“Oh，thoumostcraftyofmen，whydothitpleasetheetocomehithertoseekmeintheguiseofanagedpriest。Once，Odysseus，Isawtheeinbeggar’sweeds，andknewtheeinthemidstofthyfoes。ShallInotknowtheeagaininpeacebeneaththyfoldedgarbandthyrobesofwhite？“
Reiheardandknewthathecouldhidehimselfnolonger。Thereforehecameforwardtrembling，andkneltbeforeher，saying:
“Oh，mightyQueen，Iamnotthatmanwhomthoudidstname，noramI
hidinanywrappingsofdisguise。Nay，IdoavowmyselftobenamedReitheChiefArchitectofPharaoh，theCommanderoftheLegionofAmen，thechiefoftheTreasuryofAmen，andamanofreputeinthislandofKhem。Now，ifindeedthouarttheGoddessofthistemple，asI
judgebythatredjewelwhichburnsuponthybreast，Ipraytheebemercifultothyservantandsmitemenotinthywrath，fornotbymyownwillamIhere，butbythecommandofthatherowhomthouhastnamed，andforwhosecomingIawait。Bemercifultherefore，andholdthyhand。“
“Fearnotthou，Rei，“saidthesweetvoice。“LittleamImindedtoharmthee，oranyman，forthoughmanymenhavegonedownthepathofdarknessbecauseofme，whoamadoomtomen，notbymywillhasitbeen，butbythewilloftheimmortalGods，whousemetotheirends。
Risethou，Rei，andtellmewhythouartcomehither，andwhereishewhomIhavenamed？“
ThenReirose，andlookingupsawthelightoftheHelen’seyesshiningonhimthroughherveil。Buttherewasnoangerinthem，theyshonemildlyasstarsinaneveningsky，andhisheartwascomforted。
“IknownotwheretheWandereris，OthouImmortal，“hesaid。“ThisI
knowonly，thathebadememeethimhereatonehourbeforemidnight，andsoIcame。“
“Perchancehetoowillcomeanon，“saidthesweetvoice；“butwhydidhe，whomthounamesttheWanderer，bidtheemeethimhere？“
“Forthisreason，OHathor。Hetoldmethatthisnightheshouldbewedtothee，andwasmindedthereaftertoflyfromKhemwiththee。
Thereforehebademecome，whoamafriendtohim，totalkwiththeeandhimastohowthyflightshouldgo，andyethecomesnot。“
NowasReispake，heturnedhisfaceupward，andtheGoldenHelenlookeduponit。
“Hearken，Rei，“shesaid；“butyesterday，afterIhadstooduponthepylontowerastheGodsdecreed，andsangtothosewhowereripetodie，Iwenttomyshrineandwovemywebwhilethedoomedmenfellbeneaththeswordsofthemwhoweresettoguardmybeauty，butwhonowaregone。AndasIwove，onepassedtheGhostsandrentthewebandstoodbeforeme。ItwashewhomIawaitto-night，andafterawhileIknewhimforOdysseusofIthaca，Laertes’son。ButasIlookedonhimandspakewithhim，behold，Isawaspiritwatchingus，thoughhemightnotseeit，aspiritwhosefaceIknewnot，fornosuchmanhaveIknowninmylifedays。Knowthen，Rei，thatthefaceofthespiritwas/thy/face，anditsrobes/thy/robes。“
ThenoncemoreReitrembledinhisfear。
“Now，Rei，Ibidtheetellme，andspeakthetruth，lestevilcomeonthee，notatmyhandsindeed，forIwouldharmnone，butatthehandsofthoseImmortalswhoareakintome。Whatdidthyspirityonder，inmysacredshrine？Howdidstthoudaretoenterandlookuponmybeautyandhearkentomywords？“
“Oh，greatQueen，“saidRei，“Iwilltelltheethetruth，andIpraytheeletnotthewrathoftheGodsfalluponme。NotofmyownwilldidmyspiritenterintothyHolyPlace，nordoIknowaughtofwhatitsawtherein，seeingthatnomemoryofitremainsinme。Nay，itwassentofherwhomIserve，whoisthemistressofallmagic，andtoheritmadereport，butwhatitsaidIknownot。“
“Andwhomdostthouserve，Rei？Andwhydidshesendthyspiritforthtospyonme？“
“IserveMeriamuntheQueen，andshesentmyspiritforthtolearnwhatbefelltheWandererwhenhewentupagainsttheGhosts。“
“AndyethesaidnaughttomeofthisMeriamun。Say，Rei，isshefair？“
“Ofallwomenwholiveupontheearthsheistheveryfairest。“
“Of/all/，sayestthou，Rei？Looknow，andsayifMeriamun，whomthoudostserve，isfairerthanArgiveHelen，whomthoudostnametheHathor？“andsheliftedherveilsothathesawthefacethatwasbeneath。
