  THE SEVENTH BOOK.From fear, amazement, joy, At length the Arabian Maid recovering speech, Threw around Thalaba her arms and cried, “My father! O my father!” Thalaba In wonder lost, yet fearful to enquire, Bent down his cheek on hers, And their tears mingled as they fell. ONEIZA. At night they seized me, Thalaba! in my sleep,... Thou wert not near,... and yet when in their grasp I woke, my shriek of terror called on thee. My father could not save me,... an old man! And they were strong and many,... O my God, The hearts they must have had to hear his prayers, And yet to leave him childless! THALABA. We will seek him. We will return to Araby. ONEIZA. Alas! We should not find him, Thalaba! our tent Is desolate, the wind hath heaped the sands Within its door, the lizard’s Fresh on the untrodden dust; prowling by night The tyger, as he passes hears no breath Of man, and turns to search its solitude. Alas! he strays a wretched wanderer Seeking his child! old man, he will not rest,... He cannot rest, his sleep is misery, His dreams are of my wretchedness, my wrongs.... O Thalaba! this is a wicked place! Let us be gone! THALABA. But how to pass again The iron doors that opening at a breath Gave easy entrance? armies in their strength, Would fail to move those hinges for return! ONEIZA. But we can climb the mountains that shut in This dreadful garden. THALABA. Are Oneiza’s limbs Equal to that long toil? ONEIZA. Oh I am strong Dear Thalaba! for this ... fear gives me force, And you are with me! So she took his hand, And gently drew him forward, and they went Towards the mountain chain. It was broad moonlight, and obscure or lost The garden beauties lay, But the great boundary rose, distinctly marked. These were no little hills, No sloping uplands lifting to the sun Their vine-yards, with fresh verdure, and the shade Of ancient woods, courting the loiterer To win the easy ascent: stone mountains these Desolate rock on rock, The burthens of the earth, Whose snowy summits met the morning beam When night was in the vale, whose feet were fixed In the world’s The heights precipitous, Impending crags, rocks unascendible, And summits that had tired the eagle’s wing; “There is no way!” he cried. Paler Oneiza grew And hung upon his arm a feebler weight. But soon again to hope Revives the Arabian maid, As Thalaba imparts the sudden thought. “I past a river,” cried the youth “A full and copious stream. “The flowing waters cannot be restrained “And where they find or force their way, “There we perchance may follow, thitherward “The current rolled along.” So saying yet again in hope Quickening their eager steps They turned them thitherward. Silent and calm the river rolled along, And at the verge arrived Of that fair garden, o’er a rocky bed Towards the mountain base, Still full and silent, held its even way, But the deep sound, the dash Louder and louder in the distance rose, As if it forced its stream Struggling with crags along a narrow pass. And lo! where raving o’er a hollow course The ever-flowing tide Foams in a thousand whirlpools! there adown The perforated rock Plunge the whole waters, so precipitous, So fathomless a fall That their earth-shaking roar came deadened up Like subterranean thunders. “Allah save us!” Oneiza cried, “there is no path for man “From this accursed place!” And as she spake her joints Were loosened, and her knees sunk under her. “Cheer up, Oneiza!” Thalaba replied, “Be of good heart. We cannot fly “The dangers of the place, “But we can conquer them!” And the young Arab’s soul Arose within him; “what is he,” he cried, “Who has prepared this garden of delight, “And wherefore are its snares?” The Arabian Maid replied, “The Women when I entered, welcomed me “To Paradise, by Aloadin’s will “Chosen like themselves, a Houri of the Earth. “They told me, credulous of his blasphemies, “That Aloadin placed them to reward “His faithful servants with the joys of Heaven. “O Thalaba, and all are ready here “To wreak his wicked will, and work all crimes! “How then shall we escape?” “Woe to him!” cried the Appointed, a stern smile Darkening with stronger shades his countenance, “Woe to him! he hath laid his toils “To take the Antelope, “The Lion is come in!” She shook her head, “a Sorcerer he “And guarded by so many! Thalaba,... “And thou but one!” He raised his hand to Heaven, “Is there not God, Oneiza? “I have a Talisman, that, whoso bears, “Him, nor the Earthly, nor the Infernal Powers “Of Evil can cast down. “Remember Destiny “Hath marked me from mankind! “Now rest in faith, and I will guard thy sleep!” So on a violet bank The Arabian Maid lay down, Her soft cheek pillowed upon moss and flowers. She lay in silent prayer, Till prayer had tranquillized her fears, And sleep fell on her. By her side Silent sate Thalaba, And gazed upon the Maid, And as he gazed, drew in New courage and intenser faith, And