The Daughters of King Daher: A Story of the Mohammedan Invasion of Scinde and Other Poems

W^^

1

The

Daughters of King Daher, and Other Poems.

The

DAUGHTERS OF KING DAHER. A Story

of the

Mohammedan

Invajion

of Scinde.

BY THOMAS HOOD.

L ondon

:

SAUNDERS, OTLEY, AND CO., 66, BROOK STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W. 1861.

F

Shoberl, Printer, 37,

Dean

Street, Sobo.

700 H-T7 QCLMs

IVbl

TO

MRS.

MY

HALL.

C.

S.

DEAR MRS. HALL, If you will not allow that a recolledtion of your

friendfhip, dated as far fufficient I

back

reafon for

muft afk you

to

my let me

can remember,

as I

infcribing this

do

fo,

book

is

a

to you,

on the ground that

in

January, 1853 vou i n fe f ted in Sharpens Magazine the firft

poem of mine which

thus introduced

been

fo

me

ever appeared in print

to the public

who

and

have ever fmce

kindly difpofed to me.

Believe me,

My

dear Mrs. Hall,

Yours very

truly,

TOM

928

HOOD.

Preftace. The Jlory upon which the following poem

I

papers

to

which I have had no caufe

At

period.

this diftance

of time I

to

am

from what fource I obtained them^ but I

down

the plot

ftruck with

from a

its

founded

of brief memoranda among

the Jhape

difcovered in

is

note in

adaptability

to

an

refer for

unable

feme

to

fay

believe

I jotted

old review

being

verfe. to

a

metrical chronicle or the writings of a native poet^ but

I

It

is

pojffible

that the note in queftion related

have not met with either

;

attempted before in Englijh

The minor poems at mijjion

from

millan's

nor has the fubjeft ever been to

my

knowledge.

the end are republijhed by per-

the St. James' s^ the Cornhill^

and Mac-

Magazines.

THOMAS HOOD.

Brompton^ September , 1861.

Contents.

THE DAUGHTERS

OF

Praecentoria

The

Story.

Termanatus

KING DAHER. .

.

xi

.

.

.

.

i

.

.

.

-53

.

57

MINOR POEMS.

The Song

Home

A

at

of the Lark in the City

Laft

Shell

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.61 .65

Lines on the Death of Catherine (Hayes) Bufhnell

To

Goldenhair

The

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Loft Expedition

Spring

.

.

-74 -77 79

.81

Prcecentoria. fome chance

S

traveller,

journeying through

the wilds

Of ancient

lands

whofe exploits

page

Of bygone

now

hiftory

defolate

And

haunted by the bittern in the day,

And

nightly by the owl and flitting wolf,

Finds a rare jewel lying

Mayhap

Of Antony's Of Caefar's

in the

burning breath

love-whifpers

ring

That looped

or the ftone

the brilliant in the pin

the cloak of Alcibiades,

taught the ftole of Lais

The

:

the drop that trembled at the ear

Of Cleopatra

Or

in the grafs

how

to

fhow

gleaming ankle and the {lender

foot.

fill

the

Pr
xii

Or down Still

It

the glimmering arcades of

Time

farther back, within the Pharaoh's

might have gleamed

What

time

me

;

crown

or in his daughter's hair,

found the

little ofier

boat

Among the reeds or in the ftately creft Of fome proud king, whom ancient Kifhon ;

Adown

its fullied

waters to the

wondering of what

So mufing

The

coftly relic tells

And

faves

it

fea.

diftant age

the traveller ftoops

from oblivion, mounting

it

In modern

fetting, fuited to his purfe,

Not

worth of the recovered gem.

to the

Thus

I,

Of the Set

it

who

lit

upon

rolled

this

legend rare

old Khalifate and Hinduftan,

to

numbers of mine own. Perchance

Utter forgetfulnefs had fwallowed

But

for the daring

Though

of

my

verfe,

feebly, to preferve

it.

it

which

ftrives,

So, good hap,

Pr<ecentoria.

The

treafure

Than mine Has

may

defcend to better hands

Yet my

hereafter.

fpent itfelf

upon

Lefs worthy than

xiii

it,

'tis

being

beft of

fkill

willing.

Thus

An

antique

tale rehearfed in

Whate'er the blame Is of the

gem.

I

fkill

meet,

1

fing

modern modes.

my own

That fimple fame

is

th,e praife

mine

In chancing on this legend

little

Which

whofe random

to the peafant falls,

known,

Turning

the ridges in the fallow, frees

From

dark dungeon of

An

its

ancient torque

fo

many

(hare,

years

twined of barbaric gold.

The

Daughters of King Daher.

WEET fwam the founds of night the whole night through

About

That clothed

The

the tamarifks and

the fcented vales and Hopes of Scinde.

drowfy churr of infers, and the note

Monotonous of that dark

Among In

bird,

the darkling ftems

foreft mifts,

The

plumed palms,

till

made midnight

filver ftreamlets

which

flits

daylight,

drowned

mufical.

of the moonlight ran

Between the fliadows on the ground, and In

little

glimmering breaks among the

ftole

grafs.

The Daughters

2

Pale the gold roofs of Oomerkote, and pale Its filent ftreets in that

Around

wan

flood of light.

the walls the wakeful fentinels

In armour, ftudded with cold drops of dew,

Paced through the weary hours, and woke the night

With

A

wave of found

Broke

As

the long note of watch-cries, chanted round that

on the

liftening ear

died into the diftance

in its circle

The word was

grew again

:

on from tower to tower fhouted to each lonely guard.

Beneath the city

in a hollow,

wafhed

By yellow Indus fweeping

to the fea,

And gemmed but late with

flowers, that

now were trod,

Lavifhly fhedding perfume, into mire, Slept the white tents of the invader's camp. Stilly as ftatues flood

The Arab

:

beyond the

lines

outpofts, each with long lithe lance

Striking a black unwavering line of (hade

That pointed toward

the city.

Still

as

Death,

of King Daher.

Slumber

its

herald to

About the army

;

fave

3

how many hung when reftlefs fteeds !

men

Rattled their halter chains, or dreaming

Struggled in fight forefhadowed.

Oomerkote

!

Oh Oueen

of Scinde, to-morrow's fun beholds

Thy

a ftrife plains the fcene of fuch

As

happy

leaves thee ever free

Down

or ever fallen

and trampled 'neath the Moflem's heel.

down

But come what might with day, the night was calm, Smiling as

Whofe

Ocean

rending fangs await the haplefs barks

Gliding acrofs the

Anon

fmiles o'er cruel rocks,

the

moon

Paled flowly

foft,

fmooth fwell to wreck.

'mid drifted

ifles

dropt from fight.

of cloud

The

fun unfeen

Yet fmote

the topmoft peaks to ruby tints,

And

the quivering air with fhafts of gold.

filled

From

crag to crag the

Day

with rofy feet B 2

Daughters Leaped down

into the valley

Weaving long woofs of light

Then woke

The hum

the

ftir

through the trees acrofs the gloom.

of arms, the neigh of fteeds,

of bufy grooms

;

and (lumber died

With

the faint wreaths of fmoke that floated off

From

the extinguiflied watchfires, fhredded foon

To

tiny flocks of mift

Of interlacing The

among

foreft-trees

the boughs

which ringed

rearward of the camp.

From

The Slid

ftandard of the Prophet raifed aloft like the

Where

And threw

in

fome

flant rays

to prayer

level

coming blood.

reached the fparkling fward

long fhadows weftward

To prayer

As

ftrong-winged vulture hovering

his ftrange inftincT: fcents the

But when the

u

point to point

rofe the cry

good Muflulmans to prayer !"

and flow-watered mire

Befide a black and tardy-dimpled dyke,

of King Daher.

A

wild guft fwooping

downward from

a cloud

Spreads o'er a whitening ofier-bed, and bows

The

fupple ftems

acrofs the

The

call to prayer,

and bent

And

while the

Moflem

And

turned to

Mecca and Mohammed's tomb,

Swift were the gates of

ftill

And

Oomerkote unbarred,

fandal, bofled

the vale beneath

Like that which

Of fome

When

fwift

all

fills

with

majeftic doors filver nails

Amid

a dufky flood

and

overfills the courfe

mountain-ftream in winter-time,

the peaks are mantled in a mift,

laming rain-fpouts

Dimming

And

called,

loofed the torrent of the troops of Scinde

Upon

And

heads to duft.

on Allah

Back fwang the valves of the

Of fcented

army fwept

all

flant acrofs the fky,

the pale horizon with black bars.

the flaming tide of toiling arms,

fluttering flags,

and lances tremulous

The Daughters

6

As

brook-fide reeds with the impetuous hafte

Of thofe who Swayed

like

Of fome

caftled beafts

flood

crofs the bar.

plain, the fwarthy cavalry

Beat a rude rhythm on the trampled

And

of war

huge galleons when upon the

wide arm of fea they

on the

Firft

bore them

flirilled their

turf.

trumpets.

