No sloping uplands lifting to the sun

Their vine-yards, with fresh verdure, and the shade
Of ancient woods, courting the loiterer
To win the easy ascent: stone mountains these,
Desolate rock on rock,

The burthens of the earth

Whose snowy summits met the morning beam When night was in the vale, whose feet were fix'd In the world's foundations. Thalaba survey'd The heights precipitous,

Impending crags, rocks unascendible
And summits that had tir'd the eagle's wing;
"There is no way!" he cried.
Paler Oneiza grew,

And hung upon his arm a feebler weight.

4.

But soon again to hope

Revives the Arabian maid,

As Thalaba imparts the sudden thought.

"I past a river,” cried the youth,
"A full and copious stream.

"The flowing waters cannot be restrained, "And where they find or force their way, "There we perchance may follow; thitherward "The current rolled along."

So saying, yet again in hope
Quickening their eager steps,
They turned them thitherward.

5.

Silent and calm the river rolled along,
And at the verge arriv'd

Of that fair garden, o'er a rocky bed
Towards the mountain-base,

Still full and silent, held its even way.

But farther as they went its deepening sound
Louder and louder in the distance rose,
As if it forced its stream

Struggling with crags along a narrow pass.
And lo! where raving o'er a hollow course
The ever-flowing tide

Foams in a thousand whirlpools! there adown

The perforated rock

Plunge the whole waters; so precipitous,

So fathomless a fall,

That their earth-shaking roar came deadened up Like subterranean thunders.

6.

"Allah save us !"

Oneiza cried, "there is no path for man
"From this accursed place!"

And as she spake, her joints

Were loosen'd, and her knees sunk under her. "Cheer up, Oneiza!" Thalaba replied, "Be of good heart. We cannot fly "The dangers of the place,

"But we can conquer them!"

7.

And the young Arab's soul

Arose within him; "What is he," he cried,

"Who hath prepar'd this garden of delight, "And wherefore are its snares ?”

8

The Arabian Maid replied,

"The Women, when I entered, welcom'd me "To Paradise, by Aloadin's will

"Chosen, like themselves, a Houri of the Earth. "They told me, credulous of his blasphemies, "That Aloadin placed them to reward "His faithful servants with the joys of Heaven. "O Thalaba, and all are ready here

"To wreak his wicked will, and work all crimes! "How then shall we escape?"

9.

"Woe to him!" cried the Appointed, a stern smile Darkening with stronger shades his countenance; "Woe to him! he hath laid his toils

"To take the Antelope,

"The Lion is come in!"

She shook her head, "A Sorcerer he,

"And guarded by so many! Thalaba,...
"And thou but one!"

VOL. II.

10.

He raised his hand to Heaven,

"Is there not God, Oneiza?

C

"I have a Talisman, that, whoso bears, "Him, nor the Earthly, nor the Infernal Powers "Of Evil, can cast down. "Remember, Destiny

"Hath mark'd me from mankind!

"Now rest in faith, and I will guard thy sleep!"

11.

So on a violet bank

The Arabian Maid laid down,

Her soft cheek pillow'd upon moss and flowers.
She lay in silent prayer,

Till prayer had tranquilliz'd her fears,
And sleep fell on her. By her side
Silent sate Thalaba,

And gaz'd upon the Maid,

And as he gaz'd, drew in

New courage and intenser faith,
And waited calmly for the eventful day.

Loud

12.

sung the Lark, the awaken'd Maid

Beheld him twinkling in the morning light,