EAST OF EDEN.
FAR down upon the plain the large round moon
Sank red in jungle mist ; but on the heights
The cold clear darkness burned with restless stars :
And, restless as the stars, the grim old King-
Paced with fierce choleric strides the monstrous
ridge
Of boulders piled to make the city wall.
Muttering his wrath within his cloudy beard,
He moved, and paused, and turned. The starlight
caught
The huge bent gold that ringed his giant head.
Gleamed on the jewel-fringed vast lion-fells
That clothed liis stature, ran in dusky play
Along the ponderous bronze that armed his spear.
He fiercely scanned the East for signs of dawn;
Then shook his clenched hand above his head,
And blazed with savage eyes and brow tlirown back
To front the awful Presence he addressed :
But answer came there none froni cloud or star.
Then cried the aged King' :
' A curse consume
Tliy blind nigiit fevered with the glare of stars.
Wild voices, and the agony of dreams !
Would it were day ! '
At last the gleam of dawn
Swept in a long grey shudder from the East,
Then reddened o'er the misty jungle tracts.
The guards about the massive city gates
Fell back with hurried whispers : ' "Tis the king ! '
And forth, with great white beard and gold-girt
brows.
Huge spear, and jewelled fells, the giant strode
To slake his rage among the beasts of prey.
' Slay and make end ; or take some mortal form
That I may strive with Thee ! Art Thou so strong
And yet must smite me out of Thine Unseen ?
Long centuries have passed since Thou didst place
Thy mark upon me, lest at any time
Men finding me should slay me. I have grown
Feeble and hoary with the toil of years —
An aged palsy — now, alas ! no more
That erst colossal adamant wlicreon
Thine hand engraved its vengeance. Be Thou just,
And answer when I charge Thee. Have I blenched
Before Thy fury ; have I bade Thee spare ;
Hath Thy long torture wrung one sob of pain,
One cry of supplication from my mouth ?
But Thou hast made Thyself unseen ; hast lain
In ambush to afflict me. Day and night
Thou hast been watchful. Thy vindictive eyes
Have known no slumber. Make Thyself a man
That I may seize Thee in my grips, and strive
But once on equal terms with Thee — but once.
Or send Thine angel with his sword of tire —
But no ; not him ! Come Thou, come Thou Thyself ;
Come forth from Thine Invisible, and face
In mortal guise tiie mortal Thou hast plagued !"'
The race of giants, sunk in heavy sleep
Within the cirque of those cyclopean walls.
Heard as it were far thunder in their dreams ;
The fierce white splendour of a tropic noon ;
A sweltering waste of jungle, breathing flame;
The sky one burning sapphire !
By a spring-
Within the shadow of a bluff of rock
The hoary giant rested. At his feet
The cool green mosses edged the crystal pool,
And flowers of blue and gold and rose-red lulled
The weary eye with colour. As he sat
There rose a clamour from the sea of canes ;
He heard a crash of boughs, a rush of feet ;
And, lo ! there bounded from the tangled growth
A panting- tiger mad with rage and pain.
The beast sprang roaring, but the giant towered
And paslied with one fell buffet bone and brain ;
Then staggered with a groan, for, keen and swift.
At that same instant from the jungle flew
A shaft which to the feather pierced his frame.
Shrill cries of horror maddened round the bluff:
' O Elohini, "tis Cain the King, the King ! '
iVnd weeping, tearing hair, and wringing hands.
About him raed his lawless giant brood.
But Cain spoke slowly with a ghastly smile :
' Peace, and give heed, for now I am but dead.
Let no man be to blame for this my death ;
Yea, swear a solemn oath that none shall harm
A hair of him who gives me my release.
Come hither, boy ! ^
