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skyloftian-nutcase · 2 years

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Link’s Personality

I love how even though Link is meant to be our connection to the games, and therefore has no dialogue and his personality is downplayed, you can still see so many differences between the different Links. Granted, I’ve only played OoT, SS, BotW, and am starting on TP, so I don’t have the full story for all of them, but this is what I’ve observed so far of their canon personalities...

Time Link: This kid had an active imagination of adventure. He drew himself fighting what looks like a dinosaur on his house. It’s precious. This kid also had to start his journey at the age of nine, and he looked and sounded like he was five, he did not deserve any of this oh no wait I’m getting sidetracked, and yet he could hold his own in literally the most difficult dungeons I’ve encountered in all the games I’ve played so far. So clearly, this kid is smart. I’m not talking book smart, I’m talking sharp and observant. For personality dweebs like me, I’m talking that ISTP kind of smart, the sense of awareness of one’s surroundings in a way that others can’t see that makes one quick on one’s feet, able to use their environment to their advantage, and as adaptable as molding clay.

He also had a strong sense of duty on top his sense of adventure. He went off and saved Hyrule with barely any context of what was going on. It could have been a vengeance mission after the Deku Tree’s death, but you don’t really get the impression of that so much as Link doing it because people say it will help. And he wants to help. But this kid, given his experiences and his immediate decision to go off on his own and look for Navi in MM, is clearly also a loner, somebody who keeps his cards close to his chest. He makes friends, but he doesn’t seem to confide in them or rely on them too much. Again, at both the beginning and end of Majora’s Mask, Link is alone. And going through what he did and then losing Navi, the one person who would understand what he’d endured, had to be so isolating. And considering he died with regrets and hence stuck around as a Stalfos, it’s clear this kid had baggage he never learned how to handle.

So overall, this Link is a very sharp child, adaptable, dutiful with a good heart, a loner, far more mature than he looks (duh), and someone who does not know how to open up to others.

Sky Link: Unlike Time, Sky didn’t dream of adventure. He had his head in the clouds, for sure, but it was more of that chill and laid back daydreaming nature, not wishing for excitement. This Link is called “lazy,” loves to sleep, and generally seems to take most of his interactions in stride (he handles Groose’s bullying fairly calmly, he doesn’t seem overly concerned about the Wing Ceremony). For personality nerds, I peg him with an enneagram type rather than MBTI, and I say he’s a 9. Type 9s are known for being peaceful, even keeled, loving, and sweet, but also can come across as lazy and unmotivated and have a deep seated anger in them. I feel like this sums up Link pretty well in this game. An interesting note with this is that the “laziness” known for this personality type comes from a keen sense of surroundings - these people are hyper vigilant of their environment, to the point that any stressor in the area will likely overwhelm them and make them shut down, draining them of energy or motivation. And the crazy thing about it is that unlike Time Link, who is aware of his surroundings and uses it to a practical advantage, type 9s (and therefore Sky Link) are emotionally aware of their environment but not necessarily mentally aware of this ability - they’ll be drained once entering a room where they detect stress and/or conflict but may not know why. This is because 9s are hellbent on maintaining inner peace to the point that they automatically shut down anything that might upset them. Hence, they come across as lazy.

Link has been hazily making his way through life in a time of peace, but he doesn’t seem to be a lackluster student, because there aren’t any sour or concerned remarks from teachers. In fact, Eagus says that Link learns quickly and is a great student. So clearly the kid isn’t dumb, just floating in a mental haze. However, that haze gets cut through quickly when his seemingly main supporter in his life, Zelda, is kidnapped. For Link in this game, unlike in Ocarina, this journey is personal. He doesn’t care about destiny, he cares about Zelda. His motivation is to save his best friend.

One of my favorite things about this Link is how expressive he is. This boy wears his heart on his sleeve and he is just a cinnamon roll and I want to hug him.

