Listen. The moments which thou dost waste in
idle anger may well cost thee thy crown and all of us our lives.
Already Sorais' horsemen go forth and call to arms. In three
days' time Nasta will rouse himself in his fastnesses like a
lion in the evening, and his growling will be heard throughout
the North. The "Lady of the Night" (Sorais) hath a sweet voice,
and she will not sing in vain. Her banner will be borne from
range to range and valley to valley, and warriors will spring
up in its track like dust beneath a whirlwind; half the army
will echo her war-cry; and in every town and hamlet of this wide
land the priests will call out against the foreigner and will
preach her cause as holy. I have spoken, oh Queen!'
Nyleptha was quite calm now; her jealous anger had passed; and
putting off the character of a lovely headstrong lady, with a
rapidity and completeness that distinguished her, she put on
that of a queen and a woman of business. The transformation
was sudden but entire.
'Thy words are very wise, Macumazahn. Forgive me my folly.
Ah, what a Queen I should be if only I had no heart! To be heartless
-- that is to conquer all. Passion is like the lightning, it
is beautiful, and it links the earth to heaven, but alas it blinds!
'And thou thinkest that my sister Sorais would levy war upon
me.
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