High King Daher rode

Upon Its

his mail-cafed elephant that

armour-plates at

clanged

every fwinging

ftride.

So down the Hindu on the Moflem drave.

Then

rofe

and roared the din of battle, rolled

Far up among the echoes of the Reverberant, that

The

To

woke

tiger in his lair

think

it

the wolf, and roufed

who

crouched and whined

diftant thunder.

At

The rum

hills

the

firft

of Indian warriors, fierce and ftrong,

Bare down the hofts of Iflam

till

their line

of King Daber.

Wavered, and giving backward, Bulged juft to breaking.

The

He

So

in the midft

This when Kafim faw

General of Khalif Waled's force

fpurred his fiery

And

7

Arab

to the point,

hurled himfelf and his true body guard

fiercely into battle that the foe,

own

Weakened by

his

Was

firft

And

flayed at

loofe advance,

then ftopt

was checked

then turned to rout,

driven backward on the morning's lines.

So have you feen the long Atlantic wave Againft a Fling

its

cliff,

upright, deep-rooted,

tall,

white force in thunder, mounting up

Swift toward the creft, then, failing, backward

fall

In mift and driving foam-flakes to the bafe.

Not

long delayed the

The

yielded vantage, and with

Moflem

to regain

Hindu blood

Purpled each ftep of the recovered ground.

Hufhed were the

And

hifling rain

fhouts.

The clam

alone of arms,

of arrows, mixed with groans,

The Daughters

8

Reached now the

ears of liftening

Oomerkote

For teeth were clenched and blows

And

cry for quarter none.

Was

fiercely battled for,

As though So

all

The

foot of

foil

life for life,

were the Empire of the Eaft.

hot fun climbed, until his downward wheel to the weft ward, doubtful warfare raged.

Foremoft

in danger, bold

King Daher

ftrave

turn the wavering fortune of the fray.

Where'er the

Or

with

in filence dealt.

day long, while up the fteep of Heaven

Glowed

To

it

Each

:

foe

upon

prefled his legions

Rang

And

like a clarion.

his ranks

backward

Then

brake in there his voice

the coward turned

faced the foe again, and valiant

Vied with the king

in onfet.

But

" Daher

is

men

a cry

flaughtered !" ran along the line

That wavered

as

it

heard

as

you may note

of King Daher.

By

nodding grafles where a noifome fnake

Slides

from

For, lo

his

a crafty arrow fmote the king

!

Between the

And

funny bafking-place to hide.

and the hood of mail

corfelet

buried in his throat

Then from

its

venomed

his beaft in death-throes

Headlong among the fighting-men

Unknown Which

and trampled in the panic

followed on his

upon

his face

then they

The whole

there were

vaft

until they

begin to grow

knew him dead

Mafs upon mafs

Now

flight

gathered round the king and bare him back,

fmile

And

fell

and lay

Yet fome

Hoping where hope was none

A

Daher

found, forgetful of themfelves,

Still faithful

Who

fall.

barb.

:

faw

;

and looking found

army, which the morn beheld roll

down from Oomerkote,

driving fcattered o'er the fhameful field

Like the

laft

That

acrofs the heavens along the track

fly

Of fome

clouds

ragged and ruddy-ftained

o'er-fpent and broken

fummer

ftorm.

The Daughters

io

Then

haftily

they fcooped a fhallow grave

Within the trampled oozy ground, and

The

and

kingly corfe

A wounded Moflem Who faw the deed

fled.

But there was one,

lying by the road.

and when young Kafim patted

;

The

dying foldier caught his ftirrup

The

General to

Where

The

Was

hid

halt,

called

and fhowed the place

the retreating Hindus had beftowed

corfe of

ftayed

And Kafim And knew

one they honoured. the hafty grave

The

was oped

purfuit in hafte

looked upon the dead man's face,

the clay that once had been a king.

Meanwhile the

fun, a fiery fhield,

was quenched

In ruflet mifts along the horizon's edge.

Above

his lingering gold a fingle ftar

Stood fudden forth

Of dying

;

penitent

like

pardon o'er the couch

companioned foon,

As

darknefs deepened

By

brother lamps, flow growing into fight.

all

the vault of blue,

of King Daher. All night in

Oomerkote

The Moflem

fentry

Where

men

dying

Heard the

Through

"

battle field.

groaned to the fhivering gale,

and fank

It rofe

This they fang

night doubly lonely.

And Ocean

wailed.

the long hours of the weary watch

Oh, Indus

The

on the

women

fad fong they fang.

all

And made

the

1

Tell the Sea to which you flow

!

to the holy

Ganges

is

dead

is

tell

Moan

burden of our forrow.

Daher the king

dead

!

is

moan

moan

!

dead

!

cadence floated o'er the

And

among the gorges in the hills, echoes murmured back " is dead is dead

"

!

"

The

Till

:

river's breaft

fighed

Oh, Indus

Bear down

!

By your banks he

his corfe to

Ocean.

His corfe to holy Ganges.

Daher the king

is

dead

is

alone

Ocean

Moan dead

lies

!

is

!"

bear

moan

!

dead !"

moan

!

1

The Daughters

2

The

river flowed

unheeding on

But fpe&ral voices

its

high in the

Sobbed back the mournful dirge

"

Oh, Indus

way,

hollow

"

hills

dead

is

is

dead !"

King and crown and kingdom

!

fail

:

Fair Scindia, envied to the fartheft chain

Of white-peaked moan

paffionate

The

Moan! moan!

ceafes.

!

Daher the king

On

mountains

is

dead

is

dead

dead !"

is

wings of forrow wafted

dirge lamented

till

the fnowy heights

Soft whifpered, each to each

Not

thus the

Not

thus the daughters of

Queen

far

" is dead

the beautiful

That he would come with

dead !"

Ladhee

King Daher

But hoping where no hope was,

is

ftill

wailed,

believed

day.

With day he came Borne on a car before the invading

hoft,

!

of King Daher. His crownlefs head funk on His ftrong hands

Then from

A

thrill

The

as

among

his lifelefs breaft,

hollowed in

the hearts of

Arofe a groan Is voiced

idly

when

all in

a

his lap.

Oomerkote

coming ftorm

the foreft patriarchs,

of horror rufhing through the wood.

maidens wrung their hands

mame among

Wept

without

Shook

their white heads at a

"

13

When

that the

the

the warriors ftern

Old men

girls.

remembered rhyme

King of Scinde,"

it

" was

faid,

feen

Leading the enemy to Oomerkote,

The crown

of

cities

But while the cry

A

fhould be

ftill

forth

" !

air,

"I come

I

come

with the found of wings a filken robe

Fluttered a

And

indeed

fhuddered on the

woman's voice fhrieked

And

loft

moment

o'er the battlements,

then the wind fang in

As down

it

And where

gleamed is

its

flapping folds

moat beneath.

into the

Daher's Queen

the proud

Ladhee

?

!"

The Daughters

14

A

crufhed corfe caft like worthlefs ocean-waif

Among Then

the rank growths at the turret's foot.

all

Oomerkote fank down

the hearts in

And

e'en the brave in battle

The

counfels of the

coward

quailedand

thus

did prevail.

Before the noon young Kafim and his troops Faffed into

With

fear

Oomerkote, and and tumult.

filled

In the

her ftreets

city's heart,

CofFer'd within the central palace-walls

Like coftly gems, the fpoiling troopers found

Two

maids, the

Of beauty

laft

of Daher's haplefs race,

worthy children of a king.

" The General's prize

The

fhrinking virgins to

Hoping

The

!" they cried.

young Kafim's

a guerdon for the

firft

was Fragrant

That wooed each

And fwift they bare

welcome

called.

tent,

gift.

Sweet

lips

were hers

other, lacking others' love.

of King Daber.

