The fall of Nineveh A poem by Edwin Atherstone. Second edition: diligently corrected, and otherwise improved. In two volumes |
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 | The fall of Nineveh |  |
But, when the night was come, thick gloom again
Fell on the spirit of Assyria's lord.
Throughout the palace had the word been sent,
That, on the morrow, Barak, as himself,
By all should be obeyed,—what act soe'er
Might be by him commanded. Like to one
Who by a precipice's brink doth stand,
Waiting the sign he dare not disobey,
To leap down headlong,—even so strength-bereft,
So by an iron destiny o'erruled,
Felt earth's proud master now! With strong desire,
Yet vainly, 'gainst the future did he strive
His thoughts to barrier: vainly did he long
In grave-like sleep to shut out consciousness
Of life and misery. To wine, at length,
For aid he flew; and deeply did he quaff,
To bring oblivion: yet his eyes closed not;
And wilder grew his thoughts. At length he called,
And bade that Dara, with the harp, should come,
To sing and play before him.
Fell on the spirit of Assyria's lord.
Throughout the palace had the word been sent,
That, on the morrow, Barak, as himself,
By all should be obeyed,—what act soe'er
Might be by him commanded. Like to one
Who by a precipice's brink doth stand,
Waiting the sign he dare not disobey,
To leap down headlong,—even so strength-bereft,
176
Felt earth's proud master now! With strong desire,
Yet vainly, 'gainst the future did he strive
His thoughts to barrier: vainly did he long
In grave-like sleep to shut out consciousness
Of life and misery. To wine, at length,
For aid he flew; and deeply did he quaff,
To bring oblivion: yet his eyes closed not;
And wilder grew his thoughts. At length he called,
And bade that Dara, with the harp, should come,
To sing and play before him.
In brief time,
The minstrel entered. Glad was then the king;
And said; “Strike now with vigorous hand the lyre;
And pour a song of battle; for my heart
Is heavy, and dark thoughts oppress my soul.”
The minstrel entered. Glad was then the king;
And said; “Strike now with vigorous hand the lyre;
And pour a song of battle; for my heart
Is heavy, and dark thoughts oppress my soul.”
So Dara, with a hand of fire, o'erswept
The ringing chords; and lifted up his voice.
The ringing chords; and lifted up his voice.
Deeply, the while, Sardanapalus drank
The cheering nectar; and said inwardly,
“Heart, be thou joyful: what hast thou to fear?”
The cheering nectar; and said inwardly,
“Heart, be thou joyful: what hast thou to fear?”
But, as the moon, through dense clouds laboring,
When winds are loud, and heavy is the rain,—
One moment, with clear disk looks joyously
From her deep cave; but, in the next, again
Is by the rolling sea of vapour quenched,—
So, o'er the monarch's soul, if, for a while,
A glad light broke,—did blacker thoughts again
Sweep o'er, and bury it in thicker night.
When winds are loud, and heavy is the rain,—
One moment, with clear disk looks joyously
From her deep cave; but, in the next, again
Is by the rolling sea of vapour quenched,—
So, o'er the monarch's soul, if, for a while,
A glad light broke,—did blacker thoughts again
Sweep o'er, and bury it in thicker night.
At length, he bade to hush the harp awhile;
But, when the strings were silent, from without,
A sound was heard; and wrathfully he cried;
“What noise is that? Who of his wretched life
So weary is, that thus he dares disturb,
With his vile din, the slumber of the king?
Go, and command a silence.”
But, when the strings were silent, from without,
A sound was heard; and wrathfully he cried;
“What noise is that? Who of his wretched life
So weary is, that thus he dares disturb,
With his vile din, the slumber of the king?
Go, and command a silence.”
Bowing low,
Thus Dara answered: “Gracious lord! the sound
Is of artificers who build the pile
Of sacrifice. As through the northern court
Hither I came, I saw, and questioned them.
Through all the night must they their labor ply,—
So answered they,—for, at the hour of noon,
The offering will be made.”
