Oh! she is beautiful as a goddess and when men see her their hearts melt like wax in the sun and for a long while they can look upon no other woman, not till the next day indeed if they meet her in the evening," and Bes smacked his thick lips and gazed upwards.
"By the holy Fire," laughed the King, "I feel my heart melting already.
Say, Shabaka, what do you know of this Amada?
Is she married or a maiden ?" Now I answered because I must, for after all that boat was not far away, nor did I dare to lie.
"She is married, O King of kings, to the goddess Isis whom she loves alone." "A woman married to a woman, or rather to the Queen of women," he answered laughing, "well, that matters little." "Nay, O King, it matters much since she is under the protection of Isis and inviolate." "That remains to be seen, Shabaka.

I think that I would dare the wrath of every false goddess in heaven to win such a prize.

Learned also, you say, Shabaka." "Aye, O King, full of learning to the finger tips, a prophetess also, one in whom the divine fire burns like a lamp in a vase of alabaster, one to whom visions come and who can read the future and the past." "Still better," said the King.

"One, then, who would be a fitting consort for the King of kings, who wearies of fat, round-eyed, sweetmeat-sucking fools whereof there are hundreds yonder," and he pointed towards the House of Women.

"Who is this maid's father ?" "He is dead but she is the niece of the Prince Peroa, and by birth the Royal Lady of Egypt, O King." "Good, then she is well born also.