The Search After Happiness

no mortal ere has been
and the dreadful grandeur of this sight
by them hath not been seen

'twould strike them shuddering to the earth
like the flash from a thunder cloud
it would quench their light and joyous mirth
and fit them for the shroud

the rising of our palaces
like visions of the deep
and the glory of their structure
no mortal voice can speak

the music of our songs
and our mighty trumpets' swell
and the sounding of our silver harps
no mortal tongue can tell

of us they know but little
save when the storm doth rise
and the mighty waves are tossing
against the arched skies

then oft they see us striding
o'er the billows' snow white foam
or hear us speak in thunder
when we stand in grandeur lone

on the darkest of the mighty clouds
which veil the pearly moon
around us lightning flashing
night's blackness to illume

chorus the music of our songs
and our mighty trumpets' swell
and the sounding of our silver
harp no mortal tongue can tell.

When they had finished, there was a dead silence for about half an hour and then the palace began slowly and gradually to vanish till it disappeared entirely and I found myself in the glen surrounded by high mountains, the fountain illuminated by the cold light of the moon springing up in the middle of the valley, and standing close by was the old man who had conducted me to this enchanted place. He turned round and I could see that his countenance had an expression of strange severity which I had not before observed. "Follow me," he said. I obeyed and we began to ascend the mountain. It would be needless to trouble you with a repetition of all my adventures. Suffice it to say that after two months time, we arrived at a large temple. We entered it. The interior as well as the outside had a very gloomy and ominous aspect being entirely built of black marble. The old man suddenly seized me and dragged me to an altar at the upper end of the temple, then, forcing me down on my knees, he made me swear that I would be his servant forever and this promise I faithfully kept notwithstanding the dreadful scenes of magic of which every day of my life I was forced to be a witness. One day he told me that he would discharge me from the oath I had taken and commanded me to leave his service. I obeyed and, after wandering about the world for many years, I one evening laid myself down on a little bank by the roadside intending to pass the night there. Suddenly I felt myself raised in the air by invisible hands. In a short time I lost sight of the earth and continued on my course through the clouds till I became insensible and when I recovered from my swoon, I found myself lying outside this cave. What may be my future destiny I know not – "

CHAPTER THE V

When the old man had finished his tale, O'Donell and Delancy thanked him for the relation, adding at the same time that they had never heard anything half so wonderful. Then as it was very late, they all retired to rest. Next morning O'Donell awoke very early and, looking round the cave, he perceived the bed of leaves on which the old man had lain to be empty. He went out of the cave. The sky was covered with the rising red fiery clouds except those in the east whose edges were tinged with the bright rays of the morning sun, as they strove to hide its glory with their dark veil of vapours, now all beauty and radiance by the golden line of light which streaked their gloomy surface. Beneath this storm-portending sky and far off to the westward rose two tremendous rocks whose summits were enveloped with black clouds rolling one above another with an awful magnificence well suited to the land of wilderness and mountain which they canopied. Gliding along in the air between these two rocks was a chariot of light and in the chariot sat a figure, the expression of whose countenance was that of the old man armed with the majesty and might of a spirit. O'Donell stood at the mouth of the cave watching it till it vanished and then calling Delancy he related the circumstance to him.

Some years after this, Alexander went out one morning in search of the fruit on which they subsisted. Noon came and he had not returned, evening and still no tidings of him. O'Donell began to be alarmed and set out in search of him but could nowhere find him. One whole day he spent in wandering about the rocks and mountains and in the evening he came back to his cave weary and faint with hunger and thirst. Days, weeks, months passed away and no Delancy appeared. O'Donell might now be said to be truly miserable. He would sit on a rock for hours together and cry out "Alexander, Alexander," but receive no answer, except the distant echoing of his voice among the rocks. Sometimes he fancied it was another person answering him and he would listen earnestly till it died away. Then sinking into utter despair again, he would sit till the dews of night began to fall, when he would retire to his cave to pass the night in unquiet broken slumbers or in thinking of his beloved commander, whom he could never see more. In one of these dreadful intervals, he took up a small parcel and opening it he saw lying before him two locks of soft curly hair shining like burnished gold. He gazed on them for a little and thought of the words of those who gave them to him – "Take this then, that you may remember us when you dwell with only the wild beast of the desert and the great eagle of the mountain." He burst into a flood of tears, he wrung his hands in sorrow, and in the anguish of the moment he wished that he could once more see them and the mighty Warrior King their father if it cost him his life. Just at that instant, a loud clap of thunder shook the roof of the cave, a sound like the rushing of the wind was heard and a mighty genius stood before him.

"I know thy wish," cried he with a loud and terrible voice "and I will grant it. In two months' time thou returnest to the castle whence thou camest hither and surrenderest thyself into my power."

O'Donell promised that he would and instantly he found himself at the door of the old castle and in the land of his birth. He pursued his journey for three days and on the third day, he arrived at the mountain which overlooked the city. It was a beautiful evening in the month of September and the full moon was shedding her tranquil light on all the face of nature. The city was lying in its splendour and magnificence surrounded by the broad stream of the Guadima, the palace was majestically towering in the midst of it and all its pillars and battlements seemed in the calm light of the moon as if they were transformed into silver by the touch of a fairy's wand. O'Donell stayed not long to contemplate this beautiful scene but, descending the mountain, he soon crossed the fertile plain which led to the city and entering the gates he quickly arrived at the palace. Without speaking to anyone he entered the inner court of the palace by a secret way with which he was acquainted and then going up a flight of steps and crossing a long gallery he arrived at the King's private apartment.

The door was half open. He looked and beheld two very handsome young men sitting together and reading. He instantly recognized them and was going to step forward, when the door opened and the Great Duke entered. O'Donell could contain himself no longer but, rushing in, he threw himself at the feet of his Grace.

"O'Donell, is this you?" exclaimed the Duke.

"It is, my most noble master," answered O'Donell, almost choking with joy. The young princes instantly embraced him while he almost smothered them with caresses. After a while they became tranquil, and then O'Donell at the request of the Duke related all his adventures since he parted with them not omitting the condition on which he was now in the palace. When he had ended, a loud voice was heard saying that he was free from his promise and might spend the rest of his days in his native city.

Some time after this, as O'Donell was walking in the streets, he met a gentleman who he thought he had seen before but could not recollect where or under what circumstances. After a little conversation, he discovered that he was Alexander Delancy, that he was now a rich merchant in the city of Paris and high in favour with the emperor Napoleon. As may be supposed, they both were equally delighted at the discovery. They ever after lived happily in their separate cities and so ends my little tale.

    C Bronte August the 17 1829