vague sense of mingled pleasure and sadness, the deep, mellow
tones of the monarch's voice vibrating through the silence, ... .

"Welcome, my Sah-luma!--Welcome at all times, but chiefly welcome
when the heart is weighted by care! I have thought of thee all
day, believe me! ... aye, since early dawn, when on my way to the
chase I heard in the depths of the forest a happy nightingale
singing, and deemed thy voice had taken bird-shape and followed
me! And that I sent for thee in haste, blame me not!--as well
blame the desert athirst for rain, or the hungry heart agape for
love to come and fill it!" Here his restless eye flashed on Theos,
who stood quietly behind Sah-luma, passive, yet expectant of he
knew not what.

"Whom hast thou there? ... A friend?" This as Sah-luma apparently
explained something in a low tone, ... "He is welcome also for thy
sake"--and he extended one hand, on which a great ruby signet
burned like a red star, to Theos, who, bending over it, kissed it
with the grave courtesy he fancied due to kings. Zephoranim
appeared good-naturedly surprised at this action, and eyed him
somewhat scrutinizingly as he said: "Thou art not of Sah-luma's
divine calling assuredly, fair sir, else thou wouldst hardly stoop
to a mere crowned head like mine! Soldiers and statesmen may bend
the knee to their chosen rulers, but to whom shall poets bend?
They, who with arrowy lines cause thrones to totter and fall,--
they, who with deathless utterance brand with infamy or hallow
with honor the most potent names of kings and emperors,--they by
whom alone a nation lives in the annals of the future,--what
homage do such elect gods owe to the passing holders of one or
more earthly sceptres? Thou art too humble, methinks, for the