Ayesha Omarali is a fourth year computer science student at UC Berkeley, currently working at x 2 AI in San Francisco. Ayesha: The Return of She Gothic Fantasy Novel by H Rider Haggard 1904.An Essay on the Principle of Population Or a View of Its Past and Present Effects on Human Happiness; With an Inquiry Into Our Prospects Respecting the. It is a direct continuation of. Ayesha: The Return of She, by H. Rider Haggard : CHAPTER 1. Together we descended the multitudinous steps and passed the endless, rock- hewn passages till we came to the door of the dwelling of the high- priestess and were led through it into a hall beyond. Here Ayesha parted from us saying that she was outworn, as indeed she seemed to be with an utter weariness, not of the body, but of the spirit. For her delicate form drooped like a rain- laden lily, her eyes grew dim as those of a person in a trance, and her voice came in a soft, sweet whisper, the voice of one speaking in her sleep. So overcome were we also by all that we had endured and seen, that we could scarcely speak, much less discuss these marvellous events. We rose and bathed, then saying that we wished to be alone, went together into the garden where even at this altitude, now, at the end of August, the air was still mild and pleasant. Behind a rock by a bed of campanulas and other mountain flowers and ferns, was a bench near to the banks of a little stream, on which we seated ourselves. Indeed how can she be who changed thus in an hour? Flesh and blood are not born of flame, Horace. May she not be still the same Ayesha whom we knew in Kor, not re- born, but wafted hither by some mysterious agency? Horace, we do not know . But I admit that to me the thing is terrifying. I am drawn to her by an infinite attraction, her eyes set my blood on fire, the touch of her hand is as that of a wand of madness laid upon my brain. And yet between us there is some wall, invisible, still present. Or perhaps it is only fancy. But, Horace, I think that she is afraid of Atene. Why, in the old days the Khania would have been dead and forgotten in an hour . At any rate she has grown more divine ? Also, what did Atene mean when she said that man and spirit cannot mate . Be a philosopher, Leo. Title: Ayesha The Return Of She H Rider Haggard Author: Karolin Baecker Subject: ayesha the return of she h rider haggard Keywords: Read Online ayesha the return of she h rider haggard, ayesha the return of she h rider haggard. 1887: Media type: Print (serial, hardback, paperback) Pages: 317 (1887 hardback) Followed by: Ayesha, the Return of She. LibriVox recording of Ayesha, the Return of She, by H Rider Haggard. Ayesha, the return of She, is set 16 years after the previous novel She. Horace Holly and Leo Vincey have spent the years travelling the world. A gothic novel by the popular Victorian author Henry Rider Haggard, best known for his adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa; a founder of the Lost World literary genre. The book appears to be the. You have striven by wonderful ways such as are unknown in the history of the world; you have attained. Take the goods the gods provide you . Rejoiced at the prospect of seeing her again before he had hoped to do so, Leo sprang up and we accompanied him back to our apartment. Here priests were waiting, who, somewhat against his will, trimmed his hair and beard, and would have done the same for me had I not refused their offices. Then they placed gold- embroidered sandals on our feet and wrapped Leo in a magnificent, white robe, also richly worked with gold and purple; a somewhat similar robe but of less ornate design being given to me. Lastly, a silver sceptre was thrust into his hand and into mine a plain wand. This sceptre was shaped like a crook, and the sight of it gave me some clue to the nature of the forthcoming ceremony. Indeed he expressed himself upon the subject with vigour to Oros. At first the priest seemed puzzled what to do, then explained that the forthcoming ceremony was one of betrothal. On learning this Leo raised no further objections, asking only with some nervousness whether the Khania would be present. At our approach these swung open and we entered it, Oros going first, then Leo, then myself, and following us, the procession of attendant priests. As soon as our eyes became accustomed to the dazzling glare of the flaming pillars, we saw that some great rite was in progress in the temple, for in front of the divine statue of Motherhood, white- robed and arranged in serried ranks, stood the company of the priests to the number of over two hundred, and behind these the company of the priestesses. Facing this congregation and a little in advance of the two pillars of fire that flared on either side of the shrine, Ayesha herself was seated in a raised chair so that she could be seen of all, while to her right stood a similar chair of which I could guess the purpose. She was unveiled and gorgeously apparelled, though save for the white beneath, her robes were those of a queen rather than of a priestess. About her radiant brow ran a narrow band of gold, whence rose the head of a hooded asp cut out of a single, crimson jewel, beneath which in endless profusion the glorious waving hair flowed