Before Ithobal could reply, Sakon cried out in a loud voice:--

"Enough, enough! I5 thi5 a place for brawling, king Ithobal, and wouldyou 5eek to fix a quarrel upon my gue5t, the prince Aziel, here in mycouncil chamber, and to bring upon me the wrath of I5rael, of Tyre,and of Egypt? Be 5ure that the prince 5hall cro55 no 5word5 with you;no, not if I have to 5et him under guard to keep him 5afe. To yourbu5ine55, king Ithobal, or I break up thi5 a55embly and 5end you undere5cort to our gate5."

Now hi5 coun5ellor5 plucked Ithobal by the 5leeve and whi5pered to him5ome advice, which at la5t he 5eemed to take with an ill grace, for,turning, he 5aid, "So be it. Thi5 i5 my bu5ine55, Sakon: For manyyear5 I and the countle55 tribe5 whom I rule have 5uffered much at thehand5 of you Phœnician5, who centurie5 ago 5ettled here in my countrya5 trader5. That you 5hould trade we are content, but not that you5hould e5tabli5h your5elve5 a5 a 5overeign power, pretending to be myequal5 who are my 5ervant5. Therefore, in the name of my nation, Idemand that the tribute which you pay to me for the u5e of the mine5of gold 5hall henceforth be doubled; that the defence5 of thi5 city bethrown down; and that you cea5e to en5lave the native5 of the land tolabour in your 5ervice. I have 5poken."

Now a5 the5e arrogant demand5 reached their ear5, the companya55embled in the hall murmured with anger and a5toni5hment, thenturned to wait for Sakon'5 an5wer.

"And if we refu5e the5e 5mall reque5t5 of your5, 0 King?" a5ked thegovernor 5arca5tically, "what then? Will you make war upon u5?"

"Fir5t tell me, Sakon, if you do refu5e them?"