Part 6

This was a wild and wonderous scene, Strange and beautiful, as where By Oton-tala, like a sea[111] of stars, The hundred sources of Hoangho burst. High mountains closed the vale, Bare rocky mountains, to all living things Inhospitable, on whose sides no herb Rooted, no insect fed, no bird awoke Their echoes, save the Eagle, strong of wing, A lonely plunderer, that afar Sought in the vales his prey.

Thither towards those mountains, Thalaba Advanced, for well he weened that there had Fate Destined the adventures end. Up a wide vale winding amid their depths, A stony vale between receding heights Of stone, he wound his way. A cheerless place! the solitary Bee Whose buzzing was the only sound of life Flew there on restless wing, Seeking in vain one blossom, where to fix.

Still Thalaba holds on, The winding vale now narrows on his way, And steeper of ascent Rightward and leftward rise the rocks, And now they meet across the vale. Was it the toil of human hands That hewed a passage in the rock, Thro' whose rude portal-way The light of heaven was seen? Rude and low the portal-way, Beyond the same[112] ascending straits Went winding up the wilds.

Still a bare, silent, solitary glen, A fearful silence and a solitude That made itself be felt. And steeper now the ascent, A rugged path, that tired The straining muscles, toiling slowly up. At length again a rock Stretched o'er the narrow vale. There also was a portal hewn, But gates of massy iron barred the way, Huge, solid, heavy-hinged.

There hung a horn beside the gate, Ivory-tipt and brazen mouthed, He took the ivory tip, And thro' the brazen mouth he breathed; From rock to rock rebounding rung the blast, Like a long thunder peal! The gates of iron, by no human arm Unfolded, turning on their hinges slow, Disclosed the passage of the rock. He entered, and the iron gates Fell to, and closed him in. It was a narrow winding way, Dim lamps suspended from the vault Lent to the gloom an agitated light. Winding it pierced the rock, A long descending path By gates of iron closed; There also hung the horn beside Of ivory tip and brazen mouth, Again he took the ivory tip And gave the brazen mouth his voice again. Not now in thunder spake the horn, But poured a sweet and thrilling melody: The gates flew open, and a flood of light Rushed on his dazzled eyes.

Was it to earthly Eden lost so long, The youth had found the wonderous way? But earthly Eden boasts No terraced palaces, No rich pavilions bright with woven[113] gold. Like these that in the vale Rise amid odorous groves. The astonished Thalaba Doubting as tho' an unsubstantial dream Beguiled his passive sense, A moment closed his eyes; Still they were there ... the palaces and groves, And rich pavilions glittering golden light.

And lo! a man, reverend in comely age Advancing meets the youth. "Favoured of Fortune," he exclaimed, "Go taste the joys of Paradise! "The reinless steed that ranges o'er the world "Brings hither those alone for lofty deeds "Marked by their horoscope; permitted here "A foretaste of the full beatitude, "That in heroic acts they may go on "More ardent, eager to return and reap "Endless enjoyment here, their destined meed. "Favoured of Fortune thou, "Go taste the joys of Paradise!"

This said, he turned away, and left The Youth in wonder mute; For Thalaba stood mute And passively received The mingled joy that flowed on every sense. Where'er his eye could reach Fair structures, rain bow-hued, arose; And rich pavilions thro' the opening woods Gleamed from their waving curtains sunny gold; And winding thro' the verdant vale Flowed streams of liquid light; And fluted cypresses reared up Their living obelisks; And broad-leaved[114] Zennars in long colonades O'er-arched delightful walks, Where round their trunks the thousand-tendril'd vine Wound up and hung the bows with greener wreaths, And clusters not their own. Wearied with endless beauty did his eyes Return for rest? beside him teems the earth With tulips, like the ruddy[115] evening streaked, And here the lily hangs her head of snow, And here amid her sable[116] cup Shines the red eye-spot, like one brightest star The solitary twinkler of the night, And here the rose expands Her paradise[117] of leaves.

Then on his ear what sounds Of harmony arose! Far music and the distance-mellowed song From bowers of merriment; The waterfall remote; The murmuring of the leafy groves; The single nightingale Perched in the Rosier by, so richly toned, That never from that most melodious bird, Singing a love-song to his brooding mate, Did Thracian shepherd by the grave Of Orpheus[118] hear a sweeter song; Tho' there the Spirit of the Sepulchre All his own power infuse, to swell The incense that he loves.

