The Fall Of Nineveh. Book The Eighth Poem by Edwin Atherstone

On the next morrow, early, rose the king;
And sat upon his throne: at his right hand,
The heroic queen: and, all for battle dight,
Before him, the chief captains of the host.
Then thus the monarch: ``Our loved queen to grace,--
Whose gentle counsel our stern wrath controls,--
From yon rebellious we awhile withhold
Punishment due: and from their paths, misled,
With words of kindness to invite them back,
Disdain not. To their camp, with heralds, then,
A chosen captain straightway will we send:
And, when in full assembly he shall stand
Of their chief leaders, thus let him proclaim:
`The king is merciful, and slow to wrath:
Mock not his pity; lest, too late, ye rue,
When on your heads the vengeance hath been sent,
That must destroy you. Lay your arms aside;
Humbly submit yourselves; unto the king
Your crime confess; and his forgiveness pray;
Then will he pardon: yea, to every man
That on the first day cometh, shall be given
A shekel of fine gold: and unto him
Shall no tongue say ``thus didst thou.'' Ponder then:
Three days the king doth grant you: on the fourth,
If ye repent not, ye shall surely die.'
Thus be it spoken to them. If they hear,
Submissive; and their arms at once throw down;
Then, of a truth, it shall be well for them:
Or, if they say, `yet three days let us rest,
The king's grace to consider;' haply then,
It also may be well: but, if my words
They should deride, and my compassion slight;
Then, let our messenger again stand forth,
And cry aloud, `Ye are cast off, and lost!
Your flesh to vultures; to wild dogs your bones,
Shall be thrown out; and on your names a hiss
Shall be among the nations.' Furthermore,
Even to the traitors' faces, let him cry:
`To him that shall Arbaces put to death,
Five hundred golden talents shall be given:
And unto him that shall Belesis slay,
Of gold five hundred talents: but, to him
That, living, to the king shall bring them bound;
For each a thousand talents shall be given:
And him the king shall honor; and shall place
Among the great and mighty of the land.'''

The monarch ended; and, from all that heard,
Murmured applauses rose. Before the rest
Stood Salamenes then; bowed low, and spake.
``Mercy, and wisdom, both, O king of kings,
In this thy counsel shine: and, to thy will,
May the great gods our enemies' stubborn hearts
Gently dispose! But, if thy grace they scorn,--
Whom may we hope to find, so strong of heart,
So reckless of his life, that, fearlessly,
Before the rebel leaders he would stand,
And trumpet forth their doom? Assuredly,
Who so should speak, would in that instant die!''

Scarce had he ended, when, before the king,
Nebaioth came; bowed low, and promptly thus:
``Whom ye would find, O king of kings, is here.
I, at thy bidding, fearlessly will stand
In presence of thy foes; and to their teeth,
If so be needed, their death--doom denounce.
There, as before this throne, the hand of God
Alike will guard me: nor their banded strength,
Till He permit, this breath of life can stop.
But more I hope, that, by thy sufferance moved,
Submissly they may hearken, and obey.''

To him the king, upstarting from his throne,
Warmly thus answered: ``Brave, and faithful! go!
Thou be my messenger, and none but thou.
Unharmed return; and whatsoe'er thou ask,
It shall be given unto thee: if thou fall,
Avengement terrible shall honor thee;
And thy renown shall live. Meantime, this sword
Gird on thy loins; that whoso thereon looks
May say, `thus doth the king the valiant love.'''

So speaking, from his side the glittering belt,
And sword, gem--sheathed, Sardanapalus took,
And to Nebaioth gave. Then thus again:
``Let now the troops be gathered on the plain;
That ye may number them. Of food, and wine,
See that they lack not. When the feast is spread,
Then shall the king go forth upon the field;
And eat and drink among them. After that,
Let every man for battle stand prepared:
So, if the rebel still our mercy scorn,
Like fire from heaven our vengeance may be sent;
And utterly consume them. Therefore thou,
Nebaioth, till for onset we prepare,
Go not among them.'' Speaking thus, at once
The monarch rose; and with the queen retired.

