I. 28
“Breath’d thro’ his moveless lips the unearthly voice.
“All looks were turn’d to him. “O Ad!” he cried,
“Dear native land, by all remembrances
“Of childhood, by all joys of manhood dear;
“O Vale of many Waters! morn and night
“My age must groan for you, and to the grave
“Go down in sorrow. Thou wilt give thy fruits,
“But who shall gather them? thy grapes will ripen,
“But who shall tread the wine-press? Fly the wrath,
“Ye who would live and save your souls alive!
“For strong is his right hand that bends the Bow,
“The Arrows that he shoots are sharp,
“And err not from their aim!”
“All looks were turn’d to him. “O Ad!” he cried,
“Dear native land, by all remembrances
“Of childhood, by all joys of manhood dear;
“O Vale of many Waters! morn and night
“My age must groan for you, and to the grave
“Go down in sorrow. Thou wilt give thy fruits,
“But who shall gather them? thy grapes will ripen,
“But who shall tread the wine-press? Fly the wrath,
“Ye who would live and save your souls alive!
“For strong is his right hand that bends the Bow,
“The Arrows that he shoots are sharp,
“And err not from their aim!”
“With that a faithful few
“Prest through the throng to join him. Then arose
“Mockery and mirth; “Go, bald head!” and they mix’d
“Curses with laughter. He set forth, yet once
“Look’d back:.. his eye fell on me, and he call’d
“Aswad!”… it startled me,.. it terrified,..
“Aswad!” again he call’d,.. and I almost
“Had followed him… O moment fled too soon!
“O moment irrecoverably lost!
“Prest through the throng to join him. Then arose
“Mockery and mirth; “Go, bald head!” and they mix’d
“Curses with laughter. He set forth, yet once
“Look’d back:.. his eye fell on me, and he call’d
“Aswad!”… it startled me,.. it terrified,..
“Aswad!” again he call’d,.. and I almost
“Had followed him… O moment fled too soon!
“O moment irrecoverably lost!
