The fall of Nineveh A poem by Edwin Atherstone. Second edition: diligently corrected, and otherwise improved. In two volumes |
 | I, II. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 7. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
| 13. |
| 14. |
| 15. |
| 16. |
| 17. |
| 18. |
| 19. |
| 20. |
| 21. |
| 22. |
| 23. |
| 24. |
| 25. |
| 26. |
| 27. |
| 28. |
| 29. |
| 30. |
 | The fall of Nineveh |  |
Meantime, Sardanapalus to the hall,
The sun-bright hall of revelry and mirth,
With slow step took his way. The calmer mood
Still for the moment ruled him; and he paused,
Remorseful for the deed he had resolved.
The sun-bright hall of revelry and mirth,
With slow step took his way. The calmer mood
Still for the moment ruled him; and he paused,
Remorseful for the deed he had resolved.
Long at the door he stood; and heard within
Mirth-stirring music; the gay dancer's tread;
And laughter of light hearts: for nought knew they
Of the stormed city, and the slaughter dire,
Flooding her streets. No hideous dream was theirs
Of the dark sleeping horrors 'neath their feet;
Waiting the touch of fire, to burst at once,
A dread volcano of unquenchable flame!
Of freedom were their thoughts; of home, loved home,
The home of infancy, of blooming youth;
Of parents, brethren, sisters, youthful friends,
All soon, so soon to be beheld again.
Mirth-stirring music; the gay dancer's tread;
And laughter of light hearts: for nought knew they
Of the stormed city, and the slaughter dire,
Flooding her streets. No hideous dream was theirs
Of the dark sleeping horrors 'neath their feet;
Waiting the touch of fire, to burst at once,
A dread volcano of unquenchable flame!
Of freedom were their thoughts; of home, loved home,
The home of infancy, of blooming youth;
307
All soon, so soon to be beheld again.
The jealous king knew not their innocent joy,—
Sensual, and vain, and false, misdeeming them,
And eager in new arms love's joys to taste.
Then blackness gathered o'er his countenance;
Again his heart was stone!
Sensual, and vain, and false, misdeeming them,
And eager in new arms love's joys to taste.
Then blackness gathered o'er his countenance;
Again his heart was stone!
Long, to and fro,
He walked, and hearkened: with a cautious hand,
Silently turned, at length, the golden key;
Ope'd stealthily the door. Unseen himself,
He saw the joyous bounding of the limb,
The clear, bright face, all sunshine with young hope;
Listened the tone of gladness, and the word
Of cheerful heart, foretasting liberty.
He walked, and hearkened: with a cautious hand,
Silently turned, at length, the golden key;
Ope'd stealthily the door. Unseen himself,
He saw the joyous bounding of the limb,
The clear, bright face, all sunshine with young hope;
Listened the tone of gladness, and the word
Of cheerful heart, foretasting liberty.
In his fierce soul thronged fellest demons now.
“Accursed crew!” he muttered; ground his teeth;
Rolled his large blood-shot eyes, and clenched his hands;
“This, then, your love is; your eternal love;
Your gratitude, your worship! One there was
Who loved, who would have loved me to the end;
But, in my fury, I insulted, wronged,
Spurned her; and she is gone! gone to my foe!
Azubah, to the death hadst thou been mine,
Had the fiend slumbered in this mortal hell,
This mad, black breast! But all is over now!
Sensual, imperious, and intractable,
My life hath been; my headstrong will the law
Of countless millions: mine have been their life,
Their blood, their minds, their bodies, as I would,
To deal upon them. Then, as I have lived,
So will I die; still master over all!
“Accursed crew!” he muttered; ground his teeth;
Rolled his large blood-shot eyes, and clenched his hands;
“This, then, your love is; your eternal love;
Your gratitude, your worship! One there was
Who loved, who would have loved me to the end;
But, in my fury, I insulted, wronged,
Spurned her; and she is gone! gone to my foe!
Azubah, to the death hadst thou been mine,
Had the fiend slumbered in this mortal hell,
This mad, black breast! But all is over now!
