Chapter I: Front Matter

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SARCHEDON

A Legend of the Great Queen

by

G. J. Whyte-Melville

Author of "Roy's Wife," "Black but Comely," "Market Harborough," etc.

Illustrated by S. E. Waller

London Ward, Lock & Co., Limited New York and Melbourne

* * * * *

TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
AUSTIN LAYARD, D.C.L.,
HER MAJESTY'S MINISTER AT MADRID,
THE
FOLLOWING ROMANCE IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED,
AS A TRIBUTE OF
ADMIRATION TO THE GREAT DISCOVERER,
WHOSE SKILL, COURAGE AND RESEARCH HAVE
EXCAVATED FROM THE DESERT SANDS
THE ARTS, ARMS, AND RECORDS OF A MIGHTY NATION;
WHOSE LEARNING AND PERSEVERANCE
HAVE RESTORED AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE
WORLD'S HISTORY,
LONG SEVERED IN THE OBLIVION OF THE PAST.

ONSLOW GARDENS,
_June, 1871_.

* * * * *

CONTENTS

The Seven Stars.

"They watch him who wakes--They watch him who sleeps--him who
speaks--him who is silent--the guilty, the blameless: there is none
on earth who is not watched."--_Bhuddhagosa Proverbs._

I. The King of Beasts 9

II. Merodach 16

III. Semiramis 24

IV. The Temple of his God 33

V. The Stars in their Courses 40

VI. A Dreamer of Dreams 47

VII. The King of Nations 55

VIII. The Lust of the Eye 63

IX. The Pride of Life 71

X. A Banquet of Wine 79

XI. Like to Like 87

XII. The Gods of the Heathen 94

XIII. Mother and Son 102

XIV. Strong as Death 110

XV. The Queen's Petition 118

XVI. Cruel as the Grave 125

XVII. The Divining Cup 133

XVIII. A Lying Spirit 141

XIX. The Feast of Baal 148

XX. Gone to the Stars 154

Ashtaroth, Queen of Heaven.

"From love comes grief, from love comes fear; he who is free from
love knows neither grief nor fear."--_Bhuddhagosa Proverbs._

XXI. Who is my Brother 162

XXII. The House of Bondage 170

XXIII. Pharaoh on the Throne 177

XXIV. The Captive in the Dungeon 187

XXV. The Wisdom of the Egyptians 193

XXVI. Deliverance 199

XXVII. In the Desert 206

XXVIII. A Ride for Life 216

XXIX. The City of Refuge 221

XXX. Loth 229

XXXI. Willing 235

XXXII. Bread and Salt 243

XXXIII. Parted 250

XXXIV. Forlorn 257

XXXV. The Lion's Cub 263

XXXVI. The Power of the Dog 270

XXXVII. The Wings of a Dove 276

XXXVIII. Bond and Free 284

XXXIX. In the Gate 292

XL. Unveiled 298

Nisroch the Avenger.

"Your sin follows steadily behind, as the cart-wheel follows the
draught-bullock."--_Bhuddhagosa Proverbs._

XLI. A Serpent on a Rock 304

XLII. Before the Altar 311

XLIII. The Snare of the Fowler 317

XLIV. The Veiled Queen 325

XLV. Aryas the Beautiful 332

XLVI. A Wind from the South 339

XLVII. The Fenced City 345

XLVIII. Sons of the Sword 355

XLIX. Faithful unto Death 361

L. A Fool in his Folly 365

LI. Bow and Spear 372

LII. Lost and Won 379

LIII. Sharing the Spoil 385

LIV. Counting the Cost 392

LV. The Voice of the Charmer 398

LVI. Requited 405

LVII. Betrayed 411

LVIII. Who is on my Side 417

LIX. Forgiven 424

LX. Lost in the Dark 430

SARCHEDON

The Seven Stars