +“‘Thou shalt not kill,’ saith your law; tell me then, +Issachar, does it say also that thou shalt hand over a woman to a fate that she +chances to hold to be worse than death? Doubtless it is foolish of her, and we +should not heed such woman’s folly. Yet this one has a certain strength +of will, and I question if all the elders of the city will bring her living to +the arms of Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is nought to me, Metem, if she weds Ithobal, or weds him not, save +that I do not love this heathen man, and surely her temper and her witcheries +would bring ruin on him. What I would have you do is to prevent her from +marrying Aziel; the way I leave to you.” +</p> + +<p> +“And what should I be paid for this service, holy Issachar?” +</p> + +<p> +The Jew thought and answered, “A hundred golden shekels.” +</p> + +<p> +“Two hundred gold shekels,” replied Metem reflectively, “nay, +I am sure you said <i>two</i> hundred, Issachar. At least, I do not work for +less, and it is a small sum enough, seeing that to earn it I must take upon +myself the guilt of severing two loving hearts. But I know well that you are +right, and that this would be an evil marriage for the prince Aziel, and also +for the lady Elissa, who then day by day and year by year must bear the scourge +of your reproaches, Issachar. Therefore I will do my best, not for the money +indeed, but because I see herein a righteous duty. And now here is parchment, +give me the lamp that I may prepare the bond.” +</p> + +<p> +“My word is my bond, Phœnician,” answered the Levite haughtily. +</p> + +<p> +Metem looked at him. “Doubtless,” he said, “but you are old, +and this is—a rough country where accidents chance at times. Still, the +thing would read very ill, and, as you say, your word is your bond. Only +remember, Issachar, two hundred shekels, bearing interest at two shekels a +month. And now you are weary, holy Issachar, with plotting for the welfare of +others, and so am I. Farewell, and good dreams to you.” +</p> + +<p> +The Levite watched him go, muttering to himself, “Alas that I should have +fallen to such traffic with a knave, but it is for your sake and for your +soul’s sake, O Aziel my son. I pray that Fate be not too strong for me +and you.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +For two days from this night Elissa lay almost senseless, and by many it was +thought that she would die. But when Metem saw her on the morning after she had +been wounded, and noted that her arm was but little swollen, and had not turned +black, he announced that she would certainly live, whatever the doctors of the +city might declare. Thereon Sakon, her father, and Aziel blessed him, but +Issachar said nothing. +</p> + +<p> +As the Phœnician was walking through the market-place early on the next day an +aged black woman, whom he did not know, accosted him, saying that she had a +message for his ear from the king Ithobal who was camped without the city and +who desired to see the merchandise that he had brought with him from the coasts +of Tyre. Now Metem had already sold all his wares at a great advantage; still, +as he would not neglect this opportunity of trade, he purchased others from his +fellow merchants, and loading two camels with them, set out for the camp of +Ithobal, riding on a mule. By midday he had reached it. The camp was pitched +near water in a pleasant grove of trees, and on one of these not far from the +tent of Ithobal Metem noted that there hung the body of a black dwarf. +</p> + +<p> +“Behold the fate of him who shoots at the buck and hits the doe. Well, I +have always said that murder is a dangerous game, since blood calls out for +blood,” thought Metem as he rode towards the tent. +</p> + +<p> +At its door stood king Ithobal looking very huge and sullen in the sunlight. +Metem dismounted and prostrated himself obsequiously. +</p> + +<p> +“May the King live for ever,” he said, “the great King, the +King to whom all the other kings of the earth are as the little gods to Baal, +or the faint stars to the sun.” +</p> + +<p> +“Rise, and cease from flatteries,” said Ithobal shortly; “I +may be greater than the other kings, but at least you do not think it.” +</p> + +<p> +“If the king says so, so let it be,” replied Metem calmly. “A +woman yonder in the market-place told me that the king wished to trade for my +merchandise. So I have brought the best of it; priceless goods that which much +toil I have carried hither from Tyre,” and he pointed to the two camels +laden with the inferior articles which he had purchased, and began to read the +number and description of the goods from his tablets. +</p> + +<p> +“What value do you set upon the whole of them, merchant?” asked +Ithobal. +</p> + +<p> +“To the traders of the country so much, but to you, O King, so much +only,” and he named a sum twice that which he had paid in the city. +</p> + +<p> +“So be it,” assented Ithobal indifferently; “I do not haggle +over wares. Though your price is large, presently my treasurer shall weigh you +out the gold.” +</p> + +<p> +There was a moment’s pause, then Metem said:— +</p> + +<p> +“The trees in this camp of yours bear evil fruit, O King. If I might ask, +why does that little black monkey hang yonder.” +</p> + +<p> +“Because he tried to do murder with his poisoned arrows,” answered +Ithobal sullenly. +</p> + +<p> +“And failed? Well, it must comfort you to think that he did fail if he +was of the number of your servants. It is strange now that some knave unknown +attempted murder last night in the palace gardens, also with poisoned arrows. I +say attempted, but as yet I cannot be sure that he did not succeed.” +</p> + +<p> +“What!” exclaimed Ithobal, “was——” and he +stopped. +</p> + +<p> +“No, King, prince Aziel was not hit; the Lady Elissa took that shaft +through her hand, and lies between life and death. I am doctoring her, and had +it not been for my skill she would now be stiff and black—as the rogue +who shot the arrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Save her,” said Ithobal hoarsely, “and I will pay you a +doctor’s fee of a hundred ounces of pure gold. Oh! had I but known, the +clumsy fool should not have died so easily.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem took out his tablets and made a note of the amount. +</p> + +<p> +“Take comfort, King,” he said, “I think that I shall earn the +fee. But to speak truth, this matter looks somewhat ugly, and your name is +mentioned in it. Also it is said that your cousin, the great man whom the +prince Aziel slew, was charged to abduct a certain lady by your order.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then false tales are told in Zimboe, and not for the first time,” +answered Ithobal coldly. “Listen, merchant, I have a question to ask of +you. Will the prince Aziel meet me in single combat with whatever weapons he +may choose?” +</p> + +<p> +“Doubtless, and—pardon me if I say it—slay you as he slew +your cousin, for he is a fine swordsman, who has studied the art in Egypt, +where it is understood, and your strength would not avail against him. But your +question is already answered, for though the prince would be glad enough to +fight you, Sakon will have none of it. Have you nothing else to ask me, +King?” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal nodded and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, merchant. I know your repute of old, that you love money and +will do much to gain it, and that you are craftier than any hill-side jackal. +Now, if you can do my will, you will have more wealth than ever you won in your +life before.” +</p> + +<p> +“The offer sounds good in a poor man’s ears, King, but it depends +upon what is your will.” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal went to the door of the tent, and commanded the sentries who stood +without to suffer none to disturb him or draw near. Then he returned and +said:— +</p> + +<p> +“I will tell you, but beware that you do not betray my counsels in this +or in any other matter, for I have sharp ears and a long arm. You know how +things are between me and the lady Elissa and her father Sakon and the city +which he governs. They stand thus: Unless within eight days she is given to me +in marriage, I have sworn that I will make war upon Zimboe. Ay, and I will make +it, for, filled with hate for the white man, already the great tribes are +gathering to my banners in ten armies, each of them ten thousand strong. Once +let them march beneath yonder walls, and before they leave it Zimboe, city of +gold, shall be nothing but a heap of ruins, and a habitation of the dead. Such +shall be my vengeance; but I seek love more than vengeance, for what will it +avail me to butcher all that people of traders if—as well may chance in +the accidents of war—I lose her whom I desire, whose beauty shall be my +crown of crowns, and whose mind shall make me great indeed? +</p> + +<p> +“Therefore, Metem, if may be, I would win her without war; let the war +come afterwards, as come it must, for the time is ripe. And though she turned +from me, this I should have done, had it not been for yonder prince Aziel, whom +she met in a strange fashion, and straightway learned to love. Now the thing is +more difficult. Nay, while the prince Aziel can take her to wife it is +well-nigh impossible, since no threats of war or ruin can turn a woman’s +heart from him she seeks—to him she flies. Therefore, I ask +you——” +</p> + +<p> +“Your pardon, King,” Metem broke in, “I see that you, like +your rival, are so besotted with the beauty of this girl, that in all with +which she has to do you have lost the rule of your own reason. I would save you +perchance from saying words to which I do not wish to listen, and when you find +a quiet mind again, that you may regret having spoken. If you were about to +require of me that I should cause or be privy to the death of the prince Aziel, +you would require it in vain; yes, even if you were willing to pay me gold in +mountains, and gems in camel loads. With murder I will have nothing to do; +moreover, the prince, your rival, is my friend and master, and I will not harm +him. Further, I may tell you that after the adventure of last night none will +be able to come near him to hurt a hair of his head, seeing that through +daylight and through darkness he is guarded by two men.” +</p> + +<p> +“With a woman’s body to set before him as a shield,” said +Ithobal bitterly. “But you speak too fast; I was not about to ask you to +kill this man, or even to procure his death, because I know it would be +useless, but rather that you should so contrive that he cannot take Elissa. How +you contrive it I care nothing, so that she is not harmed. You may kidnap him, +or stir up the city against him, as one destined to be the source of war, and +cause him to be despatched back to the great sea, or bribe the priests of El to +hide him away, or what you will, if only you separate him from this woman for +ever. Say, merchant, are you willing to undertake the task, or must my good +gold go elsewhere?” +</p> + +<p> +Metem pondered awhile and answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“I think that I will undertake it, King; that is, if we come to terms, +though whether I shall succeed is another matter. I will undertake it not only +because I seek to enrich myself, but because I and others who serve him think +it is a very evil thing that this prince, Aziel, whose blood is the most royal +in the whole world, without the consent of the great king of Israel, his +grandfather, should wed the daughter of a Phœnician officer, however beautiful +and loving she may be. Also I love yonder city, which I have known for forty +years, and would not see it plunged in a bloody war and perhaps destroyed +because a certain man desires to call a certain girl his sweetheart. And now if +I succeed in this, what will you give me?” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal named a great sum. +</p> + +<p> +“King,” replied Metem, “you must double it, for that amount +you speak of I shall be forced to spend in bribes. More; you must give me the +gold now, before I leave your camp, or I will do nothing.” +</p> + +<p> +“That you may steal it—and do nothing,” laughed Ithobal +angrily. +</p> + +<p> +“As you will, King. Such are my terms; if they do not please you, well, +let me go. But if you accept them, I will sign a bond under which if within +eight days I do not make it impossible for the prince Aziel to marry the lady +Elissa, you may reclaim so much of the gold as I do not prove to you to have +been spent upon your service, and no bond of Metem the Phœnician was ever yet +dishonoured. No, on second thought I will learn wisdom from Issachar the Levite +and put my hand to no writing which it would pain me that some should read. +King, my sworn word must content you. Another thing, soon war may break out, or +I may be forced to fly. Therefore, I demand of you a pass sealed with your seal +that will enable me to ride with twenty men and all my goods and treasure, even +through the midst of your armies. Moreover you shall swear the great oath to me +that notice of this pass will be given to your generals and that it shall be +respected to the letter. Do you consent to these terms?” +</p> + +<p> +“I consent,” said the king presently. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +That evening Metem returned to the city of Zimboe, but those who led his two +camels little guessed that now they were laden, not with merchandise, but with +treasure. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap09"></a>CHAPTER IX<br /> +GREETING TO THE BAALTIS</h2> + +<p> +When Metem accepted bribes from Issachar and from Ithobal, in consideration of +his finding means to make the union of Aziel and Elissa impossible, he had +already thought out his scheme. It was one which, while promoting, as he +considered, the true welfare of the lovers, if successful would separate them +effectually and for ever. +</p> + +<p> +It will be remembered that Elissa had explained to the prince how, on the death +of the lady Baaltis, another woman was elected by the colleges of the priests +and priestesses to fill her place. This lady could marry, indeed she was +expected to do so, but her husband must take the title of Shadid, and for her +lifetime act as high-priest of El. Therefore, thought Metem, if it could be +brought about that Elissa should be chosen as the new Baaltis, it was obvious +that there would be an end of the possibility of her marriage to Aziel. Then, +in order to wed her, he must renounce his own religion—a thing which no +Jew would do—and pose as the earthly incarnation of one whom he +considered a false divinity or a devil. +</p> + +<p> +Indeed, not only marriage, but any further intimacy between the pair would be +rendered impracticable, for upon this point the religious law, lax enough in +many particulars, was very strict. In fact, so strict was it that for the lady +Baaltis of the day to be found alone with any man meant death to her and him. +The reason of this severity was that she was supposed to represent the goddess; +and her husband, the Shadid, a god, so that any questionable behaviour on her +part became an insult to the most powerful divinities of Heaven, which could +only be atoned by the death of their unworthy incarnations. That these laws +were actual and not formal only was proved by the instance that within the +hundred years before the birth of Elissa, a lady Baaltis had been executed for +some such offence, having been hurled indeed from the topmost pinnacle of the +fortress above the temple to the foot of the precipice beneath. +</p> + +<p> +All these sacerdotal customs were familiar to Metem, who argued from them that +to procure the nomination of Elissa as the Baaltis would be to build an +impassable wall between her and the prince Aziel. Also, by way of compensation, +that office would confer upon her the highest dignity and honour which could be +attained by any woman in the city. Moreover, her election would place her +beyond the reach of the persecutions of Ithobal, since as lady Baaltis she was +entitled to choose her own husband without hindrance or appeal, provided only +that he was of pure white blood, which Ithobal was not. +</p> + +<p> +Having thought the matter out, and convinced himself that such a course would +not only benefit his own pocket, but prove to the lasting advantage of all +concerned, Metem, filled with a glow of righteous zeal, set about his task with +the promptitude and cunning of his race. It was not an easy task, for although +she had enemies and rivals, the daughter of the dead Baaltis, Mesa by name, was +considered to be certain of election at the poll of the priests and +priestesses. This ceremony was to take place within two days. Nothing +discouraged, however, by the scant time at his disposal or other difficulties, +without her knowledge or that of her father, Metem began his canvass on behalf +of Elissa. +</p> + +<p> +First with a great sum of gold he bought over the ex-Shadid, the husband of the +late lady Baaltis. As it chanced, this worthy had quarrelled with his daughter. +Therefore it followed that he would prefer to see some stranger chosen in her +place in the hope that, notwithstanding his years, by choosing him in marriage +she might confirm him in his position of spouse to the goddess. +</p> + +<p> +All Metem’s further negotiations need not be followed: money played a +part in most of them; jealousy and dislike in some. A few there were also whom +he won over by urging the beauty and wisdom of Elissa, and her extraordinary +fitness for the post, as evinced by her recent inspiration in the temple! He +found his most powerful allies, however, among the members of the council of +the city. To these grandees he pointed out that Elissa was a woman of great +strength of character, who would certainly never consent to be forced into a +marriage with Ithobal, although her refusal should mean a desperate war, and +that her father was so much under her influence that he could not be brought to +put pressure upon her. Therefore it was obvious that the only way out of the +difficulty was her election as Baaltis. This must prove a perfect answer to the +suit of the savage king, since the goddess could not be compelled, and even +Ithobal, fearing the vengeance of Heaven, would shrink from offering her +violence. +</p> + +<p> +Their support gained, having first sworn him to secrecy, he attacked Sakon +himself, using similar arguments with him. He pointed out, in addition, that if +the governor hoped to see his daughter married to prince Aziel, who was in love +with her, however dazzling might be the prospects of such a match, it would +certainly bring upon him the present wrath of Ithobal, and, in all probability, +future trouble with the Courts of Egypt, of Israel, and through them, of Tyre. +Thus working in many ways, Metem laboured incessantly to win his end, so that +when at last the hour of election came he awaited its issue, fairly confident +of success. +</p> + +<p> +It was on this same afternoon that for the first time since she had received +the arrow which was meant for his heart, Aziel was admitted to see Elissa. Now +at length her recovery was certain, although she had not shaken off her +weakness, and her right arm and wrist were still stiff and swollen. Except for +two or three of her women, who were seated at their work behind a screen near +the far end of the great chamber, she was alone, lying upon a couch in the +recess of the window-place. Advancing to her, Aziel bent down to kiss her +wounded hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” said Elissa, hiding it beneath the folds of her robe, +“it is still black and unsightly with the poison.” +</p> + +<p> +“The more reason that I should kiss it, seeing how the stain came +there,” he answered. +</p> + +<p> +Her eyes met his, and she whispered, “Not my hand, but my brow, Prince, +for so I shall be crowned.” +</p> + +<p> +He pressed his lips upon her forehead, and replied:— +</p> + +<p> +“Queen of my heart you are already, and though the throne be humble it is +sure. The life you saved is yours, and no other’s.” +</p> + +<p> +“I did but repay a debt,” she answered; “but speak of it no +more. Gladly would I have died to save you; should such choice arise, would you +do so for me, I wonder?” +</p> + +<p> +“There is little need to ask such a question, lady; for your sake I would +not only die, I would even endure shame—that is worse than death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sweet words, Aziel,” she answered, smiling, “of which we +shall learn the value when the hour of trial comes, as come, I think, it will. +You told me but now that you were mine, and no other’s; but is it so? I +have heard the story of a certain princess of Khem with whom your name was +mingled. Tell me, if you will, what was it that set you journeying to this far +city of ours?” +</p> + +<p> +“The desire to find you,” he answered smiling; then seeing that she +still looked at him with questioning eyes, he added, “Nay, this is the +truth, if you seek truth. Indeed, it is the best that I should tell you, since +it seems that already you have heard something of the tale. A while ago I was +sent to the Court of the Pharaoh of Egypt, by the will of my grandsire, the +king of Israel, upon an embassy of friendship, and to escort thence a certain +beautiful princess, my cousin, who was affianced by treaty to an uncle of mine, +a great prince of Israel. This I did, showing to the lady courtesy, and no +more. But the end of the matter was that when we came to Jerusalem the princess +refused to be married to my uncle, to whom she was +betrothed——” and he hesitated. