To this, out of love and friendship, and not from fear, we assent, if you will enter into a bond of lasting peace, since it is peace we seek, and not war.

King, you have our answer." "Not all of it, Sakon.

How of that first condition--that Lady Elissa the fair, your daughter, should be given me to wife ?" "King, it cannot be, for the gods of heaven have taken this matter from our hands, anointing the lady Elissa their high-priestess." "Then as I live," answered Ithobal with fury, "I will take her from the hands of the gods and anoint her my dancing-woman.

Do you think to make a mock of me, you people of Zimboe, whom I have honoured by desiring one of your daughters in marriage?
You seek to trick me with your priests' juggling that you may keep her to be the toy of yonder princeling?
So be it, but I tell you that I will tear your city stone from stone, and anoint its ruins with your blood.

Yes, your young men shall labour in the mines for me, and your high-born maidens shall wait upon my queens.
Listen you,"-- and he turned to his generals--"let the messengers who are ready start east and west, and north and south, to the chiefs whose names you have, bidding them to meet me with their tribesmen, at the time and place appointed.