Sensual, imperious, and intractable,
My life hath been; my headstrong will the law
Of countless millions: mine have been their life,
Their blood, their minds, their bodies, as I would,
To deal upon them. Then, as I have lived,
So will I die; still master over all!
“Beautiful falsehoods! Ah, ye think to move,
With your voluptuous kisses, the stern hearts
Of the red-handed conquerors. Your arms
Round them ye hope to twine; and in their ears
Whisper soft blandishments: to tell the tale,
How the king loved you; how caressed; how toyed;
What burning kisses showered—faugh! hell, and death!
Yet, all the while, ye loved him not: oh no!
Gave kiss for kiss in fear,—but not in love;
Never for love! he was not to your choice:
Not such as he your hearts could ever win.
With your voluptuous kisses, the stern hearts
Of the red-handed conquerors. Your arms
Round them ye hope to twine; and in their ears
Whisper soft blandishments: to tell the tale,
How the king loved you; how caressed; how toyed;
What burning kisses showered—faugh! hell, and death!
Yet, all the while, ye loved him not: oh no!
308
Never for love! he was not to your choice:
Not such as he your hearts could ever win.
“Then, in your cunning, would ye picture forth
The man whom ye indeed could love, adore,
Live for, yea die for: and the silly dolt
Caressing you, would in your picture see
Himself, his dear-loved self! Then both would join
In fiercer rapture; and your mockery still
Would be the king; the poor deluded king!
How he would look; what say; what madness act,
If from the grave, alive he might come forth,
And look upon your dalliance! Ah! false fools!
So think you; ay, I read it in your eyes;
Your springing limbs; I hear it in your voice.
But the king yet shall mar your wantonness:
Shall give you lovers who, with hot embrace,
Hotter than your desires, shall wrap you round;
Yet shall not mock him!”
The man whom ye indeed could love, adore,
Live for, yea die for: and the silly dolt
Caressing you, would in your picture see
Himself, his dear-loved self! Then both would join
In fiercer rapture; and your mockery still
Would be the king; the poor deluded king!
How he would look; what say; what madness act,
If from the grave, alive he might come forth,
And look upon your dalliance! Ah! false fools!
So think you; ay, I read it in your eyes;
Your springing limbs; I hear it in your voice.
But the king yet shall mar your wantonness:
Shall give you lovers who, with hot embrace,
Hotter than your desires, shall wrap you round;
Yet shall not mock him!”
A harsh trumpet-blast,
Quivering, and long drawn out, broke short his words.
“Ha! come already? Then the end draws nigh!
Once more would I have led the merry dance,
The death-dance, with yon beauteous hypocrites:
Nay, yet I will. Ha! what great revelry!
What a wild whirl! what frenzy of delight,
That dance immortal!”
Quivering, and long drawn out, broke short his words.
“Ha! come already? Then the end draws nigh!
Once more would I have led the merry dance,
The death-dance, with yon beauteous hypocrites:
Nay, yet I will. Ha! what great revelry!
What a wild whirl! what frenzy of delight,
That dance immortal!”
Even while he spake,
Gently the door he closed; the golden key
Turned gently; and with soft, but rapid tread,
Descended to the vault.
Gently the door he closed; the golden key
Turned gently; and with soft, but rapid tread,
Descended to the vault.
Awaiting there,
The guards he found; through nearest southern gate,
Bade them for life to fly; a blazing torch
Seized eagerly; the door flung wide; strode in;
And, hoarsely laughing as again the blare
Of the terrible trumpet rang,—beneath the pile
Thrust the bright bickering flame.
The guards he found; through nearest southern gate,
Bade them for life to fly; a blazing torch
Seized eagerly; the door flung wide; strode in;
And, hoarsely laughing as again the blare
Of the terrible trumpet rang,—beneath the pile
Thrust the bright bickering flame.
Scarce swifter speeds
The arrow from the bow, than, from the torch,
Through all the vast extent of that grim vault,
Like a roused demon, the combustion ran;
And the thick tomb-like darkness instantly
To furnace-light was changed!