The

fecond was the Sun

within whofe eyes,

As

in the opal, lurked a

To

wither and confume the thralled

Oh

what was Kafim's bofom,

Should

Was

fail

to

fill it

tongue of

And

women

Own

foul.

with the flame of love

cherifhed image

all fair

fire

that thofe forms

there fome maiden in his

Whofe

i

elfe

own

dear land,

came between

Or

?

but Ambition miftrefs

?

his eyes

did his heart

?

He was young Stately

The

beyond

his years, a prince

tender prifoners looked on

That

loft in

admiration

of men.

him with awe

all its fear.

But vain coy looks beneath long lames (hot

Nor

love nor pity

woke

they.

Who

Stood

filent,

What

cruel vengeance will not

For beauty

half in anger.

flighted

Of approbation

?

e'en

So the

may

!

girls tell

woman wreak

where harm would

fpring

1

The Daughters

6

Slowly Kafim fpake,

And

To

chofe the truftieft of his trufty band

execute the miffion.

"

Take," he

faid,

" Thefe maids

to

How

no more, and Oomerkote

Daher

is

Baghdad, to

Barracks the troops of Iflam.

my

Mark

Thefe damfels are the KhaliFs

To

treat

them

In

Hold them moft Khalif

act,

tell

you, too

!

have a care

reverently, and give to

All liberties fave one.

The

Lord, and

them

word, thought,

facred prizes for our Lord,

Waled

whom may

So they departed with

Allah guard !"

their charge.

But he

Preft on thro' Scinde his conqu'ring hordes and bare

The

ftandard of the Prophet

Through

all

onward

that province broad,

ftill

which

lay

The

fwift

And

Victory followed where young Kafim

between

Hydafpes and the Indian Sea. led.

of King Daher.

was

1

great feftival in Baghdad.

High, Spire after fpire into the heart of night,

Her minarets were

And

Tigris as

it

ftarred with

Lapping

Gleams

fpangles

at piles

bluely.

:

flowed beneath her walls

Mirrored a mimic heaven

Unnumbered

myriad lamps

and

flaming back

as the

piers,

autumn

fea,

with fparks of light

Creflets flared along the ftreets,

Trick'd out with boughs, and flowers, and waving fcarves.

The

tinkling zittern and the rippling harp,

Like found of rivulets mingling with the waves

Of fome

And feemed

The

the voices of the

wind

the

air,

that ftirred

chaplets and the banners and the flames

Of fcented

Of incenfe. "

made fweet

cape- flickered bay,

torches fhedding heavy fmoke

And

the thronging people cried,

Praife be to Allah

Who

has turned the hearts c

7

1

The Daughters

8

Of foemen

Who

from our faces

has given

Vi&orious progrefs to the Faithful.

To

And

Allah.

to

Praife

Kafim honours

great !"

The

fhouts of joy to Waled's cafement rofe,

And

pafled the golden lattice

Was

troubled for an inftant with a {hade,

The fhadow

of a fhade

as

and

when

Acrofs a funny landfcape, o'er the

Of waving

his

brow

afar fields

grain, fwiftly a fleck of blue,

Caft by a pafling cloud, wings like a bird

To

And Waled

He

ftept,

The

A

So

lofe itfelf in diftance. frniled, as

it

died,

through the curtained arch

and down the marble

flairs to

where

prifoner maids awaited his approach.

filvery fountain, plafhing in a fhell

Of marble, made Through

the

ftill

a found of

fummer mowers

corridors

and frequent lamps

Shed moonlight through

;

their alabafter globes,

While, here and there, among the orange

trees,

of King Daher.

19

In gilded cages mimic-noted birds

Sang fnatches from fweet

lays of various lands

Learnt from the Khalif 's favourites,

who came

From dufky India, fierce with fun-warm blood, From drowfed Circaflia, pale with amorous fleep,

And

every other clime where beauty glows.

In a fmall chamber, chofen

far aloof

By kindly forethought from the city's din, Which triumphed where they forrowed, fat Like cowering birds that

The hawk Within a But e'en

The

in the fky perceive

a movelefs fpeck unfeen of

man,

diftant corner clofe they crouched. their fears betrayed unftudied

charms

tiny foot,

crumpled rofebud, peeped from out her

Forgetful of

Her

;

Fragrant's fhoulder, from the fcarf efcaped,

Gleamed, pinkly-tinted, and her

A

the maids.

its flipper.

hair releafed

Like a gazelle

drefs

While the Sun,

upon her fhoulders, gazed,

in toils,

with luftrous eyes, C 2

20

The Daughters

That

juftified her

Were wound Beat

As when you

the fnaky ivies, where they

At mid-day

A

about each other, and their hearts

clofe in unifon.

Among

a green twilight,

neft of fledglings

As

Their liffome arms

name.

their fmall

home

far

peer

make

you difcern

away they creep

allows, and huddling bend

Their piteous eyes upon you So on the Khalif gazed the

:

filently

virgins, clafpt

So

In one another's arms and fpeechlefs.

The

curious Khalif o'er

Their

fun-kift beauty.

Their

veils

Brimmed he

them

At

they dropt.

leant and fcanned

his near

approach

But he by love inflamed and " Oh fweet

o'er with fmiles,

maids,"

faid,

" Fortune of War

has borne you here.

But, here,

You

mall find folace in Love's fortune, fuch

As

in

is

Waled's

This palace

Or

as

coftly that

Then

gift.

fear not

your own, with is

here

in

all

of

!

fair

Baghdad found

know

of King Daher.

The Abode That

Be

of Peace

fo the beauties

!

I

21

pray you

raife

your

veils,

of your eyes and cheeks

garlands to the mufic of your fpeech."

" Not

fo,

We pray you let us Said

" not

great Khalif," faid the Sun,

Waled.

" For

the fountain of your

my

And

do hunger to behold your face."

heart's thirft

Again they murmured,

Nay,"

lips

"

Pray you

let it

be."

But when they

felt his brow grow dark, the Sun " Good my Lord, we had been proud to lay

Said,

Our

little

Knowing

beauty at the Khalif's feet that our unworthinefs

In force of his acceptance

Unworthy ever

would

worth.

now unworthy

Is this

" To

find

Alas

!

moft,

We do but crave your leave to be "

\

but yet a want remains,

Cools I

"

thus be covered."

fo

concealed."

your country's cuftom," Waled cried,

hide ungathered bloflbms from the day

?

22

Or

The Daughters but the fancy of coy

With

accents fainter,

The brow Whofe Has

girls

Then

?"

" In my

But

uncovered wear.

thofe, unbleft,

purity or violence or fin

tarnifhed, hide the forehead.

Oh,

who

Does he

his

Khalif love

Whence

his

own lips have kifled

With As,

that

after

flic

air

not well

offers grapes.

the fragrant bloom I"

ended, with a found of tears.

fome long breath of wind

That woke

The

fhe,

land the maids

finks

down,

a fudden rufhing in the trees,

grows dufk, and,

filvery fweet, a

fhower

Sobs, child-like, 'mid the funfliine half-obfcured,

Smites the gray duft and from the thirfty earth

Sucks up an incenfe, of frefh moifture born,

Like odorous fmoke of grateful

"

How now ?"

Met

in a hafty

cried

Waled

,

facrifice.

and

his grizzled

frown, and fiery fparks

brows

of King Daher.

Gleamed dangerous

23

" What words

in his eyes

are

thefe ?"

A A

careful

hand had by the

filver difh piled

To

fillers

placed

high with lufcious

fruits

tempt the captives with the fragrance

Of pomegranates, And

ripe peaches,

downy

fine

pink,

mufky apples ftreaked with red and gold.

From

one juicy globe,

thefe the elder chofe

Whofe

mottled rind fliowed

fair

but deep within

The

garden pirate, the black-belted wafp,

Had "

fcooped a hollow to the very core.

See, dreaded Khalif, with

Your

And

flaves

do fervice

like

offer fruit corrupted

With an

When

what fpecious

worthlefs

enforced difhonour.

gifts

your Generals

;

bafe

Mighty Lord

!

Kafim comes, the conqueror of Scinde,

Prepare the purple robe, the ring of gold,

And

fling the

The

fignet

on

mantle o'er his fhoulders his

place

hand, and bid the fteed,

The Daughters

24

Whereon

Then

The

let

the Khalif rides, be brought for the heralds cry,

Khalif honours

!'

c

him

;

Behold the man

leading through the ftreets

Kafim, thus mounted, thus arrayed.

But add

A

farther

mark of

Let him within

The

favour.

