"Their very bones have crumbled into dust, "So many years have past! "So many weary ages have gone by! "And still I linger here! "Still groaning with the burthen of my sins, "Have never dar'd to breathe "The prayer to be releas'd. "Oh! who can tell the unspeakable misery "Of solitude like this! "No sound hath ever reach'd my ear "Save of the passing wind.. "The fountain's everlasting flow, "The pattering of the shower, "Sounds dead and mournful all. "No bird hath ever clos'd her wing "No insect sweetly buzz'd amid these groves, "From all things that have life, "Save only me, conceal'd. "This Tree alone, that o'er my head 66 Hangs down its hospitable boughs, "And bends its whispering leaves "As though to welcome me, "I love it as my friend, my only friend! "I know not for what ages I have dragg'd “ This miserable life; "How often I have seen "These antient trees renew'd, "What countless generations of mankind 66 "Have risen and fallen asleep, "And I remain the same! My garment hath not waxed old, "I dare not breathe the prayer to die, "O merciful Lord God!.. "But when it is thy will, "But when I have aton'd "For mine iniquities, "And sufferings have made pure My soul with sin defil'd, « Release me in thine own good time,.. "I will not cease to praise thee, O my God!" Silence ensued awhile, Then Zeinab answer'd him; "Blessed art thou, O Aswad! for the Lord, "Who sav'd thy soul from Hell, "Will call thee to him in his own good time. "And would that when my heart "Breath'd up the wish to die, "Azrael might visit me! "Then would I follow where my babes are gone, "And join Hodeirah now!" She ceas'd, and the rushing of wings Was heard in the stillness of night, And Azrael, the Death-Angel, stood before them. His countenance was dark, Solemn, but not severe, It awed, but struck no terror to the heart. Zeinab, thy wish is heard! "Aswad, thy hour is come!" They fell upon the ground and blest the voice, And Azrael from his sword Let fall the drops of bitterness and death. "Me too! me too!" young Thalaba exclaim'd, As wild with grief he kiss'd "Oh Angel! take me too!" "Son of Hodeirah !" the Death-Angel said, "It is not yet the hour. "Son of Hodeirah, thou art chosen forth "To avenge thy Father's death, "That mortal man hath wrought. "Live! and REMEMBER DESTINY "HATH MARK'D thee from maNKIND!" He ceas'd, and he was gone. Young Thalaba look'd round,.. The Palace and the groves were seen no more, He stood amid the Wilderness, alone. NOTES TO BOOK I. Like the round ocean, girdled with the sky.-P. 3. Henry More had a similar picture in his mind when he wrote of, Vast plains with lowly cottages forlorn, Saw Zeinab in her bliss.-P. 4. It may be worth mentioning, that, according to Pietro della Valle, this is the name of which the Latins have made Zenobia. He gave, he takes away!-P. 5. The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.- -JOB. i. 21. I have placed a scripture phrase in the mouth of a Mahommedan; but it is a saying of Job, and there can be no impropriety in making a modern Arab speak like an ancient one. Resignation is particularly inculcated by Mahommed, and of all his precepts it is that which his |