Clarel/Part 2/Canto 18

18. The Syrian Monk
At early hour with Rolfe and Vine Clarel ascends a minor hight; They overtake in lone recline A strange wayfarer of the night Who, 'twixt the small hour and the gray, With cruze and scrip replenished late In Jericho at the wattled gate, Had started on the upland way: A young strange man of aspect thin From vigils which in fast begin. Though, pinned together with the thorn, His robe was ragged all and worn-- Pure did he show as mountain-leaf By brook, or coral washed in reef. Contrasting with the bleached head-dress His skin revealed such swarthiness, And in the contour clear and grace So all unworldly was the face, He looked a later Baptist John. They start; surprise perforce they own: Much like De Gama's men, may be, When sudden on their prow at sea Lit the strange bird from shores unknown. Although at first from words he shrunk, He was, they knew, a Syrian monk. They so prevailed with him and pressed, He longer lingered at request. They won him over in the end To tell his story and unbend.

He told how that for forty days, Not yet elapsed, he dwelt in ways Of yonder Quarantanian hight, A true recluse, an anchorite; And only came at whiles below, And ever in the calm of night, To beg for scraps in Jericho. 'Twas sin, he said, that drove him out Into the desert--sin of doubt. Even he it was upon the mount By chance perceived, untold, by Vine, From Achor's brink. He gave account Of much besides; his lonely mine Of deep illusion; how the night, The first, was spent upon the hight, And way he climbed:

"Up cliff, up crag-- Cleft crag and cliffwhich still retard, Goat-like I scrambled where stones lag Poised on the brinks by thunder marred. A ledge I reached which midway hung Where a hut-oratory clung-- Rude stones massed up, with cave-like door, Eremite work of days of yore. White bones here lay, remains of feast Dragged in by bird of prey or beast. Hence gazed I on the wilds beneath, Dengadda and the coasts of death. But not a tremor felt I here: It was upon the summit fear First fell; there first I saw this world; And scarce man's place it seemed to be; The mazed Gehennas so were curled As worm-tracks under bark of tree. I ween not if to ye 'tis known-- Since few do know the crag aright, Years left unvisited and lone-- That a wrecked chapel marks the site Where tempter and the tempted stood Of old. I sat me down to brood Within that ruin; and--my heart Unwaveringly to set apart In meditation upon Him

Who here endured the evil whim Of Satan--steadfast, steadfast down Mine eyes fixed on a flinty stone Which lay there at my feet. But thought Would wander. Then the stone I caught, Convulsed it in my hand till blood Oozed from these nails. Then came and stood The Saviour there--the Imp and He: Fair showed the Fiend--foul enemy; But, ah, the Other pale and dim: I saw but as the shade of Him.

That passed. Again I was alone-- Alone--ah, no--not long alone: As glides into dead grass the snake Lean rustling from the bedded brake, A spirit entered me. 'Twas he, The tempter, in return; but me He tempted now. He mocked: 'Why strife? Dost hunger for the bread of life? Thou lackest faith: faith would be fed; True faith could turn that stone to bread, That stone thou hold'st.'--Mute then my face I lifted to the starry space; But the great heaven it burned so bright, It cowed me, and back fell my sight. Then he: 'Is yon the Father's home? And thou His child cast out to night? 'Tis bravely lighted, yonder dome.'-- 'Part speak'st thou true: yea, He is there.'-- 'Yea, yea, and He is everywhere-- Now and for aye, Evil and He.'-- 'Is there no good?'--'Ill to fulfill Needful is good: good salts the ill.'-- 'He's just.'--'Goodness is justice. See, Through all the pirate-spider's snare Of silken arcs of gossamer, 'Tis delicate geometry: Adorest the artificer?'-- No answer knew I, save this way: 'Faith bideth.'--'Noon, and wait for day? The sand's half run! Eternal, He: But aye with a futurity Which not exceeds his past. Agree, Full time has lapsed. What ages hoar, What period fix, when faith no more, If unfulfilled, shall fool?'--I sat; Sore quivered I to answer that, Yet answered naught; but lowly said-- 'And death?'--'Why beat the bush in thee? It is the cunningest mystery:

Alive thou know'st not death; and, dead, Death thou'lt not know.'--'The grave will test; But He, He is, though doubt attend; Peace will He give ere come the end.'-- 'Ha, thou at peace? Nay, peace were best-- Could the unselfish yearner rest! At peace to be, here, here on earth, Where peace, heart-peace, how few may claim, And each pure nature pines in dearth-- Fie, fie, thy soul might well take shame.'-- There sunk my heart--he spake so true In that. O God (I prayed), come through The cloud; hard task Thou settest man To know Thee; take me back again To nothing, or make clear my view!-- Then stole the whisper intermitting; Like tenon into mortice fitting It slipped into the frame of me: 'Content thee: in conclusion caught Thou'lt find how thought's extremes agree,-- The forethought clinehed by afterthought, The firstling by finality.'-- There close fell, and therewith the stone Dropped from my hand.--His will be done!" And skyward patient he appealed, Raising his eyes, and so revealed

First to the pilgrims' waiting view Their virginal violet of hue.

Rolfe spake: "Surely, not all we've heard: Peace--solace--was in end conferred?"-- His head but fell. He rose in haste, The rough hair-girdle tighter drew About the hollow of the waist, Departing with a mild adieu.

They sat in silence. Rolfe at last: "And this but ecstasy of fast? Construe then Tonah in despair."--

The student turned, awaiting Vine; Who answered nothing, plaiting there A weed from neighboring ground uptorn, Plant common enough in Palestine, And by the peasants named Christ's Thorn.