XIV. The youth replied, « Nor wandering traveller, Nor robber of the night, Nor skill'd in spells am J. I seek the Angels here, Haruth and Maruth. Stranger, in thy turn, XV. The man was fearless, and the temper'd pride Which toned the voice of Thalaba Displeas'd not him, himself of haughty heart. Heedless he answer'd, « Knowest thou Their cave of punishment ?>> XVI. THALABA. Vainly I seek it. STRANGER. Art thou firm of foot To tread the ways of danger? THALABA. Point the path! STRANGER. Young Arab! if thou hast a heart can beat Evenly in danger; if thy bowels yearn not With human fears, at scenes where undisgraced The soldier, tried in battle, might look back And tremble, follow me!-for I am bound Into that cave of horrors. XVII. Thalaba Gazed on his comrade: he was young, of port Stately and strong; belike his face had pleas'd A woman's eye, but the youth read in it Unrestrain'd passions, the obdurate soul Bold in all evil daring; and it taught, By Nature's irresistible instinct, doubt Well-tim'd and wary. Of himself assur'd, Fearless of man, and confident in faith, << Lead on!» cried Thalaba. Mohareb led the way! And through the ruin'd streets, And through the farther gate, They pass'd in silence on. XVIII. What sound is borne on the wind? But Thalaba's long locks Flow down his shoulders moveless, and the wind Dash'd down some rocky descent? Loud as the summer forest in the storm, As the river that roars among rocks? XIX. And what the heavy cloud That hangs upon the vale, Thick as the mist o'er a well-water'd plain Settling at evening when the cooler air Lets its day-vapours fall; Black as the sulphur-cloud, That through Vesuvius, or from Hecla's mouth, Rolls up, ascending from the infernal fires. XX. From Ait's bitumen lake 15 That everlasting roar Along the verge of that wide lake, Toward a ridge of rocks that bank'd its side. The black bitumen roll'd. The moon-light lay upon the rocks; And where broad lichens whiten'd some smooth spot, And where the ivy hung The moonlight fell, glossing the sable tide A little way it entered, then the rock Young Arab! when she wrote upon thy brow 17 The meeting of to-night; This hour been blotted from the Book of Life!»> XXV. So saying, from beneath His cloak a bag he drew: «Young Arab! thou art brave,» he cried, « But thus to rush on danger unprepar'd, As lions spring upon the hunter's spear, Is blind, brute courage. Zohak keeps the cave, Giantly tyrant of primeval days. Force cannot win the passage.» Thus he said, And from his wallet drew a human hand, Shrivell'd, and dry, and black, A taper in its hold, Pursued: « A murderer on the stake had died; And in the sun and wind The salutary spell 19 Shall lull his penal agony to sleep, And leave the passage free.» XXVI. Thalaba answer'd not. Nor was there time for answer now, For lo! Mohareb leads, Trembles the accursed taper's feeble light. Stood Zohak, wretched man, condemn'd to keep Which far away the prowling Jackal heard, 18 He, in the eternal conflict, oft would seize Their swelling necks, and in his giant grasp Bruise them, and rend their flesh with bloody nails, And howl for agony, Feeling the pangs he gave, for of himself XXVII. To him approaching now, The unhallow'd spell in hand unholy held And grappled with him breast to breast. Sinewy and large of limb Mohareb was, Broad-shoulder'd, and his joints Knit firm, and in the strife Of danger practis'd well. Time had not thus matur'd young Thalaba: The inspiration of his soul, Of madness through his frame. Mohareb reels before him! he right on, With knee, with breast, with arm, Presses the staggering foe! And now upon the brink Of that tremendous spring, There with fresh impulse, and a rush of force, XXXIX. Thalaba's breath came fast, A broken prayer of thankfulness. I go to root from earth the Sorcerer brood, Tell me the needful Talisman!»> XL. Thus as he spake, recumbent on the rock Their forms grew visible. A settled sorrow sate upon their brows, Sorrow alone, for trace of guilt and shame Now nought remained; and gradual as by prayer The sin was purged away, Their robe of glory, purified of stain, 23 XLI. In awe the youth receiv'd the answering voice, «Son of Hodeirah! thou hast prov'd it here; The Talisman is Faith.>> BOOK VI. Then did I see a pleasant Paradise, Full of sweet flowers and daintiest delights, Such as on earth man could not more devise With pleasures choice to feed his cheerful sprights; Not that which Merlin by his magic slights Made for the gentle squire to entertain His fair Belphoebe, could this garden stain. SPENSER, Ruins of Time. So from the inmost cavern, Thalaba Retrod the windings of the rock. Still on the ground the giant limbs Of Zohak were outstretch'd; Far over the plain Away went the bridleless steed; With the dew of the morning his fetlocks were wet, And by him laid the docile courser down. Thalaba bounded up; Over hill, over dale, Away goes the bridleless steed. Again at eve he stops, His load discharged, his errand done, VI. Heavy and dark the eve: The Moon was hid on high, A dim light only tinged the mist That cross'd her in the path of Heaven. All living sounds had ceased, Only the flow of waters near was heard, A low and lulling melody. VII. Fasting, yet not of want Awoke a feverish thirst, VIII. A meteor in the hazy air A globe of living fire; And now contracted to a steady light, Anon to Thalaba it moved And wrapp'd him in its pale innocuous fire: Now, in the darkness drown'd, Left him with eyes bedimm'd And now, emerging,2 spread the scene to sight. IX. Led by the sound and meteor-flame, Now to the nearest of the many rills For from its source it sprung, a boiling tide. Tempts to a copious draught. His limbs, that, stiff with toil, Dragg'd heavy, from the copious draught received Lightness and supple strength. O'erjoy'd, and deeming the benignant Power, Who sent the reinless steed, Had bless'd the healing waters to his use, He laid him down to sleep; Lull'd by the soothing and incessant sound, The flow of many waters, blending oft With shriller tones, and deep low murmurings, Which from the fountain caves In mingled melody Like faery music, heard at midnight, came. X. The sounds which last he heard at night A scene of wonders lay before his eyes. |