“Stay thou with thy old nurse, Beloved—­she sitteth in the hall—­
  And she will tell thee wondrous tales, to win from thee a smile,
Then take thy supper by her side, and when deep night doth fall,
  Go to the tower, whence I’ll come, but in a little while.”

Arrayed in her most lovely robes she took her stately way
  By courtiers unattended, through the palace vast and still. 
Her beauty was a thing to hold all bitterness at bay,
  To move the hearts of men, and bend their spirits to her will!

She passed beneath the rose red lights that hung from roof and door,
  And by unseeing gods, where curled an incense, blue and sweet;
As one who walks in sleep she crossed the cool mosaic floor,
  That echoed to the music of her little sandalled feet.

She reached the council chamber and there entered silently;—­
  But though the bowing wise men had been reeds the wind could sway
Would have noted them as little.  She only seemed to see
  One face, inscrutable and dark, toward which she took her way.

The king sat still as Fate.  “Most High,” she said, “I come for truth
  Of this new threat of vengeance.  There is horror in the air;—­
The Ethiopian runner hath brought word to me in sooth
  Blood is sprinkled on the door-posts of the Hebrews everywhere!”

“There are rumours—­so he sayeth—­of an Angel who will slay
  The first-born sons of Egypt—­should these bondsmen not depart. 
Thy people weep in anguish—­I myself must hear thee say—­
  The Hebrew leader threatens no such danger to my heart—­

“He is my heart—­my inner heart;—­0 straight he is and strong! 
  To me he meaneth Egypt—­Egypt meaneth but my son—­
So I would take him swiftly toward the land where I belong
  To return to thee in safety when these troubles all are done.”

“The streets are filled with mourners;—­every day more tears are shed;
  The embalmers have grown weary—­they will not work for gold—­
And everywhere the eye doth see processions of the dead,
  Till they seem but mocking phantoms, we watch unmoved and cold.”

“Thou wilt not let the Hebrews go—­I read it in thine eyes—­
  There are no gods in Egypt—­there is nothing but thy Will—­
That sets itself against some force that yet in Strength will rise
  But to silence all thine answers and bid thy voice be still.”

Then Pharaoh leaned down toward her:  “0 most beautiful!” he said,
  “There is not a man who liveth dare say so to my face;
And truly were there such a one ’twere better he were dead,
  For dead men suffer nothing.—­Yet I pray thee of thy grace

“Have patience now to hear me.  ’Tis as the Ethiope heard. 
  They threatened all the first-born;—­but the tower is brass and stone;
There my son shall stay to-night, guarded well, I give thee word.—­
  Where armies could not enter—­can one angel pass alone?