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, be not timid, Prince,” said Elissa sharply; “continue, +I pray you. I have heard that the lady added somewhat to her refusal.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is so, Elissa. She declared before the king that she would wed no +man except myself only, whereon my uncle was very angry, and accused me of +playing him false, which, indeed, I had not done.” +</p> + +<p> +“Although the lady was so fair, Aziel? But what said the great +king?” +</p> + +<p> +“He said that never having seen him to whom she was affianced, he would +not suffer that she should be forced into marriage with him against her will. +Yet that her will might be uninfluenced, he commanded that I should be sent +upon a long journey. That was his judgment, lady.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, but not all of it; surely he added other words?” she broke in +eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +“He added,” continued Aziel, with some reluctance, “that if +while I was on this journey the princess changed her mind, and chose to wed my +uncle, it would be well. But, when I returned from it, if she had not changed +her mind, and chose—to marry me—then it would be well also, and, +though he was little pleased, with this saying my uncle must be +satisfied.” +</p> + +<p> +“It does not satisfy me, prince Aziel,” Elissa answered, the tears +starting to her dark eyes. “I know full well that the lady will not +change her mind, and take a man who is in years, and whom she hates, in place +of one who is young, and whom she loves. Therefore, when you return hence to +Jerusalem, by the king’s command you will wed her.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Elissa; if I am already married that cannot be,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +“In Judea, Prince, I am told that men take more wives than one; also, +they divorce them,” she replied; then added, “Oh, return not there +where I shall lose you. If, indeed, you love me, I pray you return not +there.” +</p> + +<p> +Before he could answer, a sound of singing and of all sorts of music caught +Aziel’s ear. Looking through the casement, he saw a great procession of +the priests and priestesses of El and Baaltis clad in their festal robes and +accompanied by many dignitaries of the city, a multitude of people and bands of +musicians, advancing across the square towards the door of the palace. +</p> + +<p> +“Why, what passes?” he exclaimed. As he spoke the door opened and +two richly arrayed heralds, wands of office in their hands, entered and +prostrated themselves before Elissa. +</p> + +<p> +“Greeting to you, most noble and blessed lady, the chosen of the +gods!” they cried with one voice. “Prepare, we beseech you, to hear +glad tidings, and to receive those who are sent to tell them.” +</p> + +<p> +“Glad tidings?” said Elissa. “Has Ithobal then withdrawn his +suit?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, lady; it is not of Ithobal that the messengers come to +speak.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then I cannot receive them,” she said, sinking back in +apprehension. “I am still ill and weak, and I pray to be excused.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, lady,” answered the herald, “that which they have to +tell will cure your sickness.” +</p> + +<p> +Again Elissa protested. Before the words had left her lips there appeared in +the doorway he who had been husband of the dead Baaltis, followed by priests +and priestesses, by Sakon her father, with whom was Metem, and many other +nobles and dignitaries. +</p> + +<p> +“All hail, lady!” they cried, prostrating themselves before her. +“All hail, lady, chosen of the gods!” +</p> + +<p> +Elissa looked at them bewildered. +</p> + +<p> +“Your pardon,” she said, “I do not understand.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, rising from his knees, he who was still the Shadid until his successor +was appointed, addressed her as spokesman. +</p> + +<p> +“Listen,” he said, “and learn, lady, the great thing that has +befallen you. Know, O divine One, that by the inspiration of El and Baaltis, +rulers of the heavens, the colleges of the priests and priestesses of the city, +following the voice of the oracles and the pointing of the omens, have set you +in that high place which death has emptied. Greeting to you, holder of the +spirit of the goddess! Greeting to the Baaltis!” +</p> + +<p> +“I did not seek this honour,” she murmured in the silence that +followed, “and I refuse it. The throne of the goddess is Mesa’s +right; let her take it, or if she will not, then find some other woman who is +more worthy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” said the Shadid, “these words become you well, but it +has pleased the gods to choose you and not my daughter, the lady Mesa, or any +other woman, and the choice of the gods may not be set aside. Till death shall +take you, you and you alone are the lady Baaltis whom we obey.” +</p> + +<p> +“Must I then be made divine against my will,” she pleaded, and +turned to Aziel as though for counsel. +</p> + +<p> +“Be pleased to stand back, prince Aziel,” said the stern voice of +the Shadid, interposing. “Remember that henceforth no man may speak to +the Baaltis save he whom she names with the name of Shadid to be her husband. +Henceforward you are parted, since to seek her company would be to cause her +death.” +</p> + +<p> +Now understanding that the doom of life-long separation had fallen upon them +like the sudden sword of fate, Aziel and Elissa gazed at each other in despair. +Then, before either of them could speak a word, at a sign from the Shadid, the +priestesses closed round Elissa. Throwing a white veil over her head, they +broke into a joyful pæan of song, and half-led, half-carried her from the +chamber to enthrone her in the palace of the goddess, which was henceforth to +be her home. +</p> + +<p> +Presently all the company, including the waiting women, having joined the +procession, the chamber was empty, with the exception of Aziel, Metem and +Issachar the Levite, who, drawn by the sound of singing, had entered the place +unnoticed. +</p> + +<p> +“Take comfort, Prince,” said the Phœnician in a half-bantering +voice, “if you and the lady Baaltis are truly dear to each other she may +still be yours, for you have but to bow the knee to El, and she will name you +Shadid and husband.” +</p> + +<p> +“Blaspheme not,” cried Issachar sternly. “Shall a worshipper +of the God of Israel do sacrifice to a demon to win a woman’s +smile?” +</p> + +<p> +“That time will prove,” answered Metem, shrugging his shoulders; +“at least it is certain that he will win it in no other way. +Prince,” he added, changing his tone, “if you have any such +thoughts, abandon them, I pray of you, for on this matter the law may not be +broken. The man spoke truth, moreover, when he told you that should you be +found with the Baaltis, not being her husband, you would cause her +death.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel took no notice of his words, but turning to the Levite, he asked in a +quiet voice:— +</p> + +<p> +“Did you plot this to separate us, Issachar? If so, you shall live to +mourn the deed.” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, Prince,” broke in Metem, “it was not Issachar who +plotted that the lady Elissa should be chosen Baaltis, but I, or at least I +helped the plot. Shall I tell you why I did this? It was to save you and her, +and if possible to prevent a great war also. You could not wed this woman who +is not of your race, or rank, or religion; and if you could, it would bring +about a struggle that must cost thousands their lives, and this city its +wealth. Nor could you make of her less than a wife, seeing that she is +well-born and that you are her father’s guest. Therefore for your own +sake it is best that she should be placed beyond your reach. For her sake also +it is best, since she is ambitious and born to rule, who henceforth will be +clothed with power for all her days. Moreover, had it been otherwise, in the +end she must have passed to that savage Ithobal, whom she hates. Now this is +scarcely possible, for the lady Baaltis can wed no man who is not of pure white +blood, and whom she does not choose of her own free will. That is a decree +which may not be broken even by Ithobal. So revile me not, but thank me, though +for a little while your heart be sore.” +</p> + +<p> +“My heart is sore indeed,” answered Aziel, “and if you think +your words be wise, their medicine does not soothe, Phœnician. You may have +laboured for my welfare and for that of the lady Elissa, or, like the huckster +that you are, for your own advantage, or for both—I know not, and do not +care to know. But this I know, that you, and Issachar also, are striving to +snare Fate in a web of sand, and that Fate will be too strong for it and you. I +love this woman and she loves me, because such is our destiny, and no barriers +which man may build can serve to separate us. Also of this I am assured, that +by your plots you draw the evils you would ward away upon the heads of us all, +for from them shall spring war, and deaths, and misery. +</p> + +<p> +“For the rest, do not think, Metem and Issachar, that I, whom you +betrayed, and the woman you have ruined with a crown of greatness she did not +seek, are clay to be moulded at your will. It is another hand than yours which +fashioned the vessel of our destiny; nor can you stay our lips from drinking of +the pure wine that fills it. Farewell,” and with a grave inclination of +the head he left the room. +</p> + +<p> +Metem watched him go, then he turned to Issachar and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“I have earned my hire well, and you must pay the price, but now it +troubles me to think that I touched this business. Why it is I cannot say, but +it comes upon me that the prince speaks truth, and that no plot of ours can +avail to separate these two who were born to each other, although it well may +happen that we shall unite them in death alone. Issachar,” he added with +fierce conviction, “I will not take your gold, for it is the price of +blood! I tell you it is the price of blood!” +</p> + +<p> +“Take it or no, as you will, Phœnician,” answered the Levite; +“at least I am well pleased that the promise of it bought your service. +Even should the prince Aziel discharge this day’s work with his young +life, it is better that he should perish in the body than that he should lose +his soul for the bribe of a woman’s passing beauty. Whatever else be +lost, that is saved to him, since those sorceress lips of hers are set beyond +his reach. An Israelite cannot mate with the oracle of Baaltis, Metem.” +</p> + +<p> +“You say so, Issachar, but I have seen men climb high to pluck such +fruit. Yes, I have seen them climb even when they knew that they must fall +before the fruit was reached.” +</p> + +<p> +Then he went also, leaving Issachar alone and oppressed with a dread of the +future which was none the less real because it could not be defined. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap10"></a>CHAPTER X<br /> +THE EMBASSY</h2> + +<p> +Weak as she was still with recent illness, half-fainting also from the shock of +the terrible and unexpected fate which had overtaken her, Elissa was borne in +triumph to the palace that now was hers. Around her gilded litter priestesses +danced and sang their wild chants, half-bacchanalian and half-religious; before +it marched the priests of El, clashing cymbals and crying, “Make way, +make way for the new-born goddess! Make way for her whose throne is upon the +horned moon!” while all about the multitude of spectators prostrated +themselves in worship. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa was borne in triumph. Vaguely she heard the shouts and music, dimly she +saw the dancing-girls and the bowing crowds. But all the while her heart was +alive with pain and her brain, crushed beneath the menace of this misery, could +grasp nothing clearly save the completeness of her loss. Loss! Yes, she was +lost indeed. One short hour ago and she was rejoicing in the presence of the +man she loved, and who, as she believed, loved her, while in her mind rose +visions of some happy life with him far away from this city and the dark rites +of the worshippers of Baal. And now she found herself the chief priestess of +that worship which already she had learned to fear if not to hate. More, as its +priestess, till death should come to comfort her, she was cut off for ever from +him whom she adored, cut off also from the hope of that new spiritual light +which had begun to dawn upon her soul. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa looked upon the beautiful women who leapt and sang about her litter, +listening to the clash of their ornaments of gold, and as she listened and +looked her eyes seemed to gain power to behold the spirits within them. Surely +she could see these, dark and hideous things, with shifting countenances, +terrible to look on, and themselves wearing in their eyes of flame a stamp of +eternal terror, while in her ears the music of their golden necklaces was +changed to a clank as of fetters and of instruments of torment. Yes; and there +before the dancers in the red cloud of dust which rose from their beating feet, +floated the dim shape of that demon of whom she had been chosen the +high-priestess. +</p> + +<p> +Look at her mocking, inhuman countenance, and her bent brow of power! Look at +her spread and flaming hair and her hundred hands outstretched to grasp the +souls of men! Hark! the clamour of the cymbals and the cry of the dancers +blended together and became her voice, a dreadful voice that gave greeting to +her princess, promising her pride of place and life-long power in payment for +her service. +</p> + +<p> +“I desire none of these,” her heart seemed to answer; “I +desire him only whom I have lost.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it so?” replied the Voice. “Then bid him burn incense +upon my altar and take him to yourself. Have I not given you enough of beauty +to snare a single soul from among the servants of my enemy the God of the +Jews?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, nay!” her heart cried; “I will not tempt him to do this +evil thing.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yea, yea!” mocked the phantom Voice; “for your sake he shall +burn incense upon my altar.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +The phantasy passed, and now the golden gates of the palace of Baaltis rolled +open before Elissa. Now, too, the priestesses bore her to the golden throne +shaped like a crescent moon, and threw over her a black veil spangled with +stars, symbol of the night. Then having shut out the uninitiated, they +worshipped her after their secret fashion till she sank down upon the throne +overcome with fear and weariness. Then at last they carried her to that wonder +of workmanship and allegorical art, the ivory bed of Baaltis, and laid her down +to sleep. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +At dawn upon the following day an embassy, headed by Sakon, governor of the +city, in whose train were Metem and Aziel, went to the camp of Ithobal. The +mission of these envoys was to give the king answer to his suit, for he refused +to come to Zimboe unless he were allowed to bring a larger force than it was +thought prudent to admit into the city gates. At some distance from the tents +they halted, while messengers were sent forward inviting Ithobal to a +conference on the plain, as it seemed scarcely safe to trust themselves within +the stout thorn fence which had been built about the camp. Metem, who said that +he had no fear of the king, went with these men, and on reaching the +<i>zeriba</i> was at once bidden to the pavilion of Ithobal. He found the great +man pacing its length sullenly. +</p> + +<p> +“What seek you here, Phœnician?” he asked, glancing at him over +his shoulder. +</p> + +<p> +“My fee, King. The king was pleased to promise me a hundred ounces of +gold if I saved the life of the Lady Elissa. I come, therefore, to assure him +that my skill has prevailed against the poisoned arrow of that treacherous dog +of the desert, which pierced her hand as she spoke with the prince Aziel the +other night, and to claim my reward. Here is a note of the amount,” and +he produced his tablets. +</p> + +<p> +“If half of what I hear is true, rogue,” answered Ithobal savagely, +“the tormentor and the headsman alone could satisfy all my debt to you. +Say, merchant, what return have you made me for that sackful of gold which you +bore hence some few days gone?” +</p> + +<p> +“The best of all returns, King,” answered Metem cheerfully, +although in truth he began to feel afraid. “I have kept my word, and +fulfilled the command of the king. I have made it impossible that the prince +Aziel should wed the daughter of Sakon.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, rogue, you have made it impossible by causing her to be consecrated +Baaltis, and thus building a barrier which even I shall find too hard to climb. +It is scarcely to be hoped that now she will choose me of her own will, and to +offer violence to the Baaltis is a sacrilege from which any man—yes, even +a king—may shrink, for such deeds draw the curse of Heaven. Know that for +this service I am minded to settle my account with you in a fashion of which +you have not thought. Have you heard, Phœnician, that the chiefs of certain of +my tribes love to decorate their spear-shafts with the hide of white men, and +to bray their flesh into a medicine which gives courage to its eater?” +</p> + +<p> +With this pleasing and suggestive query Ithobal paused, and looked towards the +door of the tent as though he were about to call his guard. +</p> + +<p> +Now Metem’s blood ran cold, for he knew that this royal savage was not +one who uttered idle threats. Yet the coolness and cunning which had so often +served him well did not fail him in his need. +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard that your people have strange customs,” he answered +with a laugh, “but I think that even a spear-shaft would scarcely gain +beauty from my wrinkled hide, and if anything, the eating of my flesh would +make tradesmen and not warriors of your chiefs. Well, let the jest pass, and +listen. King, in all my schemings one thought never crossed my mind, namely, +that you were a man to suffer scruples to stand between you and the woman you +would win. You think that now she is a goddess? Well, if that be so—and +it is not for me to say—who could be a fitter mate for the greatest king +upon the earth than a goddess from the heavens? Take her, king Ithobal, take +her, and this I promise you, that when your armies are encamped without the +walls, the priests of El will absolve you of the crime of aspiring to the fair +lips of Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“The lips of Baaltis,” broke in Ithobal; “do you think that I +shall find them sweet when another man has rifled them? Secret chambers are +many yonder in the palace of the gods, and doubtless the Jew will find his way +there.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, King, for between these two I have indeed built a wall which cannot +be climbed. The worshipper of the Lord of Israel may not traffic with the +high-priestess of Ashtoreth. Moreover, I shall bring it about that ere long +Prince Aziel’s face is set seawards.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do that, and I will believe you, merchant, though it would be better if +you could bring it about that his face was set earthwards, as I will if I can. +Well, this time I spare you, though be sure that if aught miscarry, you shall +pay the price, how, I have told you. Now I go to talk with these traders, these +outlanders, of Zimboe. Why do you wait? You are dismissed +and—alive.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem looked steadily at the tablets which he still held in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard,” he said humbly, “that the king Ithobal, the +great king, always pays his debts, and as I—an outlander—shall be +leaving Zimboe shortly under his safe conduct, I desire to close this small +account.” +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal went to the door of his tent and commanded that his treasurer should +attend him, bringing money. Presently he came, and at his lord’s bidding +weighed out one hundred ounces of gold. +</p> + +<p> +“You are right, Phœnician,” said Ithobal; “I always pay my +debts, sometimes in gold and sometimes in iron. Be careful that I owe you no +more, lest you who to-day are paid in gold, to-morrow may receive the iron, +weighed out in the fashion of which I have spoken. Now, begone.