King Daher

For we may be none

And took

from

his place

three hafty ftrides and fmote his hands.

mute obedient

Stood in the doorway.

He

for his flaves

other's elfe than his !"

rofe in anger

Swift at the fignal

Said

returned.

his palace waiting find

daughters of

Then Waled

Home

Waled.

" Bid me

They were gone

:

flaves Jaffier here !"

and to the maids

turned his pale face and his fiery eyes.

His white beard

Twitched Along

his

briftled

angrily,

and knotty mufcles rofe

arm, and

Ropes of blue

with his rage, his hands

in his forehead flood

veins.

of King Daher.

"

Speak clearly,"

His voice harfh-grating fuddenly,

What man

To

is this,

Then

" and

fo

he cried,

tell

whofe boldnefs has prefumed

give his fovereign

Sated, defired

25

what

no longer.

his

own

bafe foul,

Women,

fpeak !"

with one voice the maidens anfwered him,

And murmured " Kafim." Through

A

his breaft there

torrent, fierce, ungovernable, full

Of cruel

thoughts, and drown'd his wifer mind.

Then

in his heart

Why

did the babbling populace fo love

To

bear that

an ancient

name upon

" Kafim

did this

Of all

Baghdad"?

(So

"

in

great

full their praife)

Saving the one

And

glibly

As waited

evil

woke

their tongues,

Kafim

and cry

mightieft

fcarcely they referved

the Khalif

who

rules"

or they faid, a parrot-phrafe,

fpoken with fuch ready

lips

not the judgment of the mind.

So Waled from

his inner heart

awoke

rufhed

The Daughters

26

A

thoufand lulled Tufpicions and diftrufts,

That

Of

flept uneafily

beneath the guard

The

Friendftiip until then.

Acrofs his brow,

The

cries

when through

fhade,

which

pafled

the lattice-work

of victory fmote upon his ear

Burdened with Kafim's name, returned again,

And

darkly deepened to a folemn gloom,

That fpoke of coming anger

as at

noon

Gather the coppery clouds, and hanging low Spread o'er the landfcape lurid glimmerings,

Meanwhile the thunder

in the diftance growls,

And

round the ragged edges of the rack

The

livid lightning plays

The cumbrous And "

not enough," mufed Waled,

Is linked

pile,

down

"

the wind.

name

that his

with mine in honour, and the voice

Of Baghdad fends

on

vapours mount, with tempeft frored,

hoarfe the rain roars, beating

Is't

He

high, pile

me

lauds his generalfhip

that

now

thefe difhonoured Indian (laves

?

of King Daher.

27

They were his own to hold the prize of war, And had he borne them to his own Hareem

No

thought of mine had blamed him for the deed.

But now he wrongs me with

Where

Let Kafim tremble. Great

(hall

a ftudied

the

wrong

Gold-meathed and

With

The

warlike founds. trufted of the

Was

Jaffier.

Then Waled,

When

did he

rang

Captain of the Guard,

bow

the head

feeking his beheft.

with the

in his fpeech a

ground

KhaliPs followers,

Lowly

Before the Khalif

"Thus

yet he mufed

ivory-hilted, fmote the

ftep, until the palace

Moft

But

great

at his fide a fcymetar,

Jaffier

At every

is

!

the vengeance be !"

While

Came

mame

fire

within his eyes,

calm unnatural,

faid,

unto Kafim for the Khalif fpeak

to the

General comes

this fignet-ring

Let him give order that a noble

bull,

Deep-dewlapped, and wide-horned, be brought to him,

28

The Daughters

And

the beaft be flaughtered, and

let

Stript

from

Or

let

Kafim come.

clofely, to the Khalifate.

Let none delay

Low

Jaffier

hide

it.

In that hide

Wrapt

its

And, hark

!

to execute our will!"

bowed,

his face

unmoved with awe

wonder, and ftrode quickly from the

hall

His clamorous accoutrements proclaimed His hafte

For Kafim

As

In his heart was grief

in going.

friends

early playmates,

from childhood had they been, and as comrades

Since then in frequent battle.

Of Iflam

When

Their marchings their

Of duty, By

the troops

overran the plain of Scinde

Fain had bold Jaffier fhared their

Around

tried

fightings

toils

their fears

and the glory

brows triumphant.

But the

never drowned in Jaffier's breaft

pulfes of defire or greed, forbade

The

wifhed-for

toils

of warfare by the

fide

fried

call

of King Daher.

Of his

old

" Had

I

Had

ill

For he deemed

purpofe."

Sooner would Kafim from

his

duty fwerve,

the high juftice of the Khalif err.

Thus went he

Dimmed

its

forrowing, though never doubt

the allegiance that Jaffier held

To Waled From

Ah," he thought,

been there, perchance a word of mine

turned him from

Than

"

comrade Kafim.

29

and

own

his

forrow did not pluck

heart excufes of delay.

Ere yet the founds of boifterous

feftival

Had

died

The

flender lances of the

The

night's dark fliield of clouds along the range

away

Of eaftern

in

Baghdad's

morning pierced

mountains, wrapt in fhrouds of mow,

JafHer had reached El Bafrah.

He

ere yet

ftreets

On

the quay

flood, his dappled Barbary in a mift

Befide him panting.

By

He

the fignet's

fwayed the feamen to his will

;

power

and foon

The Daughters

30

A

long low galley toffed befide the

About

the

Its pointed

Above

bows

a ferpent coil'd,

head and fwelling fcaly throat

the water from a narrowing prow,

Knife-edged that clave the billow.

Twelve

And

pier.

and thruft

On

fturdy rowers poifed the fupple blades.

when

the foot of Jaffier dipped the boat

In hifling ripples to the gunwale

broke

The

mirrored fky to foam.

The

veflel darted forth.

The

eddies gurgled, and along the fides

Danced

Then

with a bound

Beneath the ftem

off in flaming bubbles, dimly

By gleams

Warmed

of azure

light.

overhead to rofe

The

golden ripples on the

Gold banners

in the fky

lit

grey of

morn

the thread of

Melted above the bank of clouds

Made

the thwarts

fea,

moon

and day

and hung

where clouds had been.

of King Daher.

HE

rout was ended.

halted, and to

Where now young Kafim

Oomerkote,

lodged his

forces, turned

Their

o'er-tired fteps.

In wearying victory.

Day after day had The Indian troops,

Gathered

in hafte for the

That

holds dear, before the veteran

life

Of the And

defence of

all

(hake the ground with quickly trampling feet

Huddling

they circle

Thus Kafim's van

ftays,

round him and prefent

threatening front, yet

Was

fkill

fheep before a watch-dog fcour,

But when from following the purfuer

A

pafled

invader, fcattered, as the flocks

Of timid

when he

acrofs the Indus

wearied with alternate

ftrife

turns

and

thefe poor patriots, vainly ftriving

To

drive the

their

retire.

thrown

By

Moflem from

1

Sated of purfuit

|

The Modems

3

foil.

flight ftill

The

foe,

:

The Daughters

32

Slow-moving, yet advanced

;

and foot by

foot,

Long-wreftling for poffeffion, took the land.

So ftands a

about whofe foot the waves

cliff

Hoarfe, clamorous,

And

all

the winters rave and rage,

buffeting the headland,

Upon the The gray

would encroach

confines of the coaft

and

rock ftands

Slow grows the land

tillage

!

at its folid bafe

flow finks the

Ocean dethroned gives up Refcues betimes to

in vain

its

fea.

prey, and man

what

it

yields.

And

long years after, from

The

green trees and the gleaming cottages

Cluttered about

its

its

At

home,

foot, the ancient

in-land,

cape

Acrofs the fmiling cornland looks to fea

Where

its

old foe, back-barrier'd, fullen roars.

So on the front of Kafim's vanguard trenched,

Wave

after

wave, the hopelefs force of Scinde

Defpairing broke

To

rally

and from the battle

on the morrow, and return

Once more

in iteration

of defeat.

fled,

length

of King Daber.

The His

rout

was ended

tired fteed

33

and young Kafim led

;

homeward.

Through

a long ravine,

Scattered with corpfes prone, whofe feet were turned

To

Oomerkote, he

Glared

raylefs in the

Where not

Welcome

way.

