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 |  |
All this time,
Racked by terrific dreams, the monarch lay;
In few hours seeming to live months of woe.
But, toward the morning, pleasant visions came.
The Israelitish seer, whom he had slain,
Appeared before him; and, with smiling face,
And gentle voice, thus seemed to speak to him.
Racked by terrific dreams, the monarch lay;
In few hours seeming to live months of woe.
But, toward the morning, pleasant visions came.
The Israelitish seer, whom he had slain,
Appeared before him; and, with smiling face,
And gentle voice, thus seemed to speak to him.
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“Arise; lead forth thy hosts,—for now is heaven
At thy obedience pleased; and it may be
The child shall not be asked for at thy hands.”
At thy obedience pleased; and it may be
The child shall not be asked for at thy hands.”
Thus having spoken, the pale prophet passed;
And, with gay voice, and cheerful countenance,
Nehushta came, and said, “Belovëd sire!
Go forth, and scatter all thine enemies:
For, when thy daughter on the altar-stone
Shall lie, a willing victim,—then, behold!
The gods shall make thee terrible as Death;
That all shall sink before thee.”
And, with gay voice, and cheerful countenance,
Nehushta came, and said, “Belovëd sire!
Go forth, and scatter all thine enemies:
For, when thy daughter on the altar-stone
Shall lie, a willing victim,—then, behold!
The gods shall make thee terrible as Death;
That all shall sink before thee.”
Having said,
She also vanished: and another shade,
The spirit of his mother, stood and spake.
“The glory of this mighty Nineveh
Shall not yet perish. Get thee up, my son;
Gird on thy sword, and take thy spear and shield,
And in thy chariot drive against thy foes.
Like reeds before the mammoth, shall they fall
At thy on-coming: and the beauteous child,
Untouched, shall, from the stone of sacrifice,
Be given into thine arms.”
She also vanished: and another shade,
The spirit of his mother, stood and spake.
“The glory of this mighty Nineveh
Shall not yet perish. Get thee up, my son;
Gird on thy sword, and take thy spear and shield,
And in thy chariot drive against thy foes.
Like reeds before the mammoth, shall they fall
At thy on-coming: and the beauteous child,
Untouched, shall, from the stone of sacrifice,
Be given into thine arms.”
The lofty brow
Of the pale spectre-queen shone luminous,
While thus she spake; and in the monarch's breast
Seemed its own fire to pour. In vision then,
Forth went he; and his enemies, like dust
Before the whirlwind, scattered. With his lance,
Right through the heart Belesis he transfixed;
And with his falchion, even from crown to breast,
Clove the terrific Mede. Then did he shout
Exultingly; and all his myriads raised
Clamors of triumph, peal succeeding peal,
That, with the deafening uproar, he awoke.
Of the pale spectre-queen shone luminous,
While thus she spake; and in the monarch's breast
Seemed its own fire to pour. In vision then,
Forth went he; and his enemies, like dust
Before the whirlwind, scattered. With his lance,
Right through the heart Belesis he transfixed;
And with his falchion, even from crown to breast,
Clove the terrific Mede. Then did he shout
Exultingly; and all his myriads raised
Clamors of triumph, peal succeeding peal,
That, with the deafening uproar, he awoke.
But, when clear sense returned, behold! the sword
Was in his hand; and on his feet he stood,
Facing the field of battle. Giddiness, then,
At that strange wonder, seized upon his brain;
Till, like to one intoxicate, he reeled,
And sank upon the couch. But, in a while,
It passed away; and on his dream he thought,
And much was comforted. Then cheerfully
He called; and, when his servants entered, said;
“Command ye that my chariot be prepared;
My bow, and quiver, and spears numerous:
Bring hither armour, helmet, sword, and shield;
For, ere the day shall dawn, will I go forth,
And scatter all mine enemies. Yet, first,
To Salamenes a swift messenger
Send instantly,—and let him say, ‘Arise,
For the king calleth on thee.’”
Was in his hand; and on his feet he stood,
Facing the field of battle. Giddiness, then,
At that strange wonder, seized upon his brain;
Till, like to one intoxicate, he reeled,
And sank upon the couch. But, in a while,
It passed away; and on his dream he thought,
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He called; and, when his servants entered, said;
“Command ye that my chariot be prepared;
My bow, and quiver, and spears numerous:
Bring hither armour, helmet, sword, and shield;
For, ere the day shall dawn, will I go forth,
And scatter all mine enemies. Yet, first,
To Salamenes a swift messenger
Send instantly,—and let him say, ‘Arise,
For the king calleth on thee.’”
