"One wandering star of virtue back "To its own native, heaven-ward track! "Let him but live, and both are Thine, Together Thine-for, blest or crost, "Living or dead, his doom is mine, "And if he perish, both are lost!” THE HE next evening LALLA ROOKH was entreated by her Ladies to continue the relation of her wonderful dream; but the fearful interest that hung round the fate of HINDA and her lover had completely removed every trace of it from her mind; - much to the disappointment of a fair seer or two in her train, who prided themselves on their skill in interpreting visions, and who had already remarked, as an unlucky omen, that the Princess, on the very morning after the dream, had worn a silk dyed with the blossoms of the sorrowful tree, Nilica. FADLADEEN, whose wrath had more than once broken out during the recital of some parts of this most heterodox poem, seemed at length to have made up his mind to the infliction; and took his seat the evening with all the patience of a martyr, while the Poet continued his profane and seditious story thus: To tearless eyes and hearts at ease Had rush'd through KERMAN's almond groves, And shaken from her bowers of date That cooling feast the traveller loves,' 1 "In parts of Kerman, whatever dates are shaken from the trees by the wind they do not touch, but leave them for those who have not any, or for travellers." - Ebn Haukel. Now, lull'd to languor, scarcely curl The Green Sea wave, whose waters gleam Limpid, as if her mines of pearl Were melted all to form the stream. And her fair islets, small and bright, With their green shores reflected there, Look like those Peri isles of light, That hang by spell-work in the air. But vainly did those glories burst In their dark tombs when, scowling near, She shuddering turn'd to read her fate And saw those towers all desolate, That o'er her head terrific frown'd, As if defying ev'n the smile Of that soft heaven to gild their pile. 2 The two terrible angels, Monkir and Nakir; who are called "the Searchers of the Grave" in the "Creed of the orthodox Mahometans" given by Ockley, vol. ii. In vain, with mingled hope and fear, Strange, mocking dream! again 'tis fled. When voices from without proclaim The warriors shout that fearful name! He comes the rock resounds his tread How shall she dare to lift her head, Or meet those eyes, whose scorching glare The mandrake's charnel leaves at night! 3 At whose loud battle-cry alone Whole squadrons oft in panic ran, 3 Scatter'd, like some vast caravan, "The Arabians call the mandrake the Devil's candle,' on account of its shining appearance in the night."— Richardson. |