
The Boar-Headed Corpse in the House of Gems
From D5.31, Iskandar Sees Wonders and Omens. It illustrates D5.31.8–16:
- D5.31.8Beside the spring two golden seats were spread;Upon them lay a luckless figure, dead.
- D5.31.9A silent corpse lay stretched upon the gold:A human body with a boar’s head, cold.
- D5.31.10His couch was camphor, cool as winter’s night,Beneath a brocade mantle, rich and bright.
- D5.31.11Whoever went to take a thing away,Or trod the ground on which that body lay,
- D5.31.12Would shake until his strength was overthrown,And die in trembling on that fatal stone.
- D5.31.13A sudden cry rose from the salty deep: “O soul of endless greed, no longer sweep
- D5.31.14Across the earth! Draw rein, your wandering cease; The hour draws near that robs your crown of peace.
- D5.31.15Your span of life is short; the end draws near;Your royal throne shall lack its monarch here.”
- D5.31.16Iskandar quailed and wheeled his horse in dread,And came like smoke to camp, nor stayed, but sped.
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