Page:Thalaba the Destroyer 1809 Vol 1 - Southey.djvu/45

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

I. 27

“To Mecca I repair’d,
“By the Red Hillock knelt,
“And call’d on God for rain.
“My prayer ascended and was heard;
“Three clouds appear’d in heaven.
“One white, and like the flying cloud of noon,
“One red, as it had drunk the evening beams,
“One black and heavy with its load of rain.
“A voice went forth from heaven,
“Chuse, Kail, of the three!”
“I thank’d the gracious Power,
“And chose the black cloud, heavy with its wealth.”
“Right! right! a thousand tongues exclaim’d,
“And all was merriment and joy.

“Then stood the Prophet up and cried aloud,
“Woe, woe to Irem! woe to Ad!
Death is gone up into her palaces!
“Woe! woe! a day of guilt and punishment,
“A day of desolation!”
“As he spake,
“His large eye roll’d in horror, and so deep
“His tone, it seem’d some Spirit from within