"I desire none of these," her heart seemed to answer; "I desire him only
whom I have lost."
"Is it so?" replied the Voice. "Then bid him burn incense upon my altar
and take him to yourself. Have I not given you enough of beauty to snare
a single soul from among the servants of my enemy the God of the Jews?"
"Nay, nay!" her heart cried; "I will not tempt him to do this evil
thing."
"Yea, yea!" mocked the phantom Voice; "for your sake he shall burn
incense upon my altar."
*****
The phantasy passed, and now the golden gates of the palace of Baaltis
rolled open before Elissa. Now, too, the priestesses bore her to the
golden throne shaped like a crescent moon, and threw over her a black
veil spangled with stars, symbol of the night. Then having shut out the
uninitiated, they worshipped her after their secret fashion till she
sank down upon the throne overcome with fear and weariness. Then at last
they carried her to that wonder of workmanship and allegorical art, the
ivory bed of Baaltis, and laid her down to sleep.
*****
At dawn upon the following day an embassy, headed by Sakon, governor
of the city, in whose train were Metem and Aziel, went to the camp of
Ithobal. The mission of these envoys was to give the king answer to his
suit, for he refused to come to Zimboe unless he were allowed to bring
a larger force than it was thought prudent to admit into the city gates.
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