As you play through the game you also start to notice that this kid is freaking feral: need something from on top of that chandelier? Nah, don’t use the beetle that can clearly get it for you, just break the entire chandelier and then be nonchalant about it. Tired? Find the nearest bed and literally pass out in it, whether its yours or not, and act like this is totally normal. For heaven’s sake, Link’s literal first reaction to being given a love letter to deliver is “ahh, now I can feed that random ghost hand sticking out of the toilet.” This child is bonkers and clearly has little to no social decorum whatsoever. Probably comes from being as introverted as he is and possibly from being orphaned at a young age (I headcanon that after he was orphaned he was kind of just raised by everybody until he got old enough for the academy, which kind of makes him aloof and socially awkward).

Lastly, this Link is snarky. There are multiple times where you can sass someone in response (teasing Groose about his hair when he is actively bullying Link is a pretty ballsy and funny move, not to mention when Link can say “am I late?” to Impa’s face in the middle of a life and death situation after she verbally beat him into the ground last time), so clearly Link thinks a lot of snippy replies to situations whether he voices them or not.

So overall, Sky Link is sweet, quiet but sarcastic, cares very deeply for Zelda, kind and helpful, feral, a quick learner, expressive and sensitive. Oh, and don’t get this kid angry.

Wild Link: It’s in the name, really, but despite him acting like a wild person when he’s out in the vast wilderness (kid catches fish with bombs and his bare hands, clearly he is a little bonkers), there’s honestly a lot to be said about the most expressionless (at least in the cut scenes) Link. First, this kid clearly cares about how others perceive him. He follows in his father’s footsteps to become a knight, he is so overwhelmingly nervous about being the Hero everyone expects him to be that he stops talking, thinking if he says something he’ll screw it up, he isn’t sure he and Mipha can have a relationship because she’s a princess and he’s just him. This kid is very self-conscious. Or, at least, he was before he forgot everything. He’s also kind of a thrill seeker, it seems; Mipha comments that he got into trouble a lot when he was younger (which, yeah, he was a little boy, of course he did, but still), he enjoys seal surfing (based on his journal entries in the Japanese version), and he is fearless in battle. Dude deflected a Guardian laser with a pot lid, which I’m sure no one knew was possible until he did it.

Speaking of battle, I think it’s super interesting that this kid is clearly a child prodigy. That probably doesn’t help with his opinion of himself, because once you are pegged as a prodigy then there’s expectations and you have to fulfill them. I figure this Link was very eager to please, he clearly dove into taking his fighting prowess seriously, practicing whenever he could even though he was already the best. It’s unclear if he still feels this way after losing his memories, but I’m sure he’s having a major identity crisis anyway given that whole scenario, which likely doesn’t help his self esteem either.

On a lighter note, this Link is such a complete dork. His sense of humor consists of puns and dad jokes. He can be a little sassy too! Sky has a contender for sassy replies, though I think our sky child does win for that Am I late? jab at Impa LOL. Also I adore how much this Link loves food and cooking, it’s clearly what makes him happiest both before and after the calamity. If he wasn’t busy saving the world he should go into the cooking business!

In terms of interpersonal interaction, he seems very empathetic and loves children. I feel like this Link feels very deeply but doesn’t quite know how to express it, rather like Time, except he makes himself stoic for a specific purpose rather than bottling everything up because he feels isolated from the rest of the world.

So overall, this Link is a lover of all things cuisine, empathetic and patient, extremely self-conscious, eager to please, dutiful, has a terrible sense of humor and loves every second of it, and wants to help others.

Twilight Link: He’s the one I know the least because I’m still playing his game, but honestly I love him so much so far. He’s clearly the responsible big brother type. He even has a job! I feel like he’s just as happy with animals as he is with people, which makes him stand out from the others. Like, Sky is a loner because he’s got his head in the clouds but he clearly relies heavily on emotional relationships with others like Zelda, Time is basically a loner altogether, and Wild seems to enjoy being with people in general and kind of deals with being alone because he has to, but Twilight could happily sit around the ranch talking to his goats all day and not care. Or carry puppies and kitties with that absolutely precious smile on his face. The very fact that he sees animals and immediately wants to pet them or carry them like babies just AHHHH I love this boy.

