“I might; but I’d fear that devils would flock out of the airy deep to witness thy vowing. Spare me that horror!”
“Maiden, thou’lt craze me by thy distrust and wild words. In God’s name tell me what to do!”
“Swear, but wave back the evil spirits, if thou art wont to have them.”
“That sign is their lasting terror; but the silent palms and the stars alone shall witness, ay, the God of all, as well. Here, make thou the words as thou wilt. Now, I kiss the cross I love, and am ready. He suited the action to the words. The maiden drew near to him, looking down into his eyes searchingly and seemed assured by their serene frankness.”
“Go on, Rizpah, I’ll bind my soul with any words coined, and, remember that I believe that perjury would consign me to misery untold here; eternal woe hereafter!”
“I’ll trust thy solemn asseverations; they say that a superstition on the right side will make even a Philistine bearable. Repeat, ‘I swear never to harm any of Rizpah’s kin or clan, except in self-defense.’”
He complied.
“Again, ‘I swear to depart peacefully at once, and no more seek companionship with the people this night met.’”
He complied, but murmured “cruelty.”
“And how?” she questioned.