ring on the air.
Then mounting wearily his steed he turns
Away, and unsuccessful thus returns.

[Footnote 1: "Eri-ni," cedar-trees.]

[Footnote 2: A carnivorous animal supposed to have been either a lion or a
tiger, more probably a lion.]

COLUMN VI

HEABANI RESOLVES TO RETURN TO ERECH

As Zaidu sadly turns and rides away,
The hermit from his cave comes forth to pray:
"Alas! hath all these wilds their charms here lost?
And is my breast with wild ambition tost?
My lonely cot I look upon with shame;
Again I long to seek the fields of fame,
Where luxury my remaining years
May crown, and happiness may find--or tears;
'Tis true! I should have welcomed the _bar-ru;_[1]
But he hath since returned to Subartu."[2]
His harp he took from its dust-covered case,
And kissed its carved and well-remembered face;
And tuning it, he glanced toward the wood,
And sang his farewell ode to solitude:

Farewell, ye mountains, woods and trees--
My heart doth long again for joy;
I love your wilds and mossy leas,
But oh, your solitude doth cloy!

I love to see the _bur-khi-is_[3]
Sweep stately o'er the mossy rocks;
And _tsabi_[4] in a wild like this,
Hear the tattoo of red woodchucks.

I love the cries of _lig-bar-ri_[5]
The _nes-i_[6] calling for their prey;
And leaping of the _na-a-li_[7]
That fly in wildest fear away.

I love the _bu-hir-tser-i_[8] all,
_Khar-sa-a-nii sa-qu-u-tu;_[9]
Hear _cu-uts-tsi_[10] with thunder roll
Across the skies within my view.

I love to see the _ca-ca-bi_[11]
Peep through the pine-trees o'er my home,
And watch the wild _tu-ra-a-khi_[12]
And _arme_[13] welcome, to me come.

Farewell! ye solitudes, farewell!
I will not moulder rotting lie
With no one's lips to wish me well;
O give me immortality!

But what is fame? A bubble blown
Upon the breeze, that bursts its shell,
And all our brightest hopes are flown,
And leaves our solitude a hell.

The holy minstrel bows his head in woe,
And sweeps the harpstrings with a movement slow;
Then lifts his eyes toward the setting sun,
His evening invocation thus begun:

[14]O Samas! to the lifting of my hands
Show favor! unto me thy servant turn!
What man before thy blessed Light withstands?
O thou! what mortal thine own words can learn?
And who can rival them inviolate?
[