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem gathered up the treasure, and hiding it in his ample robe, bowed himself +from the royal presence and out of the thorn-hedged camp. +</p> + +<p> +“Without doubt I have been in danger,” he said to himself, wiping +his brow, “since at one time that black brute, disregarding the sanctity +of an envoy, had it in his mind to torture and to kill me. So, so, king +Ithobal, Metem the Phœnician is also an honest merchant who ‘always pays +his debts,’ as you may learn in the market-places of Jerusalem, of Sidon +and of Zimboe, and I owe you a heavy bill for the fright you have given me +to-day. Little of Elissa’s company shall you have if I can help it; she +is too good for a cross-bred savage, and if before I go from these barbarian +lands I can set a drop of medicine in your wine, or an arrow in your gizzard, +upon the word of Metem the Phœnician, it shall be done, king Ithobal.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +When Metem reached Sakon and the envoys, he found that a message had already +been sent to them announcing that Ithobal would meet them presently upon the +plain outside his camp. But still the king did not come; indeed, it was not +until Sakon had despatched another messenger, saying that he was about to +return to the city, that at length Ithobal appeared at the head of a bodyguard +of black troops. Arranging these in line in front of the camp, he came forward, +attended by twelve or fourteen counsellors and generals, all of them unarmed. +Half-way between his own line and that of the Phœnicians, but out of bowshot +of either, he halted. +</p> + +<p> +Thereon Sakon, accompanied by a similar number of priests and nobles, among +whom were Aziel and Metem, all of them also unarmed, except for the knives in +their girdles, marched out to meet him. Their escort they left drawn up upon +the hillside. +</p> + +<p> +“Let us to business, King,” said Sakon, when the formal words of +salutation had passed. “We have waited long upon your pleasure, and +already troops move out from the city to learn what has befallen us.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do they then fear that I should ambush ambassadors?” asked Ithobal +hotly. “For the rest, is it not right that servants should bide at the +door of their king till it is his pleasure to open?” +</p> + +<p> +“I know not what they fear,” answered Sakon, “but at least we +fear nothing, for we are too many,” and he glanced at his soldiers, a +thousand strong, upon the hillside. “Nor are the citizens of Zimboe the +servants of any man unless he be the king of Tyre.” +</p> + +<p> +“That we shall put to proof, Sakon,” said Ithobal; “but say, +what does the Jew with you?” and he pointed to Aziel. “Is he also +an envoy from Zimboe?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, King,” answered the prince laughing, “but my grandsire, +the mighty ruler of Israel, charged me always to take note of the ways of +savages in peace and war, that I might learn how to deal with them. Therefore, +I sought leave to accompany Sakon upon this embassy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Peace, peace!” broke in Sakon. “This is no time for gibes. +King Ithobal, since you did not dare to venture yourself again within the walls +of our city, we have come to answer the demands you made upon us in the Hall of +Audience. You demanded that our fortifications should be thrown down, and this +we refuse, since we do not court destruction. You demanded that we should cease +to enslave men to labour in the mines, and to this we answer that for every man +we take we will pay a tax to his lawful chief, or to you as king. You demanded +that the ancient tribute should be doubled. To this, out of love and +friendship, and not from fear, we assent, if you will enter into a bond of +lasting peace, since it is peace we seek, and not war. King, you have our +answer.” +</p> + +<p> +“Not all of it, Sakon. How of that first condition—that Lady Elissa +the fair, your daughter, should be given me to wife?” +</p> + +<p> +“King, it cannot be, for the gods of heaven have taken this matter from +our hands, anointing the lady Elissa their high-priestess.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then as I live,” answered Ithobal with fury, “I will take +her from the hands of the gods and anoint her my dancing-woman. Do you think to +make a mock of me, you people of Zimboe, whom I have honoured by desiring one +of your daughters in marriage? You seek to trick me with your priests’ +juggling that you may keep her to be the toy of yonder princeling? So be it, +but I tell you that I will tear your city stone from stone, and anoint its +ruins with your blood. Yes, your young men shall labour in the mines for me, +and your high-born maidens shall wait upon my queens. Listen +you,”—and he turned to his generals—“let the messengers +who are ready start east and west, and north and south, to the chiefs whose +names you have, bidding them to meet me with their tribesmen, at the time and +place appointed. When next I speak with you, Elders of Zimboe, it shall be at +the head of a hundred thousand warriors.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, King, on your hands be all the innocent lives that these words of +yours have doomed, and may the weight of their wasted blood press you down to +ruin and death.” +</p> + +<p> +Thus answered Sakon proudly, but with pale lips, for do what they would to hide +it, something of the fear they felt for the issue of this war was written on +the faces of all his company. +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal turned upon his heel, deigning no reply, but as he went he whispered a +word into the ear of two of his captains, great men of war, who stayed behind +the rest of his party searching for something upon the ground. Sakon and his +counsellors also turned, walking towards their escort, but Aziel lingered a +little, fearing no danger, and being curious to learn what the men sought. +</p> + +<p> +“What do you seek, captains?” he asked courteously. +</p> + +<p> +“A gold armlet that one of us has lost,” they answered. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel let his eyes wander on the ground, and not far away perceived the armlet +half-hidden in a tussock of dry grass, where, indeed, it had been placed. +</p> + +<p> +“Is this the ring?” he asked, lifting it and holding it towards +them. +</p> + +<p> +“It is, and we thank you,” they answered, advancing to take the +ornament. +</p> + +<p> +The next moment, before Aziel even guessed their purpose, the captains had +gripped him by either arm and were dragging him at full speed towards their +camp. Understanding their treachery and the greatness of his danger, he cried +aloud for help. Then throwing himself swiftly to the ground, he set his feet +against a stone that chanced to lie in their path in such fashion that the +sudden weight tore his right arm from the grip of the man that held him. Now, +quick as thought, Aziel drew the dagger from his girdle, and, still lying upon +his back, plunged it into the shoulder of the second man so that he loosed him +in his pain. Next he sprang to his feet, and, leaping to one side to escape the +rush of his captors, ran like a deer towards the party of Sakon, who had +wheeled round at the sound of his cry. +</p> + +<p> +Ithobal and his men had turned also and sped towards them, but at a little +distance they halted, the king shouting aloud:— +</p> + +<p> +“I desired to hold this foreigner, who is the cause of war between us, +hostage for your daughter’s sake, Sakon, but this time he has escaped me. +Well, it matters nothing, for soon my turn will come. Therefore, if you and he +are wise, you will send him back to the sea, for thither alone I promise him +safe conduct.” +</p> + +<p> +Then without more words he walked to his camp, the gates of which were closed +behind him. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +“Prince Aziel,” said Sakon, as they went towards the city, +“it is ill to speak such words to an honoured guest, but it cannot be +denied that you bring much trouble on my head. Twice now you have nearly +perished at the hands of Ithobal, and should that chance, doubtless I must earn +the wrath of Israel. On your behalf, also, the city of Zimboe is this day +plunged into a war that well may be her last, since it is because you have +grown suddenly dear to her that my daughter has continued to refuse the suit of +Ithobal, and because of his outraged pride at this refusal that he has raised +up the nations against us. Prince, while you remain in this city there is no +hope of peace. Do not, therefore, hate me, your servant, if I pray of you to +leave us while there is yet time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Sakon,” answered Aziel, “I thank you for your open speech, +and will pay you back in words as honest as your own. Gladly would I go, for +here nothing but sorrow has befallen me, were it not for one thing which to you +may seem little, but to me, and perhaps to another, is all in all. I love your +daughter as I have never loved a woman before, and as my mind is to hers, so is +hers to mine. How, then, can I go hence when the going means that I must part +from her for ever?” +</p> + +<p> +“How can you stay here, Prince, when the staying means that you must +bring her to shame and death, and yourself with her? Say now, are you prepared, +for the sake of this maiden, to abandon the worship of your fathers and to +become the servant of El and Baaltis?” +</p> + +<p> +“You know well that I am not so prepared, Sakon. For nothing that the +world could give me would I do this sin.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, Prince, it is best that you should go, for that and no other is +the price you must pay if you would win my daughter Elissa. Should you seek to +do so by other means, I tell you that neither your high rank nor the power of +my rule and friendship, nor pity for your youth and hers, can save you both +from death, since to forgive you then would be to bring down the wrath of its +outraged gods upon Zimboe. Oh! Prince, for your own sake and for the sake of +her whom both you and I love thus dearly, linger no longer in temptation, but +turn your back upon it as a brave man should, for so shall my blessing follow +you to the grave and your years be filled with honour.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel covered his eyes with his hand, and thought a while; then he +answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Be it as you will, friend. I go, but I go broken-hearted.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap11"></a>CHAPTER XI<br /> +METEM SELLS IMAGES</h2> + +<p> +Upon reaching the palace, Aziel went to the apartments of Issachar. Finding no +keeper at the door, he entered, to discover the old priest kneeling in prayer +at the window, which faced towards Jerusalem. So absorbed was he in his +devotions that it was not until he had ended them and risen that Issachar saw +Aziel standing in the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +“Behold, an answer to my prayer,” he said. “My son, they told +me that some fresh danger had overtaken you, though none knew its issue. +Therefore it was that I prayed, and now I see you unharmed.” And taking +him in his arms, he embraced him. +</p> + +<p> +“It is true that I have been in danger, father,” answered Aziel, +and he told him the story of his escape from Ithobal. +</p> + +<p> +“Did I not pray thee not to accompany this embassy?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, father, yet I have returned in safety. Listen: I come with tidings +which you will think good. Not an hour ago I promised Sakon that I would leave +Zimboe, where it seems my presence breeds much trouble.” +</p> + +<p> +“Good tidings, indeed!” exclaimed Issachar, “and never shall +I know a peaceful hour until we have seen the last of the towers of this doomed +city and its accursed people of devil-worshippers.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, good for you, father, but for me most ill, for here I shall leave +my youth and happiness. Nay, I know what you think; that this is but some +passing fancy bred of the pleasant beauty of a woman, but it is not so. I say +that from the moment when first I saw Elissa, she became life of my life, and +soul of my soul and that I go hence beggared of joy and hope, and carrying with +me a cankering memory which shall eat my heart away. You deem her a witch, one +to whom Baaltis has given power to drag the minds of men to their destruction, +but I tell you that her only spell is the spell of her love for me, also that +she whom you named so grossly is no longer the servant of the demon +Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“Elissa not the servant of Baaltis? How comes she then to be her +high-priestess? Aziel, your passion has made you mad.” +</p> + +<p> +“She is high-priestess because Metem and others brought about her +election without her will, urged on to it by I know not whom.” And he +looked hard at Issachar, who turned away. “But what matters it who did +the ill deed,” he continued, “since this, at least, is certain, +that here my presence breeds sorrow and bloodshed, and therefore I must go as I +have promised.” +</p> + +<p> +“When do we depart, Prince?” queried Issachar. +</p> + +<p> +“I know not, it is naught to me. Here comes Metem, ask of him.” +</p> + +<p> +“Metem,” said the Levite, “the prince desires to leave Zimboe +and march to the coast, there to take ship to Tyre. When can your caravan be +ready?” +</p> + +<p> +“So I have heard, Issachar, for Sakon tells me that he has come to an +agreement with the prince upon this matter. Well, I am glad to learn it, for +troubles thicken here, and I think that the woe you prophesied is not far from +this city of Zimboe where every man seeks to serve his own hand, and is ready +to sell his neighbour. When can the caravan be got ready? Well, the night after +next; at least, we can start that night. To-morrow evening, so soon as the sun +is down, I will send on the camels by ones and twos, and with them the baggage +and treasure, to a secret place I know of in the mountains, where we and the +prince’s guard can follow upon the mules and join them. As it chances, I +have a safe conduct from Ithobal. Still I should not wish to put his troops +into temptation by marching through them with twenty laden camels, or to lose +certain earnings of my own that will be hidden in the baggage. Moreover, if our +departure becomes known, half the city would wish to join us, having no love of +soldiering, and misdoubting them much of the issue of this war with +Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“As you will,” said Issachar, “you are captain of the +caravan, and charged with the safety of the prince upon his journeyings. I am +ready whenever you appoint, and the quicker that hour comes, the more praise +you will have from me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Come with me, I wish to speak with you,” said Aziel to the +Phœnician as they left the presence of Issachar. “Listen,” he +added, when they had reached his chamber, “we leave this city soon, and I +have farewells to make.” +</p> + +<p> +“To the Baaltis?” suggested Metem. +</p> + +<p> +“To the lady Elissa. I desire to send her a letter of farewell; can you +deliver it into her own hand?” +</p> + +<p> +“It may be managed, Prince, at a price—nay, from you I ask no +price. I have still some images that I wish to sell, and we merchants go +everywhere, even into the presence of the Baaltis if it pleases her to admit +them. Write your scroll and I will take it, though, to be plain, it is not a +task which I should have sought.” +</p> + +<p> +So Aziel wrote slowly and with care. Then having sealed the writing he gave it +to Metem. +</p> + +<p> +“Your face is sad, Prince,” he said, as he hid it in his robe, +“but, believe me, you are doing what is right and wise.” +</p> + +<p> +“It may be so,” answered Aziel, “yet I would rather die than +do it, and may my curse lie heavy upon the heads of those who have so wrought +that it must be done. Now, I pray you, deliver this scroll into the hands of +her you know, and bring me the answer if there be any, betraying it to none, +for I will double whatever sum is offered for that treachery.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have no fear, Prince,” said Metem quietly, but without taking +offence, “this errand is undertaken for friendship, not for profit. The +risk is mine alone; the gain—or loss—is yours.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +An hour later the Phœnician stood in the palace of the gods, demanding, under +permit from Sakon, governor of the city, to be admitted into the presence of +the Baaltis, to whom he desired to sell certain sacred images cunningly +fashioned in gold. Presently it was announced that he was allowed to approach, +and the officers of the temple led him through guarded passages, to the private +chambers of the priestesses. Here he found Elissa in a long, low hall, sweet +with scented woods, rich with gold, and supported by pillars of cedar. +</p> + +<p> +She was seated alone at the far end of this hall, beneath the window-plate, +clad in her white robes of office, richly broidered with emblems of the moon. +Her women, most of whom were employed in needle-work, though some whispered +idly to each other, were gathered at the lower end of the hall near to its +door. +</p> + +<p> +Metem saluted them as he entered, and they detained him, answering his greeting +by requests for news and with jests, not too refined, or by demands for +presents of jewels, in return for which they promised him the blessings of the +goddess. To each he made some apt reply, for even the priestesses of Baaltis +could not abash Metem. But while he bandied words, his quick eyes noted one of +their number who did not join in this play. She was a spare, thin-lipped woman +whom he knew for Mesa, the daughter of the dead Baaltis, who had been a rival +candidate for the throne of the high-priestess when Elissa was chosen in her +place. +</p> + +<p> +When he entered the hall Mesa was seated upon a canvas stool, a little apart +from the others, her chin resting upon her hand, staring with an evil look +towards the place where Elissa was enthroned. Nor did her face grow more gentle +at the sight of the cunning merchant, for she knew well it was through his +plots and bribery that she had been ousted from her mother’s place. +</p> + +<p> +“A woman to be feared,” thought Metem to himself as, shaking off +the priestesses, he passed her upon his way up the long chamber. Presently he +had reached the end of it, and was saluting the presence of the Baaltis by +kneeling and touching the carpet with his brow. +</p> + +<p> +“Rise, Metem,” said Elissa, “and set out your business, for +the hour of the sunset prayer is at hand, and I cannot talk long with +you.” +</p> + +<p> +So he rose, and, looking at her while he laid out his store of images, saw that +her face was sad, and that her eyes were full of a strange fear. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said, “on the second night from now I depart from +this city of yours, and glad shall I be to leave it living. Therefore I have +brought you these four priceless images of the most splendid workmanship of +Tyre, thinking that it might please you to purchase them for the service of the +goddess.” +</p> + +<p> +“You depart,” she whispered; “alone?” +</p> + +<p> +“No lady, not alone; the holy Issachar goes with me, also the escort of +the prince Aziel—and the prince himself, whose presence is no longer +desired in Zimboe.” Here he stopped, for he saw that Elissa was about to +betray her agitation, and whispered, “Be not foolish, for you are +watched; I have a letter for you. Lady,” he continued in a louder voice, +“if it will please you to examine this precious image in the light, you +will no longer hesitate or think the price too high,” and bowing low he +led the way behind the throne, whither Elissa followed him. +</p> + +<p> +Now they were standing beneath the window-place, which they faced, and hidden +from the gaze of the women by the gilded back of the high seat. +</p> + +<p> +“Here,” he said, thrusting the parchment into her hand, “read +quickly, and return it to me.” +</p> + +<p> +She snatched the roll from him, and as her eyes devoured the lines, her face +fell in, and her lips grew pale with anguish. +</p> + +<p> +“Be brave,” murmured Metem, for his heart was stirred to pity; +“it is best for all that he should go.” +</p> + +<p> +“For him, perchance it is best,” she answered; as with an unwilling +hand she gave him back the letter which she dared not keep, “but what of +me? Oh! Metem, what of me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he said sadly, “I have no words to soothe your sorrow +save that the gods have willed it thus.” +</p> + +<p> +“What gods?” she asked fiercely; “not those they bid me +worship.” She shuddered, then went on, “Metem, be pitiful! Oh! if +ever you have loved a woman, or have been loved of one, for her sake be +pitiful. I must see him for the last time in farewell, and you can help me to +it.” +</p> + +<p> +“I! In the name of Baal, how?” +</p> + +<p> +“When do you have to leave the city, Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“At moonrise on the night after next.