glory to the world? ..." and she pointed to Sah-luma's recumbent
figure with a gesture of loathing and contempt, . . "HIS? ... the
life of a drunken voluptuary? ... a sensual egotist? ... a poet
who sees no genius save his own, and who condemns all vice, save
that which he himself indulges in! A laurelled swine! ... a false
god of art! ... and for him thou dost reject Me! ... ah, thou
fool!" and her splendid eyes shot forth resentful fire.. "Thou
rash, unthinking, headstrong fool! thou knowest not what thou hast
lost! Aye, guard thy friend as thou wilt,--thou dost guard him at
thine own peril! ... think not that he, . . or thou, ... shall
escape my vengeance! What!--dost thou play the heroic with me? ...
thou who art Man, and therefore NO hero? ... For men are cowards
all, except when in the heat of battle they follow the pursuit of
their own brief glory! ... poltroons and knaves in spirit,
incapable of resisting their own passions! ... and wilt THOU
pretend to be stronger than the rest? ... Wilt thou take up arms
against thyself and Destiny? Thou madman!"--and her lithe form
quivered with concentrated rage--"Thou puny wretch that dost first
clutch at, and then refuse my love!--thou who dost oppose thy
miserable force to the Fate that hunts thee down!--thou who dost
gaze at me with such grave, child-foolish eyes! ... Beware, . .
beware of me! I hate thee as I hate ALL men! ... I will humble
thee as I have humbled the proudest of thy sex! ..--wheresoever
thou goest I will track thee out and torture thee! ... and thou
shalt die--miserably, lingeringly, horribly,--as I would have
every man die could I fulfil my utmost heart's desire! To-night,
be free! ... but to-morrow as thou livest, I will claim thee!"

Like an enraged Queen she stood,--one white, jewelled arm
stretched forth menacingly,--her bosom heaving, and her face