Laura Dayton Fessenden

“ Keep thou a silent tryst, until yon clock shall toll ten times the hour. Then rise, open the wicket gate, and enter without fear to gather that which thou shalt find into the urn I hold; then, with this scroll in thy hand, learn the way to return again, to the world. Day shall scarce have dawned, and the tired nation will be wrapped in a deep sleep; go thou up, and out of Egypt, and with thee, bear the urn and when thou art upon the edge of Mizram’s skirt, scatter the ashes, thou hast by thee, to the four winds of heaven. Alric, beloved, adieu ”

“ Small comfort do I take in the knowledge that my witless brother has been new calendared among Egypt’s saints! So do they make gods of many noxious beasts and vipers! Tell me, Miriam, could any merciful force, anything with even finest human intelligence doom a maiden to link herself with yonder living, breathing mass of nothingness? My husband, that is to be, clings to the toys of his earliest childhood, merrily jingles his rattle and bells, and is soothed to sleep by the crooning of nursery rhyme! Tothmes the Second a saint! Tothmes the Second a King! There is no God! ”

“ Know then future queen, that at the court of Tothmes the Second—and very close to his throne—my soul lives, for it is there, the only woman I have ever loved, shall abide.
“She is by birth and station, so far above me, that to love her, is like loving a star in heaven! but oh queen (that is to be) such love as mine knows no repining, because the object of its worship is beyond mortal possession! love such as mine, finds only joy in the thought that eons of what we call time, may stretch out, before I can take unto myself this other self but while I wait I can serve. ”

“ My lord, I will speak to you, that which I dare scarce breathe to my own soul. I know what it is to love. He, who is dearer to me than aught else in time, or endless eternity hath not a dream, that this is so; but, love like mine, is satisfied with the giving, it asks no more, than just to love silently on, to live a lonely empty life made fragrant by purity, and sanctified by prayer. Let me, I pray thee, my Lord, be committed to some sisterhood. ”

“ A myriad times have I been born, and lived, and died, and never in this infinite migration once beheld the soul I sought, until in Egypt’s land, a slave, a bondmaid, I serve my sister now the Princess Hatsu. ”

“ Of this glory that is to be, Moses is promised no portion, and no place, and being meekest of all men that are upon the face of the earth, he is satisfied to be the humblest servant of his Lord. There is for him no glory but the glory of God. Moses has dwelt always, in spirit, in Egypt. He has never day or night ceased to think upon the bondage of his people. And who knows the purposes of Mizram better than this son of Israel that stands before you. He is the adopted son of Pharaoh’s great daughter. ”

“ There comes to some, in every age of time, the actual power of reaching the source of light. It is to the mother that this awful privilege is oftenest granted. When in her supreme agony of love she spans all space and reaches the eternal to beg the life of her child.
Suddenly Miriam stood still, her cry ceased and in a quiet voice she spake to the great silence:
“What is it that Thou sayest to my soul? Aye, I know the words, ‘Be strong and of good courage; fear not, for it is the Lord that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee or forsake thee.’ Yea, they are sweet and comforting words! ”

“ She has prostrated herself upon the earth, and the priests forming in two lines, walk past her, swinging their golden censers right and left, and I can hear the voice of the Princess, joining in the petition, for the soul of her father—still on its journey to the kingdom that lies beyond the tomb. Now the sound of the singing grows fainter, the silence comes again, and Hatsu rises and goes on her way. She has reached a flight of broad stone steps. She is weary and the steps are many, but she presses on. ”

“ He is calling the doves that have been fluttering about the apartment. They come at his bidding, and he places them upon Hatsu’s shoulders; and upon her outstretched arms.
Into her hand he has put a great bunch of heliotrope, and now he sprinkles a strong elixir of catnip over the hem of the Princess’ gown, and upon her sandalled feet.
“Go,” he says, “and stand before the people.” And opening the curtains a little way, he thrusts her forth! and as the silken folds fall back, behind her, the people hear the voice! that makes all men, high or low, rich, or poor, simple, or wise, tremble! ”

“ One hand cold with the damps of departing life was slowly and tenderly caressing the long braids of the girl’s dark hair.
“Hatsu,” said the King, “do not cry any more, all the tears of Egypt, all the prayers of her priests avail not to stay this life of mine. Child, it matters not whether that which we call breath, is lodged under a King’s robe, or a beggar’s rags, at the bidding of some almighty power, it comes forth and goes its way into the unknown. ”