Thus Dara answered: “Gracious lord! the sound
Is of artificers who build the pile
Of sacrifice. As through the northern court
Hither I came, I saw, and questioned them.
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So answered they,—for, at the hour of noon,
The offering will be made.”
A bitter pang
Shot through the monarch, as these words he heard;
And hastily he spake: “Touch then again
The harp; but gently now; and with such airs
As may invite to slumber. Let the tones
Steal dream-like through the air; and make no pause
Till sleep come o'er me. Then, when thou shalt see,
That a deep slumber wraps me,—go thou forth;
And, unto them who wait without, thus say;
‘Let no man, on the peril of his life,
Dare to approach the chamber of the king,
Till thither summoned; neither through the night,
Nor on the morrow: whoso disobeys,
At once shall die the death.’” Thus having said,
A mighty goblet he drained hastily;
Sank on his couch; and closed his eyes for sleep.
Shot through the monarch, as these words he heard;
And hastily he spake: “Touch then again
The harp; but gently now; and with such airs
As may invite to slumber. Let the tones
Steal dream-like through the air; and make no pause
Till sleep come o'er me. Then, when thou shalt see,
That a deep slumber wraps me,—go thou forth;
And, unto them who wait without, thus say;
‘Let no man, on the peril of his life,
Dare to approach the chamber of the king,
Till thither summoned; neither through the night,
Nor on the morrow: whoso disobeys,
At once shall die the death.’” Thus having said,
A mighty goblet he drained hastily;
Sank on his couch; and closed his eyes for sleep.
Dara, with hand untiring, from the harp
Called breathing tones, and maze-like harmonies;
Such as a quiet spirit might have lapped
In dreams elysian. Now, they seemed to float,
Like some ethereal choir, in upper air;
Now, murmured like the moaning of the wind
In the dim forest: now, again came on,
Stealthily creeping, like a streamlet's voice
Borne on a gentle breeze; and, now, died off,
As from their own excess of sweetness faint.
Called breathing tones, and maze-like harmonies;
Such as a quiet spirit might have lapped
In dreams elysian. Now, they seemed to float,
Like some ethereal choir, in upper air;
Now, murmured like the moaning of the wind
In the dim forest: now, again came on,
Stealthily creeping, like a streamlet's voice
Borne on a gentle breeze; and, now, died off,
As from their own excess of sweetness faint.
But, to the monarch slumber came not soon.
Twice, when oblivion o'er his sense 'gan steal,
Suddenly up he sprang, with look like his
Who sees some horrible Shadow. From the cup
Again, as with a thirst unquenchable,
Then deeply drank he; and again outstretched
His trembling limbs for sleep. His eyes, at length,
Closed heavily: the world was all shut out.
The external perished; but the mind within,
Like to a buried fire, still hotly burned.
The tortured soul, her earthly organs still
Moved, though unconsciously; his hands, outspread,
Trembled, and clutched, as at some fearful thing;
His body shook; his breath was hard and quick;
His face with sweat bedewed; his quivering lips
Low muttered words gave forth.
Twice, when oblivion o'er his sense 'gan steal,
Suddenly up he sprang, with look like his
Who sees some horrible Shadow. From the cup
Again, as with a thirst unquenchable,
Then deeply drank he; and again outstretched
His trembling limbs for sleep. His eyes, at length,
Closed heavily: the world was all shut out.
The external perished; but the mind within,
Like to a buried fire, still hotly burned.
The tortured soul, her earthly organs still
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Trembled, and clutched, as at some fearful thing;
His body shook; his breath was hard and quick;
His face with sweat bedewed; his quivering lips
Low muttered words gave forth.
But, more and more,
Sleep gained the mastery; till, as with a chain,
Fast bound the body lay. Yet Dara feared
O'ersoon to leave him; lest the warring mind
Should break the fetter; and his wrath should rise,
To find himself alone. So, hushed as death,
Long time he waited; on the monarch's face
Anxiously gazing.
