a

a

wings," and he alighted on his feet, “ For oh! ye fair apostates! Japhet found « unshaken, on the Stygian bottom. That ye were numerous in that loathsome The demon, casting a look over his

vault, left shoulder, did not, you may rest

In which, even while mortality ye wore, assured, let the grass grow under his And madly wantoned with your husbandfeet; and Japhet, “ with fresh zeal,

fiends,

Ye felt a foretaste of the heavier doom renewed the chase." The fiend, by a terrific mandate, makes a huge gate How different that sad vault, accursed and

Which waits the wicked in profounder hell. fly open in a mountain's side, that for

foul, a moment, like a solid wall, had seem

From the bright Eden for those fair ones ed to obstruct his flight, and just as

made, he is about to bang it after him,

Who for their spouses chose celestial spirits, Japhet gets within reach and tips it And still maintained fidelity to heaven. a touch of the Crutch. The effect True ; some were here, by demon force comis just what might have been expected

pelled, -it stands immovable and Chris- Like virtuous Isamell; but God on these topher pursues the ravisher into a

With pity looked, and blest their mortal large cavern,

whose limits spread hour, within the central space, extensive Which ever soon he sent for their release, as an empire.” There he holds his un. When angels bore their ransomed souls on obstructed way, “ for many a league,” high." through a realm “named Hades":

Japhet emerges with Isamell from the full of

Tartarean gulph, and finds himself on " Poisonous weeds the shore of a dreadful sea.

But at a And loathsome reptiles, venomous and foul- touch of the Crutch its rage subsides, Toads, scorpions, alligators, vampires, snakes, Whose forked tongues sent forth incessant

" And with a sudden ebb, hiss,

It leaves the shore, on which a path is That made even demons shudder in their formed, dens.”

Broad, firm and dry, with pearl and corals

paved, Here Japhet is at fault, for the de

And silver sand and shells innumerable mon, who 'has stuck to his prize like

Of many a glittering, gay, fantastic dye.” wax, disappears “amidst a labyrinth of tangled streets in Tophet's fulsome Before sunset they reach the farm. city,” and there is no running him by Isamell is “to the heart of her rejoicing the foot in the general stink.

sire pressed with parental rapture; At length Japhet reaches the citadel and the harp of Irad—who must have -and enters the palace of Belial_who been for some time in a shocking state at sight of the Crutch is cowed, and of suspensesings small-saying, sotto voce, “ De

“ Woke to strains of ecstasy, clare thy wish. In words

Poured forth a lover's gratitude and joy “ of peace I ask thee. If thy will be such

For the sweet mistress of his heart restored.” As, without ruin, we to thee may grant, But the pilgrims must march eastI promise strict compliance, so that thou wards on their mission—too long neWithdraw from our domains, nor more dis- glected; and Jotham, afraid to remain turb

in the realms of Shalmazar, receives The habits of our subterrene abode."

from Japhet a token that will gain him Japhet explains, and Belial commands aid and protection through Armon's a herald to blow the trump of procla- provinces, and prepares to remove mation.

with Isamell and all his household to

Obsequiously Noah's royal seat. Soon came the ravisher, by two strong Passing through innumerable vil. fiends

lages and many cities, the minstrels at Conducted like a culprit, and command last reach Gal-Cainah, which seems Received, immediately to yield the maid, to us to have resembled EdinburghAnd never more to dare her peace molest, but on a considerably larger scaleOn pain of bondage in eternal chains. built of marble, instead of Craigleith In sullen mood the demon growled assent.” freestone as beautiful as marbleIsamell is brought to her deliverer

“ At length they at Gal-Cainah's gates by a bevy" of lost dames, who dwelt

arrived, with spirits in that dismal world." The mighty capital of half the world,

a

name.

