,*APT] #ba 
,ES>HADDON1 ,K+ ( ,ASSYRIA 

#aifaif 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,L\ISE ,MAUDE 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,AYLM] ,MAUDE 

,TEXT 3 

,! ,ASSYRIAN ,K+1 ,ES>HADDON1 HAD CONQU]$ ! K+DOM ( ,K+ ,LAILIE1 HAD DE/ROY$ & BURNT ! T[NS1 TAK5 ALL ! 9HABITANTS CAPTIVE TO HIS [N C\NTRY1 SLAU<T]$ ! W>RIORS1 BEHEAD$ SOME *IEFTA9S & IMPAL$ OR FLAY$ O!RS1 & HAD CONF9$ ,K+ ,LAILIE HIMSELF 9 A CAGE4 

,AS HE LAY ON HIS B$ ONE NI<T1 ,K+ ,ES>HADDON WAS ?9K+ H[ HE %\LD EXECUTE ,LAILIE1 :5 SUDD5LY HE HE>D A RU/L+ NE> HIS B$1 & OP5+ HIS EYES SAW AN OLD MAN ) A LONG GRAY BE>D & MILD EYES4 

',Y\ WI% TO EXECUTE ,LAILIE8' ASK$ ! OLD MAN4 

',YES1' ANSW]$ ! ,K+4 ',BUT ,I CANNOT MAKE UP MY M9D H[ TO DO IT4' 

',BUT Y\ >E ,LAILIE1' SAID ! OLD MAN4 

',?AT'S NOT TRUE1' REPLI$ ! ,K+4 ',LAILIE IS ,LAILIE1 & ,I AM ,I4' 

',Y\ & ,LAILIE >E ONE1' SAID ! OLD MAN4 ',Y\ ONLY IMAG9E Y\ >E NOT ,LAILIE1 & ?AT ,LAILIE IS NOT Y\4' 

',:AT DO Y\ MEAN BY ?AT8' SAID ! ,K+4 ',H]E AM ,I1 LY+ ON A S(T B$2 >\ND ME >E OB$I5T M5-SLAVES & WOM5-SLAVES1 & TO-MORR[ ,I %ALL FEA/ ) MY FRI5DS AS ,I DID TO-DAY2 :]EAS ,LAILIE IS SITT+ LIKE A BIRD 9 A CAGE1 & TO-MORR[ HE WILL BE IMPAL$1 & ) HIS TONGUE HANG+ \T WILL /RUGGLE TILL HE DIES1 & HIS BODY WILL BE TORN 9 PIECES BY DOGS4' 

',Y\ CANNOT DE/ROY HIS LIFE1' SAID ! OLD MAN4 

',& H[ AB\T ! F\RTE5 ?\S& W>RIORS ,I KILL$1 ) :OSE BODIES ,I BUILT A M\ND8' SAID ! ,K+4 ',I AM ALIVE1 BUT !Y NO LONG] EXI/4 ,DOES NOT ?AT PROVE ?AT ,I CAN DE/ROY LIFE8' 

',H[ DO Y\ KN[ !Y NO LONG] EXI/8' 

',BECAUSE ,I NO LONG] SEE !M4 ,&1 ABOVE ALL1 !Y W]E TORM5T$1 BUT ,I WAS NOT4 ,IT WAS ILL = !M1 BUT WELL = ME4' 

',?AT1 ALSO1 ONLY SEEMS SO TO Y\4 ,Y\ TORTUR$ Y\RSELF1 BUT NOT !M4' 

',I DO NOT UND]/&1' SAID ! ,K+4 

',DO Y\ WI% TO UND]/&8' 

',YES1 ,I DO4' 

',!N COME H]E1' SAID ! OLD MAN1 PO9T+ TO A L>GE FONT FULL ( WAT]4 

,! ,K+ ROSE & APPROA*$ ! FONT4 

',/RIP1 & 5T] ! FONT4' 

,ES>HADDON DID AS ! OLD MAN BADE HIM4 

 ',AS SOON AS ,I BEG9 TO P\R ?IS WAT] OV] Y\1' SAID ! OLD MAN1 FILL+ A PIT*] ) ! WAT]1 'DIP D[N Y\R HEAD4' 

