Thalaba the Destroyer Part 10

But is their knowledge therefore in itself Unlawful?

THALABA.

That were foolishness to think.

LOBABA.

O what a glorious animal were Man, Knew he but his own powers! and knowing gave them Room for their growth and spread! the Horse obeys His guiding will, the patient Camel bears him Over these wastes of sand, the Pigeon wafts His bidding thro' the sky: and with these triumphs He rests contented! with these ministers, When he might awe the Elements, and make Myriads of Spirits serve him!

THALABA.

But as how!

By a league with h.e.l.l, a covenant that binds The soul to utter death!

LOBABA.

Was Solomon Accurst of G.o.d? yet to his talismans Obedient, o'er his throne the birds of Heaven Their waving wings[76] his sun-s.h.i.+eld, fanned around him The motionless air of noon: from place to place, As his will reined the viewless Element He rode the Wind: the Genii reared his temple, And ceaselessly in fear while his dead eye O'erlooked them, day and night pursued their toil, So dreadful was his power.

THALABA.

But 'twas from Heaven His wisdom came; G.o.d's special gift ... the guerdon Of early virtue.

LOBABA.

Learn thou, O young man!

G.o.d hath appointed Wisdom the reward Of study! 'tis a spring of living waters, Whose inexhaustible bounties all might drink But few dig deep enough. Son! thou art silent,...

Perhaps I say too much,... perhaps offend thee.

THALABA.

Nay, I am young, and willingly as becomes me, Hear the wise words of age.

LOBABA.

Is it a crime To mount the horse, because forsooth thy feet Can serve thee for the journey? is it sin Because the Hern soars upward in the sky Above the arrow's flight, to train the Falcon Whose beak shall pierce him there? the powers which All Granted to man, were granted for his use; All knowledge that befits not human weakness Is placed beyond its reach.... They who repair To Babylon, and from the Angels learn Mysterious wisdom, sin not in the deed.

THALABA.

Know you these secrets?

LOBABA.

I? alas my Son My age just knows enough to understand How little all its knowledge! later years Sacred to study, teach me to regret Youth's unforeseeing indolence, and hours That cannot be recalled! something I know: The properties of herbs, and have sometimes Brought to the afflicted comfort and relief By the secrets of my art; under His blessing Without whom all had failed! Also of Gems I have some knowledge, and the characters That tell beneath what aspect they were set.

THALABA.

Belike you can interpret then the graving Around this Ring?

LOBABA.

My sight is feeble, Son, And I must view it closer, let me try!

The unsuspecting Youth Held forth his linger to draw off the spell.

Even whilst he held it forth, There settled there a Wasp, And just above the Gem infixed its dart.

All purple swoln the hot and painful flesh Rose round the tightened Ring.

The baffled Sorcerer knew the hand of Heaven, And inwardly blasphemed.

Ere long Lobaba's heart, Fruitful in wiles, devised new stratagem.

A mist arose at noon; Like the loose hanging skirts Of some low cloud that, by the breeze impelled, Sweeps o'er the mountain side.

With joy the thoughtless youth That grateful shadowing hailed; For grateful was the shade, While thro' the silver-lighted haze Guiding their way, appeared the beamless Sun.

But soon that beacon failed; A heavier ma.s.s of cloud Impenetrably deep, Hung o'er the wilderness.

"Knowest thou the track?" quoth Thalaba, "Or should we pause, and wait the wind "To scatter this bewildering fog?"

The Sorcerer answered him "Now let us hold right on,... for if we stray "The Sun tomorrow will direct our course."

So saying, he towards the desert depths Misleads the youth deceived.

Earlier the night came on, Nor moon, nor stars, were visible in Heaven; And when at morn the youth unclosed his eyes He knew not where to turn his face in prayer.

"What shall we do?" Lobaba cried, "The lights of Heaven have ceased "To guide us on our way.

"Should we remain and wait "More favourable skies?

"Soon would our food and water fail us here!

"And if we venture on, "There are the dangers of the wilderness!"

"Sure it were best proceed!"

The chosen youth replies.

"So haply we may reach some tent, or grove "Of dates, or stationed tribe.

"But idly to remain "Were yielding effortless, and waiting death."

The wily Sorcerer willingly a.s.sents, And farther in the sands, Elate of heart, he leads the credulous youth.

Still o'er the wilderness Settled the moveless mist.

The timid Antelope that heard their steps Stood doubtful where to turn in that dim light, The Ostrich, blindly hastening, met them full.

At night again in hope, Young Thalaba laid down; The morning came, and not one guiding ray Thro' the thick mist was visible, The same deep moveless mist that mantled all.

Oh for the Vulture's scream That haunts for prey the abode of humankind!

Oh for the Plover's[77] pleasant cry To tell of water near!

Oh for the Camel-driver's[78] song!

For now the water-skin grows light, Tho' of the draught, more eagerly desired, Imperious prudence took with sparing thirst.

Oft from the third night's broken sleep, As in his dreams he heard The sound of rus.h.i.+ng winds, Started the anxious youth, and looked abroad, In vain! for still the deadly calm endured.

Another day past on, The water-skin was drained, But then one hope arrived For there was motion in the air!

The sound of the wind arose anon That scattered the thick mist, And lo! at length the lovely face of Heaven!

Alas ... a wretched scene Was opened on their view.

They looked around, no wells were near, No tent, no human aid!

Flat on the Camel lay the water-skin, And their dumb servant difficultly now, Over hot sands and under the hot sun, Dragged on with patient pain.

But oh the joy! the blessed sight!

When in the burning waste the Travellers Saw a green meadow, fair with flowers besprent, Azure and yellow, like the beautiful fields Of England, when amid the growing gra.s.s The blue-bell bends, the golden king-cup s.h.i.+nes, In the merry month of May!

Oh joy! the Travellers Gaze on each other with hope-brightened eyes, For sure thro' that green meadow flows The living stream! and lo! their famished beast Sees the restoring sight!

Hope gives his feeble limbs a sudden strength, He hurries on!

The herbs so fair to eye Were Senna, and the Gentian's blossom blue, And kindred plants that with unwatered root Fed in the burning sand, whose bitter leaves Even frantic[79] Famine loathed.

In uncommunicating misery Silent they stood. At length Lobaba cried, "Son we must slay the Camel, or we die "For lack of water! thy young hand is firm, "Draw forth the knife and pierce him!"

Wretch accurst, Who that beheld thy venerable face, Thy features fixed with suffering, the dry lips, The feverish eyes, could deem that all within Was magic ease, and fearlessness secure, And wiles of h.e.l.lish import? the young man Paused with reluctant pity: but he saw His comrade's red and painful countenance, And his own burning breath came short and quick, And at his feet the gasping beast Lies, over-worn with want.