Tales of the Wonder Club Volume II Part 38

Seest thou yon peak where clouds do lower; That mountain doth contain, I trow, A talisman of mighty power Within its heart, and I have sworn To seize it ere to-morrow's dawn.

When at thy feet the gem I lay, Then, but not erst, our wedding day.

"This is the vow I must fulfil, And ere we fly across the main The talisman, come good or ill, Is thine. I've sworn it thee to gain.

It gives eternal life and youth, Annulling time's remorseless tooth.

The mountain opens once a day; 'Tis guarded by a Genii grey."

"Thou shalt not run this risk for me,"

Zuleika cried. But Selim's brow Grew darker. "Never maid," quoth he, "Shall counsel me to break my vow.

Know'st thou not a warrior's word Is sacred ever as his sword?

An thou wouldst be a chieftain's bride, Cease me for my vow to chide."

Then round his neck her arms she flings.

"Oh, Selim, hear me once and stay.

Azrael flaps his dusky wings, Al Ha.s.san smiles and points the way."

These words in boding tones she saith-- "Thou ridest on to certain death.

Last night I dreamed, my chieftain free, That Eblis ope'd its jaws for thee."

Then with a smile he sought to lure Her fancies from their dark abode.

"Thy maiden fears to but conjure These phantoms that the mind corrode."

Then added, whilst his brows he bent, "Unworthy were I my descent, Could I be scared from this my theme By warning through a word or dream.

"With thee I through the world would rove; But ere I seek to make thee mine, I'd prove me worthy of thy love, For I am of a Gheber line.

The chieftain of a race whose breath Flows freer in the face of Death; No coward fear can e'er entwine Its coils around a heart like mine.

"Think'st thou a warrior bred in strife And nurtured at the breast of woe Could bide a tame voluptuous life, Or stand in dread of mortal foe?

I tell thee, girl, I live to brave The hairbreadth chances of the grave; Full weary were my life to me, Were danger not a luxury.

"I carve my fate with my right arm, My life I dedicate to thee, I'll guard thee 'gainst the world from harm, And hold thee like a warrior free, Though Eblis' self should seek to wrest Thee from this true and loving breast.

The sun is high; cease to repine.

Farewell. The charm ere eve is thine."

CANTO THE FOURTH.

He on the pommel lays his hand, And lightly leaps into his seat; His steed impatiently the sand Is pawing with his eager feet.

Now forward, and away! away!

Fast onward speeds that charger gay; Fleet as the wind is Selim's flight To reach the goal ere fall of night.

His charger's mettle's at the test, For until the setting sun Gilds yonder slope he must not rest; His and his master's will are one.

The journey will brook no delay To stop for water on the way, So onward fly at fullest speed The rider and his barb Djerid.

Still onward flies the goaded steed; Full half the day is sped and gone.

In foam and sweat the bold Djerid Still towards the mountain's base rides on.

Now with a crash the mountain's side Is rent in twain. A cavern wide Displays to view a jewelled hall; 'Tis guarded by a Genii tall.

Arrived now at the mountain's base, One hour ere the set of sun, The cavern yawns before his face, And soon the charger's course is run.

A voice of thunder from the cave, That shakes the mountain, utters, "Slave, Forbear this sacred soil to tread, Thy death be else on thine own head."

But Selim draws from out his vest A bough, plucked from some distant sh.o.r.e-- A magic bough, compelling rest On those whom he should wave it o'er.

He waves it, and the Genii sleeps; No guardian now the threshold keeps.

He enters; views the jewel bright Suspended from the cavern's height,

One wrench, 'tis his, that jewel bright; That talisman, that oft of yore Sages have searched for day and night, And burned their midnight oil for.

Caressing now his brave Djerid, Still mounted, yet spurs on his steed.

Now, as the sun sinks 'neath the main, The cavern closes once again.

But now the clouds eclipse the sky, The air grows sultry, and the wind Is lulled, yet on Djerid doth fly; The mountain is left far behind.

"Zuleika! Oh, my love, my bride.

Who now shall tear thee from my side?

If not to-night, to-morrow's morn Shall see this gem thy brow adorn."

The lowering sky grew black as night, And vivid flashes rent the air, No human dwelling lay in sight-- For miles and miles the plain seemed bare.

An awful stillness reigned around, A horse's hoofs made all the sound, And even Selim 'gan to fear Some unknown danger hovering near.

And still more sultry grew the air, And peal on peal of thunder rolled, No wild beast ventured from his lair; Yet onward sped that courser bold-- O'er crags, through marshes, bush or briar, He trampling tore with feet of fire, When sudden, without shriek or yell, The horse was struck, the rider fell.

CANTO THE FIFTH.

A lightning flash hath cleft a rock, And formed a chasm in the stone.

Within the cleft, with mighty shock, Selim from off his steed is thrown.

His limbs are jambed between its walls; In vain for aid he loudly calls.

No earthly power now can save The victim from his living grave.

In vain he puts forth all his strength To free him from the horrid cleft; Those limbs so free are bound at length, For of all power he's bereft.

Eternal life is in his hand To live on thus dread Fate's command, His doom is sealed, he cannot die, But lingers through eternity.

Zuleika waits the coming morn With heaving breast and watchful eye.

She scans the plain at early dawn But nought of her lover can descry.

No tidings through the livelong day No footsteps tread that haunted way; Day after day, yet no return; His fate she now herself will learn.

Then mounting at the break of day Her milk-white palfrey, leaves her home Behind her, and away! away!

Upon her lover's tracks to roam.

The noontide sun's fierce glowing ray Checks not her palfrey's onward way; She goads him on, nor slacks his speed Till pants for thirst her jaded steed.

No water near his thirst to slake Beneath that glowing sultry sky.

Her maiden fears now 'gin to wake, as were some threatening danger nigh.

Her palfrey rears and ere a groan Escapes her, a stout arm is thrown Around her. As she calls aloud The Genii stands half-fiend, half-cloud.

Then whisking her high up in air, The fiend in voice of thunder cried, "Behold thy lover in his lair; Thou'st torn for ever from his side.

Nought can avert his destiny, For ever through eternity Within yon cleft he must abide.

I claim thee now to be my bride."

"Oh, Allah!" cried she, "hear my prayer: Help me this Genii to defy.

If Selim's bride I may be ne'er, Take back my soul and let me die!"

Her prayer is heard; her gentle soul Now wanders towards a higher goal, And in those realms of endless light The angels greet a sister sprite.

Then Selim, gazing high in air, Beholds his loved one, hears her pray.

He cries aloud in wild despair, The Genii clasps a thing of clay; Relaxing then his giant force, To Earth he hurls her lily corse.