Part 26 (2/2)
If Thalaba looks back he dies, The motion of fear is death.
On ... on ... with swift and steady pace Adown that dreadful way!
The youth is firm, the Dogs are fleet, The Sledge goes rapidly, The thunder of the avalanche Re-echoes far behind.
On ... on ... with swift and steady pace Adown that dreadful way!
The Dogs are fleet, the way is steep The Sledge goes rapidly, They reach the plain below.
A wide, wide plain, all desolate, Nor tree, nor bush, nor herb!
On go the Dogs with rapid step, The Sledge slides after rapidly, And now the Sun went down.
They stopt and looked at Thalaba, The Youth performed his prayer; They knelt beside him as he prayed They turned their heads to Mecca And tears ran down their cheeks.
Then down they laid them in the snow As close as they could lie, They laid them down and slept.
And backward in the sledge The Adventurer laid him down, There peacefully slept Thalaba, And the Green Bird of Paradise Lay in his bosom warm.
The Dogs awoke him at the dawn, They knelt and wept again; Then rapidly they journeyed on, And still the plain was desolate, Nor tree, nor bush, nor herb!
And ever at the hour of prayer They stopt, and knelt, and wept; And still that green and graceful Bird Was as a friend to him by day, And ever when at night he slept Lay in his bosom warm.
In that most utter solitude It cheered his heart to hear Her soft and soothing voice; Her voice was soft and sweet, It swelled not with the blackbird's thrill, Nor warbled rich like the dear bird, that holds The solitary man A loiterer in his thoughtful walk at eve; But if no overflowing joy Spake in its tones of tenderness They soothed the softened soul.
Her bill was not the beak of blood; There was a human meaning in her eye, Its mild affection fixed on Thalaba Woke wonder while he gazed And made her dearer for the mystery.
Oh joy! the signs of life appear, The first and single Fir That on the limits of the living world Strikes in the ice its roots.
Another, and another now; And now the Larch that flings its arms Down arching like the falling wave; And now the Aspin's scattered leaves Grey glitter on the moveless twig; The Poplar's varying verdure now, And now the Birch so beautiful, Light as a Lady's plumes.
Oh joy! the signs of life! the Deer Hath left his slot beside the way; The little Ermine now is seen White wanderer of the snow; And now from yonder pines they hear The clatter of the Grouse's wings: And now the snowy Owl pursues The Traveller's sledge in hope of food; And hark! the rosy-breasted bird The Throstle of sweet song!
Joy! joy! the winter-wilds are left!
Green bushes now and greener gra.s.s, Red thickets here all berry-bright, And here the lovely flowers!
When the last morning of their way arrived, After the early prayer, The Green Bird fixed on Thalaba A sad and supplicating eye, And with a human voice she spake, ”Servant of G.o.d, I leave thee now.
”If rightly I have guided thee, ”Give me the boon I beg!”
”O gentle Bird,” quoth Thalaba, ”Guide and companion of my dangerous way, ”Friend and sole solace of my solitude, ”How can I pay thee benefits like these!
”Ask what thou wilt that I can give, ”O gentle Bird, the poor return ”Will leave me debtor still!”
”Son of Hodeirah!” she replied, ”When thou shalt see an Old Man crushed beneath ”The burthen of his earthly punishment, ”Forgive him, Thalaba!
”Yea, send a prayer to G.o.d on his behalf!”
A flush o'erspread the young Destroyer's cheek, He turned his eye towards the Bird As if in half repentance; for he thought Of Okba; and his Father's dying groan Came on his memory. The celestial Bird Saw and renewed her speech.
”O Thalaba, if she who in thine arms ”Received the dagger-blow and died for thee, ”Deserve one kind remembrance ... save, O save ”The Father that she loved from endless death!”
”Laila! and is it thou?” the youth replied: ”What is there that I durst refuse to thee?
”This is no time to harbour in my heart ”One evil thought ... here I put off revenge, ”The last rebellious feeling ... be it so!
”G.o.d grant to me the pardon that I need ”As I do pardon him!
”But who am I that I should save ”The sinful soul alive?”
”Enough!” said Laila. ”When the hour shall come ”Remember me! my task is done.
”We meet again in Paradise!”
She said and shook her wings, and up she soared With arrow-swiftness thro' the heights of Heaven.
His aching eye pursued her path, When starting onward went the Dogs, More rapidly they hurried on In hope of near repose.
It was the early morning yet When by the well-head of a brook They stopt, their journey done.
The spring was clear, the water deep, A venturous man were he and rash That should have probed its depths, For all its loosened bed below Heaved strangely up and down, And to and fro, from side to side It heaved, and waved, and tossed, And yet the depths were clear, And yet no ripple wrinkled o'er The face of that fair Well.
And on that Well so strange and fair A little boat there lay, Without on oar, without a sail, One only seat it had, one seat As if for only Thalaba.
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