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then an hour before moonrise I will be in the temple, whither I can come +by the secret way that leads thither from this palace, and he can enter there, +for the little gate shall be left unbarred. Pray him to meet me, then—for +the last time.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” he urged, “this is but madness, and I refuse. You +must find another messenger.” +</p> + +<p> +“Madness or not it is my will, and beware how you thwart me in it, Metem, +for at least I am the Lady Baaltis, and have power to kill without question. I +swear to you that if I do not see him, you shall never leave this city +living.” +</p> + +<p> +“A shrewd argument, and to the point,” said Metem reflectively. +“Well, I have prepared myself a rock-hewn tomb at Tyre, and do not wish +that my graven sarcophagus of best Egyptian alabaster should be wasted, or sold +to some upstart for a song.” +</p> + +<p> +“As assuredly it will be, if you do not obey me in this matter, Metem. +Remember—an hour before moonrise, at the foot of the pillar of El in the +inner court of the temple.” +</p> + +<p> +As she spoke Metem started, for his quick ears had caught a sound. +</p> + +<p> +“O Queen divine,” he said in a loud voice, as he led the way to the +front of the throne, “you are a hard bargainer! Were there many such, a +poor trader could not make a living. Ah! here is one who knows the value of +such priceless works of art,” and he pointed to Mesa, who, with folded +arms and downcast eyes, stood within five paces of the throne, as near, indeed, +as custom allowed her to approach. “Lady,” he went on addressing +you, “you will have heard the price I asked; say, now, is it too +much?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have heard nothing, sir. I stand here, waiting the return of my holy +mistress that I may remind her that the hour of sunset prayer is at +hand.” +</p> + +<p> +“Would that I had so fair a mentor,” exclaimed Metem, “for +then I should lose less time.” But to himself he said, “She +<i>has</i> heard something, though I think but little,” then added aloud: +“Well judge between us, lady. Is fifty golden shekels too much for these +images which have been blessed and sprinkled with the blood of children by the +high priest of Baal at Sidon?” +</p> + +<p> +Mesa lifted her cold eyes and looked at them. “I think it too +much,” she said, “but it is for the lady Baaltis to judge. Who am I +that I should open my lips in the presence of the lady Baaltis?” +</p> + +<p> +“I have appealed to the oracle, and it has spoken against me,” said +Metem, wringing his hands in affected dismay. “Well, I abide the result. +Queen, you offered me forty shekels and for forty you shall take them, for the +honour of the holy gods, though in truth I lose ten shekels by the bargain. +Give your order to the treasurer, and he will pay me to-morrow. So now +farewell,” and bowing till his forehead touched the ground, he kissed the +hem of her robe. +</p> + +<p> +Elissa bent her head in acknowledgment of the salute, and as he rose her eyes +met his. In them was written a warning which he could not fail to understand, +and although she did not speak, her lips seemed to shape the word, +“Remember.” +</p> + +<p> +Ten minutes later Metem stood in the chamber of Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Has she seen the letter, and what did she answer?” asked the +prince, springing up almost as he passed the threshold. +</p> + +<p> +“In the name of all the gods of all the nations I pray you not to speak +so loud,” answered Metem when he had closed the door and looked +suspiciously about him. “Oh! if ever I find myself safe in Tyre again, I +vow a gift, and no mean one, to each of them that has a temple there, and they +are many; for no single god is strong enough to bring me safe out of this +trouble. Have I seen the lady Elissa? Oh, yes, I have seen her. And what think +you that this innocent lamb, this undefiled dove of yours, threatens me with +now? Death! nothing less than death, if I will not carry out her foolish +wishes. More, she means the threat, and has the strength to fulfil it, for to +the lady Baaltis is given power over the lives of men, or at the least, if she +takes life none question the authority of the goddess. Unless I do her will I +am a dead man, and that is the reward I get for mixing myself up in your mad +love affairs.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hold!” broke in Aziel, “and tell me, man, what is her +will?” +</p> + +<p> +“Her will is—what do you think? To meet you in farewell an hour +before you leave this city. Well, as my throat is at stake, by Baal! it shall +be gratified if I can find the means, though I tell you that it is madness and +nothing else. But listen to the story——” and he repeated all +that had passed. “Now,” he added, “are you ready to take the +risk, Prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“I should be a coward indeed if I did not,” answered Aziel, +“when she, a woman, dares a heavier.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I am a coward, that is why I take it, for otherwise I also must dare +a heavier. But what of Issachar? This meeting can scarcely be kept a secret +from him.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel thought awhile and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Go fetch him here.” So Metem went, to return presently with the +Levite, to whom, without further ado, the prince told all, hiding nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Issachar listened in silence. When both Aziel and Metem had done speaking, he +said:— +</p> + +<p> +“At least, I thank you, Prince, for being open with me; and now without +more words I pray you to abandon this rash plan, which can end only in pain, +and perhaps in death.” +</p> + +<p> +“Abandon it not, Prince,” interrupted Metem, “seeing that if +you do it will certainly end in my death, for the girl is mad, and will have +her way. Or if she does not, then I must pay the price.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have no fear,” answered Aziel smiling. “Issachar, this must +be done or——” +</p> + +<p> +“Or what, Prince?” +</p> + +<p> +“I will not leave the city. It is true that Sakon may thrust me from it, +but it shall be as a dead man. Nay, waste no words, since she desires it; I +must and will meet the Lady Elissa for the last time, not as lover meets lover, +but as those meet who part for ever in the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“You say so, Prince; then have I your permission to accompany you?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, if you wish it, Issachar; but there is danger.” +</p> + +<p> +“Danger! What care I for danger? The will of Heaven be done to me. So be +it, we will go together, but the end of it is not with us.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap12"></a>CHAPTER XII<br /> +THE TRYST</h2> + +<p> +Two days had gone by, and at the appointed hour three figures, wrapped in dark +cloaks, might have been seen walking swiftly towards the little entrance of the +temple fortress. Although it was near to midnight the city was still astir with +men, for this very evening news had reached it that Ithobal was advancing at +the head of tens of thousands of the warriors of the Tribes. More, it was +rumoured freely that within the next few days the siege of Zimboe would begin. +Late as it was, the council had been just summoned to the palace of Sakon to +consider the conduct of the defence, while in every street stood knots of men +engaged in anxious discussion, and from many a smithy rose the sound of +armourers at their work. Here marched parties of soldiers of various races, +there came long strings of mules laden with dried flesh and grain; yonder a +woman beat her breast, and wept loudly because her three sons had been +impressed by order of the council, two of them to serve as archers and the +third to carry blocks of stone for the fortifications. +</p> + +<p> +Passing unnoticed through all this crowd and tumult, Aziel, Issachar and Metem +entered a winding passage in the temple wall, and came to the little gate. +Metem tried it, and whispered:— +</p> + +<p> +“She has kept her word; it is unlocked. Now enter to your love-tryst, +holy Issachar.” +</p> + +<p> +“Do you not come with us?” asked the Levite. +</p> + +<p> +“No, I am too old for such adventures. Listen, I go to make ready. Within +an hour the mules with the prince’s bodyguard will stand in the archway +near the small gate of the palace, for by now the baggage and its escort await +us a day’s march from this accursed city. Will you meet me there? No; I +think it is best that I should come to your chambers to fetch you, and, I pray +you, let there be no delay, for it is dangerous in many ways. When once the +prince has done with his tender interview, and wiped away his tears, there +should be nothing to stay him, since the farewell cup with Sakon has been +already drunk. Enter now swiftly before some prowling priest happens upon you, +and pray that you may come out as sound as you go in. Oh! what a sight! A +prince of Israel and an aged Levite of established reputation going to keep a +tryst at midnight with the high-priestess of Baaltis in the sanctuary of her +god! Nay, answer not; there is no time”—and he was gone. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +Having passed the gate, Aziel and Issachar crept down the winding passages of +stone, groping their path by such light as fell from the narrow line of sky +above them, till at length they reached the court of the sanctuary. Here the +place was as silent as death, for the noise from the city without could not +pierce its towering walls of massive granite. +</p> + +<p> +“It is the very pit of Tophet,” murmured Issachar, peering through +the dense shadows, “the house of Beelzebub, where his presence dwells. +Whither now, Aziel?” +</p> + +<p> +The prince pointed to two objects that were visible in the starlight, and +answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Thither, at the foot of the pillar of El.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ah! I remember,” said Issachar, “where the accursed woman +would have offered sacrifice, and the priests struck me down because I +prophesied to them of the wrath to come, and that is now at hand. An ill-omened +spot, indeed, and an ill-omened tryst with the fiends for witnesses. Well, lead +on, and I pray you to be brief as may be, for this place weighs down my soul, +and I feel danger in it—danger to the body and the spirit.” +</p> + +<p> +So they went forward. “Be careful,” whispered Aziel presently. +“The pit of sacrifice is at your feet.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, yes,” he answered, “we walk upon the edge of the pit, +and, in truth, I grow fearful, for at the threshold of such places the angel of +the Lord deserts us.” +</p> + +<p> +“There is nothing to fear,” said Aziel. But even as he spoke, +although he could not see it, a white face rose above the edge of the pit, like +that of some ghost struggling from the tomb, watched them a moment with cold +eyes, then disappeared again. +</p> + +<p> +Now they were near the greater pillar, and now from its shadow glided a +black-veiled shape. +</p> + +<p> +“Elissa?” murmured Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“It is I,” whispered a soft voice; “but who comes with +you?” +</p> + +<p> +“I, Issachar,” said the Levite, “who would not suffer that he +of whom I am given charge should seek such company alone. Now, priestess, say +your say with the prince yonder and let us be gone swiftly from this +blood-stained place.” +</p> + +<p> +“You speak harsh words to me, Issachar,” she said gently, +“yet I am most glad that you have come, for, believe me, I sought no +lovers’ meeting with the prince Aziel. Listen, both of you: you know that +they have consecrated me high-priestess of Baaltis against my will. Now, I tell +you, Issachar, what I have already told the prince Aziel—that I am no +longer a worshipper of Baaltis. Yes, here in her very temple I renounce her, +even though she takes my life in vengeance. Oh! since they made me priestess I +have been forced to learn all her worship, which before I never even guessed, +and to see sights that would chill your blood to hear of them. Now I tell you, +prince Aziel and Issachar, that I will bear no more. From El and Baaltis I turn +to Him you worship, though, alas! little time is left to me in which to plead +for pardon.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why is little time left?” broke in Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Because my death is very near me, Prince, for if I live, see what a fate +is mine. Either I must remain high-priestess of Baaltis and to her day by day +bow the knee, and month by month make sacrifice—of what think you? Well, +to be plain, of the blood of maids and children. Or, perhaps, should their +fears overcome their scruples, I shall be given by the council as a +peace-offering to Ithobal. +</p> + +<p> +“I say that I will bear neither of these burdens of blood or shame; they +are too heavy for me. Prince, so soon as you are gone I too shall leave this +city, not in the body, but in the spirit, searching for peace or sleep. It was +for this reason that I sought to speak with you in farewell, since in my +weakness I desired that you should learn the truth of the cause and manner of +my end. +</p> + +<p> +“Now you know all, and as for me there is no escape, farewell for ever, +prince Aziel, whom I have loved, and whom I can scarcely hope to meet again, +even beyond the grave.” Then with a little despairing motion of her hand +she turned to go. +</p> + +<p> +“Stay,” said Aziel hoarsely, “we cannot be parted thus; since +by your own act you can dare to leave the world, will you not dare to fly this +place with me?” +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps, Prince,” she answered with a little laugh, “but +would you dare to take me, and if so, would Issachar here suffer it? No, no; go +your own path in life, and leave me death—it is the easier way.” +</p> + +<p> +“In this matter I am master and not Issachar,” said Aziel, +“though it be true that should it please him, he can warn the priests of +El. Listen, Elissa: either you leave this city with me, or I stay in it with +you. You hear me, Issachar?” +</p> + +<p> +“I hear you,” said the Levite, “but perchance before you +throw more sharp words at my head, you will suffer me to speak. Self-murder is +a crime, yet I honour this woman who would shed her own blood, rather than the +blood of the innocent in sacrifice to Baal, and who refuses to be given in +marriage to one she hates; who, moreover, has found strength and grace to +trample on her devil-worship, if so in truth she has. If therefore she will +come with us and we can escape with her, why, let her come. Only swear to me, +Aziel, that you will make no wife of her till the king, your grandsire, has +heard this tale and given judgment on it.” +</p> + +<p> +“That I will swear for him,” exclaimed Elissa; “is it not so, +Aziel?” +</p> + +<p> +“As you will, lady,” he answered. “Issachar, you have my word +that until then she shall be as my sister, and no more.” +</p> + +<p> +“I hear and I believe you,” said Issachar, adding: “And now, +lady, we go at once, so if you desire to accompany us, come.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am ready,” she replied, “and the hour is well chosen for I +shall not be missed till dawn.” +</p> + +<p> +So they turned and left the temple. None stayed or hindered them, yet although +they reached the chambers of Aziel in safety, their hearts, which should have +been light, were still heavy with the presage of new sorrow to come. +</p> + +<p> +Scarcely could they have been heavier, indeed, had they seen a white-faced +woman creep from the pit of death and follow them stealthily till they had +passed from the temple into the palace doors, then turn and run at full speed +towards the college of the priests of El. +</p> + +<p> +In the chamber of Aziel they found Metem. +</p> + +<p> +“I rejoice to see you back again in safety, since it is more than I +thought to do,” he said, while they entered, adding, as the black-veiled +shape of Elissa followed them into the room, “but who is the third? Ah! I +see, the lady Elissa. Does the Baaltis accompany us upon our journey?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes,” answered Aziel shortly. +</p> + +<p> +“Then with her high Grace on the one side and the holy Issachar on the +other it should not lack for blessings. Surely that evil must be great from +which, separately or together, they are unable to defend us. But, lady, if I +may ask it, have you bid farewell to your most honoured father?” +</p> + +<p> +“Torment me not,” murmured Elissa. +</p> + +<p> +“Indeed, I did not wish to, though you may remember that not so long ago +you threatened to silence me for ever. Well, doubtless your departure is too +hurried for farewells, and, fortunately, foreseeing it, I have provided spare +mules. So my deeds are kinder than my words. I go to see that all is prepared. +Now eat before you start; presently I will return for you,” and he left +the chamber. +</p> + +<p> +When he had gone they gathered round the table on which stood food, but could +touch little of it; for the hearts of all three of them were filled with sad +forebodings. Soon they heard a noise as of people talking excitedly outside the +palace gates. +</p> + +<p> +“It is Metem with the mules,” said Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“I hope so,” answered Elissa. +</p> + +<p> +Again there was silence, which, after a while, was broken by a loud knocking at +the door. +</p> + +<p> +“Rise,” said Aziel, “Metem comes for us.” +</p> + +<p> +“No, no,” cried Elissa, “it is Doom that knocks, not +Metem.” +</p> + +<p> +As the words passed her lips the door was burst open, and through it poured a +mob of armed priests, at the head of whom marched the Shadid. By his side was +his daughter Mesa, in whose pale face the eyes burned like torches in a wind. +</p> + +<p> +“Did I not tell you so?” she said in a shrill voice, pointing at +the three. “Behold the Lady Baaltis and her lover, and with them that +priest of a false faith who called down curses upon our city.” +</p> + +<p> +“You told us indeed, daughter,” answered the Shadid; “pardon +us if we were loth to believe that such a thing could be.” Then with a +cry of rage he added, “Take them.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel drew his sword, and sprang in front of Elissa to protect her, but +before he could strike a blow it was seized from behind, and he was gripped by +many hands, gagged, bound and blindfolded. Then like a man in a dream he felt +himself carried away through long passages, till at length he reached an +airless place, where the gag and bandages were removed. +</p> + +<p> +“Where am I?” Aziel asked. +</p> + +<p> +“In the vaults of the temple,” answered the priests as they left +the prison, barring its great door behind them. