DarkAhriman，whomIrakstillHoldsoriginofwoeandill！
　　When，bendingatthyshrine，Weviewtheworldwithtroubledeye，Whereseewe’neaththeextendedsky，Anempirematchingthine？
　　IftheBenignerPowercanyieldAfountaininthedesertfield，Wherewearypilgrimsdrink；
　　Thinearethewavesthatlashtherock，Thinethetornado’sdeadlyshock，Wherecountlessnaviessink！
　　OrifHebidthesoildispenseBalsamstocheerthesinkingsense，HowfewcantheydeliverFromlingeringpains，orpangintense，RedFever，spottedPestilence，Thearrowsofthyquiver！
　　ChiefinMan’sbosomsitsthysway，Andfrequent，whileinwordsweprayBeforeanotherthrone，Whate’erofspeciousformbethere，ThesecretmeaningoftheprayerIs，Ahriman，thineown。
　　Say，hastthoufeeling，sense，andform，Thunderthyvoice，thygarmentsstorm，AsEasternMagisay；
　　Withsentientsoulofhateandwrath，Andwingstosweepthydeadlypath，Andfangstotearthyprey？
　　Orartthoumix’dinNature’ssource，Anever-operatingforce，Convertinggoodtoill；
　　Anevilprincipleinnate，Contendingwithourbetterfate，Andoh！victoriousstill？
　　Howe’eritbe，disputeisvain，Onallwithoutthouhold’stthyreign，Norlessonallwithin；
　　Eachmortalpassion’sfiercecareer，Love，hate，ambition，joy，andfear，Thougoadestintosin。
　　Whene’erasunnygleamappears，Tobrightenupourvaleoftears，Thouartnotdistantfar；
　　’Midsuchbriefsolaceofourlives，Thouwhett’stourverybanquet-knivesTotoolsofdeathandwar。
　　Thus，fromthemomentofourbirth，Longaswelingerontheearth，Thourul’stthefateofmen；
　　Thinearethepangsoflife’slasthour，And-whodareanswer？-isthypower，DarkSpirit！ended=Then？=
　　*Theworthyandlearnedclergyman，bywhomthisspeciesofhymnhasbeen*translated，desires，that，forfearofmisconception，weshouldwarnthereaderto*recollectthatitiscomposedbyaheathen，towhomtherealcausesofmoraland*physicalevilareunknown，andwhoviewstheirpredominanceinthesystemof*theuniverseasallmustviewthatappallingfact，whohavenotthebenefitofthe*ChristianRevelation。Onourownpart，webegtoadd，thatweunderstandthe*styleofthetranslatorismoreparaphrasticthancanbeapprovedbythosewhoare*acquaintedwiththesingularlycuriousoriginal。Thetranslatorseemstohave*despairedofrenderingintoEnglishversetheflightsofOrientalpoetry；andpossibly，*likemanylearnedandingeniousmen，findingitimpossibletodiscoverthe*senseoftheoriginal，hemayhavetacitlysubstitutedhisown。
　　*
　　*Thegentleandcandidreadermaybelievethisworthyandlearnedclergymanor*not，asshallbemostpleasingtohimself。
　　Theseversesmayperhapshavebeentheriotunnaturaleffusionofsomehalf-enlightenedphilosopher，who，inthefableddeity，Arimanes，sawbuttheprevalenceofmoralandphysicalevil；butintheearsofSirKennethoftheLeopard，theyhadadifferenteffect，and，sungastheywerebyonewhohadjustboastedhimselfadescendantofdemons，soundedverylikeanaddressofworshiptotheArch-fiendhimself。Heweighedwithinhimself，whether，onhearingsuchblasphemyintheverydesertwhereSatanhadstoodrebukedfordemandinghomage，takinganabruptleaveoftheSaracenwassufficienttotestifyhisabhorrence；orwhetherhewasnotratherconstrainedbyhisvowasaCrusader，todefytheinfideltocombatonthespot，andleavehimfoodforthebeastsofthewilderness，whenhisattentionwassuddenlycaughtbyanunexpectedapparition。
　　Thelightwasnowverginglow，yetservedtheknightstilltodiscernthattheytwowerenolongeraloneintheforest，butwerecloselywatchedbyafigureofgreatheightandverythin，whichskippedoverrocksandbusheswithsomuchagility，as，addedtothewildandhirsuteappearanceoftheindividual，remindedhimofthefaunsandsilvans，whoseimageshehadseenintheancienttemplesofRome。Asthesingle-heartedScotsmanhadneverforamomentdoubtedthesegodsoftheancientGentilestobeactuallydevils，sohenowhesitatednottobelievethattheblasphemoushymnoftheSaracenhadraisedupaninfernalspirit。
