Receives the Nuncio, when the one, from Rhodes,
The other lands from Syria; there they meet.
Now, I have sued with earnest prayers. .

Kar.

Shall the Bride's brother vainly sue?

Kha.

For what

That mine

Avenging in one blow a myriad wrongs,
-Might be the hand to slay the Prefect there!
Djabal reserves that office for himself..

Thus far, as youngest of you all, I speak

[A silence

-Scarce more enlightened than yourselves: since, near As I approach him, nearer as I trust

Soon to approach our Master, he reveals

Only the God's power, not the glory yet:

Therefore I reasoned with you: now, as servant
To Djabal, bearing his authority,

Hear me appoint your several posts! Till noon
None sees him save myself and Anael—once
The deed achieved, our Khalif, casting off
The embodied Awe's tremendous mystery,
The weakness of the flesh disguise, resumes
His proper glory, ne'er to fade again.

Enter a Druse.

The Druse. Our Prefect lands from Rhodes!-With

out a sign

That he suspects aught since he left our Isle ;

Nor in his train a single guard beyond

The few he sailed with hence: so have we learned
From Loys...

Kar.

For ever?

Loys? Is not Loys gone

Ayoob. Loys, the Frank Knight, returned?

The Druse. Loys, the boy, stood on the leading prow Conspicuous in his gay attire,—and leapt

Into the surf the foremost: since day-dawn

I kept watch to the Northward; take but note
Of my poor vigilance to Ďjabal!

Kha.

Peace!

Thou, Karshook, with thy company, receive
The Prefect as appointed: see, all keep
The wonted show of servitude: announce
His entry here by the accustomed peal
Of trumpets, then await the further pleasure
Of Djabal! (Loys back, whom Djabal sent
To Rhodes that we might spare the single Knight
Worth sparing!)

The Druse.

Enter a second Druse.

I espied it first! Say, I

First spied the Nuncio's galley from the South!
Saidst thou a Crossed-keys' Flag would flap the mast?
It nears apace! One galley and no more—

If Djabal chance to ask who spied the flag,
Forget not, I it was!

Kha.

Thou, Ayoob, bring

The Nuncio and his followers hither! Break

One rule prescribed, ye wither in your blood,
Die at your fault!

The Druse.

Enter a third Druse.

I shall see home, see home!

-Shall banquet in the sombre groves again!
Hail to thee, Khalil! Venice looms afar;
The argosies of Venice, like a cloud,

Bear up

Kha.

from Candia in the distance!

Joy!

Druses?

Summon our people, Raghib ! Bid all forth!
Tell them the long-kept secret, old and young!
Set free the captives, let the trampled raise
Their faces from the dust, because at length
The cycle is complete, God Hakeem's reign
Begins anew! Say, Venice for our guard,
Ere night we steer for Syria ! Hear you,
Hear you this crowning witness to the claims
Of Djabal? Oh, I spoke of hope and fear,
Reward and punishment, because he bade
Who has the right; for me, what should I say
But, mar not those imperial lineaments,
No majesty of all that rapt regard

Vex by the least omission! Let him rise
Without a check from you!

Druses.

Let Djabal rise!

Enter Loys.-The Druses are silent.

Loys. Who speaks of Djabal?—for I seek him, friends! [Aside.] Tu Dieu! 'Tis as our Isle broke out in song For joy, its Prefect-incubus drops off

To-day, and I succeed him in his rule!

But no-they cannot dream of their good fortune!
[Aloud.] Peace to you, Druses! I have tidings for you,
But first for Djabal: where's your tall bewitcher,
With that small Arab thin-lipped silver mouth?

Kha. [Aside to KAR.] Loys, in truth! Yet Djabal

cannot err !

Kar. [to KHA.] And who takes charge of Loys?
That's forgotten,

. Despite thy wariness! Will Loys stand

And see his comrade slaughtered?

Loys. [Aside.]

How they shrink

And whisper, with those rapid faces! What?

The sight of me in their oppressors' garb

Strikes terror to the simple tribe? God's shame

On those that bring our Order ill repute !
But all's at end now; better days begin
For these mild mountaineers from over-sea;

The timidest shall have in me no Prefect

To cower at thus! [Aloud.] I asked for Djabal—

Kar. [Aside.]

One lured him, ere he can suspect, inside

The corridor; 'twere easy to despatch

Better

A youngster. [to LoYs.] Djabal passed some minutes.

since

Thro' yonder porch, and . . .

Kha. [Aside.]

...

Hold! What, him despatch?

The only Christian of them all we charge
No tyranny upon? Who,-noblest Knight

Of all that learned from time to time their trade
Of lust and cruelty among us,-heir

To Europe's pomps, a truest child of pride,—
Yet stood between the Prefect and ourselves
From the beginning? Loys, Djabal makes
Account of, and precisely sent to Rhodes
For safety?—I take charge of him!

[To Loys.]

Sir Loys,

Loys. There, cousins! Does Sir Loys strike you dead? Kha. [advancing.] Djabal has intercourse with few or

none

Till noontide but, your pleasure?

Loys.

"Intercourse

"With few or none?"-(Ah, Khalil, when you spoke I saw not your smooth face! All health-and health To Anael! How fares Anael?)—" Intercourse "With few or none?" Forget you, I've been friendly With Djabal long ere you or any Druse?

-Enough of him at Rennes, I think, beneath

The Duke my father's roof! He'd tell by the hour,
With fixed white eyes beneath his swarthy brow,
Plausiblest stories . . .

Kha.

The quaint attire!

Loys.

Stories, say you?-Ah,

My dress for the last time!

How sad I cannot make you understand,
This ermine, o'er a shield, betokens me
Of Bretagne, ancientest of provinces

And noblest; and, what's best and oldest there,