Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/323

 "Too long." And all were dumb save one, who cried On Yabosh with the Sapphire 'twixt His knees, But found no answer in the smoky roof, And, being smitten of the sickness, died Before the altar of the Sapphire Shrine.

Then said Bisesa:—"I am near to Death, "And have the Wisdom of the Grave for gift "To bear me on the path my feet must tread. "If there be wealth on earth, then I am rich, "For Armod is the first of all Er-Heb; "If there be beauty on the earth,"—her eyes Dropped for a moment to the temple floor,— "Ye know that I am fair. If there be Love, "Ye know that love is mine." The Chief in War, The Man of Sixty Spears, broke from the press, And would have clasped her, but the Priests withstood, Saying:—"She has a message from Taman." Then said Bisesa:—"By my wealth and love "And beauty, I am chosen of the God "Taman." Here rolled the thunder through the Hills And Kvsh fell forward on the Mound of Skulls.

In darkness, and before our Priests, the maid Between the altars cast her bracelets down, Therewith the heavy earrings Armod made, When he was young, out of the water-gold Of Gorukh—threw the breast-plate thick with jade Upon the turquoise anklets put aside The bands of silver on her brow and neck; And as the trinkets tinkled on the stones, The thunder of Taman lowed like a bull.