t, these loves of yours,
_Helen_ they love alone!
My face they seek in every face,
Mine eyes in yours they see,
They do but kneel to you a space,
And rise and follow _me!_"

Then, still singing, she stepped forward from the Shrine, and as she
went the walls fell in, and the roof crashed down upon the ruin and the
flames shot up into the very sky. Helen heeded it not. She looked
not back, but out to the gates beyond. She glanced not at the fierce
blackened faces of the women, nor on the face of Meriamun, who stood
before her, but slowly passed towards the gates. Nor did she go alone,
for with her came a canopy of fire, hedging her round with flame that
burned from nothing. The women saw the wonder and fell down in their
fear, covering their eyes. Meriamun alone fell not, but she too must
cover her eyes because of the glory of Helen and the fierceness of the
flame that wrapped her round.

Now Helen ceased singing, but moved slowly through the courts till she
came to the outer gates. Here by the gates was the chariot of Meriamun.
Then Helen called aloud, and the Queen, who followed, heard her words:

"Rei," she cried, "draw nigh and have no fear. Draw nigh that I may
pass with thee down that path the Wanderer treads. Draw nigh, and let us
swiftly hence, for the hero's last battle is at hand, and I would greet
him ere he die."

Rei heard her and drew near trembling, tearing from him the woman's
weeds he wore, and showing the priest's garb beneath. And as he came
the fire that wrapped her glory round left her, and passed upward like a
cloak of flame. She stretched out her hand to him, saying:

"Lead me to yonder chariot, Rei, and let us hence."

Then he led her to the chariot, while those who stood by fled in fear.
She mounted the chariot, and he set himself beside her. Then he grasped
the reins and called to the horses, and they bounded forward and were
lost in the night.

But Meriamun cried in her wrath:

"The Witch is gone, gone with my own servant whom she hath led astray.
Bring chariots, and let horsemen come with the chariots, for where she
passes there I will follow, ay, to the end of the world and the coast of
Death."

VII

THE LAST FIGHT OF ODYSSEUS, LAERTES' SON

Now the host of Pharaoh marched forth from On, to do battle with the
Nine-bow barbarians. And before the host marched, the Captains came to
the Wanderer, according to the command of Pharaoh, and placing