The Infidel King of the Last Days; A Dramatic Poem (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1873 Excerpt: ... Constantinople. The prison. The cell in which Jonadab, Chalcol, and Dardan are confined. Enter the Gaoler. Time--half-past seven. Gaoler. BRING you the refreshment that I promis'd, And hope that it will prove a comfort to you. It would have pleased me greatly, to supply A draught more tempting to the taste, than water, As supplementary to these provisions; But that, your principles will not allow. So--holding these in due respect, I bring The pure and simple liquid you desir'd. It would be well, were many of your mind, Whom taste for stronger drink leads on to crime, And so, to prison--and from that, to death. It is not often that within these walls Such prisoners are introduc'd, as you; Innocent, inoffensive men, to whom No blame attaches, seeing that no crime Has been committed by you. From my heart I pity you: and grieve to think, that Power Which should protect the well-behav'd, and harmless, Now, to your countrymen, and to yourselves Acts, in a way at once unjust, and cruel. Chalcol. We thank you, Sir, for your kind sympathy, So soothingly contrasting with the usage We met with from the man who introduc'd My brother, after your departure from us; To share with us imprisonment to night, And death to-morrow. This, at least, his language Scornful, and cruel, bade us be prepar'd for. And pleasant to his hard, unfeeling heart, The prospect seem'd to be. (Indeed, he told us It was so.) Let him not come here again, Unless necessity compels his presence. Gaoler. He shall not do so. I am very sorry You were subjected to his brutal insults. My duties took me elsewhere, when your brother Had--most unfortunately for himself--Desir'd admittance to your cell. He gain'd it, But at a cost it saddens me to think of; For--'tis too true, that he must share your fate, Thr...