THE FATAL FORCE 33
AMENHATEP.
Beware the fatal magic of her heart!
For she is great and evil, and her voice
Howls blasphemy against yet living gods.
Thou knowest not the story of thy birth,
The truth.
PACHAD
Then speak the truth, if so a priest
May tune his tongue to anything but lies.
AMENHATEP.
Sixteen strange seasons mingle gold and grey
Since in this very temple she, the Queen,
Spake, and threw open to our reverent gaze
A ‘royal womb made pregnant with that seed
Of which thou art the harvest. She spake thus:
‘Princes, and people of the Egyptian land,
And broken priests of broken deities
Discrowned this hour, look up, behold your god!
For I am pregnant with my own son’s child,
The fruit of my desire’s desire. Most pure,
The single spirit of my godhead yearned
From death to reap dominion, and from birth
To pluck the blossom of its fruitful love,
And be the sun to ripen and the rain
To water it. My soul became the bride
To its own body, and my body leapt
With passion from mine own Imperial loins
Begotten, and made strong from my own soul
To answer it. I hail thee, son of mine, _
Cc