Part 8 (1/2)
One heard the dread simoom in distance roar, Whilst the crushed sh.e.l.l upon the pebbly sh.o.r.e Crackled beneath the crocodile's huge coil.
Westwards, like tiger's skin, each separate isle Spotted the surface of the yellow Nile; Gray obelisks shot upwards from the soil.
The star-king set. The sea, it seemed to hold In the calm mirror this live globe of gold, This world, the soul and torchbearer of our own.
In the red sky, and in the purple streak, Like friendly kings who would each other seek, Two meeting suns were shown.
”Shall I not stop?” exclaimed the impatient cloud.
”Seek!” trembling Tabor heard the voice of G.o.d.
V.
Sand, sand, and still more sand!
The desert! Fearful land!
Teeming with monsters dread And plagues on every hand!
Here in an endless flow, Sandhills of golden glow, Where'er the tempests blow, Like a great flood are spread.
Sometimes the sacred spot Hears human sounds profane, when As from Ophir or from Memphre Stretches the caravan.
From far the eyes, its trail Along the burning shale Bending its wavering tail, Like a mottled serpent scan.
These deserts are of G.o.d!
His are the bounds alone, Here, where no feet have trod, To Him its centre known!
And from this smoking sea Veiled in obscurity, The foam one seems to see In fiery ashes thrown.
”Shall desert change to lake?” cried out the cloud.
”Still further!” from heaven's depths sounded that Voice aloud.
VI.
Like tumbled waves, which a huge rock surround; Like heaps of ruined towers which strew the ground, See Babel now deserted and dismayed!
Huge witness to the folly of mankind; Four distant mountains when the moonlight s.h.i.+ned Seem covered with its shade.
O'er miles and miles the shattered ruins spread Beneath its base, from captive tempests bred, The air seemed filled with harmony strange and dire; While swarmed around the entire human race A future Babel, on the world's whole s.p.a.ce Fixed its eternal spire.
Up to the zenith rose its lengthening stair, While each great granite mountain lent a share To form a stepping base; Height upon height repeated seemed to rise, For pyramid on pyramid the strained eyes Saw take their ceaseless place.
Through yawning walls huge elephants stalked by; Under dark pillars rose a forestry, Pillars by madness multiplied; As round some giant hive, all day and night, Huge vultures, and red eagles' wheeling flight Was through each porch descried.
”Must I complete it?” said the angered cloud.
”On still!” ”Lord, whither?” groaned it, deep not loud.
VII.
Two cities, strange, unknown in history's page, Up to the clouds seemed scaling, stage by stage, Noiseless their streets; their sleeping inmates lie, Their G.o.ds, their chariots, in obscurity!
Like sisters sleeping 'neath the same moonlight, O'er their twin towers crept the shades of night, Whilst scarce distinguished in the black profound, Stairs, aqueducts, great pillars, gleamed around, And ruined capitals: then was seen a group Of granite elephants 'neath a dome to stoop, Shapeless, giant forms to view arise, Monsters around, the sp.a.w.n of hideous ties!
Then hanging gardens, with flowers and galleries: O'er vast fountains bending grew ebon-trees; Temples, where seated on their rich tiled thrones, Bull-headed idols shone in jasper stones; Vast halls, spanned by one block, where watch and stare Each upon each, with straight and moveless glare, Colossal heads in circles; the eye sees Great G.o.ds of bronze, their hands upon their knees.
Sight seemed confounded, and to have lost its powers, 'Midst bridges, aqueducts, arches, and round towers, Whilst unknown shapes fill up the devious views Formed by these palaces and avenues.
Like capes, the lengthening shadows seem to rise Of these dark buildings, pointed to the skies, Immense entanglement in shroud of gloom!
The stars which gleamed in the empyrean dome, Under the thousand arches in heaven's s.p.a.ce Shone as through meshes of the blackest lace.
Cities of h.e.l.l, with foul desires demented, And monstrous pleasures, hour by hour invented!
Each roof and home some monstrous mystery bore!
Which through the world spread like a twofold sore!
Yet all things slept, and scarce some pale late light Flitted along the streets through the still night, Lamps of debauch, forgotten and alone, The feast's lost fires left there to flicker on; The walls' large angles clove the light-lengthening shades 'Neath the white moon, or on some pool's face played.