"Now, by the battling hosts of Set, never have I
met a foe so worthy the overcoming. Listen! Dost thou know that I
have sorrows? Dost thou remember that I may have sleepless nights and
unhappy days--discontents, heartaches and oppressions? I am not less
human because I am royal, but because I am royal I am more unhappy.
Sorry indeed is a prince's lot! Wherefore? Because he is sated with
submission; because he hath drunk satiety to its very dregs; because he
hath been denied the healing hunger of appetite, ambition, conquest.
How hath my miserable heart longed to aspire--to conquer! I have
starved for something beyond my reach. But lo! in thee I have found
what I sought. Thou hast defied me, rebuffed me, thwarted me till the
surfeited soul in me hath grown fat upon resistance. Now shall the
longing to conquer that racketh me be fed! Go on in thy rebellion,
Masanath! Gods! but thou art a foe worthy the subduing! I would not
have thee give up to me now. I would earn thee by defeats, losses and
many scars. And thy kiss of submission, in some far day, will give me
more joy than the instant capitulation of many empires."
"Thou hast provided thyself with lifelong warfare, and triumph to thine
enemy at the end," she answered serenely.
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