He started and his glance
Turned angrily upon the Maid,
The sight disarmed suspicion ... breathless, pale,
Against a tree she stood.
Her wan lips quivering, and her eye
Upraised, in silent supplicating fear.
She started with a scream of joy
Seeing her Father there,
And ran and threw her arms around his neck,
“Save me!” she cried, “the Enemy is come!
“Save me! save me! Okba!”
“Okba!” repeats the youth,
For never since that hour
When in the Tent the Spirit told his name,
Had Thalaba let slip
The memory of his Father’s murderer;
“Okba!”... and in his hand
He graspt an arrow-shaft.
And he rushed on to strike him.
“Son of Hodeirah!” the Old Man replied,
“My hour is not yet come.”
And putting forth his hand
Gently he repelled the Youth.
“My hour is not yet come!
“But thou mayest shed this innocent Maiden’s blood,
“That vengeance God allows thee.”
Around her Father’s neck
Still Laila’s hands were clasped.
Her face was turned to Thalaba,
A broad light floated o’er its marble paleness,
As the wind waved the fountain fire.
Her large, dilated eye in horror raised
Watched his every movement.
“Not upon her,” said he,
“Not upon her Hodeirah’s blood cries out
“For vengeance!” and again his lifted arm
Threatened the Sorcerer,
Again withheld it felt
The barrier that no human strength could burst.
“Thou dost not aim the blow more eagerly,”
Okba replied, “than I would rush to meet it!
“But that were poor revenge.
“O Thalaba, thy God
“Wreaks on the innocent head
“His vengeance;... I must suffer in my child!
“Why dost thou pause to strike thy victim? Allah
“Permits, commands the deed.”
“Liar!” quoth Thalaba.
And Laila’s wondering eye
Looked up, all anguish to her Father’s face,
“By Allah and the Prophet,” he replied,
“I speak the words of truth.
“Misery, misery,
“That I must beg mine enemy to speed
“The inevitable vengeance now so near!
“I read it in her horoscope,
“Her birth-star warned me of Hodeirah’s race.
“I laid a spell, and called a Spirit up.
“He answered one must die
“Laila or Thalaba....
“Accursed Spirit! even in truth
“Giving a lying hope!
“Last, I ascended the seventh Heaven
“And on the everlasting[169] Table there
“In characters of light,
“I read her written doom.
“The years that it has gnawn me! and the load
“Of sin that it has laid upon my soul!
“Curse on this hand that in the only hour
“The favouring stars allowed
“Reeked with other blood than thine.
“Still dost thou stand and gaze incredulous?
“Young man, be merciful, and keep her not
“Longer in agony!”
Thalaba’s unbelieving frown
Scowled on the Sorcerer,
When in the air the rush of wings was heard
And Azrael stood among them.
In equal terror at the sight
The Enchanter, the Destroyer stood,
And Laila, the victim maid.
“Son of Hodeirah!” said the Angel of Death,
“The accursed fables not.
“When from the Eternal Hand I took
“The yearly[170] scroll of fate,
“Her name was written there.
“This is the hour, and from thy hands
“Commissioned to receive the Maid I come.”
“Hear me O Angel!” Thalaba replied,
“To avenge my Father’s death,
“To work the will of Heaven,
“To root from earth the accursed sorcerer race,
“I have dared danger undismayed,
“I have lost all my soul held dear,
“I am cut off from all the ties of life,
“Unmurmuring; for whate’er awaits me still,
“Pursuing to the end the enterprize,
“Peril or pain, I bear a ready heart.
“But strike this Maid! this innocent!
“Angel, I dare not do it.”