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap13"></a>CHAPTER XIII<br /> +THE SACRILEGE OF AZIEL</h2> + +<p> +How long he lay in his dungeon, lost in bitter thought and tormented by fears +for Elissa, Aziel could not tell, for no light came there to mark the passage +of the hours. In the tumult of his mind, one terrible thought grew clear and +ever clearer; he and Elissa had been taken red-handed, and must pay the price +of their sin against the religious customs of the city. For the Baaltis to be +found with any man who was not her husband meant death to him and her, a doom +from which there was little chance of escape. +</p> + +<p> +Well, to his own fate he was almost indifferent, but for Elissa and Issachar he +mourned bitterly. Truly the Levite and Metem had been wise when they cautioned +him, for her sake and his own, to have nothing to do with a priestess of Baal. +But he had not listened; his heart would not let him listen—and now, +unless they were saved by a miracle—or Metem—in the fulness of +their youth and love, the lives of both of them were forfeited. +</p> + +<p> +Worn out with sore fears and vain regrets Aziel fell at length into a heavy +sleep. He was awakened by the opening of the door of his dungeon, and the entry +of priests—grim, silent men who seized and blindfolded him. Then they led +him away up many stairs, and along paths so steep that from time to time they +paused to rest, till at length he knew, by the sound of voices, that he had +reached some place where people were assembled. Here the bandage was removed +from his eyes. He stepped backwards, recoiling involuntarily at the glare of +light that poured upon him from the setting sun, whereon, uttering an +exclamation, those who stood near seized and held him. Presently he saw the +reason. He was standing on the brink of a precipice at the back of and +dominating the dim and shadow-clad city, while far beneath him lay a gloomy +rift along which ran the trade road to the coast. +</p> + +<p> +Here in this dizzy spot was a wide space of rock, walled in upon three sides. +The precipice formed the fourth side of its square, in which, seated upon +stones that seemed to have been set there in semi-circles to serve as judgment +chairs, were gathered the head priests and priestesses of El and Baaltis, clad +in their sacerdotal robes. To the right and left of these stood knots of +favoured spectators, among whom Aziel recognised Metem and Sakon, while at his +side, but separated from him by armed priests, were Elissa herself, wrapped in +a dark veil, and Issachar. Lastly, in front of him, a fire flickered upon a +little altar, and behind the altar stood a shrine containing a symbolical +effigy of Baaltis fashioned of gold, ivory and wood to the shape of a woman +with a hundred breasts. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing all this, Aziel understood that they three had been brought here for +trial, and that the priests and priestesses before him were their judges. +Indeed, he remembered that the place had been pointed out to him as one where +those who had offended against the gods were carried for judgment. Thence, if +found guilty, such unfortunates were hurled down the face of the precipice and +left, a shapeless mass of broken bone, to crumble on the roadway at its foot. +</p> + +<p> +After a long and solemn pause, at a sign from the Shadid, he who had been the +husband of the dead Baaltis, the veil was removed from Elissa. At once she +turned, looked at Aziel, and smiled sadly. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you know the fate that waits us?” the prince asked of Issachar +in Hebrew. +</p> + +<p> +“I know, and I am ready,” answered the old Levite, “for since +my soul is safe I care little what these dogs may do to my body. But, oh! my +son, I weep for you, and cursed be the hour when first you saw that +woman’s face.” +</p> + +<p> +“Spare to reproach me in my misfortune,” murmured Elissa; +“have I not enough to bear, knowing that I have brought death upon him I +love? Oh! curse me not, but pray that my sins may be forgiven me.” +</p> + +<p> +“That I will do gladly, daughter,” replied Issachar more gently, +“the more so that, although you seem to be the cause of them, these +things can have happened only by the will of Heaven. Therefore I was wrong to +revile you, and I ask your pardon.” +</p> + +<p> +Before she could answer the Shadid commanded silence. At the same moment the +woman Mesa stepped from behind the effigy of the goddess on the shrine. +</p> + +<p> +“Who are you and what do you here?” asked the Shadid, as though he +did not know her. +</p> + +<p> +“I am Mesa, the daughter of her who was the lady Baaltis,” she +answered, “and my rank is that of Mother of the priestesses of Baaltis. I +appear to give true evidence against her, who is the anointed Baaltis, against +the Israelitish stranger named Aziel, and the priest of the Lord of the +Jews.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lay your hand upon the altar and speak, but beware what you +speak,” said the Shadid. +</p> + +<p> +Mesa bowed her head, took the oath of truth by touching the altar with her +fingers, and began:— +</p> + +<p> +“From the time that she was appointed I have been suspicious of the lady +Baaltis.” +</p> + +<p> +“Why were you suspicious?” asked the Shadid. +</p> + +<p> +The witness let her eyes wander towards Metem, then hesitated. Evidently for +some reason of her own she did not wish to implicate him. +</p> + +<p> +“I was suspicious,” she answered, “because of certain words +that came from the lips of the Baaltis, when she had been thrown into the holy +trance before the fire of sacrifice. As is my accustomed part, I bent over her +to hear and to announce the message of the gods, but in place of the hallowed +words there issued babblings about this Hebrew stranger and of a meeting to be +held with him at one hour before moonrise by the pillar of El in the courtyard +of the temple. Thereafter for several nights as was my duty I hid myself in the +pit of offerings in the courtyard and watched. Last night at an hour before the +moonrise the Lady Baaltis came disguised by the secret way and waited at the +pillar, where presently she was joined by the Jew Aziel and the Levite, who +spoke with her. +</p> + +<p> +“What they said I could not hear, because they were too far from me, but +at length they left the temple and I traced them to the chambers of the Jew +Aziel, in the palace of Sakon. Then, Shadid, I warned you, and the priests and +you accompanied me and took them. Now, as Mother of the priestesses, I demand +that justice be done upon these wicked ones, according to the ancient custom, +lest the curse of Baaltis should fall upon this city.” +</p> + +<p> +When she had finished her evidence, with a cold stare of triumphant hate at her +rival, Mesa stepped to one side. +</p> + +<p> +“You have heard,” said the Shadid addressing his fellow-judges. +“Do you need further testimony? If so, it must be brief, for the sun +sinks.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” answered the spokesman, “for with you we took the +three of them together in the chamber of the prince Aziel. Set out the law of +this matter, O Judge, and let justice be done according to the strict letter of +the law—justice without fear or favour.” +</p> + +<p> +“Hearken,” said the Shadid. “Last night this woman Elissa, +the daughter of Sakon, being the lady Baaltis duly elected, met men secretly in +the courts of the temple and accompanied them, or one of them, to the chamber +of Aziel, a prince of Israel, the guest of Sakon. Whether or no she was about +to fly with him from the city which he should have left last night, we cannot +tell, and it is needless to inquire, at least she was with him. This, however, +is sure, that they did not sin in ignorance of our law, since with my own mouth +I warned them both that if the lady Baaltis consorts with any man not her +husband duly named by her according to her right, she must die and her +accomplice with her. Therefore, Aziel the Israelite, we give you to death, +dooming you presently to be hurled from the edge of yonder precipice.” +</p> + +<p> +“I am in your power,” said the prince proudly, “and you can +murder if you will, because, forsooth, I have offended against some law of +Baal, but I tell you, priest, that there are kings in Jerusalem and Egypt who +will demand my blood at your hands. I have nothing more to say except to +beseech you to spare the life of the lady Elissa, since the fault of the +meeting was not hers, but mine.” +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” answered the Shadid gravely, “we know your rank and +we know also that your blood will be required at our hands, but we who serve +our gods, whose vengeance is so swift and terrible, cannot betray their law for +the fear of any earthly kings. Yet, thus says this same law, it is not needful +that you should die since for you there is a way of escape that leads to safety +and great honour, and she who was the cause of your sin is the mistress of its +gate. Elissa, holder of the spirit of Baaltis upon earth, if it be your +pleasure to name this man husband before us all, then as the spouse of Baaltis +he goes free, for he whom the Baaltis chooses cannot refuse her gift of love, +but for so long as she shall live must rule with her as Shadid of El. But if +you name him not, then as I have said, he must die, and now. Speak.” +</p> + +<p> +“It seems that my choice is small,” said Elissa with a faint smile. +“Praying you to pardon me for the deed, to save your life, prince Aziel, +according to the ancient custom and privilege of the Baaltis, I name you +consort and husband.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel was about to answer her when the Shadid broke in hurriedly, “So +be it,” he said. “Lady, we hear your choice, and we accept it as we +must, but not yet, prince Aziel, can you take your wife and with her my place +and power. Your life is safe indeed, for since the Baaltis, being unwed, names +you as her mate, you have done no sin. Yet she has sinned and doom awaits her, +for against the law she has chosen as husband one who worships a strange god, +and of all crimes that is the greatest. Therefore, either you must take incense +and before us all make offering to El and Baaltis upon yonder altar, thus +renouncing your faith and entering into ours, or she must die and you, your +rank having passed from you with her breath, will be expelled from the +city.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel understood the trap that had been laid for him, and saw in it the +handiwork of Sakon and Metem. Elissa having flagrantly violated the religious +law, and he, being the cause of her crime, even the authority of the governor +of the city could not prevent his daughter and his guest from being put upon +their trial. Therefore, they had arranged this farce, for so it would seem to +them, whereby both the offenders might escape the legal consequences of their +offence, trusting, doubtless, to accident and the future to unravel this web of +forced marriage, and to free Aziel from a priestly rank which he had not +sought. It was only necessary that Elissa should formally choose him as her +husband, and that Aziel should go through the rite of throwing a few grains of +incense upon an altar, and, the law satisfied, they would be both free and +safe. What Metem, and those who worked with him, had forgotten was, that this +offering of incense to Baal would be the most deadly of crimes in the eyes of +any faithful Jew—one, indeed, which, were he alone concerned, he would +die rather than commit. +</p> + +<p> +When the prince heard this decree, and the full terror of the choice came home +to his mind, his blood turned cold, and for a while his senses were bewildered. +There was no escape for him; either he must abjure his faith at the price of +his own soul, or, because of it, the woman whom he loved, now, before his eyes, +must suffer a most horrible and sudden death. It was hideous to think of, and +yet how could he do this sin in the face of heaven and of these ministers of +Satan? +</p> + +<p> +The moment was at hand; a priest held out to him a bowl of incense, a golden +bowl, he noticed idly, with handles of green stone fashioned in the likeness of +Baaltis, whose servant he was asked to declare himself. He, Aziel of the royal +house of Israel, a servant of Baal and Baaltis, nay, a high-priest of their +worship! It was monstrous, it might not be. But Elissa? Well, she must +die—if this was not a farce, and in truth they meant to murder her; her +life could not be bought at such a price. +</p> + +<p> +“I cannot do it,” he gasped with dry lips, thrusting aside the +bowl. +</p> + +<p> +Now all looked astonished, for his refusal had not been foreseen. There was a +pause, and once more the woman Mesa, in her character of prosecutrix on behalf +of the outraged gods, appeared before the altar, and said in her cold voice: +</p> + +<p> +“The Jew whom the lady Baaltis has chosen as husband will not do homage +to her gods. Therefore, as Mother of the priestesses and Advocate of Baaltis, I +demand that Elissa, daughter of Sakon, be put to death, and the throne of +Baaltis be purged of one who has defiled it, lest the swift and terrible +vengeance of the goddess should fall upon this city.” +</p> + +<p> +The Shadid motioned to her to be silent, and addressed Aziel:— +</p> + +<p> +“We pray you to think a while,” he said, “before you give one +to death whose only sin is that, being the high-priestess of our worship, she +has named an unbeliever to fill the throne of El and be her husband. Out of +pity for her fate we give you time to think.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Sakon, taking advantage of the pause, rushed forward, and throwing his arms +about Aziel’s knees, implored him in heart-breaking accents to preserve +his only child from so horrible a doom. He said that did he refuse to save her +because of his religious scruples, he would be a dog and a coward, and the +scorn of all honest men for ever. It was for love of him that she had broken +the priestly law, to violate which was death, and although he had been warned +of her danger, yet in his wickedness and folly he had brought her to this pass. +Would he then desert her now? +</p> + +<p> +But Issachar thrust him aside, and broke in with fiery words:— +</p> + +<p> +“Hearken not to this man, Aziel,” he said, “who strives to +work upon your weakness to the ruin of your soul. What! To save the life of one +woman, whose fair face has brought so much trouble upon us all, would you deny +your Lord and become the thrall of Baal and Ashtoreth? Let her die since die +she must, and keep your own heart pure, for be assured, should you do +otherwise, Jehovah, whom you renounce, will swiftly be avenged on you and her. +At the beginning I warned you, and you would not listen. Now, Aziel, I warn you +again, and woe! woe! woe! to you should you shut your ears to my +message.” Then lifting his hands towards the skies, he began to pray +aloud that Aziel might be constant in his trial. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, Metem, who had drawn near, spoke in a low voice:— +</p> + +<p> +“Prince,” he said, “I am not chicken-hearted, and there are +so many young women in the world that one more or less can scarcely matter; +still, although she threatened to murder me three days ago, I cannot bear to +see this one come to so dreadful a death. Prince, do not heed the howlings of +that old fanatic, but remember that after all you are the cause of this +lady’s plight, and play the part of a man. Can you for the sake of your +own scruples, however worthy, or of your own soul even, however valuable to +yourself, doom the fair body of a woman who risked all for you to such an end +as that?” And shuddering he nodded towards the gloomy precipice. +</p> + +<p> +“Is there no other way?” Aziel asked him. +</p> + +<p> +“None, I swear it. They did not wish to kill her, except that wild-cat +Mesa who seeks her place, but having put her on her public trial, if you +persist—they must. +</p> + +<p> +“This is one of the few laws which cannot be broken for favour or for +gold, since the people, who are already half-mad with fear of Ithobal, believe +that to break it would bring the curses of heaven upon their city. Perhaps we +might have found some other plan, but none of us even dreamed that you would +refuse so small a thing for the sake of a woman whom you swore you +loved.” +</p> + +<p> +“A small thing!” broke in Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince, a very small thing. Remember, this offering of incense is +but a form to which you are forced against your will—you can do penance +for it afterwards when I have arranged for both of you to escape the city. If +your God can be angry with you for burning a pinch of dust to save a woman, who +at the least has dared much for you, then give me Baal, for he is less +cruel.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel looked towards him who held the bowl of incense. But Elissa who all +this while had stood silent, stepped forward and spoke:— +</p> + +<p> +“Prince Aziel,” she said in a calm and quiet voice, “I named +you husband to save your life, but with all my strength I pray of you, do not +this thing to save mine, which is of little value and perhaps best ended. +Remember, prince Aziel, that being what you are, a Jew, this act of offering, +however small it seems, is yet the greatest of sins, and one with which you +should not dare to stain your soul for the sake of a woman, who has chanced to +love you to your sorrow. Be guided, therefore, by the true wisdom of Issachar +and by my humble prayer. Make an end of your doubts and let me die, knowing +that we do but part a while, since in the Gate of Death I shall wait for you, +prince Aziel.” +</p> + +<p> +Before Aziel could answer, the Shadid, either because his patience was outworn, +or because he wished to put him to a sharper trial, uttered a command. +“Be it done to her as she desires.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereon four priests seized Elissa by the wrists and ankles. Carrying her to +the edge of the precipice, they thrust her back till she hung over it, her long +hair streaming downwards, and the red light of the sunset shining upon her +upturned ghastly face. Then they paused, waiting for the signal to let her go. +The Shadid raised his wand and said:— +</p> + +<p> +“Is it your pleasure that this woman should die or live, prince Aziel? +Decide swiftly, for my arm is weak, and when the wand falls opportunity for +choice will have passed from you.” +</p> + +<p> +Now all eyes were fixed upon the wand, and the intense silence was only broken +by Sakon’s cry of despair. Metem wrung his hands in grief; even Issachar +veiled his eyes with his robe, to shut out the sight of dread, and the priest, +who bore the bowl of incense, thrust it towards Aziel imploringly. +</p> + +<p> +For some seconds, three perhaps, though to him they seemed an age, the heart of +Aziel was racked and torn in this terrific contest. Then he glanced at the +agonized face of the doomed woman, and just as the wand began to bend, his +human love and pity conquered. +</p> + +<p> +“May He Whom I blaspheme forgive me,” he murmured, adding aloud, +“I will do sacrifice.” Taking the incense in his hand now he cast +it into the flames upon the altar, repeating mechanically after the Shadid: +“By this sacrifice and homage, body and soul I give myself to you and +worship you, El and Baaltis, the only true gods.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +The echo of Aziel’s voice died away, and the fumes of the incense rose in +a straight dense column upon that quiet air. To his tormented mind, it seemed +as though its smoke took the form of an avenging angel, holding in the hand a +sword of flame, wherewith to drive away his perjured soul from Heaven, as our +first forefathers were driven from the shining gates of paradise. Yes, and they +were not human, those spectators who, in the intense glow of the sunset, stood +in their still ranks and stared at him with wide and eager eyes. Surely they +were fiends red with the blood of men, fiends gathered from the Pit to bear +everlasting witness to the unpardonable sin of his apostasy. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap14"></a>CHAPTER XIV<br /> +THE MARTYRDOM OF ISSACHAR</h2> + +<p> +It was done, and from the mouths of the circle of priests and priestesses leapt +a shrill and sudden cry of triumph. For had not their gods conquered? Had not +this high-placed servant of the hated Lord of Israel been caught by the bait of +a priestess of Baaltis, and seduced by her distress to deny and reject Him? Was +not evil once more triumphant, and must not they, its ministers, rejoice? +</p> + +<p> +Again the Shadid raised his wand and they were silent. +</p> + +<p> +“Brother you have, indeed, done well and wisely,” he said, +addressing Aziel. “Now take to wife the divine lady who has chosen +you,” and he pointed to Elissa, who lay prostrated on the rock. +“Yes, take her and be happy in her love, sitting in my seat, which +henceforth is yours, as ruler of the priests of El and master of their +mysteries, forgetting the follies of your former faith, and spitting on its +altars. Hail to you, Shadid, Lord of the Baaltis and chosen of El! Take him, +you priests, and with him the divine lady, his wife, to bear them in triumph to +their high house.” +</p> + +<p> +“What of the Levite?” asked the woman Mesa. +</p> + +<p> +The Shadid glanced at Issachar, who all this while had stood like one stricken +to the soul, woe stamped upon his face, and a stare of horror in his eyes. +“Jew,” he said, “I had forgotten you, but you also are on +your trial, who dared against the law to hold secret meeting with the lady +Baaltis. For this sin the punishment is death, nor, as I think, would any woman +name you husband to save you. Still in this hour of joy we will be merciful; +therefore do as your master did, cast incense on the altar, uttering the +appointed words, and go your way.” +</p> + +<p> +“Before I make my offering on yonder altar according to your command, I +have indeed some words to say, O priest of El,” answered Issachar +quietly, but in a voice that chilled the blood of those who listened. +</p> + +<p> +“First, I address myself to you, Aziel, and to you, woman,” and he +pointed to Elissa, who had risen, and leaned, trembling, upon her father. +“My dream is fulfilled. Aziel, you have sinned indeed, and must bear the +appointed punishment of your sin. Yet hear a message of mercy spoken through my +lips: Because you have sinned through love and pity, your offence is not unto +death. Still shall you sorrow for it all your life’s days, and in +desolation of heart and bitterness of soul shall creep back to the feet of Him +you have forsworn. +</p> + +<p> +“Woman, your spirit is noble and your feet are set in the way of +righteousness, yet through you has this offence come. Therefore your love shall +bear no fruit, nor shall the blasphemy of your beloved save your flesh from +doom. Upon this earth there is no hope for you, daughter of Sakon; set your +eyes beyond it, for there alone is hope. +</p> + +<p> +“Yonder she stands who swore our lives away?” and he fixed his +burning gaze on Mesa. “Priestess, you plotted this that you might succeed +to the throne of Baaltis; now hear your fate: You shall live to sweep the huts +and bear the babes of savages. You, priest,” and he pointed to the +Shadid, “I read your heart; you design to murder this apostate whom you +greet as your successor that you may usurp his place. I show you yours: it lies +in the bellies of the jackals of the desert. +</p> + +<p> +“For you priests and priestesses of El and Baaltis, think of my words, +and raise the loud song of triumph to your gods when you yourselves are their +offering, and the red flame of the fire burns you up, all of you save your +sins, which are immortal. O citizens of an accursed city, look on the hill-top +yonder and tell me, what do you see in the light of the dying day? A sheen of +spears, is it not? They draw near to your hearts, you whose day is done indeed, +citizens of an accursed city whereof the very name shall be forgotten, and the +naked towers shall become but a source of wonder to men unborn. +</p> + +<p> +“And now, O priest, having said my say, as you bid me, I make my offering +upon your altar.