Page 33 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

will, relentless in crushing any who thwarted his ambition or interfered in the slightest
degree with his purposes, was yet not a sadist. His cruelty only flamed forth against any
who provoked or frustrated him. But all of that was left outside, when he entered the

boudoir of his beloved. To her he was as soft and tender as a woman. Her slightest wish
was the only law he knew, the only authority that he recognized.

And yet this fair child of luxury, to the manor born, and now cradled in

splendor―the adored spouse of the mightiest sovereign among the ancients, seemed
strangely indifferent to it all. Her tastes were as simple as those of a peasant maiden.
She who could have everything, demanded nothing. Unaffected and unspoiled, her heart
was as sweet and pure as her face and form were beautiful. Her thoughts and schemes

were only of how she might relieve the suffering and poverty of the poor, bring healing
to the sick and comfort to the sorrowing. The only thing about her that vexed her royal
husband was that he had to be a detective to discover any personal desire of hers, that
he might gratify it. He had charged her ladies-in-waiting and the eunuchs who attended

her to reveal to him any wish that she might express or that they might divine. For every
such piece of intelligence he gave large reward to the informer.

Small wonder that such a queen, devoted to philanthropy and kindness, and gracious

and considerate to all, became the darling of the people in the minimum of time.

On the particular evening of which we have spoken, we left them in a fond embrace.
Presently releasing her the King began to doff some of his regal garments. The royal

purple toga was first stripped off and thrown over a chair, then the inner tunic. This left
him with only a vest over the upper part of his body, his magnificently muscled arms
bared to the shoulders. With the tunic had gone the silken pantaloons and he only had
on now a pair of short trousers of knee-length. This was all preparatory to clothing

himself in a loose flowing robe which he wore in these domestic apartments and to the
informal meals with his wife. Before putting on the robe he stretched his arms and
flexed his knees with a sigh of relief for being emancipated from the onerous attire of
his high office. Here was no soft and paunchy Epicurean, but a physical specimen fit to

compete in the games. A part of his daily schedule was an hour in the gymnasium in
weight-lifting, flying-rings, running, jumping, hurdling and tumbling. He concluded
with a round of sword-play in which he could hold his own with the most skillful fencers

in the realm.

So thick was his neck that there was a straight line from the base of his ears to his
shoulders. From his barrel chest projected arms that were short and knotted with muscle.
Tapering to an amazing smallness at the waistline, the powerful body rested upon legs

with immense thighs and calves. The whole resembled somewhat the contours of an
hour-glass.