The stiff rebellion of an Afghan town,
Who marked for death a captive. Then arose
The ragged Afghan from the marble floor,
Nor longer to the king's feet weeping clung,
But in the babble of his foreign tongue
He cursed him, as that ancient saying goes:
"Who comes to wash himself in death, before
Entering the pool, empties his heart ashore."
"What mean these words?" The king's voice, cold
and loud,