Копи царя Соломона
The Last Stand of the Greys
Ignosiboundthediademuponhisbrows. Thenadvancing,heplacedhisfootuponthebroadchestofhisheadlessfoeandbrokeoutintoachant,orratherapæanoftriumph,sobeautiful,andyetsoutterlysavage,thatIdespairofbeingabletogiveanadequateversionofhiswords. OnceIheardascholarwithafinevoicereadaloudfromtheGreekpoetHomer,andIrememberthatthesoundoftherollinglinesseemedtomakemybloodstandstill. Ignosi’schant,utteredasitwasinalanguageasbeautifulandsonorousastheoldGreek,producedexactlythesameeffectonme,althoughIwasexhaustedwithtoilandmanyemotions.
"Now,"hebegan,"nowourrebellionisswallowedupinvictory,andourevil-doingisjustifiedbystrength.
"Inthemorningtheoppressorsaroseandstretchedthemselves;theyboundontheirharnessandmadethemreadytowar.
"Theyroseupandtossedtheirspears: thesoldierscalledtothecaptains,‘Come,leadus’—andthecaptainscriedtotheking,‘Directthouthebattle.’
"Theylaughedintheirpride,twentythousandmen,andyetatwentythousand.
"Theirplumescoveredthevalleysastheplumesofabirdcoverhernest; theyshooktheirshieldsandshouted,yea,theyshooktheirshieldsinthesunlight; theylustedforbattleandwereglad.
"Theycameupagainstme; theirstrongonesranswiftlytoslayme; theycried,‘Ha!ha!heisasonealreadydead.’
"ThenbreathedIonthem,andmybreathwasasthebreathofawind,andlo!theywerenot.