waited calmly for the eventful day. Loud sung the Lark, the awakened Maid Beheld him twinkling in the morning light, And wished for wings and liberty like his. The flush of fear inflamed her cheek, But Thalaba was calm of soul, Collected for the work. He pondered in his mind How from Lobaba’s breast His blunted arrow fell. Aloadin too might wear Spell perchance of equal power To blunt the weapon’s edge! Beside the river-brink, Rose a young poplar, whose unsteady leaves Varying their verdure to the gale, With silver glitter caught His meditating eye. Then to Oneiza turned the youth And gave his father’s bow, And o’er her shoulders slung The quiver arrow-stored. “Me other weapon suits;” said he, “Bear thou the Bow: dear Maid! “The days return upon me, when these shafts, “True to thy guidance, from the lofty palm “Brought down the cluster, and thy gladdened eye “Exulting turned to seek the voice of praise. “Oh! yet again Oneiza, we shall share “Our desert joys!” So saying to the bank He moved, and stooping low, With double grasp, hand below hand, he clenched And from its watry soil Uptore the poplar trunk. Then off he shook the clotted earth, And broke away the head And boughs and lesser roots, And lifting it aloft Wielded with able sway the massy club. “Now for this child of Hell!” quoth Thalaba, “Belike he shall exchange to day “His dainty Paradise “For other dwelling, and the fruit “Of Zaccoum, With that the youth and Arab maid Towards the garden centre past. It chanced that Aloadin had convoked The garden-habitants, And with the assembled throng Oneiza mingled, and the appointed youth. Unmarked they mingled, or if one With busier finger to his neighbour notes The quivered Maid, “haply,” he says, “Some daughter of the “Or one who yet remembers with delight “Her native tents of Himiar!” “Nay!” rejoins His comrade, “a love-pageant! for the man “Mimics with that fierce eye and knotty club “Some savage lion-tamer, she forsooth “Must play the heroine of the years of old!” Radiant with gems upon his throne of gold Aloadin sate. O’er the Sorcerer’s head Hovered a Bird, and in the fragrant air Waved his winnowing wings, A living canopy. Large as the plumeless Cassowar Was that o’ershadowing Bird; So huge his talons, in their grasp The Eagle would have hung a helpless prey. His beak was iron, and his plumes Glittered like burnished gold, And his eyes glowed, as tho’ an inward fire Shone thro’ a diamond orb. The blinded multitude Adored the Sorcerer, And bent the knee before him, And shouted out his praise, “Mighty art thou, the Bestower of joy, “The Lord of Paradise!” Aloadin waved his hand, In idolizing reverence Moveless they stood and mute. “Children of Earth,” he cried, “Whom I have guided here “By easier passage than the gate of Death, “The infidel Sultan to whose lands “My mountains reach their roots, “Blasphemes and threatens me. “Strong are his armies, many are his guards, “Yet may a dagger find him. “Children of Earth, I tempt you not “With the vain promise of a bliss unseen, “With tales of a hereafter Heaven “Whence never Traveller hath returned! “Have ye not tasted of the cup of joy, “That in these groves of happiness “For ever over-mantling tempts “The ever-thirsty lip? “Who is there here that by a deed “Of danger will deserve “The eternal joys of actual Paradise? “I!” Thalaba exclaimed, And springing forward, on the Sorcerer’s head He dashed the knotty club. He fell not, tho’ the force Shattered his skull; nor flowed the blood. For by some hellish talisman His life imprisoned still Dwelt in the body. The astonished crowd Stand motionless with fear, and wait Immediate vengeance from the wrath of Heaven. And lo! the Bird ... the monster Bird Soars up ... then pounces down To seize on Thalaba! Now Oneiza, bend the bow, Now draw the arrow home! It fled, the arrow from Oneiza’s hand, It pierced the monster Bird, It broke the Talisman. Then darkness covered all,... Earth shook, Heaven thundered, and amid the yells Of Spirits accursed, destroyed The Paradise At last the earth was still; The yelling of the Demons ceased; Opening the wreck and ruin to their sight The darkness rolled away. Alone in life Amid the desolation and the dead Stood the Destroyer and the Arabian Maid. They looked around, the rocks were rent, The path was open, late by magic closed. Awe-struck and silent down the stony glen They wound their thoughtful way. Amid the vale below Tents rose, and streamers played And javelins sparkled in the sun, And multitudes encamped Swarmed, far as eye could follow, o’er the plain. There in his war pavilion sate In council with his Chiefs The Sultan of the Land. Before his presence there a Captain led Oneiza and the appointed Youth. “Obedient to our Lord’s command,” said he, “We past towards the mountains, and began “The ascending strait; when suddenly Earth shook, “And darkness like the