,! OLD MAN TILT$ ! PIT*] OV] ! ,K+'S HEAD1 & ! ,K+ B5T HIS HEAD TILL IT WAS UND] WAT]4 

,& AS SOON AS ,K+ ,ES>HADDON WAS UND] ! WAT]1 HE FELT ?AT HE WAS NO LONG] ,ES>HADDON1 BUT SOME ONE ELSE4 ,&1 FEEL+ HIMSELF TO BE ?AT O!R MAN1 HE SAW HIMSELF LY+ ON A RI* B$1 BESIDE A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN4 ,HE HAD NEV] SE5 H] BE=E1 BUT HE KNEW %E WAS HIS WIFE4 ,! WOMAN RAIS$ H]SELF & SAID TO HIM3 

',DE> HUSB&1 ,LAILIE6 ,Y\ W]E WE>I$ BY YE/]DAY'S WORK & HAVE SLEPT LONG] ?AN USUAL1 & ,I HAVE GU>D$ Y\R RE/1 & HAVE NOT R\S$ Y\4 ,BUT N[ ! ,PR9CES AWAIT Y\ 9 ! ,GREAT ,HALL4 ,DRESS & GO \T TO !M4' 

,& ,ES>HADDON--UND]/&+ FROM !SE WORDS ?AT HE WAS ,LAILIE1 & NOT FEEL+ AT ALL SURPRIS$ AT ?IS1 BUT ONLY WOND]+ ?AT HE DID NOT KN[ IT BE=E--ROSE1 DRESS$1 & W5T 9TO ! ,GREAT ,HALL :]E ! ,PR9CES AWAIT$ HIM4 

,! ,PR9CES GREET$ ,LAILIE1 !IR ,K+1 B[+ TO ! GR\ND1 & !N !Y ROSE1 & AT HIS WORD SAT D[N BE=E HIM2 & ! ELDE/ ( ! ,PR9CES BEGAN TO SPEAK1 SAY+ ?AT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE LONG] TO 5DURE ! 9SULTS ( ! WICK$ ,K+ ,ES>HADDON1 & ?AT !Y MU/ MAKE W> ON HIM4 ,BUT ,LAILIE DISAGRE$1 & GAVE ORD]S ?AT 5VOYS %ALL BE S5T TO REMON/RATE ) ,K+ ,ES>HADDON2 & HE DISMISS$ ! ,PR9CES FROM ! AUDI5CE4 ,AFT]W>DS HE APPO9T$ M5 ( NOTE TO ACT AS AMBASSADORS1 & IMPRESS$ ON !M :AT !Y W]E TO SAY TO ,K+ ,ES>HADDON4 ,HAV+ F9I%$ ?IS BUS9ESS1 ,ES>HADDON--FEEL+ HIMSELF TO BE ,LAILIE--RODE \T TO HUNT WILD ASSES4 ,! HUNT WAS SUCCESSFUL4 ,HE KILL$ TWO WILD ASSES HIMSELF1 &1 HAV+ RETURN$ HOME1 FEA/$ ) HIS FRI5DS1 & WITNESS$ A DANCE ( SLAVE GIRLS4 ,! NEXT DAY HE W5T TO ! ,C\RT1 :]E HE WAS AWAIT$ BY PETITION]S1 SUITORS1 & PRISON]S BR\<T = TRIAL2 & !RE AS USUAL HE DECID$ ! CASES SUBMITT$ TO HIM4 ,HAV+ F9I%$ ?IS BUS9ESS1 HE AGA9 RODE \T TO HIS FAVORITE AMUSEM5T3 ! HUNT4 ,& AGA9 HE WAS SUCCESSFUL3 ?IS TIME KILL+ ) HIS [N H& AN OLD LIONESS1 & CAPTUR+ H] TWO CUBS4 ,AFT] ! HUNT HE AGA9 FEA/$ ) HIS FRI5DS1 & WAS 5T]TA9$ ) MUSIC & DANCES1 & ! NI<T HE SP5T ) ! WIFE :OM HE LOV$4 

