Ramose, it was Belshazzar who stole my daughter
andafterwards murdered her, no other man.
And how did you learn what had happened to me, and
to Myra, Belus? Therefore he tries to play off one against the other and to
pretendhimself the friend of both.
Nay, Ramose, it was because Myra, as I have long
been sure, is ofthat race.
Well, the example is good and I willfollow it,
asking for light.
This indeed came to pass, sincebefore his end
Nebuchadnezzar was smitten with madness.
Such words as these she murmured and others that I
could not catch. At least tell me of her, Prophet, for that is not against your
vow,I said humbly. Dont deny it for I have just hada private talk with my old friend
Belus. Perhaps by the Prince Belshazzar, I hazarded.
This indeed came to pass, sincebefore his end
Nebuchadnezzar was smitten with madness.
If you have business with me I beg you to come at
another time.
Yes, of course, though it it strange that it should
be so.
You have fought well, Ramose, and gained a victory
that one dayshould not lack for its reward. Dont deny it for I have just hada
private talk with my old friend Belus. Ramose my most beloved, he from whom I have
been stolen, myhusband whom my arms ache to hold.
If you have business with me I beg you to come at
another time. Perhaps by the Prince Belshazzar, I hazarded. Perhaps by the Prince
Belshazzar, I hazarded.
Yet it is so, for swift posts have brought the
news.
Not so, for have I not told you, Friend, that even
in Babylon kingsdo not live for ever.
Well at least he led me to you, OProphet. Where, I
asked, must we meet Myra and how were we to know when sheleft the prophets
house?
He listened with a courteous patience,
thenanswered,Noble Egyptian, Ramose, hear my counsel.
Nay, Ramose, it was because Myra, as I have long
been sure, is ofthat race. Boththese commands I defied, thereby earning his added
hate and threats ofvengeance. Then he shook his head and wassilent and I knew that
the day of my fate was upon me.
Nay, I will attend the court and there abidewhat
may happen.
Who am I that I should instruct thegreatest seer in
Babylon? Of Myra we saw nothing for itwas impossible to come at her. Had I seen
Belus firstand known all the story, never would I have accepted her.
He bade me open my robe and set his ear against
mynaked breast and listened to my heart. Not so, for have I not told you, Friend,
that even in Babylon kingsdo not live for ever.
Who knows the reasons of such a low-bred man? Then
he said,Perhaps not quite so evil as you think, friend Ramose.
How long will the gods bearwith such a
man?
Who knows the reasons of such a low-bred man? Now I
have to tell of the death of Nabonidus. At least tell me of her, Prophet, for that
is not against your vow,I said humbly.