Page:The poetical works of Matthew Arnold, 1897.djvu/122

84 Then, with a heavy groan, Rustum bewailed,—

"Oh that its waves were flowing over me!

Oh that I saw its grains of yellow silt

Roll tumbling in the current o'er my head!"

But, with a grave mild voice, Sohrab replied,—

"Desire not that, my father! thou must live.

For some are born to do great deeds, and live

As some are born to be obscured, and die.

Do thou the deeds I die too young to do,

And reap a second glory in thine age;

Thou art my father, and thy gain is mine.

But come! thou seest this great host of men

Which follow me; I pray thee, slay not these!

Let me entreat for them: what have they done?

They followed me, my hope, my fame, my star.

Let them all cross the Oxus back in peace.

But me thou must bear hence, not send with them,

But carry me with thee to Seistan,

And place me on a bed, and mourn for me,—

Thou, and the snow-haired Zal, and all thy friends.

And thou must lay me in that lovely earth,

And heap a stately mound above my bones,

And plant a far-seen pillar over all;

That so the passing horseman on the waste

May see my tomb a great way off, and cry,—

Sohrab, the mighty Rustum's son, lies there,

Whom his great father did in ignorance kill!

And I be not forgotten in my grave."

And, with a mournful voice, Rustum replied,—

"Fear not! as thou hast said, Sohrab my son,

So shall it be; for I will burn my tents,

And quit the host, and bear thee hence with me,

And carry thee away to Seistan,

And place thee on a bed, and mourn for thee,