New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-10
BALLAD OF THE hING'S MERCY.

FROM MacmlllanS Magazine.
Abdhur Rshman, the Dlranf Chief Of him Is the
story told.
His mercy fills the Khyber hnls-hls grace 10
manifold,
He has taken toll of the North and the south-his
glory Ieacheth far
And they tell the tale Of his charity from Balkh to
Canahar.
Before the old Peshawur Gate, where Kurd and Kamr
The of Cabul dealt the Justice of the Street.
And that was strait running moose and swift a.
plunging knife,
Tho he who held the longer purse might hold the
longer life.
There was hound of Hindustan had struck
Wherefore they spat upon his face and led him out
to die.
1t CHANGED the King went forth that hour when throat
The KaGr grovelled ulderhoof and clamored for his
life.
Then said the King: |" Have hope, friendi Yea
Death disgraced Is hard
Much honor shall be thine and called the Captain Of
Var Khan, bastard of the Blood so city-babbs
And he was honored of the King-the which is salt
to Death;
And he was son of Daoud Shah, the Rever Of tho
Plains
And blood of old Duran Lords ran fire in HIS veins
And twas to tame an Afghan pride nor He'll nor
Heaven could bind.
The King would make him butcher to yelpng cur
OF Hind.
Strike ~ said the King. "Kings blood art thou-his
Then louder that the crowd might catch Fear not
b S tied !"
Var Khan drew clear the khyber knife, and struck
and sheathed again
" o man. thy will Is done,' quoth no; "a King this
dog hath slain"
Abdhur Rahman, tho Durani Chief, to the North and
the South is sold.
The North and the south shall open their mouth to .
When the big guns speak to the Khyber peak and his
dog-Heratis hy,
Ye have heard the song-How l0ngf How iongf
unly 4 The
That night before the watch set, when all tho
The Governor of Cabul spoke: any King, has. thou
@Thon knowest-thou hast heard'-hIs speech died 81
his masters face.
And grimly said the Afghan King: 1 rule the Afghan
s. NV path is mine-see thou to thine-to-night upon
Think Who there be in Cabu that clamor for thy
head"
Within little gardenhouse the King lay down
Before the sinking of tho moon, which is the Night
of Night, -, 49,,
Var Khan came softly to the King to make his honor
The children of the town had Knocked beneath his
Tho barots Of the town had hailed him butcher from
their roofs.
nut as he croped against the wall, two hands upon
voice " behind his shoulder spake; Dead man, thou
IT'S III 70 Jest with Kings by day and seek boon
And that thou dearest in thy hand is all too sharp
q Thou shalt demand one boon of me and bless me in
For 'T4 am p"i mercif to ALL and most Of all TO thee
NV butcher of the shambles rest-no KNIFE mast hou
for me.'
Abdhur Rahman. the Duran Chief, holds hard BY
the South and the North
But the GhiZa knows. ere the mening SHOWS, WHICH
the swollen banks break fOrth, :,
When the redcoats crawl to the Suhgar WALL snu
Va have heard the song~How longl How longi
wolves of the Zuka Kheyl!
They stoned him In the rubbish-eeld when dawn wac
,ccorIinr 70 written word See that he do not dies
They stoned him till the stones were piled above him
And thosS the aborng limbs displaced they tmbled
back again.
One watched beside the dreary mound that yelled tho
And him The King with laughter called the Herald Of
the King.
IT was upon the second night. the night of Ramzan,
The watcher leaning earthward heard the message Of
From Shattered breast through shrivelled lips broka
forth The rafting breath:
" Creature of God, deliver me from agony Of DEATH
They sought the King his girls, and risked their
4" Protector of the Pifll, give order that he de"
" Bid him endure until the day." tagging answer
came;
The night Short and he can pray and learn to bless
my name"
Before the dawn three times he spoke, and the day
Creature OF Cod deliver and bless the King there
fore"
They shot him at the morning prayer TO ease him OF
his pain,
And when ne heard the matchbox clinl he blessed
the King again.
Which thing the singers made song for all the world
TO sing, 80
So that the Outer Seas may know the Mercy OF sns
King.
Abdhur Rahman. the Durani Chief. OF nm ss
story Told. -. "a me Soufk,
they have stuffed HIS mouth wiz. VIII swsat hfs
Ye know the truth OF his tender r'''
favorS $780, tonrf How longf-
Ye have heard the song,ino~s '
from Balkh 10 Canasn" yrssrrr