To boast revenge's tw^in-horned crown.

A cold dawn gilds the finely chiselled

Tops of the hills.... There reigns throughout

Grim silence. Sulkily the wizard

In dressing gown and still without

His cap, sits on the bed, and, yawning,

Seems angered by the glow of morning.

His dusky slaves, close to him pressing,

Are busy with his beard, a comb,

A fine one, made of walrus bone,

Through all its curvings gently passing

To give them strength and beauty, thy

Pour balm upon his termless whiskers,

And, using curling irons, briskly

Make waves in them.... The calm of day

Is broken-through the window sailing,

A dragon comes; it clangs its scaly,

Well furbished armour, folds its wings,

Coils swiftly into shiny rings,

And suddenly, to the surprise

Of all, takes old Nahina's guise.

"Hail, brother mine!" says she. 'I knew you

Till now by loud report alone,

But never grudged you, be it known

The high esteem and honour due you.

Now secret fate has joined us two

In enmity. The threat of danger

Hangs like a dark cloud over you,

While I'm to be the sole avenger

Of slighted honour, mine, my own;

Its voice I heed."

The dwarf, a wily

Look on his face, in unctuous tones

Makes his reply: 'T value highly,"-