第7章

DarkAhriman，whomIrakstillHoldsoriginofwoeandill！

When，bendingatthyshrine，Weviewtheworldwithtroubledeye，Whereseewe’neaththeextendedsky，Anempirematchingthine？

IftheBenignerPowercanyieldAfountaininthedesertfield，Wherewearypilgrimsdrink；

Thinearethewavesthatlashtherock，Thinethetornado’sdeadlyshock，Wherecountlessnaviessink！

OrifHebidthesoildispenseBalsamstocheerthesinkingsense，HowfewcantheydeliverFromlingeringpains，orpangintense，RedFever，spottedPestilence，Thearrowsofthyquiver！

ChiefinMan’sbosomsitsthysway，Andfrequent，whileinwordsweprayBeforeanotherthrone，Whate’erofspeciousformbethere，ThesecretmeaningoftheprayerIs，Ahriman，thineown。

Say，hastthoufeeling，sense，andform，Thunderthyvoice，thygarmentsstorm，AsEasternMagisay；

Withsentientsoulofhateandwrath，Andwingstosweepthydeadlypath，Andfangstotearthyprey？

Orartthoumix’dinNature’ssource，Anever-operatingforce，Convertinggoodtoill；

Anevilprincipleinnate，Contendingwithourbetterfate，Andoh！victoriousstill？

Howe’eritbe，disputeisvain，Onallwithoutthouhold’stthyreign，Norlessonallwithin；

Eachmortalpassion’sfiercecareer，Love，hate，ambition，joy，andfear，Thougoadestintosin。

Whene’erasunnygleamappears，Tobrightenupourvaleoftears，Thouartnotdistantfar；

’Midsuchbriefsolaceofourlives，Thouwhett’stourverybanquet-knivesTotoolsofdeathandwar。

Thus，fromthemomentofourbirth，Longaswelingerontheearth，Thourul’stthefateofmen；

Thinearethepangsoflife’slasthour，And-whodareanswer？-isthypower，DarkSpirit！ended=Then？=<*>

*Theworthyandlearnedclergyman，bywhomthisspeciesofhymnhasbeen*translated，desires，that，forfearofmisconception，weshouldwarnthereaderto*recollectthatitiscomposedbyaheathen，towhomtherealcausesofmoraland*physicalevilareunknown，andwhoviewstheirpredominanceinthesystemof*theuniverseasallmustviewthatappallingfact，whohavenotthebenefitofthe*ChristianRevelation。Onourownpart，webegtoadd，thatweunderstandthe*styleofthetranslatorismoreparaphrasticthancanbeapprovedbythosewhoare*acquaintedwiththesingularlycuriousoriginal。Thetranslatorseemstohave*despairedofrenderingintoEnglishversetheflightsofOrientalpoetry；andpossibly，*likemanylearnedandingeniousmen，findingitimpossibletodiscoverthe*senseoftheoriginal，hemayhavetacitlysubstitutedhisown。

*

*Thegentleandcandidreadermaybelievethisworthyandlearnedclergymanor*not，asshallbemostpleasingtohimself。

Theseversesmayperhapshavebeentheriotunnaturaleffusionofsomehalf-enlightenedphilosopher，who，inthefableddeity，Arimanes，sawbuttheprevalenceofmoralandphysicalevil；butintheearsofSirKennethoftheLeopard，theyhadadifferenteffect，and，sungastheywerebyonewhohadjustboastedhimselfadescendantofdemons，soundedverylikeanaddressofworshiptotheArch-fiendhimself。Heweighedwithinhimself，whether，onhearingsuchblasphemyintheverydesertwhereSatanhadstoodrebukedfordemandinghomage，takinganabruptleaveoftheSaracenwassufficienttotestifyhisabhorrence；orwhetherhewasnotratherconstrainedbyhisvowasaCrusader，todefytheinfideltocombatonthespot，andleavehimfoodforthebeastsofthewilderness，whenhisattentionwassuddenlycaughtbyanunexpectedapparition。

Thelightwasnowverginglow，yetservedtheknightstilltodiscernthattheytwowerenolongeraloneintheforest，butwerecloselywatchedbyafigureofgreatheightandverythin，whichskippedoverrocksandbusheswithsomuchagility，as，addedtothewildandhirsuteappearanceoftheindividual，remindedhimofthefaunsandsilvans，whoseimageshehadseenintheancienttemplesofRome。Asthesingle-heartedScotsmanhadneverforamomentdoubtedthesegodsoftheancientGentilestobeactuallydevils，sohenowhesitatednottobelievethattheblasphemoushymnoftheSaracenhadraisedupaninfernalspirit。