He seems more serious, like Time, rather than having the sassy, goofy, and feral energy of Sky or the dorky and chaotic energy of Wild. When he emotes it’s usually subtle, and so far the majority of his time has been spent being the responsible one. Also, he had to deal with being treated like a monster by the people he loved when he was first a wolf, which I’m sure had to hurt. He probably prefers to be in nature more after that time anyway.

We can also learn a lot about him based on how he reacted to becoming a wolf in the first place. He immediately works on trying to escape, he immediately puts together that he has to trust Midna and work with her despite her treating him like a dog. Clearly he is pissed when she just jumps on and rides him like a pony, but he’s patient and smart enough to recognize that it’s necessary. I’d say he gives Time a run for his money on being the most adaptable Link.

I will say, for him stepping up to the plate to be the Responsible Adult Figure to all the Ordon kids, he is insanely reckless and extremely aggressive. Big monster knocks him out? HE'S GOING AFTER HIM WITH NO WEAPONS BECAUSE THEY TOOK HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY DANG IT >:( Zant appears, threatening Midna and forcing Link back into wolf form? CHOMP THAT DUDE'S THROAT OUT before getting knocked into unconscious. Bridge is on fire and there's a dude with a giant, long, pointy weapon coming at you? CHARGE HIM AND KNOCK HIM OFF DANG IT. And then JUMP OFF THE BRIDGE. This dude is insane. I N S A N E. I thought he was responsible, damn it, and then I started playing this game more and he's one of the craziest of the bunch LOL. So I think he's more of a situational type. Stick some of the other Links with charges and they'd all set things on fire together. Stick this Link with kids and he's the Picture Perfect Older Brother. And he does it to take care of them. He just... doesn't realize how reckless he himself is.

That’s all I’ve got so far for him, still have to play the game! But overall, animal lover, a guardian, simultaneously gentle and aggressive as hell, ridiculously strong, and so, so patient.

So yeah. You can learn a lot about Link despite him being the avatar character and I love the variety between them all.

#legend of zelda #ocarina of time #skyward sword #breath of the wild #twilight princess #oot link #ss link #botw link #tp link #HOW DID THIS GET SO LONG HOLY COW #character analysis

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beevean · 18 days

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Rank your top 5 Belmonts And if you have the energy/desire to do more: Rank your top 5 Castlevania games Rank your top 5 Castlevania tracks

5) Richter. I don't think much of the guy, but undeniably he is a very important figure, the symbol of the cracking of the Belmont legacy. At first, he's a hotblooded shonen young warrior, full of energy and life and will to fight... and then we learn that the will to fight is actually an issue, because after he defeated Dracula at age 19, he found no other reason to live.

4) Simon. Got higher up to the list in recent times <3 he's the Belmont, without any drama or obvious flaw. But I've come to like that about him, and admire his feats in Simon's Quest that show that he's not just a formidable badass, but a very noble man too, willing to even bury his foe out of respect.

3) Leon. He deserved none of that :( Leon is another Belmont mainly defined by his noble nature, perhaps to a fault (my good man why are you storming a vampire castle without a sword). His shining moment is, of course, him rejecting Mathias' absurd proposal: he may be full of anger against his former friend, to the point of swearing vengeance and dooming his descendants to a lifetime of fighting, but he also refuses to fall into the pit Mathias won't escape from, and has the perfect rebuttal for his inane logic and indirectly Dracula as a whole: "But defeating him... No, preventing others from suffering the same cursed fate... That was Sara's dying wish... Granting my beloved's wish. That is all I can do to prove my love to Sara. Eternity without her would be nothing but emptiness."

