n-born thunder all the plain. ach scythed chariot stood: javelin, swift to smite, ar-steeds in the strife. ■riot, thundering on its way, th beneath its iron wheel's, rd drew on; golden their helms, stplates were of burnished gold. chargers, white as the sea-foam. orm-wind smites the watery plain. y wreaths along the sand;

the white steeds of the moon,

gent chariot-throne through heaven; nd with delicatest limbs,

atly with excess of life;

ed by the silver bit,

heads on high, the foam-flakes flew, driven, upon a stormy day, ls by the Northern wind. of Cardol, led their ranks.

these had passed, Arvan drew near hariot bright with gold,

d-beast tusks, burning with gems. heads towered his imperial form ; a great shout rent the air,

boldest stooped his face to earth, upon the mighty king,

To whose black marge each step brought them more near,
For they would soon be offered to the god.
Alone among the band the Southern king
Yet held his forehead high, as though he scorned,
Crushed though he was, to yield him up to Fate.
Stately he seemed, though fallen from high place;
Crowned with his own great nobleness he moved,
And though undiademed, showed yet a king.

Last of the long procession, a black swarm
Of swarthy horsemen, reining fiery steeds,
That 'neath the quickening spur curvetted fierce,
Filled all the way, and closed the martial line ;
Horsemen uncounted, each one prompt in arms,
Armed with long lance, and plaited osier shield.
All these the Sunsquare gathered in its lap,
Ranged in order meet, soon as they came,
Even as the death-land, mighty to devour,
Receives the marching multitude of souls,

That through the grave seeketh the unknown shore.
When they had past, the outspread, gazing crowd
Of many thousands, gathered close behind,
With a great voice of talking (for their eyes
Gazed, being human, gladly upon death,

And their hearts yearned to see the sacrifice).

Now did the many-nationed warrior hosts

Stand ranged round the square; and the black priests, Awaiting by the granite-girdled wave,

Received the victims from King Arvan's hand.

But Arvan turned his glowing chariot-wheels,

Urging his steeds over the stony plain,
Till by the Temple of the Sun he paused;
Then he descended. Thrice unto the earth

ow, soiling it with the dust;
wned head, in suppliant guise,
road steps of the holy fane,
voice exceeding loud :

ghty Sun, beloved of Heaven,
lest by the sacred fire,
dy ears: Arvan is here;
s a worthy sacrifice."

pors flew open with a clang,
al o'er the shuddering plain,
iest came from the inmost shrine.
s he bore the brazen dish,

ardent coals of sacred fire, on the soilèd earth,

flames of sacrifice.

e's was the seer-priest's head, vulture's were his eyes,

fire that long years cannot tame; rent beard, silvered with age, stern face hung stainless white, vild Ur mountain's topmost peak, s stretch down the barren sides. r he went an hundred priests eps, obedient to his word. ost step, before the fane,

st stood facing the great king, him with slow and quiet words. god hath heard a crying voice; eached him, coming to his ears, throne he sitteth, Lord of Heaven. h look upon the sacrifice,

am I come forth from the shrine,

Where he hath looked on me, speaking a word;

Behold I bear coals of the sacred fire."

When the High Priest's words failed from out the air,
Myriads of voices gave a sudden shout,
Crying, "The Sun doth see the sacrifice."
But the black priests, beside the stone-girt sea,
Soon as they saw the temple-doors stood ope,
And that the god propitious lent his smile
To Arvan, sending forth the sacred fire,

Seized on the unwilling victims, where they stood,
Naked and bound, shrinking from coming death,
And plunged them in the basin's hallowed wave.
There washed from off their limbs the dust and sweat,
Making them clean, pure victims for the god.
But Arvan, with the high priest and his band,
Crossed slowly over to the basin's edge,
And waited till the victims, duly washed,
Stood by the margin with fair glistening limbs,
White-shining, clean,-a fitting sacrifice.
Then up the grey steps of the sacred mound
The dark, slow, undulating train of men,
Striped by the white-limbed victims' helpless band,
Crawled like a caterpillar, slowly on,

Striving towards the summit of the hill.
Thither arrived, they gathered in a crowd,
Close rangèd round the dark-hued slaughter-stone.
But Arvan stood, facing the multitude,

Crownless his head, and in his strong right hand

Gleamed the broad-bladed sacrificial steel.

Then crièd he, stretching the sword on high,

"Let us arise and offer sacrifice

Unto the mighty Sun who rules above,

hath given us victory." len flash the falchion sank, e, when they saw it sink,

tient voice responsive cried, 1 offer sacrifice,

1 hath given us victory."

ake, “Kings, princes, warrior-men;

les! listening submiss,

aimeth praise, brightest of gods. heaven, and lord of earth.

who stand before the mount a-chant, honouring the god."

e priests awoke the sacred strain, ople echoed it below.

swelled the deep-voiced roar ; od upon the sacred hill,

he deep voice of the sea

n who high on ocean's cliff

on the multitude of waves.

e Sun. He sits white-robed in flame.

upon his golden throne.

. He ruleth gods and men.

Sun, he is the lord of all.

of earth lift up their crowned heads;

heads and look upon his face;

heads, rejoicing in his rays;

Sun, he is the lord of all.

bed trees stretch forth their sinewy arms;

eir arms on high in silent praise;

e Sun, giver of light and life; Sun, he is the lord of all.

E heaven awaken from their rest;