Butwhatrecksit！’’saidstoutSirKennethtohimself；

downwiththefiendandhisworshippers！’’

Hedidnot，however，thinkitnecessarytogivethesamewarningofdefiancetotwoenemies，ashewouldunquestionablyhaveaffordedtoone。Hishandwasuponhismace，andperhapstheunwarySaracenwouldhavebeenpaidforhisPersianpoetrybyhavinghisbrainsdashedoutonthespot，withoutanyreasonassignedforit；buttheScottishknightwassparedfromcommittingwhatwouldhavebeenasoreblotinhisshieldofarms。

Theapparition，onwhichhiseyeshadbeenfixedforsometime，hadatfirstappearedtodogtheirpathbyconcealingitselfbehindrocksandshrubs，usingthoseadvantagesofthegroundwithgreataddress，andsurmountingitsirregularitieswithsurprisingagility。Atlength，justastheSaracenpausedinhissong，thefigure，whichwasthatofatallmanclothedingoat-skins，sprungintothemidstofthepath，andseizedareinoftheSaracen’sbridleineitherhand，confrontingthusandbearingbackthenoblehorse，which，unabletoendurethemannerinwhichthissuddenassailantpressedthelong-armedbit，andtheseverecurb，which，accordingtotheEasternfashion，wasasolidringofiron，rearedupright，andfinallyfellbackwardsonhismaster，who，however，avoidedtheperilofthefall，bylightlythrowinghimselftooneside。

Theassailantthenshiftedhisgraspfromthebridleofthehorsetothethroatoftherider，flunghimselfabovethestrugglingSaracen，and，despiteofhisyouthandactivity，kepthimundermost，wreathinghislongarmsabovethoseofhisprisoner，whocalledoutangrily，andyet，half-laughingatthesametime-Hamako-fool-unlooseme-thispassesthyprivilege-

unlooseme，orIwillusemydagger。’’

Thydagger！-infideldog！’’saidthefigureinthegoat-skins；

holditinthygripeifthoucanst！’’andinaninstanthewrenchedtheSaracen’sweaponoutofitsowner’shand，andbrandisheditoverhishead。

Help，Nazarene！’’criedSheerkohf，nowseriouslyalarmed，help，ortheHamakowillslayme。’’

Slaythee！’’repliedthedwellerofthedesert；andwellhastthoumeriteddeath，forsingingthyblasphemoushymns，notonlytothepraiseofthyfalseprophet，whoisthefoulfiend’sharbinger，buttotheAuthorofEvilhimself。’’

TheChristianKnighthadhithertolookedonasonestupified，sostrangelyhadthisrencontrecontradicted，initsprogressandevent，allthathehadpreviouslyconjectured。Hefelt，however，atlength，thatittouchedhishonourtointerfereinbehalfofhisdiscomfitedcompanion；andthereforeaddressedhimselftothevictoriousfigureinthegoat-skins。

Whosoe’erthouart，’’hesaid，andwhetherofgoodorofevil，knowthatIamswornforthetimetobetruecompaniontotheSaracenwhomthouholdestunderthee；therefore，I

praytheetolethimarise，elseIwilldobattlewiththeeinhisbehalf。’’

Andaproperquarrelitwere，’’answeredtheHamako，foraCrusadertodobattlein-forthesakeofanunbaptizeddogtocombatoneofhisownholyfaith！ArtthoucomeforthtothewildernesstofightfortheCrescentagainsttheCross？A

goodlysoldierofGodartthoutolistentothosewhosingthepraisesofSatan！’’

Yetwhilehespokethus，hearosehimself，and，sufferingtheSaracentoarisealso，returnedhimhiscangiar，orponiard。

Thouseesttowhatapointofperilthypresumptionhathbroughtthee，’’continuedheofthegoat-skins，nowaddressingSheerkohf，andbywhatweakmeansthypractisedskillandboastedagilitycanbefoiled，whensuchisHeaven’spleasure。

Wherefore，beware，OIlderim！forknowthat，weretherenotatwinkleinthestarofthynativity，whichpromisesfortheesomethingthatisgoodandgraciousinHeaven’sgoodtime，wetwohadnotpartedtillIhadtornasunderthethroatwhichsolatelythrilledforthblasphemies。’’

