Wherefore Heaven decreed the enthusiast warrior of
Choosing good from iniquity rather than evil from
Loud the tumult in Mecca surrounding the fane of the idol;
Naked and prostrate the priesthood were laid, the people with mad shouts
Thundering now, and now with saddest ululation
Flew, as over the channel of rock-stone the ruinous
Shatters its waters abreast, and in mazy uproar be
Rushes dividuous all,—all rushing impetuous onward.
HOU wondrous brother of the Prophet, sun!
So brightly on Medina's temple burning;
And scarce less beautiful the crescent moon,
When moving gently o'er the shadows dun
Of evening, and their verge to silver turning.
Oh, what a lovely, soft tranquillity
Rests on the earth and breathes along the sea!
Here is no cedar bent with misery;
No holy cypress sighs or weeps, as seen
In other lands, where his dark branches green
Mourn in the desert o'er neglected graves:
Here his all-sheltering boughs he calmly waves
In the dim light, the sacred vigils keeping
O'er the blest ashes on earth's bosom sleeping.
Picture of God! upon the prophet's shrine
Shine brightly, brightly, beautifully shine
Upon those holy fields where once he trod,
And flowers sprung up beneath his innocent feet,
Tulips and aloes and narcissus, sweet,
A lovely carpet for the child of God!
There have our privileged, pilgrim footsteps been,
This have we seen, - yes, brother! this have seen:
The grave, the life, the ashes, and the dome
Eternal, and the heavens: and there have bought
The grace of God and found the joy we sought,
A certain entrance to our final home.
And now, be short our houseward way!
Our fathers' habitations now appear!
Oh, with what transports shall we hear them say,
With what loud greetings, "Welcome, welcome here!"
The swelling-bosomed wife, the black-haired son
And black-eyed daughter greet our joyous train,
Rushing from our own doors they hither run,
And songs of rapture loudly hail us then.
Their trembling hands the fragrant aloe bear,
Which joyful o'er our wearied limbs they throw;
Home of our fathers! now appear,
Our houseward path be shortened now!
Semen Sergejewitsch Bobroff. Tr. J. Bowring.
UT near Mount Hor, for countless ages hid,
And sealed like vaults in Cheops' pyramid,
Hemmed in by rocks, a wall on every side,
Lo! queen of deserts, Petra veils her pride.
So wild that scene without, and stern and bare,
Ye scarce would deem man once had dwelling there,
But think those rocks the goat could only roam,
Or on their summits eagles make their home.
We pierce yon dell at twilight's deepening hour;
Tall cliffs each side in savage grandeur tower;
Meeting aloft, like threatening foes they seem,
Till scarce between the clefts the stars can gleam.
The guides, with unsheathed daggers, lead the way,
For ofttimes here the robber lurks for prey:
The flickering torches show each swarthy face,
And wilder horror lend that lonely place.
Dark fir and cypress wave above our head,
And ivy bands fantastic garlands spread.
A fiery ball oft gleams where black rocks scowl, —
'Tis the large eye of some sepulchral owl;
And oft a step is heard the crags among,
'Tis the lone wolf that steals in shade along,
And turns and looks, yet flies the torch's glare,
And growls in rage that man disturbs him there.
Nicholas Michell.
THE PASSAGE OF THE RED SEA.
ITH heat o'erlabored and the length of way,
On Ethan's beach the bands of Israel lay. 'Twas silence all, the sparkling sands along; Save where the locust trilled her feeble song, Or blended soft in drowsy cadence fell The wave's low whisper or the camel's bell. 'Twas silence all!-the flocks for shelter fly Where, waving light, the acacia shadows lie; Or where, from far, the flattering vapors make The noontide semblance of a misty lake: While the mute swain, in careless safety spread, With arms enfolded, and dejected head, Dreams o'er his wondrous call, his lineage high, And, late revealed, his children's destiny. For, not in vain, in thraldom's darkest hour, Had sped from Amram's sons the word of power; Nor failed the dreadful wand, whose godlike sway Could lure the locust from her airy way; With reptile war assail their proud abodes, And mar the giant pomp of Egypt's Gods. O helpless Gods! who naught availed to shield From fiery rain your Zoan's favored field! O helpless Gods! who saw the curdled blood Taint the pure lotus of your ancient flood, And fourfold night the wondering earth enchain,
While Memnon's orient harp was heard in vain ! –
Such musings held the tribes, till now the west
With milder influence on their temples prest?
And that portentous cloud which, all the day,
Hung its dark curtain o'er their weary way
(A cloud by day, a friendly flame by night),
Rolled back its misty veil, and kindled into light! –
Soft fell the eve; - but, ere the day was done,
Tall waving banners streaked the level sun;
And wide and dark along the horizon red,
In sandy surge the rising desert spread.
"Mark, Israel, mark!”. - On that strange sight intent,
In breathless terror, every eye was bent;
And busy faction's fast-increasing hum,
And female voices shriek, "They come, they come!"
They come, they come! in scintillating show
O'er the dark mass the brazen lances glow;
And sandy clouds in countless shapes combine,
As deepens or extends the long tumultuous line;
And fancy's keener glance even now may trace
The threatening aspects of each mingled race:
For many a coal-black tribe and cany spear,
The hireling guards of Misraim's throne, were there.
From distant Cush they trooped, a warrior train,
Siwal's green isle and Sennaar's marly plain;
On either wing their fiery coursers check
The parched and sinewy sons of Amalek;
While close behind, inured to feast on blood,
Decked in Behemoth's spoils, the tall Shangalla strode.
Mid blazing helms and bucklers rough with gold
Saw ye how swift the scythéd chariots rolled?
|