Part 12 (1/2)

The many-coloured[92] domes Yet wore one dusky hue, The Cranes upon the Mosque Kept their night-clatter[93] still, When thro' the gate the early Traveller past.

And when at evening o'er the swampy plain The Bittern's[94] Boom came far, Distinct in darkness seen Above the low horizon's lingering light Rose the near ruins of old Babylon.

Once from her lofty walls[95] the Charioteer Looked down on swarming myriads; once she flung Her arches o'er Euphrates conquered tide, And thro' her brazen portals when she poured Her armies forth, the distant nations looked As men who watched the thunder-cloud in fear Lest it should burst above them. She was fallen, The Queen of Cities, Babylon was fallen!

Low lay her bulwarks; the black scorpion basked In the palace courts, within her sanctuary The She Wolf hid her whelps.

Is yonder huge and shapeless heap, what once Had been the aerial[96] Gardens, height on height Rising like Medias mountains crowned with wood, Work of imperial dotage? where the fame Of[97] Belus? where the Golden Image now, Which at the sound of dulcimer and lute, Cornet and sackbut, harp and psaltery, The a.s.syrian slaves adored?

A labyrinth of ruins, Babylon Spreads o'er the blasted plain: The wandering Arab never sets his tent Within her walls; the Shepherd[98] eyes afar Her evil Towers, and devious drives his flock.

Alone unchanged, a free and bridgeless tide Euphrates rolls along, Eternal Nature's work.

Thro' the broken portal, Over weedy fragments, Thalaba went his way.

Cautious he trod, and felt The dangerous ground before him with his bow.

The Chacal started at his steps, The Stork, alarmed at sound of man, From her broad nest upon the old pillar top, Affrighted fled on flapping wings.

The Adder in her haunts disturbed Lanced at the intruding staff her arrowy tongue.

Twilight and moons.h.i.+ne dimly mingling gave An aweful light obscure, Evening not wholly closed, The Moon still pale and faint.

An aweful light obscure, Broken by many a ma.s.s of blackest shade; Long column stretching dark thro' weeds and moss, Broad length of lofty wall Whose windows lay in light, And of their former shape, low-arched or square, Rude outline on the earth Figured, with long gra.s.s fringed.

Reclined against a column's broken shaft, Unknowing whitherward to bend his way He stood and gazed around.

The Ruins closed him in, It seemed as if no foot of man For ages had intruded there.

Soon at approaching step Starting, he turned and saw A warrior in the moon beam drawing near.

Forward the Stranger came And with a curious eye Perused the Arab youth.

”And who art thou,” he cried, ”That at an hour like this ”Wanderest in Babylon?

”A way-bewildered traveller, seekest thou ”The ruinous shelter here?

”Or comest thou to hide ”The plunder of the night?

”Or hast thou spells to make ”These ruins, yawning from their rooted base ”Disclose their secret[99] wealth?”

The youth replied, ”nor wandering traveller ”Nor robber of the night ”Nor skilled in spells am I.

”I seek the Angels here, ”Haruth and Maruth. Stranger in thy turn, ”Why wanderest thou in Babylon, ”And who art thou, the Questioner?”

The man was fearless, and the tempered pride That toned the voice of Thalaba Displeased not him, himself of haughty heart.

Heedless he answered, ”knowest thou ”Their cave of punishment?”

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.

Thalaba Gazed on his comrade, he was young, of port Stately and strong; belike his face had pleased A woman's eye, yet the youth read in it Unrestrained pa.s.sions, the obdurate soul Bold in all evil daring; and it taught, By Nature's irresistible instinct, doubt Well timed and wary. Of himself a.s.sured, Fearless of man, and confident in faith, ”Lead on!” cried Thalaba.

Mohareb led the way; And thro' the ruined streets, And thro' the farther gate They past in silence on.

What sound is borne on the wind?

Is it the storm that shakes The thousand oaks of the forest?

But Thalaba's long locks Flow down his shoulders moveless, and the wind In his loose mantle raises not one fold.