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Poem
November 18, 1805
Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger
Norfolk, Virginia
What is this article about?
A traveler encounters a sorrowful man who recounts losing his beloved maiden to a caravan journey, where she dies, leading to his own death while invoking her name Aala.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
THE CHILD OF SORROW.
FROM THE ARABIC.
By the late Mr. Carlyle.
Through yonder deep sequester'd grove,
I saw a moody maniac rove—
With hurried steps he pac'd along,
And wildly breath'd a plaintive song—
'Sweetly thou sing'st,' said I 'poor youth'—
'Ha!'-fierce he cried. 'what foe to truth
With falsehood's glozing arts shall try
To flatter such a wretch as I?
Too well I know how fatal they,
Who mean not what they seem to say,
Hence then, perfidious—hence retire—
Or dread the Child of Sorrow's ire.'
With keener glance-his eye-balls roll'd
His brows with darker tempests scow'l'd—
Yet still I stay'd -till my wet cheek,
The pity shew'd I could not speak ;
'Twas then I saw his rage subside—
Twas then with alter'd voice, he cried—
'Yes, traveller, yes, that starting tear
Has told me that thou art sincere—
Come, if thou wilt—but mark me well—
What'er I ask thee truly tell—
Come; if thou wilt-and welcome stay
To hear the Child of Sorrow's lay.'
Sad I saw the Camels laden,
Rous'd to march at blush of morn—
Sad I saw the fairest maiden
From my fond embraces torn—
Why the Camel's steps excite ye?
Ah! why bid the lash resound?
Why in that mad speed delight ye.
Bought with many a bleeding wound?
One last look to gain I darted,
To the litter's cords I clung—
Vain my force— the band departed,
Through my hands the tight cords rung.
Plung'd in grief, with eye-lids streaming,
To the hillock's verge I flew,
As they past me, fondly deeming
I could wave a half adieu.
Vain my speed-I dimly traced her
In the vale's extremest bend,
Then I cried in frantick gesture
'Way worn beasts, your flight suspend;
Cruel youths, a moment spare her,
Let her catch my once lov'd breath,
Think, ah think, each step ye bear her,
Gives me agony and death.'
'Why,' they answer'd, 'why that sorrow,
Why such causeless grief display?
Thy lov'd maid will rest to-morrow,
Let her move in peace to day—'
Traveller! ere the morn I hasted,
Sooth'd by what these flatterers said—
And she did rest-Ah! say where rested!
Child of woe! on death's cold bed?
'Yes, on death's cold bed I found her,
All that once was bright and fair—
Saw the tomb's dark walls surround her,
'Allah! let me join her there.'
He ceas'd, his looks to heaven were cast—
A faint smile o'er his features past—
'Twas hope, long lost, the beam supplied—
He breath'd out Aala's name, and—died.
FROM THE ARABIC.
By the late Mr. Carlyle.
Through yonder deep sequester'd grove,
I saw a moody maniac rove—
With hurried steps he pac'd along,
And wildly breath'd a plaintive song—
'Sweetly thou sing'st,' said I 'poor youth'—
'Ha!'-fierce he cried. 'what foe to truth
With falsehood's glozing arts shall try
To flatter such a wretch as I?
Too well I know how fatal they,
Who mean not what they seem to say,
Hence then, perfidious—hence retire—
Or dread the Child of Sorrow's ire.'
With keener glance-his eye-balls roll'd
His brows with darker tempests scow'l'd—
Yet still I stay'd -till my wet cheek,
The pity shew'd I could not speak ;
'Twas then I saw his rage subside—
Twas then with alter'd voice, he cried—
'Yes, traveller, yes, that starting tear
Has told me that thou art sincere—
Come, if thou wilt—but mark me well—
What'er I ask thee truly tell—
Come; if thou wilt-and welcome stay
To hear the Child of Sorrow's lay.'
Sad I saw the Camels laden,
Rous'd to march at blush of morn—
Sad I saw the fairest maiden
From my fond embraces torn—
Why the Camel's steps excite ye?
Ah! why bid the lash resound?
Why in that mad speed delight ye.
Bought with many a bleeding wound?
One last look to gain I darted,
To the litter's cords I clung—
Vain my force— the band departed,
Through my hands the tight cords rung.
Plung'd in grief, with eye-lids streaming,
To the hillock's verge I flew,
As they past me, fondly deeming
I could wave a half adieu.
Vain my speed-I dimly traced her
In the vale's extremest bend,
Then I cried in frantick gesture
'Way worn beasts, your flight suspend;
Cruel youths, a moment spare her,
Let her catch my once lov'd breath,
Think, ah think, each step ye bear her,
Gives me agony and death.'
'Why,' they answer'd, 'why that sorrow,
Why such causeless grief display?
Thy lov'd maid will rest to-morrow,
Let her move in peace to day—'
Traveller! ere the morn I hasted,
Sooth'd by what these flatterers said—
And she did rest-Ah! say where rested!
Child of woe! on death's cold bed?
'Yes, on death's cold bed I found her,
All that once was bright and fair—
Saw the tomb's dark walls surround her,
'Allah! let me join her there.'
He ceas'd, his looks to heaven were cast—
A faint smile o'er his features past—
'Twas hope, long lost, the beam supplied—
He breath'd out Aala's name, and—died.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ballad
Elegy
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Death Mourning
What keywords are associated?
Child Of Sorrow
Arabic Poem
Lost Maiden
Camel Caravan
Death Bed
Mr Carlyle
What entities or persons were involved?
By The Late Mr. Carlyle.
Poem Details
Title
The Child Of Sorrow.
Author
By The Late Mr. Carlyle.
Subject
From The Arabic.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Sad I Saw The Camels Laden,
Rous'd To March At Blush Of Morn—
Yes, On Death's Cold Bed I Found Her,
All That Once Was Bright And Fair—
He Breath'd Out Aala's Name, And—Died.