"May curses light upon him in the hour of his birth, and upon all who bear his hated name! Say, Pietro, why didst thou not strangle the little viper as you would any other poisonous reptile ?" "My Zara, I did not even see him.

He lies cradled in rose leaves, no doubt, and the singing of the west wind is not sweet enough for his lullaby.

No profane eye must rest on this sacred treasure fresh from the hands of the gods! Is he not the heir of Kingsland?
But Achmet the Astrologer has cast his horoscope, and Achmet, and Zara, his wife, wilt see that the starry destiny is fulfilled.

Shall we not ?" "If I only had him here," Zara cried, clawing the air with her two hands, "I would throttle the baby snake, and fling him dead in his father's face.

And that father! Oh, burning alive would be far too merciful for him!" Achmet smiled, and drew her long black braids caressingly through his fingers.
"You know how to hate, and you will teach our little one.