The arrow from the bow, than, from the torch,
309
Like a roused demon, the combustion ran;
And the thick tomb-like darkness instantly
To furnace-light was changed!
Backward he drew;
One moment on the fiery lake looked round;
One moment trembled at the deed he had done;
At that he still must do; then, hurriedly,
Went forth: behind him, with a careful hand,
The strong door locked, as though from every eye
He would the act conceal; and rapidly,
But staggering, like to one with brain oppressed,
Mounted the marble stairs.
One moment on the fiery lake looked round;
One moment trembled at the deed he had done;
At that he still must do; then, hurriedly,
Went forth: behind him, with a careful hand,
The strong door locked, as though from every eye
He would the act conceal; and rapidly,
But staggering, like to one with brain oppressed,
Mounted the marble stairs.
The third loud clang
Of the warning trumpet sounded, as he stood
Before the door of that dread banquet hall,
Listening the sounds of gentle mirth within,
While underneath the palace was a hell
Of fire intense, fast hasting all to draw
Within its hideous jaws.
Of the warning trumpet sounded, as he stood
Before the door of that dread banquet hall,
Listening the sounds of gentle mirth within,
While underneath the palace was a hell
Of fire intense, fast hasting all to draw
Within its hideous jaws.
“Ha, ha!” he cried,
With ghastly mockery; “ye come in time:
Right welcome, friends: warm greeting shall ye have.
Enter; and doff your mail; and take your seats:
Quick servants shall attend you; and no fear
Of cold formalities. But I would see
My noble guests; for, when we meet again,
Or where, is doubtful.” With a hurried foot,
While thus deriding, to a balcony
That overlooked the court, he took his way.
With ghastly mockery; “ye come in time:
Right welcome, friends: warm greeting shall ye have.
Enter; and doff your mail; and take your seats:
Quick servants shall attend you; and no fear
Of cold formalities. But I would see
My noble guests; for, when we meet again,
Or where, is doubtful.” With a hurried foot,
While thus deriding, to a balcony
That overlooked the court, he took his way.
The strong and gorgeous northern gate, from which,
Gazed at and worshipped, he in all his pomp
So oft had ridden forth,—now, while he looked,
Expanded to admit his conquerors.
And who were they? Arbaces? or the king
Of Araby; or the dark soldier-priest,
With all their captains, and their men of war?
No: springing forward, like a hungry wolf
That scents his prey, Rabsaris, all alone,
Bounded within the court. A gleaming sword
Was in his hand; the shield upon his arm.
Wildly he looked around; then cried, “Come forth;
Tyrant! goat! ravisher! Where art thou hid?
Come forth; and die at least as man should die,
Nobly in equal fight. Come forth; or soon,
Like hunted vermin, wilt thou meanly fall,
Worried by all the pack. I hear them now,
Close at the gate. Ha! curses on their speed!
They rob me of my prey!”
Gazed at and worshipped, he in all his pomp
So oft had ridden forth,—now, while he looked,
Expanded to admit his conquerors.
And who were they? Arbaces? or the king
Of Araby; or the dark soldier-priest,
With all their captains, and their men of war?
No: springing forward, like a hungry wolf
That scents his prey, Rabsaris, all alone,
Bounded within the court. A gleaming sword
310
Wildly he looked around; then cried, “Come forth;
Tyrant! goat! ravisher! Where art thou hid?
Come forth; and die at least as man should die,
Nobly in equal fight. Come forth; or soon,
Like hunted vermin, wilt thou meanly fall,
Worried by all the pack. I hear them now,
Close at the gate. Ha! curses on their speed!
They rob me of my prey!”
As thus he spake,—
Like torrent issuing from an opened sluice,
Rushed in the court a stream of armed men,
Maddened with victory; thirsting to pour out
The despot's blood. With wild haste, here and there,
And to and fro they ran; still calling loud,
“Bring forth the tyrant! bring the murderer!
Where hides he! bring him forth.”