Nowwhenheheardthatname，andlookeduponthegloryofherwhoisBeauty’sself，Reishrankbacktillhewentnightofallingontheearth。
“Nay，“hesaid，coveringhiseyeswithhishand；“naythouartfairerthanshe。“
“Thentellme，“shesaid，lettingfallherveilagain，“andforthineownsaketellmetrue，whywouldMeriamuntheQueen，whomthouservest，knowthefateofhimwhocameupagainsttheGhosts？“
“Wouldstthouknow，DaughterofAmen？“answeredRei；“thenIwilltellthee，forthroughtheealoneshewhomIserveandlovecanbesavedfromshame。Meriamundothalsolovethemanwhomthouwouldstwed。“
NowwhentheGoldenHelenheardthesewords，shepressedherhandagainstherbosom。
“SoIfeared，“shesaid，“evenso。Sheloveshim，andhecomesnot。
Ah！ifitbeso！Now，Rei，IamtemptedtopaythisQueenofthineinherowncraft，andsendthyspiritforthtospyonher。Nay，thatI
willnotdo，fornevershallHelenworkbyshamefulguileormagic。
Nay——butwewillhence，Rei，wewillgotothePalacewheremyrivaldwells，theretolearnthetruth。Fearnot，Iwillbringnoillonthee，noronherwhomthouservest。LeadmetothePalace，Rei。Leadmeswiftly。“
NowtheWanderersleptinthearmsofMeriamun，whoworetheshapeofArgiveHelen。Hisgoldenharnesswaspiledbythegoldenbed，andbythebedstoodtheblackbowofEurytus。Thenightdrewontowardsthedawning，whenofasuddentheBowawokeandsang，andthusitsang:
“Wake！wake！thoughthearmsofthyLoveareaboutthee，yetdearerbyfarThanherkissisthesoundofthefight；
Andmoresweetthanhervoiceisthecryofthetrumpet，andgoodlierfarThanherarmsisthebattle’sdelight:
Andwhateyesaresobrightasthesheenofthebronzewhentheswordisaloft，Whatbreastissofairastheshield？
Orwhatgarlandofrosesisdearasthehelm，andwhatsleepissosoftAsthesleepofslainmenonthefield？“
Lo！theSnakethatwastwinedabouttheformofherwhoworetheshapeofHelenheardthemagicsong。Itawoke，itarose。IttwisteditselfaboutthebodyoftheWandererandthebodyofherwhoworetheshapeofHelen，knittingthemtogetherinthebondofsin。Itgrew，andliftingitswoman’sheadonhigh，itsanginanswer。Andthusitsangofdoom:
“Sleep！beatrestforanhour；asindeathmenbelievetheyshallrest，Buttheywake！Andthoutooshaltawake！
Inthedarkofthegravedotheystir；butaboutthem，onarmsandonbreast，ArethetoilsandthecoilsoftheSnake:
Bythetreewherethefirstloverslay，didIwatchasIwatchwherehelies，LovelaidonthebosomofLust！“
ThenthegreatbowansweredtheSnake，anditsang:
“OfthetreewherethefirstloverssinnedwasIshapen；Ibidtheearise，ThouSlayerthatsoonshallbedust。“
AndtheSnakesangreply:
“Bethousilent，myDaughterofDeath，bethousilentnorwakehimfromsleep，Withthesongandthesoundofthybreath。“
TheBowheardthesongoftheSnake。TheDeathheardthesongoftheSin，andagainitsthinmusicthrilledupontheair。Forthusitsang:
“Bethousilent，myMotherofSin，forthiswatchitisgivenmetokeepO’erthesleepofthedealerofDeath！“
ThentheSnakesang:
“Hush，hush，thouartyoung，andthoucamesttobirthwhenthemakingwasdoneOftheworld:Iamoldertherein！“
AndtheBowanswered:
“Butwithoutmethystrengthwereasweakness，theprizeofthystrengthwereunwon。
Iam/Death/，andthyDaughter，OSin！“
NowthesongoftheSnakeandthesongoftheBowsunkthroughthedepthsofsleeptilltheyreachedtheWanderer’sears。Hesighed，hestretchedouthismightyarms，heopenedhiseyes，andlo！theylookedupontheeyesthatbentabovehim，eyesofflamethatlitthefaceofawoman——thefaceofMeriamunthatwaveredonaserpent’sneckandsuddenlywasgone。Hecriedaloudwithfear，andsprangfromthecouch。Thefaintlightofthedawningcreptthroughthecasementsandfelluponthebed。ThefaintlightofthedawningfelluponthegoldenbedofPharaoh’sQueen，itgleameduponthegoldenarmourthatwaspiledbythebed，andonthepolishedsurfaceofthegreatblackbow。
Itshoneuponthefaceofherwholayinthebed。