ARVALAN. Art thou not powerful, . . . even like a God? And must I, through my years of wandering, Shivering and naked to the elements, In wretchedness await The hour of Yamen's wrath? I thought thou wouldst embody me anew. Undying as I am, . . . Yea, re-create me! . . . Father, is this all! This all! and thou Almighty! 3. But in that wrongful and upbraiding tone, Kehama found relief, For rising anger half supprest his grief. Reproach not me! he cried; {13} Had I not spell-secur'd thee from disease, Fire, sword, . . . all common accidents of man, . . . And thou! . . . fool, fool, . . . to perish by a stake! And by a peasant's arm! . . . Even now, when from reluctant Heaven Forcing new gifts and mightier attributes, So soon I should have quell'd the Death-God's power. 4. Waste not thy wrath on me, quoth Arvalan, It was my hour of folly! Fate prevail'd, Nor boots it to reproach me that I fell. I am in misery, Father! Other souls Predoom'd to Indra's Heaven, enjoy the dawn Of bliss: . . . to them the tempered elements Minister joy, genial delight the sun Sheds on their happy being, and the stars Effuse on them benignant influencies; And thus o'er earth and air they roam at will, And when the number of their days is full, Go fearlessly before the awful throne. But I, . . . all naked feeling and raw life, . . . What worse than this hath Yamen's hell in store? If ever thou didst love me, mercy, Father! {14} Save me, for thou canst save: . . . the Elements Know and obey thy voice. KEHAMA. The Elements Shall torture thee no more; even while I speak Already dost then feel their power is gone. Fear not! I cannot call again the past, Fate hath made that its own; but Fate shall yield To me the future; and thy doom be fix'd By mine, not Yamen's will. Meantime, all power Whereof thy feeble spirit can be made Participant, I give. Is there aught else To mitigate thy lot? ARVALAN. Only the sight of vengeance. Give me that! Vengeance, full, worthy vengeance! . . . not the stroke Of sodden punishment, . . . no agony That spends itself and leaves the wretch at rest, But lasting long revenge. KEHAMA. What, boy? is that cup sweet? then take thy fill! {15} 5. So as he spake, a glow of dreadful pride Inflam'd his cheek: with quick and angry stride He mov'd toward the pile, And rais'd his hand to hush the crowd, and cried Bring forth the murderer! At the Rajah's voice, Calmly, and like a man whom fear had stunn'd, Ladurlad came, obedient to the call. But Kailyal started at the sound, And gave a womanly shriek, and back she drew, And eagerly she roll'd her eyes around, As if to seek for aid, albeit she knew No aid could there be found.