78 SERAGLIO INTRIGUE. 



from the throne and ratified by the estates ; it may be 

 decided suddenly and at any moment in that hour 

 when men are weak and yielding, women sovereign 

 and strong; when right is often strangled by a fond 

 embrace, and reason kissed to sleep by rosy lips. The 

 fatal Yes is uttered and cannot be revoked. The heir 

 is appointed, and an injustice has been done. But 

 the rival mother has yet a hope ; the appointed heir 

 may die. Then the seraglio becomes a nursery of 

 treason ; the harem administration is stirred by dark 

 whispers ; the cabinet of women and eunuchs is cajoled 

 and bribed. A crime is committed, and is revenged. 

 The whole palace smells of blood. The king trembles 

 on his throne. He himself is never safe ; he is always 

 encircled by soldiers ; he never sleeps twice in the 

 same place ; his dinner is served in sealed trays ; a man 

 stands at his left hand who tastes from the cup before 

 he dares to raise it to his lips. 



The satrap form of government is far superior to 

 that of vassal kings. As long as the system of 

 inspection is kept up there is no comparison between 

 the two. But if once the satrapies are allowed to 

 become hereditary there is no difference between the 

 two. In the latter days of the Persian Empire the 

 satraps were no longer supervised by Royal Visitors and 

 Clerks of the Accounts. Each of these viceroys had 

 his body-guard of Persians, and his army of mercenary 

 Greeks. Sometimes they fought against each other ; 

 sometimes they even contested for the throne. As for 

 the subject nations they were by no means idle ; revolts 

 broke out in all directions. Egypt enjoyed a long 

 interlude of independence, though afterwards again 

 reduced to servitude. The Indians appear to have 

 shaken themselves free, and to have attained the posi- 