“ The girl’s garment is of cloth of gold, and her long braids are entwined with pearls; her sandalled feet glimmer like frost in the sunshine; on her arms, about her throat, and in her ears, diamonds glisten, and as she stands upon a carpet of freshly gathered flowers, she is a priceless gift to the King, her husband that is to be; but under this [Pg 15] mask of silk, and gold, and gem, I see a degraded womanhood! the girl is spiritually bound by something stronger than captive chains; oh, Miriam,” she cried, springing to her feet, “there are no Gods! there is no one God! ”

“ Our God hath thus spoken to Moses, His Prophet: ‘Oh thou, who feedest thy flocks beside the green pastures, and the still waters, arise and get thee down into Egypt, and take with thee Aaron, thy brother, that he may speak for thee, and say thou, unto her, who holds the hearts of her people in the hollow of her woman’s hand: “Hear, oh Egypt, harken unto the voice of the God of Israel. ”

“ There was no such thing in Egypt as succession from father to son. Outside the office of kingship itself, knowledge was the power, through which one and all must mount to distinction; education was a free gift to the people, irrespective of caste, and the child of the humblest pilot or artisan of to-day, might, through the force of his mentality, be the priestly or military influence behind a to-morrow’s throne. ”

“ His quiet unmoved voice, has fallen like a benediction of peace upon her troubled heart. Hope is springing anew within her breast, and now that he has ceased, they are looking into each other’s eyes, she kneels at his feet.
“Holy father,” she says. “I come to thee, in this my hour of need for council and guidance. Listen my lord! Standing beside the form of my departing father, I took solemn oath to Osirus to wed Tothmes the Second, to be Egypt’s Queen.
“My Lord, it is said, that the great Osirus, has given to you, the power to read the innermost thoughts of men. ”

“ Hatsu, there is above, about, and around us, an eternal force, and it created that which we call humanity. We of Israel call this force ‘God’—the ‘All Father’—and ‘Jehovah,’ and though our bondage under Egypt’s yoke seems to human understanding intolerable, we feel spiritually that we are the children of this King of Kings and Lord of Lords. ”

“ Hatsu, Daughter of our Departed Lord, and King. All Hail! It is the will of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, Osirus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that thou (accompanied by thine Israelitish handmaiden, Miriam) follow Alric, the bearer of this scroll, without question, through the Palace of Tears, even down into the subterranean grotto, known to the faithful of Mizram as the labyrinth of Death. ”

“ Miriam stood watching in silence the form of her mistress the Princess Hatsu until she had disappeared from sight in a curve of the avenue, or path, then she sat herself down upon a stone bench, and with closed eyes and folded hands sent prayers—like white-winged angels—to keep the Princess company. ”

“ I speak both the will of the King and his sainted Queen, when I say Israel will [Pg 81] abide in Egypt,” and as though hushed by a power that she could not baffle, while her heart and soul were filled with protest, Hatsu held her peace.
Then Aaron spoke: “But Israel shall go and Egypt shall open her gates and cry, ‘Depart, depart, ere the remnant of us be lost forever.’ Listen! In some near at hand day, Nature shall break no law, when she makes this fair land a chaos of misery! ”

“ One who by the will of the All Powerful, shall in time, rear out of ruins and ashes, out of ignorant, broken-spirited slaves, a great and enduring nation; a people that shall live with the riches of this globe when Egypt is but a faded memory. ”

“ Think not of yourself, dear lady, but of your land, of Egypt. She has need of you upon her throne. Your people love and trust you. Can you then subject them to a rule so terrible as [Pg 14] would surely befall should the mother of Tothmes the Second have power to guide the State? Live for your people, Hatsu, and leave your present and your future in the hands of the One God; call Him if you will Osirus, for any name we call (if we call with reverent spirit) the Supreme Ruler will answer to.”
The Princess raised her head and looked into Miriam’s eyes. ”

“ I have come e’en close to my beloved, and yet another has gained his love. It is hard to serve without reward. I pray you, my master, let me begone!”
With a tenderness drawn from him, against judgment, the man Alric knelt beside her, and kissed her white hand. “Sweet one,” he said, “the journey is nearly over. Would that I might tell thee what thou art become to me. I dare not, lest I lose my power over the thoughts and actions of the many, through the knowledge that you alone can impart. Yes, sweet soul, thy mission is all but ended in Egypt, as is also that of thy brave sister soul. ”

