Nowitwasmidnight，andPharaohslept。ButMeriamuntheQueensleptnot。Sherosefromherbed，shewrappedherselfinadarkcloakthathidherface，andtakingalampinherhand，glidedthroughtheemptyhallstillshecametoasecretstairdownwhichshepassed。Therewasagateatthefootofthestair，andaguardsleptbyit。Shepushedhimwithherfoot。
Heawokeandsprangtowardsher，butsheheldasignetbeforehiseyes，anoldringofgreatQueenTaia，whereonaHathorworshippedthesun。Thenhebowedandopenedthegate。Shesweptonthroughmanypassages，deepintothebowelsoftheearth，tillshecametothedoorofalittlechamberwherealightshone。Mentalkedinthechamber，andshelistenedtotheirtalk。Theyspokemuchandlaughedgleefully。
Thensheenteredthedoorwayandlookeduponthem。Theyweresixinnumber，evil-eyedmenofEthiopia，andseatedinacircle。Inthecentreofthecirclelaythewaxenimageofaman，andtheywerecuttingitwithknivesandsearingitwithneedlesofironandpincersmadered-hot，andmanyinstrumentsstrangeanddreadfultolookupon。
Forthesewerethetormentors，andtheyspokeofthosepainsthatto-morrowtheyshouldwreakupontheWanderer，andpractisedthem。
ButMeriamun，wholovedhim，shiveredasshelooked，andmutteredthusbeneathherbreath:
“ThisIpromiseyou，blackministersofdeath，thatinthesamefashionyeshalldieereanothernightbesped。“
Thenshepassedintothechamber，holdingthesignetonhigh，andthetormentorsfellupontheirfacesbeforehermajesty。Shepassedbetweenthem，andasshewentshestampedwithhersandalledfootuponthewaxenimageandbrakeit。Onthefurthersideofthechamberwasanotherpassage，andthisshefollowedtillshereachedadoorofstonethatstoodajar。Hereshepausedawhile，forfromwithinthechambertherecameasoundofsinging，andthevoicewastheWanderer’svoice，andthushesang:
“Endure，myheart:notlongshaltthouendureTheshame，thesmart；
Thegoodandillaredone；theendissure；
Endure，myheart！
TherestandtwovesselsbythegoldenthroneOfZeusonhigh，Fromthesehescattersmirthandscattersmoan，Tomenthatdie。
Andthouofmanyjoyshasthadthyshare，Thyperfectpart；
Battleandlove，andevilthingsandfair；
Endure，myheart！
Fightonelastgreatestbattleundershield，Wagethatwarwell:
ThenseekthyfellowsintheshadowyfieldOfasphodel，ThereistheknightlyHector；therethemenWhofoughtforTroy；
Shallwenotfightourbattleso’eragain？
Werethatnotjoy？
Thoughnosunshinesbeyondtheduskywest，ThyperfectpartThereshaltthouhaveoftheunbrokenrest；
Endure，myheart！“
Meriamunheardandwonderedatthisman’shardihood，andthegreatnessofhisheartwhocouldsingthusashelayuponthebedoftorment。
Nowshepushedthedooropensilentlyandpassedin。Theplacewhereshestoodwasdreadful。Itwasshapedasaloftyvault，andallthewallswerepaintedwiththetormentsofthosewhopassdowntoSetafterlivingwickedlyonearth。Inthewallsweregreatringsofbronze，andchainsandfettersofbronze，whereinthebonesofmenyethung。InthecentreofthevaulttherewasabedofstoneonwhichtheWandererwasfastenedwithfetters。Hewasnaked，saveonlyforawaistcloth，andathisheadandfeetburnedpolishedbraziersthatgavelighttothevault，andshoneupontheinstrumentsoftorment。
BeyondthefurtherbraziersgrinnedthegateofSekhet，thatisshapedlikeawoman，andthechainswhereinthevictimissetforthelasttormentbyfire，werehangingfromtheroof。
MeriamunpassedstealthilybehindtheheadoftheWanderer，whomightnotseeherbecauseofthestraitnessofhisbonds。Yetitseemedtoherthatheheardsomewhat，forheceasedfromsingingandturnedhiseartohearken。Shestoodawhileinsilencelookingonhimsheloved，whoofalllivingmenwasthegoodliestbyfar。Thenatlengthhespokecraftily:
“Whoartthou？“hesaid。“Ifthouartofthenumberofthetormentors，beginthywork。Ifeartheenot，andnogroanshallthyworsttorturewringfromtheselipsofmine。ButItelltheethis，thatereIbethreedaysdead，theGodsshallavengemeterribly，bothontheeandthosewhosentthee。Withfireandwithswordtheyshallavengeme，foragreathostgathersanddrawsnigh，ahostofmanynationsgatheredoutofalllands，ay，andafleetmannedwiththesonsofmyownpeople，oftheAch？ansterribleinwar。Theyrushonlikeraveningwolves，andthelandisblackbeforethem，butthelandshallbestampedredbehindtheirfeet。Soontheyshallgivethiscitytotheflames，thesmokeofitshallgouptoheaven，andthefiresshallbequenchedatlastinthebloodofitschildren——ay，inthyblood，thouwhodostlookonme。“
HearingthesewordsMeriamunbentforwardtolookonthefaceofthespeakerandtoseewhatwaswrittenthere；andasshemoved，hercloakslippedapart，showingtheSnake’sheadwiththeeyesofflamethatwassetaboutherasagirdle。Fiercelytheygleamed，andthesemblanceofthemwasshownfaintlyonthepolishedsurfaceofthebrazierwhereinthefireburnedattheWanderer’sfeet。Hesawit，andnowheknewwhostoodbehindhim。
