Hoarded the precious element. Not all he took, but in the large nest left Store that sufficed for life; And journeying onward blest the Carrier Bird, And blest, in thankfulness, Their common Father, provident for all. With strength renew'd, and confident in faith; At length Bagdad appear'd, The City of his search. He, hastening to the gate, Roams o'er the city with insatiate eyes; Thou too art fallen, Bagdad! City of Peace, And loathsome Ignorance, and brute Servitude, Erst for the Mighty and the Wise renown'd. illustrious for remember'd fame, O yet Thy founder the Victorious, and the pomp Then Pomp and Pleasure dwelt within her walls; All day the active poor Shower'd a cool comfort o'er her thronging streets; Labour was busy in her looms; Through all her open gates Long troops of laden Camels lin❜d her roads, And Tigris on his tameless current bore But not in sumptuous Caravansery The adventurer idles there, Nor satiates wonder with her pomp and wealth; The time of action is at hand; The hope that for so many a year He loaths all lingering that delays the hour Shall hang Hodeirah's sword. The many-colour'd domes Yet wore one dusky hue; Kept their night-clatter still; When through the gate the early Traveller past. And when at evening o'er the swampy plain The Bittern's boom came far, Distinct in darkness seen, Above the low horizon's lingering light Rose the near ruins of old Babylon. Once from her lofty walls the Charioteer And through her brazen portals, when she pour'd As men who watch the thunder-cloud in fear, The She-Wolf hid her whelps. Is yonder huge and shapeless heap, what once A labyrinth of ruins, Babylon Spreads o'er the blasted plain : The wandering Arab never sets his tent Within her walls; the Shepherd eyes afar Eternal Nature's work. Through the broken portal, Cautious he trod, and felt The dangerous ground before him with his bow. The Jackal started at his steps; The Stork, alarm'd at sound of man, From her broad nest upon the old pillar top, Affrighted fled on flapping wings; The Adder, in her haunts disturb'd, Lanced at the intruding staff her arrowy tongue. Twilight and moonshine dimly mingling gave An awful light obscure, Evening not wholly clos'd, The Moon still palé and faint. An awful light obscure, |