Page:Anthology of Modern Slavonic Literature in Prose and Verse by Paul Selver.djvu/108

84 "Wisely dost thou begin," replied the High priest. "For the fulfilling of these behests all in even now made ready, and the edicts will I engross forthwith; when thou touchest them with the ring of the Pharaohs, lo, I will enkindle this lamp, that it may proclaim favour unto the people, and to thy Berenice freedom and love."

The wisest physician from Carnac entered.

"O Horus," he said, "I marvel not at thy pallor, for Rameses, thy grandsire, is even now breathing his last. He was not able to bear the potency of the medicine, which I was not fain to administer unto him, that monarch of monarchs. With him, therefore, is left only the deputy of the high priest, that, when he dies, the sacred ring may be removed from his finger and bestowed upon thee as a token of unbounded authority. But thou growest ever paler and paler, O Horus," be added.

"Gaze upon my foot," moaned Horus, and he fell upon the golden chair, the supports of which were carved in the shape of hawks' heads.

The physician bent down, gazed at the foot, and drew back horror-stricken.

"O Horus," he whispered, "an exceedingly venomous spider has stung thee."

"Am I doomed to death? At such a moment?" asked Horus, with a scarcely audible voice.

And later he added:

"Can that come to pass swiftly? Let me hear the truth"