the miscellaneous writings and speeches-3-第49章

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ms　a　livelier　note。　The　ship…boy　chaunts　a　shriller　lay　From　the　galleys　in　the　bay。　Shout；　and　laugh；　and　hurrying　feet　Sound　from　mart　and　square　and　street；　From　the　breezy　laurel　shades；　From　the　granite　colonnades；　From　the　golden　statue's　base；　From　the　stately　market…place；　Where；　upreared　by　captive　hands；　The　great　Tower　of　Triumph　stands；　All　its　pillars　in　a　blaze　With　the　many…coloured　rays；　Which　lanthorns　of　ten　thousand　dyes　Shed　on　ten　thousand　panoplies。　But　closest　is　the　throng；　And　loudest　is　the　song；　In　that　sweet　garden　by　the　river　side；　The　abyss　of　myrtle　bowers；　The　wilderness　of　flowers；　Where　Cain　hath　built　the　palace　of　his　pride。　Such　palace　ne'er　shall　be　again　Among　the　dwindling　race　of　men。　From　all　its　threescore　gates　the　light　Of　gold　and　steel　afar　was　thrown；　Two　hundred　cubits　rose　in　height　The　outer　wall　of　polished　stone。　On　the　top　was　ample　space　For　a　gallant　chariot　race；　Near　either　parapet　a　bed　Of　the　richest　mould　was　spread；　Where　amidst　flowers　of　every　scent　and　hue　Rich　orange　trees；　and　palms；　and　giant　cedars　grew。　In　the　mansion's　public　court　All　is　revel；　song；　and　sport；　For　there；　till　morn　shall　tint　the　east；　Menials　and　guards　prolong　the　feast。　The　boards　with　painted　vessels　shine；　The　marble　cisterns　foam　with　wine。　A　hundred　dancing　girls　are　there　With　zoneless　waists　and　streaming　hair；　And　countless　eyes　with　ardour　gaze；　And　countless　hands　the　measure　beat；　As　mix　and　part　in　amorous　maze　Those　floating　arms　and　bounding　feet。　But　none　of　all　the　race　of　Cain；　Save　those　whom　he　hath　deigned　to　grace　With　yellow　robe　and　sapphire　chain；　May　pass　beyond　that　outer　space。　For　now　within　the　painted　hall　The　Firstborn　keeps　high　festival。　Before　the　glittering　valves　all　night　Their　post　the　chosen　captains　hold。　Above　the　portal's　stately　height　The　legend　flames　in　lamps　of　gold：　〃In　life　united　and　in　death　〃May　Tirzah　and　Ahirad　be；　〃The　bravest　he　of　all　the　sons　of　Seth；　〃Of　all　the　house　of　Cain　the　loveliest　she。〃　Through　all　the　climates　of　the　earth　This　night　is　given　to　festal　mirth。　The　long　continued　war　is　ended。　The　long　divided　lines　are　blended。　Ahirad's　bow　shall　now　no　more　Make　fat　the　wolves　with　kindred　gore。　The　vultures　shall　expect　in　vain　Their　banquet　from　the　sword　of　Cain。　Without　a　guard　the　herds　and　flocks　Along　the　frontier　moors　and　rocks　From　eve　to　morn　may　roam：　Nor　shriek；　nor　shout；　nor　reddened　sky；　Shall　warn　the　startled　hind　to　fly　From　his　beloved　home。　Nor　to　the　pier　shall　burghers　crowd　With　straining　necks　and　faces　pale；　And　think　that　in　each　flitting　cloud　They　see　a　hostile　sail。　The　peasant　without　fear　shall　guide　Down　smooth　canal　or　river　wide　His　painted　bark　of　cane；　Fraught；　for　some　proud　bazaar's　arcades；　With　chestnuts　from　his　native　shades；　And　wine；　and　milk；　and　grain。　Search　round　the　peopled　globe　to…night；　Explore　each　continent　and　isle；　There　is　no　door　without　a　light；　No　face　without　a　smile。　The　noblest　chiefs　of　either　race；　From　north　and　south；　from　west　and　east；　Crowd　to　the　painted　hall　to　grace　The　pomp　of　that　atoning　feast。　With　widening　eyes　and　labouring　breath　Stand　the　fair…haired　sons　of　Seth；　As　bursts　upon　their　dazzled　sight　The　endless　avenue　of　light；　The　bowers　of　tulip；　rose；　and　palm；　The　thousand　cressets　fed　with　balm；　The　silken　vests；　the　boards　piled　high　With　amber；　gold；　and　ivory；　The　crystal　founts　whence　sparkling　flow　The　richest　wines　o'er　beds　of　snow；　The　walls　where　blaze　in　living　dyes　The　king's　three　hundred　victories。　