By all the
memory of the past, although 'tis madness, I do conjure thee, let me
hear again the accents of my boyhood.'
'_Alroy, Alroy, Alroy_!'
'I listen, as to the last trump.'
'_Meet me on the plain of Nehauend._'
''Tis gone! As it spoke it vanished. It was Jabaster! God of my fathers,
it was Jabaster! Life is growing too wild. My courage is broken! I
could lie down and die. It was Jabaster! The voice sounds in my ear like
distant thunder: "_Meet me on the plain of Nehauend_." I'll not fail
thee, noble ghost, although I meet my doom. Jabaster! Have I seen
Jabaster! Indeed! indeed! Methinks I'm mad. Hah! What's that?'
An awful clap of thunder broke over the palace, followed by a strange
clashing sound that seemed to come from one of the chambers. The walls
of the Serail rocked.
'An earthquake!' exclaimed Alroy. 'Would that the earth would open and
swallow all! Hah! Pharez, has it roused thee, too? Pharez, we live in
strange times.'
'Your Highness is very pale.'
'And so art thou, lad! Wouldst have me merry? Pale! we may well be pale,
didst thou know all. Hah! that awful sound again! I cannot bear it,
Pharez, I cannot bear it. I have borne many things, but this I cannot.
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