PONTIFF KING. 
673 
its tail. This latter appendage is extremely long, and formed 
of a chain of bones, like the vertebrae of the back, and cut with 
the most correct knowledge of anatomy. A crooked horn pro¬ 
jects from the head of this monster, which is clasped as before 
by the hero, while he strikes his dagger into its body. His re¬ 
maining adversaries, exhibited on the other two doors, are of a 
more natural appearance, being a horned lion, and a unicorn- 
bull, which he slays with the same composed action. The calm¬ 
ness of his air, contrasted with the firmness with which he grasps 
the animals, and strikes to his aim, gives a certainty to his 
object, and a sublimity to his figure, beyond any thing that would 
have been in the power of more elaborate action, or ornament, 
to effect. From the unchanged appearance of the hero, his un¬ 
varied mode of attack, its success, and the unaltered style of 
opposition adopted by every one of the animals in the contest, 
I can have no doubt that they all mean different achievements 
towards one great end ; and under the figure of the pontiff-king, 
represent the ease with which the united powers of religion and 
regal authority, may vanquish the enemies of the true faith. The 
true faith, from a dateless epoch in Persian annals, until the 
conquest of the Arabs, was the Mithratic mystery ; and from 
the period of its belief to the present times, a similar supersti¬ 
tion has existed with regard to enchantments and evil spirits ; an 
unremitted contest between Ormuzd, the light of the universe, 
and Ahriman, the origin of darkness. These two emanations 
acted on the mind and body of their respective followers ; hence 
the worshippers of the sun denounced the Sabians, or adorers 
of images, to be a reprobate race, lost in darkness, and slaves 
to the evil power. Under this idea, the native writers of Persia 
are full of wars between their ancient kings and the deevs, or 
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