Whose walls of granite, raised by giant but they must have pocketed a good hands,

penny-and their meat and drink was Reach'd the blue clouds in proud mag- the bestnificence,

- Until their fame reached the luxurious Frowning defiance on the plains around,

court, For the wide circuit of full twenty And by Shalmazar's order, they were leagues,

brought Enclosing in that vast circumference,

To minister their heart-enlivening strains, A population which in numbers vied

For his enjoyment: he was pleased, and o'er With many a kingdom of illustrious

The choral band that soothed his Har em

hours, A thousand noble streets of marble built, Japhet as chief musician soon was placed, From east to west stretch'd their ex

And next in station Irad was installed.” tended lines; From north to south as many, graceful, what he could ever have pictured, in

Elevated to a rank so far beyond held

the wildest dreams of youthful amTheir long array, at regular distances, And shaped the whole in sections uni- bition, it is not to be wondered at that form.

Prince Japhet, the son of Noah, But intervals were left as health required should forget his mission as well as Or ornament, for gardens, promenades, himself; but an accident soon occurCircles and squares, crescents and ter- red to recal both to his remembrance. races,

Shalmazar had just returned from And sylvan alleys by the Kisna's side, quelling a revolt in his empire's northLuxuriously supplied with seats and ern bounds, and chose to celebrate his bowers,

victory by a splendid festival. He For indolence or pleasure to resort had failed in making any impression And loll in ease, or mix in wanton ou the heart of Hadallah; but Asa mirth."

modeus whispered to him to place her Wandering through the capital, by- that day beside himself on the throne, and-by they came to the mansions of and to proclaim her Queen. Insenthe Anakims

sible to love, she might be overcome “ Mountain-like abodes, whose doors ap

by ambition

'Tis done ;-and Hadallah, as she peared The mouths of mighty caves, and windows is proclaimed “ Shalmazar's Queen,"

-hears instrumental music from on large As full-spread sails worn by a stately ship.” high, which sends emotions through

her frame she ne'er had known be. And of all the population these giants fore;" and then a love-song, fraught -fiend-begotten, like Shalmazar, but with mysterious meaning, “ that gives woman-born, “ deepest were in gross her virgin charms a sweeter, brighter debauchery sunk.” They ruled the glow.” She looks up to the orchestra roast in the city

and lo! Japhet--the leader—whom Using them as serfs,

she recognises as the same beautiful Have ever since been ruled by tyrant lords, being once seen in a dream. Japhet, To furnish them with means of luxury, too, recognizes in her a loveliest virAnd in return contempt and stripes re- gin, whom, in a dream, he had freed ceive!"

from a net wound round her by a

demon. Japhet is for a time much puzzled how to proceed_but thinks it prudent

" Oh! how his bosom burned to pay court to the Anakims, who are

His mission to accomplish, and achieve passionately fond of music, and "show. The glorious work of her deliverance. ed favour to the wandering minstrel Hadallah leaves the festal hall, pair." The son of Noah, we are sorry puzzled to know whether she is Queen to say it, compromises his principles or not, attended by a splendid train of so far as to perform at sacrifices.' nymphs, who sing her praises, and But their chief occupation is in fid- strew her path with flowers. Having dling or harping, at “ balls and ban. been put to bed by Jazeda, her quets.” They are all the rage-the thoughts ran on the noble minstrel Spindler and Wieppert of Gal-Cainah who had “ taught her virgin bosom no evening assemblage in the fa- how to love ;" and Asmodeus, pershionable world without Japhet and ceiving “ some new emotion in her Irad. There is no mention of terms breast, of earthly nature, whether

66

1

mazar.

