H. Rider Haggard

“ When Owen told Hokosa of it, that old general shrugged his shoulders.
“The King would have done better to keep his regiments at home,” he said, “and fight it out with Hafela here, where he is well prepared. Yonder the country is very wide, and broken, and it may well chance that the impi will miss that of Hafela, and then how can the King defend this place with a handful, should the Prince burst upon him at the head of forty thousand men? But who am I that I should give counsel for which none seek?” ”

“ And now depart, for I must talk with the King as to this matter of the onslaught of Hafela.”
“Then, that will be the signal for my death, for what King can forgive one who has plotted such treachery against him?” said Hokosa.
“Fear not,” answered Owen, “I will soften his heart. Go you into the church and pray, for there you shall be less tempted; but before you go, swear to me that you will work no evil on yourself.”
“I swear it, Messenger, since now I desire to live, if only for awhile, seeing that death shuts every door.” ”

“ Well, if you love me, I hate you, though through your witchcraft your will yet has the mastery of mine. I demand of you now that you should loose that bond, for I do not desire to become a Christian; and surely, O most good and holy man, having one wife already, it will not please you henceforth to live in sin with a heathen woman. ”

“ Hokosa, you have indeed lost that which you loved, and henceforth you must follow after that which you did not desire. In the very grave of error you have found truth, and from the depths of sin you shall pluck righteousness. ”

“ Should you so much as dare to approach one of the gates of the Great Place, that moment you shall die.”
“Have no fear, O King,” said Hokosa humbly, “for I have emptied all my heart before you. The past is the past, and cannot be recalled. For the future, while it pleases you to spare me, I am the most loyal of your servants.”
“Can a man empty a spring with a pitcher?” asked the King contemptuously. “By to-morrow this heart of yours may be full again with the blackest treachery, O master of sin and lies. Many months ago I spared you at the prayer of the Messenger ”

“ For a while he rocked himself to and fro, staring at the ground, then he lifted his head and spoke.
“Woman,” he said, “the knot is untied and the spell is broken. Begone, for I release you and I divorce you. Flesh of my flesh have you been, and soul of my soul, for in the web of sorceries are we knit together. ”