But the prince,
No summons needing, entered as he spake;
And, seeing him, well pleased, the monarch thus.
“Brave soldier! ever watchful; and most brave,
When peril threatens most! Thy mind had I,
Long since yon rebels had to deserts fled,
Or rotted in their graves. But now, with speed,
Arouse the host, ere yet the night be spent;
And lead them to the plain; but, silently,—
That, all unlooked for as a thunder-stone
From clear sky, we may strike. And let the word
To all be passed, ‘This day the king himself
Will lead you on to victory; for so,
In visions of the night, by heaven sent down,
Hath it been shown to him. The gods themselves
Have chosen a victim for the sacrifice:
But, ere the smoke shall to their nostrils mount,
From out the clouds will their right hands be seen,
Hurling destruction on our enemies.’”
No summons needing, entered as he spake;
And, seeing him, well pleased, the monarch thus.
“Brave soldier! ever watchful; and most brave,
When peril threatens most! Thy mind had I,
Long since yon rebels had to deserts fled,
Or rotted in their graves. But now, with speed,
Arouse the host, ere yet the night be spent;
And lead them to the plain; but, silently,—
That, all unlooked for as a thunder-stone
From clear sky, we may strike. And let the word
To all be passed, ‘This day the king himself
Will lead you on to victory; for so,
In visions of the night, by heaven sent down,
Hath it been shown to him. The gods themselves
Have chosen a victim for the sacrifice:
But, ere the smoke shall to their nostrils mount,
From out the clouds will their right hands be seen,
Hurling destruction on our enemies.’”
Even while he spake, impatiently he 'gan
His radiant arms to don: his countenance
With fire unnatural flamed; and his full eyes
Gleamed lamp-like. Salamenes, wonder-struck
At that so sudden kindling, gladly thus.
“Thy armies, mighty king! upon the plain
Already are assembled; and but wait
The coming of thy servant: for I said
To the chief captains, ere they led them forth,
‘When ye have ranked your soldiers on the field,
Tarry in silence till I come to you.
'Tis to the presence of the king I go;
For, haply, even yet may he arise,
And lead us in the battle: so the hearts
Of all shall gather courage, and our arms
With double vigour strike.’”
His radiant arms to don: his countenance
With fire unnatural flamed; and his full eyes
Gleamed lamp-like. Salamenes, wonder-struck
At that so sudden kindling, gladly thus.
“Thy armies, mighty king! upon the plain
Already are assembled; and but wait
The coming of thy servant: for I said
To the chief captains, ere they led them forth,
‘When ye have ranked your soldiers on the field,
Tarry in silence till I come to you.
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For, haply, even yet may he arise,
And lead us in the battle: so the hearts
Of all shall gather courage, and our arms
With double vigour strike.’”
“Well hast thou done!”
Replied the monarch; “Speed thou then away;
And cry, ‘The king comes forth; and Victory
Within his chariot rideth.’”
Replied the monarch; “Speed thou then away;
And cry, ‘The king comes forth; and Victory
Within his chariot rideth.’”
Glad at heart,
Went Salamenes; and more hastily
The monarch armed himself. Anon came some,
Who said, “The royal chariot is at hand;
But no where may be found the charioteer.
Perchance prince Dara, deeming that the king
This day would rest, hath to the field gone forth.”
Went Salamenes; and more hastily
The monarch armed himself. Anon came some,
Who said, “The royal chariot is at hand;
But no where may be found the charioteer.
Perchance prince Dara, deeming that the king
This day would rest, hath to the field gone forth.”
“Presumptuous boy!” exclaimed the indignant king;
“But now no time for question; he shall rue
This over-boldness. Meantime, send in haste,
And summon the chief captain of my guard,
Prince Tartan: he this day shall rule the steeds.
Send also on the instant, and command
That Barak come before me.”
“But now no time for question; he shall rue
This over-boldness. Meantime, send in haste,
And summon the chief captain of my guard,
Prince Tartan: he this day shall rule the steeds.