Like torrent issuing from an opened sluice,
Rushed in the court a stream of armed men,
Maddened with victory; thirsting to pour out
The despot's blood. With wild haste, here and there,
And to and fro they ran; still calling loud,
“Bring forth the tyrant! bring the murderer!
Where hides he! bring him forth.”
While these, confused
And noisy, vainly toiled,—with secret step,
Rabsaris sought at every well known door,
Hoping for entrance: but, like rock stood all,
Impregnable: nor saw he, any man,
Of whom to question.
And noisy, vainly toiled,—with secret step,
Rabsaris sought at every well known door,
Hoping for entrance: but, like rock stood all,
Impregnable: nor saw he, any man,
Of whom to question.
While he paused, came sound,
Not of the battle. Like the roar of waves
Far off, it seemed; but swelling, deepening, soon,
To voice more near and terrible. Long in doubt,
With breath suspended, beating heart, he stood,
Fixed as a statue. But, at length, assured
Of the dire mischief, at his utmost speed
Backward he ran,—still crying, “To the gate!
Back to the gate! back! back!”
Not of the battle. Like the roar of waves
Far off, it seemed; but swelling, deepening, soon,
To voice more near and terrible. Long in doubt,
With breath suspended, beating heart, he stood,
Fixed as a statue. But, at length, assured
Of the dire mischief, at his utmost speed
Backward he ran,—still crying, “To the gate!
Back to the gate! back! back!”
His voice, and look
Of direful meaning, forced obedience prompt:
And soon, close crowded by the gate, all stood,
Waiting the issue.
Of direful meaning, forced obedience prompt:
And soon, close crowded by the gate, all stood,
Waiting the issue.
To the captains then,
Who gathered round, with voice of mystery,
And face aghast, he spake. “Oh friends! beware!
A stratagem most deep and damnable
Is laid to snare us; and retire we must,
Or perish every man. Hark! Hear ye not?
A burning gulf awaits to swallow us!
The king hath fled; and every living thing
Hath fled the palace! Enter, and ye die!
Like the waves boiling on a distant beach,
Within the subterranean vault I heard
The savage growling of the pent-up fire,
Crouching to spring. Wait patiently awhile,
And ye will see the damnable intent
Of the fell despot.”
Who gathered round, with voice of mystery,
And face aghast, he spake. “Oh friends! beware!
A stratagem most deep and damnable
311
Or perish every man. Hark! Hear ye not?
A burning gulf awaits to swallow us!
The king hath fled; and every living thing
Hath fled the palace! Enter, and ye die!
Like the waves boiling on a distant beach,
Within the subterranean vault I heard
The savage growling of the pent-up fire,
Crouching to spring. Wait patiently awhile,
And ye will see the damnable intent
Of the fell despot.”
Even while he spake,
And while upon the palace every eye,
Through the fast thickening, blackening atmosphere,
Intently gazed; and every ear was quick
To catch the outburst,—on the pavement rang
A sound as of an iron-headed dart,
Hurled strongly. Many heard; but marked it not;
For, at the lower windows, 'gan to gleam,
Like flashes on the horizon seen at night,
The first dim outbreak of the prisoned fire.
And while upon the palace every eye,
Through the fast thickening, blackening atmosphere,
Intently gazed; and every ear was quick
To catch the outburst,—on the pavement rang
A sound as of an iron-headed dart,
Hurled strongly. Many heard; but marked it not;
For, at the lower windows, 'gan to gleam,
Like flashes on the horizon seen at night,
The first dim outbreak of the prisoned fire.
But a faint cry, and then a heavy fall,
Aroused them; and behold! upon the ground
A soldier smitten; and with vain attempt,
Struggling to rise,—a hailstone at his feet,
Large as a man's closed hand!
Aroused them; and behold! upon the ground
A soldier smitten; and with vain attempt,
Struggling to rise,—a hailstone at his feet,
Large as a man's closed hand!
Astonishment,
And terror held them mute. Such thing, 'till then,
Had no man seen, or heard of. But again
An outcry, and a fall. Rabsaris, now,
Himself was stricken: but his brazen helm,
On which the ice-bolt fell, and glanced aside,
From fatal harm preserved him. He arose,
Though dizzy, and confused; and toward the sky,
Awe-struck, looked upward, as of heaven to ask
The mystery of its will.