Within the Median camp, meantime, all hearts
With boundless hope were filled. Before the sun,
The army rose; nor, to the glorious god,
The silent prayer, and choral hymn forgot:
Then--thirst and hunger having well assuaged--
In bright array of battle waiting stood:
Dubious awhile--when from the gates poured out
The armëd squadrons--if for martial show,
Or combat, issuing. But, their aim at length
Not doubtfully discerning--their own strength
They, too, 'gan number. Each before its chief,
The legions passed; chariots, and horse, and foot;
In slow and silent march. In midst of all,
Arbaces, and the priest, from every chief
The numbers heard: and, last, the total summed.
Three hundred, three score thousand fighting men,
Their strength was. With loud voice, and trumpet clang,
Heralds proclaimed it; and all hearts were glad.
Then, to the priest, Arbaces: ``Lo, the sun
In mid heaven stands, and not a breeze doth stir:
Lest, with this fervent heat oppressed and faint,
In mood impatient should the soldiers wait,--
Till half way down the sky his course be run,--
As safely may we, nor incursion dread,--
Let us delay the sacrifice: meantime,
Beneath their tents, food and refreshing rest,
Partaking,--with new vigour will they rise;
For sacred rites prepared, or instant war.''

His words the priest approved: and heralds soon
Through all the camp proclaimed them. 'Neath his tent,
Or under shadow of umbrageous tree,
Pleasanter refuge, every soldier then,
Food, and repose as grateful, sought, and found.

But, when the sultry hours were past; uprose,
Stirred by the trumpets, all the bright array:
And round the place of sacrifice, close ranked,
In silence stood, expecting. Midst of all,
An ample space remained: the altar there,
The victim, and the priests. Apart, yet nigh,
Arbaces, with his chosen captains stood,
Bareheaded all, and silent. To the heavens
His hands upraising, then Belesis prayed.

``Almighty Power! in the abyss of space,
Wherever thronëd, inaccessible!
Omnipotent unknown! of all that is,
Or was, or yet shall be, Creator sole!
Thee, Infinite, above all thought supreme,
Tremendous Name! our prayers may not invoke!
But unto you, His flaming ministers;
Interpreters, and Mediators mild;
To You, in prayer, and praise, by night, and day,
Our voices we uplift: oh! hear us now!
Gods of the battle! ye did strengthen us;
Ye on our side did combat: in the face
Of our proud adversaries did ye cast
Your tempests, lightnings, and great thunderings;
That in confusion horrible they fled,
Even to their gates. But there--All--ruling Powers,
Seemed ye to frown upon us: there, our foes
Sustaining, backward drove us in amaze:
Triumph to them; yet unto us not shame;
For utterly even then ye left us not.
But, whether unto us it evil be,
Or whether it be good; to your decrees,
Merciful alway, wise, and just, we bow.
If, over--proud, in our own valour we
Too much have trusted; and your wrath awaked;
Remember us, that we are but of clay;
Feeble and erring: Oh forgive us, then!
And underneath your banners, yet once more;
Strong in your strength, triumphant lead us on!''

So prayed he fervently: and all that heard,
In spirit with him prayed. With customed rites,
The spotless beast, an offering to the gods
Well pleasing deemed, then slew they; and with hymns
The solemn act concluded. To the sky
Went up the voices of the multitude.

Scarce had they ended, when, beyond the rear,
A trumpet--blast was heard. All turned--and lo!
Two heralds; and, behind them, on a steed
Milk white, a stately warrior, in rich arms,
That shone like fire. Amid the opening throng,
Slowly he rode. His countenance was pale;
But calm, and fearless. Upon either hand,
Passing, his firm bright eye he cast: but word
Spake not; nor sign of greeting gave, or met.
Like some nice dame that o'er the morning dew
Walks tip--toe,--his proud courser, foot by foot
Airily lifting, daintily let drop.
Him, yet far off, Arbaces knew; and thus
With loud voice cried: ``Let not a man go hence:
Nebaioth comes; a message from the king,
If right I augur, bearing. Silent, then;
That, when his words we shall have heard, to all
They may be told; and every one may judge.''

Thus he; and his command, from rank to rank,
Rapidly circling, flew; and was obeyed.

