The Seventh Book.

Now all is done; bring home the Bride again,
Bring home the triumph of our victory!
Bring home with you the glory of her gain,
With joyance bring her, and with jollity.
Never had man more joyful day than this,
Whom Heaven would heap with bliss.

SPENSER'S EPITHALAMIUM.

THALABA THE DESTROYER.

THE SEVENTH BOOK.

1.

FROM fear, and from amazement, and from joy,
At length the Arabian Maid recovering speech,
Threw around Thalaba her arms, and cried,
"My father! O my father !"...Thalaba
In wonder lost, yet fearful to enquire,
Bent down his cheek on hers,

And their tears met, and mingled as they fell.

2.

ONEIZA.

At night they seiz'd me, Thalaba! in my sleep,.. Thou wert not near,.. and yet when in their grasp

I woke, my shriek of terror called on thee. My father could not save me, .. an old man ! And they were strong and many,..O my God, The hearts they must have had to hear his prayers, And yet to leave him childless!

THALABA.

We will seek him;

We will return to Araby.

ΟΝΕΙΖΑ.

Alas!

We should not find him, Thalaba! our tent

Is desolate! the wind hath heaped the sands.
Within its door, the lizard's track is left

Fresh on the untrodden dust; prowling by night
The tyger, as he passes, hears no breath

Of

man, and turns to search its solitude.

Alas! he strays a wretched wanderer

Seeking his child! old man, he will not rest,.. He cannot rest,... his sleep is misery,.. His dreams are of my wretchedness, my wrongs, . . O Thalaba! this is a wicked place!

Let us be gone!

THALABA.

But how to pass again

The iron doors that opening at a breath
Gave easy entrance? armies in their strength
Would fail to move those hinges for return!
ONEIZA.

But we can climb the mountains that shut in
This dreadful garden.

THALABA.

Are Oneiza's limbs

Equal to that long toil?
ΟΝΕΙΖΑ.

Oh I am strong,

Dear Thalaba! for this.. fear gives me force, And you are with me!

So she took his hand,

And gently drew him forward, and they went Towards the mountain chain.

3.

It was broad moonlight, and obscure or lost The garden beauties lay,

But the great boundary rose, distinctly marked.