“ He rules Egypt’s night as well as Egypt’s day. He need not fear harm through the threats of Moses and Aaron. Superstition and ignorant fear have no place with Egypt’s King and Egypt’s councillors! Let us bid Gethro’s son go back to his sheep! let him seek among the Midian hills a weakly race that listens trembling to old housewives’ prophecies! Nay, nay, we should be mad to rid ourselves of such skilled workmen. My lord King, speak thou to these foolish ones and say Israel shall abide. ”

“ Miriam said no word, she only looked at him as though she strove to read his soul.
[Pg 53] “My lord,” she said at last, “the Princess will never grant this request, she knows full well that in all this land, none is so faithful as her Miriam; she knows that I have almost ceased to mourn the captivity of my people, because she is so dear to my heart. My lord, I shall be no wife to you, I am a slave, and it ill becomes me to say nay to one so high in authority, but my lord it can not be because I——”
Alric had stepped close to her. ”

“ A great sob broke from Alric’s throat, and he made a movement, as though to break the trance, but the action was so rapid as to almost be lost sight of in the look of intense resolve the look of indomitable will that took its place.
“‘If,’ went on Miriam, ‘Tothmes the Second die, and Tothmes the Third ascend the throne, thou shalt still, be queen, for over Tothmes the Third, does Alric hold an influence that is plastic as meal, and as strong as death. Aye, Hatsu, while I live, and while Alric lives thou shalt reign in Egypt. ”

“ Its frontlet is an Eagle—the emblem of power, strength, and freedom; the Eagle’s wings are wide spread; the bird glitters with gems—oh, how they shine!—but they are above eyes that fain would weep, yet dare not; they are above a heart that must not break! ”

“ The ladies-in-waiting upon the Princess Hatsu were all daughters of high priests, for the priesthood of Egypt represented, with the military officials, the gentry of Mizram. The function of priesthood was not confined exclusively to ecclesiastic thought; it embraced beside theology the professions of law, medicine, science, philosophy, poetry, and history, so it is easily seen that an intellectual, rather than a so-called spiritual condition was the priestly requirement. ”

“ Didn’t thou not tell me, that when Israel’s great prophet stood to warn Egypt, that he did bless my father, the King, and promise to him a place in the heaven of heavens? Dear Miriam, the King has gone out of Egypt. Hark! how the heralds cry it through the streets! ‘The King is dead,’ they say. ‘Long live the King.’ I cannot linger here, I must go to him. He will lose his way; he could not find the golden gates; he does not know the angels ”

“ For I will keep you in entrancement through those days and safe hid from all eyes save Hatsu’s and my own, and when the time has been accomplished Hatsu shall take the child, and holding it before the people, proclaim it her son and heir!
“That Zelas is true to me, I now know, beyond all doubt. Zelas, Hatsu’s uncle! Of what sad comminglings are we made! my soul and heart are crying [Pg 47] out in pity, and yet my mortal mind, my scholar’s questioning, urges me on——”
But—he pauses—his quick ear detects a footstep—and looking up he sees coming slowly toward him the Princess. ”

“ At a certain place by the way, at Alric’s bidding, leave the handmaiden, and the captain of the King’s guards, and take thy way alone, even unto the doorway that opens into the Temple of Osirus in the city of Abydos. Come thither, oh daughter of a great King, wife to be of our sainted Monarch, and on thy lonely way give thy soul into Osirus’ care and keeping. ”

“ The time has come when, if I am to keep the pledge made to my dying father, I must lay aside these garments of sorrow, and don the bridal robe and crown. To-morrow we leave the blessed quiet of this place to journey back to Thebes, and there I shall wed that grewsome creature that reigns in my father’s place! ”

“ Reveal to me the close at hand story of Egypt.”
A sigh escaped the white lips ere she said softly: “There will be an exodus of many besides the Israelites. The idiot King, the fair young Prince, Zelas the High Priest, Hatsu and Miriam shall go on, and Alric alone shall be left to abide in the land of his father, lo, these many years. Zelas and Hatsu shall be caught up in a chariot of fire, and the King and the Prince shall die, to ransom Israel, and in that same hour a merciful shaft from heaven shall set Miriam free.” She stretched out her arms and cried: “I pray thee, good master, let me go! ”