“Say，MeriamuntheQueen——Pharaoh’sdishonouredwife，“hesaid，“say，whereforeartthoucometolookuponthywork？Nay，standnotbehindme，standwhereImayseethee。Fearnot，Iamstronglybound，normayIliftahandagainstthee。“
ThenMeriamun，stillspeakingnoword，butwonderingmuchbecauseheknewhererehiseyesfelluponher，passedroundthebedoftorment，andthrowingdownhercloakstoodbeforehiminherdarkandroyalloveliness。
Helookeduponherbeauty，thenspokeagain:
“Say，whereforeartthoucomehither，Meriamun？Surely，withmyearsI
heardtheeswearthatIhadwrongedthee。Wouldstthouthenlookonhimwhowrongedthee，orartthoucome，perchance，towatchmytorments，whilethyslavestearlimbfromlimb，andquenchyonfireswithmyblood？Oh，thouevilwoman，thouhastworkedwoeonmeindeed，andperchancecanstworkmorewoenowthatIliehelplesshere。ButthisItellthee，thatthytormentsshalloutnumbermineasthestarsoutnumbertheearth。Forhere，andhereafter，thoushaltbeparchedwithsuchathirstofloveasnevermaybequenched，andinmanyanotherland，andinmanyanothertime，thoushaltendurethineagonyafresh。Again，andyetagain，thoushaltclaspandconquer；again，andyetagain，thoushaltletslip，andinthemomentoftriumphlose。BytheSnake’sheadIsworemytrothtothee，I，whoshouldhaveswornbytheStar；andthisItellthee，Meriamun，thatastheStarshallshineandbemybeaconthroughtheages，sothroughtheagesshalltheSnakeencircletheeandbethydoom！“
“Hold！“saidMeriamun，“pournomorebitterwordsuponme，whoamdistraughtoflove，andwasmaddenedbythyscorn。WouldstthouknowthenwhyIamcomehither？ForthiscauseIamcome，tosavetheefromthydoom。Hearken，thetimeisshort。Itistrue——thoughhowthouknowestitImaynotguess——itistruethatthebarbariansmarchonKhem，andwiththemsailsafleetladenwiththewarriorsofthineownpeople。Thisalsoistrue，Pharaohhasreturnedalone:andallhishostisswallowedintheSeaofWeeds。AndI，foolishthatIam，I
wouldsavethee，Odysseus，thus:IwillputitintheheartofPharaohtopardonthygreatoffence，andsendtheeforwardagainstthefoe；
yes，Icandoit。Butthisthoushaltsweartome，tobetruetoPharaoh，andsmitethebarbarianhost。“
“ThatIwillswear，“saidtheWanderer，“ay，andkeeptheoath，thoughitishardtodobattleonmykin。Isthatallthymessage，Meriamun？“
“Notall，Odysseus。Onemorethingmustthouswear，orifthouswearestitnot，herethoushaltsurelydie。Knowthis，shewhoinKhemisnamedtheHathor，butwhoperchancehasothernames，hathputtheefromherbecauselastnightthouwastwedtome。“
“Itmaywellbeso，“saidtheWanderer。
“Shehathputtheefromher，andthou——thouartboundtomebythatwhichcannotbeundone，andbyanoaththatmaynotbebroken；inwhatevershapeIwalk，orbywhatevernameIamknownamongmen，stillthouartboundtome，asIamboundtothee。Thisthenthoushaltswear，thatthouwilttellnaughtoflastnight’staletoPharaoh。“
“ThatIswear，“saidtheWanderer。
“AlsothatifPharaohbegatheredtoOsiris，anditshouldchancethatshewhoisnamedtheHathorpasswithhimtotheUnderworld，thenthatthou，Odysseus，wiltwedme，Meriamun，andbefaithfultomeforthylifedays。“
NowthecraftyOdysseustookcounselwithhisheart，andbethoughthimofthewordsoftheGoddess。HesawthatitwasinthemindofMeriamuntoslayPharaohandtheHelen。ButhecarednothingforthefateofPharaoh，andknewwellthatHelenmightnotbeharmed，andthatthoughshechangeeternally，wearingnowthisshape，andnowthat，yetshediesonlywhentheraceofmenisdead——thentobegatheredtothenumberoftheGods。Thisheknewalso，thatnowhemustgoforthonhislastwandering，forDeathshouldcomeuponhimfromthewater。Thereforeheansweredreadily:
“ThatoathIswearalso，Meriamun，andifIbreakitmayIperishinshameandforever。“
NowMeriamunheard，andkneltbesidehim，lookinguponhimwitheyesoflove。
“Itiswell，Odysseus:perchanceerelongIshallclaimthyoath。Oh，thinknotsoillofme:ifIhavesinned，Ihavesinnedfromloveofthee。Longyearsago，Odysseus，thyshadowfelluponmyheartandI
claspeditsemptiness。Nowthouartcome，andI，whopursuedashadowfromsleeptosleepanddreamtodream，sawtheealivingman，andlovedtheetomyruin。ThenItamedmyprideandcametowintheetomyheart，andtheGodssetanothershapeuponme——sothousayest——andinthatshape，theshapeofherthouseekest，thoudidstmakemewifetothee。PerchancesheandIare/one/，Odysseus。Attheleast，notsoreadilyhad/I/forsakenthee。Oh，whenthoudidststandinthymightholdingthosedogsatbaytilltheSidonianknavecutthybowstring——“