Nigh the expecting chiefs, at length, arrived,--
Alighting from his steed, with firm, slow step,
Toward them the Assyrian walked; from man to man,
Looks changeful casting,--wrathful now, now sad.
Within a glittering belt, his better arm,
Unhealed and stiff, painful and strengthless, hung:
His left extending then, around the chiefs
His eyes he cast; and, with mild tone, began.

``Again I stand before you: not again,
Oh! not again unheeded let me go!
The king is merciful, and loth to strike:
Mock not his sufferance; lest the vengeance fall,
And ye too late repent! One day of strife,
One bloody day, hath past; and yet ye live:
But, take not to your souls the flattering hope,
That yet another, and another day,
Audacious ye may stand; and still escape
Destruction merited. The hand of God
Once hath in pity spared you; but, beware!
The violated majesty of kings,
He, at the last, will surely vindicate!
Hear now the message of the earth's dread lord;
And hear it not in vain. Lay down your arms;
With full submission your great crime confess;
And his forgiveness beg,--then will he hear,
And pardon; and your sins shall be forgot.
Yea, unto all that this day shall return--
To every man--a shekel of fine gold
Shall be delivered; and to him no tongue
Shall say, `thus didst thou!' Three days doth the king
Bid you consider: but, upon the fourth,
If ye repent not, ye shall surely die!
Oh! wisely ponder, then; that this great ill
May pass away; and that the lifted sword,
Into the scabbard, bloodless, may return!''

So he; with looks imploring, as with words;
And unto him Arbaces thus replied.

``Not scornfully thy message have we heard,
Nebaioth; nor thy zeal with anger met;
High though thy words; and wisdom of the fool
In us importing. Mad indeed were we;
Life, fame, lands, children, wives, and parents dear,
All on this act to peril; yet, confess,
On the first question,--uncompelled, nay strong
For contest; and already victors once
From noon till evening,--that the thing we sought,
Was folly, guilt; by prayer and penitence,
And abject humbleness to be atoned.
No! ere the sword was drawn . . . . But, idle now
All strife of tongues: us, force alone can bow
Again beneath the oppressor: nor, with words,
Him from his purpose can we hope to move.
Yet, lest from me, and not the host at large,
Seem the reply,--thy message unto all
Shall be proclaimed; and from their mouths alone
Take thou the answer.'' Heralds then he called;
And bade them the king's proffer to proclaim;

``And every man who thereto doth incline,
Unfearing, from the rest let him go forth;
For not a hand shall touch him.'' With raised voice,
These words the heralds soon made known to all:
Yet, of those myriads, went forth not one man.
Then, to Nebaioth, thus Belesis spake.

``Behold thine answer! Wilt thou longer doubt?
Or, to seduce us to the yoke again,
Hast thou yet sweeter eloquence? But no!
Trust me, good youth, the flowers that he would strew,
Tempt not our feet above the tyrant's pits:
The gold--drops will not make us hug the snake;
Knowing his poisoned fangs. Even thou, may be,
Long wilt not 'scape his venom.'' On his speech
Breaking, with lowering brow, Nebaioth cried;
``Thy venom, priest, these myriads have not 'scaped;
Death--doomed, I fear: but not to thee again
The words of peace I speak. On you, the chiefs
Of this bad league; Arbaces, even on thee,
By him seduced; on you once more I call:
Oh! I conjure you, ere the moment pass,
Irrevocable, pause! Yet three days' space,
The king in mercy gives you--Mock me not
With lips of scorn; but hearken to my words.
In mercy, still I say, three days the king,
For thought, and for repentance, granteth you:
Slight not his offer: o'er this dangerous flood
If go ye will; yet, headlong to your fate,
Reckless, and blind, and deaf, oh do not leap!
Pause on the shore awhile, and weigh the attempt.
Say but, `we will consider; yet three days
We will take counsel;' haply, then, the gods
Your hearts may soften; and to better things
Your thoughts dispose; that this great curse may pass;
And that the land with blood may not be drunk.''

Imploringly he spake; with tearful eyes
Looking to all; but to Arbaces most.
He, for reply, after brief silence, now
Addressed himself; when thus the Arabian king,
With fierce eye, and swift step, advancing, spake.