2

ruse.

pride or love he could not tell," acts from any act of violence. We quesas if it were both, and infuses o infec. tion if, in all the annals of mankind, tious fondness through her yielding such abstemious conduct will be found frame," till she is ensnared to listen to recorded of any other demi-fiend. Cythe impassioned pleadings of Shal- rus and Scipio were not demi-fiends;

and there was just so much the less vir6. His mein so mild, and speech and tone so

tue in their abstinence. We suspect, kind,

indeed, that there was not a syllable of Seemed to possess an influence strange to

truth in Jazeda's story of the rape and her

murder of Adda, and that Shalmazar That grieved her ; for she scarcely could himself countenanced it merely as a repel

Hadallah owed to him many His hateful suit, which then less hateful pleasant hours with Captain Ellam; seemed

and as she never could have divined Than she desired : and over her had come the demi-fiend's object in confiding A something which alarmed her scrupulous her to the charge of that accomplished. mind.'

person, she should have been obliged In short, she is half in love with to him for the opportunity afforded Shalmazar, and, aware of her danger, her of converting the handsome prays for relief from Heaven. The guardsman to the true faith. Per. music that warmed her soul in the haps we may now safely venture to hall “ to pious ecstacy and virtuous

avow our regard for the demi-fiend. love” is heard again; and, to the as

Cruel we cannot call him--for cruelty, tonishment and rage of the demi-fiend, like every thing else, is comparative she cries

and he sinks into a humane character, “ Cease to torment me with thy hated love, of commiseration and pity, when

too prone to the womanly weaknesses Nor seek a union which not all thy power,

compared with Nero, Caligula, or Though kindred demons aid thee, can en

Domitian. Hadallah might have done force ;

worse than marry him-and we beFor Heaven, my soul's assured, will save

lieve in our conscience-we do, indeed me from

- that he would have made a very good The doom abhorred of joining fates with thee."

husband-for a king. It would have

been too much to expect that she could We really cannot help thinking ever have made a convert of him like that, all things considered, Hadallah the Captain—but it cannot be doubted might have treated the demi-fiend more

that she might have insisted, as the mildly; for her good sense must have pious condition on which she would told her that, for a son of Belial, his surrender the fortress, on the insertion behaviour had not been so very much

of a clause in the marriage-settlement, amiss! True, he began his courtship binding him to pull down, on the nupill by doing what he could to burn her tial morn, that golden statue. What father. But Jathuran was in heaven; good might she not have wrought and it is remarkable that Hadallah

among that idolatrous people !

Pernever once mentions him--at least we do not remember her doing so--during

haps prevented the Flood !

We feel, somewhat sadly, that it is the whole poem. What more could

too late now to indulge longer in such the demi-fiend do to show the sincerity speculations; and beg to turn atten. of his passion, than to make her his

tion to Japhet. He seems to have had queen ?" And his queen, she had suf- the entrée; for, at midnight, fered herself to be proclaimed in presence of the whole court. Farther, “ Gently opening, moved her chamber-door for a few minutes she had taken his And in her presence stood the minstrel protestations into consideration; nay, youth." seemed to incline her ear favourably He beseeches " the fairest of created to his suit; and though she had done forms," not to be alarmed for that so under the evil influence of As. Heaven has sent him, “from distant modeus, still she was not without regions under Noah's rule,” to deliver some reason for self-reproach. But

her from the tyrant's power. far above all his other claims on her good nature, she ought suitably to "Our means of flight from this polluted have acknowledged his forbearance

land,

ones,

)

Fleet steeds, and two unwavering, faithful “ This was the asylum of those faithful

friends, Within a neighbouring grove await con

Who fled Shalmazar's realm for ‘concealed.

science sake. Come, then, my fair, repose thy trust in Here in defiance of the tyrant's threats Heaven,

Shem gave them welcome, and supplied And haste to leave impending ills behind.

their wants I go,' she said, 'for firmly I believe, With hospitable care. The city hence Thy mission is from God, whose gracious Was called Sabbatah, or their place of rest. '*

hand Thus aids me in the extremity of peril.''

