Page:Artabanzanus (Ferrar, 1896).djvu/191

Rh 'Unbearable outrage!' shouted the monarch. 'Seize that vile woman!'

She was instantly arrested, and disarmed of her stick. The man was commanded to stand up and tell the Court the meaning of the disgraceful disturbance.

He explained, with volleys of 'Your Majesty,' that he was quietly sitting in his house doing nothing at all, only thinking that if ever he went to the top of the earth again he would lead a different life, better becoming a captain and governor as he had been, when this woman, whom he acknowledged to have been his wife above ground, ran into the room suddenly, knocked him off his chair, and then with her stick drove him out of the house and into this hall, flying for protection and justice.

The King turned to the woman, and asked her why she had dared to beat her husband.

'Because I was in the humour,' answered the virago triumphantly. 'I used to flog him when we lived above on the earth, and I'll flog him still now we are in hell. If I did not flog him I should die of spite, malice, and vexation. He is a poor, miserable, pitiful coward, he is.'

'Is she thy wife? Thou hast said so. Art thou a liar too?' said the King.

'She is, your Majesty. I will tell the truth, as I live.'

'Then punish her sharply, and at once. There is a block, and beside it stands a headsman with his axe. Speak thou the word, and her miscreant head shall roll on the floor.'

'No, your Majesty,' replied the stranger, drawing himself up. 'I will not imbrue, even by word of mouth, my hands in a woman's blood. I would not even strike her, although she has struck me more blows than I can number. She has called me a pitiful coward, and I should be a coward if I struck her again—a woman was my mother.'

'Go to—thou art a fool!' said the King; 'and thou