``Nebaioth, brave and faithful as thou art;
Though in unworthy cause; honor from us,
Thou hast, and thanks: with this content, retire.
Feeble thy words our firm resolve to shake;
By years of thought and suffering made strong;
And farther conference idle. To thy king,
Say, we his wily offer, and himself,
Hold equally in scorn; fair both, and false.
Bid him the fetters of the nations loose;
And from our hands the bloodless sword will drop:
But, bear him, else, our unrelenting hate;
Defiance to the death. Three days, sayst thou,
His mercy grants? Go--tell him our revenge
Three moments doth disdain: for every hour
'Twixt this, and his sure punishment, to us
Counts as a lingering age. Even as I say,
Say thou to him; nor this sour medicine,
With honied words make sweet.'' Him, as he spake,
Sternly Nebaioth eyed: and, for reply,
Toward him two steps advancing, stood prepared.
His face death--pale; his quivering lip; his eyes
Fire flashing, and his heaving chest--the storm
Gathering within him marked. Arbaces saw;
And, to prevent the outbreak, with mild tone,
Thus counselled him: ``Thine anger yet restrain;
Provoked though sharply; nor, with useless strife
Of words, thy spirit vex. To thy demand,
Gentle and kind, again from all the host
Reply shall come; and, whatsoe'er it be,
Retire thou then content.'' Thus having said,
The heralds he bespake: ``Yet once again
Go ye among the soldiers, and cry out;
`What to Assyria's king will ye reply?
Are ye resolved? or would ye yet three days
Ponder his offer? Will ye truce, or war?''

Still, as from nation unto nation flew
The heralds--rose alike the terrible shout,
``War! War, to the death!'' Silent Nebaioth stood:
Pallid his countenance; stern, yet sorrowful.
But, when the tumult ceased, his hand he raised,
Attention claiming, and with loud voice said.
``Mercy ye scorn; and mercy shall not have!
Take, then, the war ye seek; outcast, and lost!
Your flesh to vultures; to wild dogs your bones,
Shall be cast forth; and on your names a hiss
Shall be among the nations! Hear me still;
For, as the king hath spoken, will I speak,
And fear not; hear me! Chiefly thou, dark priest,
And thou, Arbaces, hear! prime traitors, both:
First to rebel; the first for vengeance marked:
Hear, all ye nations, hear! Thus saith the king.
`To him that shall Arbaces put to death,
Five hundred golden talents shall be given:
And unto him that shall Belesis slay,
Of gold five hundred talents: but, to him
That, living, to the king shall bring them bound;
For each, a thousand talents shall be given:
And him the king will honor; and will place
Among the great and mighty of the land!'
Thus saith the king: may the king live for ever!''

As when, at sultry noon, the lurid clouds,
Hard, motionless, and silent, threatening hang;
No wind is felt, and not a sound is heard:
If then his bolt--firing at once all heaven--
The Thunderer hurls,--out roars the awful peal;
Cloud calls to cloud; air quivers, and earth shakes,--
Even so, dark lowering, with amazement mute,
His vehement words to hear, the multitude
Stood motionless; even so, at once out burst,
On that dead stillness, the tremendous din.
A thousand swords leaped forth; ten thousand tongues,
With maddest fury, for the Assyrian's blood
Called out. Like waters that their mounds have burst,
In rushed the vengeful throng. Nebaioth saw;
Thought death approaching; and was proud to die.

But, as when loudest roars the hurricane;
When pines bow down, and stubborn oaks are rent;
With yet a louder peal the thunder--god
From the opening cloud doth call,--so, towering high
O'er the vile clamor, rang the terrible voice
Of their wrath--kindled leader. From the sheath,
Like sun--glance, flashed his sword; his guarding shield
Before Nebaioth blazed. ``Back! back!'' he cried;
``The dastard who dares touch him, dies! Back! back!''
Belesis, too, and Abdolonimus,
And every captain, from their leader's fire
The generous fervour catching, called aloud,
And bade the soldiers back. Wild hubbub reigned.
Like ravenous wolves, whom, from their slaughtered prey,
The lion drives--so raged the maddened throng.
But the death--threatening weapon of their chief,
His angry aspect, and air--shaking voice,
Into their hearts struck terror. When, at length,
The storm was sinking; in the sheath his sword
Arbaces thrust; and to the heralds said:
``Proclaim ye silence now, that all may hear:
And, when there shall be stillness, take with you
The heralds of the king; that unto all
They may his greatness show; but let no man
His hand uplift to harm them: for, if God
In our great enterprise do lead us on,
What arm can touch us? Surely, shame and guilt
On all had fallen, had this brave man been slain!''

