sangest I drew near,
Then sudden silence heard our hearts that beat,
For now there was an end of doubt and fear,
Now passion filled my soul and led my feet;
Then silent didst thou rise thy love to meet,
Who, sinking on thy breast, knew naught but thee,
And in the happy night I kissed thee, Sweet;
Ah, Sweet! between the starlight and the sea."

The last echoes of her rich notes floated down the chamber, and slowly
died away; but in my heart they rolled on and on. I have heard among
the women-singers at Abouthis voices more perfect than the voice of
Cleopatra, but never have I heard one so thrilling or so sweet with
passion's honey-notes. And indeed it was not the voice alone, it was the
perfumed chamber in which was set all that could move the sense; it
was the passion of the thought and words, and the surpassing grace and
loveliness of that most royal woman who sang them. For, as she sang, I
seemed to think that we twain were indeed floating alone with the night,
upon the starlit summer sea. And when she ceased to touch the harp, and,
rising, suddenly stretched out her arms towards me, and with the last
low notes of song yet quivering upon her lips, let fall the wonder of
her eyes upon my eyes, she almost drew me to her. But I remembered, and
would not.

"Hast thou, then, no word of thanks for my poor singing, Harmachis?" she
said at length.

"Yea, O Queen," I answered, speaking very low, for my voice was choked;
"but thy songs are not good for the sons of men to hear--of a truth they
overwhelm me!"

"Nay, Harmachis; there is no fear for thee," she said laughing softly,
"seeing that I know how far thy thoughts are set from woman's beauty and
the common weakness of thy sex. With cold iron we may safely toy."

I thought within myself that coldest iron can be brought to whitest heat
if the fire be fierce enough. But I said nothing, and, though my hand
trembled, I once more grasped the dagger's hilt, and, wild with fear
at my own weakness, set myself to find a means to slay her while yet my
sense remained.

"Come hither, Harmachis," she went on, in her softest voice. "Come, sit
by me, and we will talk together; for I have much to tell thee," and she
made place for me at her side upon the silken seat.

And I, thinking that I might so more swiftly strike, rose and seated
myself some little way from her on the couch, while, flinging back her
head, she gazed on me with her slumbrous