’Twas in the wilds of Lebanon, amongst its barren hills —
To think upon it, even now, my very blood it chills! —
My sketch-book spread before me, and my pencil in my hand,
I gazed upon the mountain range, the red tumultuous sand,
The plumy palms, the sombre firs, the cedars1 tall and proud —
When lo! a shadow pass’d across the paper like a cloud,
And looking up I saw a form, apt figure for the scene,
Methought I stood in presence of some oriental queen!
The turban on her head was white as any driven snow;
A purple bandalette past o’er the lofty brow below,
And thence upon her shoulders fell, by either jewell’d ear;
In yellow folds voluminous she wore her long cachemere;
Whilst underneath3, with ample sleeves, a turkish robe of silk
Enveloped4 her in drapery the color of new milk;
Yet oft it floated wide in front, disclosing underneath
A gorgeous Persian tunic5, rich with many a broider’d wreath,
Compelled by clasps of costly6 pearls around her neck to meet —
And yellow as the amber7 were the buskins on her feet!
Of course I bowed my lowest bow — of all the things on earth,
The reverence8 due to loveliness, to rank, or ancient birth,
To pow’r, to wealth, to genius, or to anything uncommon9,
A man should bend the lowest in a Desert to a Woman!
Yet some strange influence stronger still, though vague and undefin’d,
Compell’d me, and with magic might subdued10 my soul and mind;
There was a something in her air that drew the spirit nigh,
Beyond the common witchery that dwells in woman’s eye!
With reverence deep, like any slave of that peculiar11 land,
I bowed my forehead to the earth, and kissed the arid12 sand;
And then I touched her garment’s hem2, devoutly13 as a Dervise,
Predestinated (so I felt) forever to her service.
Nor was I wrong in auguring14 thus my fortune from her face,
She knew me, seemingly, as well as any of her race;
“Welcome!” she cried, as I uprose submissive to my feet;
“It was ordained15 that you and I should in this desert meet!
Aye, ages since, before thy soul had burst its prison bars,
This interview was promis’d in the language of the stars!”
Then clapping, as the Easterns wont16, her all-commanding hands,
A score of mounted Arabs came fast spurring o’er the sands,
Nor rein17’d they up their foaming18 steeds till in my very face
They blew the breath impetuous, and panting from the race.
“Fear nought,” exclaimed the radiant one, as I sprang off aloof19,
“Thy precious frame need never fear a blow from horse’s hoof20!
Thy natal21 star was fortunate as any orb22 of birth,
And fate hath held in store for thee the rarest gift of earth.”
Then turning to the dusky men, that humbly23 waited near,
She cried, “Go bring the BEAUTIFUL— for lo! the MAN is here!”
Off went th’ obsequious24 train as swift as Arab hoofs25 could flee,
But Fancy fond outraced them all, with bridle26 loose and free,
And brought me back, for love’s attack, some fair Circassian bride,
Or Georgian girl, the Harem’s boast, and fit for sultan’s side;
Methought I lifted up her veil, and saw dark eyes beneath,
Mild as gazelle’s, a snowy brow, ripe lips, and pearly teeth,
A swanlike neck, a shoulder round, full bosom27, and a waist
Not too compact, and rounded limbs, to oriental taste.
Methought — but here, alas28! alas! the airy dream to blight29,
Behold30 the Arabs leading up a mare31 of milky32 white!
To tell the truth, without reserve, evasion33, or remorse34,
The last of creatures in my love or liking35 is a horse:
Whether in early youth some kick untimely laid me flat,
Whether from born antipathy36, as some dislike a cat,
I never yet could bear the kind, from Meux’s giant steeds
Down to those little bearish37 cubs38 of Shetland’s shaggy breeds; —
As for a warhorse, he that can bestride one is a hero,
Merely to look at such a sight my courage sinks to zero.
With lightning eyes, and thunder mane, and hurricanes of legs,
Tempestuous39 tail — to picture him description vainly begs!
His fiery40 nostrils41 send forth42 clouds of smoke instead of breath —
Nay43, was it not a Horse that bore the grisly Shape of Death?
Judge then how cold an ague-fit of agony was mine
To see the mistress of my fate, imperious, make a sign
To which my own foreboding soul the cruel sense supplied:
“Mount, happy man, and run away with your Arabian bride!”
Grim was the smile, and tremulous the voice with which I spoke44,
Like any one’s when jesting with a subject not a joke,
So men have trifled with the axe45 before the fatal stroke.
“Lady, if mine had been the luck in Yorkshire to be born,
Or any of its ridings, this would be a blessed morn;
But, hapless one! I cannot ride — there’s something in a horse
That I can always honor, but I never could endorse46 —
To speak still more commercially, in riding I am quite
Averse47 to running long, and apt to be paid off at sight:
In legal phrase, for every class to understand me still,
I never was in stirrups yet a tenant48 but at will;
Or, if you please, in artist terms, I never went a-straddle
On any horse without ‘a want of keeping’ in the saddle.
