64 THE FATAL FORCE
Give me that spear. [Aszde.] That royalty’s own
hand
Should send this thing to his long misery!
[Taking a spear, he runs through the soldier.
The KING OF SYRIA, attended, enters.
KING OF SYRIA.
Your armies beaten back before my face,
Your weapons broken, I am come to take
The crown from her pale brows that sitteth there.
THE LEPER.
The Queen is dead: I am the King of Egypt.
To-day I saved the house from its own shame
By strange ways: I will strike one blow to save
The land from its invaders. In the name
Of all our gods, I here invoke on thee
The spirit of my leprosy. Have at you!
[Springs at the King of Syria, only to be
transfixed on his drawn sword; but he
succeeds tn clasping the King, who staggers.
His soldiers, with a shout, rush forward,
drag down the Leper and attack the priests.
Allare slain. Stlence: then a shield drops,
clanging on the ground.
KING OF SYRIA (assuming crown and sitting
on throne).
Salute the conqueror of the Egyptian land!
[ Zhe soldiers salute and cheer.