I know him, and I know that you have wronged him
And speak from bitterness.

JEZEBEL.
Ahab, beware.
By all our lives together, you beware
Of Jehu and this man.

AHAB.
Had I been ware of you, Queen Jezebel,
Many years sooner, I had had no need
To be aware of any of my subjects.
I cannot longer countenance your dealings.
They neither suit my people nor the time. Therefore
I do dismiss you from your royalty,
From Queenship and command and counselling,
From all authority in Shemer here.
This shall be straightway published as my will.

PROPHET.
The messenger that spoke through me has gone,
And I am cold and broken as with blows,
But yet I hear--can you not hear--do you?

AHAB.
What should we hear, old ruffian from the desert?

PROPHET.
The wings descending and the footsteps coming.
The vultures and the dogs coming for blood.
Listen. The vultures settle in the court,
And there are footsteps coming up the stair,
The footsteps of the dogs that come for blood;
For blood is coming upon this house, and I
Have told you that it comes; I am its herald.

_Enter_ JEHU _from in front, carrying armour. He comes on, stands motionless, then flings down a helmet; then, after a pause, a corselet; then, after a pause, a sword._ ZAKKUR _stands behind him_.

AHAB.
What does your coming with these weapons mean?

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