Page:Lalla Rookh - Moore - 1817.djvu/105

Yet now, the rush of fugitives, too strong
For human force, hurries even him along;
In vain he struggles mid the wedged array
Of flying thousands--he is borne away;
And the sole joy his baffled spirit knows,
In this forced flight, is--murdering as he goes!
As a grim tiger whom the torrent's might
Surprises in some parched ravine at night,
Turns even in drowning on the wretched flocks
Swept with him in that snow-flood from the rocks,
And, to the last, devouring on his way,
Bloodies the stream lie hath not power to stay.

"Alla illa Alla!"--the glad shout renew--
"Alla Akbar"--the Caliph's in MEROU.^[1]
Hang out your gilded tapestry in the streets,
And light your shrines and chant your ziraleets.^[2]
The swords of God have triumpht--on his throne
Your Caliph sits and the veiled Chief hath flown.
Who does not envy that young warrior now
To whom the Lord of Islam bends his brow,

1. The Techir, or cry of the Arabs. "Alla Acbar!" says Ockley, means, "God is most mighty."
2. The ziraleet is a kind of chorus, which the women of the East sing upon joyful occasions.