“Itwillbewelltolive，Lady，iflifebylifeIfindtheeforalove。“
“Lifebylifethoushaltfindme，Odysseus，inthisshapeorinthatshaltthoufindme——forbeautyhasmanyforms，andlovehasmanynames——butthoushalteverfindmebuttolosemeagain。Itelltheethatasbutnowthouwonnestthywaythroughtheranksofthosewhowatchme，thecloudliftedfrommymind，andIremembered，andI
foresaw，andIknewwhyI，thelovedofmany，mightneverloveinturn。Iknewthen，Odysseus，thatIambuttheinstrumentoftheGods，whousemefortheirends。AndIknewthatIlovedthee，andtheeonly，butwithalovethatbeganbeforethebirth-bed，andshallnotbeconsumedbythefuneralflame。“
“Sobeit，Lady，“saidtheWanderer，“forthisIknow，thatneverhaveIlovedwomanorGoddessasIlovethee，whoarthenceforthastheheartinmybreast，thatwithoutwhichImaynotlive。“
“Nowspeakon，“shesaid，“forsuchwordsasthesearelikemusicinmyears。“
“Ay，Iwillspeakon。Shortshallbeourlove，thousayest，Lady，andmyownhearttellsmethatitisborntobebriefofdays。IknowthatnowIgoonmylastvoyaging，andthatdeathcomesuponmefromthewater，theswiftestdeaththatmaybe。ThisthenIwoulddaretoask:
Whenshallwetwainbeone？Forifthehoursoflifebeshort，letuslovewhilewemay。“
NowHelen’sgoldenhairfellbeforehereyeslikethebride’sveil，andshewassilentforatime。Thenshespoke:
“Notnow，andnotwhileIdwellinthisholyplacemaywebewed，Odysseus，forsoshouldwecalldownuponusthehateofGodsandmen。
Tellme，then，wherethoudwellestinthecity，andIwillcometothee。Nay，itisnotmeet。Hearken，Odysseus。To-morrow，onehourbeforethemidnight，seethatthoudoststandwithoutthepylongatesofthismytemple；thenIwillpassouttotheeaswellImay，andthoushaltknowmebythejewel，theStar-stoneonmybreastthatshinesthroughthedarkness，andbythatalone，andleadmewhitherthouwilt。Forthenthoushaltbemylord，andIwillbethywife。Andthereafter，astheGodsshowus，sowillwego。Forknow，itisinmymindtoflythislandofKhem，wheremonthbymonththeGodshavemadethepeopledieforme。Sotillthen，farewell，Odysseus，mylove，foundaftermanydays。“
“Itiswell，Lady，“answeredtheWanderer。“To-morrownightImeettheewithoutthepylongates。Ialsoammindedtoflythislandofwitchcraftandofhorror，butImayscarcedeparttillPharaohreturnagain。Forhehasgonedowntobattleandleftmetoguardhispalace。“
“Ofthatwewilltalkhereafter。Gonow！Goswiftly，forherewemaynottalkmoreofearthlylove，“saidtheGoldenHelen。
Thenhetookherhandandkisseditandpassedfrombeforehergloryasamanamazed。
ButinhisfoolishwisdomhespokenowordtoherofMeriamuntheQueen。
ReithePriesthadfledwithwhatspeedhemightfromtheGatesofDeath，thosegatesthatguardedthelovelinessofHelenandopenedonlyuponmendoomedtodie。Theoldmanwasheavyatheart，forhelovedtheWanderer。AmongthedarkchildrenofKhemhehadseennonelikethisAch？an，nonesogoodly，sostrong，andsowellversedinallartsofwar。Herememberedhowthismanhadsavedthelifeofherhelovedaboveallwomen——ofMeriamun，themoon-child，thefairestqueenwhohadsatuponthethroneofEgypt，thefairestandthemostlearned，saveTaiaonly。HebethoughthimoftheWanderer’sbeautyashestoodupontheboardwhilethelongshaftshaileddownthehall。
ThenherecalledthevisionofMeriamun，whichshehadtoldhimlongyearsago，andtheshadowinagoldenhelmwhichwatchedthechangedHataska。Themorehethought，themorehewasperplexedandlostinwonder。WhatdidtheGodsintend？Ofonethinghewassure:theleadersofthehostofdreamshadmockedMeriamun。Themanofhervisionwouldneverbeherlove:hehadgonetomeethisdoomatthedooroftheChapelPerilous。
SoReihastedon，stumblinginhisspeed，tillhecametothePalaceandpassedthroughitshallstowardshischamber。AttheentranceofherownplacehemetMeriamuntheQueen。Thereshestoodinthedoorwaylikeapictureinitssculpturedframe，norcouldanysightbemorebeautifulthanshewas，cladinherRoyalrobes，andcrownedwiththegoldensnakes。Herblackhairlaysoftanddeeponher，andhereyeslookedstrangelyforthfrombeneaththeivoryofherbrow。
Hebowedlowbeforeherandwouldhavepassedon，butshestayedhim。
“Whithergoestthou，Rei？“sheasked，“andwhyisthyfacesosad？“
“Igoaboutmybusiness，Queen，“heanswered，“andIamsadbecausenotidingscomeofPharaoh，norofhowithasfaredwithhimandthehostoftheApura。“
“Perchancethouspeakesttruth，andyetnotallthetruth，“sheanswered。“Enter，Iwouldhavespeechwiththee。“
