Thalaba the Destroyer Part 23

There lay a Damsel sleeping on a couch, His step awoke her, and she gazed at him With pleased and wondering look, Fearlessly, like a yearling child Too ignorant to fear.

With words of courtesy The young intruder spake.

At the sound of his voice a joy Kindled her bright black eyes; She rose and took his hand, But at the touch the smile forsook her cheek, "Oh! it is cold!" she cried, "I thought I should have felt it warm like mine, "But thou art like the rest!"

Thalaba stood mute awhile And wondering at her words: "Cold? Lady!" then he said; "I have travelled long "In this cold wilderness, "Till life is almost spent!"

LAILA.

Art thou a Man then?

THALABA.

I did not think Sorrow and toil could so have altered me, That I seem otherwise.

LAILA.

And thou canst be warm Sometimes? life-warm as I am?

THALABA.

Surely Lady As others are, I am, to heat and cold Subject like all, you see a Traveller, Bound upon hard adventure, who requests Only to rest him here to-night, to-morrow He will pursue his way.

LAILA.

Oh ... not to-morrow!

Not like a dream of joy, depart so soon!

And whither wouldst thou go? for all around Is everlasting winter, ice and snow, Deserts unpa.s.sable of endless frost.

THALABA.

He who has led me here will still sustain me Thro' cold and hunger.

"Hunger?" Laila cried; She clapt her lilly hands, And whether from above or from below It came, sight could not see, So suddenly the floor was spread with food.

LAILA.

Why dost thou watch with hesitating eyes The banquet? 'tis for thee! I bade it come.

THALABA.

Whence came it?

LAILA.

Matters it from whence it came My father sent it: when I call, he hears.

Nay ... thou hast fabled with me! and art like The forms that wait upon my solitude, Human to eye alone;... thy hunger would not Question so idly else.

THALABA.

I will not eat!

It came by magic! fool to think that aught But fraud and danger could await me here!

Let loose my cloak!...

LAILA.

Begone then, insolent!

Why dost thou stand and gaze upon my face?

Aye! watch the features well that threaten thee With fraud and danger! in the wilderness They shall avenge me,... in the hour of want Rise on thy view, and make thee feel How innocent I am: And this remembered cowardice and insult With a more painful shame will burn thy cheek Than now beats mine in anger!

THALABA.

Mark me Lady!

Many and restless are my enemies; My daily paths have been beset with snares Till I have learnt suspicion, bitter sufferings Teaching the needful vice, if I have wronged you, And yours should be the face of innocence, I pray you pardon me! in the name of G.o.d, And of his Prophet, I partake your food.

LAILA.

Lo now! thou wert afraid of sorcery, And yet hast said a charm!

THALABA.

A charm?

LAILA.

And wherefore?

Is it not not delicate food? what mean thy words?

I have heard many spells and many names That rule the Genii and the Elements, But never these.

THALABA.

How! never heard the names Of G.o.d and of the Prophet?

LAILA.

Never ... nay now Again that troubled eye? thou art a strange man And wonderous fearful ... but I must not twice Be charged with fraud! if thou suspectest still, Depart and leave me!

THALABA.

And you do not know The G.o.d that made you?

LAILA.

Made me, man! my Father Made me. He made this dwelling, and the grove, And yonder fountain-fire, and every morn He visits me, and takes the snow, and moulds Women and men, like thee; and breathes into them Motion, and life, and sense,... but to the touch They are chilling cold, and ever when night closes They melt away again, and leave me here Alone and sad. Oh then how I rejoice When it is day and my dear Father comes, And chears me with kind words and kinder looks!

My dear, dear, Father! were it not for him, I am so weary of this loneliness, That I should wish I also were of snow That I might melt away, and cease to be.

THALABA.

And have you always had your dwelling here Amid this solitude of snow?

LAILA.