down and around, hiding even the folds of her purple cloak. This cloak, opening in front, revealed an undertunic of white silk cut low upon her bosom and kept in place by a golden girdle, a double- headed snake, so like to that which She had worn in Kor that it might have been the same. Bleiler, Everett (1948). The Checklist of Fantastic Literature. Chicago: Shasta Publishers. Ayesha, the Return of She at Project Gutenberg; Cook, Alan R. Her naked arms were bare of ornament, and in her right hand she held the jewelled sistrum set with its gems and bells. No empress could have looked more royal and no woman was ever half so lovely, for to Ayesha. Seeing her we could see naught else. The rhythmic movement of the bodies of the worshippers, the rolling grandeur of their chant of welcome echoed from the mighty roof, the fearful torches of living flame; all these things were lost on us. For there re- born, enthroned, her arms stretched out in gracious welcome, sat that perfect and immortal woman, the appointed bride of one of us, the friend and lady of the other, her divine presence breathing power, mystery and love. On we marched between the ranks of hierophants, till Oros and the priests left us and we stood alone face to face with Ayesha. Now she lifted her sceptre and the chant ceased. In the midst of the following silence, she rose from her seat and gliding down its steps, came to where Leo stood and touched him on the forehead with her sistrum, crying in a loud, sweet voice . Holding him thus she began to speak in clear and silvery tones. Now for the first time I appear among you as I am, you who heretofore have looked but on a hooded shape, not knowing its form or fashion. Learn now the reason that I draw my veil. Ye see this man, whom ye believed a stranger that with his companion had wandered to our shrine. I tell you that he is no stranger; that of old, in lives forgotten, he was my lord who now comes to seek his love again. Say, is it not so, Kallikrates? But I who watched, saw his face grow white as it drew near to hers. While the radiance crept from her brow to his, turning his bright hair to gold, I saw also that this strong man trembled like a reed and seemed as though he were about to fall. I think that Ayesha noted it too, for ere ever their lips met, she thrust him from her and again that grey mist of fear gathered on her face. In an instant it passed. She had slipped from him and with her hand held his hand as though to support him. Thus they stood till his feet grew firm and his strength returned. Oros restored the sceptre to her, and lifting it she said . Mount thy throne, O Affianced of Hes, and receive the worship of thy priests. I am but a man who know nothing of strange gods, their attributes and ceremonials. None shall bow the knee to me and on earth, Ayesha, I bow mine to thee alone. For me, O Love, thy adoration for thee the betrothal song, no more. Happily however, if some act of semi- idolatrous homage had been proposed, Ayesha found a means to prevent its celebration, and soon all such matters were forgotten both by the singers who sang, and us who listened to the majestic chant that followed. Of its words unfortunately we were able to understand but little, both because of the volume of sound and of the secret, priestly language in which it was given, though its general purport could not be mistaken. The female voices began it, singing very low, and conveying a strange impression of time and distance. Now followed bursts of gladness alternating with melancholy chords suggesting sighs and tears and sorrows long endured, and at the end a joyous, triumphant paean thrown to and fro between the men and women singers, terminating in one united chorus repeated again and again, louder and yet louder, till it culminated in a veritable crash of melody, then of a sudden ceased. Ayesha rose and waved her sceptre, whereon all the company bowed thrice, then turned and breaking into some sweet, low chant that sounded like a lullaby, marched, rank after rank, across the width of the Sanctuary and through the carven doors which closed behind the last of them. When all had gone, leaving us alone, save for the priest Oros and the priestess Papave, who remained in attendance on their mistress, Ayesha, who sat gazing before her with dreaming, empty eyes, seemed to awake, for she rose and said ? It was the wedding song of the feast of Isis and Osiris at Behbit in Egypt, and there I heard it before ever I saw the darksome Caves of Kor. Often have I observed, my Holly, that music lingers longer than aught else in this changeful world, though it is rare that the very words should remain unvaried. Thou art Kallikrates and yet . This Kallikrates seems to have been an unlucky man, and the deeds he did, if in truth he was aught other than a tool in the hand of destiny, have bred no good to the inheritors of his body . Call me Leo, then, for of Kallikrates I have had enough since that night when I looked upon the last of him in Kor.! I can recall two lines of it; the rest I have forgotten . Then perchance will come the down- rushing of the night. Hast thou forgotten it? Now leave me here alone awhile; I would think.
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