THE SECOND BOOK.
Not in the desert
Son of Hodeirah
Wert thou abandoned!
The coexistent fire,
That in the Dens of Darkness burnt for thee,
Burns yet, and yet shall burn.
In the Domdaniel caverns
Under the Roots of the Ocean,
Met the Masters of the Spell.
Before them in the vault,
Blazing unfuelled from the floor of rock,
Ten magic flames arose.
“Burn mystic fires!” Abdaldar cried,
“Burn whilst Hodeirah’s dreaded race exist.
“This is the appointed hour,
“The hour that shall secure these dens of night.”
“Dim they burn,” exclaimed Lobaba,
“Dim they burn, and now they waver!
“Okba lifts the arm of death,
“They waver,... they go out!
“Curse on his hasty hand!”
Khawla exclaimed in wrath,
The woman-fiend exclaimed,
“Curse on his hasty hand, the fool hath failed!
“Eight only are gone out.”
A Teraph[22] stood against the cavern side,
A new-born infant’s head,
That Khawla at his hour of birth had seized
And from the shoulders wrung.
It stood upon a plate of gold,
An unclean Spirit’s name inscribed beneath.
The cheeks were deathy dark,
Dark the dead skin upon the hairless skull;
The lips were bluey pale;
Only the eyes had life,
They gleamed with demon light.
“Tell me!” quoth Khawla, “is the Fire gone out
“That threats the Masters of the Spell?”
The dead lips moved and spake,
“The Fire still burns that threats
“The Masters of the Spell.”
“Curse on thee, Okba!” Khawla cried,
As to the den the Sorcerer came,
He bore the dagger in his hand
Hot from the murder of Hodeirah’s race.
“Behold those unextinguished flames!
“The fire still burns that threats
“The Masters of the Spell!
“Okba, wert thou weak of heart?
“Okba, wert thou blind of eye?
“Thy fate and ours were on the lot,
“And we believed the lying stars
“That said thy hand might seize the auspicious hour!
“Thou hast let slip the reins of Destiny,...
“Curse thee, curse thee, Okba!”