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, while all stood fearful and amazed, Issachar the Levite sprang forward, +and seizing the ancient image of Baaltis, he spat upon it and dashed the +priceless consecrated thing down upon the altar, where it broke into fragments, +and was burned with the fire. +</p> + +<p> +“My offering is made,” he said; “may He whom I serve accept +it. Now after the offering comes the sacrifice; son Aziel, fare you +well.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +For a few moments a silence of horror and dismay fell upon the assembly as they +gazed at the shattered and burning fragments of their holy image. Then moved by +a common impulse, with curses and yells of fury, the priests and priestesses +sprang from their seats and hurled themselves upon Issachar, who stood awaiting +them with folded arms. They smote him with their ivory rods, they rent and tore +him with their hands and teeth, worrying him as dogs worry a fox of the hills, +till at length the life was beaten and trampled out of him and he lay dead. +</p> + +<p> +Thus terribly, but yet by such a death of martyrdom as he would have chosen, +perished Issachar the Levite. +</p> + +<p> +Unarmed though he was, Aziel had sprung to his aid, but Metem and Sakon, +knowing that he would but bring about his own destruction, flung themselves +upon him and held him back. Whilst he was still struggling with them the end +came, and Issachar grew still for ever. Then, as the sun sank and the darkness +fell, Aziel’s strength left him, and presently he slipped to the ground +senseless. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +Thereafter it seemed to Aziel that he was plunged in an endless and dreadful +dream, and that through its turmoil and shifting visions, he could see +continually the dreadful death of Issachar, and hear his stern accents +prophesying woe to him who renounces the God of his forefathers to bow the knee +to Baal. +</p> + +<p> +At length he awoke from that horror-haunted sleep to find himself lying in a +strange chamber. It was night, and lamps burned in the chamber, and by their +light he saw a man whose face he knew mixing a draught in a glass phial. So +weak was he that at first he could not remember the man’s name, then by +slow degrees it came to him. +</p> + +<p> +“Metem,” he said, “where am I?” +</p> + +<p> +The Phœnician looked up from his task, smiled, and answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Where you should be, Prince, in your own house, the palace of the +Shadid. But you must not speak, for you have been ill; drink this and +sleep.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel swallowed the draught and was instantly overcome by slumber. When he +awoke the sun was shining brightly through the window place, and its rays fell +upon the shrewd, kindly face of Metem, who, seated on a stool, watched him, his +chin resting in his hand. +</p> + +<p> +“Tell me all that has befallen, friend,” said Aziel presently, +“since——” and he shuddered. +</p> + +<p> +“Since you were married after a new fashion and that bigoted but most +honourable fool, Issachar, went to his reward. Well, I will when you have +eaten,” answered Metem as he gave him food. “First,” he said, +after a while, “you have lain here for three days raving in a fever, +nursed by myself and visited by your wife the lady Baaltis, whenever she could +escape from her religious duties——” +</p> + +<p> +“Elissa! Has she been here?” asked Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Calm yourself, Prince, certainly she has, and, what is more, she will be +back soon. Secondly: Ithobal has been as good as his word, and invests the city +with a vast army, cutting off all supplies and possibilities of escape. It is +believed that he will try an assault within the next week, which many think may +be successful. Thirdly: to avoid this risk it is rumoured that the priests and +priestesses, at the instance of the council, are discussing the wisdom of +giving over to the king the person of the daughter of Sakon. This, it is said, +could be done on the plea that her election as the lady Baaltis was brought +about with bribery, and is, therefore, void, as she was not chosen by the pure +and unassisted will of the goddess.” +</p> + +<p> +“But,” said Aziel, “she is my wife according to their +religious law; how then can she be given in marriage to another?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Prince, if she is not the lady Baaltis your husbandship falls to +the ground with the rest, for you are not the Shadid, an office with which +perchance you can dispense. But all this priestly juggling means little, the +truth being that the city in its terror is ready to throw her—or for the +matter of that, Baaltis herself if they could lay hands on her—as a sop +to Ithobal, hoping thereby to appease his rage. The lady Elissa knows her +danger—but here she comes to speak for herself.” +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke the curtains at the end of the chamber were drawn, and through them +came Elissa, clad in her splendid robes of office and wearing upon her brow the +golden crescent of the moon. +</p> + +<p> +“How goes it with the prince, Metem?” she asked in her soft voice, +glancing anxiously towards the couch which was half-hidden in the shadow of the +wall. +</p> + +<p> +“Look for yourself, lady,” answered the Phœnician bowing before +her. +</p> + +<p> +“Elissa, Elissa!” cried Aziel, raising himself and opening his +arms. +</p> + +<p> +She saw and heard, then, with a low cry, she ran swiftly to him and was wrapped +in his embrace. Thus they stayed a while, murmuring words of love and greeting. +</p> + +<p> +“Is it your pleasure that I should leave you?” asked Metem +presently. “No? Then, Prince, I would have you remember that you are +still very weak and should not give way to violent emotions.” +</p> + +<p> +“Listen, Aziel,” said Elissa, untwining his arms from about her +neck, “there is no time for tenderness; moreover, you should show none to +one who, in name at least, is still the high-priestess of Baaltis, though in +truth she worships her no longer. It was noble of you indeed to offer incense +upon the altar of El that my life might be saved. But when I prayed you not, I +spoke from the heart, and bitterly, bitterly do I grieve that for my sake you +should have stained your hands with such a sin. Moreover, it will avail +nothing, for the doom of the prophet Issachar lies upon us, and I cannot escape +from death, neither can you escape remorse, and as I think, that worst of all +desires—the desire for the dead.” +</p> + +<p> +“Can we not still flee the city?” asked Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Metem will tell you that it is impossible; day and night I am watched +and guarded, yes, Mesa dogs me from door to door. Also Ithobal holds Zimboe so +firmly in his net that no sparrow could fly out of it and he not know. And +there is worse to tell: Beloved, they purpose to give me up as a peace-offering +to Ithobal. Yes, even my father is of the plot, for in his despair he thinks it +his duty to sacrifice his daughter to save the town, if, indeed, that will +suffice to save us.” +</p> + +<p> +“But you are the Baaltis and inviolate.” +</p> + +<p> +“In such a time the goddess herself would not be held inviolate in +Zimboe, much less her priestess, Aziel. I have discovered that this very night +they have laid their plans to seize me. Mesa and others have been chosen for +the deed, and afterwards they think to offer me as a bribe to Ithobal, who will +take no other price.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel groaned aloud: “It were better that we should die,” he said. +</p> + +<p> +She nodded and answered: “It were better that <i>I</i> should die. But +hear me, for I also have a plan, and there is still hope, though very little. +Perhaps, as you drew near to Zimboe by the coast road, you may have noted three +miles or more from the gates of the city, and almost overhanging the path on +which you travelled, a shoulder of the mountain where the rock is cut away, +showing the narrow entrance to a cave closed with a gate of bronze?” +</p> + +<p> +“I saw it,” answered Aziel, “and was told that there was the +most sacred burying-place of the city.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is the tomb of the high-priestesses of Baaltis,” went on +Elissa, “and this day at sunset I must visit it to lay an offering upon +the shrine of her who was the Baaltis before me, entering alone, and closing +the gate, for it is not lawful that any one should pass in there with me. Now, +the plan is to lay hands on me as I go back from the tomb to the +palace—but I shall not go back. Aziel, I shall stay in the +tomb—nay, do not fear—not dead. I have hidden food and water there, +enough for many days, and there with the departed I shall live—till I am +of their number.” +</p> + +<p> +“But if so, how can it help you, Elissa, for they will break in the gates +of the place, and drag you away?” +</p> + +<p> +“Then, Aziel, they will drag away a corpse, and that they will scarcely +care to present to Ithobal. See, I have hidden poison in my breast, and here at +my girdle hangs a dagger; are not the two of them enough to make an end of one +frail life? Should they dare to touch me, I shall tell them through the bars +that most certainly I shall drink the bane, or use the knife; and when they +know it, they will leave me unharmed, hoping to starve me out, or trusting to +chance to snare me living.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are bold,” murmured Aziel in admiration, “but +self-murder is a sin.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is a sin that I will dare, beloved, as in past days I would have +dared it for less cause, rather than be given alive into the hands of Ithobal; +for to whoever else I may be false, to you through life and death I will be +true.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel groaned in his doubt and bitterness of heart; then turning to Metem, +he asked:— +</p> + +<p> +“Have you anything to say, Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince, two things,” answered the Phœnician. “First, +that the lady Elissa is rash, indeed, to speak so openly before me who might +carry her words to the council or the priests.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Metem, I am not rash, for I know that, although you love money, you +will not betray me.” +</p> + +<p> +“You are right, lady, I shall not, for money would be of little service +to me in a city that is about to be taken by storm. Also I hate Ithobal, who +threatened my life—as you did also, by the way—and will do my best +to keep you from his clutches. Now for my second point: it is that I can see +little use in all this because Ithobal, being defrauded of you, will attack, +and then——” +</p> + +<p> +“And then he may be beaten, Metem, for the citizens will at any rate +fight for their lives, and the Prince Aziel here, who is a general skilled in +war, will fight also if he has recovered strength——” +</p> + +<p> +“Do not fear, Elissa; give me two days, and I will fight to the +death,” said Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“At the least,” she went on, “this scheme gives us breathing +time, and who knows but that fortune will turn. Or if it does not, since it is +impossible for me to escape from the city, I have no better.” +</p> + +<p> +“No more have I,” said Metem, “for at length the oldest fox +comes to his last double. I could escape from this city, or the prince might +escape, or the lady Elissa even might possibly escape disguised, but I am sure +that all three of us could not escape, seeing that within the walls we are +watched and without them the armies of Ithobal await us. Oh! prince Aziel, I +should have done well to go, as I might have gone when you and Issachar were +taken after that mad meeting in the temple, from which I never looked for +anything but ill; but I grow foolish in my old age, and thought that I should +like to see the last of you. Well, so far we are all alive, except Issachar, +who, although bigoted, was still the most worthy of us, but how long we shall +remain alive I cannot say. +</p> + +<p> +“Now our best chance is to defeat Ithobal if we can, and afterwards in +the confusion to fly from Zimboe and join our servants, to whom I have sent +word to await us in a secret place beyond the first range of hills. If we +cannot—why then we must go a little sooner than we expected to find out +who it is that really shapes the destinies of men, and whether or no the sun +and moon are the chariots of El and Baaltis. But, Prince, you turn pale.” +</p> + +<p> +“It is nothing,” said Aziel, “bring me some water, the fever +still burns in me.” +</p> + +<p> +Metem went to seek for water, while Elissa knelt by the couch and pressed her +lover’s hand. +</p> + +<p> +“I dare stay no longer,” she whispered, “and Aziel, I know +not how or when we shall meet again, but my heart is heavy, for, alas! I think +that doom draws near me. I have brought much sorrow upon you, Aziel, and yet +more upon myself, and I have given you nothing, except that most common of all +things, a woman’s love.” +</p> + +<p> +“That most perfect of all things,” he answered, “which I am +glad to have lived to win.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, but not at the price that you have paid for it. I know well what it +must have cost you to cast that incense on the flame, and I pray to your God, +who has become my God, to visit the sin of it on my head and to leave yours +unharmed. Aziel, Aziel! woman or spirit, while I have life and memory, I am +yours, and yours only; clean-handed I leave you, and if we may meet again in +this or in any other world, clean and faithful I shall come to you again. Glad +am I to have lived, because in my life I have known you and you have sworn you +love me. Glad shall I be to live again if again I may know you and hear that +oath—if not, it is sleep I seek; for life without you to me would be a +hell. You grow weak, and I must go. Farewell, and living or dead, forget me +not; swear that you will not forget me.” +</p> + +<p> +“I swear it,” he answered faintly; “and Heaven grant that I +may die for you, not you for me.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is no prayer of mine,” she whispered; and, bending, kissed +him on the brow, for he was too weak to lift his lips to hers. +</p> + +<p> +Then she was gone. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap15"></a>CHAPTER XV<br /> +ELISSA TAKES SANCTUARY</h2> + +<p> +Two more hours had passed, and in the evening light a procession of priestesses +might be seen advancing slowly towards the holy tomb along a narrow road of +rock cut in the mountain face. In front of this procession, wearing a black +veil over her broidered robes, walked Elissa with downcast eyes and hair +unbound in token of grief, while behind her came Mesa and other priestesses +bearing in bowls of alabaster the offerings to the dead, food and wine, and +lamps of oil, and vases filled with perfumes. Behind these again marched the +mourners, women who sang a funeral dirge and from time to time broke into a +wail of simulated grief. Nor, indeed, was their woe as hollow as might be +thought, since from that mountain path they could see the outposts of the army +of Ithobal upon the plain, and note with a shudder of fear the spear-heads of +his countless thousands shining in the gorges of the opposing heights. It was +not for the dead Baaltis that they mourned this day, but for the fate which +overshadowed them and their city of gold. +</p> + +<p> +“May the curse of all the gods fall on her,” muttered one of the +priestesses as she toiled forward beneath her load of offerings; “because +she is beautiful and pettish, we must be put to the spear, or become the wives +of savages,” and she pointed with her chin to Elissa, who walked in +front, lost in her own thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +“Have patience,” answered Mesa at her side, “you know the +plan—to-night that proud girl and false priestess shall sleep in the camp +of Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“Will he be satisfied with that,” asked the woman, “and leave +the city in peace?” +</p> + +<p> +“They say so,” answered Mesa with a laugh, “though it is +strange that a king should exchange spoil and glory for one round-eyed, +thin-limbed girl who loves his rival. Well, let us thank the gods that made men +foolish, and gave us women wit to profit by their folly. If he wants her, let +him take her, for few will be poorer by her loss.” +</p> + +<p> +“You at least will be richer,” said the other woman, “and by +the crown of Baaltis. Well, I do not grudge it you, and as for the daughter of +Sakon, she shall be Ithobal’s if I take her to him limb by limb.” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, sister, that is not the bargain; remember she must be delivered to +him without hurt or blemish; otherwise we shall do sacrilege in vain. Be +silent, here is the cave.” +</p> + +<p> +Reaching the platform in front of the tomb, the procession of mourners ranged +themselves about it in a semi-circle. They stood with their backs to the edge +of a cliff that rose sheer for sixty feet or more from the plain beneath, +across which, but at a little distance from the foot of the precipice ran the +road followed by the caravans of merchants in their journeys to and from the +coast. Then, a hymn having been sung invoking the blessing of the gods on the +dead priestess, Elissa, as the Baaltis, unlocked the gates of bronze with a +golden key that hung at her girdle, and the bearers of the bowls of offerings +pushed them into the mouth of the tomb, whose threshold they were not allowed +to pass. Next, with bowed heads and hands crossed upon her breast, Elissa +entered the tomb, and locking the bronze gate behind her, took up two of the +bowls and vanished with them into its gloomy depths. +</p> + +<p> +“Why did she lock the gates?” asked a priestess of Mesa. “It +is not customary.” +</p> + +<p> +“Doubtless because it was her pleasure to do so,” answered Mesa +sharply, though she also wondered why Elissa had locked the gate. +</p> + +<p> +When an hour was gone by and Elissa had not returned, her wonder turned to fear +and doubt. +</p> + +<p> +“Call to the lady Baaltis,” she said, “for her prayers are +long, and I fear lest she should have come to harm.” +</p> + +<p> +So they called, setting their lips against the bars of the gate till presently, +Elissa, holding a lamp in her hand, came and stood before them. +</p> + +<p> +“Why do you disturb me in the sanctuary?” she asked. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, because they set the night watch on the walls,” answered +Mesa, “and it is time to return to the temple.” +</p> + +<p> +“Return then,” said Elissa, “and leave me in peace. What, you +cannot, Mesa? Nay, and shall I tell you why? Because you had plotted to deliver +me this night to those who should lead me as a peace-offering to Ithobal, and +when you come to them empty-handed they will greet you with harsh words. Nay, +do not trouble to deny it, Mesa. I also have my spies, and know all the plan; +and, therefore, I have taken sanctuary in this holy place.