Thereonsheunclaspedthebosomofherrobeandlaidthegleamingtoy，thatseemedasnakeofstone，uponherivorybreast，thoughshetrembledatitsicytouch，foritwasmorecoldthandeath。Withbothherhandssheclaspedapillarofthechamber，andsostood，andshewasshakenwiththroeslikethepangsofchildbirth。Thussheenduredawhiletillthatwhichwasa-coldgrewwarm，watchingitsbrightnessthatshonethroughhersilkendressastheflameofalampshinesthroughanalabastervase。Soshestoodforanhour，thenswiftlyputoffallherrobesandornamentsofgold，andloosingthedarkmassesofherhairletitfallroundherlikeaveil。Nowshebentherheaddowntoherbreast，andbreathedonthatwhichlayuponherbreast，fortheAncientEvilcanliveonlyinthebreathofhumankind。Thriceshebreatheduponit，thriceshewhispered，“/Awake！Awake！Awake！/“
AndthefirsttimethatshebreathedtheThingstirredandsparkled。
Thesecondtimethatshebreatheditundiditsshiningfoldsandreareditsheadtohers。Thethirdtimethatshebreatheditslidfromherbosomtothefloor，thencoileditselfaboutherfeetandslowlygrewasgrowsthemagician’smagictree。
Greateritgrewandgreateryet，andasitgrewitshonelikeatorchinatomb，andwounditselfaboutthebodyofMeriamun，wrappingherinitsfieryfoldstillitreachedhermiddle。Thenitreareditsheadonhigh，andfromitseyesthereflowedalightlikethelightofaflame，andlo！itsfacewasthefaceofafairwoman——itwasthefaceofMeriamun！
Nowfacelookedonface，andeyesglaredintoeyes。StillasawhitestatueoftheGodsstoodMeriamuntheQueen，andallaboutherformandinandoutofherdarkhairtwinedtheflamingsnake。