English

Vala

Night the ninth being the last judgment

And Los & Enitharmon builded Jerusalem weeping
Over the Sepulcher & over the Crucified body
Which to their Phantom Eyes appear'd Still in the Sepulcher
But Jesus stood beside them in the Spirit Separating
Their Spirit from their body. Terrified at Non Existence
For such they deemd the death of the body. Los his vegetable hands
Outstretchd his right hand branching out in fibrous strength
Siezd the Sun. His left hand like dark roots coverd the Moon

Listen. I will tell thee what is done in the caverns of the grave.
The Lamb of God has rent the Veil of Mystery, soon to return
In Clouds & Fires around the rock & the Mysterious tree.
And as the seed waits Eagerly watching for its flower & fruit,
Anxious its little soul looks out into the clear expanse
To see if hungry winds are abroad with their invisible army,
So Man looks out in tree & herb & fish & bird & beast
Collecting up the scatter'd portions of his immortal body

Pirate Ditty
From Treasure Island
Fifteen men on the Dead Man's Chest —
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest —
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!

Ho! he exclaim'd, King George of England standeth in judgement!
Hell hath been dumb in his presence. Ye who on earth arraign'd him,
Come ye before him now, and here accuse or absolve him!
For injustice hath here no place.

From the Souls of the Blessed
Some were there then who advanced; and more from the skirts of the meeting--
Spirits who had not yet accomplish'd their purification,
Yet, being cleansed from pride, from faction and error deliver'd,
Purged of the film wherewith the eye of the mind is clouded,

1.

Then Thalaba drew off Abdaldar's ring,
And cast it in the sea, and cried aloud,
" Thou art my shield, my trust, my hope, O God!
Behold and guard me now,
Thou who alone canst save.
If, from my childhood up, I have look'd on
With exultation to my destiny;
If, in the hour of anguish, I have own'd
The justice of the hand that chasten'd me;
If, of all selfish passions purified,

1.

WOMAN .

Go not among the Tombs, Old Man!
There is a madman there.

OLD MAN .

Will he harm me if I go?

WOMAN .

Not he, poor miserable man!
But 'tis a wretched sight to see
His utter wretchedness.
For all day long he lies on a grave,
And never is he seen to weep,

1.

So from the inmost cave
Did Thalaba retrace
The windings of the rock.
Still on the ground the giant limbs
Of Zohak lay dispread;
The spell of sleep had ceased,
And his broad eyes were glaring on the youth;
Yet raised he not his arm to bar the way,
Fearful to rouse the snakes
Now lingering o'er their meal.

2.

Oh, then, emerging from that dreadful cave,

1.

When Thalaba from adoration rose,
The air was cool, the sky
With welcome clouds o'ercast,
Which soon came down in rain.
He lifted up his fever'd face to heaven,
And bared his head, and stretch'd his hands
To that delightful shower,
And felt the coolness permeate every limb,
Freshening his powers of life.

2.

A loud, quick panting! Thalaba looks up;

1.

Whose is yon dawning form,
That in the darkness meets
The delegated youth?
Dim as the shadow of a fire at noon,
Or pale reflection, on the evening brook,
Of glow-worm on the bank,
Kindled to guide her winged paramour.

2.

A moment, and the brightening image shaped
His Mother's form and features. " Go, " she cried,
To Babylon, and from the Angels learn

A night of darkness and of storms!
Into the Chamber of the Tomb
Thalaba led the Old Man,
To roof him from the rain.
A night of storms! the wind
Swept through the moonless sky,
And moan'd among the pillar'd sepulchres;
And in the pauses of its sweep
They heard the heavy rain
Beat on the monument above.
In silence on Oneiza's grave
Her Father and her husband sate.

The Cryer from the Minaret
Proclaim'd the midnight hour.
" Now, now! " cried Thalaba;