Send also on the instant, and command
That Barak come before me.”
In brief space,
The priest appeared; and, when they stood alone,
Him thus the king addressed. “To thee full power
Have I this day appointed: as mine own,
Will thy command o'er all hold sway supreme.
But hearken now: and, as the morrow's dawn
Thou would'st behold, obey. If but one hair
Of that fair child, unbidden, thou shalt harm,—
So speed me heaven, as I thy hateful limbs
Will stretch, yet living, on the altar-fire,
And burn thee piecemeal. For the hour of noon.
Let all be ready: but, though direr rout
Than ever yet o'er battle-field hath swept,
Shall drive us,—yet, till thou the signal see,
Touch not the victim. Now, be this the sign:
Mark, and remember. If, above the tower
Of Nisroch thou behold a blood-red flag,—
Then seat the child beside the altar-stone:
But, after—mark me,—see thou touch her not,
Till one hour farther on his downward way
The sun hath journeyed. If thou then behold,—
As surely wilt thou, else the heavens have lied,—
That for our side the battle 'gins to turn;
Then, let the maiden forthwith be set free,
And with all honor to her chamber led.
There will she wait her conquering sire's return:
And there will he, with love, and gratitude,
Boundless as ocean overflowing, seek
How best he may requite her. Little fear
That she o'ermuch may ask. So let her know.”
The priest appeared; and, when they stood alone,
Him thus the king addressed. “To thee full power
Have I this day appointed: as mine own,
Will thy command o'er all hold sway supreme.
But hearken now: and, as the morrow's dawn
Thou would'st behold, obey. If but one hair
Of that fair child, unbidden, thou shalt harm,—
So speed me heaven, as I thy hateful limbs
Will stretch, yet living, on the altar-fire,
And burn thee piecemeal. For the hour of noon.
Let all be ready: but, though direr rout
Than ever yet o'er battle-field hath swept,
Shall drive us,—yet, till thou the signal see,
Touch not the victim. Now, be this the sign:
Mark, and remember. If, above the tower
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Then seat the child beside the altar-stone:
But, after—mark me,—see thou touch her not,
Till one hour farther on his downward way
The sun hath journeyed. If thou then behold,—
As surely wilt thou, else the heavens have lied,—
That for our side the battle 'gins to turn;
Then, let the maiden forthwith be set free,
And with all honor to her chamber led.
There will she wait her conquering sire's return:
And there will he, with love, and gratitude,
Boundless as ocean overflowing, seek
How best he may requite her. Little fear
That she o'ermuch may ask. So let her know.”
“Thy will, most mighty king,” the priest replied,
“In all shall be obeyed. But, if thy hope
Be thwarted; if the gods be still displeased;
And, though the victim by the altar sit,
Turn not the day against thine enemy,—
Demanding still the sacrifice complete” . . . . . .
“In all shall be obeyed. But, if thy hope
Be thwarted; if the gods be still displeased;
And, though the victim by the altar sit,
Turn not the day against thine enemy,—
Demanding still the sacrifice complete” . . . . . .
“Curs'd priest! thou seek'st in vain to torture me!”
Fire flashing from his eyes, roared out the king;
“Demons, not gods, were they, so to demand.
It is impossible; and heaven were hell,
If this could be! Harm her,—and thou shalt lie
Ten years a dying! But no more. My will
Exactly know'st thou; strictly be it done.”
Fire flashing from his eyes, roared out the king;
“Demons, not gods, were they, so to demand.
It is impossible; and heaven were hell,
If this could be! Harm her,—and thou shalt lie
Ten years a dying! But no more. My will
Exactly know'st thou; strictly be it done.”
Thus having sternly spoken, he went forth;
And through the Nisroch gate drove rapidly.
And through the Nisroch gate drove rapidly.
As yet was but faint twilight. At slow pace,
And silently, the mighty mass of men
Cloud-like moved onward.
And silently, the mighty mass of men
Cloud-like moved onward.
In dark shadow lay
The Median camp,—the watch-fires all burnt out,—
And joyful was the spirit of the king;
Of victory assured, and full revenge.
The Median camp,—the watch-fires all burnt out,—
And joyful was the spirit of the king;
Of victory assured, and full revenge.
| The fall of Nineveh | |