DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5829#0083
ELICIIPOOR AND MUXGROOL.
67
back a pace or two, again to scan the figure of his
antagonist. The recking blade of each was purple to
the hilt, his bare limbs painted high with gore, his
armour dyed in the ruddy life-stream of a thousand
victims. But soon the curled lip and bitter glance of
scorn chased from their minds all thoughts but those
of kindling enmity and strife ; and as the thunder
clouds of defiance gathered upon their darkling
brows, the adverse warriors, in sullen silence, raised
on high their shields ; and each, grasping again with
impassioned grip his thirsty sword, hurled a venomed
curse through his clenched teeth, and rushed with
deadly fury to the encounter. Shock followed shock,
and each repelled attack was answered by another,
till their clashing arms and loud-resounding blows
were heard loud above the din of the surrounding
battle. Then the warring multitudes ceased their
strife, and stood around in mixed array to gaze upon
the contest of their leaders.
Three times they hreathed, and three times did they drink,
Upon agreement;
for their struggle lasted from the rising till the setting
of the sun. That burning luminary had just dipped
upon the horizon when the godlike Raiman Shah
Doola cast a furtive glance of regret at its departing
glory; and, being for a moment blinded by its slant-
ing rays, his devoted head was instantly struck from
his shoulders by his more w^ary adversary. It
67
back a pace or two, again to scan the figure of his
antagonist. The recking blade of each was purple to
the hilt, his bare limbs painted high with gore, his
armour dyed in the ruddy life-stream of a thousand
victims. But soon the curled lip and bitter glance of
scorn chased from their minds all thoughts but those
of kindling enmity and strife ; and as the thunder
clouds of defiance gathered upon their darkling
brows, the adverse warriors, in sullen silence, raised
on high their shields ; and each, grasping again with
impassioned grip his thirsty sword, hurled a venomed
curse through his clenched teeth, and rushed with
deadly fury to the encounter. Shock followed shock,
and each repelled attack was answered by another,
till their clashing arms and loud-resounding blows
were heard loud above the din of the surrounding
battle. Then the warring multitudes ceased their
strife, and stood around in mixed array to gaze upon
the contest of their leaders.
Three times they hreathed, and three times did they drink,
Upon agreement;
for their struggle lasted from the rising till the setting
of the sun. That burning luminary had just dipped
upon the horizon when the godlike Raiman Shah
Doola cast a furtive glance of regret at its departing
glory; and, being for a moment blinded by its slant-
ing rays, his devoted head was instantly struck from
his shoulders by his more w^ary adversary. It