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113
THE CAPTIVE ARAB
The captive of his bow and of his sword,
I dwell within his walls and can not leave;
Though ever in the absence of my lord
Hopes of escape I weave.
I dwell within his walls and can not leave;
Though ever in the absence of my lord
Hopes of escape I weave.
But he returns and holds my hands in his,
My heart to his, and all the hopes are gone;
And I forget my restlessness in bliss
With that Belovéd One.
My heart to his, and all the hopes are gone;
And I forget my restlessness in bliss
With that Belovéd One.
Woe, woe is me, a wretched prisoner!
A fetter'd slave! a bondwoman! a thrall!
Now he unbinds me, yet I can not stir:
His love binds more than all.
A fetter'd slave! a bondwoman! a thrall!
Now he unbinds me, yet I can not stir:
His love binds more than all.
121
O joy! great joy! my lord comes home again:
My lord, my loved, my master and my king!
My own Belovéd! this one passionate strain
Amends all suffering.
My lord, my loved, my master and my king!
My own Belovéd! this one passionate strain
Amends all suffering.
And—‘Dost thou love me well?’ I meet his smile
With radiant answer: Love makes bondage sweet;
I would not leave thee. In a little while
My joy is less complete.
With radiant answer: Love makes bondage sweet;
I would not leave thee. In a little while
My joy is less complete.
And longings for old Araby return—
My Araby the Blest. Love's hearth is dim.
So strong the thoughts with which I can but yearn,
I scarcely think of Him.
My Araby the Blest. Love's hearth is dim.
So strong the thoughts with which I can but yearn,
I scarcely think of Him.
My free wild Arab life! This place grows dark,—
This narrowness is dreadful as a tomb.
Ay! in the Temple and before the Ark
I'd pine for want of room.
This narrowness is dreadful as a tomb.
Ay! in the Temple and before the Ark
I'd pine for want of room.
My free delightful Araby! my life!
My roving independent carelessness!
It is a yoke—this destiny of Wife:
I love thee ne'ertheless.
My roving independent carelessness!
It is a yoke—this destiny of Wife:
I love thee ne'ertheless.
122
It is a yoke—O very hard to bear,
For one who never knew constraint or let.
I am not fit for this. I can not wear
Your homely jewels yet.
For one who never knew constraint or let.
I am not fit for this. I can not wear
Your homely jewels yet.
Though I will try. Dear Love! I kiss thy lids,
And draw thee sleeping closer to my heart.
What restless dream another kiss forbids,
Lest I should ne'er depart?
And draw thee sleeping closer to my heart.
What restless dream another kiss forbids,
Lest I should ne'er depart?
Lest I of slavery should grow so fond
As to rejoice in it for thy dear sake?
Never! my wings are crush'd, my hopes despond,
My heart can only break.
As to rejoice in it for thy dear sake?
Never! my wings are crush'd, my hopes despond,
My heart can only break.
In mine own wilds I was a wilful queen:
How can I take a menial's place and form?
Love's heaven is high—you tell me, pure, serene.
The eagle loves the storm.
How can I take a menial's place and form?
Love's heaven is high—you tell me, pure, serene.
The eagle loves the storm.
I must be gone. His eyes are closed in sleep,
Weary with love; I put him from my breast.
One kiss: Love! thou art strong, but canst not keep
Thy wild bird in its nest.
Weary with love; I put him from my breast.
One kiss: Love! thou art strong, but canst not keep
Thy wild bird in its nest.
123
I must make haste to go before he wakes,
Before his arms encircle me again
As with a band of iron (my heart aches
With love and restless pain),
Before his arms encircle me again
As with a band of iron (my heart aches
With love and restless pain),
Before his eyes can look their fond reproach,
Before his waking touch thrills through my heart.
How to keep back these thoughts that will encroach
Whene'er I would depart?
Before his waking touch thrills through my heart.
How to keep back these thoughts that will encroach
Whene'er I would depart?
He woke soon as I turn'd, and I return'd:
His look was as a chain I could not break.
I tried to bless him in whose fire I burn'd,
Who tied me to the stake.
His look was as a chain I could not break.
I tried to bless him in whose fire I burn'd,
Who tied me to the stake.
And so again some days of plaintive joy,
Of happiness. Indeed I love thee well:
Thy love makes present gold of my alloy,
A heaven of my hell.
Of happiness. Indeed I love thee well:
Thy love makes present gold of my alloy,
A heaven of my hell.
But in thy absence! O, it can not be.
I will depart now. I will not be led
Bound to thy triumph, no! not even by thee,
Not to a bridal bed.
I will depart now. I will not be led
Bound to thy triumph, no! not even by thee,
Not to a bridal bed.
124
Thou hast unbound me; I take up my bow
And the old arrows; I halt not to test
The slackness of the string; I leave thee now.
Yes! leaving thee is best.
And the old arrows; I halt not to test
The slackness of the string; I leave thee now.
Yes! leaving thee is best.
Forget me and make merry in thy home
With one more fit for bondage and delight.
More loving eyes shall look on thee, and some
Be pleasant in thy sight.
With one more fit for bondage and delight.
More loving eyes shall look on thee, and some
Be pleasant in thy sight.
For me—O how I hate this closing wall!
I must be gone. My will speeds through thy gates.
When thou return'st—O Love! Love! Love! thy thrall
Upon the threshold waits.
I must be gone. My will speeds through thy gates.
When thou return'st—O Love! Love! Love! thy thrall
Upon the threshold waits.
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