　　Butwhatrecksit！’’saidstoutSirKennethtohimself；
　　downwiththefiendandhisworshippers！’’
　　Hedidnot，however，thinkitnecessarytogivethesamewarningofdefiancetotwoenemies，ashewouldunquestionablyhaveaffordedtoone。Hishandwasuponhismace，andperhapstheunwarySaracenwouldhavebeenpaidforhisPersianpoetrybyhavinghisbrainsdashedoutonthespot，withoutanyreasonassignedforit；buttheScottishknightwassparedfromcommittingwhatwouldhavebeenasoreblotinhisshieldofarms。
　　Theapparition，onwhichhiseyeshadbeenfixedforsometime，hadatfirstappearedtodogtheirpathbyconcealingitselfbehindrocksandshrubs，usingthoseadvantagesofthegroundwithgreataddress，andsurmountingitsirregularitieswithsurprisingagility。Atlength，justastheSaracenpausedinhissong，thefigure，whichwasthatofatallmanclothedingoat-skins，sprungintothemidstofthepath，andseizedareinoftheSaracen’sbridleineitherhand，confrontingthusandbearingbackthenoblehorse，which，unabletoendurethemannerinwhichthissuddenassailantpressedthelong-armedbit，andtheseverecurb，which，accordingtotheEasternfashion，wasasolidringofiron，rearedupright，andfinallyfellbackwardsonhismaster，who，however，avoidedtheperilofthefall，bylightlythrowinghimselftooneside。
　　Theassailantthenshiftedhisgraspfromthebridleofthehorsetothethroatoftherider，flunghimselfabovethestrugglingSaracen，and，despiteofhisyouthandactivity，kepthimundermost，wreathinghislongarmsabovethoseofhisprisoner，whocalledoutangrily，andyet，half-laughingatthesametime-Hamako-fool-unlooseme-thispassesthyprivilege-
　　unlooseme，orIwillusemydagger。’’
　　Thydagger！-infideldog！’’saidthefigureinthegoat-skins；
　　holditinthygripeifthoucanst！’’andinaninstanthewrenchedtheSaracen’sweaponoutofitsowner’shand，andbrandisheditoverhishead。
　　Help，Nazarene！’’criedSheerkohf，nowseriouslyalarmed，help，ortheHamakowillslayme。’’
　　Slaythee！’’repliedthedwellerofthedesert；andwellhastthoumeriteddeath，forsingingthyblasphemoushymns，notonlytothepraiseofthyfalseprophet，whoisthefoulfiend’sharbinger，buttotheAuthorofEvilhimself。’’
　　TheChristianKnighthadhithertolookedonasonestupified，sostrangelyhadthisrencontrecontradicted，initsprogressandevent，allthathehadpreviouslyconjectured。Hefelt，however，atlength，thatittouchedhishonourtointerfereinbehalfofhisdiscomfitedcompanion；andthereforeaddressedhimselftothevictoriousfigureinthegoat-skins。
　　Whosoe’erthouart，’’hesaid，andwhetherofgoodorofevil，knowthatIamswornforthetimetobetruecompaniontotheSaracenwhomthouholdestunderthee；therefore，I
　　praytheetolethimarise，elseIwilldobattlewiththeeinhisbehalf。’’
　　Andaproperquarrelitwere，’’answeredtheHamako，foraCrusadertodobattlein-forthesakeofanunbaptizeddogtocombatoneofhisownholyfaith！ArtthoucomeforthtothewildernesstofightfortheCrescentagainsttheCross？A
　　goodlysoldierofGodartthoutolistentothosewhosingthepraisesofSatan！’’
　　Yetwhilehespokethus，hearosehimself，and，sufferingtheSaracentoarisealso，returnedhimhiscangiar，orponiard。
　　Thouseesttowhatapointofperilthypresumptionhathbroughtthee，’’continuedheofthegoat-skins，nowaddressingSheerkohf，andbywhatweakmeansthypractisedskillandboastedagilitycanbefoiled，whensuchisHeaven’spleasure。
　　Wherefore，beware，OIlderim！forknowthat，weretherenotatwinkleinthestarofthynativity，whichpromisesfortheesomethingthatisgoodandgraciousinHeaven’sgoodtime，wetwohadnotpartedtillIhadtornasunderthethroatwhichsolatelythrilledforthblasphemies。’’