The　heralds　point　the　fitting　seat　To　every　guest　in　order　meet；　And　place　the　highest　in　degree　Nearest　th'　imperial　canopy。　Beneath　its　broad　and　gorgeous　fold；　With　naked　swords　and　shields　of　gold；　Stood　the　seven　princes　of　the　tribes　of　Nod。　Upon　an　ermine　carpet　lay　Two　tiger　cubs　in　furious　play；　Beneath　the　emerald　throne　where　sat　the　signed　of　God。　Over　that　ample　forehead　white　The　thousandth　year　returneth。　Still；　on　its　commanding　height；　With　a　fierce　and　blood…red　light；　The　fiery　token　burneth。　Wheresoe'er　that　mystic　star　Blazeth　in　the　van　of　war；　Back　recoil　before　its　ray　Shield　and　banner；　bow　and　spear；　Maddened　horses　break　away　From　the　trembling　charioteer。　The　fear　of　that　stern　king　doth　lie　On　all　that　live　beneath　the　sky：　All　shrink　before　the　mark　of　his　despair；　The　seal　of　that　great　curse　which　he　alone　can　bear。　Blazing　in　pearls　and　diamonds'　sheen。　Tirzah；　the　young　Ahirad's　bride；　Of　humankind　the　destined　queen；　Sits　by　her　great　forefather's　side。　The　jetty　curls；　the　forehead　high；　The　swan　like　neck；　the　eagle　face；　The　glowing　cheek；　the　rich　dark　eye；　Proclaim　her　of　the　elder　race。　With　flowing　locks　of　auburn　hue；　And　features　smooth；　and　eye　of　blue；　Timid　in　love　as　brave　in　arms；　The　gentle　heir　of　Seth　askance　Snatches　a　bashful；　ardent　glance　At　her　majestic　charms；　Blest　when　across　that　brow　high　musing　flashes　A　deeper　tint　of　rose；　Thrice　blest　when　from　beneath　the　silken　lashes　Of　her　proud　eye　she　throws　The　smile　of　blended　fondness　and　disdain　Which　marks　the　daughters　of　the　house　of　Cain。　All　hearts　are　light　around　the　hall　Save　his　who　is　the　lord　of　all。　The　painted　roofs；　the　attendant　train；　The　lights；　the　banquet；　all　are　vain。　He　sees　them　not。　　His　fancy　strays　To　other　scenes　and　other　days。　A　cot　by　a　lone　forest's　edge；　A　fountain　murmuring　through　the　trees；　A　garden　with　a　wildflower　hedge；　Whence　sounds　the　music　of　the　bees；　A　little　flock　of　sheep　at　rest　Upon　a　mountain's　swarthy　breast。　On　his　rude　spade　he　seems　to　lean　Beside　the　well　remembered　stone；　Rejoicing　o'er　the　promised　green　Of　the　first　harvest　man　hath　sown。　He　sees　his　mother's　tears；　His　father's　voice　he　hears；　Kind　as　when　first　it　praised　his　youthful　skill。　And　soon　a　seraph…child；　In　boyish　rapture　wild；　With　a　light　crook　comes　bounding　from　the　hill；　Kisses　his　hands；　and　strokes　his　face；　And　nestles　close　in　his　embrace。　In　his　adamantine　eye　None　might　discern　his　agony；　But　they　who　had　grown　hoary　next　his　side；　And　read　his　stern　dark　face　with　deepest　skill；　Could　trace　strange　meanings　in　that　lip　of　pride；　Which　for　one　moment　quivered　and　was　still。　No　time　for　them　to　mark　or　him　to　feel　Those　inward　stings；　for　clarion；　flute；　and　lyre；　And　the　rich　voices　of　a　countless　quire；　Burst　on　the　ear　in　one　triumphant　peal。　In　breathless　transport　sits　the　admiring　throng；　As　sink　and　swell　the　notes　of　Jubal's　lofty　song。　〃Sound　the　timbrel；　strike　the　lyre；　Wake　the　trumpet's　blast　of　fire；　Till　the　gilded　arches　ring。　Empire；　victory；　and　fame；　Be　ascribed　unto　the　name　Of　our　father　and　our　king。　Of　the　deeds　which　he　hath　done；　Of　the　spoils　which　he　hath　won；　Let　his　grateful　children　sing。　When　the　deadly　fight　was　fought；　When　the　great　revenge　was　wrought；　When　on　the　slaughtered　victims　lay　The　minion　stiff　and　cold　as　they；　Doomed　to　exile；　sealed　with　flame；　From　the　west　the　wanderer　came。　Six　score　years　and　six　he　strayed　A　hunter　through　the　forest　shade。　The　lion's　shaggy　jaws　he　tore；　To　earth　he　smote　the　foaming　boar；　He　crushed　the　dragon's　fiery　crest；　And　scaled　the　condor's　dizzy　nest；　Till　hardy　sons　and　daughters　fair　Increased　around　his　woodlan