Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 3.djvu/88

Rh amídst such loveliness as this—what do you say? Would it be wise? And yet—power is a dangerous thing; once having drink of it, one has lost taste for every purer flavour. You do not know what that is? Ton do not know what ambition is, then? I can tell you; it is satiety with desire."

"A bitter thing?"

"Yes. But not so bitter that it is not sweeter than all sweetness—only the sweetness so soon goes, and the dregs are so soon all we hold!"

He did not answer; his heart ached that be was not able to bring dominion to this woman, who was so born for it; that he had no diadem such as that of her foregone Byzantine sires to crown her with; that be had nothing wherewith to achieve greatness—nothing wherewith to content that desire, half disdainful yet undying, which was in her for the sceptre and the sword, for all they ruled and all they gained.

He left ber in the inner chamber of the but, that was roughly partitioned in two by a wall of stakes and woven rushes, and brought the horses, under the shelter of a great cedar that shut out every ray of the sun; he could use bis left arm but little, owing to the shoulder-wound, but be loosened tbeir girths, watered them, gave tbem a feed of rye from some