The

fun

wide expanfe of blue

a fleece of thinneft vapour hung.

to

Kafim's

Unfeen, betrayed

Upon

thrid his

ear, a thread

itfelf

with

of fpring,

trillings foft

a hollow ftone beneath the {hade

Of broad-leaved

plants, a curtain glofly green

Of red-flowered

creepers

Welcome

to

Kafim's ear

hung

in wild feftoon

as childifh voice,

And

pattering feet along the gravel walk,

And

the complaining of a tardy latch

Rebellious to fmall fingers

Of fome

to the heart

who

returns

After long wandering, doubtful what

may be

home-wifhful

His greeting

traveller,

at the gate.

The

fteed releafed

:

The Daughters

34

Cropt the luxuriant

The

bounteous overflowing of the ftream.

And Kafim

And

grafles that repaid

ftain

cooled his brow, and warned the duft

of battle from him.

By

his fide

His crimfon blade lay among crimfon flowers.

Upon the mofiy floor of that ftill nook The warrior flung him down. Through

arching

boughs Thick-interlaced, fome drops of funlight rained

And

flecked the fliadows, movelefs on the grafs

Save for a flickering where a

reftlefs bird,

Unfeen among the branches overhead,

Anon enhanced

The

troopers turning from the chafe beheld

Their

chieftain lying

Lowering

To But

A

the filence with a fong.

by the fount and

pafTed,

their lances in obeifance due,

feek for other fprings to flake their thirft. in the

jaws of the

defile

they met

mounted meflenger who rode

in hafte

of King Daher.

With marks of travel on

And

and beard.

his face

duft thick-lying in his mantle's folds.

" Where

And His

35

is

guide

the General

me

to

him

fteed, the while

The

Turn back

?

So

!"

above

turn back

his cry outran

head he held

his

fignet of the Khalif.

Then Obedient to the bearer of the

the

men.

ring.

Rode back with him, and from

the path's

laft

turn

Pointed the fhady refting-place wherein

Their General fought repofe.

On And Kafim faw him coming and

To

greet him.

But the forrow

Reached him before Sat

on

That

his

in his face fo

words,

blotted out the fmile

fain

arofe

grave a thought

brow, and fpread o'erfhadowing wings

Then Kafim's arms They

his

Jaffier pafled,

fell

upon

his lips.

empty of the

friend

had girdled. Slowly Jaffier fpake

D 2

"The

36

" Thus unto Kafim c

When

Daughters

doth the Khalif fay

to the General

Let him give order that

comes

:

this fignet-ring

a noble bull,

Deep-dewlapped, and wide-horned, be brought: and

The

beaft be flaughtered

Stript

from

Wrapt

its

delay to execute

grief and

tawny hide

Kafim come.

therein let

'Twere well

clofely to the Khalifate.

That none

Then

And

it.

and

let

my

will

'

!'

wonder Kafim's bofom

filled

Grief that his fealty was fufpeft of ill,

And wonder

of what

Thus mutely Sought

u

Nay,

And

if

he was fufpeft.

queftioned (for young Kafim's eye

his in

doubt) fad Jaffier (hook his head.

that I

know

a thought of

Or, from

Impute

ill

it

rifing,

not

;

wrong

fearch in thine

own

heart,

therein has lurked

was exprefled

in aft,

to that the fentence !"

" From

the hour

of King Daher.

When

37

on the fword,

in his fervice I girt

That

fince has helped to fpread his Khalifate

Unto

the fnow-peaked

heart has never harboured e'en a thought

My

Difloyal to I

know

To

of wealthy Scinde,

hills

take

my

not.

my

Wherefore

Lord.

But life,

In battle offered

I

know

he takes but of his

many

it

fault

that if he wills

own

a time to death,

And

Seemingly certain, for him.

That thus

my

had been clofed

I

would

upon

a plain

Where Vi&ory trode before our troops, and To glory all who fell. I will obey." Truth

fat

on Kafim's brow,

Was

written in his eyes

And

holding out his arms

The

friends

And med

A

and

inmoft heart

Jaffier groaned,

for

fome brief fpace

upon each other's fhoulders leaned,

fuch tears as

The fhadow

:

his

led

men may

fhed unfhamed.

of the palm had travelled fcarce

hand's breadth from the time

when Kafim

heard

The Daughters

38

The

Khalif's bidding

The

cadence of its fong

The

friends

Of hoofs

fcarce the bird had reached

when on

remounted, and with hurried beat

re-echoed

down

the winding gorge.

Rattling from point to point

And

To

their fteeds

they hurried back.

through the ftreets of Oomerkote rode

faft

where, within the Palace Court, the tent

Of Kafim

flood.

For

fo the

General

Decreed, and fcorned to dwell beneath the roof

Of palaces

while

Then Kafim

Go To

Duty was

bade his

flay the bull

a-field.

faithful

and called

body-guard

his captains wife,

hold a council with him, and difcufs

The

conduct of the war.

Then he

The

beft difpofal of the troops,

Where

And

victory

would follow

declared

and fhowed

where

defeat

having given to each in ordinance

His future duties and

ftricl:

his prefent charge,

:

of King Daher.

He

told the Khalif's will

And how But

39

concerning him.

his heart was innocent of guilt,

liftened to the bidding

of his Lord.

As, when a gallant bark glides o'er the wave.

Her canvas

bellying to the wind, her

Flaked with the foam of going

A

prow

when

at

once

fudden flaw leaps ruffling on the lake

And

dips her

Her crew

amazement

horror and

fail

and drags

burfts a groan

to fwift deftruftion

Of helplefs From

drowns her

pennon

chill

the pent bofoms of a watching crowd.

So, from the bold hearts round him, Kafim's words,

Hollow with

grief, a

deep-voiced echo woke,

And

fudden

Was

one among them,

Had

faved in battle.

And

eager words of love and gratitude

ftir

of forrowing

whom

To

Carried his heart away.

furprife.

the General's fword

his feet

he fprang

So that he

failed

The Daughters

40

To

note

how

every word he fpoke was changed

Into a cruel arrow as

it

" Be you," he

" our

not Waled.

For you

To

cried,

We have fought

Khalif.

All the blood that runs

fwell our hearts in vi&ory, freely poured,

Shall tide

You

you on

to Baghdad's Khalifate.

prop our country's honour

Its

name among

By

our brave

A A

fped.

chieftain,

the nations.

you have fpread

You

are loved

as brave foldiers love

foldiers

moulded

after their

own

hearts,

conqueror, wrefting kingdoms."

Kafim His accents tremulous

And

forrow

I

did not

in the

Here

is

And

are thefe

know my

That

my

fmites

proud face pale,

throned in his eyes.

fitting

" What words

his

Did

?

guilt

but

I

not fay but

this did

me

it

finds

through

my

my

now

know

Khalif 's juftice was no wrong guilt

rofe,

?

weaknefs out

pride.

And now

I feel

of King

That would

Were

the Khalif pardon me,

difloyal, in difloyal

all

To It

life this

day

me what my heart would be now to die. For

To

give

Never

profefs

my

life

thoughts fpare

and add the further boon

grant

That you

41

Did great Waled

It bred in others.

My

D after.

me

my bofom

yield

defired the moft

all

me

peace before

hereafter think

upon

my

the love this requeft I die.

death

Save as an offering needful for the good

Of him whom That by my

Allah chofe to rule the

ftate,

ceafing from the hearts of

There might not be

a corner kept from

men him

In any living breaft of thofe he ruled."

Then

rofe the captains,

one by one

j

and mute

Paft from the chamber, trufting not with fpeech

Their

lips

Each

after

fo

near their hearts had climbed to them.

each approached the chief, and wrung

The Daughters

42 His hand Pricelefs

From

dropping on

at parting

beyond

all

it

tears

jewels, being fhed

the ftout hearts of warriors.

As

From

out the

they

filed

tumult in the ftreet

hall, a

Arofe, where fturdy foldiers dragged along

The bull, deep-dewlapped, and wide-horned, who hung Againft the halter

From

his diftended noftrils,

Wide-parting,

To

flid

fpumy fmoke

fnorting

while his hoofs

along the pavement, loath

tread except in freedom.

They

fmote him and he

Dulled quickly

Of purple And

the

His

fiery

eye

while a thread

blood acrofs his muzzle ftreaked,

warm

flefh

As Kafim bade them.

Had

the door

his limbs fhivered,

dropt into the duft

From

fell.

At

and he was dead.

they

ftript

But

the fteaming hide

ere yet the knife

pierced the fhaggy covering of the breaft,

Kafim was dead

!

of King Daber.

