His spirits rose; refreshing food

At Noufal's hospitable board
Seem'd to remove his wayward mood,
So long endured, so long deplored.

And Noufal with delight survey'd
The social joy his eyes betray'd,

And heard his glowing strains of love,
His murmurings like the turtle-dove,
While thinking of his Arab maid.
Changed from himself, his mind at rest,
In customary robes he dress'd;

A turban shades his forehead pałe,
No more is heard the lover's wail,

But, jocund as the vintner's guest,
He laughs and drinks with added zest
His dungeon gloom exchanged for day
His cheeks a rosy tint display;

He revels midst the garden's sweets,
And still his lip the goblet meets;
But so devoted, so unchanged his flame,
Never without repeating Laili's name.

In friendly converse, heart uniting heart,
Noufal and Majnún hand in hand are seen;
And, from each other loathing to depart,

1000

1010

1020

Wander untired by fount and meadow green.

But what is friendship to a soul
Inured to more intense control?
A zephyr breathing over flowers,
Compared to when the tempest lours?
A zephyr, friendship's gentler course;
A tempest, love's tumultuous force;
For friendship leaves a vacuum still,
Which love, and love alone, can fill:

So Majnún felt; and Noufal tried,
In vain, to fill that aching void:
For, though the liquid sparkling red

Still flow'd, his friend thus sorrowing said:

66

My generous host, with plenty bless'd,

No boding cares thy thoughts molest ;
Thy kindness many a charm hath given,
But not one solace under heaven;
Without my love, in tears I languish,

And not a voice to check my anguish;

Like one of thirst about to die,

And every fountain near him dry:
Thirst is by water quench'd, not treasure,
Nor floods of wine, nor festive pleasure.
Bring me the cure my wounds require;
Quench in my heart this raging fire;
My Lailí, oh! my Lailí give,

Or thy poor friend must cease to live!"
Majnún had scarce his wish express'd
Ere rose in generous Noufal's breast

1030

1040

1050

The firm resolve to serve his friend,

And to his settled purpose bend

Laili's stern father;

Now, in arms array'd,

And lifting high his keen Damascus blade,

He calls a band of veterans to his aid.

Swift as the feather'd race the assembled train

Rush, sword in hand, along the desert plain; 1060 And when the chieftain's habitation bright

Upon the blue horizon strikes the sight,

He sends a messenger to claim the bride,
In terms imperious, not to be denied ;
Yet was that claim derided. "Thou wilt soon
Repent this folly :-Lailí is the moon;

And who presumes the splendid moon to gain?
Is there on earth a man so mad, so vain?

Who draw their swords at such a hazard? None.
Who strikes his crystal vase upon a stone?" 1070
Noufal again endeavours to inspire

With dread of vengeance Laili's haughty sire;
But useless are the threats-the same reply-
"Alike thy power and vengeance I defy !"
The parley over, Noufal draws his sword,
And with his horsemen pours upon the horde,
Ready for battle. Spears and helmets ring,
And brass-bound shields; loud twangs the archer's

string;

The field of conflict like the ocean roars,

When the huge billows burst upon the shores. 1080

Arrows, like birds, on either foeman stood,

Drinking with open beak the vital flood;
The shining daggers in the battle's heat
Roll'd many a head beneath the horses' feet;
And lightnings, hurl'd by death's unsparing hand,
Spread consternation through the weeping land.
Amidst the horrors of that fatal fight,

Majnún appear'd—a strange appalling sight!
Wildly he raved, confounding friend and foe,
His garments half abandon'd in his woe,
And with a maniac stare reproachful cried-

66

side?"

1090

Why combat thus when all are on my The foemen laugh'd-the uproar louder grewNo pause the brazen drums or trumpets knew; The stoutest heart sank at the carnage wrought; Swords blush'd to see the numerous heads they

smote.

-Noufal with dragon-fierceness prowl'd around, And hurl'd full many a warrior to the ground: Whatever hero felt his ponderous gerz

Was crush'd, tho' stedfast as the Mount Elbêrz. 1100

Upon whatever head his weapon fell,

There was but one heart-rending tale to tell.

Like a mad elephant the foe he met;

With hostile blood his blade continued wet;

-Wearied at length, both tribes at once withdrew, Resolved with morn the combat to renew;

But Noufal's gallant friends had suffer'd most;

In one hour more the battle had been lost;
And thence assistance, ere the following dawn,
From other warlike tribes was promptly drawn. 1116

The desert rang again. In front and rear Glitter'd bright sword and buckler, gerz and spear; Again the struggle woke the echoes round,

Swords clash'd, and blood again made red the ground;

The book of life, with dust and carnage stain'd,
Was soon destroy'd, and not a leaf remain'd.
At last, the tribe of Laili's sire gave way,
And Noufal won the hard-contested day;
Numbers lay bleeding of that conquer'd band,
And died unsuccour'd on the burning sand.

1120

And now the elders of that tribe appear,
Imploring the proud victor. "Chieftain, hear!
The work of slaughter is complete;

Thou seest our power destroy'd; allow
Us, wretched suppliants, at thy feet,

Humbly to ask for mercy now.