Elissa. Or The Doom of Zimbabwe
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ELISSA: OR THE DOOM OF ZIMBABWE
“This gift, king Ithobal, from Aziel the Israelite,” he cried, as the arrow sped.
For a moment the great man stood still, then he opened his arms wide and of a sudden plunged downward, falling with a crash on the roadway, where he lay dead at the side of dead Elissa.
*****
“The play is played, and the fate fulfilled,” cried Metem. “See, the servants of the king speed yonder with their evil tidings; let us away lest we bide here with these two for ever.”
“That is my desire,” said Aziel.
“A desire which may not be fulfilled,” answered Metem. “Come, Prince, since we cannot go without you. Surely you do not wish to sacrifice the lives of all of us as an offering to the great spirit of the lady who is dead. It is one that she would not seek.”
Then Aziel knelt down and kissed the brow of the dead Elissa, and went his way, saying no word.
*****
That night, when the darkness fell, the sky behind these travellers grew red with fire.
“Behold the end of the golden city!” said Metem. “Zimboe is food for flames and its children for the sword. Issachar was a prophet indeed, who foretold that it should be so.”
Aziel bowed his head, remembering that Issachar had foretold also that for Elissa and for him there was hope beyond the grave. As he thought it, a wind beat upon his brow and through it a soft voice seemed to murmur to his heart:
“Be of good courage: Beloved, there is hope.”
201
H. RIDER HAGGARD
*****
So, turning from the death behind him, this far away forgotten lover set his face to the sea of Life and passed it, and long ago, at his appointed hour, gained its further shore, to be welcomed there by her who watched for him.
And thus, because of the fateful and predestined loves of Aziel the prince, and Elissa the priestess and daughter of Sakon, three thousands years and more ago, the ancient city of Zimboe fell at the hand of king Ithobal and his Tribes, so that to-day there remain of it nothing but a desolate grey tower of stone, and beneath, the crumbling bones of men.
Литературно-художественное издание
H. Rider Haggard
Elissa: or The Doom of Zimbabwe
Выпускающий редактор: Э. Ефанова Редактор: П. Воронин
Корректор: И. Серегина Компьютерная верстка: Т. Мосолова Художественное оформление: С. Дондупова
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