Копи царя Соломона
Before the Battle
"Ochiefs,captains,soldiers,andpeople,yehaveheardmywords. Nowmustyemakechoicebetweenmeandhimwhositsuponmythrone,theunclewhokilledhisbrother,andhuntedhisbrother’schildforthtodieinthecoldandthenight. ThatIamindeedthekingthese"—pointingtothechiefs—"cantellyou,fortheyhaveseenthesnakeaboutmymiddle. IfIwerenottheking,wouldthesewhitemenbeonmysidewithalltheirmagic? Tremble,chiefs,captains,soldiers,andpeople!IsnotthedarknesstheyhavebroughtuponthelandtoconfoundTwalaandcoverourflight,darknesseveninthehourofthefullmoon,yetbeforeyoureyes?"
"Itis,"answeredthesoldiers.
"Iamtheking; Isaytoyou,Iamtheking,"wentonIgnosi,drawinguphisgreatstaturetoitsfull,andliftinghisbroad-bladedbattle-axeabovehishead. "Iftherebeanymanamongyouwhosaysthatitisnotso,lethimstandforthandIwillfighthimnow,andhisbloodshallbearedtokenthatItellyoutrue. Lethimstandforth,Isay;"andheshookthegreataxetillitflashedinthesunlight.
Asnobodyseemedinclinedtorespondtothisheroicversionof"Dilly,Dilly,comeandbekilled,"ourlatehenchmanproceededwithhisaddress.
"Iamindeedtheking,andshouldyestandbymysideinthebattle,ifIwinthedayyeshallgowithmetovictoryandhonour. Iwillgiveyouoxenandwives,andyeshalltakeplaceofalltheregiments; andifyefall,Iwillfallwithyou.
