bylonish life. In an unaccountable way

dess, where, with Ram?a close at hand, the hours were wont to fly on rosy wings; the long streets, the myriads of people, the hum of the city, the curious, solemn, ceremonious bearing of its

th of Duzu (June). He was sitting with Ram?a on the steps of the temple of Istar, munching dates and struggling with new phrases in the apparently hopeless Chaldean tongue, when a

the procession of the gods, he at whose remarkable appearance Charmides had so marvelled: Belshazzar, the king's son. Still was he godlike, imperial enough to look upon; but the Greek forgot his presence while Istar was again before him. When his gaze fell on her he started slightly, turned his eyes away for an instant, and looked again. Yes-it was true. Through the shimmering veil her form was clearly visible. She was not now only a cloud of dazzling, palpitating light. Immortal still, and radiant she wa

he confessed it. At each of these visits Charmides realized that Belshazzar was present; but the fact made little impression on him. He saw her whom he worshipped quicken to new life, to new radiance, at sound of his voice and the chords of his lyre;

Under the spell of the music that was a divine gift, she was becoming more and more the old-time unapproachable goddess. The rays of the aureole, which, half an hour before, had vibrated so slowly as scarcely to disturb the eye, were quickened to a new life. Blinding streams of light poured about her now. And Istar herself was quivering with a strength, with a delight, that was apart from earthly things. Charmides' voice showed its power, its beauty, its clear heights, its mellow depths, as never before. He had begun with a most delicate pianissimo, in tones of exquisite restraint and purity, the old myth of Alpheus and Arethuse-a thing that he had sung a hundred times before, yet never as now. The tones

out. His face was pale and his lips drawn with displeasure-with something more than that. Be

round her diminished so rapidly that one could see them melt away; and soon she was left almost without divine protection-a woman, in woman's garb. Finally, however, with no trace of weakness in her manner, she

ill send to thee a lyre that is not dishono

he thrill of her touch, she walked with him

the man, yet before it Belshazzar would not lower his. He was making an almost inhuman effort, mental and physical, to overcome the perfect poise that proclaimed her more than human. But Belshazzar could not cope with a thing divine. His strength, to the last drop, was

roken lyre," s

r, receiving it, touch it to her breast. He shut his eyes that he might not see the hated thing made whole; but, l

covering her face with her hands, and exhibiting every sign of human distress. On the contrary, humiliated, hopeless, and disturbed by the temerity of his thoughts, yet as rebellious as before, the prince of Babylon crossed the platform and descended the steps where Charmides sat with Ram?a. The prince scarcely saw the Greek as he passed him; and Charmides only lifted his eye

," said Belshazzar; and N

he gods and the holy houses of Nebo and Nergal, stood the spacious palace of

above their heads, in presentation to one high in authority. Belshazzar remained like a statue where he stood, and Nebo-Ail? requested audience

from the gateway. In their midst, shaded by a large, swinging parasol, and fanned on either side by black slaves, was Amraphel, an old man, white-bearded, bright-eyed, his stiff, white hair crowned with a red, conical cap, his flowing muslin skirts sweeping the pavement, and the goat-skin bound

governor of the city,

id, the king, my father, that asks if thou wilt be conducted by

ommand my

e carefully and went to stand at the horses' heads. "Let my cha

alace within an hour," stepped forward and mounted into the royal vehicle. Belshazzar followed him, and this time took the reins himself

rdens, Nabu-Nahid's royal dwelling, and the vast hunting-park used by Belshazzar. The Street of Palaces skirted this park, passed the portals of the present royal palace, and branched off to the west end of the great bridge. Along this way to-day Belshazzar guided his steeds at break-neck pace; for in all Chaldea there was not such another horseman as he, when he chose to exercise his skill; and it must be confessed that there was nothing in the person

tsur. May Raman guard them that you break n

sque answer, as Belshazzar leaped from the chariot and sign

h was haunting him would not go; and, after half an hour of wearisome effort to concentrate his mind on what was before him, he suddenly pushed away all the clay tablets and rolls of papyrus, leaped to his feet, and, curtly dismissing the officials, himself left the room. Passing out of his many and rather forlorn apartments, he walked aimlessly out across the wide, central court-yard, around which the separate portions of the palace met, and went through a small gateway that led into the seraglio. The small court, off which opened various sets of rooms, was white with the glare of the afternoon sun. Three piles of scarlet rugs, an embroidery frame, and a broken peacock-feathe

sed in some way. He might go to his father-his father and Amraphel, who were closeted together. His father and Amraphel-clay and a sculptor; soft metal and a hot fire; an arrow and the bow. Belshazzar caught at his idea, never looked again at the court-yard, but turned

Bel is within,

o e

h?

archi

ord s

en. Amraphel is d

and Belshazzar, unannounced, strod

a couch, to Amraphel, who stood stiffly on the other side of the room, and then back to little Sh?la, with his scrolls of papyrus upon the floor before him, and his exp

ther?" he asked, in a gently grieve

sty courtesy. "I rejoice at your arrival. You may

t is it tha

hest and for the love of the gods my fathers, have lately

d, Belshazzar on the other, and Nabonidus in the background, was an unhappy object. The high-priest was like a wedge inserted between two teeth; himself unfeeling, impassive, unswerving, he possessed the unhappy faculty of causing