And terror held them mute. Such thing, 'till then,
Had no man seen, or heard of. But again
An outcry, and a fall. Rabsaris, now,
Himself was stricken: but his brazen helm,
On which the ice-bolt fell, and glanced aside,
From fatal harm preserved him. He arose,
Though dizzy, and confused; and toward the sky,
Awe-struck, looked upward, as of heaven to ask
The mystery of its will.
A harsh, wild laugh,
As 'twere the answer of a demon, rang
Above them through the court. All started; looked.
At that same moment, a broad lightning sheet,
Blazing and quivering long, lit up the sky:
And lo! upon a lofty balcony,
Distinct as if in sunshine; glittering bright
In all his rich array of jewelled robes,—
Assyria's wretched king! From him came still
That wild, unearthly laugh: and louder pealed,
As, now, from out the lower windows burst,—
With hideous pantings, as of some huge beast,—
Billows of smoke; and lapping tongues of flame,
Impatient for their prey.
As 'twere the answer of a demon, rang
Above them through the court. All started; looked.
At that same moment, a broad lightning sheet,
312
And lo! upon a lofty balcony,
Distinct as if in sunshine; glittering bright
In all his rich array of jewelled robes,—
Assyria's wretched king! From him came still
That wild, unearthly laugh: and louder pealed,
As, now, from out the lower windows burst,—
With hideous pantings, as of some huge beast,—
Billows of smoke; and lapping tongues of flame,
Impatient for their prey.
A cry of fear
And horror from the gazing soldiers broke:
And him, whose life but now they burned to take,
At peril of their own, they now would save.
Forward they ran: with their collected might
Thrust at the doors: again; and yet again:
Each called aloud on the other; each his strength
To the height put forth: again! again! again!
And horror from the gazing soldiers broke:
And him, whose life but now they burned to take,
At peril of their own, they now would save.
Forward they ran: with their collected might
Thrust at the doors: again; and yet again:
Each called aloud on the other; each his strength
To the height put forth: again! again! again!
But not more vain against the solid wall
Had been their battery: and each moment now,
With gathering fury, roared and leaped the flames.
They yielded, in despair; and, falling back,
Looked upward for the king. But he was gone:
Mad, laughing, glorying o'er his baffled foes,
Gone to the dance of death!
Had been their battery: and each moment now,
With gathering fury, roared and leaped the flames.
They yielded, in despair; and, falling back,
Looked upward for the king. But he was gone:
Mad, laughing, glorying o'er his baffled foes,
Gone to the dance of death!
In silent awe,
The captains and the soldiers stood and looked;
Nor, when they saw that, at the northern gate,
Led by Nebaioth and Sennacherib,
Poured in a numerous band, all hot for fight,
For vengeance clamoring,—'gainst them turned one man;
On that tremendous spectacle all thoughts,
All feelings so were fixed.
The captains and the soldiers stood and looked;
Nor, when they saw that, at the northern gate,
Led by Nebaioth and Sennacherib,
Poured in a numerous band, all hot for fight,
For vengeance clamoring,—'gainst them turned one man;
On that tremendous spectacle all thoughts,
All feelings so were fixed.
Still up, and up,
Brighter, and broader, louder, and more loud,
Roaring and cracking, clomb the terrible flames,
From end to end of that stupendous pile,
At every lower window, streaming far
And fiercely, as by furnace-blast impelled,
Rushed out the Fury.
Brighter, and broader, louder, and more loud,
Roaring and cracking, clomb the terrible flames,
From end to end of that stupendous pile,
At every lower window, streaming far
And fiercely, as by furnace-blast impelled,
Rushed out the Fury.
313
Still were some, who said
That, even then, amid the din they heard
Sounds of strange revelry; sackbut, and harp,
Clear-ringing cymbals, and the psaltery,
As at a dance: yet others heard it not,
And deemed it fancy.
