Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/127

Rh THE KING.

O vizier, I may bury him?

THE VIZIER.

O king, thou know'st, I have been sick

These many days, and heard no thing

(For Allah shut my ears and mind),

Not even what thou dost, O king!

Wherefore, that I may counsel thee,

Let Hussein, if thou wilt, make haste

To speak in order what hath chanced.

THE KING.

O vizier, be it as thou say'st!

HUSSEIN.

Three days since, at the time of prayer,

A certain Moollah, with his robe

All rent, and dust upon his hair,

Watched my lord's coming forth, and pushed

The golden mace-bearers aside,

And fell at the king's feet, and cried,—

"Justice, O king, and on myself!

On this great sinner, who did break

The law, and by the law must die!

Vengeance, O king!"

But the king spake;

"What fool is this, that hurts our ears

With folly? or what drunken slave?

My guards, what! prick him with your spears!

Prick me the fellow from the path!"