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Article SEMIRAMIS. ← Page 5 of 6 →
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Semiramis.
new slaves ; look at this young girl , what a timid air she has : how innocent—how pretty . " Fifteen women had appeared ; the eunuch announced that he had not been able to procure more . " Very well , " exclaimed Ninus , with the utmost indifference , " it matters little . "
Not so with Semiramis , her eyes lighting with anger . " Slave ! " she exclaimed , " I told you , this morning , on pain of death , to procure twenty women for the seraglio for this evening ' s banquet , and you have only brought fifteen . Where are the others ? Answer , that your head may not fall . " The eunuch did not answer , but kepthis eyes fixed upon Ninus . " It is not to Ninus that you are to answer , " she continued , " but
to me . Where are the five women wanting to complete my order ? Answer : I will have them , or thy worthless , disobedient head . " _ " My head , " replied the eunuch , doggedly , " does not fall , unless the king shall command it . " "That word has condemned thee ! " exclaimed the queen ; then , striking her hands , she said to the slaves who entered , " remove that slave—drag him to the court-yard and take off his head . Let it be
presented to me before the feast this evening . Begone !" " Will this be your last whim ? " exclaimed Ninus , with a smile . " No ; I have yet six hours to reign . " " My lovely queen , " replied the enamoured monarch , " I willingly give you the head of the slave , but is it worth your while to be angry about it ? It is true your anger gives you new charms , but , is it worth your while to be angry about it ? a few women more or less , what
signifies it ? " Without thinking any further ofthe slave condemned to death , Ninus remained laughing and conversing with the artful Semiramis , who never appeared to greater advantage , or more exerted herself to please . At length evening and the hour ofthe banquet arrived . When the queen entered the hall a slave presented a brazen vessel , from which she turned not away her eyes , but carefully examined it . It contained the head ofthe eunuch .
" It is well , " she said ; " place it in the court-yard of the palace , through which the slaves must pass to the feast . Stand you by it , and repeat that , three hours since , this man lived , and that his head was struck oft" for disobeying me . " The banquet was magnificent ; there were flowers , dances , and a sumptuous feast prepared in the garden . Semiramis , receiving the homage paid to her with much grace and majesty , paid to Ninus ail the honours of the feast .
" You are , " she exclaimed , " a strange king , who has come to visit me in my palace ; I must conduct myself to please you . " They were soon at table . Semiramis confounded all ranks—Ninus being placed at the bottom ; he was the first to laugh at the change of etiquette of the palace ; and the court , following his example , allowed themselves to be seated according to the caprice of the queen . She placed near her the three brothers . " Are my orders obeyed ? " she demanded .
They answered , " Yes . " The banquet was gay . A slave having b y chance served the king first , Semiramis caused him to be hung up and flogged with thorns . His cries mingled with the laughter ofthe guests ;' every one was dis-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Semiramis.
new slaves ; look at this young girl , what a timid air she has : how innocent—how pretty . " Fifteen women had appeared ; the eunuch announced that he had not been able to procure more . " Very well , " exclaimed Ninus , with the utmost indifference , " it matters little . "
Not so with Semiramis , her eyes lighting with anger . " Slave ! " she exclaimed , " I told you , this morning , on pain of death , to procure twenty women for the seraglio for this evening ' s banquet , and you have only brought fifteen . Where are the others ? Answer , that your head may not fall . " The eunuch did not answer , but kepthis eyes fixed upon Ninus . " It is not to Ninus that you are to answer , " she continued , " but
to me . Where are the five women wanting to complete my order ? Answer : I will have them , or thy worthless , disobedient head . " _ " My head , " replied the eunuch , doggedly , " does not fall , unless the king shall command it . " "That word has condemned thee ! " exclaimed the queen ; then , striking her hands , she said to the slaves who entered , " remove that slave—drag him to the court-yard and take off his head . Let it be
presented to me before the feast this evening . Begone !" " Will this be your last whim ? " exclaimed Ninus , with a smile . " No ; I have yet six hours to reign . " " My lovely queen , " replied the enamoured monarch , " I willingly give you the head of the slave , but is it worth your while to be angry about it ? It is true your anger gives you new charms , but , is it worth your while to be angry about it ? a few women more or less , what
signifies it ? " Without thinking any further ofthe slave condemned to death , Ninus remained laughing and conversing with the artful Semiramis , who never appeared to greater advantage , or more exerted herself to please . At length evening and the hour ofthe banquet arrived . When the queen entered the hall a slave presented a brazen vessel , from which she turned not away her eyes , but carefully examined it . It contained the head ofthe eunuch .
" It is well , " she said ; " place it in the court-yard of the palace , through which the slaves must pass to the feast . Stand you by it , and repeat that , three hours since , this man lived , and that his head was struck oft" for disobeying me . " The banquet was magnificent ; there were flowers , dances , and a sumptuous feast prepared in the garden . Semiramis , receiving the homage paid to her with much grace and majesty , paid to Ninus ail the honours of the feast .
" You are , " she exclaimed , " a strange king , who has come to visit me in my palace ; I must conduct myself to please you . " They were soon at table . Semiramis confounded all ranks—Ninus being placed at the bottom ; he was the first to laugh at the change of etiquette of the palace ; and the court , following his example , allowed themselves to be seated according to the caprice of the queen . She placed near her the three brothers . " Are my orders obeyed ? " she demanded .
They answered , " Yes . " The banquet was gay . A slave having b y chance served the king first , Semiramis caused him to be hung up and flogged with thorns . His cries mingled with the laughter ofthe guests ;' every one was dis-