146 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
dess, “ of what account is thy sullied life ? to whom 
would it be acceptable ? But mark me, in the pu- 
rity and perfection of thy son’s soul could I find 
pleasure; him will I condescend to receive as an 
atonement;” and having uttered these words the 
goddess vanished. Hereupon the penitent Behrid 
rose from the earth, and taking his sabre, returned 
to the gate, where, in the presence of his wife, 
he declared to his son all that had befallen him. 
Then his son, rising with a smile of rapture on his 
lips, bowed his head and exclaimed : — “ Fortunate 
indeed am I become, Oh father, that I am thus se- 
lected to re-establish the prosperity of King Sadrak, 
our most noble prince. Strike, my father, for in truth 
I am rejoiced thus to quit life.” 
“ Let me embrace thee, mine only one,” cried the 
weeping mother, “ and now farewell, — what less can 
we do ? Strike, Behrid ! ” 
Then the deivan drew his sword, and at one 
blow struck off the head of his son, and as the life- 
less trunk rolled heavily upon the ground he thus 
spoke : “ Here indeed is a full atonement for my 
folly, and a proof of my devotion to my lord’s cause : 
but having destroyed my only child, what comfort 
remains to me ? assuredly my life is a fruitless 
burden.” Thus having said, he raised his sword, 
still warm with the blood of his son, and plunged it 
into his own heart. Beholding this, the wife and 
mother felt her spirit die within her, and taking the 
