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of it。 Well； he lay there newly dead； and we descended
whither I shall lead you； and then； gathering up all
my courage； and courting death that I might perchance
win so glorious a crown of life； I stepped into the
flames； and behold！ life such as ye can never know
until ye feel it also； flowed into me； and I came
forth undying； and lovely beyond imagining。 Then did I
stretch out mine arms to thee； Kallikrates； and bid
thee take thine immortal bride； and behold； as I
spoke； thou； blinded by my beauty； didst turn from me
and throw thine arms about the neck of Amenartas。 And
then a great fury filled me； and made me mad； and I
seized the javelin that thou didst bear； and stabbed
thee； so that there； at my very feet； in the Place of
Life； thou didst groan and go down into death。 I knew
not then that I had strength to slay with mine eyes
and by the power of my will； therefore in my madness
slew I with the javelin。
〃And when thou wast dead； ah！ I wept； because I was
undying and thou wast dead。 I wept there in the Place
of Life； so that had I been mortal any more my heart
had surely broken。 And she； the swart Egyptianshe
cursed me by her gods。 By Osiris did she curse me； and
by Isis； by Nephthys and by Hekt； by Sekhet； the lion…
headed； and by Set； calling down evil on me； evil and
everlasting desolation。 Ah！ I can see her dark face
now lowering o'er me like a storm； but she could not
hurt me； and II know not if I could hurt her。 I did
not try； it was naught to me then； so together we bore
thee hence。 And afterwards I sent herthe Egyptian
away through the swamps； and it seems that she lived
to bear a son and to write the tale that should lead
thee； her husband； back to me； her rival and thy
murderess。
〃Such is the tale； my love； and now is the hour at
hand that shall set a crown upon it。 Like all things
on the earth； it is compounded of evil and goodmore
of evil than of good； perchance； and writ in letters
of blood。 It is the truth； naught have I hidden from
thee； Kallikrates。 And now one thing before the final
moment of thy trial。 We go down into the presence of
Death； for Life and Death are very near together； and…
…who knoweth？that might happen which should separate
us for another space of waiting。 I am but a woman； and
no prophetess； and I cannot read the future。 But this
I knowfor I learned it from the lips of the wise man
Nootthat my life is but prolonged and made more
bright。 I cannot live for aye。 Therefore； before we
go； tell me； O Kallikrates； that of a truth thou
dost forgive me； and dost love me from thy heart。 See；
Kallikrates： much evil have I doneperchance it was
evil but two nights gone to strike that girl who loved
thee cold in deathbut she disobeyed me and angered
me； prophesying misfortune to me； and I smote。 Be
careful when power comes to thee also； lest thou too
shouldst smite in thine anger or thy jealousy； for
unconquerable strength is a sore weapon in the hands
of erring man。 Yea； I have sinnedout of the
bitterness born of a great love have I sinnedbut yet
do I know the good from the evil； nor is my heart
altogether hardened。 Thy love； O Kallikrates； shall be
the gate of my redemption； even as aforetime my
passion was the path down which I ran to evil。 For
deep love unsatisfied is the hell of noble hearts and
a portion for the accursed； but love that is mirrored
back more perfect from the soul of our desired doth
fashion wings to lift us above ourselves； and make us
what we might be。 Therefore； Kallikrates； take me by
the hand； and lift my veil with no more fear than
though I were some peasant girl； and not the wisest
and most beauteous woman in this wide world； and look
me in the eyes； and tell me that thou dost forgive me
with all thine heart； and that with all thine heart
thou dost worship me。〃
_i_ She _i_ paused； and the strange tenderness in her
voice seemed to hover round us like a memory。 I know
that the sound of it moved me more even than her
words； it was so very humanso very womanly。 Leo；
too； was strangely touched。 Hitherto he had been
fascinated against his better judgment； something as a
bird is fascinated by a snake； but now I think that
all this passed away； and he realized that he really
loved this strange and glorious creature； as； alas！ I
loved her also。 At any rate； I saw his eyes fill with
tears； and he stepped swiftly to her and undid the
gauzy veil； and then took her by the hand； and； gazing
into her deep eyes； said aloud；
〃Ayesha； I love thee with all my heart； and so far as
forgiveness is possible I forgive thee the death of
Ustane。 For the rest； it is between thee and thy
Maker； I know naught of it。 I only know that I love
thee as I never loved before； and that I will cleave
to thee to the end。〃
〃Now；〃 answered Ayesha； with proud humility〃now when
my lord doth speak thus royally and give with so free
a hand； it cannot become me to lag behind in words；
and be beggared of my generosity。 Behold！〃 and she
took his hand and placed it upon her shapely head； and
then bent herself slowly down till one knee for an
instant touched the ground〃Behold！ in token of
submission do I bow me to my lord！ Behold！〃 and she
kissed him on the lips； 〃in token of my wifely love do
I kiss my lord。 Behold！〃 and she laid her hand upon
his heart； 〃by the sin I sinned； by my lonely
centuries of waiting wherewith it was wiped out； by
the great love wherewith I love； and by the Spirit
the Eternal Thing that doth beget all life； from whom
it ebbs； to whom it doth return againI swear：
〃I swear； even in this first most holy hour of
completed womanhood； that I will abandon Evil and
cherish Good。 I swear that I will be ever guided by
thy voice in the straightest path of Duty。 I swear
that I will eschew Ambition； and through all my length
of endless days set Wisdom over me as a guiding star
to lead me unto Truth and a knowledge of the Right。 I
swear also that I will honor and will cherish thee；
Kallikrates； who hast been swept by the wave of time
back into my arms； ay； till the very end； come it soon
or late。 I swearnay； I will swear no more； for what
are words？ Yet shalt thou learn that Ayesha hath no
false tongue。
〃So I have sworn； and thou； my Holly； art witness to
my oath。 Here； too； are we wed； my husband； with the
gloom for bridal canopywed till the end of all
things； here do we write our marriage vows upon the
rushing winds which shall bear them up to heaven； and
round and continually round this rolling world。
〃And for a bridal gift I crown thee with my beauty's
starry crown； and enduring life； and wisdom without
measure； and wealth that none can count。 Behold！ the
great ones of the earth shall creep about thy feet；
and their fair women shall cover up their eyes because
of the shining glory of thy countenance； and their
wise ones shall be abased before thee。 Thou shalt read
the hearts of men as an open writing； and hither and
thither shalt thou lead them as thy pleasure listeth。
Like that old Sphinx of Egypt shalt thou sit aloft
from age to