The Third Book.

_THALABA THE DESTROYER._

THE THIRD BOOK.

THALABA.

Oneiza, look! the dead man has a ring,...

Should it be buried with him?

ONEIZA.

Oh yes ... yes!

A wicked man! all that he has must needs Be wicked too!

THALABA.

But see,... the sparkling stone!

How it has caught the glory of the Sun, And streams it back again in lines of light!

ONEIZA.

Why do you take it from him Thalaba?...

And look at it so near?... it may have charms To blind, or poison ... throw it in the grave!...

I would not touch it!

THALABA.

And around its rim Strange letters,...

ONEIZA.

Bury it.... Oh! bury it!

THALABA.

It is not written as the Koran is; Some other tongue perchance ... the accursed man Said he had been a traveller.

MOATH. _coming from the tent._

Thalaba, What hast thou there?

THALABA.

A ring the dead man wore, Perhaps my father, you can read its meaning.

MOATH.

No Boy,... the letters are not such as ours.

Heap the sand over it! a wicked man Wears nothing holy.

THALABA.

Nay! not bury it!

It may be that some traveller who shall enter Our tent, may read them: or if we approach Cities where strangers dwell and learned men, They may interpret.

MOATH.

It were better hid Under the desert sands. This wretched man, Whom G.o.d hath smitten in the very purpose And impulse of his unpermitted crime, Belike was some Magician, and these lines Are of the language that the Demons use.

ONEIZA.

Bury it! bury it ... dear Thalaba!

MOATH.

Such cursed men there are upon the earth, In league and treaty with the Evil powers, The covenanted enemies of G.o.d And of all good, dear purchase have they made Of rule, and riches, and their life-long sway, Masters, yet slaves of h.e.l.l. Beneath the Roots Of Ocean, the Domdaniel caverns lie: Their impious meeting; there they learn the words Unutterable by man who holds his hope Of Heaven, there brood the Pestilence, and let The Earthquake loose.

THALABA.

And he who would have killed me Was one of these?

MOATH.

I know not, but it may be That on the Table of Destiny, thy name Is written their Destroyer, and for this Thy life by yonder miserable man So sought; so saved by interfering Heaven.

THALABA.

His ring has some strange power then?

MOATH.

Every gem,[36]

So sages say, has virtue; but the science Of difficult attainment, some grow pale Conscious of poison,[37] or with sudden shade Of darkness, warn the wearer; same preserve From spells, or blunt the hostile weapon's[38] edge.

Some open rocks and mountains, and lay bare Their buried treasures; others make the sight Strong to perceive the presence of all Beings Thro' whose pure substance the unaided eye Pa.s.ses, like empty air ... and in yon stone I deem some such misterious quality.

THALABA.

My father, I will wear it.

MOATH.