Clarel/Part 2/Canto 9

9. Through Adommin
In order meet they take their way Through Bahurim where David fled; And Shimei like a beast of prey Prowled on the side-cliff overhead, And flung the stone, the stone and curse, And called it just, the king's reverse: Still grieving grief, as demons may.

In flanking parched ravine they won, The student wondered at the bale So arid, as of Acheron Run dry. Alert showed Belex hale, Uprising in the stirrup, clear Of saddle, outlook so to gain,

Rattling his piece and scimeter. "Dear me, I say," appealing ran From the sleek Thessalonian. "Say on!" the Turk, with bearded grin; "This is the glen named Adommin!" Uneasy glance the banker threw, Tho' first now of such name he knew Or place. Nor was his flutter stayed When Belex, heading his brigade, Drew sword, and with a summons cried: "Ho, rout them!" and his cohort veered, Scouring the dens on either side, Then all together disappeared Amid wild turns of ugly ground Which well the sleuth-dog might confound. The Druze, as if 'twere nothing new-- The Turk doing but as bid to do-- A higher stand-point would command. But here across his shortened rein And loosened, shrewd, keen yataghan, Good Nehemiah laid a hand: "Djalea, stay--not long I'll be; A word, one Christian word with ye. I've just been reading in the place How, on a time, carles far from grace

Left here half dead the faring man: Those wicked thieves. But heaven befriends, Still heaven at need a rescue lends: Mind ye the Good Samaritan?"-- In patient self-control high-bred, Half of one sense, an ear, the Druze Inclined; the while his grave eye fed Afar; his arms at hand for use.  "He," said the meek one going on, Naught heeding but the tale he spun, "He, when he saw him in the snare, He had compassion; and with care Him gently wakened from the swound And oil and wine poured in the wound; Then set him on his own good beast,

And bare him to the nighest inn-- A man not of his town or kin-- And tended whom he thus released; Up with him sat he all that night, Put off he did his journey quite; And on the morrow, ere he went, For the mistrustful host he sent, And taking out his careful purse, He gave him pence; and thus did sue: 'Beseech ye now that well ye nurse This poor man whom I leave with you; And whatsoe'er thou spendest more, When I again come, I'll restore.'-- Ye mind the chapter? Well, this day Were some forlorn one here to bleed, Aid would be meted to his need By good soul traveling this way. Speak I amiss? an answer, pray?"-- In deference the armed man, O'er pistols, gun, and yataghan, The turban bowed, but nothing said; Then turned--resumed his purpose. Led By old traditionary sense, A liberal, fair reverence, The Orientals homage pay, And license yield in tacit way To men demented, or so deemed.

Derwent meanwhile in saddle there Heard all, but scarce at ease he seemed, So ill the tale and time did pair.

Vine whispered to the saint aside: "There was a Levite and a priest." "Whom God forgive," he mild replied, "As I forget;" and there he ceased.

Touching that trouble in advance, Some here. much like to landsmen wise

At sea in hour which tackle tries, The adventure's issue left to chance. In spent return the escort wind Reporting they had put to flight Some prowlers.--"Look!" one cried. Behind A lesser ridge just glide from sight-- Though neither man nor horse appears-- Steel points and hair-tufts of five spears. Like dorsal fins of sharks they show When upright these divide the wave And peer above, while down in grave Of waters, slide the body lean And charnel mouth. With thoughtful mien The student fared, nor might withstand The something dubious in the Holy Land.