The

Of paffionate So

full

:

which obedience held

confcious innocence and hate of fhame.

When His

noble heart, fo

love of glory, burft in twain

fierce the ftruggle

With

43

to the tent the foldiers

'heft

accomplifhed

came

His noble head repofed

Flung with an

idle

tell

on the marble

found him, feeming fleeping.

They

to

floor

On

his fhield

his glorious limbs

grace of

liftleflhefs,

That

well might tempt the fculptor, on his cloak.

Then

they took up the body

As

mourning him

a tried comrade, and a General

Who

loved his foldiers well, and never led

His armies to defeat.

On There

He

fell

Jaffier's heart

a fenfe of lonelinefs and

want

miffed the ftrong grafp of his hand

In echoes incomplete

ftill

haunted him,

:

his voice

The Daughters

44 And made him As

thofe

The

long to hear

who wake by

fong entire

Rings

found again,

its

night would fain recall

from which a broken

in their ears

line

from weary chime to chime.

And by his death his innocence was proved. And Jaffier fighed, " It is ill done ill done But how

To

I

know

think that

it

not.

For

;

his great heart burft

was doubted."

Then

they wrapt

The

corpfe within the hide, and drew with cords

The

edges

A

litter

till

they met.

Next

fafhioned they

rude of boughs, and fo beftowed

The body on

a bier unworthy.

High

Upon

the flioulders of four prifoners placed,

Dead Kafim

pafTed

Of foldiers, who

in

between the

filent

rows

forrowing wonder came

(For fwift along the camp the

Flew upon wings of rumour)

evil

news

to behold

of King Daher.

For the

To

time, the chieftain

laft

Death

And from Veered

to

that hour the fortune of the

like a fickle

to

war

that fwings a vane

Weft, and holds

Indus, e'er a

it

there

O'er the fords

week had

pafled,

^

invaders fled before the avenging fteel

Of Scinde's

fierce tribes.

Their troops

By

wind

gufty perfeverance.

Of fwelling The

had led

never to Defeat.

Vi&ory

Sudden from Eaft

With

who

45

Another week beheld

retiring, harafled

on the

rear

hovering bands of archers, and the raids

Of horfemen And

fpreading death, diforder, and difmay.

Then

And

fweeping by the column's flank,

the retreating foldier

cried,

" Were Kafim

wrung

his hands,

here, this had not been !"

r r

The Daughters

46

!

|ILENT Were

the Khalif

Waled

His brows

fat.

knit with lines of thought, for in

his heart

A

vague mifgiving

Had

houfed

Swam The

provident of

ill

In vain the dancing

itfelf.

girls

through their threaded dances, and in vain

fweet-voiced flaves chanted in unifon

Their

tales

of love or war, or cunning praife

O'ergarlanded with

With

flattery.

He was

fad

waiting Jaffier's feeming-flow return.

As women

pale and ficken, while they gaze

Acrofs the waters for their hufbands'

Bound homeward from the

fiftiing

fail,

ground,

till

Hope Dies

like a

lamp unfed within a tower

O'erlooking Ocean.

The

afpecl:

Love

So Revenge aflumed

puts on, the while

For the return of the expe&ed one.

it

waits

of King Daher.

At

To

length a horfeman through the city rode

where the Palace

And

o'er the Tigris

lighted at the gate.

The

Full well that ftalwart rider

The

in the plain

warlike games

That

and

full

knew well

for oft

below the warriors played

when

the jereed

was flung

horfe and rider, feeming one, had as fkims the

Acrofs the turf

Above

And

hung

Khalif

dappled Barbary he backed

When At

47

a lake

turned

it

fkimmed

long-winged fwift

and caught the flying dart

back againft the hand that

caft.

Meanwhile, the murmurs of a gathering crowd

Which

queftioned vainly what the foldiers bare

Wrapt

in a

Was And

black bull's hide

borne into the chamber. fmiled

for

he perceived

upon the wind

Waled his will

They

bare the burden in and laid

Upon

the marble table in the midft

it

rofe

was done

down

!

The Daughters

48

Of Waled's

Hall of Banquet.

Peered from behind the

pillars,

Curious flaves or devifed

Errands imagined that could form excufe

For near approach

With hands

To To

where the Khalif

flood.

that trembled in their eager hafte

ope the hide.

Who

to

He

toyed with

it,

as

one

finds a treafure-cafket, yet delays

raife

the

own mind

tormenting his

lid

With

the delicious mifery of doubt.

" Go

call the

Who

loitered neareft

Then from

Indian maids !" he cried to one,

the inner

on a miffion feigned.

bower where they

In a delightful twilight haze that

Through many Looped with

folds

fat

fwam

of curtains, dropt with gold,

the white ftud of a ftiapely pearl,

And

broidered o'er with cunning flowers in

The

fitters

The And

filk,

came.

ftrode to

Khalif grimly laughed,

meet them.

On

the Fragrant's

arm

of King Daher. Laying

hand ungently

his

49

in his hafte,

Until the blood blufhed in the dufky fkin,

Againft the cruel preffure of his grafp

" See how

And from

the Khalif

is

obeyed," he

the calm face fhred

And fhowed where Kafim

faid,

away the hide

lay.

A

happy fmile

Like that which curves the pouting rofebud

Of fleeping Had on

his

on the mouth.

children, lingered

And Death had fmoothed

the furrows

brow recorded.

lips

Still

Time

and Care

a flufh,

memory of Life, was on the cheek, And underneath their lids the deep brown

eyes

Showed

at reft,

In

faintly.

So peaceful and

Of diflblution, " See how

The

fate

Then

Death feemed only Life fo perfect, free

was the dead man's

the Khalif

of him

in the

from touch

who

is

obeyed

dares to

face.

behold

fhame

his lord !"

dark eyes of the Indian maids E

The Daughters

50

A

fubtle fmile

Smiled

The As

grew

And

alfo.

brightening

their lips

the Fragrant overflowed

filence with the filver

of her fpeech,

a flow-dripping fountain brims

And

till

its fliell

drops melodious on the marble bafe

When

the

ftill

moon

is

regnant.

Thus "

fpake

:

Kings of great juftice do not make of Hafte

An

ally in great

Of thofe And For

Our

deeds

;

or,

on the charge

that hate him, flay a fervant tried.

Him we

ever faithful found. that through

him our

flaves

land

accufed

through him

father died

houfe was rendered defolate

Made

and prifoners

in

a

ourfelves ftrange,

Of natural Our

grief,

fupplication.

For know

ftrange

:

For had we come with but our fimple

A

flie

that

tale

your pride had laughed to fcorn

Therefore our

Kafim was

father or a brother

;

and

deceit.

to us, as his

hand

is

.

of King Daher.

Touched not our honour

Of purity

from

very

hem

refrained.

We Vengeance

Of

its

do fucceed

ours, and in the Khalif's houfe

is

lo

judgment,

!

there

is

great forrow !"

Dark

Grew Waled's

The

countenance

;

and loud

his

words

cruel mufic of the maiden's fpeech

Drowned

in their

Of thunder Of wind

wrathy tumult,

quenches the inceflant found

and

rain,

Are wept away

when Autumn's

wrought

fultry nights

in ftorms.

Thus

Was

as the roar

to

woe

Waled by a woman's craft. Moflem mourned the General

Long

long the

Mighty

in action,

Whom

ready

pure in thought and word,

Envy

At prompting of

lafting

flaughtered ruthleflly

the flanderous tongue of Hate. E 2

The Daughters of King Daher.

52 That

night the daughters of the Indian King,

Unfullied, pure as the unopened buds

That

ne'er encounter fummer's looks of love

But drop untimely

in the vernal frofts

Faffed from the vext earth to the quiet iky

Where

never forrow mars the heart's repofe.

Termmafus. JHUS

ends an ancient tale of ancient times.

When

on the provinces of wealthy

Scinde

The

followers of the Prophet

And

fpread their conquering armies o'er the land,

Bearing the creed

Among

made

defcent,

Mohammed's Koran

taught

Other arms.

the tribes of India.

Since then victorious in the Eaftern land,

Have

chronicles well worthy, telling

Of victory

treachery boldly quelled

Of favage wrong broader light

and deeds

borne nobly, through a

Purer than that of I flam

A

much

arifes in

at

faith

whofe fpread

the Eaft.

Terminatus.

54 Yet would Carry

the poet grieve did Time's fwift lapfe

this ftory to the filent fea

Of dark

Oblivion.

