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one of that great people。 It seems that I have found a
learned manone whose hands have held the water of
the world's knowledge。 Knowest thou Greek also？〃
〃Yes； O queen； and something of Hebrew； but not to
speak them well。 They are all dead languages now。〃
_i_ She _i_ clapped her hands in childish glee。 〃Of a
truth； ugly tree that thou art； thou growest the
fruits of wisdom； O Holly；〃 she said； 〃but of those
Jews whom I hatedfor they called me 'heathen' when I
would have taught them my philosophydid their
Messiah come； and doth he rule the world？〃
〃Their Messiah came；〃 I answered； with reverence； 〃but
he came poor and lowly； and they would have none of
him。 They scourged him； and crucified him upon a tree；
but yet his words and his works live on； for he was
the Son of God； and now of a truth he doth rule half
the world； but not with an empire of the world。〃
〃Ah； the fierce…hearted wolves；〃 she said； 〃the
followers of Sense and of many godsgreedy of gain
and faction torn。 I can see their dark faces yet。 So
they crucified their Messiah？ Well can I believe it。
That he was a Son of the Living Spirit would be naught
to them； if indeed he was so； and of that we will talk
afterwards。 They would care naught for any God if he
came not with pomp and power。 They； a chosen people； a
vessel of him they call Jehovah！ ay； and a vessel of
Baal； and a vessel of Astoreth； and a vessel of the
gods of the Egyptiansa high…stomached people； greedy
of aught that brought them wealth and power。 So they
crucified their Messiah because he came in lowly
guiseand now are they scattered about the earth。
Why； if I remember； so said one of their prophets that
it should be。 Well； let them go； they broke my heart；
those Jews； and made me look with evil eyes across the
world； ay； and drove me to this wilderness； this place
of a people that was before them。 When I would have
taught them wisdom in Jerusalem they stoned me； ay； at
the gate of the Temple those white…bearded hypocrites
and rabbis hounded the people on to stone me！ See；
here is the mark of it to this day！〃 and with a sudden
move she pulled up the gauzy wrapping on her rounded
arm； and pointed to a little scar that showed red
against its milky beauty。 I shrank back horrified。
〃Pardon me； O queen；〃 I said； 〃but I am bewildered。
Nigh upon two thousand years have rolled across the
earth since the Jewish Messiah hung upon his cross at
Golgotha。 How then canst thou have taught thy
philosophy to the Jews before he was？ Thou art a
woman； and no spirit。 How can a woman live two
thousand years？ Why dost thou befool me； O queen？〃
_i_ She _i_ leaned back on the couch； and once more I
felt the hidden eyes playing upon me and searching out
my heart。
〃O man！〃 she said at last； speaking very slowly and
deliberately； 〃it seems that there are still things
upon the earth of which thou knowest naught。 Dost thou
still believe that all things die； even as those very
Jews believed？ I tell thee that naught really dies。
There is no such thing as Death； though there be a
thing called Change。 See；〃 and she pointed to some
sculptures on the rocky wall。 〃Three times two
thousand years have passed since the last of the great
race that hewed those pictures fell before the breath
of the pestilence which destroyed them； yet they are
not dead。 E'en now they live； perchance their spirits
are drawn towards us at this very hour；〃 and she
glanced round。 〃Of a surety it sometimes seems to me
that my eyes can see them。〃
〃Yes； but to the world they are dead。〃
〃Ay； for a time； but even to the world they are born
again and again。 I； yes I； Ayeshafor that is my
name； strangerI say to thee that I wait now for one
I loved to be born again； and here I tarry till he
finds me； knowing of a surety that hither he will
come； and that here； and here only； shall he greet me。
Why； dost thou suppose that I； who am all powerful； I；
whose loveliness is more than the loveliness of the
Grecian Helen； of whom they used to sing； and whose
wisdom is wider； ay； far more wide and deep than the
wisdom of Solomon the WiseI； who know the secrets of
the earth and its riches； and can turn all things to
my usesI； who have even for a while overcome Change；
that ye call Deathwhy； I say； O stranger； dost thou
think that I herd here with barbarians lower than the
beasts？〃
〃I know not；〃 I said； humbly。
〃Because I wait for him I love。 My life has perchance
been evil； I know notfor who can say what is evil
and what good？so I fear to die even if I could die；
which I cannot until mine hour comes； to go and seek
him where he is； for between us there might rise a
wall I could not climb； at least； I dread it。 Surely
easy would it be also to lose the way in seeking in
those great spaces wherein the planets wander on
forever。 But the day will come； it may be when five
thousand more years have passed； and are lost and
melted into the vault of Time； even as the little
clouds melt into the gloom of night； or it may be to…
morrow； when he； my love； shall be born again； and
then； following a law that is stronger than any human
plan； he shall find me here； where once he knew me；
and of a surety his heart will soften towards me
though I sinned against him； ay； even though he know
me not again； yet will he love me； if only for my
beauty's sake。〃
For a moment I was dumbfounded； and could not answer。
The matter。 was too overpowering for my intellect to
grasp。
〃But even so； O queen；〃 I said at last； 〃even if we
men be born again and again； that is not so with thee；
if thou speakest truly。〃 Here she looked up sharply；
and once more I caught the flash of those hidden eyes；
〃thou；〃 I went on； hurriedly； 〃who hast never died？〃
〃That is so；〃 she said； 〃and it is so because I have；
half by chance and half by learning； solved one of the
great secrets of the world。 Tell me； stranger： life
iswhy therefore should not life be lengthened for a
while？ What are ten or twenty or fifty thousand years
in the history of life？ Why in ten thousand years
scarce will the rain and storms lessen a mountain…top
by a span in thickness？ In two thousand years these
caves have not changed； nothing has changed； but the
beasts and man； who is as the beasts。 There is naught
that is wonderful about the matter； couldst thou but
understand。 Life is wonderful； ay； but that it should
be a little lengthened is not wonderful。 Nature hath
her animating spirit as well as man； who is Nature's
child； and he who can find that spirit； and let it
breathe upon him； shall live with her life。 He shall
not live eternally； for Nature is not eternal； and she
herself must die； even as the nature of the moon hath
died。 _i_ She _i_ herself must die； I say； or rather
change and sleep till it be time for her to live
again。 But when shall she die？ Not yet； I ween； and
while she lives； so shall he who hath all her secret
live with her。 All I have it not； yet have I some；
more perchance than any who were before me。 Now； to
thee I doubt not that this thing is a great mystery；