At peace, behold our kinsman slain,
For thou art now without a foe.
Then pardon what of wrong has been;
Let us retire unharmed—unstay’d—
Far from this sanguinary scene,
And take thy prize—the Arab maid.”
The aged father came forth with dust and ashes upon his hoary head, and admitted that his tribe was fully conquered, and offered the life of his daughter for a peace offering, while still refusing to allow her to wed with a maniac.
“My daughter shall be brought at thy command;
The red flames may ascend from blazing brand
And slay their victim, crackling in the air,