,SO1 DIVID+ HIS TIME BETWE5 K+LY DUTIES & PLEASURES1 HE LIV$ = DAYS & WEEKS1 AWAIT+ ! RETURN ( ! AMBASSADORS HE HAD S5T TO ?AT ,K+ ,ES>HADDON :O US$ TO BE HIMSELF4 ,NOT TILL A MON? HAD PASS$ DID ! AMBASSADORS RETURN1 & !Y RETURN$ ) !IR NOSES & E>S CUT (F4 

,K+ ,ES>HADDON HAD ORD]$ !M TO TELL ,LAILIE ?AT :AT HAD BE5 DONE TO !M--! AMBASSADORS--W\LD BE DONE TO ,K+ ,LAILIE HIMSELF ALSO1 UNLESS HE S5T IMM$IATELY A TRIBUTE ( SILV]1 GOLD1 & CYPRESS-WOOD1 & CAME HIMSELF TO PAY HOMAGE TO ,K+ ,ES>HADDON4 

,LAILIE1 =M]LY ,ES>HADDON1 AGA9 ASSEMBL$ ! ,PR9CES1 & TOOK C\NSEL ) !M AS TO :AT HE %\LD DO4 ,!Y ALL ) ONE ACCORD SAID ?AT W> MU/ BE MADE AGA9/ ,ES>HADDON1 )\T WAIT+ = HIM TO ATTACK !M4 ,! ,K+ AGRE$2 & TAK+ HIS PLACE AT ! HEAD ( ! >MY1 />T$ ON ! CAMPAIGN4 ,! CAMPAIGN LA/S SEV5 DAYS4 ,EA* DAY ! ,K+ RODE R\ND ! >MY TO R\SE ! C\RAGE ( HIS W>RIORS4 ,ON ! EI<? DAY HIS >MY MET ?AT ( ,ES>HADDON 9 A BROAD VALLEY ?R\< :I* A RIV] FL[$4 ,LAILIE'S >MY F\<T BRAVELY1 BUT ,LAILIE1 =M]LY ,ES>HADDON1 SAW ! 5EMY SW>M+ D[N FROM ! M\NTA9S LIKE ANTS1 OV]-RUNN+ ! VALLEY & OV]:ELM+ HIS >MY2 &1 9 HIS *>IOT1 HE FLUNG HIMSELF 9TO ! MID/ ( ! BATTLE1 HEW+ & FELL+ ! 5EMY4 ,BUT ! W>RIORS ( ,LAILIE W]E BUT AS HUNDR$S1 :ILE ?OSE ( ,ES>HADDON W]E AS ?\S&S2 & ,LAILIE FELT HIMSELF W\ND$ & TAK5 PRISON]4 ,N9E DAYS HE J\RNEY$ ) O!R CAPTIVES1 B\ND1 & GU>D$ BY ! W>RIORS ( ,ES>HADDON4  

,ON ! T5? DAY HE REA*$ ,N9EVEH1 & WAS PLAC$ 9 A CAGE4 ,LAILIE SUFF]$ NOT SO MU* FROM HUNG] & FROM HIS W\ND AS FROM %AME & IMPOT5T RAGE4 ,HE FELT H[ P[]LESS HE WAS TO AV5GE HIMSELF ON HIS 5EMY = ALL HE WAS SUFF]+4 ,ALL HE C\LD DO WAS TO DEPRIVE HIS 5EMIES ( ! PLEASURE ( SEE+ HIS SUFF]+S2 & HE FIRMLY RESOLV$ TO 5DURE C\RAGE\SLY1 )\T A MURMUR1 ALL !Y C\LD DO TO HIM4 ,= TW5TY DAYS HE SAT 9 HIS CAGE1 AWAIT+ EXECUTION4 ,HE SAW HIS RELATIVES & FRI5DS L$ \T TO DEA?2 HE HE>D ! GROANS ( ?OSE :O W]E EXECUT$3 SOME HAD !IR H&S & FEET CUT (F1 O!RS W]E FLAY$ ALIVE1 BUT HE %[$ NEI!R DISQUIETUDE1 NOR PITY1 NOR FE>4 ,HE SAW ! WIFE HE LOV$1 B\ND1 & L$ BY TWO BLACK EUNU*S4 ,HE KNEW %E WAS BE+ TAK5 AS A SLAVE TO ,ES>HADDON4 ,?AT1 TOO1 HE BORE )\T A MURMUR4 ,BUT ONE ( ! GU>DS PLAC$ TO WAT* HIM SAID1 ',I PITY Y\1 ,LAILIE2 Y\ W]E A K+1 BUT :AT >E Y\ N[8' ,& HE>+ !SE WORDS1 ,LAILIE REMEMB]$ ALL HE HAD LO/4 ,HE CLUT*$ ! B>S ( HIS CAGE1 &1 WI%+ TO KILL HIMSELF1 BEAT HIS HEAD AGA9/ !M4 ,BUT HE HAD NOT ! /R5G? TO DO SO2 &1 GROAN+ 9 DESPAIR1 HE FELL UPON ! FLOOR ( HIS CAGE4 

