Thou hast some grief; say what doth vex thy brow?" And PHARAOH said: "None vexeth me but thou. I have but two, and if those two be wed All PHARAOH'S fruit is hanging on one bough. Nay, search and find me one great war-lord's son, Another war-lord's daughter. With the one And other let these children twain be wed. So PHARAOH'S line on many threads shall run." Next day the hours passed and the feast was set Before the King; and I was called ere yet The Lords came. And I stood before the King Not as of old, my heart being desolate. And PHARAOH spake: 'AHURE, was it thou Didst send that message that hath made my brow Troubled, that with thy brother thou wouldst wed?' And I said: 'Hath the King not made a vow, A war-lord's daughter and a war-lord's son-- Behold us!--Let my brother take the one, And let the other take AHURE; so Shall PHARAOH'S race be great beneath the sun.' And there I laughed; and PHARAOH laughed again, And called the Steward of the King's domain: 'Steward, this night to NEFREKEPTA'S house The maid AHURE take and all her train; And all things beautiful go with her there.' Thus I to NEFREKEPTA'S house did fare, And PHARAOH sent wrought silver and fine gold, And PHARAOH'S servants stood about my chair. And NEFREKEPTA took with me delight, And feasted PHARAOH'S servants; and that night Was made our marriage, and we knew great joy, And never, never, failed I in his sight; For each his fellow loved exceedingly. And when my time of bearing came to be I bore the son who lieth in this tomb, MERAB; a name in the Kings' Book is he. _The Book of Thoth_ And thus it fell, that of all things on earth My brother NEFREKEPTA most of worth Did hold the wisdom that in Books is writ. The tablets of the House of Death and Birth, And all that on the temple walls is said, And all the lore of the Kings' Tombs he read, And ever walked in Memphis on the Hill Of Kings, and stored the wisdom of the dead. Now one day was a high procession sent To PTAH'S great house; and NEFREKEPTA went And walked therein; right slow he walked, and read All that was writ on wall and pediment. And, watching him, behold, an aged Priest Laughed. And he said: 'God's mercy be increased! Why laughest thou at me?' And he: 'I laugh At no man, not the greatest nor the least; I laugh to think how thou shalt laugh anon, When that which no man's eye hath looked upon, The secret Book of HERMES which is THOTH, Is opened to thine hand and called thine own. He wrote it, and the Gods before his face Fled.--And it lies . . . If ever word of grace Or spell of power thou need, come then to me And speak. Thou shalt be guided to the place. Two leaves it hath, on which two sorceries Are written. If thou read the first of these, Thou shalt enchant the earth, the clouds above, The underworld, the mountains and the seas;