Mournful

And

pointing

how

Its perfect circle

Inflexible

the tale,

is

the round of

wrong completes

of fad circumftance,

involving virtue's

In fuffering fequent on an

felf

evil deed.

So on a mountain height a fhard

By

idle

fet loofe

hands, that reck not what they do,

Defcending, gathers impulfe as

it

fpeeds,

Until whole fnowfields, flipping from their hold

Upon the fteep, fwoop downward, burying The fleeping villages within the vale :

And

after,

melting

Long furrows on

leave to

the hill-fide

mark

their courfe

in the plain

Vaft rocks, and trees uprooted, that

As folemn monuments

Of the

in

may

coming years

difaftrous avalanche.

ferve

Terminates.

55

The Lyre That

lately to

Is filent.

an Indian meafure

Ended

Of the two

is

thrilled

the fad old fong

daughters of the King of Scinde.

'The

Song of the Lark

HE

rainy mift

in the City.

was hanging low.

Creeping flow Creeping along the crowded Dulling the echo of bufy

As

ftreet,

feet.

the throngs patted by in ceafelefs flow,

Haftening, hurrying to and

fro.

Overhead was a fky of lead,

Never

a glimpfe of blue to be feen

Never

a gleam the clouds between

And my heart fank low with doubt and And thoughts of the morrow. Its care

and forrow,

dread;

Song of the Lark

58

And

the

Filled

toil for

my

daily bread.

heart with a wild mifgiving

" Without

:

a friend to love or pity,

All alone in this crowded city Where is the ufe of living ? "

Trill

The

trill

trill

!

fong of a lark

Scattered the vifions dreary and dark.

And woke my Poor It

little

chanted

As

if it

From

And

its

fweet fong over and over,

were only newly

up if

rifen

the fields of emerald wheat and clover

Heavenward

As

thrill.

lark, in its tiny prifon

the notes

Up

heart with a

up

came pouring,

foaring !

the cup

Of its

happinefs were overflowing,

:

in the City.

Out on

And

the

hills

with a

frefli

breeze blowing,

the fky to eaftward redly glowing,

In the bright green country

At

59

far

morn of a funny fummer

the

Sorrow vanifhed

away, day.

gloom was banifhed

Forgotten the dreary mifty weather

And

Up

long leagues

off,

in the fanlight's

;

where the corn was green,

golden fheen,

heart and the lark were mounting together

My H igh

high

high

In the bright blue fky.

Trill

trill

So cheerily

The

trill

!

ftill

lark in the midft of the bufy city,

Over and over Raifmg

my

So, with

all

fang

its

ditty

;

heart like a holy beatitude. gratitude,

60

Song of the Lark in the City. Cheered and chaftened,

Onward

I

haftened,

Bleffing the bird for

That haunted my

its

merry fong,

heart the whole day long;.

Home

at Laft.

Mary, come and Here befide me,

Of the window With

the

laft

in the

fit

bay

ruby-lit

gleams of the Day.

Steeped in crimfon through and through

Glow

the battlements of vapour

While above them,

in the blue,

Hefper

lights his tiny taper.

Look

the rook

!

;

flies

weftward, darling,

Flapping flowly overhead

;

See, in dufky clouds, the ftarling

Whirring

Through

to the willow-bed.

the lakes of mift, that

Breaft-deep in the

fields

below,

lie

Home

62

at Laft.

Underneath the darkening fky

Home

the weary reapers go.

Peace and Reft

have come,

All the day's long

toil is paft

And

whifpering

each heart

Home

Mary I

at length

can

!

at laft

in

is

;


Home

" !

your great grave eyes

fee the long-repreft

Grief, whofe earneft look denies

That

to-night each heart's at reft.

Seven years ago you parted

He

to India

went alone

;

Young, and ftrong, and hopeful-hearted " Oh, he would not long be gone !" Seven years have lingered by

;

Youth, and Strength, and Hope have Life beneath an Indian fky

Withers limb and whitens head.

But

his faith has

never faltered

;

fled

:

Home Time

is

have news this hurried

That

Be

fays

many

days,

fafe in port.

will fly fo faft

he's coming,

!

He

!

come

foon, dear, will he

Thofe few days

Yes

!

note and fhort

Will be anchored !

prepared

good news

his fhip, ere

Courage

:

fadly altered

So he writes me.

In

63

his noble heart has fpared

Yet, dear, he

I

at Laft.

;

Home

Mary

*****

Home

at laft

!

Idle

words

In a

veflel, leagues

!

yet ftrangely

fit

!

away,

In the cabin, ruby-lit

By the laft gleams of the Day, Calm and ftill the loved one lies Never

tear of joy or forrow

Shall unfeal thofe

They

:

will

heavy eyes

ope to no To-morrow.

Home

64

at Loft.

Folded hands upon a breaft,

Where no

feverifh pulfes flutter,

Speak of an unbroken

That no

And

earthly tongue

on the

to hover

utter.

grow

lip,

come and go

the fhadows

With

may

a fweet fmile feems to

Seems

As

reft,

the motion of the fhip.

Reft and Peace at length have comeReft and Peace

how

Weary wanderer

Home

at laft

!

deep and vaft

truly

Home

!

A Shell ITS

HE

JOURNEY.

cold gray

Over

dawn was beginning

the Auftrian frontier-line.

From a flreak It

to {hine

of pink on the water's edge,

climbed up the cloud-cliffs, ledge by ledge

;

Till at laft the day rofe broad and bright.

Routing the fcattered ranks of night.

The

rays of the fun crept

From

the roof-tops into the ftreets of the

Where, on

An

down and down town

either fide of the guard-houfe entry,

imperturbable Aufrrian fentry,

Clad

in

grimed white coat and breeches,

Stood upright

in the

watch-box niches. F

;

A Shell.

66 Each was fmoking

his

morning pipe

and fweet

;

Curled the odorous incenfe along the

ftreet

The morning air blew frefh but And lifted the tiny blue ringlets

aloft,

Preferving their flavour foothing

and bland,

Rich and mellow

The

fo that,

foft,

poor fellow,

beggar, diftant Tome hundred

From

;

feet

the fentry-boxes black and yellow,

Taited the

relifti

at fecond hand.

And now, foon after the morning's break, The little town is beginning to wake. Shutters fwing backward, and blinds

As

the drowfy houfes open

Heads peep

forth at the

arife,

their eyes.

windows, and yawn

In the fmiling face of the rofy dawn.

Soon the urchins, knuckling

Out of their

Then

eyelids,

fleep

fchoolward creep

;

the girls for water going

Set the tongues and fountains flowing

;

A Shell And

laft

a general bufy

Tells that the time of

Hark

!

hum

toil is

come.

on the daybreak breezes borne,

Rings the note of a diftant horn

And

rattle

Come

67

j

of wheel and rhythm of hoof

from the high-road

faint

far aloof.

But ever approaching nearer and nearer.

The

found grows louder, the horn rings clearer

For the mail with Is galloping

up

its fiery

horfes eight

to the frontier-gate

;

Over

the bridge with a roll like thunder,

Then

with a roar the archway under,

And

clattering, pattering

over the ftones,

While the heavy Diligence fways and groans, Toiling the foam o'er their tangled manes,

And

guided by chances rather than reins,

The

eight

Slide

and fcramble over the

little

fturdy plunging nags flags.

F 2

;

A Shell.

68

When The

the journey

funfet's glory

in Italy's fky

commenced, began to

die

;

Their hurrying hoofs the whole long night

Have

fcattered the flint-fparks left and right.

And now, when the moon has funk to The ftrong little horfes, two abreaft,

reft,

Pull-up on the Auftrian frontier-line, Juft as the day

The

fentries

is

beginning to fhine.

have fmuggled their meerfchaums

away

Never were

When With

fentries ftiffer

the Corporal

than they

fierce at the

;

door appears,

a red mouftache, and rings in his ears.

Quick

at his call the frontier-guard

Comes wheeling out of the barrack-yard. The Drummer fmart raps out cc The Surround,"

And

the butts of the mufkets ring on the ground.

Then

And

each fleepy pafTenger climbs from his perch,

the Emperor's fervants begin the fearch.

A Shell

69

So out come the keys, and down on

Goes

And

a foldier devoutly at every

At

the things infide

the contraband

And

trifles

are

the fat

little

handed out

its clofe.

