if they see the son of Osslah sojourning in thy palace. So would
the displeasure of the gods of night perchance be incurred.
Suffer that the lesser door of the palace be unbarred, so that
at the night hour, when the moon is midway in the heavens, I may
steal unseen into thy chamber, and mix the liquid with thy
wine."

"So be it," said the king. "Thou art wise though thy limbs are
crooked and curt; and the stars might have chosen a taller man."

Then the king laughed again; and Morven laughed too, but there
was danger in the mirth of the son of Osslah.


The night had began to wane, and the inhabitants of Oestrich were
buried in deep sleep, when, hark! a sharp voice was heard crying
out in the streets, "Woe, woe! Awake ye sons of Oestrich--woe!"

Then forth, wild--haggard--alarmed--spear in hand, rushed the
giant sons of the rugged tribe, and they saw a man on a height
in the middle of the city, shrieking, "Woe!" and it was Morven,
the son of Osslah!

And he said unto them, as they gathered round him, "Men and
warriors, tremble as ye hear.

"The star of the west hath spoken to me and thus saith the star:

"'Evil shall fall upon the kingly house of Oestrich--yea, ere
the morning dawns; wherefore, go thou mourning into the streets,