Soheentered，andathercommandseatedhimselfbeforeherintheveryseatwheretheWandererhadsat。Now，ashesatthus，ofasuddenMeriamuntheQueenslidtoherkneesbeforehim，andtearswereinhereyesandherbreastwasshakenwithsobs。Andwhilehewondered，thinkingthatsheweptatlastforhersonwhowasdeadamongthefirstborn，shehidherfaceinherhandsuponhisknees，andtrembled。
“Whatailsthee，Queen，myfosterling？“hesaid。Butsheonlytookhishand，andlaidherowninit，andtheoldpriest’seyesweredimwithtears。Soshesatforawhile，andthenshelookedup，butstillshedidnotfindwords。AndhecaressedthebeautifulImperialhead，thatnomanhadseenbowedbefore。“Whatisit，mydaughter？“hesaid，andsheansweredatlast:
“Hearme，oldfriend，whoartmyonlyfriend——forifIspeaknotmyheartwillsurelyburst；orifitbreaknot，mybrainwillburnandI
shallbenomoreaQueenbutalivingdarkness，wherevapourscreep，andwanderinglightsshinefaintlyontheruinofmymind。Mindestthouthathour——itwasthenightafterthehatefulnightthatsawmePharaoh’swife——whenIcrepttotheeandtoldtheethevisionthathadcomeuponmysoul，hadcometomockmeevenatPharaoh’sside？“
“Iminditwell，“saidRei；“itwasastrangevision，normightmywisdominterpretit。“
“AndmindestthouwhatItoldtheeofthemanofmyvision——thegloriousmanwhomImustlove，hewhowascladingoldenarmourandworeagoldenhelmwhereinaspear-pointofbronzestoodfast？“
“Yes，Imindit，“saidRei。
“Andhowisthatmannamed？“sheasked，whisperingandstaringonhimwithwideeyes。“IshenotnamedEperitus，theWanderer？Andhathhenotcomehither，thespear-pointinhishelm？AndisnotthehandofFateuponme，Meriamun？Hearken，Rei，hearken！IlovehimasitwasfatedIshouldlove。WhenfirstIlookedonhimashecameuptheHallofAudienceinhisglory，Iknewhim。Iknewhimforthatmanwhosharesthecurselaidaforetimeonhim，andonthewoman，andonme，when，inanunknownplace，twainbecamethreeandweredoomedtostrivefromlifetolifeandworkeachother’swoeupontheearth。I
knewhim，Rei，thoughheknewmenot，andIsaythatmysoulshookattheechoofhisstep，andmyheartblossomedastheblackearthblossomswhenafterfloodSihorseekshisbanksagain。Aglorycameuponme，Rei，andIlookedbackthroughallthemistsoftimeandknewhimformylove，andIlookedforwardintothedepthsoftimetobeandknewhimformylove。ThenIlookedonthepresenthour，andnaughtcouldIseebutdarkness，andnaughtcouldIhearbutthegroansofdyingmen，andashrillsoundasofawomansinging。“
“Anilltale，Queen，“saidRei。
“Ay，anilltale，Rei，buthalfuntold。Hearkenagain，Iwilltelltheeall。MadnesshathenteredintomefromtheHathorofAtarhechis，theQueenofDesire。Iammadwithlove，evenIwhoneverloved。Oh，Rei！Rei！Iwouldwinthisman。Nay，looknotsosternlyonme，itisFatethatdrivesmeon。LastnightIspoketohimanddiscoveredtohimthenamehehidesfromus，hisownname，Odysseus，Laertes’son，OdysseusofIthaca。Ay，thoustartest，butsoitis。Ilearneditbymymagic，andwrungthetruthevenfromtheguileofthemostcraftyofmen。Butitseemedtomethatheturnedfromme，thoughthismuchI
wonfromhim，thathehadjourneyedfromfartoseekme，theBridethattheGodshavepromisedhim。“
Thepriestleapedupfromhisseat。“Lady！“hecried，“Lady！whomI
serveandwhomIhavelovedfromachild，thybrainissick，andnotthyheart。Thoucanstnotlovehim。DostthounotrememberthatthouartQueenofKhemandPharaoh’swife？Wiltthouthrowthyhonourinthemiretobetrampledbyawanderingstranger？“
“Ay，“sheanswered，“IamQueenofKhemandPharaoh’swife，butneverPharaoh’slove。Honour！Whydostthoupratetomeofhonour？LikeNileinflood，mylovehathburstthebulwarkofmyhonour，andImarknotwherecustomsetit。Forallaroundthewatersseetheandfoam，andonthem，likeabrokenlily，floatsthewreckofmylosthonour。Talknottomeofhonour，Rei，teachmeratherhowImaywinmyherotomyarms。“
“Thouartmadindeed，“hegroaned；“nevertheless——Ihadforgotten——
thismustneedsendinwordsandtears。Meriamun，Ibringtheetidings。Hewhomthoudesirethislosttotheeforever——totheeandalltheworld。“
Sheheard，thensprangfromthecouchandstoodoverhimlikealionessoverasmittenstag，herfierceandlovelyfacealivewithrageandfear。
“Ishedead？“shehissedinhisear。“Dead！andIknewitnot？Thenthouhastmurderedhim，andthusIavengehismurder。“
Withthewordshesnatchedadaggerfromhergirdle——thatsamedaggerwithwhichshehadoncestruckatMeneptahherbrother，whenhewouldhavekissedher——andhighitflashedaboveReithePriest。