"Thou has been long, Beloved!" she cried, and frowned all tenderly,
"Indeed I have not seen thee since the burning noon took wing."
"Mother of mine," he answered, "I have been where I should be
These burdened times of Egypt--beside my Lord the King.
"'Twill take the country many days to gain its old time peace,
But thou shalt suffer nothing;--I, myself, will care for thee
And see that naught doth harm thee--until all these troubles cease;--
These sad and magic doings that no man can solve," said he.
"Ay! That thou wilt," she said. "But tell me, how doth fare the king?
Doth he relent? Or is his face forbidding--dark and cold?--
Or hath he sent thee hither but some word of me to bring
As he cannot leave the council, and now the day grows old?"
He shook his head. "I came because I longed to see thee so;--
And Pharaoh reads the chart of stars while time goes creeping by,
Or he sits in weary silence--or paceth to and fro.
Since he banished the magicians, all fear him--all save I.
"Put on thy golden girdle with the mighty emerald clasp
And thy lotus broidered robe. Braid thy hair all cunningly,
And wear the winged head-dress with the turquois jewelled asp--
Then come and coax him from his gloom.
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