In short,” and here I blush’d, abash’d and held my head full low,
“I’m one of those whose infant ears have heard the chimes of Bow!”
The lady smiled, as houris smile, adown from Turkish skies,
And beams of cruel kindness shone within her hazel eyes;
“Stranger,” she said, “or rather say, my nearest, dearest friend,
There’s something in your eyes, your air, and that high instep’s bend,
That tells me you’re of Arab race — whatever spot of earth,
Cheapside, or Bow, or Stepney, had the honor of your birth,
The East it is your country! Like an infant changed to nurse
By fairies, you have undergone a nurtureship perverse49;
But this — these desert sands — these palms, and cedars waving wild,
All, all, adopt thee as their own — an oriental child —
The cloud may hide the sun awhile — but soon or late, no doubt,
The spirit of your ancestry50 will burst and sparkle out!
I read the starry51 characters — and lo! ’tis written there,
Thou wert foredoom’d of sons of men to ride upon this Mare,
A Mare till now was never back’d by one of mortal mould,
Hark, how she neighs, as if for thee she knew that she was foal’d!”
And truly — I devoutly wish’d a blast of the simoom
Had stifled53 her! — the Mare herself appeared to mock my doom52;
With many a bound she caper’d round and round me like a dance,
I feared indeed some wild caress54 would end the fearful prance55,
And felt myself, and saw myself — the phantasy was horrid56! —
Like old Redgauntlet, with a shoe imprinted57 on my forehead!
On bended knees, with bowing head, and hands uprais’d in pray’r,
I begg’d the turban’d Sultaness the issue to forbear;
I painted weeping orphan58 babes, around a widow’d wife,
And drew my death as vividly59 as others draw from life;
“Behold,” I said, “a simple man, for such high feats60 unfit,
Who never yet has learn’d to know the crupper from the bit,
Whereas the boldest horsemanship, and first equestrian61 skill,
Would well be task’d to bend so wild a creature to the will.”
Alas! alas! ’twas all in vain, to supplicate62 and kneel,
The quadruped could not have been more cold to my appeal!
“Fear nothing,” said the smiling Fate, “when human help is vain,
Spirits shall by thy stirrups fly, and fairies guide the rein;
Just glance at yonder animal, her perfect shape remark,
And in thy breast at once shall glow the oriental spark!
As for thy spouse63 and tender babes, no Arab roams the wild
But for a mare of such descent, would barter64 wife and child.”
“Nay then,” cried I—(heav’n shrive the lie!) “to tell the secret truth,
’Twas my unhappy fortune once to over-ride a youth!
A playful child — so full of life! — a little fair-haired boy,
His sister’s pet, his father’s hope, his mother’s darling joy!
Ah me! the frantic65 shriek66 she gave! I hear it ringing now!
That hour, upon the bloody67 spot, I made a holy vow68;
A solemn compact, deeply sworn, to witness my remorse,
That never more these limbs of mine should mount on living horse!”
Good Heav’n! to see the angry glance that flashed upon me now!
A chill ran all my marrow69 through — the drops were on my brow!
I knew my doom, and stole a glance at that accursed Mare,
And there she stood, with nostrils wide, that snuff’d the sultry air.
How lion-like she lash’d her flanks with her abundant tail;
While on her neck the stormy mane kept tossing to the gale70!
How fearfully she roll’d her eyes between the earth and sky,
As if in wild uncertainty71 to gallop72 or to fly!
While with her hoof she scoop’d the sand as if before she gave
My plunge73 into eternity74 she meant to dig my grave!
And I, that ne’er could calmly hear a horse’s ears at play —
Or hear without a yard of jump his shrill75 and sudden neigh —
Whose foot within a stable-door had never stood an inch —
Whose hand to pat a living steed would feel an awful flinch76 —
I that had never thrown a leg across a pony77 small,
To scour78 the pathless desert on the tallest of the tall!
For oh! it is no fable79, but at ev’ry look I cast,
Her restless legs seem’d twice as long as when I saw them last!
In agony I shook — and yet, although congealed80 by fears,
My blood was boiling fast, to judge from noises in my ears;
I gasp’d as if in vacuo, and thrilling with despair,
Some secret Demon81 seem’d to pass his fingers through my hair.
I could not stir — I could not speak — I could not even see —
A sudden mist rose up between that awful Mare and me,
I tried to pray, but found no words — tho’ ready ripe to weep,
No tear would flow — o’er ev’ry sense a swoon began to creep —
When lo! to bring my horrid fate at once unto the brunt,
Two Arabs seized me from behind, two others in the front,
And ere a muscle could be strung to try the strife82 forlorn,
I found myself, Mazeppa-like, upon the Desert-Born!
Terrific was the neigh she gave, the moment that my weight
Was felt upon my back, as if exulting83 in her freight;
Whilst dolefully I heard a voice that set each nerve ajar —
“Off with the bridle — quick! — and leave his guidance to his star!”
