With unimpeded and insatiate sight To view the funeral pomp which As if the mournful rite d passes by, Were but to them a scene of joyance and delight. Vainly, ye blessed twinklers of the night, Quench'd in the unnatural light which might out-stare And thou from thy celestial way Pourest, O Moon, an ineffectual ray! For lo! ten thousand torches flame and flare Blotting the lights of heaven With one portentous glare. Behold the fragrant smoke in many a fold, Ascending floats along the fiery sky, And hangeth visible on high, A dark and waving canopy. Hark! 'tis the funeral trumpet's breath! 'Tis the dirge of death! At once ten thousand drums begin, With one long thunder-peal the ear assailing; And with one deep and general din The song of praise is drown'd Amid that deafening sound; You hear no more the trumpet's tone, You hear no more the mourner's moan, Tho' the trumpet's breath, and the dirge of death, Mingle and swell the funeral yell. But rising over all in one acclain Is heard the echoed and re-echoed name, From all that countless rout: Arvalan! Arvalan! Arvalan! Arvalan! Ten times ten thousand voices in one shout The death-procession moves along; Their bald heads shining to the torches ray, Chaunting the funeral song. And now at once they shout Arvalan! Arvalan! With quick rebound of sound, Arvalan! Arvalan! The universal multitude reply. A glow is on his face,... a lively red; It is the crimson canopy Which o'er his cheek the reddening shade hath shed. He moves, ...he nods his head,... But the motion comes from the bearers' tread, As the body, borne aloft in state, Sways with the impulse of its own dead weight. Close following his dead son, Kehama came, Nor joining in the ritual song, Nor calling the dear name; And arms enfolded on his breast, Silent and lost in thought he moves along. King of the world, his slaves unenvying now Behold their wretched Lord; rejoiced they see The mighty Rajah's misery; For nature in his pride hath dealt the blow, And taught the master of mankind to know Even he himself is man, and not exempt from woe. O sight of grief! the wives of Arvalan With gold and jewels bright, Each like an Eastern queen. Woe! woe! around their palankeen, As on a bridal day, With symphony, and dance, and song, Their kindred and their friends come on. Move onward to their death; The clarions' stirring breath Lifts their thin robes in every flowing fold, And swells the woven gold, That on the agitated air Trembles, and glitters to the torches glare. A man and maid of aspect wan and wild, Then, side by side, by bowmen guarded, came. O wretched father! O unhappy child! Them were all eyes of all the throng exploring... Is this the daring man Who raised his fatal hand at Arvalan? Is this the wretch condemn'd to feel Kehama's dreadful wrath? Them were all hearts of all the throng deploring, For not in that innumerable throng |