That, even then, amid the din they heard
Sounds of strange revelry; sackbut, and harp,
Clear-ringing cymbals, and the psaltery,
As at a dance: yet others heard it not,
And deemed it fancy.
But, at length, a sound,—
Heard clearly and by all,—stopped breath, and heart,
And stiffened them as stone! It cut the ear
Like a sharp iron entering! 'Twas a shriek,
Piercing, shrill, horrible! Woman's wild shriek,
In the death-agony!—A moment more,
And all was silenced; an appalling crash
Made the ground tremble: and the fiend of fire,
From the higher windows now, with tenfold rage,
As mad with victory, shook his flaming flags!
Heard clearly and by all,—stopped breath, and heart,
And stiffened them as stone! It cut the ear
Like a sharp iron entering! 'Twas a shriek,
Piercing, shrill, horrible! Woman's wild shriek,
In the death-agony!—A moment more,
And all was silenced; an appalling crash
Made the ground tremble: and the fiend of fire,
From the higher windows now, with tenfold rage,
As mad with victory, shook his flaming flags!
Stopping their ears, all fled. They knew at once
The dreadful truth; yet feared again to hear
That shriek horrific! Hurriedly they fled.
Thronging the gate, Mede and Assyrian mixed,
They crowded out; and no man thought of strife:
Horror had quenched all enmity. The cause,
The great prime cause of war, was now no more!
All felt, though no man spake it.
The dreadful truth; yet feared again to hear
That shriek horrific! Hurriedly they fled.
Thronging the gate, Mede and Assyrian mixed,
They crowded out; and no man thought of strife:
Horror had quenched all enmity. The cause,
The great prime cause of war, was now no more!
All felt, though no man spake it.
But when, soon,
In shadow of the lofty wall they came,
Where the red flame-light reached them not, behold!
Thick darkness was before them; darkness thick
As in a grave; “darkness that might be felt!”
In shadow of the lofty wall they came,
Where the red flame-light reached them not, behold!
Thick darkness was before them; darkness thick
As in a grave; “darkness that might be felt!”
They saw it, and drew back; afraid to walk
Within its terrors. But, in little while,
The eye, accustomed to the blackness, caught
From the air above, fire-tinged, a dismal gleam,
As of a dying ember in the dark,—
And, like to blind men on a path unknown,
With spear in hand, or sword, they felt their way,
Fearfully groping. Whitherward they went,
They knew not; nor aught cared, so but a roof
Might shelter them: for, ever and anon,
Heard, but not seen, a fearful hailstone smote,
With stroke as of a hammer, on the ground:
And still, at times, a cry or groan arose,
Of one down smitten,—haply to the death!
Within its terrors. But, in little while,
The eye, accustomed to the blackness, caught
From the air above, fire-tinged, a dismal gleam,
As of a dying ember in the dark,—
And, like to blind men on a path unknown,
With spear in hand, or sword, they felt their way,
Fearfully groping. Whitherward they went,
They knew not; nor aught cared, so but a roof
Might shelter them: for, ever and anon,
Heard, but not seen, a fearful hailstone smote,
314
And still, at times, a cry or groan arose,
Of one down smitten,—haply to the death!
So on they went—a supernatural awe
Freezing their blood, as when, at dead of night,
A spirit passes. And, when once again
In open space they came, and full in view
Of the great conflagration;—though so nigh,
That, like the hot breath from a furnace-mouth,
It scorched their flesh,—yet, through the thick, dark air,
As but a dull red storm-cloud it appeared,
Seen after sunset, when the Wintry Night,
In his black armour clad, from the eastern sky,
With Tempest at his back, comes lowering up.
Freezing their blood, as when, at dead of night,
A spirit passes. And, when once again
In open space they came, and full in view
Of the great conflagration;—though so nigh,
That, like the hot breath from a furnace-mouth,
It scorched their flesh,—yet, through the thick, dark air,
As but a dull red storm-cloud it appeared,
Seen after sunset, when the Wintry Night,
In his black armour clad, from the eastern sky,
With Tempest at his back, comes lowering up.
| The fall of Nineveh | |