Japhet beholds again the Temples of

the Living God, and longs once more Captain Ellam—who had planned the in consecrated' halls to worship his escape_kills the giant sentinel on his Creator, as in youth he oft had done post at the outer harem.gate, and they in manner of his vows. These lines soon arrive at a grove, where Irad is

seem to indicate that he had been

among ready with “four noble steeds,” for the Cainites for many years. But fleetness all unmatched, even by the it could not well have been so-and fleetest in the royal stalls (probably hitherto the action of the poem seems stolen therefrom), “ each mounted to have included not many months. one," and Ellam, who“ knew well the Be that as it may. Book seventh has country," led the way.

a happy termination-and so has the “O'er many a hill, and dale, and flowery July number of Blackwood's Magaplain,

zine. And mountain high, and roaring river

6 Soon he receives his brother's glad wide,

embrace All unimpeded, on they hold their way,

And joyous welcome as from death reFor thrice seven days with unrelaxing

stored; speed;

While all Sabbatah's population join Till in the province nearest to the west,

In acclamations for his safe return, Of the broad realms o'er which Shalmazar

And praises for his glorious triumph o'er ruled,

The power of demons and of wicked men. They reached the rocky summit of a mount,

And soon the pious prince a temple seeks, Which overlooked a region large and rich,

Where he might pour the o'erflowings of And gay with numerous populous vil

his heart, lages.

In fervent thanks, before the people all, But, to their startled and abhorrent sight,

Confessing that to God alone he owed Not far remote a multitude appear’d,

The prosperous issue of his pilgrimage. In midst of which a blazing pile efused

His loved Hadallah he that day espoused Its gray and crimson columns to the sky."

With solemn rite ; and in the public ear They save Jotham from the flames Proclaimed her steadfast faith and piety. —but where is Isamell ? A captive in That she was beautiful they all beheld ; a neighbouring tower, under orders to That she had suffered in the cause of be sent without delay to the capital

Heaven “ with her surpassing beauty to

And shrunk not in the trial, now they adorn the harem of Shalmazar. Ja- heard, phet remains to guard Hadallah And every heart and tongue joined in her among the rocks--and Irad and El- praise. lam rush to the rescue. The guards

• Thou too, young Irad, then obtained are few, and off their guard, and are

thy bride, easily cut to pieces-Irad makes her

The lovely Isamell, and shared the joy

And glory of that virtue-crowning day. get up behind—and in ten minutes they are in the mountain-refuge. “A Of joy, for duty done and Heaven revered.

And, Ellam, theu didst also reap the meed short repast and short repose they Joyful thou didst behold thy loved one take;" and pursue their journey west

blest, wards for three days ere they get Nor envied that another made her so; clear of the Cainite empire.

And gladly thou didst join the general Passing through a well-cultivated

voice country, they reach the city of Sab

In praise of Him whose grace conducted batah, the eastward bulwark of Armoniaand who should be reigning To light from darkness, and thy soul rethere but « Shem, Prince Japhet's deemed brother !"

From bonds of guilt to joys of piety.

thee

now,

“ Japhet resumes his journey; but not elbow. We are only sorry that Ham,

too, was not in Sabbatah; for three is As late he wandered in a foreign land, the best number in this life for the In guise obscure ; but as the royal heir meeting of brothers. Japhet had been Of Armon's empire, to her capital, so long missing that he seemed " as Seat of his father's government, he goes from death restored," and he did well Attended as a victor and a prince.

to go to church on his first day in At every city his approach is hailed :

Sabbatah-better still to make HaFor the swift tidings of his high exploits dallah his wife. We could not help Outrun his progress, and all people flock

feeling sorry rather for Ellam_but To honour him. Triumphal arches rise,

on consideration believe it better for And flowery wreaths are scattered in his

himself that he should remain for a way,

We have only to And songs resound his virtues and his year a bachelor. fame.

hope that Japhet's head will not be “At length paternal Noah to his breast

turned by all these triumphal arches, Strains his long-absent son, and blesses him flowery wreaths, and songs resound And his fair bride won so triumphantly,

ing his virtues and his fame-and And for them craves the eternal care of would whisper in his ear that after all Heaven."

his exploits were no great matter,

and that he had never gained HadalWe have got but little further than lah but for the Crutch. We shall halfway through the poem, but our keep an eye upon his future proceedarticle comes, at this stage, to a plea- ings--and perhaps report progress in sant pause, and the devil is at our August.

Edinburgh : Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes, Paul's Work,