Hamako，’’saidtheSaracen，withoutanyappearanceofresentingtheviolentlanguage，andyetmoreviolentassault，towhichhehadbeensubjected，Ipraythee，goodHamako，tobewarehowthoudostagainurgethyprivilegeoverfar；forthough，asagoodMoslem，IrespectthosewhomHeavenhathdeprivedofordinaryreason，inordertoendowthemwiththespiritofprophecy，yetIlikenotothermen’shandsonthebridleofmyhorse，neitheruponmyownperson。Speak，therefore，whatthouwilt，secureofanyresentmentfromme；butgathersomuchsenseastoapprehend，thatifthoushaltagainproffermeanyviolence，Iwillstrikethyshaggedheadfromthymeagreshoulders-Andtothee，friendKenneth，’’headded，asheremountedhissteed，Imustneedssay，that，inacompanionthroughthedesert，Ilovefriendlydeedsbetterthanfairwords。

Ofthelastthouhastgivenmeenough；butithadbeenbettertohaveaidedmemorespeedilyinmystrugglewiththisHamako，whohadwell-nightakenmylifeinhisfrenzy。’’

Bymyfaith，’’saidtheKnight，Ididsomewhatfail-wassomewhattardyinrenderingtheeinstanthelp；butthestrangenessoftheassailant，thesuddennessofthescene-itwasasifthywildandwickedlayhadraisedthedevilamongus-andsuchwasmyconfusion，thattwoorthreeminuteselapsedereI

couldtaketomyweapon。’’

Thouartbutacoldandconsideratefriend，’’saidtheSaracen；and，hadtheHamakobeenonegrainmorefrantic，thycompanionhadbeenslainbythyside，tothyeternaldishonour，withoutthystirringafingerinhisaid，althoughthousatestby，mountedandinarms。’’

Bymyword，Saracen，’’saidtheChristian，ifthouwilthaveitinplainterms，Ithoughtthatstrangefigurewasthedevil；andbeingofthylineage，Iknewnotwhatfamilysecretyoumightbecommunicatingtoeachother，asyoulaylovinglyrollingtogetheronthesand。’’

Thygibeisnoanswer，brotherKenneth，’’saidtheSaracen；

forknow，thathadmyassailantbeeninverydeedthePrinceofDarkness，thouwertboundnotthelesstoenterintocombatwithhiminthycomrade’sbehalf。Know，also，thatwhatevertheremaybeoffouloroffiendishabouttheHamako，belongsmoretoyourlineagethantomine，thisHamakobeing，intruth，theanchoritewhomthouartcomehithertovisit。’’

This？’’saidSirKenneth，lookingattheathleticyetwastedfigurebeforehim-this！-thoumockest，Saracen-thiscannotbethevenerableTheodorick！’’

Askhimself，ifthouwiltnotbelieveme，’’answeredSheerkohf；

anderethewordshadlefthismouth，thehermitgaveevidenceinhisownbehalf。

IamTheodorickofEngaddi，’’hesaid-Iamthewalkerofthedesert-Iamfriendofthecross，andflailofallinfidels，heretics，anddevil-worshippers。Avoidye，avoidye！-DownwithMahound，Termagaunt，andalltheiradherents！’’-Sosaying，hepulledfromunderhisshaggygarmentasortofflail，orjointedclub，boundwithiron，whichhebrandishedroundhisheadwithsingulardexterity。

Thousee’stthysaint，’’saidtheSaracen，laughing，forthefirsttime，attheunmitigatedastonishmentwithwhichSirKennethlookedonthewildgestures，andheardthewaywardmutteringofTheodorick，who，afterswinginghisflailineverydirection，apparentlyquiterecklesswhetheritencounteredtheheadofeitherofhiscompanions，finallyshowedhisownstrengthandthesoundnessoftheweapon，bystrikingintofragmentsalargestonewhichlaynearhim。

Thisisamadman，’’saidSirKenneth。

Nottheworsesaint，’’returnedtheMoslem，speakingaccordingtothewell-knownEasternbelief，thatmadmenareundertheinfluenceofimmediateinspiration。Know，Christian，thatwhenoneeyeisextinguished，theotherbecomesmorekeen-whenonehandiscutoff，theotherbecomesmorepowerful；so，whenourreasoninhumanthingsisdisturbedordestroyed，ourviewheavenwardbecomesmoreacuteandperfect。’’

HerethevoiceoftheSaracenwasdrownedinthatofthehermit，whobegantoholloaloudinawildchantingtone，-