“Allah! il Allah!” rose the shout — and starting with a bound,
The dreadful Creature cleared at once a dozen yards of ground;
And grasping at her mane with both my cold convulsive hands,
Away we flew — away! away! across the shifting sands!
My eyes were closed in utter dread84 of such a fearful race,
But yet by certain signs I knew we went no earthly pace,
For turn whichever way we might, the wind with equal force
Rush’d like a horrid hurricane still adverse85 to our course —
One moment close at hand I heard the roaring Syrian Sea,
The next is only murmur’d like the humming of a bee!
And when I dared at last to glance across the wild immense,
Oh ne’er shall I forget the whirl that met the dizzy sense!
What seem’d a little sprig of fern, ere lips could reckon twain,
A palm of forty cubits high, we passed it on the plain!
What tongue could tell — what pencil paint — what pen describe the ride?
Now off — now on — now up — now down — and flung from side to side!
I tried to speak, but had no voice, to soothe86 her with its tone —
My scanty87 breath was jolted88 out with many a sudden groan89 —
My joints90 were racked — my back was strained, so firmly I had clung —
My nostrils gush’d, and thrice my teeth had bitten through my tongue —
When lo! — farewell all hope of life! — she turn’d and faced the rocks,
None but a flying horse could clear those monstrous91 granite92 blocks!
So thought I — but I little knew the desert pride and fire,
Deriv’d from a most deer-like dam, and lion-hearted sire;
Little I guess’d the energy of muscle, blood, and bone,
Bound after bound, with eager springs, she clear’d each massive stone; —
Nine mortal leaps were pass’d before a huge gray rock at length
Stood planted there as if to dare her utmost pitch of strength —
My time was come! that granite heap my monument of death!
She paused, she snorted loud and long, and drew a fuller breath;
Nine strides and then a louder beat that warn’d me of her spring,
I felt her rising in the air like eagle on the wing —
But oh! the crash! — the hideous93 shock! — the million sparks around!
Her hindmost hoofs had struck the crest94 of that prodigious95 mound96!
Wild shriek’d the headlong Desert-Born — or else ’twas demon’s mirth,
One second more, and Man and Mare roll’d breathless on the earth!
How long it was I cannot tell ere I revived to sense,
And then but to endure the pangs97 of agony intense;
For over me lay powerless, and still as any stone,
The Corse that erst had so much fire, strength, spirit, of its own.
My heart was still — my pulses stopp’d — midway ’twixt life and death,
With pain unspeakable I fetch’d the fragment of a breath,
Not vital air enough to frame one short and feeble sigh,
Yet even that I loath’d because it would not let me die.
Oh! slowly, slowly, slowly on, from starry night till morn,
Time flapp’d along, with leaden wings, across that waste forlorn!
I cursed the hour that brought me first within this world of strife —
A sore and heavy sin it is to scorn the gift of life —
But who hath felt a horse’s weight oppress his laboring98 breast?
Why, any who has had, like me, the NIGHT MARE on his chest.
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收听单词发音
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1
cedars
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| 雪松，西洋杉( cedar的名词复数 ) | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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tunic
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| n.束腰外衣 | |
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6
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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7
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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8
reverence
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| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
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9
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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10
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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11
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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12
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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13
devoutly
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| adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地 | |
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14
auguring
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的现在分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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15
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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16
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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17
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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18
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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19
aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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20
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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21
natal
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| adj.出生的，先天的 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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23
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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24
obsequious
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| adj.谄媚的，奉承的，顺从的 | |
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25
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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26
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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27
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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28
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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29
blight
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| n.枯萎病；造成破坏的因素；vt.破坏，摧残 | |
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30
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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32
milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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evasion
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| n.逃避，偷漏(税) | |
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remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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35
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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bearish
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| adj.(行情)看跌的，卖空的 | |
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cubs
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| n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 ) | |
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tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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41
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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42
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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44
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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45
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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46
endorse
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| vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意 | |
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47
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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48
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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49
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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50
ancestry
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| n.祖先，家世 | |
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51
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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52
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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53
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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54
caress
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| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
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55
prance
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| v.（马）腾跃，(人)神气活现地走 | |
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56
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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57
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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59
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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60
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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61
equestrian
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| adj.骑马的；n.马术 | |
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62
supplicate
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| v.恳求；adv.祈求地，哀求地，恳求地 | |
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63
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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64
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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65
frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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66
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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67
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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68
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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69
marrow
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| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
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70
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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71
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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72
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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73
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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74
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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75
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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76
flinch
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| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
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77
pony
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| adj.小型的；n.小马 | |
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78
scour
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| v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷 | |
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79
fable
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| n.寓言；童话；神话 | |
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80
congealed
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| v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结 | |
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81
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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82
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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83
exulting
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| vi. 欢欣鼓舞，狂喜 | |
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84
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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85
adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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86
soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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87
scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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88
jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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90
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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91
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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92
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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93
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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94
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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95
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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96
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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97
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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98
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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