 | The Poetical Works of (Richard Monckton Milnes) Lord Houghton |  |
191
IX. MOHAMMED AND THE ASSASSIN.
“Leave me, my followers, leave me;
The best-loved voices grieve me
When falls the weary day:
My heart to God is yearning,
My soul to God returning:
Leave me alone to pray.”
The best-loved voices grieve me
When falls the weary day:
My heart to God is yearning,
My soul to God returning:
Leave me alone to pray.”
So had the Prophet spoken:
The silence was unbroken;
While on a tree close by
He hung his arms victorious,
And raised his forehead glorious
As glows the western sky.
The silence was unbroken;
While on a tree close by
He hung his arms victorious,
And raised his forehead glorious
As glows the western sky.
Fast as the sun descended,
Further the Prophet wended
His course behind the hill;
Where, at his motives prying,
An Arab foe was lying,
Hid by a sand-heap still.
Further the Prophet wended
His course behind the hill;
Where, at his motives prying,
An Arab foe was lying,
Hid by a sand-heap still.
192
One of a hateful tribe,
Treating with scorn and gibe
God and the Prophet's name:
Creatures of evil lust,
Base as the desert dust,
Proud of their very shame!
Treating with scorn and gibe
God and the Prophet's name:
Creatures of evil lust,
Base as the desert dust,
Proud of their very shame!
With upraised sword behind him,
Burning to slay or bind him,
Stealthy the traitor trod;
He cried, “At last I brave thee!
Whom hast thou now to save thee?”
“God,” said the Prophet, “God!”
Burning to slay or bind him,
Stealthy the traitor trod;
He cried, “At last I brave thee!
Whom hast thou now to save thee?”
“God,” said the Prophet, “God!”
Guardian of Allah's choice,
Gabriel had heard that voice—
Had seen the felon's brand;
Swift from his hand he tore it,
Swift as an arrow bore it
Into the Prophet's hand.
Gabriel had heard that voice—
Had seen the felon's brand;
Swift from his hand he tore it,
Swift as an arrow bore it
Into the Prophet's hand.
O vain design, and senseless,
To find the man defenceless
Whom God loves like a son!
He cried, “Who now shall save thee?
Which of the friends God gave thee?”
“None,” said the Arab, “none!”
To find the man defenceless
Whom God loves like a son!
He cried, “Who now shall save thee?
Which of the friends God gave thee?”
“None,” said the Arab, “none!”
193
“Yes,” said the Prophet, “One—
Evil the deed now done—
Still thou hast found a friend:
Only believe and bow
To him who has saved thee now,
Whose mercy knows no end.”
Evil the deed now done—
Still thou hast found a friend:
Only believe and bow
To him who has saved thee now,
Whose mercy knows no end.”
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