Sleep gained the mastery; till, as with a chain,
Fast bound the body lay. Yet Dara feared
O'ersoon to leave him; lest the warring mind
Should break the fetter; and his wrath should rise,
To find himself alone. So, hushed as death,
Long time he waited; on the monarch's face
Anxiously gazing.
Nought marked he, at first,
The tremulous words that from him 'gan to come:
But, starting soon, his face like marble grew:
His eyes stood wide; his slackening jaw fell down:
With arms extended, and one foot advanced,
Breathless he stood, as though, from crown to heel,
His body were all ear. The last death-spasm
More rigid scarce had made him; but alas!
Far less had tortured, than those dreadful words
Which had his soul transpierced. The hideous truth
Stood bare before him! Piecemeal was it told;
Yet clear, as if by sunbeams written down,
Stood the black whole revealed. He knew, at last,—
And the great horror seemed to stop his heart;
Curdle his blood, and dry his marrow up,—
He knew the victim for the sacrifice!
The tremulous words that from him 'gan to come:
But, starting soon, his face like marble grew:
His eyes stood wide; his slackening jaw fell down:
With arms extended, and one foot advanced,
Breathless he stood, as though, from crown to heel,
His body were all ear. The last death-spasm
More rigid scarce had made him; but alas!
Far less had tortured, than those dreadful words
Which had his soul transpierced. The hideous truth
Stood bare before him! Piecemeal was it told;
Yet clear, as if by sunbeams written down,
Stood the black whole revealed. He knew, at last,—
And the great horror seemed to stop his heart;
Curdle his blood, and dry his marrow up,—
He knew the victim for the sacrifice!
Stiffened like stone, long stood he; but, at length,
Desperately resolute, toward the tyrant stole:
Watched anxiously, till the relaxing hand,
And slower breathing, marked a heavier sleep;
Then from the finger, with a cautious touch,
The signet-ring drew off; and, with a step
Noiseless, and slow, as panther's when he glides
To spring upon his prey, the chamber left.
Desperately resolute, toward the tyrant stole:
Watched anxiously, till the relaxing hand,
And slower breathing, marked a heavier sleep;
Then from the finger, with a cautious touch,
The signet-ring drew off; and, with a step
Noiseless, and slow, as panther's when he glides
To spring upon his prey, the chamber left.
The charge he gave without, on pain of death,
That none, unsummoned, either on that night,
Or on the morrow, should the threshold cross,
Of the king's chamber: with a quick foot then,
And quicker beating heart, the victim sought,—
The royal maiden, of her hideous doom
Unconscious, as the kid that blithely skips
Within the tiger's spring.
That none, unsummoned, either on that night,
Or on the morrow, should the threshold cross,
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And quicker beating heart, the victim sought,—
The royal maiden, of her hideous doom
Unconscious, as the kid that blithely skips
Within the tiger's spring.
Her, all alone,
And wakeful, found he,—to the dulcimer
Singing a gentle hymn, ere, for the night,
Should close her tender lids. With face like death,
But gleaming eyes, and words of passionate fire,
The fearful tale he told: upon his knee
Sank trembling; and, while tears in torrents poured,
Conjured her instantly those fatal walls
To leave behind; and, in the sheltering arms
Of her loved mother's sister, far away,
Find sure repose, and safety.
And wakeful, found he,—to the dulcimer
Singing a gentle hymn, ere, for the night,
Should close her tender lids. With face like death,
But gleaming eyes, and words of passionate fire,
The fearful tale he told: upon his knee
Sank trembling; and, while tears in torrents poured,
Conjured her instantly those fatal walls
To leave behind; and, in the sheltering arms
Of her loved mother's sister, far away,
Find sure repose, and safety.
Horror-struck,
Nehushta paled, and shuddered; and, awhile,
Speechless and strengthless stood. “Abide thou here,
Belovëd friend,” at length, with tremulous lip,
She whispered: “Thy dread words the queen must hear:
She will in all direct me.”