,AT LA/ TWO EXECUTION]S OP5$ HIS CAGE DOOR1 & HAV+ /RAPP$ HIS >MS TI<T BEH9D HIM1 L$ HIM TO ! PLACE ( EXECUTION1 :I* WAS SOAK$ ) BLOOD4 ,LAILIE SAW A %>P /AKE DRIPP+ ) BLOOD1 FROM :I* ! CORPSE ( ONE ( HIS FRI5DS HAD JU/ BE5 TORN1 & HE UND]/OOD ?AT ?IS HAD BE5 DONE ?AT ! /AKE MI<T S]VE = HIS [N EXECUTION4 ,!Y /RIPP$ ,LAILIE ( HIS CLO!S4 ,HE WAS />TL$ AT ! LEANNESS ( HIS ONCE /RONG1 H&SOME BODY4 ,! TWO EXECUTION]S SEIZ$ ?AT BODY BY ITS LEAN ?I<S2 !Y LIFT$ HIM UP & W]E AB\T TO LET HIM FALL UPON ! /AKE4 

',?IS IS DEA?1 DE/RUCTION6' ?\<T ,LAILIE1 &1 =GETFUL ( HIS RESOLVE TO REMA9 BRAVELY CALM TO ! 5D1 HE SOBB$ & PRAY$ = M]CY4 ,BUT NO ONE LI/5$ TO HIM4 

 ',BUT ?IS CANNOT BE1' ?\<T HE4 ',SURELY ,I AM ASLEEP4 ,IT IS A DREAM4' ,& HE MADE AN EF=T TO R\SE HIMSELF1 & DID 9DE$ AWAKE1 TO F9D HIMSELF NEI!R ,ES>HADDON NOR ,LAILIE--BUT SOME K9D ( AN ANIMAL4 ,HE WAS A/ONI%$ ?AT HE WAS AN ANIMAL1 & A/ONI%$1 ALSO1 AT NOT HAV+ KN[N ?IS BE=E4 

,HE WAS GRAZ+ 9 A VALLEY1 TE>+ ! T5D] GRASS ) HIS TEE?1 & BRU%+ AWAY FLIES ) HIS LONG TAIL4 ,>\ND HIM WAS FROLICK+ A LONG-LEGG$1 D>K-GRAY ASS-COLT1 /RIP$ D[N ITS BACK4 ,KICK+ UP ITS H9D LEGS1 ! COLT GALLOP$ FULL SPE$ TO ,ES>HADDON1 & POK+ HIM UND] ! /OMA* ) ITS SMOO? LITTLE MUZZLE1 SE>*$ = ! TEAT1 &1 F9D+ IT1 QUIET$ D[N1 SWALL[+ REGUL>LY4 ,ES>HADDON UND]/OOD ?AT HE WAS A %E-ASS1 ! COLT'S MO!R1 & ?IS NEI!R SURPRIS$ NOR GRIEV$ HIM1 BUT RA!R GAVE HIM PLEASURE4 ,HE EXP]I5C$ A GLAD FEEL+ ( SIMULTANE\S LIFE 9 HIMSELF & 9 HIS (FSPR+4 