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Mesa pressed her thin lips together and answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Those who dare to lay hands upon the person of the living Baaltis will +not shrink from seeking her in the company of her dead sisters.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know it, Mesa; but the gates are barred, and here I have food and +drink in plenty.” +</p> + +<p> +“Gates, however strong, can be broken,” answered the priestess, +“so, lady, do not wait till you are dragged hence like some discovered +slave.” +</p> + +<p> +“Ay,” replied Elissa, with a little laugh, “but what if +rather than be thus dishonoured, I should choose to break another gate, that of +my own life? Look, traitress, here is poison and here is bronze, and I swear to +you that should any lay a hand upon me, by one or other of them I will die +before their eyes. Then, if you will, bear these bones to Ithobal and take his +thanks for them. Now, begone, and give this message to my father and to all +those who have plotted with him, that since they cannot bribe Ithobal with my +beauty, they will do well to be men, and to fight him with their swords.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she turned and left them, vanishing into the darkness of the tomb. +</p> + +<p> +Great indeed was the dismay of the councillors of Zimboe and of the priests who +had plotted with them when, an hour later, Mesa came, not to deliver Elissa +into their hands, but to repeat to them her threats and message. In vain did +they appeal to Sakon, who only shook his head and answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Of this I am sure, that what my daughter has threatened that she will +certainly do if you force her to the choice. But if you will not believe me, go +ask her and satisfy yourselves. I know well what she will answer you, and I +hold that this is a judgment upon us, who first made her Baaltis against her +will, then threatened her with death because of the prince Aziel, and now would +do sacrilege to her sacred office and violence to herself by tearing her from +her consecrated throne, breaking her bond of marriage and delivering her to +Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +So the leaders of the councillors visited the holy tomb and reasoned with +Elissa through the bars. But they got no comfort from her, for she spoke to +them with the phial of poison in her bosom and the naked dagger in her hand, +telling them what she had told Mesa—that they had best give up their +plottings and fight Ithobal like men, seeing that even if she surrendered +herself to him, when he grew weary of her the war must come at last. +</p> + +<p> +“For a hundred years,” she added, “this storm has gathered, +and now it must burst. When it has rolled away it will be known who is master +of the land—the ancient city of Zimboe, or Ithobal king of the +Tribes.” +</p> + +<p> +So they went back as they had come, and next day at the dawn, with a bold face +but heavy hearts, received the messengers of king Ithobal, and told them their +tale. The messengers heard and laughed. +</p> + +<p> +“We are glad,” they answered, “since we, who are not in love +with the daughter of Sakon, desire war and not peace, holding as we do that the +time has come when you upstart white men—you outlanders—who have +usurped our country to suck away its wealth should be set beneath our heel. Nor +do we think that the task will be difficult for surely we have little to fear +from a city of low money seekers whose councillors cannot even conquer the will +of a single maid.” +</p> + +<p> +Then in their despair the elders offered other girls to Ithobal in marriage, as +many as he would, and with them a great bribe in money. But the envoys took +their leave, saying that nothing would avail since they preferred spear-thrusts +to gold, for which they had little use, and Ithobal, their king, had fixed his +fancy on one woman alone. +</p> + +<p> +So with a heavy and foreboding heart, the city of Zimboe prepared itself to +resist attack, for as they had guessed, when he learned all, the rage of +Ithobal was great. Nor would he listen to any terms that they could offer save +one which they had no power to grant—that Elissa should be delivered +unharmed into his hands. Councils of war were held, and to these, so soon as he +was sufficiently recovered from his sickness, the prince Aziel was bidden, for +he was known to be a skilled captain; therefore, though he had been the cause +of much of their trouble, they sought his aid. Also, should the struggle be +prolonged, they hoped through him to win Israel, and perhaps Egypt, to their +cause. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel’s counsel was that they should sally out against the army of +Ithobal by night, since he expected to attack and not to be attacked, but to +that advice they would not listen, for they trusted to their walls. Indeed, in +this Metem supported them, and when the prince argued with him, he +answered:— +</p> + +<p> +“Your tactics would be good enough, Prince, if you had at your back the +lions of Judah, or the wild Arab horsemen of the desert. But here you must deal +with men of my own breed, and we Phœnicians are traders, not fighting men. +Like rats, we fight only when there is no other chance for our lives; nor do we +strike the first blow. It is true that there are some good soldiers in the +city, but they are foreign mercenaries; and as for the rest, half-breeds and +freed slaves, they belong as much to Ithobal as to Sakon, and are not to be +trusted. No, no; let us stay behind our walls, for they at least were built +when men were honest and will not betray us.” +</p> + +<p> +Now in Zimboe were three lines of defence; first, that of a single wall built +about the huts of the slaves upon the plain, then that of a double wall of +stone with a ditch between thrown round the Phœnician city, and lastly, the +great fortress-temple and the rocky heights above. These, guarded as they were +by many strongholds within whose circle the cattle were herded, as it was +thought, could only be taken with the sword of hunger. +</p> + +<p> +At last the storm burst, for on the fifth morning after Elissa had barred +herself within the tomb, Ithobal attacked the native town. Uttering their wild +battle-cries, tens of thousands of his savage warriors, armed with great spears +and shields of ox-hide, and wearing crests of plumes upon their heads, charged +down upon the outer wall. Twice they were driven back, but the work was in bad +repair and too long to defend, so that at the third rush they flowed over it +like lines of marching ants, driving its defenders before them to the inner +gates. In this battle some were killed, but the most of the slaves threw down +their arms and went over to Ithobal, who spared them, together with their wives +and children. +</p> + +<p> +Through all the night that followed, the generals of Zimboe made ready for the +onslaught which must come. Everywhere within the circuit of the inner wall +troops were stationed, while the double southern gateway, where prince Aziel +was the captain in command, was built up with loose blocks of stone. +</p> + +<p> +A while before the dawn, just as the eastern sky grew grey, Aziel, watching +from his post above the gate of the wall, heard the fierce war-song of the +Tribes swell suddenly from fifty thousand throats and the measured tramp of +their innumerable feet. Then the day broke, and he saw them advancing in three +armies towards the three points chosen for attack, the largest of the armies, +headed by Ithobal the king, directing its march upon the walled gate of which +he was in command. +</p> + +<p> +It was a wondrous and a fearful sight, that of these hordes of plumed warriors, +their broad spears flashing in the sunrise, and their fierce faces alight with +hereditary hate and the lust of slaughter. Never had Aziel seen such a +spectacle, nor could he look upon it without dreading the issue of the war, for +if they were savages, these foes were brave as the lions of their own plains, +and had sworn by the head of their king to drag down the sheltering walls of +Zimboe with their naked hands, or die to the last man. +</p> + +<p> +Turning his head with a sigh of doubt, Aziel found Metem standing at his side. +</p> + +<p> +“Have you seen her?” he asked eagerly. +</p> + +<p> +“No, Prince. How could I see her at night when she sits in a tomb like a +fox in his burrow? But I have heard her.” +</p> + +<p> +“What did she say? Quick man, tell me.” +</p> + +<p> +“But little, Prince, for the tomb is watched and I dared not stay there +long. She sent you her greetings and would have you know that her heart will be +with you in the battle, and her prayers beseech the throne of Heaven for your +safety. Also she said that she is well, though it is lonesome there in the +grave among the bodies of the dead priestesses of Baaltis whose spirits, as she +vows, haunt her dreams, reviling her because she desecrates their sepulchre and +has renounced their god.” +</p> + +<p> +“Lonesome, indeed,” said Aziel with a shudder; “but tell me, +Metem, had she no other word?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince, but not of good omen, for now as always she is sure that +her doom is at hand, and that you two will meet no more. Still she bade me tell +you that all your life long her spirit shall companion you though it be unseen, +to receive you at the last on the threshold of the underworld.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel turned his head away, and said presently:— +</p> + +<p> +“If that be so, may it receive me soon.” +</p> + +<p> +“Have no fear, Prince,” replied Metem with a grim laugh, +“look yonder,” and he pointed to the advancing hosts. +</p> + +<p> +“These walls are strong and we shall beat them back,” said Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, Prince, for strong walls do not avail without strong hearts to +guard them, and those of the womanish citizens of Zimboe and their hired +soldiers are white with fear. I tell you that the prophecies of Issachar the +Levite, made yonder in the temple on the day of the sacrifice, and again in the +hour of his death, have taken hold of the people, and by eating out their +valour, fulfil themselves. +</p> + +<p> +“Men hint at them, the women whisper them in closets, and the very +children cry them in the streets. +</p> + +<p> +“More—one man last night pointed to the skies and shrieked that in +them he saw that fiery sword of doom of which the prophet spoke hanging point +downwards above the city, whereon all present vowed they saw it too, though, as +I think, it was but a cross of stars. Another tells how that he met the very +spirit of Issachar stalking through the market-place, and that peering into the +eyes of the wraith, as in a mirror, he saw a great flame wrapping the temple +walls, and by the light of it his own dead body. This man was the priest who +first struck down the holy Levite yonder in the place of judgment. +</p> + +<p> +“Again, when the lady Mesa did sacrifice last night on behalf of the +Baaltis who has fled, the child they offered, an infant of six months, stirred +on the altar after it was dead and cried with a loud voice that before three +suns had set, its blood should be required at their hands. That is the story, +and if I do not believe it, this at least is true, that the priestesses fled +fast from the secret chamber of death, for I met them as they ran shrieking in +their terror and tearing at their robes. But what need is there to dwell on +omens, true or false, when cowards man the walls, and the spears of Ithobal +shine yonder like all the stars of heaven? Prince, I tell you that this ancient +city is doomed, and in it, as I fear, we must end our wanderings upon +earth.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it, if it must be,” answered Aziel, “at the least I +will die fighting.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I also will die fighting, Prince, not because I love it, but because +it is better than being butchered in cold blood by a savage with a spear. Oh! +why did you ever chance to stumble upon the lady Elissa making her prayer to +Baaltis, and what evil spirit was it which filled your brains with this sudden +madness of love towards each other? That was the beginning of the trouble, +which, but for those eyes of hers, would have held off long enough to see us +safe at Tyre, though doubtless soon or late it must have come. But see, yonder +marches Ithobal at the head of his guard. Give me a bow, the flight is long, +but perchance I can reach his black heart with an arrow.” +</p> + +<p> +“Save your strength,” answered Aziel, “the range is too +great, and presently you will have enough of shooting,” and he turned to +talk to the officers of the guard. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap16"></a>CHAPTER XVI<br /> +THE CAGE OF DEATH</h2> + +<p> +An hour later the attack commenced at chosen points of the double wall, one of +them being the southern gate. In front of the advancing columns of savages were +driven vast numbers of slaves, many of whom had been captured, or had +surrendered in the outer town. These men were laden with faggots to fill the +ditch, rude ladders wherewith to scale the walls, and heavy trunks of trees to +be used in breaching them. For the most part, they were unarmed, and protected +only by their burdens, which they held before them as shields, and by the +arrows of the warriors of Ithobal. But these did little harm to the defenders, +who were hidden behind the walls, whereas the shafts of the garrison, rained on +them from above, killed or wounded the slaves by scores, who, poor creatures, +when they turned to fly, were driven onward by the spear-points of the savages, +to be slain in heaps like game in a pitfall. Still, some of them lived, and +running under the shelter of the wall, began to breach it with the rude +battering rams, and to raise the scaling ladders till death found them, or they +were worn out with excitement, fear and labour. +</p> + +<p> +Then the real attack began. With fierce yells, the threefold column rushed at +the wall, and began to work the rams and scale the ladders, while the defenders +above showered spears and arrows upon them, or crushed them with heavy stones, +or poured upon their heads boiling pitch and water, heated in great cauldrons +which stood at hand. +</p> + +<p> +Time after time they were driven back with heavy loss; and, time upon time, +fresh hordes of them advanced to the onslaught. Thrice, at the southern gate, +were the ladders raised, and thrice the stormers appeared above the level of +the wall, to be hurled back, crushed and bleeding, to the earth beneath. +</p> + +<p> +Thus the long day wore on and still the defenders held their own. +</p> + +<p> +“We shall win,” shouted Aziel to Metem, as a fresh ladder was cast +down with its weight of men to the death-strewn plain. +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, here we shall win because we fight,” answered the Phœnician, +“but elsewhere it may be otherwise.” Indeed for a while the attack +upon the south gate slackened. +</p> + +<p> +Another hour passed and presently to the left of them rose a wild yell of +triumph, and with it a shout of “Fly to the second wall. The foe is in +the fosse!” +</p> + +<p> +Metem looked and there, down the great ditch, 300 paces to their left, a flood +of savages poured towards them. “Come,” he said, “the outer +wall is lost.” But as he spoke once more the ladders rose against the +gates and flanking towers and once more Aziel sprang to cast them down. When +the deed was done, he looked behind him to find that he was cut off and +surrounded. Metem and most of his men indeed had gained the inner wall in +safety, while he with twelve only of his bravest soldiers, Jews of his own +following, who had stayed to help him to throw back the ladders, were left upon +the gateway tower. Nor was escape any longer possible, for both the plain +without and the fosse within were filled with the men of Ithobal who advanced +also by hundreds down the broad coping of the captured wall. +</p> + +<p> +“Now there is but one thing that we can do,” said Aziel; +“fight bravely till we are slain.” +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke a javelin cast from the wall beneath struck him upon the +breastplate, and though the bronze turned the iron point, it brought him to his +knees. When he found his feet again, he heard a voice calling him by name, and +looking down, saw Ithobal clad in golden harness and surrounded by his +captains. +</p> + +<p> +“You cannot escape, prince Aziel,” cried the king; “yield now +to my mercy.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel heard, and setting an arrow to his bow, loosed it at Ithobal beneath. He +was a strong and skilful archer, and the heavy shaft pierced the golden helmet +of the king, cutting his scalp down to the bone. +</p> + +<p> +“That is my answer,” cried Aziel, as Ithobal rolled upon the ground +beneath the shock of the blow. But very soon the king was up and crying his +commands from behind the shield-hedge of his captains. +</p> + +<p> +“Let the prince Aziel, and the Jews with him, be taken alive and brought +to me,” he shouted. “I will give a great reward in cattle to those +who capture them unharmed; but if any do them hurt, they themselves shall be +put to death.” +</p> + +<p> +The captains bowed and issued their orders, and presently Aziel and his +companions saw lines of unarmed men creeping up ladders set at every side of +the lofty tower. Again and again they cast off the ladders, till at length, +being so few, they could stir them no more because of the weight upon them, but +must hack at the heads of the stormers as they appeared above the parapet, +killing them one by one. +</p> + +<p> +In this fashion they slew many, but their arms grew weary at last, and ever +under the eye of their king, the brave savages crept upward, heedless of death, +till, with a shout, they poured over the battlements and rushed at the little +band of Jews. +</p> + +<p> +Now rather than be taken, Aziel sought to throw himself from the tower, but his +companions held him, and thus at last it came about that he was seized and +bound. +</p> + +<p> +As they dragged him to the stairway he looked across the fosse and saw the +mercenaries flying from the inner wall, although it was still unbreached, and +saw the citizens of Zimboe streaming by thousands to the narrow gateway of the +temple fortress. +</p> + +<p> +Then Aziel groaned in his heart and struggled no more, for he knew that the +fate of the ancient town was sealed, and that the prophecy of Issachar would be +fulfilled. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +A while later Aziel and those with him, their hands bound behind their backs, +were led by hide ropes tied about their necks through the army of the Tribes +that jeered and spat upon them as they passed, to a tent of sewn hides on the +plain, above which floated the banner of Ithobal. Into this tent the prince was +thrust alone, and there forced upon his knees by the soldiers who held him. +Before him upon a couch covered with a lion skin lay the great shape of +Ithobal, while physicians washed his wounded scalp. +</p> + +<p> +“Greeting, son of Israel and Pharaoh,” he said in a mocking voice; +“truly you are wise thus to do homage to the king of the world.” +</p> + +<p> +“A poor jest,” answered Aziel, glancing at those who held him down; +“true homage is of the heart, king Ithobal.” +</p> + +<p> +“I know it, Jew, and this also you shall give me when you are humbler. +Who taught you the use of the bow? You shoot well,” and he pointed to his +blood-stained helm, which was still transfixed by the arrow. +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” answered Aziel, “I shot but ill, for my arm was weary. +When next I draw a string against your breast, king Ithobal, I promise you a +straighter shaft.” +</p> + +<p> +“Well said,” answered the king with a laugh, “but know, dog +of a Jew, that now it is my turn to draw the string—how, I will show you +afterwards. Have they told you that the city has fallen, and that my captains +hold the gates, while the cowards of Zimboe are penned like sheep within the +temple and on the cliff-edged height above? They have fled hither for safety, +but I tell you that they would be more safe on yonder plain, for I have the key +of their stronghold, a certain passage leading from the palace of the Baaltis +to the temple; you know of it, I think. Yes, and if I had not, very soon hunger +and thirst would work for me. +</p> + +<p> +“Well, Jew, I have won, and with less trouble than I thought, and now I +hold the great city in hostage, to save or to destroy as it shall please me, +though that arrow of yours went near to robbing me of my crown of +victory.” +</p> + +<p> +“So be it,” answered Aziel, indifferently; “I have played my +part, now things must go as Fate may will.” