"
"I will do so with cheerfulness," said I, "for, without your
enlightened counsel, I feel that I can do nothing. But, as to your
power of protecting my life, you must excuse me for doubting of
it. Nay, were we in your proper dominions, you could not ensure
that."
"In whatever dominion or land I am, my power accompanies me,"
said he, "and it is only against human might and human weapon
that I ensure your life; on that will I keep an eye, and on that you
may depend. I have never broken word or promise with you. Do
you credit me?"
"Yes, I do," said I, "for I see you are in earnest. I believe, though
I do not comprehend you."
"Then why do you not at once challenge your brother to the field
of honour? Seeing you now act without danger, cannot you also
act without fear?"
"It is not fear," returned I, "believe me. I hardly know what fear
is. It is a doubt that, on all these emergencies, constantly haunts
my mind that, in performing such and such actions, I may fall
from my upright state. This makes fratricide a fearful task!'
"This is imbecility itself," said he. "We have settled and agreed
on that point an hundred times.
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