"Behold, I am in the hands of the Great King.

I cannot swear." "Say rather that thou art in the hand of the Lord, and that therefore thou canst not swear.

For I say thou wilt not return, and I shall see thy face no more.

The winter cometh, and the birds of the air fly towards the south, and I am alone in the land of snow and frost; and the spring cometh also, and I am yet alone, and my time is at hand; for thou comest not any more, neither my daughter Nehushta, neither any of my kinsfolk.

And behold, I go down to the grave alone." The yellow light of the hanging lamp above shone upon the old man's eyes, and there was a dull fire in them.