Part 25 (1/2)
”But that were poor revenge.
”O Thalaba, thy G.o.d ”Wreaks on the innocent head ”His vengeance;... I must suffer in my child!
”Why dost thou pause to strike thy victim? Allah ”Permits, commands the deed.”
”Liar!” quoth Thalaba.
And Laila's wondering eye Looked up, all anguish to her Father's face, ”By Allah and the Prophet,” he replied, ”I speak the words of truth.
”Misery, misery, ”That I must beg mine enemy to speed ”The inevitable vengeance now so near!
”I read it in her horoscope, ”Her birth-star warned me of Hodeirah's race.
”I laid a spell, and called a Spirit up.
”He answered one must die ”Laila or Thalaba....
”Accursed Spirit! even in truth ”Giving a lying hope!
”Last, I ascended the seventh Heaven ”And on the everlasting[169] Table there ”In characters of light, ”I read her written doom.
”The years that it has gnawn me! and the load ”Of sin that it has laid upon my soul!
”Curse on this hand that in the only hour ”The favouring stars allowed ”Reeked with other blood than thine.
”Still dost thou stand and gaze incredulous?
”Young man, be merciful, and keep her not ”Longer in agony!”
Thalaba's unbelieving frown Scowled on the Sorcerer, When in the air the rush of wings was heard And Azrael stood among them.
In equal terror at the sight The Enchanter, the Destroyer stood, And Laila, the victim maid.
”Son of Hodeirah!” said the Angel of Death, ”The accursed fables not.
”When from the Eternal Hand I took ”The yearly[170] scroll of fate, ”Her name was written there.
”This is the hour, and from thy hands ”Commissioned to receive the Maid I come.”
”Hear me O Angel!” Thalaba replied, ”To avenge my Father's death, ”To work the will of Heaven, ”To root from earth the accursed sorcerer race, ”I have dared danger undismayed, ”I have lost all my soul held dear, ”I am cut off from all the ties of life, ”Unmurmuring; for whate'er awaits me still, ”Pursuing to the end the enterprize, ”Peril or pain, I bear a ready heart.
”But strike this Maid! this innocent!
”Angel, I dare not do it.”
”Remember,” answered Azrael, ”all thou sayest ”Is written down for judgement! every word ”In the balance of[171] thy trial must be weighed!”
”So be it!” said the Youth.
”He who can read the secrets of the heart ”Will judge with righteousness!
”This is no doubtful path, ”The voice of G.o.d within me cannot lie....
”I will not harm the innocent.”
He said, and from above, As tho' it were the Voice of Night, The startling answer came.
”Son of Hodeirah, think again!
”One must depart from hence, ”Laila, or Thalaba; ”She dies for thee, or thou for her, ”It must be life for life!
”Son of Hodeirah, weigh it well, ”While yet the choice is thine!”
He hesitated not, But looking upward spread his hands to Heaven, ”Oneiza, in thy bower of Paradise ”Receive me, still unstained!”
”What!” exclaimed Okba, ”darest thou disobey, ”Abandoning all claim ”To Allah's longer aid?”
The eager exultation of his speech Earthward recalled the thoughts of Thalaba.
”And dost thou triumph, Murderer? dost thou deem ”Because I perish, that the unsleeping lids ”Of Justice shall be closed upon thy crime?