oisoned arrows. One of these entered the
neck of the old emperor, while fighting vigorously in the midst of the
field. He fell directly from his horse, was carried to his tent, and
shortly after expired. The soldiers having been kept in ignorance of
their sovereign's death, the battle was continued until midnight. I soon
found that our balls had but little effect upon our flying enemies;
their motions being so rapid that our gunners could take no aim. Some
new method must be devised to check them; a lucky expedient occurred to
me; I ordered the guns to be loaded with small shot: these scattering,
brought them down in great flocks, and soon half of them were destroyed;
the rest laid down their weapons and surrendered. The Arctonians and
Kispusiananians quickly followed their example, and their fortifications
were surrendered to our hands.
When all these things were fortunately brought to an end,
Behold then I called together the first among the people, the eldest,
The heads of all the troops, to Council, in full assembly;
Like the bubbling ocean's high-roaring billows
They all did stream to me; and silently heard my speech:
"Noble, brave and celebrated warriors. I doubt not, that it is well
known to the most of you, that I ofttimes advised his majesty not to
hazard his precious life in this desperate strife. But his natural
courage and fearless heroism would not suffer him to remain at home,
while his brave people exposed themselves abroad. O, that he could have
witnessed our glorious victory! Then our entrance into the imperial
residence would have been a true triumph, and our joy over so many noble
deeds would have been perfect; not as now, mingled with tormenting
sorrow! I can no longer conceal from you the mournful event, which has
given each one of us, a greater wound than could all the arrows of the
enemy. Know then, that our emperor, in the thickest of the battle, was
struck by an unfortunate arrow, and soon after expired. Horrible event!
What sorrow, what general mourning will the loss of this great king
cause over the whole country! Yet, do not lose courage! The great hero
has ceased to live in himself; but he is not dead to you! Your emperor
lives again in two princes, true images of their great father, and heirs
no less to his virtues than to his dignities. You have not changed your
emperor, but only your emperor's name. Since the prince Timuso, as the
first born, receives the crown, I a
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