-humor, "your discussion is regarding the holy t

r in any way concern the prince thy son? Has he n

my father says me not nay, I will stay, and listen to your speech. What speak you of?"

the goddess Ishtar must not be removed from Babylon

e knowledge that Amraphel's hawk-eyes were reading him like a bare table

emoved from Babyl

extended to all Chaldea. Now, on the site of her old and ruined temple, your father has caused to be erected the magnificent building of which the plans lie yonder. The king, out of the goodness of his heart, is about to decree a great religious

ever, was incontrovertible, was at once apparent to Belshazzar. Again, however, Nabonidus began wi

or demon, whichever she might be, out of Babylon, where her hold on the credulous and superstitious masses was something against which the priesthood could not contend. And this desirable end might easily have been arranged with Nabonidus alone. Belshazzar's entrance at this particular time was the most u

at gods her brothers; and let her be in Erech for that time. But as the goddess of Chaldea suffered her first incarnation in Erech, and there dwelt during her first earth-life, so now, since

t inspired of the gods!" cried Nab

and frequently used by the king and the official household. At Erech itself there would be processions, pageants, sacrifices, and merry-makings of every description. For three days should Istar be installed in her holy house, returning afterwards to Babylon as she had come. To this plan Amraphel was obliged to submit; for if the force of logic pitted against him was as strong as his own, and the strength of will were as great again, it was because Amraphel was laboring through hate, while B

ng him and preventing any attempted influence with the king. It was not, indeed, till Nabu-Nahid dismissed Sh?la, and, rising, announced that he was going to the apartments of

is chariot again. The victory of the afternoon had almost counterbalanced the hopeless affair of the earlier day; and it was in a careless and light-heart

of the New Year. Here they turned off to drive along the street that ran by the south bank of the canal, till they drew up in front of the palace and extensive gardens that st

lead me rather into his presence witho

vable apartment, where, in a big arm-chair, in front of a narrow table, bending over a heap of neatly inscribed tablets which he was examining with the aid of a magnifying-glass, sat the master of the house, Ribata Bit-Shumukin, one of the most important and one of the you

sight of his friend's face, joined in his merriment, and the two laughed together till the solemn secre

or Elam that know thy labors at this hour of repose?" ga

I labor further now, it is tho

d. Let her dance for us to the strains of the zither. Let us quaff wines of Khilbum and of Lebanon. Let us laugh, and make joy to flow about us l

-shar-

the ti it is mine own. Come awa

lipping a familiar arm through that of Belshazzar, as they started away together towards the women's apartments. Here they entered a small, empty hall, at the upper end of which was a raised da?s covered with rugs and cushions

auty that had rendered Belshazzar famous-or, some said, infamous, through the land. Still, in his way, he was a handsome fellow, of good stature, cleanly built, with refined features, a merry eye, and the blackest possible hair and beard. His wealth was great and his taste highly cultivated; so that Belshazzar had only to admire whatever he might find in the house of his friend. This, a few weeks past, had been a fact somewhat unfortunate; for a new slave of Bit-Shumukin's purchase, Khamma by name, a dancing-girl of some beauty, had appeared before the prince, and for the moment caught his fancy. The girl herself, being called to him and receiving a word or two and a caress, suddenly fell on her knees before her master, and pleaded with childish tears and sobs to be sold to this man over whose wonderful eyes she was s

uge, slowly moving fans. At their feet stood a bronze pitcher of wine, and in their hands were chased

of Nebuchadrezzar-he was one of t

e is a

I

I shall speak to thee concerning the race of this Beltishazzar. For the last two years I have watched them, and I find them giving promise of danger to the state. Beltishazzar himself, he whom his people call Daniel, is no poor man; but h

yment to a realm of anxious thought. "Priests!" he muttered, half to himself. "Priests again! Priests forever! Priests! I tell thee, Ribata," and his voice rose high with

in the door-way with an air of grave modesty, performed a humble obeisance before the two men, never lifting her eyes to the face of either; and then, as the zither-players began their music, she, Khamma, began the dance. Certainly she was a graceful creature, and, in her dreamy way, possessed of a perfect sense of rhythm. Belshazzar watched her with half-closed eyes. Ribata's attitude was that of polite weariness. While the dance progressed, both men replenished their wine-cups, and occasionally addressed each other in an undertone. Khamma did not look at them. Nevertheless her

ilt thou have her?" he muttered,

different expression came o

astonishment. "Since when dost thou

ight into Belshazzar's eyes. Instantly a sharp sigh, like a groa

e. Thy gift could not be unwelcome, Ribata, thou kn

s way. His color suddenly fled. The storm-eyes opened wide, and flashed with a new fire. He drew a gasping breath, and then, while his face grew crimson, the veins in his neck and in his temples swelled out in bright, purplish blue. His muscles twitched with emotion. Ribata, watching him with a smile of sympathy, looked to see his comrade rise and run after the dancer. But, to Bit-Shumukin's va

Belshazzar?" he

a long-drawn cry, all the strange, warped, blasphemous emotion in him burst forth: "Istar! Istar! Istar! Belo

then, in an undertone, he muttered: "By Nebo