Part 23 (1/2)

There lay a Damsel sleeping on a couch, His step awoke her, and she gazed at him With pleased and wondering look, Fearlessly, like a yearling child Too ignorant to fear.

With words of courtesy The young intruder spake.

At the sound of his voice a joy Kindled her bright black eyes; She rose and took his hand, But at the touch the smile forsook her cheek, ”Oh! it is cold!” she cried, ”I thought I should have felt it warm like mine, ”But thou art like the rest!”

Thalaba stood mute awhile And wondering at her words: ”Cold? Lady!” then he said; ”I have travelled long ”In this cold wilderness, ”Till life is almost spent!”

LAILA.

Art thou a Man then?

THALABA.

I did not think Sorrow and toil could so have altered me, That I seem otherwise.

LAILA.

And thou canst be warm Sometimes? life-warm as I am?

THALABA.

Surely Lady As others are, I am, to heat and cold Subject like all, you see a Traveller, Bound upon hard adventure, who requests Only to rest him here to-night, to-morrow He will pursue his way.

LAILA.

Oh ... not to-morrow!

Not like a dream of joy, depart so soon!

And whither wouldst thou go? for all around Is everlasting winter, ice and snow, Deserts unpa.s.sable of endless frost.

THALABA.

He who has led me here will still sustain me Thro' cold and hunger.

”Hunger?” Laila cried; She clapt her lilly hands, And whether from above or from below It came, sight could not see, So suddenly the floor was spread with food.

LAILA.

Why dost thou watch with hesitating eyes The banquet? 'tis for thee! I bade it come.

THALABA.

Whence came it?

LAILA.

Matters it from whence it came My father sent it: when I call, he hears.

Nay ... thou hast fabled with me! and art like The forms that wait upon my solitude, Human to eye alone;... thy hunger would not Question so idly else.

THALABA.

I will not eat!

It came by magic! fool to think that aught But fraud and danger could await me here!