midnight fell around, “And fire and thunder came from Heaven “As tho’ the Retribution day were come. “After the terror ceased, and when with hearts “Somewhat assured, again we ventured on, “This youth and woman met us on the way. “They told us that from Aloadin’s haunt “They came on whom the judgement-stroke has fallen; “He and his sinful Paradise at once “Destroyed by them, the agents they of Heaven. “Therefore I brought them hither, to repeat “The tale before thy presence; that as search “Shall prove it false or faithful, to their merit “Thou mayest reward them.” “Be it done to us,” Thalaba answered, “as the truth shall prove!” The Sultan while he spake “Fixed on him the proud eye of sovereignty; “If thou hast played with us, “By Allah and by Ali, Death shall seal “The lying lips for ever! if the thing “Be as thou sayest it, Arab, thou shalt stand “Next to ourself!”... And hark! the cry The lengthening cry, the increasing shout Of joyful multitudes! Breathless and panting to the tent The bearer of good tidings comes, “O Sultan, live for ever! be thy foes “Like Aloadin all! “The wrath of God hath smitten him.” Joy at the welcome tale Shone in the Sultan’s cheek “Array the Arab in the robe “Of honour,” he exclaimed, “And place a chain of gold around his neck, “And bind around his brow the diadem, “And mount him on my steed of state, “And lead him thro’ the camp, “And let the Heralds go before and cry “Thus shall the Sultan reward “The man Then in the purple robe They vested Thalaba. And hung around his neck the golden chain, And bound his forehead with the diadem, And on the royal steed They led him thro’ the camp, And Heralds went before and cried “Thus shall the Sultan reward “The man who serves him well!” When from the pomp of triumph And presence of the King Thalaba sought the tent allotted him, Thoughtful the Arabian Maid beheld His animated eye, His cheek inflamed with pride. “Oneiza!” cried the youth, “The King hath done according to his word, “And made me in the land “Next to himself be named!... “But why that serious melancholy smile? “Oneiza when I heard the voice that gave me “Honour, and wealth, and fame, the instant thought “Arose to fill my joy, that thou wouldest hear “The tidings, and be happy.” ONEIZA. Thalaba Thou wouldest not have me mirthful! am I not An orphan,... among strangers? THALABA. But with me. ONEIZA. My Father,... THALABA. Nay be comforted! last night To what wert thou exposed! in what a peril The morning found us! safety, honour, wealth These now are ours. This instant who thou wert The Sultan asked. I told him from our childhood We had been plighted;... was I wrong Oneiza? And when he said with bounties he would heap Our nuptials,... wilt thou blame me if I blest His will, that bade me fix the marriage day! In tears Oneiza?... ONEIZA. Remember Destiny Hath marked thee from mankind! THALABA. Perhaps when Aloadin was destroyed The mission ceased, else would wise Providence With its rewards and blessings strew my path Thus for accomplished service? ONEIZA. Thalaba! THALABA. Or if haply not, yet whither should I go? Is it not prudent to abide in peace Till I am summoned? ONEIZA. Take me to the Deserts! THALABA. But Moath is not there; and wouldest thou dwell In a Stranger’s tent? thy father then might seek In long and fruitless wandering for his child. ONEIZA. Take me then to Mecca! There let me dwell a servant of the Temple. Bind thou thyself my veil,... to human eye It never shall be lifted. There, whilst thou Shalt go upon thine enterprize, my prayers, Dear Thalaba! shall rise to succour thee, And I shall live,... if not in happiness; Surely in hope. THALABA. Oh think of better things! The will of Heaven is plain: by wonderous ways It led us here, and soon the common voice Shall tell what we have done, and how we dwell Under the shadow of the Sultan’s wing, So shall thy father hear the fame, and find us What he hath wished us ever.... Still in tears! Still that unwilling eye! nay ... nay.... Oneiza.... Has then another since I left the tent.... ONEIZA. Thalaba! Thalaba! With song, with music, and with dance The bridal pomp proceeds. Following on the veiled Bride Fifty female slaves attend In costly robes that gleam With interwoven gold, And sparkle far with gems. An hundred slaves behind them bear Vessels of silver and vessels of gold And many a gorgeous garment gay The presents that the Sultan gave. On either hand the pages go With torches flaring thro’ the gloom, And trump and timbrel merriment Accompanies their way; And multitudes with loud acclaim Shout blessings on the Bride. And now they reach the palace pile, The palace home of Thalaba, And now the marriage feast is spread And from the finished banquet now The wedding guests are gone. Who comes from the bridal chamber? It is Azrael, the Angel of Death. |
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