 | Under Cross and Crescent |  |
105
“VÆ VICTIS”
“Were you not well paid?” ask'd Zil'ullah Khan.
To the chiefs of the mutineers he spoke,
Who, bent 'neath the weight of shackle and yoke,
Were led to the foot of his silk divan;
And, as out of his lips he puff'd the smoke,
His eyes look'd, laughing, at every man;
“We were right well paid, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
To the chiefs of the mutineers he spoke,
Who, bent 'neath the weight of shackle and yoke,
Were led to the foot of his silk divan;
And, as out of his lips he puff'd the smoke,
His eyes look'd, laughing, at every man;
“We were right well paid, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
“Were you not well clad?” ask'd Zil'ullah Khan;
Still his eye was merry, his voice was sweet,
As he gazed at the rebels prone at his feet
Who were trapp'd like birds by his subtle plan,
And they straightway answer'd him, as was meet,
Though sad were the accents of every man—
“We were right well clad, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
Still his eye was merry, his voice was sweet,
As he gazed at the rebels prone at his feet
Who were trapp'd like birds by his subtle plan,
And they straightway answer'd him, as was meet,
Though sad were the accents of every man—
“We were right well clad, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
106
“Were you not well fed?” ask'd Zil'ullah Khan
(They who knew him best might know well the end);
But as each one look'd his last on his friend
With eyes grown haggard and cheeks wax'd wan
(Since now God alone could their cause defend!),
Came the answer firmly from every man—
“We were right well fed, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
(They who knew him best might know well the end);
But as each one look'd his last on his friend
With eyes grown haggard and cheeks wax'd wan
(Since now God alone could their cause defend!),
Came the answer firmly from every man—
“We were right well fed, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
“Then why did ye this?” ask'd Zil'ullah Khan.
He had risen, now, from his princely place,
And the laughing look on his cunning face
Gave way to another, which none might scan
But he forthwith abandon'd all hope of grace,
Yet the answer came clearly from every man—
“We are God's accurst, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
He had risen, now, from his princely place,
And the laughing look on his cunning face
Gave way to another, which none might scan
But he forthwith abandon'd all hope of grace,
Yet the answer came clearly from every man—
“We are God's accurst, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
“Take and blind them all!” said Zil'ullah Khan;
He spoke as though weary and half awake,
As he made the movement a man might make
Who would flick away flies with a feather fan;
“I would sleep awhile, for mine eyelids ache!”
And the answer came calmly from every man—
“Let it be as thou wilt, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
He spoke as though weary and half awake,
As he made the movement a man might make
Who would flick away flies with a feather fan;
“I would sleep awhile, for mine eyelids ache!”
107
“Let it be as thou wilt, oh, Zil'ullah Khan!”
And five hundred men, ere the day was done,
Could look upon neither moon nor sun.
Could look upon neither moon nor sun.
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