Drew close together and conferred;
Till that the King stood forth and said,
"Before the priests thou shalt be heard."
But when the Ulemas were met,
And the thing heard, they doubted not;
But sentenced him, as the law is,
To die by stoning on the spot.
Now the King charged us secretly:--
"Stoned must he be, the law stands so.
Yet, if he seek to fly, give way;