Now, Aziel, I warn you again, and woe! woe! woe! to you should you shut your ears to my message." Then lifting his hands towards the skies, he began to pray aloud that Aziel might be constant in his trial.
Meanwhile, Metem, who had drawn near, spoke in a low voice:-- "Prince," he said, "I am not chicken-hearted, and there are so many young women in the world that one more or less can scarcely matter; still, although she threatened to murder me three days ago, I cannot bear to see this one come to so dreadful a death.

Prince, do not heed the howlings of that old fanatic, but remember that after all you are the cause of this lady's plight, and play the part of a man.

Can you for the sake of your own scruples, however worthy, or of your own soul even, however valuable to yourself, doom the fair body of a woman who risked all for you to such an end as that ?" And shuddering he nodded towards the gloomy precipice.
"Is there no other way ?" Aziel asked him.
"None, I swear it.

They did not wish to kill her, except that wild-cat Mesa who seeks her place, but having put her on her public trial, if you persist--they must.
"This is one of the few laws which cannot be broken for favour or for gold, since the people, who are already half-mad with fear of Ithobal, believe that to break it would bring the curses of heaven upon their city.

Perhaps we might have found some other plan, but none of us even dreamed that you would refuse so small a thing for the sake of a woman whom you swore you loved." "A small thing!" broke in Aziel.
"Yes, Prince, a very small thing.