t, indeed, when he warned me against women: Ye are
like ripe peaches in the eyes of a man whose tongue thirst has parched,
but peaches ripe only in appearance. Woe to the fool who dares bite
that fruit of fair seeming; instead of cooling sweetness he will find a
nest of wasps that will sting not his lips alone, but his heart also."

"Wilt Thou complain? Wilt Thou not spare me even this shame after I
have sacrificed to thee both my dignity of priestess and my virtue?"

The heir shook his head and smiled.

"Never could I have thought," said he, after a while, "that the story
told by laborers before bedtime could have come true. But today I see
the truth of it. Listen to me, Kama; perhaps Thou wilt stop, and not
force me to withdraw the goodwill which I have for thee."

"He wishes now to tell a fable!" said the priestess, bitterly. "Thou
hast told me one already, and I was profited by hearing it."

"This will profit thee if Thou understand it."

"Will there be anything about Jewish brats in it?"

"Of priestesses there will be; only listen carefully.

"The following thing happened here long ago, in Pi-Bast: [A true
story.]

"Once Prince Satni, on the square before the temple of Ptah, saw a very
beautiful woman. She surpassed all whom he had met before, and, what
was more noteworthy, she had much gold on her person.

"She pleased the prince greatly, and when he learned that she was the
daughter of the high priest, he sent his equerry to her with the
following offer,

"'I will give thee gold rings if Thou wilt pass one short hour in my
company.'

"The equerry went to the beautiful Tbubui and repeated the words of
Prince Satni. When she had listened to him politely, she answered as
became a well-bred young lady,

"'I am the daughter of a high priest; I am innocent, no low girl. So,
if the prince wishes to have the pleasure of knowing me, let him come
to my house, where everything will be ready, and where acquaintance
with him will not expose me to the scandal of all the street gossips.'

"Prince Satni went to Tbubui's chambers, the walls of which were
covered with lapis lazuli and pale green enamel. There were also many
couches decked with regal linen, and not a few one-legged tables on
which gold goblets were standing. One of these goblets was filled with
wine and given to the prince, while Tbubui said to him, 'Be gracious,
and drink.' To this the prince answered, 'Thou knowest that I have not
come to drink w