5. The will of Heaven be done, Ladurlad cried, But placed his daughter in the etherial bark, There was no word at parting, no adieu. Down from that empyreal height they flew : One groan Ladurlad breathed, yet utter'd not, When, to his heart and brain, The fiery Curse again like lightning shot. And now on earth the Sire and Child alight, Up soar'd the Ship of Heaven, and sail'd away from sight. 6. O ye immortal Bowers, Where hitherto the Hours Have led their dance of happiness for aye, Do ye expect the blow, And see your heavenly dwellers driven away Lo! where the aunnay-birds of graceful mien, Whose milk-white forms were seen, Lovely as Nymphs, your ancient trees between, And by your silent springs, With melancholy cry Now spread unwilling wings; Their stately necks reluctant they protend, To other worlds, their mournful progress bend. 7. The affrighted gales to-day O'er their beloved streams no longer play, The streams of Paradise have ceased to flow; The Fountain-Tree withholds its diamond shower, In this portentous hour,... This dolorous hour, ... this universal woe. Where is the Palace, whose far-flashing beams, With streaks and streams of ever-varying light, Brighten'd the polar night Around the frozen North's extremest shore? Gone like a morning rainbow,... like a dream,... A star that shoots and falls, and then is seen no more. 8. Now! now!... Before the Golden Palaces, The fatal blow is given, That over Earth and Heaven That roam the World about, The Asuras and the Giants join the The damn'd in Padalon acclaim Their hoped Deliverer's name; cry; Heaven trembles with the thunder-drowning sound; Up rose the Rajah through the conquer'd sky, To seize the Swerga for his proud abode; Myriads of evil Genii round him fly, As royally on wings of winds he rode, And scaled high Heaven, triumphant like a God. 103 XIII. THE RETREAT. 1. AROUND her Father's neck the Maiden lock'd Her arms, when that portentous blow was given; Clinging to him she heard the dread uproar, And felt the shuddering shock which ran through Heaven; Earth underneath them rock'd, Her strong foundations heaving in commotion, Such as wild winds upraise in raving Ocean, As though the solid base were rent asunder. And lo! where, storming the astonish'd sky, Kehama and his evil host ascend! Before them rolls the thunder, Ten thousand thousand lightnings round them fly, Upward the lengthening pageantries aspire, Leaving from Earth to Heaven a widening wake of fire. 2. When the wild uproar was at length allay'd, And Earth recovering from the shock was still, Thus to her father spake the imploring Maid: Oh! by the love which we so long have borne Their ample sails expand; Like steeds well-broken to fair lady's hand, And up the northern sky begin their flight. 13. Son of the Wicked, doth thy soul delight To think its hour of vengeance now is nigh? Lo! where the far-off light Of Indra's palace flashes on his sight, And Meru's heavenly summit shines on high, With clouds of glory bright, Amid the dark-blue sky. Already, in his hope, doth he espy, Himself secure in mail of tenfold charms, Ereenia writhing from the magic blade, The Father sent to bear his Curse, .. the Maid Resisting vainly in his impious arms. 14. Ah, Sinner! whose anticipating soul Incurs the guilt even when the crime is spared! Joyous toward Meru's summit on he fared, While the twin Dragons, rising as he guides, With steady flight, steer northward for the pole. Anon, with irresistible controul, Force mightier far than his arrests their course ; It wrought as though a Power unseen had caught Their adamantine yokes to drag them on. Straight on they bend their way, and now, in vain, Upward doth Arvalan direct the rein; |