XXVIII.
The prophet looked around, the throngs to scan;
And well he noted by the silence dread
The moment of effect, and then began,—
Beseeching first his fearful demon's aid:
"Chepian, thou power of evil! dread of man!
God of destruction! pouring on the head
Of thy opposers, ruins, plagues, and pest,—
Let all thy might thy serpent form invest."
XXIX.
He said; then turning to the throngs he spoke:
"Brothers! dark tempests overcast our sky;
The characters upon Cohannet's rock
Set bounds in vain; the stranger doth defy
And break our spells; dread Chepian feels the shock;
In wrath he sees the approaching deity
Of the pale man—and, in his coming stride,
Feels scathe and death to his dominion wide.
XXX.
"Now hearken, brothers:—'twas a dismal night,
And in his cave sate Tatoban alone;
The fading embers shed a dreary light,
And the big owl sent forth a hollow moan;
The god of tempests sped his rapid flight,
And with his footsteps made the forest groan;
And whilst he sate, out from the deepest gloom
Did the dread form of awful Chepian come.
XXXI.
"'Sleeps Tatoban!' the awful demon said,
'Sleeps Tatoban! my Priest, my Prophet sleep!
Does not a pale man my dominion tread?
With hostile gods has he not crossed the deep?
