Lay of Kushta, Quartozain 49

Now one of the councilors of Moneos, Xar by name,

A fat boyar in furs and chain, sidestepped to his King

And said, My Liege, were this not ever the lies spoken by

Surface dwellers to subdue honest dwarves? Such is the fame

Of their misbegotten races, to gain by tricks the thing

Force cannot avail them, such is our power. By the sky

They swear by, and their surface god, they are come as foul thieves

Thirsting for this golden throne of your forefathers, which is yours

By right whether Geoff say yea or nay. A pit awaits

To eat these interlopers, give word. The King said, It grieves

Me to learn that such blasphemous hate among my boyars

Should dare give voice here. To the pit with you, take on their fates.

For Moneos was a pious king, despite his great wealth,

He gave credit inwardly to god and less to himself.