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Thus it came about that until fate drove me there, I came to thathouse no
more.
Therefore he too remained at peace in thecity. In the fury of my great
desire, honour andall else was forgotten. All these things may be so, Prophet,
I said.
You are an astrologer and a priest of Marduk, are younot?
He bade me
open my robe and set his ear against mynaked breast and listened to my heart.
But should Nabonidus die soon,Belshazzar is not in Babylon.
You have fought
well, Ramose, and gained a victory that one dayshould not lack for its reward.
At least I did say it and the prophethearkened.
Yet it is so, for swift posts
have brought the news. But of these matters we willspeak afterwards. There
perhaps he may be killed ormade prisoner, or many things may happen. No, it is
impossible unless I am summoned. You have fought well, Ramose, and gained a
victory that one dayshould not lack for its reward.
In them, however, nothing
was said concerning Myra. Is not her name thatof a woman of Israel? For a while
he paused and there was silence, for I knew not what tosay.
Ramose my
love,Ramose my own, come to me, Ramose, and not in dreams.
I murmured in the
accustomed form, notknowing what else to say.
He listened with a courteous
patience, thenanswered,Noble Egyptian, Ramose, hear my counsel. Perhaps by the
Prince Belshazzar, I hazarded. But of these matters we willspeak
afterwards.
Thenseeing that he was still minded to go on, I added, It has to do
withone of the blood of Judah. And how did you learn what had happened to me,
and to Myra, Belus? He bade me open my robe and set his ear against mynaked
breast and listened to my heart. Yet if we do not act upon it, which waycan we
turn?
But should Nabonidus die soon,Belshazzar is not in Babylon.
Therefore he
too remained at peace in thecity. God above all gods, Thou that hast power even
in mightyBabylon and over the hearts of its princes. Ramose, it was Belshazzar
who stole my daughter andafterwards murdered her, no other man. Then I knew
that she felt me near to her. I listened and answered that I liked the plan
little. Is not her name thatof a woman of Israel?
He may pass at any minute, or
he may live for months, as mensuffering from the heart sometimes do. CHAPTER
XVII AT THE WESTERN GATEWhat Nabonidus promised me, he performed.
To this man
the king dictated words which he wrote down.
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