The Zi-ar-ri[5] Heabani loves,
That play within the running streams;
With Zi-ti-am-a-ti[6] he roves
Upon the sands in warm sunbeams.
"The prince returns, O Sar!" the herald said,
And low before the throne he bowed his head;
"Our Zaidu, the bewitcher of all men,
Doth unsuccessful to us come again.
Before the cave the seer confronted him
Three days where Khar-sak's snowy brow doth gleam.
Heabani with his beast in his cave went,
And Zaidu waited, but his courage spent
When he beheld the seer and beast remain
Within the cave, and all his words were vain.
The prince remains without with downcast face,
And beg of thee, his Sar, thy sovereign grace."
The king to all the maidens waves his hand,
Then vanishes from sight the choral band.
[Footnote 1: "Sami," heavens.]
[Footnote 2: "Nin" or "Nin-ip," the god of the chase and war.]
[Footnote 3: "Ner" or "Nergal," the giant king of war, the strong begetter.]
[Footnote 4: "Bu-hir-tser-i," beasts of the field.]
[Footnote 5: "Zi-ar-ri," spirits of the rivers, water-nymphs.]
[Footnote 6: "Zi-ti-am-a-ti," spirits of the sea, naiads or water-nymphs.]