One honored for a great achievement

Usage examples of laureate.

A magnificent repast was spread for the Laureate and his guest, in a lofty, richly frescoed banqueting-hall,--a repast voluptuous enough to satisfy the most ardent votary that ever followed the doctrines of Epicurus.

Here slaves in gorgeous attire rushed forward, and seizing the prancing coursers by the bridle rein, held them fast while the Laureate and his companion alighted.

Zabastes the Critic glided in also, almost unnoticed, and joined a group of courtiers at the furthest end of the long, gorgeously lighted room, while at sight of the Laureate the assembled officers saluted, and all conversation ceased.

This with a significant glance toward the Laureate, who, sunk in his ivory chair, seemed rapt in meditation.

He heard the loud plaudits of the assembled court shaking the vast hall as the Laureate ended his song--and, drooping his head, some stinging tears welled up in his eyes and fell scorchingly on his clasped hands--tears wrung from the very depth of his secretly tortured soul.

The discomfited Zabastes retired, grumbling to himself in an undertone,--and the Laureate, whose dreamy eyes had till now rested on Theos, his self constituted advocate, with an appreciative and almost tender regard, once more took up his harp, and striking a few rich, soft chords was about to sing again, when a great noise as of clanking armor was heard outside, mingled with a steadily increasing, sonorous hum of many voices and the increased tramp, tramp of marching feet.

Methinks thou art a crazed poet, and more fervid than Sah-luma in the mystic nature of thine utterance,--thou shouldst be Laureate, not he!

Chief Minstrel,--the dainty darling of women,--the Laureate of the realm, sunk in a heavy, drunken stupor, so deep as to be almost death-like.

In case of pressing necessity, could he exercise any authority over the capricious movements of the wilful Laureate, whose egotism was so absolute, whose imperious ways were so charming, whose commands were never questioned?

The positions were entirely different, he argued, angrily addressing the troublesome inward monitor that every now and then tormented him,--there was no resemblance whatever between himself, the unknown, unfamed wanderer in a strange land, and the brilliant Sah-luma, chosen Poet Laureate of the realm!

Just then, too, Sah-luma appeared handsomer than ever in the halfsubdued tints of radiance that flickered through the lowered paleblue silken awnings: the effect of the room thus shadowed was as of a soft azure mountain mist lit sideways by the sun,--a mist through which the white-garmented, symmetrical figure of the Laureate stood forth in curiously brilliant outlines, as though every curve of supple shoulder and proud throat was traced with a pencil of pure light.

Theos at once joined him, and the two friends, holding each other fast by the arm, gazed down on the silent, mighty multitude around them,--a huge concourse of the citizens of Al-Kyris, who, strange as this part of their behavior seemed, still paid no heed to the presence of their Laureate, but with pale, rapt faces and anxious, frightened eyes, riveted their attention entirely on the sombre, blackgarmented Prophet whose thin ghostly arms, outstretched above them, appeared to mutely invoke in their behalf some special miracle of mercy.

I have no faith in angels nor crosses, nor everlasting life, nor any of the strange riddles wherewith thou seekest to perplex and bewilder the brains of the ignorant, still am I Laureate of the realm, and ready to hold argument with thee,--yea!

Chief Laureate of the realm, and runs as followeth: Whereas thou hast of late avoided many days of public service in the Temple, so that those among the people who admire thee follow thine ill example, and absent themselves also with equal readiness,--the Priestess Undefiled, the noble Lysia, doth tonight command thy presence as a duty not to be foregone.

King, Laureate, and people had all prostrated themselves before her in reverent humility?