As he commanded, so did they proclaim:
And, when the noise was hushed, and, with clear voice,
The Assyrian heralds throughout all the host
The monarch's words had spoken,--and with hoots
And hisses had been answered,--thus again
Arbaces, to Nebaioth turning, said.
``What thou hast seen, and heard, unto the king
Tell faithfully: so, shall our trust in Heaven,
And in ourselves, to all be manifest:
And, of his strength, and ours, in juster scales
He may the issue weigh. But he is proud,
Fierce, headstrong, boastful; nor will wisdom learn,
Nor charity, nor justice; but more deep
In sin and folly, blindly will go on;
And in the foul flood perish! On his head,
As justly might not we the blood--price set?
That bid him ponder. For thyself, one word
Of counsel lastly hear. With speech o'erbold,
Twice our impetuous soldiers hast thou chafed:
The third time tempt them not; lest not again,
Unharmed thou leave us: nay, I warn thee, now,
In haste to go; for, like to tigers caged,
Fiercely they glare upon thee.'' Speaking thus,
Nor time for answer leaving, toward his horse
He led Nebaioth; and two heralds charged,
Untouched, from out the press to lead him forth:
Then with Belesis and the Arabian king
Briefly conferred; and to the captains cried.

``Gather ye now your squadrons in array;
Lest, though the day declines, the furious king
May come against us.'' At the word, outspake
The signal--trumpets; gonfalons on high
Were lifted; and for combat all prepared.

So they. Meantime, obedient to command,
Their numbers also the Assyrians told:
Ten times a hundred thousand was their strength.

Proudly throughout the camp the monarch rode,
That every eye might see him; from his car
Alighted then; and, while the soldiers sat
Rejoicing at the feast, he, too, sat down;
And ate, and drank before them: and his heart
Gloried within him. Yet, the warning words
Of the slain prophet were not all forgot;
And, of the grape--juice, with a sparing hand
He tasted. In array of battle, soon,
The troops were marshalled; and expectant stood.
But, when Nebaioth came; and, to the king,
With his chief captains, all that he had seen
And heard, made known; great was the monarch's wrath.
Upstarting in his chariot, with harsh voice,
He shouted, ``To the battle!'' At the word,
From all the host went up exultant cries:
Standards were shaken; trumpets blown; and shields
With deafening clangor smitten. But, his voice,
When ceased the uproar, Salamenes raised;
And spake unto the king: ``Behold, the day
Is far declined; the enemy prepared:
Go not to combat now; since darkness soon
Must shroud the rebel, and thy vengeance mock:
But, till the morning wait; if the fourth morn
Better it seem not, even now, to abide;
For, cool thoughts may a wise submission teach,
More easily, than war's hot argument.''

Him interrupted the indignant king:
``Womanish counsel! The strong arm alone
Can teach submission: they'll obedient be
In fetters only; or the stirless grave!
But, well thou bid'st me till the morrow wait;
That hungry vengeance without check may feed,
And riot in the feast. Let heralds, then,
Silence command, that every man may hear;
And, when there shall be stillness, let them, first,
On the prime traitors' heads the price proclaim;
Even as Nebaioth, in the rebel camp,
Already hath proclaimed it. Furthermore,
Bid them cry out and say, `The king to--night
Holds back his vengeance; lest the rebel 'scape:
But, on the morrow, even at the dawn,
Shall it be loosed: let, therefore, every man
Beneath his tent at sunset go to rest:
Let him his food and arms have nigh at hand;
That vigorous he may rise; and, for the fight,
Refreshed, and joyful.''' As the monarch bade,
So Salamenes to the heralds spake;
They unto all the camp; and were obeyed.

Not to the city went the king that night;
But, 'neath a tent of purple, starred with gold,
Burning for vengeance, lay. A hundred youths,
The chosen of his guard, in costliest arms,
Kept watch around him. With the setting sun,
For instant summons all prepared, the Medes
To their repose went also. On the field;
But far apart; so slept the hostile hosts:
And night and silence overshadowed them.