2) Juste. The golden child in deep denial :D It's a bit unfair that he gets reduced to "Alucard Belmont" and at most praised for his OP powers, but hey, he's not the only one. He has an interesting personality if you read between the lines, from his brashness that contrasts with his angelic looks, to how fervently he forces Maxim to keep Lydie in the dark. Also he's the king of interior decor :P

1) Trevor. He's the Sonic of Castlevania. He invented the Superpower of Teamwork™. He's kind and helpful to those he considers his friends and a terrifying menace if he thinks you're in his way (he won't ask first). He has the Legs of all time. His theme slaps an inordinate amount of ass. He's shaped like a friend and I love him <3

(a close runnerup would be Christopher, because I really like the concept of an older Belmont, who thought that could retire, nyooming to rescue his son from Dracula's influence <3 a prelude of things to come <3)

I was sure I had already ranked them, but perhaps I need to remake the list anyway...

5) Adventure ReBirth. Admittedly it's been a while since I replayed it, but I have fond memories of it as far as Classics go. It's simple, it's well designed, it's fun, it has kickass remixes (Aquarius <3) I wish it wasn't so obscure because I think it's the best entry point for those interested in the genre.

4) Portrait of Ruin. Y'all sleep on this title unfairly. Jonathan and Charlotte are very fun to play as, the gimmick of the paintings allows for new locations rarely explored in the series, it has an interesting mission system that makes the game more fun to master, and an OST that seriously deserves more love.

3) Curse of Darkness. Yes, it's noticeably flawed, from the mindnumbing level design to the obtusity of Forging. It's not a game I can pick up whenever I want, the only reason I can't put it in first place. But aside from that, it honestly feels like it was designed just for me and my tastes lmao. The fighting/crafting/raising loop is incredibly addictive and reminds me of the Sonic Adventure games <3 and ofc, as you could tell, I'm in love with the characters and story :P

2) Symphony of the Night. The one, the myth, the legend. Describing it feels like a waste of time. It's a timeless classic for a reason. It may not be perfect, but much like Super Metroid, I think the atmosphere is so well crafted that it pulls you in regardless of any issues you might have. It's an experience to be had.

1) Harmony of Dissonance. Oh yeah. This game is stupid fun to me. I just pick it up and play it to wind down. The ability to dash in both directions makes it a 10/10, then you add the spells that are fun to experiment with, the breakability, the COLORS FEEL SO RIGHT, the eerie music (yes it's good! it's good!!! fight me!!!!), Maxim Mode...

I was also sure I had this list... how could I pick only 5 tracks from this giant, beautiful repertoire...? D:

5) Chapel of Dissonance. Unlike many of the tracks in this soundtrack, this one is perfectly hummable and sweet. It fits the beautiful sky like a glove, and it may subtly reference Divine Bloodlines which is a stroke of genius :)

4) Lost Painting. SoTN abunds in jaw-dropping tracks, but this one feels uniquely magical, and it plays just in the right areas of the castle (a chapel, a library, and icy caves). It sounds like a sad lullaby sung to Alucard, and I hear reluctance to venture further and fight.

3) Garibaldi Courtyard. I have no clue why this mundane area in the game has music that brings me to tears. Similar in atmosphere to Lost Painting and Fog-Enshrouded Nightscape, but with CoD's more modern sound. I don't know how to put into words the profound sadness I hear here.

2) Dracula Battle (SCIV). I cannot gush enough about the genius of this track as the final boss theme. It never gets faster, or drop a harder beat: you only get these long strings and this complex arpeggio for an unsettling atmosphere. I said back then: "It sounds like you're quietly resigning yourself to your fate. You will die. But that's alright. He will die too."

1) Leon's Theme. This could pass for a classical piece. It's perfect in every way. You can almost touch Leon's sorrow and anger - you can hear the fingers pressing on the piano! It gets you pumped to reach the end of the game, and you get to grieve with Leon for the terrible night he's going through. Special shoutout for the part at 1:34 for sounding like the aforementioned Dracula theme.