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Jew, you fought well till they deserted you, and the doom of +cowards is little to a brave man. But what of the lady Elissa? Nay, I know all; +she has taken refuge in the tomb of Baaltis, has she not, with poison in her +bosom and bronze at her girdle to be used against her own life, should they lay +hands on her or give her to me? And all this she does for the love of you, +prince Aziel; for the love of you she refuses to become my queen, ruling over +that city which I have conquered, and all my unnumbered tribes. +</p> + +<p> +“Do you guess now why I caused you to be taken living? I will tell you; +that you may be the bait to draw her to me. To kill you would be easy; but how +would that serve, seeing that then she herself would choose to die? But, +perchance, to save your life she will live also—yes, and give herself to +me. At least, I will try it; should the plan fail—then you can pay the +price of her pride with your blood, prince Aziel.” +</p> + +<p> +“That I would do gladly,” answered Aziel, “but oh! what a +cross-bred hound you are who thus can seek to torture the heart of a helpless +woman! Have you then no manhood that you can stoop to such a coward’s +plot?” +</p> + +<p> +“Fool! it is because of my manhood that I do stoop to it,” said +Ithobal angrily. “Doubtless you think that a mad fancy and naught else +drives me to the deed, but it is not so, although in truth my heart—like +yours—chooses this woman to be my wife and none other. That fondness I +might conquer, but look you, of all things living this lady alone has dared to +cross my will, so that to-day even the sentries on their rounds and the savage +women in the kraals tell each other of how Ithobal, the great king of an +hundred tribes, has been baffled and mocked at by a girl who despises him +because his blood is not all white. Thus I am become a laughing-stock, and +therefore I will win her, cost me what it may.” +</p> + +<p> +“And I, king Ithobal, tell you that you will not win her—no, not if +you torture me to death before her eyes.” +</p> + +<p> +“That we shall see,” said the king with a sneer. Then he called to +his guard and added, “Let this man and his companions be taken to the +place prepared for them.” +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel was dragged from the tent and thrust into a wooden cage, such as were +used for carrying slaves and women from place to place upon the backs of +camels. His soldiers, who had been taken with him, were thrust also into cages, +and, with himself laden upon camels that were waiting, two cages to each camel. +Then a cloth was thrown over them, and, rising to their feet, the camels began +to march. +</p> + +<p> +When they had covered a league or more of ground Aziel learned from the motion +of the camel upon which he was secured, and the sound of the repeated blows of +its drivers, that they were ascending some steep place. At length they reached +the top of it, and were unloaded from the beasts like merchandise, but he could +see nothing, for by now the night had fallen. Then, still in the cages, they +were carried to a tent, where food and water were given them through the bars, +after which, so weary was Aziel with war, misery and the remains of recent +illness, that he fell asleep. +</p> + +<p> +At daybreak he awoke, or rather was awakened, by the sound of a familiar voice, +and, looking through his bars, perceived Metem standing before them, guarded +but unbound, with indignation written on his face, and tears in his quick eyes. +</p> + +<p> +“Alas!” he cried, “that I should have lived to see the seed +of Israel and Pharaoh thus fastened like a wild beast in a den, while +barbarians make a mock of him. Oh! Prince, it were better that you should die +rather than endure such shame.” +</p> + +<p> +“Misfortunes are the master of man, not man of his misfortunes, +Metem,” said Aziel quietly, “and in them is no true disgrace. Even +if I had the means to kill myself, it would be a sin; moreover, it might bring +another to her death. Therefore, I await my doom, whatever it may be, with such +patience as I can, trusting that my sufferings and ignominy may expiate my +crimes in the sight of Him whom I renounced. But how come you here, +Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“I came under the safe-conduct of Ithobal who gave me leave to visit you, +doubtless for some ends of his own. Have you heard, Prince, that he holds the +gates of the city, though as yet no harm has been done to it, and that its +inhabitants are crowded within the temple, and upon the heights above; also +that in his despair Sakon has fallen on his sword and slain himself?” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it so?” answered Aziel. “Well, Issachar foretold as much. +On their own heads be the doom of these devil-worshippers and cowards. Have you +any tidings of the lady Elissa?” +</p> + +<p> +“Yes, Prince. She still sits yonder in the tomb, resolute in her purpose, +and giving no answer to those who come to reason with her.” +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke the guard let fall the front of the tent so that the sunlight +flowed into it, revealing Aziel and his twelve companions, each fast in his +narrow and shameful prison. “See,” said Metem, “do you know +the place?” +</p> + +<p> +The prince struggled to his knees, and saw that they were set upon the top of a +hill, built up of granite boulders, which rose eighty feet or more from the +surface of the plain. Opposite to them at a distance of under a hundred paces +was a precipice in the face of which could be seen a cave closed with barred +gates of bronze, while between the rocky hill and the precipice ran a road. +</p> + +<p> +“I know it, Metem; there runs the path by which we travelled from the +coast, and there is the tomb of Baaltis. Why have we been brought here?” +</p> + +<p> +“The lady Elissa sits behind the bars of yonder tomb whence her view of +all that happens upon this mount must be very good indeed,” answered +Metem with meaning. “Now, can you guess why you were brought here, prince +Aziel.” +</p> + +<p> +“Is it that she may witness our sufferings under torment?” he +asked. +</p> + +<p> +Metem nodded. +</p> + +<p> +“How will they deal with us, Metem?” +</p> + +<p> +“Wait and see,” he answered sadly. +</p> + +<p> +As he spoke Ithobal himself appeared followed by certain evil-looking savages. +Having greeted Metem courteously he turned to the Hebrew soldiers in the cages +and asked them which of their number was most prepared to die. +</p> + +<p> +“I, Ithobal, who am their leader,” said Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“No, Prince,” replied Ithobal with a cruel smile, “your time +is not yet. Look, there is a man who has been wounded; to put him out of his +pain will be a kindness. Slaves, bear that Jew to the edge of the rock, +and—as the prince will wish to study a new mode of death—bring his +cage also.” +</p> + +<p> +The order was obeyed, Aziel being set down upon the very verge of the cliff. +Close to him a spur of granite jutted out twenty feet or so from the edge. At +the end of the spur a groove was cut and over this groove, suspended by a thin +chain from a pole, hung a wedge of pure crystal carefully shaped and polished. +While Aziel wondered what evil purpose this stone might serve, the slaves had +fastened a fine rope to the cage containing the wounded Hebrew soldier and +secured its end. Then they set the rope in the groove of the granite spur, and +pushed the cage over the edge of the cliff, so that it dangled in mid-air. +</p> + +<p> +“Now I will explain,” said Ithobal. “This is a method of +punishment that I have borrowed from those followers of Baal who worship the +sun, by means of which Baal claims his own sacrifice, and none are guilty of +the victim’s blood. You see yonder crystal—well, at any appointed +hour, for it can be hung as you will, the rays of the sun shining through it +cause the fibres of the grass rope to smoke and smoulder till at length they +part and—Baal takes his sacrifice. Should a cloud hide the sun at the +appointed hour, then, Baal having spared him, the victim is set free. But, as +you will note, at this season of the year there are no clouds. +</p> + +<p> +“What, Prince, have you nothing to say?” he went on, for Aziel had +listened in silence to the tale of this devilish device. “Well, learn +that it depends upon the lady Elissa yonder whether or not this fate shall be +yours. Send now and pray her to save you. Think what it will be to hang as at +this moment your servant hangs over that yawning gulf of space, waiting through +the long hours till at last you see the little wreaths of smoke begin to curl +from the tinder of the cord. Why! before the end found them I have known men go +mad, and, like wolves, tear with their teeth at the wooden bars. +</p> + +<p> +“You will not. Then, Metem, do you plead for your friend. Bid the Baaltis +look forth at one hour before noon and see the sight of yonder wretch’s +death, remembering that to-morrow this fate shall be her lover’s unless +she foregoes her purpose of self-murder and gives herself to me. Nay, no words! +an escort shall lead you through the lower city to the gateway of the tomb and +there listen to your speech. See that it does not fail you, merchant, unless +you also seek to hang in yonder cage. Tell the lady Elissa that to-morrow at +sunrise I will come in person for her answer. If she yields, then the prince +and his companions shall be set free and with you, Metem, to guide them, be +mounted on swift camels to carry them unharmed to their retinue beyond the +mountains. But if she will not yield, then—Baal shall take his sacrifice. +Begone.” +</p> + +<p> +So, having no choice, Metem bowed and went, leaving the caged Aziel upon the +edge of the cliff, and the Hebrew soldier hanging from the spur of rock. +</p> + +<p> +Now Aziel roused himself from the horror in which his soul was sunk, and strove +to comfort his doomed comrade, praying with him to Heaven. +</p> + +<p> +Slowly as they prayed, the hours drew on till at length, upon the opposite +cliff, he saw men whom he knew to be Metem and his escort, approach the mouth +of the tomb, and faintly heard him call through the bars of the gateway. +Turning himself in his cage, Aziel glanced at the rope, and watched the spot of +light born from the burning glass of the crystal creep to its side. +</p> + +<p> +Now the fatal moment was at hand, and Aziel saw a little wreath of smoke rise +in the still air and bade his wretched servant close his eyes. Then came the +end. Suddenly the taut rope, eaten through by the sun’s fire, flew back +and the cage with the soldier in it vanished from his sight, while, from far +below, rose the sound of a heavy fall, and from the tomb of Baaltis rang the +echo of a woman’s shriek. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="chap17"></a>CHAPTER XVII<br /> +“THERE IS HOPE”</h2> + +<p> +It was dawn. Ithobal the king stood without the gates of the tomb of Baaltis, +the grey light glimmering faintly on his harness, and knocked upon the brazen +bars with the handle of his sword. +</p> + +<p> +“Who troubles me now?” said a voice within. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, it is I, Ithobal, who, as I promised by Metem the Phœnician, am +come to learn your will as to the fate of my prisoner, the Prince Aziel. +Already he hangs above the gulf, and within one short hour, if you so decree +it, he will fall and be dashed to pieces. Or, if you so decree it, he will be +set free to return to his own land.” +</p> + +<p> +“At what price will he be set free, king Ithobal?” +</p> + +<p> +“Lady, you know the price; it is yourself. Oh! I beseech you, be wise! +spare his life and your own. Listen: spare his life, and I will spare this city +which lies in the hollow of my hand, and you shall rule it with me.” +</p> + +<p> +“You cannot bribe me thus, king Ithobal. My father whom I loved is dead, +and shall I give myself to you for the sake of a city and a Faith that would +have betrayed me into your hands?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay, but for the sake of the man to whom you are dear, you shall do even +this, Elissa. Think: if you refuse, his blood will be upon your head, and what +will you have gained?” +</p> + +<p> +“Death, which I seek, for I weary of the struggle of my days.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then end it in my arms, lady. Soon this fancy will escape your mind, and +you will remain one of the mightiest queens of men.” +</p> + +<p> +Elissa returned no answer, and for a while there was silence. +</p> + +<p> +“Lady,” said Ithobal at length, “the sun rises and my +servants yonder await a signal.” +</p> + +<p> +Then she spoke like one who hesitates. +</p> + +<p> +“Are you not afraid, king Ithobal, to trust your life to a woman won in +such a fashion?” +</p> + +<p> +“Nay,” answered Ithobal, “for though you say that their fate +does not concern you, the lives of all those penned-up thousands are hostages +for my own. Should you by chance find a means to stab me unawares, then +to-night fire and sword would rage through the city of Zimboe. Nor do I fear +the future, since I know well that you who think you hate me now, very soon +will learn to love me.” +</p> + +<p> +“You promise, king Ithobal, that if I yield myself you will set the +prince Aziel free; but how can I believe you who twice have tried to murder +him?” +</p> + +<p> +“Doubt me if you will, Elissa, at least, you cannot doubt your own eyes. +Look, his road to the sea runs beneath this rock. Come from the tomb and take +your stand upon it and you shall see him pass; yes, and should you wish, speak +with him in farewell that you may be sure that it is he and alive. Further, I +swear to you by my head and honour, that no finger shall be laid upon you till +he is gone by, and that no pursuit of him shall be attempted. Now +choose.” +</p> + +<p> +Again there was silence for a while. Then Elissa spoke in a broken voice. +</p> + +<p> +“King Ithobal, I have chosen. Trusting to your royal word I will stand +upon the rock and when I have seen the prince Aziel go by in safety, then, +since you desire it, you shall put your arms about me and bear me whither you +will. You have conquered me, king Ithobal! Henceforward these lips of mine are +yours and no other man’s. Give the signal, I pray you, and I will cast +aside the dagger and the poison and come out living from this tomb.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel hung in his cage over the abyss of air, awaiting death, and glad to die, +because now he was sure that Elissa had refused to purchase his life at the +expense of her own surrender. There he hung, dizzy and sick at heart, making +his prayer to heaven and waiting the end, while the eagles that would prey upon +his shattered flesh swept past him. +</p> + +<p> +Presently, from the opposing cliff, came the sound of a horn blown thrice. +Then, while Aziel wondered what this might mean, the cage in which he lay was +drawn in gently over the edge of the precipice, and carried down the steeps of +the granite hill as it had been carried up them. +</p> + +<p> +At the foot of the hill its covering was torn aside, and he saw before him a +caravan of camels, and seated on each camel a comrade of his own. But one camel +had no rider, and Metem led it by a rope. +</p> + +<p> +The servants of Ithobal took him from the cage and set him upon this camel, +though they did not loosen the bonds about the wrists. +</p> + +<p> +“This is the command of the king,” said the captain to Metem +“that the arms of the prince Aziel shall remain bound until you have +travelled for six hours. Begone in safety, fearing nothing.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +“What happens now, Metem,” asked Aziel, as the camels strode +forward, “and why am I set free who was expecting death? Is this some new +artifice of yours, or has the lady Elissa——” and he ceased. +</p> + +<p> +“Upon the word of an honest merchant I cannot tell you, Prince. +Yesterday, as I was forced, I gave the message of king Ithobal to the lady +Elissa yonder in the tomb. She would answer me only one thing, which she +whispered in my ear through the bars of the holy tomb; that if we could escape +we should do so, moreover that you must have no fear for her since she also had +found a means of escape from Ithobal, and would certainly join us upon the +road.” +</p> + +<p> +As Metem spoke, the camels passed round the little hill on to the path that ran +beneath the tomb of Baaltis. There, standing upon the rock some fifty feet +above them, was Elissa, and with her, but at a distance, Ithobal the king. +</p> + +<p> +“Halt, prince Aziel,” she called in a clear voice, “and +hearken to my farewell. I have bought your life, and the lives of your +companions, and you are free, for the road is clear and nothing can overtake +the twelve swiftest camels in Zimboe. Go, therefore, and be happy, forgetting +no word that has passed my lips. For all my words are true, even to a certain +promise which I made you lately by the mouth of Metem, and which I now +fulfil—that I would join you on your road lest you should deem me +faithless to the troth which I have so often sworn to you. +</p> + +<p> +“King Ithobal, this shape is yours; come now and take your prize. Prince +Aziel, my soul is yours, in life it shall companion you, and in death await +you. Prince Aziel, I come to you.” Then, before he could answer a single +word, with one swift and sudden spring she hurled herself from the cliff edge +to fall crushed upon the road beneath. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel saw. In his agony he strained so fiercely at the bonds which held him +that they burst like rushes. He leapt from the camel and knelt beside Elissa. +She was not yet dead, for her eyes were open and her lips stirred. +</p> + +<p> +“I have kept faith, keep it also, Aziel! the story is not yet +done,” she gasped. Then her life flickered out, and her spirit passed. +</p> + +<p> +Aziel rose from beside the corpse and looked upward. There upon the edge of the +rock above him, leaning forward, his eyes blind with horror, stood Ithobal the +king. Aziel saw him, and a fury entered into his heart because this man, whose +jealous rage and evil doing had bred such woe and caused the death of his +beloved still lived upon the earth. By the prince was Metem, who, for once, had +no words, and from his hand he snatched a bow, set an arrow on the string and +loosed. +</p> + +<p> +The shaft rushed upwards, it smote Ithobal between the joints of his harness so +that the point of it sunk through his neck. +</p> + +<p> +“This gift, king Ithobal, from Aziel the Israelite,” he cried, as +the arrow sped. +</p> + +<p> +For a moment the great man stood still, then he opened his arms wide and of a +sudden plunged downward, falling with a crash on the roadway, where he lay dead +at the side of dead Elissa. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +“The play is played, and the fate fulfilled,” cried Metem. +“See, the servants of the king speed yonder with their evil tidings; let +us away lest we bide here with these two for ever.” +</p> + +<p> +“That is my desire,” said Aziel. +</p> + +<p> +“A desire which may not be fulfilled,” answered Metem. “Come, +Prince, since we cannot go without you. Surely you do not wish to sacrifice the +lives of all of us as an offering to the great spirit of the lady who is dead. +It is one that she would not seek.” +</p> + +<p> +Then Aziel knelt down and kissed the brow of the dead Elissa, and went his way, +saying no word. +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +That night, when the darkness fell, the sky behind these travellers grew red +with fire. +</p> + +<p> +“Behold the end of the golden city!” said Metem. “Zimboe is +food for flames and its children for the sword. Issachar was a prophet indeed, +who foretold that it should be so.” +</p> + +<p> +Aziel bowed his head, remembering that Issachar had foretold also that for +Elissa and for him there was hope beyond the grave. As he thought it, a wind +beat upon his brow and through it a soft voice seemed to murmur to his +heart:— +</p> + +<p> +“Be of good courage: Beloved, <i>there is hope</i>.” +</p> + +<hr /> + +<p> +So, turning from the death behind him, this far away forgotten lover set his +face to the sea of Life and passed it, and long ago, at his appointed hour, +gained its further shore, to be welcomed there by her who watched for him. +</p> + +<p> +And thus, because of the fateful and predestined loves of Aziel the prince, and +Elissa the priestess and daughter of Sakon, three thousand years and more ago, +the ancient city of Zimboe fell at the hand of king Ithobal and his Tribes, so +that to-day there remain of it nothing but a desolate grey tower of stone, and +beneath, the crumbling bones of men. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ELISSA ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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