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!
