ed, and
perchance canst work more woe now that I lie helpless here. But this I
tell thee, that thy torments shall outnumber mine as the stars outnumber
the earth. For here, and hereafter, thou shalt be parched with such a
thirst of love as never may be quenched, and in many another land, and
in many another time, thou shalt endure thine agony afresh. Again, and
yet again, thou shalt clasp and conquer; again, and yet again, thou
shalt let slip, and in the moment of triumph lose. By the Snake's head I
swore my troth to thee, I, who should have sworn by the Star; and this
I tell thee, Meriamun, that as the Star shall shine and be my beacon
through the ages, so through the ages shall the Snake encircle thee and
be thy doom!"

"Hold!" said Meriamun, "pour no more bitter words upon me, who am
distraught of love, and was maddened by thy scorn. Wouldst thou know
then why I am come hither? For this cause I am come, to save thee
from thy doom. Hearken, the time is short. It is true--though how thou
knowest it I may not guess--it is true that the barbarians march on
Khem, and with them sails a fleet laden with the warriors of thine own
people. This also is true, Pharaoh has returned alone: and all his host
is swallowed in the Sea of Weeds. And I, foolish that I am, I would save
thee, Odysseus, thus: I will put it in the heart of Pharaoh to pardon
thy great offence, and send thee forward against the foe; yes, I can do
it. But this thou shalt swear to me, to be true to Pharaoh, and smite
the barbarian host."

"That I will swear," said the Wanderer, "ay, and keep the oath, though
it is hard to do battle on my kin. Is that all thy message, Meriamun?"

"Not all, Odysseus. One more thing must thou swear, or if thou swearest
it not, here thou shalt surely die. Know this, she who in Khem is named
the Hathor, but who perchance has other names, hath put thee from her
because last night thou wast wed to me."

"It may well be so," said the Wanderer.

"She hath put thee from her, and thou--thou art bound to me by that
which cannot be undone, and by an oath that may not be broken; in
whatever shape I walk, or by whatever name I am known among men, still
thou art bound to me, as I am bound to thee. This then thou shalt swear,
that thou wilt tell naught of last night's tale to Pharaoh."

"That I swear," said the Wanderer.

"Also that if Pharaoh be gathered to Osiris, and it should chance that
she who is named the Hathor pass with him to t