Without, there were the grunts of her men as they strapped the packs of the elephants, the snarl of camels as they rose to their pads and turned to bite at their loads, the shuffle of the troops as they lined for the long night march, the quick gruff orders of the captains, the canter of horses. Within, Sheba stood very erect in the great hall. The poor white king writhed on his throne. Nathan stood by his side, erect and afraid.  
"And I said—" Sheba's voice was quiet—"oh, you who were as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find you without, I would kiss you, I would not be despised.
 
"For I thought I was set as a seal upon your arm, and that your love was as strong as death.
 
"I rose and went about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I sought you, whom I thought my soul loved, but I found you not.
 
"The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veils from me—
 
"M............