Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/102

78 When the priest with trembling hand had administered the dire medicine to him, Rameses drank it, as one parched with thirst drinks a cup of water; then he called unto him the most renowned astrologer of Thebes, and commanded him to relate what the stars revealed, without dissembling aught.

"Saturn is in conjunction with the Moon," replied the sage, "and that betokens the death of some member of thy dynasty, O Rameses. Thou hast done ill in drinking the medicine to-day, for empty are human plans before the decrees that the Omnipotent inscribes upon the heavens."

"Of a surety, then, the stars have heralded my death," returned Rameses. "And when will it be accomplished?" he asked, turning to the physician.

"Before the setting of the sun, O Rameses, either shalt thou be hale as a rhinoceros, or thy holy ring will be upon the finger of Horus."

"Lead Horus," said Rameses, with a voice that was already growing weaker, "into the hall of the Pharaohs; let him there await my last words, and the ring, that there may not be even a moment's surcease in the wielding of authority."

Horus began weeping (he had a heart full of compassion) at his grandsire's approaching death; but that there might be no surcease in the wielding of authority, he forthwith entered into