,BUT SUDD5LY SOME?+ FLEW NE> ) A :I/L+ S\ND & HIT HIM 9 ! SIDE1 & ) ITS %>P PO9T 5T]$ HIS SK9 & FLE%4 ,FEEL+ A BURN+ PA91 ,ES>HADDON--:O WAS AT ! SAME TIME ! ASS--TORE ! UDD] FROM ! COLT'S TEE?1 & LAY+ BACK HIS E>S GALLOP$ TO ! H]D FROM :I* HE HAD /RAY$4 ,! COLT KEPT UP ) HIM1 GALLOP+ BY HIS SIDE4 ,!Y HAD ALREADY NE>LY REA*$ ! H]D1 :I* HAD />T$ (F1 :5 ANO!R >R[ 9 FULL FLI<T /RUCK ! COLT'S NECK4 ,IT PI]C$ ! SK9 & QUIV]$ 9 ITS FLE%4 ,! COLT SOBB$ PITE\SLY & FELL UPON ITS KNEES4 ,ES>HADDON C\LD NOT AB&ON IT1 & REMA9$ /&+ OV] IT4 ,! COLT ROSE1 TOTT]$ ON ITS LONG1 ?9 LEGS1 & AGA9 FELL4 ,A FE>FUL TWO-LEGG$ BE+--A MAN--RAN UP & CUT ITS ?ROAT4 

',?IS CANNOT BE2 IT IS /ILL A DREAM6' ?\<T ,ES>HADDON1 & MADE A LA/ EF=T TO AWAKE4 ',SURELY ,I AM NOT ,LAILIE1 NOR ! ASS1 BUT ,ES>HADDON6' 

,HE CRI$ \T1 & AT ! SAME 9/ANT LIFT$ HIS HEAD \T ( ! FONT4 4MW-P>S]-\TPUT 4N[RAP14MW-P>S]-\TPUT 4N[RAP A3BE=E14MW-P>S]-\TPUT 4N[RAP 4SELFL9K3BE=E_<:ITE-SPACE3N[RAP_>4 4 4 ,! OLD MAN WAS /&+ BY HIM1 P\R+ OV] HIS HEAD ! LA/ DROPS FROM ! PIT*]4 

 ',OH1 H[ T]RIBLY ,I HAVE SUFF]$6 ,& = H[ LONG6' SAID ,ES>HADDON4 

',LONG8' REPLI$ ! OLD MAN1 'Y\ HAVE ONLY DIPP$ Y\R HEAD UND] WAT] & LIFT$ IT AGA92 SEE1 ! WAT] IS NOT YET ALL \T ( ! PIT*]4 ,DO Y\ N[ UND]/&8' 

,ES>HADDON DID NOT REPLY1 BUT ONLY LOOK$ AT ! OLD MAN ) T]ROR4 

',DO Y\ N[ UND]/&1' CONT9U$ ! OLD MAN1 '?AT ,LAILIE IS Y\1 & ! W>RIORS Y\ PUT TO DEA? W]E Y\ ALSO8 ,& NOT ! W>RIORS ONLY1 BUT ! ANIMALS :I* Y\ SLEW :5 HUNT+ & ATE AT Y\R FEA/S1 W]E ALSO Y\4 ,Y\ ?\<T LIFE DWELT 9 Y\ ALONE1 BUT ,I HAVE DRAWN ASIDE ! VEIL ( DELUSION1 & HAVE LET Y\ SEE ?AT BY DO+ EVIL TO O!RS Y\ HAVE DONE IT TO Y\RSELF ALSO4 ,LIFE IS ONE 9 !M ALL1 & Y\RS IS BUT A PORTION ( ?IS SAME COMMON LIFE4 ,& ONLY 9 ?AT ONE P>T ( LIFE ?AT IS Y\RS1 CAN Y\ MAKE LIFE BETT] OR WORSE--9CREAS+ OR DECREAS+ IT4 ,Y\ CAN ONLY IMPROVE LIFE 9 Y\RSELF BY DE/ROY+ ! B>RI]S ?AT DIVIDE Y\R LIFE FROM ?AT ( O!RS1 & BY CONSID]+ O!RS AS Y\RSELF1 & LOV+ !M4 ,BY SO DO+ Y\ 9CREASE Y\R %>E ( LIFE4 ,Y\ 9JURE Y\R LIFE :5 Y\ ?9K ( IT AS ! ONLY LIFE1 & TRY TO ADD TO ITS WELF>E AT ! EXP5SE ( O!R LIVES4 ,BY SO DO+ Y\ ONLY LESS5 IT4 ,TO DE/ROY ! LIFE ?AT DWELLS 9 O!RS IS BEYOND Y\R P[]4 ,! LIFE ( ?OSE Y\ HAVE SLA9 HAS VANI%$ FROM Y\R EYES1 BUT IS NOT DE/ROY$4 ,Y\ ?\<T TO L5G!N Y\R [N LIFE & TO %ORT5 !IRS1 BUT Y\ CANNOT DO ?IS4 ,LIFE KN[S NEI!R TIME NOR SPACE4 ,! LIFE ( A MOM5T1 & ! LIFE ( A ?\S& YE>S3 Y\R LIFE1 & ! LIFE ( ALL ! VISIBLE & 9VISIBLE BE+S 9 ! WORLD1 >E EQUAL4 ,TO DE/ROY LIFE1 OR TO ALT] IT1 IS IMPOSSIBLE2 = LIFE IS ! ONE ?+ ?AT EXI/S4 ,ALL ELSE1 BUT SEEMS TO US TO BE4' 