And oh! what odours the voluptuous vale Scatters from jasmine bowers. From yon rose wilderness, From clustered henna, and from orange groves That with such perfumes fill the breeze, As Peris to their Sister bear, When from the summit of some lofty tree She hangs encaged, the captive of the Dives. They from their pinions shake The sweetness of celestial flowers, And as her enemies impure From that impervious poison far away Fly groaning with the torment, she the while Inhales her fragrant[119] food. Such odours flowed upon the world When at Mohammed's nuptials, word Went forth in Heaven to roll The everlasting gates of Paradise Back on their living hinges, that its gales Might visit all below; the general bliss Thrilled every bosom, and the family Of man, for once[120] partook one common joy.

Full of the joy, yet still awake To wonder, on went Thalaba; On every side the song of mirth, The music of festivity, Invite the passing youth. Wearied at length with hunger and with heat He enters in a banquet room, Where round a fountain brink, On silken[121] carpets sate the festive train. Instant thro' all his frame Delightful coolness spread; The playing fount refreshed The agitated air; The very light came cooled thro' silvering panes Of pearly[122] shell, like the pale moon-beam tinged; Or where the wine-vase[123] filled the aperture, Rosy as rising morn, or softer gleam Of saffron, like the sunny evening mist: Thro' every hue, and streaked by all The flowing fountain played. Around the water-edge Vessels of wine, alternate placed, Ruby and amber, tinged its little waves. From golden goblets there[124] The guests sate quaffing the delicious juice Of Shiraz' golden grape.

But Thalaba took not the draught For rightly he knew had the Prophet forbidden That beverage the mother[125] of sins. Nor did the urgent guests Proffer a second time the liquid fire For in the youth's strong eye they saw No moveable resolve. Yet not uncourteous, Thalaba Drank the cool draught of innocence, That fragrant from its dewy[126] vase Came purer than it left its native bed. And he partook the odorous fruits, For all rich fruits were there. Water-melons rough of rind, Whose pulp the thirsty lip Dissolved into a draught: Pistachios from the heavy-clustered trees Of Malavert, or Haleb's fertile soil, And Casbin's[127] luscious grapes of amber hue, That many a week endure The summer sun intense, Till by its powerful fire All watery particles exhaled, alone The strong essential sweetness ripens there. Here cased in ice, the [128]apricot, A topaz, crystal-set: Here on a plate of snow The sunny orange rests, And still the aloes and the sandal-wood From golden censers o'er the banquet room Diffuse their dying sweets.

Anon a troop of females formed the dance Their ancles bound with [129]bracelet-bells That made the modulating harmony. Transparent[130] garments to the greedy eye Gave all their harlot limbs, That writhed, in each immodest gesture skilled.

With earnest eyes the banqueters Fed on the sight impure; And Thalaba, he gazed, But in his heart he bore a talisman Whose blessed Alchemy To virtuous thoughts refined The loose suggestions of the scene impure. Oneiza's image swam before his sight, His own Arabian Maid. He rose, and from the banquet room he rushed, And tears ran down his burning cheek, And nature for a moment woke the thought And murmured, that from all domestic joys Estranged, he wandered o'er the world A lonely being, far from all he loved. Son of Hodeirah, not among thy crimes That murmur shall be written!

From tents of revelry, From festal bowers, to solitude he ran, And now he reached where all the rills Of that well-watered garden in one tide Rolled their collected waves. A straight and stately bridge Stretched its long arches o'er the ample stream. Strong in the evening and distinct its shade Lay on the watry mirror, and his eye Saw it united with its parent pile One huge fantastic fabric. Drawing near, Loud from the chambers[131] of the bridge below, Sounds of carousal came and song, And unveiled women bade the advancing youth Come merry-make with them. Unhearing or unheeding, Thalaba Past o'er with hurried pace, And plunged amid the forest solitude. Deserts of Araby! His soul returned to you. He cast himself upon the earth And closed his eyes, and called The voluntary vision up. A cry as of distress Aroused him; loud it came, and near! He started up, he strung his bow, He plucked the arrow forth. Again a shriek ... a woman's shriek! And lo! she rushes thro' the trees, Her veil all rent, her garments torn! He follows close, the ravisher.... Even on the unechoing grass She hears his tread, so close! "Prophet save me! save me God! "Help! help!" she cried to Thalaba, Thalaba drew the bow. The unerring arrow did its work of death. He turned him to the woman, and beheld His own Oneiza, his Arabian Maid.

THE SEVENTH BOOK.

_THALABA THE DESTROYER._

_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[132] track is left 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[133] foundations. Thalaba surveyed 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,[134] cursed tree."

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[135] Homerites, "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[136] of Sin.

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."