Clarel/Part 2/Canto 33

33. Lot's Sea
Roving along the winding verge Trying these problems as a lock, Clarel upon the further marge Caught sight of Vine. Upon a rock LOW couchant there, and dumb as that, Bent on the wave Vine moveless sat. The student after pause drew near: Then, as in presence which though mute

Did not repel, without salute He joined him. Unto these, by chance In ruminating slow advance Came Rolfe, and lingered. At Vine's feet A branchless tree lay lodged ashore, One end immersed. Of form complete Half fossilized--could this have been, In ages back, a palm-shaft green? Yes, long detained in depths which store A bitter virtue, there it lay, Washed up to sight--free from decay

But dead. And now in slouched return From random prowlings, brief sojourn As chance might prompt, the Jew they espy Coasting inquisitive the shore And frequent stooping. Ranging nigh, In hirsute hand a flint he borc A flint, or stone, of smooth dull gloom: "A jewel? not asphaltum--no: Observe it, pray. Methinks in show 'Tis like the flagging round that Tomb Ye celebrate." Rolfe, glancing, said, "I err, or 'twas from Siddim's bed Or quarry here, those floor-stones came: 'Tis Stone-of-Moses called, they vouch; The Arabs know it by that name." "Moses? who's Moses?" Into pouch The lump he slipped; while wistful here Clarel in silence challenged Vine; But not responsive was Vine's cheer, Discharged of every meaning sign. With motive, Rolfe the talk renewed: "Yes, here it was the cities stood That sank in reprobation. See, The scene and record well agree." "Tut, tut--tut, tut. Of aqueous force, Vent igneous, a shake or so, One here perceives the sign--of course; All's mere geology, you know." "Nay, how should one know that?" "By sight, Touch, taste--all senses in assent Of common sense their parliament. Judge now; this lake, with outlet none And into which five streams discharge From south; which east and west is shown Walled in by Alps along the marge; North. in this lake. the waters end

Of Jordan cnd here, or dilate Rather, and so evaporate From surface. But do you attend?" "Most teachably."                   "Well, now: assume This lake was formed, even as they tell, Then first when the Five Cities fell; Where, I demand, ere yet that doom, Where emptiedJordan?"                     "Who can say? Not I.       "No, none. A point I make: Coeval are the stream and lake! I say no more." As came that close A hideous hee-haw horrible rose, Rebounded in unearthly sort From shore to shore, as if retort From all the damned in Sodom's Sea Out brayed at him. "Just God, what's that?" "The ass," breathed Vine, with tropic eye Freakishly impish, nor less shy; Then, distant as before, he sat. Anew Rolfe turned toward Margoth then; "May not these levels high and low Have undergone derangement when

The cities met their overthrow? Or say there was a lake at first-- A supposition not reversed By Writ--a lake enlarged through doom Which overtook the cities? Come!"--   TheJew, recovering from decline Arising from late asinine Applause, replied hereto in way Eliciting from Rolfe--"Delay: What knowest thou? or what know I? Suspect you may ere yet you die Or afterward perchance may learn, That Moses' God is no mere Pam

With painted clubs, but true I AM." "Hog-Latin," was the quick return; "Plague on that ass!" for here again Brake in the pestilent refrain.  Meanwhile, as if in a dissent Not bordering their element, Vine kept his place, aloof in air. They could but part and leave him there; The Hebrew railing as they went-- "Of all the dolorous dull men! He's like a poor nun's pining hen. And me too: should I let it pass? Ass? did he say it was the ass?" Hereat, timed like the clerk's Amen Yet once more did the hee-haw free Come in with new alacrity.

Vine tarried; and with fitful hand Took bits of dead drift from the sand And flung them to the wave, as one Whose race of thought long since was run-- For whom the spots enlarge that blot the golden sun.