Corporal, poking his nofe

O'er the door of the mail,

as he goes to

Finds a parcel there in the pocket

What

it is

turns

This

he cannot difcover

it,

and twifts

finifhes

Any

!

up

this is a

exile in

it,

and

his careful

feels

it all

infpeHon

man we ought

England

to

watch

ready to hatch

treafon againft the State !"

So he orders the Diligence

While he

unlock

!

fpelling out the whole direction.

By " Ha

;

get tumbled about,

length the fearch approaches

And

;

the traveller's patience expires by degrees.

When

He

knees

cords are unknotted, and opened are locks

While

As

box

his

ftill

to wait

takes the package in, to fee

over

;

it,

A Shell.

yo

What

hidden contents

its

may

be.

In thofe crafty fingers what knots could hold

The

feals give

And I

way, and the wraps unfold

the Corporal grunts in

thought

a

Only

Had

it

was fomething

fliell,

:

" Well wonder, elfe

than a

?

!

(hell !"

that in former time

a tiny habitant,

wont

to climb

'Mid the coral and weed of the azure deep,

On

whofe bofom the fhadows of Venice

No

great

As he

caft his

Which,

The

wonder the Corporal's

as

he guefled, was meant to beguile with a foolifh joy,

And empty remembrance

As he

it

fmile,

eye on the fimple toy,

exile's heart

"Let

fleep.

go !"

faid the

carried the

little

of once-on-a-while

Corporal ftout, parcel out.

!

A Shell So away went the mail with

Out of the town, and over Till the found of

its

71 eight frefh fteeds,

its

the meads

;

going died away.

And

the fun had reached to the middle-day.

Oh,

the Corporal laughed as he entered the door,

With its two ftiff fentries {landing before. " Had it been a crazy Englifliman, well Could

I

underftand fuch

ITS

Over

The

A

folly.

fhell !"

MESSAGE.

the land, and over the fea,

little

parcel travelled to me.

the cover

Quickly

I tore

And faw

the fhell that within

knew

it

lay

a friendly hand

Ah,

I

Had

culled

Ten

long years ago,

From my

away

it

on that

diftant ftrand.

when

I,

native land, by night,

;

A Shell

72

Hurried in a fecret

Such a

On I

flight.

(hell as this did lie

the

laft

verge of the fhore

might tread again no more

Then

!

in foolifh idle fafhion,

In the homelinefs of paflion,

Up

I

fnatched the (hell, and caft

Far into the waters vaft

Murmuring,

To

"

When

the ftrand from

From my I, too,

\

the waves reftore thee

which

exile o'er the

I tore thee,

main

mall return again."

That was

ten long years ago

Years how heavy-paced and flow

And

again I fee a {hell,

Like that one

remembered well

On the dear Italian ftrand When I left my native land

!

Spite of Auftrian prohibition,

!

A Shell.

73

Spite of frontier inquifition,

Hearts Italian o'er the fea

Send

their meflenger to

And

the fhell has done

me

With

a holy deep delight,

As

fome great facred

at

I raifed

Reverently

That

its

errand

Placed

its

Heard

its

pink

it

miflion.

its

rite.

the fhell tell

might

lips to

mine ear

whifper low and clear

Faintly of the fea

That dark

it

fighed,

blue, that diftant tide

Adria's wave, that fwells and

Round

And

the

the

fair

murmur of the

Patience

!

falls

Venetian walls.

Spoke the meflage

"

:

fea

fent to

Venice

will

me

:

be free !"

Lines on the Death of Catherine (Hayes) Eujhnell.

UT

late

among

us with that fmile fo

tender,* Thrilling the hearts of the attentive

throng

With

To

Now

all

Genius and true Feeling render

that

give a

gone

charm

!

to Song.

Yet mourn her

not, for fhe rejoices

In the bright realm, to which her foul has *

Thofe who remember Mrs. Bufhnell cannot

the peculiarly fweet fmile

with which

that never failed to follow her fong.

:

fled,

fail

to reca

fhe greeted the applau]

Lines.

75

She joins her voice with Heaven's exultant voices

One

of the happy dead

Yet we muft

To

grieve

!

we, who are

left

behind her,

lack companionfhip fo fine and rare

To feel a void where we were To mifs her everywhere

wont

j

to find her

!

As

in

fome

foft

Spring morning, dim and early

Ere yet the daylight has Soaring aloft above the

difperfed the dark

meadows

We hear the trilling lark

Our

ear the

Towering

;

mounting melody in circles

on

pearly,

its

ftill

follows,

pinions ftrong

Till an abrupt and fudden filence fwallows

The

clear yet diftant fong

!

Lines.

j6

Thus we Scarce

" She

is

her voice within our hearts feel

our

not dead.

She was

fo

lofs in full

ftill

We have but miffed

near the fky !"

ringing

but doubting, figh, her finging,

To Goldenhair. FROM HORACE.

H, Pyrrha

To

tell

clip thee

Who,

me, whofe the happy on a couch of lavifh

lot

rofes-

bathed in odorous dews, in his fond arms enclofes

Thee,

For

in

fome happy grot

whom

thofe nets of golden-gloried hair

Doft thou entwine Alas, poor boy

Deeming

?

!

in

cunning carelefsnefses

who

?

thee, in fond belief, care/Fes,

thee wholly

fair

?

To Goldenhair.

78

How oft fhall he thy ficklenefs bemoan When fair to foul fhall change and he, unlkilful In pilotage, beholds

The

with tempefts wildly wilful

happy calm o'erthrown

He, who now hopes All void of care, and

Knows

!

that thou wilt ever prove

full

of fond endearing,

not that varies more, than Zephyrs everveering,

The

fickle breath

Ah,

haplefs he, to

Thou

feemeft

fair

!

of Love.

whom

like feas untried

That my

fea-going's ended

My votive tablet fhows, to thofe Who o'er the waves prefide.

dark Gods fufpended,

The Loft Expedition. IFT

lift,

ye mifts from off the

filent

coaft,

Folded

Unfhroud

the

The fnow The

our brave ones

for us awhile

Let us behold

In vain

in endlefs winter's chill

their faces

North has their

groan of ice-bergs

them from our

flieet

fight

furges.

Funeral Torches with a fmoky glare

Shone

a farewell

upon

;

their only dirges

in the polar night

Racked by the favage

No

!

!

hid

winding

loft

embraces

their flirouded faces

;

\

8o

No

The Loft Expedition. monumental

Towers

pillar tall

the

cliffs

Of ice-bergs,

flare the

long night through

ftupendous, fraught with

tinted with a ghoftly

Of amethyft

No human

fair

o'er their refting-places.

But Northern Streamers

Over

and

peril.

hue

and beryl.

tears

upon

their graves are fhed

Tears of Domeftic Love, or Pity Holy

;

But fnow-flakes from the gloomy fky overhead, Down-fhuddering,

Yet Hiftory

The

fhrines

fettle flowly.

them with her mighty dead,

hero-feamen of

this Ifle

And, when the brighter

There

will their

fcroll

of Britain,

of Heaven

names be written

!

is

read,

Spring.

I

ERE, where

the

tall

Slope to the river

Strange impulfes

Have made me wander

I fee,

down

the

firs

hill.

like vernal ftirs-

at their will.

with half-attentive eyes,

The And

plantation

buds and flowers that mark the Spring,

Nature's myriad prophecies

Of what

For every

the

Summer Suns

will bring.

fenfe I find delight

The new-wed

cufhat's

murmured

tones,

82

Spring.

Young bloflbms burfting into fight And the rich odour of the cones.

The

larch, with taflels purple-pink,

Whifpers

And

the grafs in fhady nooks.

breeze, that hangs round every

Steals fweetnefs

With

violets

among

where behind the

See

Grow if

ivied

Gleams

rock

of white anemonies,

mimicking

fingle

gum

the roots.

the Spring, in Winter's

Were

The

drifts

bum,

from the tender (hoots,

here and there a perfumed

From

As

;

fun-forgotten dew-drops wink

Amid

The

brooks

like diftant falling

bloom

his

mock,

fnows with

thefe,

thofe furzes bear

like the fiery planet

Mars

;

Spring.

The creamy

primrofes appear

In galaxies of vernal

And

grouped

Lent-lilies

With

8.3.

ftars

;

in Pleiad clufters

blow

fome

fix

round,

or feven

bloflbm-conftellations crown'd

This quiet nook refembles Heaven.

:

London

:

F. Sboberl, Printer, 37, Dean Street, Sobo,

W.