IX
Nay, but lately she was yearning To be quit of life"s turmoil, In the land of no returning, Where all travel ends, and toil.
What temptations now entice her?
What hath made the world seem nicer?
Whence the charm, that strives anew To prolong this last adieu?
Ah, her heart can understand it, Though her tongue can ne"er explain: Let yon granite Sphinx demand it-- Riddle, ever solved in vain.
X
No constraint of hands hath bound her, Not a chain hath e"er been round her; Silver star hath sealed her brow, Holy as an Isis cow.
Free to wander where she listeth; No immurement must defile (So the ancient law insisteth) This, the hallowed bride of Nile.
What recks Abraham"s descendant Idols, priests, and pomps attendant?
And how long shall nature heed What the stocks and stones decreed?
XI
"Fiendish superst.i.tions hold thee To a vile and hideous death.
Break their bonds; let love enfold thee; Off, and fly with me;"--he saith.
"Off! while priests are cutting capers-- Priests of beetles, cats, and tapirs, Brutes, who would thy beauty truck, For an inch of yellow muck.
"Lo, my horse, _Pyropus_, yearneth For the touch of thy light form; Like the lightning, his eye burneth; And his nostril, like the storm.
XII
"What are those unholy pagans?
Can they ride? No more than Dagons.
Fishtails ne"er could sit a steed; That belongs to Esau"s seed.
"I will make thee Queen of far lands, Flocks, and herds, and camel-trains, Milk and honey, fruit and garlands, Vines and venison, woods and wains.
"G.o.d is with us; He shall speed us; Or (if this vile crew impede us) Let some light into their brain, By the sword of Tubal Cain."
XIII
"Nay," she answered, deeply sighing, As the maid grew womanish-- "Love, how hard have I been trying"
To believe the thing I wish!
"Thou hast taught me holy teachings, Where to offer my beseechings, Homage due to Heaven alone, Not to ghosts, and graven stone,
"Thou hast shown me truth and freedom, Love, and faith in One most High; But thou hast not, Prince of Edom, Taught me therewithal, to lie.
XIV
"Little cause had I for fretting, None on earth to be regretting; Till I saw thee, brave and kind; And my heart undid my mind.
"Better, if the G.o.ds had slain me, When no difference could be; Ere the joy had come to pain me, And, alas, my dear one, thee!
"But shall my poor life throw shame on Royal lineage of Amor?
Tis of Egypt"s oldest strains; Kingly blood flows in my veins.
XV
"Thou hast seen; my faith is plighted, That I will not fly my doom.
Honour is a flower unblighted, Though the fates cut off its bloom.
"I have sent my last sun sleeping, And I am ashamed of weeping.
G.o.d, my new G.o.d, give me grace To be worthy of my race.
"Though this death our bodies sever, Thou shalt find me there above; Where I shall be learning ever, To be worthy of thy love."
XVI
From his gaze she turned, to borrow Pride"s a.s.sistance against sorrow-- G.o.d vouchsafes that scanty loan, When He taketh all our own.
Sudden thought of heaven"s inspiring Flashed through bold Duke Iram"s heart; Angels more than stand admiring, When a man takes his own part.
"Tis the law the Lord hath taught us, To undo what Satan wrought us; To confound the foul fiend"s plan, With the manliness of man.
XVII
"Thou art right," he answered lowly, As a youth should sneak a maid; "Like thyself, thy word is holy; Love is hate, if it degrade.
"But when thou hast well surrendered, And thy sacrifice is tendered-- G.o.d do so, and more to me, If I slay not, who slay thee!
"Abraham"s G.o.d hath ne"er forsaken Them who trust in Him alway.
Thy sweet life shall not be taken.
Rest, and calm thee, while I pray."
XVIII
Like a little child, that kneeleth To tell G.o.d whate"er he feeleth, Bent the tall young warrior there, And the palm-trees whispered prayer.
She, outworn with woe and weeping, Shared that influence from above; And the fear of death went sleeping In the maiden faith and love.
Less the stormy water waileth, E"en the human tumult faileth; Stars their silent torches light, To conduct the car of night
PART III
I
Lo, how bright-eyed morn awaketh Tower and temple, nook and Nile; How the sun exultant maketh All the world return his smile!