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hence； O Ayesha！〃
CHAPTER XVII
THE BALANCE TURNS
IN a few minutes； following the lamps of the mutes；
which； held out from the body as a bearer holds water
in a vessel； had the appearance of floating down the
darkness by themselves； we came to a stair which led
us to _i_ She _i_ 's anteroom； the same that Billali
had crept up upon all fours on the previous day。 Here
I would have bid the queen adieu； but she would not。
〃Nay；〃 she said； 〃enter with me； O Holly； for of a
truth thy conversation pleaseth me。 Think； O Holly：
for two thousand years have I had none to converse
with save slaves and my own thoughts； and though of
all this thinking hath much wisdom come； and many
secrets been made plain； yet am I weary of my
thoughts； and have come to loathe mine own society；
for surely the food that memory gives to eat is bitter
to the taste； and it is only with the teeth of hope
that we can bear to bite it。 Now though thy thoughts
are green and tender； as becometh one so young； yet
are they those of a thinking brain； and in truth thou
dost bring back to my mind certain of those old
philosophers with whom in days bygone I have disputed
at Athens； and at Becca in Arabia； for thou hast the
same crabbed air and dusty look； as though thou hadst
passed thy days in reading ill…writ Greek； and been
stained dark with the grime of manuscripts。 So draw
the curtain； and sit here by my side； and we will eat
fruit； and talk of pleasant things。 See； I will again
unveil to thee。 Thou hast brought it on thyself； O
Holly； fairly have I warned theeand thou shalt call
me beautiful as even those old philosophers were wont
to do。 Fie upon them； forgetting their philosophy！〃
And without more ado she stood up and shook the white
wrappings from her； and came forth shining and
splendid like some glittering snake when she has cast
her slough； ay； and fixed her wonderful eyes upon me
more deadly than any basilisk'sand pierced me
through and through with their beauty； and sent her
light laugh ringing through the air like chimes of
silver bells。
A new mood was on her； and the very color of her mind
seemed to change beneath it。 It was no longer torture…
torn and hateful； as I had seen it when she was
cursing her dead rival by the leaping flames； no
longer icily terrible as in the judgment…hall； no
longer rich and sombre and splendid； like a Tyrian
cloth； as in the dwellings of the dead。 No； her mood
now was that of Aphrodite triumphing。 Liferadiant；
ecstatic； wonderfulseemed to flow from her and
around her。 Softly she laughed and sighed； and swift
her glances flew。 _i_ She _i_ shook her heavy tresses；
and their perfume filled the place； she struck her
little sandalled foot upon the floor； and hummed a
snatch of some old Greek epithalamium。 All the majesty
was gone； or did but lurk and faintly flicker through
her laughing eyes； like lightning seen through
sunlight。 _i_ She _i_ had cast off the terror of the
leaping flame； the cold power of judgment that was
even now being done； and the wise sadness of the
tombscast them off and put them behind her； like the
white shroud she wore； and now stood out the
incarnation of lovely； tempting womanhood； made more
perfectand in a way more spiritualthan ever woman
was before。
〃There； my Holly； sit there where thou canst see me。
It is by thine own wish； rememberagain I say； blame
me not if thou dost spend the rest of thy little span
with such a sick pain at the heart that thou wouldst
fain have died before ever thy curious eyes were set
upon me。 There； sit so； and tell me； for in truth I am
inclined for praisestell me； am I not beautiful？
Nay； speak not so hastily； consider well the point；
take me feature by feature； forgetting not my form；
and my hands and feet； and my hair； and the whiteness
of my skin； and then tell me truly hast thou ever
known a woman who in aught； ay； in one little portion
of her beauty； in the curve of an eyelash even； or the
modelling of a shell…Iike ear； is justified to hold a
light before my loveliness？ Now； my waist！ Perchance
thou thinkest it too large； but of a truth it is not
so； it is this golden snake that is too large； and
doth not bind it as it should。 It is a wise snake； and
knoweth that it is ill to tie in the waist。 But see；
give me thy handssonow press them round me； there；
with but a little force； thy fingers touch； O Holly。〃
I could bear it no longer。 I am but a man； and she was
more than a woman。 Heaven knows what she wasl do
not！ But then and there I fell upon my knees before
her； and told her in a sad mixture of languagesfor
such moments confuse the thoughtsthat I worshipped
her as never woman was worshipped； and that I would
give my immortal soul to marry her； which at that time
I certainly would have done； and so； indeed； would any
other man； or all the race of men rolled into one。 For
a moment she looked a little surprised； and then she
began to laugh； and clap her hands in glee。
〃Oh； so soon； O Holly！〃 she said。 〃I wondered how many
minutes it would need to bring thee to thy knees。 I
have not seen a man kneel before me for so many days；
and； believe me； to a woman's heart the sight is
sweet； ay； wisdom and length of days take not from
that dear pleasure which is our sex's only right。
〃What wouldst thou？what wouldst thou？ Thou dost not
know what thou doest。 Have I not told thee that I am
not for thee？ I love but one； and thou art not the
man。 Ah； Holly； for all thy wisdom…and in a way thou
art wisethou art but a fool running after folly。
Thou wouldst look into mine eyesthou wouldst kiss
me！ Well； if it pleaseth thee； look；〃 and she bent
herself towards me； and fixed her dark and thrilling
orbs upon my own； 〃ay； and kiss too； if thou wilt；
for； thanks be given to the scheme of things； kisses
leave no marks； except upon the heart。 But if thou
dost kiss； I tell thee of a surety wilt thou eat out
thy breast with love of me； and die！〃 and she bent yet
farther towards me till her soft hair brushed my brow；
and her fragrant breath played upon my face； and made
me faint and weak。 Then of a sudden； even as I
stretched out my arms to clasp； she straightened
herself； and a quick change passed over her。 Reaching
out her hand； she held it over my head； and it seemed
to me that something flowed from it that chilled me
back to common…sense； and a knowledge of propriety and
the domestic virtues。
〃Enough of this wanton play；〃 she said； with a touch
of sternness。 〃Listen； Holly。 Thou art a good and
honest man； and I fain would spare thee； but； oh！ it
is so hard for a woman to be merciful。 I have said I
am not for thee； therefore let thy thoughts pass by me
like an idle wind； and the dust of thy imagination
sink again into the depthswell； of despair； if thou
wilt。 Thou dost not know me； Holly。 Hadst thou seen me
but ten hours past when my passion seized me； thou
hadst shrunk from me in fear and trembling。 I am a
woman of many moods； and； like the water in that
vessel； I reflect many things； but they pass； my
Holly； they pass； a