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 |  |
So fared the wretched king. But, in the camp,
To greater end the moments, big with fate
Of millions, had been passed. Since hour of noon,
Anxiously watchful, thousands had looked forth,
Hoping, ere sank the doom-suspending sun,
That, from the city issuing, they might see
The messengers of peace. But, girt with clouds,
Fire-edged and angry, the red orb went down;
And the last day of lingering mercy died!
To greater end the moments, big with fate
Of millions, had been passed. Since hour of noon,
Anxiously watchful, thousands had looked forth,
Hoping, ere sank the doom-suspending sun,
That, from the city issuing, they might see
The messengers of peace. But, girt with clouds,
Fire-edged and angry, the red orb went down;
And the last day of lingering mercy died!
Soon, in Arbaces' tent the captains met,
To hasty council summoned: and himself
The first thus spake. “No answer hath been sent:
The truce is o'er; and, by to-morrow's dawn,—
So swiftly ebbs the river,—we may storm,
Dry-shod, the breach. But, ye have marked the heavens,
The iron clouds, and heard the wailing wind;
And know that tempest threatens; yea with signs
Strange and portentous. If again should fall
The cataracts from heaven's ocean,—ere the morn,
Tigris again will rise, and bar the way:
And we still long must wait. The enemy
As yet expects us not; nor, haply, knows
How far hath ebbed the flood: for, by the breach,
No watch is stationed. At the set of sun,
Valiant and trusty men I sent,—the depth
To try; and carefully the ground explore,
For best, and surest entrance. Not one man
Stood there to spy for enemy! To the knee,
Not deeper, did they wade: the ruins, then,
At two great gaps o'erclimbing,—openings clear
Right in the city saw they: nor, even there,
Found one to question them. I counsel, then,
That, with all safe despatch, this very night
Assault be made;—so may success be won,
The surest, soonest; and with least of loss
To us, and them, alike. If wise ye deem
This counsel,—then my farther thoughts at once
Will I expound; for all have I designed;
And time for act is short.”
To hasty council summoned: and himself
The first thus spake. “No answer hath been sent:
The truce is o'er; and, by to-morrow's dawn,—
So swiftly ebbs the river,—we may storm,
Dry-shod, the breach. But, ye have marked the heavens,
The iron clouds, and heard the wailing wind;
And know that tempest threatens; yea with signs
Strange and portentous. If again should fall
The cataracts from heaven's ocean,—ere the morn,
Tigris again will rise, and bar the way:
And we still long must wait. The enemy
As yet expects us not; nor, haply, knows
How far hath ebbed the flood: for, by the breach,
No watch is stationed. At the set of sun,
Valiant and trusty men I sent,—the depth
To try; and carefully the ground explore,
For best, and surest entrance. Not one man
283
Not deeper, did they wade: the ruins, then,
At two great gaps o'erclimbing,—openings clear
Right in the city saw they: nor, even there,
Found one to question them. I counsel, then,
That, with all safe despatch, this very night
Assault be made;—so may success be won,
The surest, soonest; and with least of loss
To us, and them, alike. If wise ye deem
This counsel,—then my farther thoughts at once
Will I expound; for all have I designed;
And time for act is short.”
The general voice
Loudly approved; and then again he spake.
Loudly approved; and then again he spake.
“All night will be thick darkness: nor, till dawn,
Will rise even the worn moon. With prudent speed,
Let all prepare them, then, that, from the camp,
One hour ere midnight we may take our way.
The favoring breeze right from the city blows;
So, haply, may no sound of our approach
Reach the dull watchers' ears: yet, cautiously,
Slowly, and silently, must all move on:
And this the order be of our attack.
Will rise even the worn moon. With prudent speed,
Let all prepare them, then, that, from the camp,
One hour ere midnight we may take our way.
The favoring breeze right from the city blows;
So, haply, may no sound of our approach
Reach the dull watchers' ears: yet, cautiously,
Slowly, and silently, must all move on:
And this the order be of our attack.
“Archers, and spearmen, two score thousand strong,
Shall at both gaps assault: but all the rest,—
Chariots, and horse, and foot,—in separate bands,
Before each northern gate must take their place;
And, silent, wait the event. The breach once passed,
The soldiers then, in firm array, right on,
Stopping for nought, must speed; and every gate
That fronts the camp fling open. Let the horse
First enter. Through the Nisroch gate who pass,
Or gate of Palms,—must toward the palace haste;
And hem it round, that no one thence may 'scape.
The infantry, quick following them, its gates
Must burst, or overclimb; and from his den
Drag forth the tyrant. Meantime, through the squares,
And the chief streets, shall cars and horse move on,
To check advancing foes. The despot slain,
Or captured, brief resistance will be made,
And mercy sued for. Haply, so, may peace,
Even on the morrow, this dire contest end.
Shall at both gaps assault: but all the rest,—
Chariots, and horse, and foot,—in separate bands,
Before each northern gate must take their place;
And, silent, wait the event. The breach once passed,
The soldiers then, in firm array, right on,
Stopping for nought, must speed; and every gate
That fronts the camp fling open. Let the horse
First enter. Through the Nisroch gate who pass,
Or gate of Palms,—must toward the palace haste;
And hem it round, that no one thence may 'scape.
The infantry, quick following them, its gates
Must burst, or overclimb; and from his den
Drag forth the tyrant. Meantime, through the squares,
And the chief streets, shall cars and horse move on,
To check advancing foes. The despot slain,
Or captured, brief resistance will be made,
284
Even on the morrow, this dire contest end.
“Throughout the camp, then, unto every man,
Be these things well made known; confusion, else,
May come upon us, and discomfiture,
Or heavy loss. And, furthermore, to all
Thus be it ordered. ‘Till the word shall come,
Let not a soldier, tempted howsoe'er,
For plunder rove: since, separate from the rest,
Might many be cut off. Let no man strike
The unarmed, or unresisting; for such deed
Shame would bring on us. Lastly, let all heed
That none upon a woman lay the hand
Of violence; for such shall surely die.’
Be these things well made known; confusion, else,
May come upon us, and discomfiture,
Or heavy loss. And, furthermore, to all
Thus be it ordered. ‘Till the word shall come,
Let not a soldier, tempted howsoe'er,
For plunder rove: since, separate from the rest,
Might many be cut off. Let no man strike
The unarmed, or unresisting; for such deed
Shame would bring on us. Lastly, let all heed
That none upon a woman lay the hand
Of violence; for such shall surely die.’
“Now, with all temperate haste, unto our tasks
Let us go forth: and may the mighty gods
Give to our labors victory, and peace!”
Let us go forth: and may the mighty gods
Give to our labors victory, and peace!”
He ended: all were glad, and went their way:
And soon throughout the camp was heard the hum
Of cautious preparation; man to man
In low tone speaking; the dull clink of arms
Hastily donned; the tread of horses' feet;
The gentle roll of chariots, in array
Warily ordered: and, at length, the tramp,
Stealthy, and slow, of all that mighty host,
'Mid darkness marching on.
And soon throughout the camp was heard the hum
Of cautious preparation; man to man
In low tone speaking; the dull clink of arms
Hastily donned; the tread of horses' feet;
The gentle roll of chariots, in array
Warily ordered: and, at length, the tramp,
Stealthy, and slow, of all that mighty host,
'Mid darkness marching on.
| The fall of Nineveh | |