Thalaba the Destroyer Part 24

I think so.

I can remember with unsteady feet Tottering from room to room, and finding pleasure In flowers and toys and sweetmeats, things that long Have lost their power to please; that when I see them Raise only now a melancholy wish I were the little trifler once again That could be pleased so lightly!

THALABA.

Then you know not Your Father's art?

LAILA.

No. I besought him once To give me power like his, that where he went I might go with him: but he shook his head, And said it was a power too dearly bought, And kist me with the tenderness of tears.

THALABA.

And wherefore has he hidden you thus far From all the ways of humankind?

LAILA.

'Twas fear, Fatherly fear and love. He read[167] the stars And saw a danger in my destiny, And therefore placed me here amid the snows, And laid a spell that never human eye, If foot of man by chance should reach the depth Of this wide waste, shall see one trace of grove, Garden, or dwelling-place, or yonder fire, That thaws and mitigates the frozen sky.

And more than this, even if the enemy Should come, I have a guardian here.

THALABA.

A guardian?

LAILA.

'Twas well that when my sight unclosed upon thee There was no dark suspicion in thy face.

Else I had called his succour! wilt thou see him?

But if a Woman can have terrified thee, How wilt thou bare his unrelaxing brow And lifted lightnings?

THALABA.

Lead me to him, Lady!

She took him by the hand And thro' the porch they past.

Over the garden and the grove The fountain streams of fire Poured a broad light like noon.

A broad unnatural light That made the Rose's blush of beauty pale, And dimmed the rich Geranium's scarlet blaze.

The various verdure of the grove Now wore one undistinguishable grey, Checqured with blacker shade.

Suddenly Laila stopt, "I do not think thou art the enemy,"

She said, "but He will know!

"If thou hast meditated wrong "Stranger, depart in time....

"I would not lead thee to thy death!"

The glance of Laila's eye Turned anxiously toward the Arabian youth.

"So let him pierce my heart," cried Thalaba, "If it hide thought to harm you!"

LAILA.

'Tis a figure, Almost I fear to look at!... yet come on.

'Twill ease me of a heaviness that seems To sink my heart; and thou mayest dwell here then.

In safety;... for thou shalt not go to-morrow, Nor on the after, nor the after day, Nor ever! it was only solitude That made my misery here,...

And now that I can see a human face, And hear a human voice....

Oh no! thou wilt not leave me!

THALABA.

Alas I must not rest!

The star that ruled at my nativity Shone with a strange and blasting influence.

O gentle Lady! I should draw upon you A killing curse.

LAILA.

But I will ask my Father To save you from all danger, and you know not The wonders he can work, and when I ask It is not in his power to say me nay.

Perhaps thou knowest the happiness it is To have a tender father?

THALABA.

He was one Whom like a loathsome leper I have tainted With my contagious destiny. At evening He kist me as he wont, and laid his hands Upon my head, and blest me ere I slept.

His dying groan awoke me, for the Murderer Had stolen upon our sleep! for me was meant The midnight blow of death; my father died, The brother play-mates of my infancy, The baby at the breast, they perished all, All in that dreadful hour: but I was saved To remember and revenge.

She answered not, for now Emerging from the o'er-arched avenue The finger of her upraised hand Marked where the Guardian of the garden stood.

It was a brazen[168] Image, every limb And swelling vein and muscle, true to life: The left knee bending on, The other straight, firm planted, and his hand Lifted on high to hurl The Lightning that it grasped.

When Thalaba approached, The charmed Image knew Hodeirah's son, And hurled the lightning at the dreaded foe.

The Ring! the saviour Ring!

Full in his face the lightning-bolt was driven, The scattered fire recoiled.

Like the flowing of a summer gale he felt Its ineffectual force, His countenance was not changed, Nor a hair of his head was singed.

He started and his glance Turned angrily upon the Maid, The sight disarmed suspicion ... breathless, pale, Against a tree she stood.

Her wan lips quivering, and her eye Upraised, in silent supplicating fear.

She started with a scream of joy Seeing her Father there, And ran and threw her arms around his neck, "Save me!" she cried, "the Enemy is come!

"Save me! save me! Okba!"

"Okba!" repeats the youth, For never since that hour When in the Tent the Spirit told his name, Had Thalaba let slip The memory of his Father's murderer; "Okba!"... and in his hand He graspt an arrow-shaft.

And he rushed on to strike him.

"Son of Hodeirah!" the Old Man replied, "My hour is not yet come."

And putting forth his hand Gently he repelled the Youth.

"My hour is not yet come!

"But thou mayest shed this innocent Maiden's blood, "That vengeance G.o.d allows thee."

Around her Father's neck Still Laila's hands were clasped.

Her face was turned to Thalaba, A broad light floated o'er its marble paleness, As the wind waved the fountain fire.

Her large, dilated eye in horror raised Watched his every movement.

"Not upon her," said he, "Not upon her Hodeirah's blood cries out "For vengeance!" and again his lifted arm Threatened the Sorcerer, Again withheld it felt The barrier that no human strength could burst.

"Thou dost not aim the blow more eagerly,"

Okba replied, "than I would rush to meet it!