#castlevania #akumajou dracula

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practically-an-x-man · 2 months

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Genuine ask: What is it that's appealing about Horror? I've never really been into it (Except for reading some Stephen King). Have I just not been exposed to *good* horror?

Long ramble ahead, I'm very passionate about this stuff

Well it's definitely a polarizing genre, there are some people who love it and some people who really can't get into it no matter how much they try. I'm the former, so is my dad, my mother is the latter. She does not enjoy horror and never will, and that's fine.

I find a few things really fun about horror. The first is that I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie, so the fear and tension in a good horror movie is a similar effect to riding a roller coaster or going skydiving. Some people find it a thrill, others find it terrifying. I find it a thrill.

There's also a psychological phenomenon linked to it, called excitation transfer. Basically, the more intense a scary situation is, the more pleasant the relief feels when it's over. I actually did a whole research project on this! Horror movies present a safe space for experiencing these emotions, since you know you can't really get hurt, and excitation transfer means that even when the fear and anxiety during the movie may be unpleasant, the relief feels really good afterwards. Again, same principle as thrill rides at theme parks - terrifying in the moment, but fun when it's over. Granted, I like roller coasters in the moment too since I actually really like the feeling of flight or falling, but... same principle.

And even outside the thrill perspective of it: horror movies can have some of the best or most interesting practical effects, and I'm an SFX artist myself so I have to appreciate those. And because of how many complicated, intense emotions it presents, it can often involve some of the best acting on top of it. Horror usually presents a greater variety in themes and plot than other genres, since they aren't afraid to go to uncomfortable places. I mean, you watch a romcom and pretty much always expect that the guy gets the girl, you watch an action movie and expect the heroes to come out on top, but with horror it's a lot harder to really guess how something could end, or if it'll be a win for the "good guys" at all. Sometimes the dark ending is just what's right for the story, and horror is more likely to keep that ending while other genres may shy away from it.

And horror can also present as a bit of escapism - you can see yourself as the final girl, or the killer exacting well-deserved vengeance, or whoever else. Everyone has dark fantasies sometimes, and there's almost always a movie to reflect that in a safe space. You daydream about killing your boss at work? Mayhem (2017). Belko Experiment (2016). You want to see spoiled rich brats getting their comeuppance? Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022). The Menu (2021). You like zombies? Vampires? Robots? Demons? Slashers? Mind control? Mundane settings turned terrifying? It's such a versatile genre, there's something for just about anyone as long as they like scary things.

From an academic perspective, too: horror reflects the societal fears of its time period. In the 60s we got Invasion of the Body Snatchers and the Manchurian Candidate because it was the Cold War and people's biggest fear was foreign spies. In the 80s it was a lot of demons and Satanic themes, because the Satanic panic was what had people scared. Lately we've been getting a lot of tech-based horror like Countdown and Host, since technology is usually at the forefront of people's fears. It's neat (to me at least) to see how society's trends reflect themselves in horror.

Plus, I just really like spooky things. Vampires and zombies and creepy mutated creatures and whatever else are my jam! I can get all academic on why horror is a great genre and why people enjoy it, but this stuff also just calls to me. I love it.

#my friends!!!#answered asks #idk i'm just a huge monster kid. i could ramble about horror for HOURS if you let me. there's a reason i'm making a career out of this #i'm absolutely insufferable when i'm in the studio bc i am ALWAYS talking about whatever movie i've seen recently #i mean seriously if you met me in real life i'd be the biggest nerd you'd have ever met

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xxaltalunettesxx · 2 years

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Their unsent letters

they choose to leave their imprints of their lost love in ink

(Shenhe, Eula, Lisa, Yoimiya, gn reader)

Angst, major character death/ implied mentions of death, self hatred

Playing : Bishounen by Hikaru Station

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shenhe<

“[____],

I want to thank you. For what? You may ask.

