THE MARRIAGE OF TIRZAH AND AHIRAD. (1827.) GENESIS VI. 3. It is the dead of night: Yet more than noonday light Beams far and wide from many a gorgeous hall. Unnumbered harps are tinkling, Unnumbered lamps are twinkling, In the great city of the fourfold wall. By the brazen castle's moat, Shout, and laugh, and hurrying feet The great Tower of Triumph stands, All its pillars in a blaze With the many-coloured rays, Which lanthorns of ten thousand dyes Shed on ten thousand panoplies. But closest is the throng, And loudest is the song, In that sweet garden by the river's side, The abyss of myrtle bowers, The wilderness of flowers, Where Cain hath built the palace of his pride. Among the dwindling race of men. From all its threescore gates the light Of gold and steel afar was thrown; Of the richest mould was spread, Where amidst flowers of every scent and hue In the mansion's public court All is revel, song, and sport; For there, till morn shall tint the east, And countless hands the measure beat, As mix and part in amorous maze Those floating arms and bounding feet. But none of all the race of Cain, Save those whom he hath deigned to grace With yellow robe and sapphire chain, May pass beyond that outer space. The legend flames in lamps of gold: "In life united and in death "May Tirzah and Ahirad be, "The bravest he of all the sons of Seth, "Of all the house of Cain the loveliest she." Through all the climates of the earth The vultures shall expect in vain Nor shriek, nor shout, nor reddened sky, Nor to the pier shall burghers crowd The peasant without fear shall guide Fraught, for some proud bazaar's arcades, No face without a smile. The noblest chiefs of either race, From north and south, from west and east, Crowd to the painted hall to grace The pomp of that atoning feast. With widening eyes and labouring breath The bowers of tulip, rose, and palm, Stood the seven princes of the tribes of Nod. Upon an ermine carpet lay Two tiger cubs in furious play, Beneath the emerald throne where sat the signed of God. Over that ample forehead white Back recoil before its ray On all that live beneath the sky; All shrink before the mark of his despair, The seal of that great curse which he alone can bear. Blazing in pearls and diamonds' sheen, The swanlike neck, the eagle face, Blest when across that brow high musing flashes Thrice blest when from beneath the silken lashes Of her proud eye she throws The smile of blended fondness and disdain Which marks the daughters of the house of Cain. All hearts are light around the hall |