　　Hamako，’’saidtheSaracen，withoutanyappearanceofresentingtheviolentlanguage，andyetmoreviolentassault，towhichhehadbeensubjected，Ipraythee，goodHamako，tobewarehowthoudostagainurgethyprivilegeoverfar；forthough，asagoodMoslem，IrespectthosewhomHeavenhathdeprivedofordinaryreason，inordertoendowthemwiththespiritofprophecy，yetIlikenotothermen’shandsonthebridleofmyhorse，neitheruponmyownperson。Speak，therefore，whatthouwilt，secureofanyresentmentfromme；butgathersomuchsenseastoapprehend，thatifthoushaltagainproffermeanyviolence，Iwillstrikethyshaggedheadfromthymeagreshoulders-Andtothee，friendKenneth，’’headded，asheremountedhissteed，Imustneedssay，that，inacompanionthroughthedesert，Ilovefriendlydeedsbetterthanfairwords。
　　Ofthelastthouhastgivenmeenough；butithadbeenbettertohaveaidedmemorespeedilyinmystrugglewiththisHamako，whohadwell-nightakenmylifeinhisfrenzy。’’
　　Bymyfaith，’’saidtheKnight，Ididsomewhatfail-wassomewhattardyinrenderingtheeinstanthelp；butthestrangenessoftheassailant，thesuddennessofthescene-itwasasifthywildandwickedlayhadraisedthedevilamongus-andsuchwasmyconfusion，thattwoorthreeminuteselapsedereI
　　couldtaketomyweapon。’’
　　Thouartbutacoldandconsideratefriend，’’saidtheSaracen；and，hadtheHamakobeenonegrainmorefrantic，thycompanionhadbeenslainbythyside，tothyeternaldishonour，withoutthystirringafingerinhisaid，althoughthousatestby，mountedandinarms。’’
　　Bymyword，Saracen，’’saidtheChristian，ifthouwilthaveitinplainterms，Ithoughtthatstrangefigurewasthedevil；andbeingofthylineage，Iknewnotwhatfamilysecretyoumightbecommunicatingtoeachother，asyoulaylovinglyrollingtogetheronthesand。’’
　　Thygibeisnoanswer，brotherKenneth，’’saidtheSaracen；
　　forknow，thathadmyassailantbeeninverydeedthePrinceofDarkness，thouwertboundnotthelesstoenterintocombatwithhiminthycomrade’sbehalf。Know，also，thatwhatevertheremaybeoffouloroffiendishabouttheHamako，belongsmoretoyourlineagethantomine，thisHamakobeing，intruth，theanchoritewhomthouartcomehithertovisit。’’
　　This？’’saidSirKenneth，lookingattheathleticyetwastedfigurebeforehim-this！-thoumockest，Saracen-thiscannotbethevenerableTheodorick！’’
　　Askhimself，ifthouwiltnotbelieveme，’’answeredSheerkohf；
　　anderethewordshadlefthismouth，thehermitgaveevidenceinhisownbehalf。
　　IamTheodorickofEngaddi，’’hesaid-Iamthewalkerofthedesert-Iamfriendofthecross，andflailofallinfidels，heretics，anddevil-worshippers。Avoidye，avoidye！-DownwithMahound，Termagaunt，andalltheiradherents！’’-Sosaying，hepulledfromunderhisshaggygarmentasortofflail，orjointedclub，boundwithiron，whichhebrandishedroundhisheadwithsingulardexterity。
　　Thousee’stthysaint，’’saidtheSaracen，laughing，forthefirsttime，attheunmitigatedastonishmentwithwhichSirKennethlookedonthewildgestures，andheardthewaywardmutteringofTheodorick，who，afterswinginghisflailineverydirection，apparentlyquiterecklesswhetheritencounteredtheheadofeitherofhiscompanions，finallyshowedhisownstrengthandthesoundnessoftheweapon，bystrikingintofragmentsalargestonewhichlaynearhim。
　　Thisisamadman，’’saidSirKenneth。
　　Nottheworsesaint，’’returnedtheMoslem，speakingaccordingtothewell-knownEasternbelief，thatmadmenareundertheinfluenceofimmediateinspiration。Know，Christian，thatwhenoneeyeisextinguished，theotherbecomesmorekeen-whenonehandiscutoff，theotherbecomesmorepowerful；so，whenourreasoninhumanthingsisdisturbedordestroyed，ourviewheavenwardbecomesmoreacuteandperfect。’’
　　HerethevoiceoftheSaracenwasdrownedinthatofthehermit，whobegantoholloaloudinawildchantingtone，-