osslah

Updated: May 4, 2025

And Morven gazed upon her with the eyes of love, but he did not dare to speak. Now the son of Osslah laughed secretly at the foolishness of men; he loved them not, for they had mocked him; he honored them not, for he had blinded the wisest of their elders. He shunned their feasts and merriment and lived apart and solitary.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

Among the wise men was Darvan; and Morven feared him, for his eye often sought the movements of the son of Osslah. And Morven said "It were better to TRUST this man than to BLIND, for surely I want a helpmate and a friend." So he said to the wise man as he sat alone watching the setting sun: "It seemeth to me, O Darvan!

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

Enough if I tend the gates of your palace, and serve you as the son of Osslah may serve;" and he bowed his head humbly as he spoke. Then said the chief of the elders, for he was wiser than the others, "But how wilt thou deliver us from the evil that is to come?

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

Then the sages bade him withdraw, and they communed with themselves and they differed much; but though fierce men and bold at the war cry of a human foe, they shuddered at the prophecy of a star. So they resolved to take the son of Osslah, and suffer him to keep the gate of the council-hall. He heard their decree and towed his head, and went to the gate, and sat down by it in silence.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

Then mounting on a huge fragment of rock, he thus spake to the multitude: "Princes, wantons and bards! ye, O council of the wise men! and ye, O hunters of the forests, and snarers of the fishes of the streams! harken to Morven, the son of Osslah.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

"Nay," replied Morven; "thy servants will marvel and talk much, if they see the son of Osslah sojourning in thy palace. So would the displeasure of the gods of night perchance be incurred. Suffer that the lesser door of the palace be unbarred, so that at the night hour, when the moon is midway in the heavens, I may steal unseen into thy chamber, and mix the liquid with thy wine."

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

So Siror was made king, and Maven the son of Osslah was constrained by the king's will to take Orna for his wife; and the people and the chiefs honored Morven, the prophet, above all the elders of the tribe.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

"So perish the enemies of Morven and the Stars!" cried the son of Osslah. And the people echoed the cry. Then the fury of Siror was at its height, and waving his sword above his head, he plunged into the crowd: "Thy blood, base-born, or mine." "So be it!" answered Morven, quailing not. "People, smite the blasphemer. Hark how the river pours down upon your children and your hearths.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

Then the grim elders looked one at the other and marvelled much, nor knew they what answer they should make to the herdsman's son. At length one of the wise men said, "Surely there must be truth in the son of Osslah, for he would not dare to falsify the great lights of heaven. If he had given unto men the words of the star, verily we might doubt the truth.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham

So they went back in triumph to the city, and they carded the brave son of Osslah on their shoulders, and shouted forth, "Glory to the servant of the star." And Morven dwelt in the council of the wise men. Now the king of the tribe had one daughter, and she was stately amongst the women of the tribe, and fair to look upon.

Baron Henry Peter Brougham Brougham and Vaux - The Fallen Star, or, the History of a False Religion by E.L. Bulwer; And, A Dissertation on the Origin of Evil by Lord Brougham