As thus in vacant quietness he sate,
A Traveller on a Camel reached the Well,
And courteous greeting gave.
The mutual salutation past,
He by the cistern too his garment spread,
And friendly converse cheered the social meal.
The Stranger was an antient man,
Yet one whose green old age
Bore the fair characters of temperate youth.
So much of manhood’s strength his limbs retained,
It seemed he needed not the staff he bore.
His beard was long, and grey, and crisp;
Lively his eyes and quick,
And reaching over them
The large broad eye-brow curled....
His speech was copious, and his winning words
Enriched with knowledge, that the attentive youth
Sate listening with a thirsty joy.
So in the course of talk
The adventurer youth enquired
Whither his course was bent;
The Old Man answered, “to Bagdad I go.”
At that so welcome sound a flash of joy
Kindled the eye of Thalaba;
“And I too,” he replied,
“Am journeying thitherward,
“Let me become companion of thy way!”
Courteous the Old Man smiled,
And willing in assent....
OLD MAN.
Son, thou art young for travel.
THALABA.
Until now
I never past the desert boundary.
OLD MAN.
It is a noble city that we seek.
Thou wilt behold magnificent palaces,
And lofty obelisks, and high-domed Mosques,
And rich Bazars, whither from all the world
Industrious merchants meet, and market there
The World’s collected wealth.
THALABA.