BOOK OF TIMUR.
THE WINTER AND TIMUR.
So the winter now closed round them With resistless fury. Scattering Over all his breath so icy, He inflamed each wind that blithe To assail them angrily.
Over them he gave dominion To his frost-unsharpened tempests;Down to Timur's council went he, And with threat'ning voice address'd him:--"Softly, slowly, wretched being!
Live, the tyrant of injustice;
But shall hearts be scorch'd much longer By thy flames,--consume before them?
If amongst the evil spirits Thou art one,--good! I'm another.
Thou a greybeard art--so I am;
Land and men we make to stiffen.
Thou art Mars! And I Saturnus,--
Both are evil-working planets, When united, horror-fraught.
Thou dost kill the soul, thou freezes E'en the atmosphere; still colder Is my breath than thine was ever.
Thy wild armies vex the faithful With a thousand varying torments;Well! God grant that I discover Even worse, before I perish!
And by God, I'll give thee none.
Let God hear what now I tell thee!
Yes, by God! from Death's cold clutches Nought, O greybeard, shall protect thee, Not the hearth's broad coalfire's ardour, Not December's brightest flame."1814.
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