I’d like to thank you for “loving me”, as you phrased it. For letting me to love you back. I’m not familiar with human emotions, but you made me realize I could feel. I could feel beyond the restraints of the red ropes I was bound by for many years. I could feel my heart pounding, a lukewarm, soft, feeling that could never match the rhythm of my racing in battle when I faced Beisht or any other creature.

I don’t want to lose you. Yet here I am, letting tears fall, a sign of hopeless vulnerability, as my master would say. Yet here I am, aimlessly writing letters to an individual so dear to me, lost forever in the folds of time and everlasting frost. Yet here I am, weeping in the shade of the willow tree, piecing shattered fragments of my heart together.”

Goodbye forever,

Shenhe.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eula<

“Treasured,”

“I am sorry. Sorry for all the times I was such a horrible partner I was to you, dearest. And yet now, here, I still thought I deserved to look into those gorgeous eyes every morning, was worthy of anything you gave me. I was such a fool. I was such a foolishly foolish fool for thinking I was good enough for you. I’m so sorry I dragged you into all this clan business, I’m so sorry for letting you go with me. I can never make up for what I’ve done.

Because if not for me, whose’s fault is it that you, the light of my life, the one who helped me cleanse my wounds with love and care that I never was worthy of, the only one that didn’t view me as a member of the Lawrence clan alone, is dead?

Treasured, I will love you forever. Allow me to say this.

Vengeance is futile, as the last one who loved me has perished.

Forgive me,

Eula.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lisa<

“Darling,”

“Life is like an hourglass. There is only so much we can do in this hourglassed fate, and before the last grain of sand left in me trickles away, I’d like to entrust my final words to you.

Darling, I wouldn’t miss this hourglassed life for anything. I met you. I’ve loved a great many people, but no other can compare to you. From the lust I saw from others, to the genuine, raw, love that you showed me, is a new insight of life. Even though I am invisible to you now, I am always still here. From the books we stacked together, the memories we made, the shade of violet I dressed in, me.

My soul will remain with you, accompanying your journey along the hourglass-paved road. I can only hope that you remember me, little old Lisa Minci. I will forever love you to the moon and back, even after the cruel fate of death.

My final wish is to hope you,[____], do not cry. I’d like to hear your laugh for the last time.

Dearly betrothed,

Lisa.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yoimiya<

“[_____],

I’m not that good at that kind of word stuff but…

Hey. Hi. Hello. I love you. I love you more than the delicious food I’ve been blessed to be able to eat every day, I love you more than the archery skills I’ve been granted. I love you more than the brightly-lit color of my vision. I love you more than the sparks of fireworks glistening in the fireworks in the night sky. I love you more than anything else in the world.

There were many reasons to why I loved you. Well, you loved me for who I was and not just as “firework girl down the street”. Your smile. Your eyes. The amazing way you kissed me on that night, like the first touch of something magical, wondrous. A new spark of a flame that was supposed to never burn out. Everything about you seemed so perfect, so right. Like a puzzle piece falling into place.

But now, I can only hope to relive that beautiful experience in another life, as you are in my arms, blood pouring from your wounds, tears streaming down your face, the cold touch of your body that was once warm and inviting-

I cannot save you. The feeling is worse than failing a firework, more crestfallen than raining on testing day, more bitter than eating sour apples, the worst, most godforsakenly awful mix of sadness, regret, hurt, disappoint mixed into one giant mess of emotions.

I’m sorry I wasn’t always the happy Yoimiya that you loved, but I loved you more than hating myself. And that’s what caused all this. But I would always have loved you, even if it meant the world exploded into smithereens.

Because, what good is a world if the thing I loved most is gone?

I want you back,

Yoimiya.”

#genshin impact x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact angst #genshin fanfiction #genshin #genshin shenhe #shenhe #shenhe x reader #lisa minci #lisa genshin impact #lisa genshin x reader #shenhe genshin impact #yoimiya #genshin yoimiya #yoimiya x you #eula lawrence #eula x reader #eula genshin impact

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 1 year

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Christ, the Perfect Sacrifice

1-4 The Law possessed only a dim outline of the benefits Christ would bring and did not actually reproduce them. Consequently it was incapable of perfecting the souls of those who offered their regular annual sacrifices. For if it had, surely the sacrifices would have been discontinued—on the grounds that the worshippers, having been really cleansed, would have had no further consciousness of sin. In practice, however, the sacrifices amounted to an annual reminder of sins; for the blood of bulls and goats cannot really remove the guilt of sin.

