A claim upon thy mercy.”

“Charmian,” he said

“I have decreed that every man child of that

Hated race shall die. The oracles have said

The pyramids shall wane before their shadow,

And from them a star shall rise whose light shall

Spread over earth a baleful glow; and this is why

I root them from the land; their strength is weakness

To my throne. I shut them from the light lest they

Bring darkness to my kingdom. Now, Charmian,