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Article THE CONTEST. ← Page 4 of 6 →
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The Contest.
scarcely recovered from her surprise , when the high priest approached . Bending his knee , with a reverence more of pride than humility , he laid at the feet of the royal maiden a lotus , twined ivith a tamarisk flower , the emblems of a passion constant unto death . " Cease this persecution , " exclaimed the princess , dropping as she spoke her silver veil before her blushing features ; " nor abuse the confidence of my fatherand che privilege of high officeby solicitations
, your , such as these . Have I not told thee that , of all mankind , thou art most indifferent to me ? Why compel me to repeat with harshness what first was spoken with pity and regret ?" " The dropping water weareth the rugged rock , " answered the priest , " and is thy heart more obdurate ? Be mine , and a glorious destiny awaits thee ; earth shall pour forth its treasures at thy feet ; delight invent new pleasures for thy smile . Men have loved before , but never with love like mineit hath subdued
a — my nature , the lion crouches at thy presence like the lamb . Nor do I offer thee a hand less noble than thine own : Priest of Anubis—Egypt ' s sole Hierophant—royal by birth , and doubly so by office , my power can well support the throne which totters " neath thy race . Be wise , and do not scorn me—my hate were fearful as my love is true . " " I scorn thee not" answered the maidenmildl " neither do I
, , y ; fear thee . The gods will not permit a daughter of Egypt to be wronged , even by their priest . Farewell ! when reason hath cooled this idle passion , and thou canst behold me as thy sovereign ' s daughter , none will be more welcome to my presence . Till then , forbear these precincts , lest I call upon my father ' s authority to interpose a shield , which even priestly
power and privilege j-espect . " As Nementbis spoke , she clapped her hands to summon her attendants , and , surrounded by the bevy of high-born girls , left the pavilion , without casting a second glance on the enraged and baffled suitor . " Indeed , " muttered the priest ; " proud fool ! thou hast sealed thy fate . With thee I had been content to share fair Egypt ' s diadem ; but since thy folly scorns my proffered hand , I will provide thee with another Death
bridegroom— . Yes , bride of the Nile , soon shall the fierce god claim thee I " Little did the speaker dream that , in that sacred spot , mortal eyes would watch his actions—mortal ears drink his revengeful words . "Bride of the Nile 1 " echoed the young stranger , who had startled the princess from her dream , and who , concealed behind a marble column , had overheard their interview ; " I shall defeat thee yet . " Slowly and cautiousl
y he followed the retreating footsteps of the high priest , till he reached the more public part of the palace , when , mingling with the crowd of courtiers and attendants , he soon found occasion to quit the spot unquestioned and unheeded . The fatal day at last arrived which was to decide the fate of the loveliest daughters of Egypt . Thousands of maidens were assembled in the vast Temple of Anubis , where the urn which contained their names was laced the
p . Many were prayers put up by those who coveted the high but dear-bought honour ; but more were breathed from lips that loved not the cold kiss of the impatient wave ; from hearts that shrunk from the dark resting-place within its bosom . The monarch was seated on his throne ; his lovely daughter , exempt from the ordeal , seated by his side : thousands of nobles lined the hall , for all the rank of Egypt were assembled for the solemn festival . The priests chaunted a low hymn ,
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Contest.
scarcely recovered from her surprise , when the high priest approached . Bending his knee , with a reverence more of pride than humility , he laid at the feet of the royal maiden a lotus , twined ivith a tamarisk flower , the emblems of a passion constant unto death . " Cease this persecution , " exclaimed the princess , dropping as she spoke her silver veil before her blushing features ; " nor abuse the confidence of my fatherand che privilege of high officeby solicitations
, your , such as these . Have I not told thee that , of all mankind , thou art most indifferent to me ? Why compel me to repeat with harshness what first was spoken with pity and regret ?" " The dropping water weareth the rugged rock , " answered the priest , " and is thy heart more obdurate ? Be mine , and a glorious destiny awaits thee ; earth shall pour forth its treasures at thy feet ; delight invent new pleasures for thy smile . Men have loved before , but never with love like mineit hath subdued
a — my nature , the lion crouches at thy presence like the lamb . Nor do I offer thee a hand less noble than thine own : Priest of Anubis—Egypt ' s sole Hierophant—royal by birth , and doubly so by office , my power can well support the throne which totters " neath thy race . Be wise , and do not scorn me—my hate were fearful as my love is true . " " I scorn thee not" answered the maidenmildl " neither do I
, , y ; fear thee . The gods will not permit a daughter of Egypt to be wronged , even by their priest . Farewell ! when reason hath cooled this idle passion , and thou canst behold me as thy sovereign ' s daughter , none will be more welcome to my presence . Till then , forbear these precincts , lest I call upon my father ' s authority to interpose a shield , which even priestly
power and privilege j-espect . " As Nementbis spoke , she clapped her hands to summon her attendants , and , surrounded by the bevy of high-born girls , left the pavilion , without casting a second glance on the enraged and baffled suitor . " Indeed , " muttered the priest ; " proud fool ! thou hast sealed thy fate . With thee I had been content to share fair Egypt ' s diadem ; but since thy folly scorns my proffered hand , I will provide thee with another Death
bridegroom— . Yes , bride of the Nile , soon shall the fierce god claim thee I " Little did the speaker dream that , in that sacred spot , mortal eyes would watch his actions—mortal ears drink his revengeful words . "Bride of the Nile 1 " echoed the young stranger , who had startled the princess from her dream , and who , concealed behind a marble column , had overheard their interview ; " I shall defeat thee yet . " Slowly and cautiousl
y he followed the retreating footsteps of the high priest , till he reached the more public part of the palace , when , mingling with the crowd of courtiers and attendants , he soon found occasion to quit the spot unquestioned and unheeded . The fatal day at last arrived which was to decide the fate of the loveliest daughters of Egypt . Thousands of maidens were assembled in the vast Temple of Anubis , where the urn which contained their names was laced the
p . Many were prayers put up by those who coveted the high but dear-bought honour ; but more were breathed from lips that loved not the cold kiss of the impatient wave ; from hearts that shrunk from the dark resting-place within its bosom . The monarch was seated on his throne ; his lovely daughter , exempt from the ordeal , seated by his side : thousands of nobles lined the hall , for all the rank of Egypt were assembled for the solemn festival . The priests chaunted a low hymn ,