Nehushta paled, and shuddered; and, awhile,
Speechless and strengthless stood. “Abide thou here,
Belovëd friend,” at length, with tremulous lip,
She whispered: “Thy dread words the queen must hear:
She will in all direct me.”
Tremblingly,
She took her way.—The mother o'er her child
Wept bitter tears.
She took her way.—The mother o'er her child
Wept bitter tears.
At midnight, through a gate
That faced the south, a small, but chosen band
Of mail-clad horsemen went: and, in the midst,
Two roomy chariots. They who rode within,
Were veilëd women, all in dark array.
No word was spoken. With dejected heads
They sat; and, ever and anon, a sob,
Ill stifled, might be heard. Their going forth,
No man opposed: the magic signet-ring,
Token of delegated power supreme,
None dared to question. With a beating heart,
But voice and look imperative, that sign
Still Dara showed; and every man obeyed.
That faced the south, a small, but chosen band
Of mail-clad horsemen went: and, in the midst,
Two roomy chariots. They who rode within,
Were veilëd women, all in dark array.
No word was spoken. With dejected heads
They sat; and, ever and anon, a sob,
Ill stifled, might be heard. Their going forth,
No man opposed: the magic signet-ring,
Token of delegated power supreme,
None dared to question. With a beating heart,
But voice and look imperative, that sign
Still Dara showed; and every man obeyed.
The watchers at the gate, amazed beheld;
But bowed the head, and flung the portal wide.
Forth passed the train: again the hinges moaned
'Neath their huge load; the massive bolts again
Shot in their staples. Onward went the troop,
Slowly, and steadily.
But bowed the head, and flung the portal wide.
180
'Neath their huge load; the massive bolts again
Shot in their staples. Onward went the troop,
Slowly, and steadily.
Long their horse-tread,
Still lessening, from the battlement was heard;
And great the marvel was, how, through that gloom,
Might path be found. At length the trampling ceased;
And they who marked it, to each other said,
“They stop perforce: the darkness shuts them in,
Like a black curtain; and turn back they must,
Or tarry till the day-break.” But a ray
Of red light, as they thus debating stood,—
As 'twere an earth-star, far upon the plain,—
Gleamed suddenly; another rose; a third;
And yet a fourth appeared. Then came again,
But soft and faint as dropping of the rain
On the young grass of spring, the sound of hoofs,
Leisurely treading; and the listeners said,
“No,—they have kindled torches, and go on.
Strange hour for travel! But the king's command
Waits not the morning, if he wills the night.”
Still lessening, from the battlement was heard;
And great the marvel was, how, through that gloom,
Might path be found. At length the trampling ceased;
And they who marked it, to each other said,
“They stop perforce: the darkness shuts them in,
Like a black curtain; and turn back they must,
Or tarry till the day-break.” But a ray
Of red light, as they thus debating stood,—
As 'twere an earth-star, far upon the plain,—
Gleamed suddenly; another rose; a third;
And yet a fourth appeared. Then came again,
But soft and faint as dropping of the rain
On the young grass of spring, the sound of hoofs,
Leisurely treading; and the listeners said,
“No,—they have kindled torches, and go on.
Strange hour for travel! But the king's command
Waits not the morning, if he wills the night.”
And then again they marvelled, guessing each
What might the cause of that strange journey be:
And, as they talked, still on the four red lights,
Slowly progressing, did they fix their eyes;
Till, as the distance lengthened, into one
The four converged; one dim and fading beam,
Like an expiring star. It sank at length,
In that deep sea of darkness swallowed up:
And the long silent gazers turned away,
And sighed, they knew not wherefore.
What might the cause of that strange journey be:
And, as they talked, still on the four red lights,
Slowly progressing, did they fix their eyes;
Till, as the distance lengthened, into one
The four converged; one dim and fading beam,
Like an expiring star. It sank at length,
In that deep sea of darkness swallowed up:
And the long silent gazers turned away,
And sighed, they knew not wherefore.
| The fall of Nineveh | |