Terms! Terms
with a captive victim?'
'Why victim?'
'Is Arslan then so generous?'
'He is a beast, more savage than the boar that grinds its tusks within
his country's forests.'
'Why speakest thou then of hope?'
'I spoke of certainty. I did not mention hope.'
'Dear Honain, my brain is weak; but I can bear strange things, or else
I should not be here. I feel thy thoughtful friendship; but indeed there
need no winding words to tell my fate. Pr'ythee speak out.'
'In a word, thy life is safe.'
'What! spared?'
'If it please thee.'
'Please me? Life is sweet. I feel its sweetness. I want but little.
Freedom and solitude are all I ask. My life spared! I'll not believe
it. Thou hast done this deed, thou mighty man, that masterest all souls.
Thou hast not forgotten me; thou hast not forgotten the days gone by,
thou hast not forgotten thine own Alroy! Who calls thee worldly is a
slanderer. O Honain! thou art too faithful!'
'I have no thought but for thy service, Prince.'
'Call me not Prince, call me thine own Alroy. My life spared! 'Tis
wonderful! When may I go? Let no one see me. Manage that, Honain. Thou
canst manage all things. I am for Egypt. Thou hast been to Egypt, hast
thou not, Honain?'
'A very wondrous land, 'twill please thee much.
Pages:
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328