"O gods!" he screams; He falls beneath that bolt that on them gleams, And she is gone within the awful gloom. Hark! hear those screams! "Accurst! Accurst thy doom!" And lo! he springs upon his feet in pain, And cries: "Thy curses, fiend! I hurl again!" And now a blinding flash disparts the black And heavy air, a moment light doth break; And see! the King leans fainting 'gainst the mast, With glaring eyeballs, clenched hands,--aghast! Behold! that pallid face and scaly hands! A leper white, accurst of gods, he stands! A living death, a life of awful woe, Incurable by man, his way shall go. But oh! the seer in all enchantments wise Will cure him on that shore, or else he dies. And see! the vessel's prow with shivering turns, Adown the roaring flood that gapes and churns Beneath like some huge boiling cauldron black, Thus whirl they in the slimy cavern's track. And spirit ravens round them fill the air, And see! they fly! the cavern sweeps behind! Away the ship doth ride before the wind! The darkness deep from them has fled away, The fiends are gone!--the vessel in the spray With spreading sails has caught the glorious breeze, And dances in the light o'er shining seas; The blissful haven shines upon their way, The waters of the Dawn sweep o'er the sea! They proudly ride up to the glowing sand, And joyfully the King springs to the land. [Footnote 1: This remarkable prayer is to be found among a collection of prayers which are numbered and addressed to separate deities. It seems that the prayers were originally Accadian, and were afterward adopted by the Assyrians, and made to apply to one god (Hea). Professor Oppert and Professor Sayce think, however, that they are connected in one hymn to Hea. This may have been so after the Assyrians adopted them, but they are distinct, and addressed to separate gods. The one we have selected is addressed to Hea, the Creator of Mankind, Sayce edition Smith's "C.A.G.," pp. 75 to 80. The one we have selected is found at the top of page 77, idem.] [Footnote 2: "Gibil," the god of fire, of spells and witchcraft.] [Footnote 3: "Nibiru," the god of fate, and ruler of the stars.] [Footnote 4: "Nusku," the gatekeeper of thunders.] [Footnote 5: "Urbat," the dog of Death.] [Footnote 6: "Belat" or "Allat," the Queen of Hades.] [Footnote 7: "Ed-hutu," god of darkness.] [Footnote 8: "Tsi-lat-tu," shades of night.] [Footnote 9: "Rimmon," god of storms.] [Footnote 10: "Ninip," god of bravery and war.] [Footnote 11: "Tablets." This may mean charts or scrolls similar to the charts used by modern navigators. Babylon communicated with all nations in commerce.] COLUMN III KHASISADRA ON THE SHORE SEES THE VESSEL COMING, AND RETURNING TO HIS PALACE, SENDS HIS DAUGHTER MUA TO WELCOME IZDUBAR--MEETING OF THE KING AND SAGE