Butitwasnotfornothingthatheboreastoutandpatientheart，andabrainuncloudedbydangerorbylove。Hehadneverbeeninastraitlikethis；caughtwithbondsthatnoswordcouldcut，andintoilsthatnoskillcouldundo。Ononesidewereloveandpleasure——ontheotherabrokenoath，andthelossforeveroftheHeart’sDesire。Fortoloveanotherwoman，ashehadbeenwarned，wastoloseHelen。Butagain，ifhescornedtheQueen——nay，forallhishardihoodhedarednottellherthatshewasnotthewomanofhisvision，thewomanhecametoseek。Yetevennowhiscoldcourageandhiscunningdidnotfailhim。
“Lady，“hesaid，“webothhavedreamed。Butifthoudidstdreamthouwertmylove，thoudidstwaketofindthyselfthewifeofPharaoh。AndPharaohismyhostandhathmyoath。“
“IwoketofindmyselfthewifeofPharaoh，“sheechoed，wearily，andherarmsuncurledfromhisneckandshesankbackonthecouch。“IamPharaoh’swifeinword，butnotindeed。Pharaohisnothingtome，thouWanderer——noughtsaveaname。“
“Yetismyoathmuchtome，QueenMeriamun——myoathandthehospitablehearth，“theWanderermadeanswer。“IsworetoMeneptahtoholdtheefromallill，andthere’sanend。“
“AndifPharaohcomesbacknomore，whatthenOdysseus？“