,HAV+ SAID ?IS ! OLD MAN VANI%$4 

,NEXT MORN+ ,K+ ,ES>HADDON GAVE ORD]S ?AT ,LAILIE & ALL ! PRISON]S %\LD BE SET AT LIB]TY1 & ?AT ! EXECUTIONS %\LD CEASE4 

 ,ON ! ?IRD DAY HE CALL$ HIS SON ,ASSUR-BANI-PAL1 & GAVE ! K+DOM OV] 9TO HIS H&S2 & HE HIMSELF W5T 9TO ! DES]T TO ?9K OV] ALL HE HAD LE>N$4 ,AFT]W>DS HE W5T AB\T AS A W&]] ?R\< ! T[NS & VILLAGES1 PREA*+ TO ! PEOPLE ?AT ALL LIFE IS ONE1 & ?AT :5 M5 WI% TO H>M O!RS1 !Y REALLY DO EVIL TO !MSELVES4 

#a#i#c4  

4MW-P>S]-\TPUT 4W/-SMALLREFS_<FONT-SIZE3#h#c.02CLE>3BO?2L9E-HEI<T3#a4#b#e_> 
8  ,9 ?IS /ORY ,TOL/OY HAS US$ ! NAMES ( REAL PEOPLE4 ,ES>HADDON 7OR ,ASSUR-AKHI-IDD9A7 IS M5TION$ ?REE TIMES 9 ! ,BIBLE 7#b ,K+S XIX4 #c#g2 ,ISAIAH XXXVII4 #c#h1 & ,EZRA IV4 #b71 & IS ALSO ALLUD$ TO 9 #b ,*RON4 XXXIII4 #a#a1 AS1 '! ,K+ ( ,ASSYRIA1 :I* TOOK ,MANASSEH 9 *A9S1 & B\ND HIM ) FETT]S1 & C>RI$ HIM TO ,BABYLON4' ,HIS SON1 ,ASSUR-BANI-PAL1 :OM HE PROMOT$ TO P[] BE=E HIS [N DEA?1 IS ONCE M5TION$ 9 ! ,BIBLE1 UND] ! NAME ( ,ASNAPP] 7,EZRA IV4 #a74 ,( ,LAILIE HI/ORY DOES NOT TELL US MU*2 BUT 9 ,]NE/ ,A4 ,BUDGE'S ,HI/ORY ( ,ES>HADDON WE READ3 ',A ,K+1 CALL$ ,LAILIE1 ASK$ ?AT ! GODS :I* ,ES>HADDON HAD CAPTUR$ FROM HIM MI<T BE RE/OR$4 ,HIS REQUE/ WAS GRANT$1 & ,ES>HADDON SAID1 0,I SPOKE TO HIM ( BRO!RHOOD1 & 5TRU/$ TO HIM ! SOV]EIGNTY ( ! DI/RICTS ( ,BAZU40' 

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,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aie 3 ,*APT] #ba -- ,PUBLICATION4 

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