Christ, however, makes the old order obsolete and makes the perfect sacrifice

5-7 Therefore, when Christ enters the world, he says: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure. Then I said, Behold, I have come—in the volume of books it is written of me—to do your will, O God’.

8-10 After saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are made according to the Law), Christ then says, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God.” That means he is dispensing with the old order of sacrifices, and establishing a new order of obedience to the will of God, and in that will we have been made holy by the single unique offering of the body of Christ.

11-16 Every human priest stands day by day performing his religious duties and offering time after time the same sacrifices—which can never actually remove sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins for ever, took his seat at God’s right hand, from that time offering no more sacrifice, but waiting until “his enemies be made his footstool”. For by virtue of that one offering he has perfected for all time every one whom he makes holy. The Holy Spirit himself endorses this truth for us, when he says, first: ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them’.

17 And then, he adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more’.

18 Where God grants remission of sin there can be no question of making further atonement.

Through Christ we can confidently approach God

19-25 So by virtue of the blood of Jesus, you and I, my brothers, may now have courage to enter the holy of holies by way of the one who died and is yet alive, who has made for us a holy means of entry by himself passing through the curtain, that is, his own human nature. Further, since we have a great High Priest set over the household of God, let us draw near with true hearts and fullest confidence, knowing that our inmost souls have been purified by the sprinkling of his blood just as our bodies are cleansed by the washing of clean water. In this confidence let us hold on to the hope that we profess without the slightest hesitation—for he is utterly dependable—and let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds. And let us not hold aloof from our church meetings, as some do. Let us do all we can to help one another’s faith, and this the more earnestly as we see the final day drawing ever nearer.

26-31 Now if we sin deliberately after we have known and accepted the truth, there can be no further sacrifice for sin for us but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fire of God’s indignation, which will one day consume all that sets itself against him. The man who showed contempt for Moses’ Law died without hope of appeal on the evidence of two or three of his fellows. How much more dreadful a punishment will he be thought to deserve who has poured scorn on the Son of God, treated like dirt the blood of the agreement which had once made him holy, and insulted the very Spirit of grace? For we know the one who said: ‘Vengeance is mine: I will repay’. And again: ‘The Lord will judge his people’. Truly it is a terrible thing for a man who has done this to fall into the hands of the living God!

32-38 You must never forget those past days when you had received the light and went through such a great and painful struggle. It was partly because everyone’s eye was on you as you endured harsh words and hard experiences, partly because you threw in your lot with those who suffered much the same. You sympathised with those who were put in prison and you were cheerful when your own goods were confiscated, for you knew that you had a much more solid and lasting treasure in Heaven. Don’t throw away your trust now—it carries with it a rich reward in the world to come. Patient endurance is what you need if, after doing God’s will, you are to receive what he has promised. ‘For yet a little while, and he who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him’.

39 Surely we are not going to be men who cower back and are lost, but men who maintain their faith until the salvation of their souls is complete! — Hebrews 10 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Cross References: Exodus 24:8; Exodus 29:36; Leviticus 16:4; Leviticus 19:18; Numbers 15:30; Deuteronomy 17:2; 1 Samuel 2:25; 1 Samuel 15:22; Ezra 6:2; Psalm 26:1; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 110:1; Jeremiah 31:31; Ezekiel 33:13; Habakkuk 2:3-4; Zechariah 9:11; Matthew 10:15; Mark 3:35; Mark 12:33; John 1:15; John 2:17; John 6:51; Acts 13:11; Romans 5:2; Romans 8:3; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:8; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:12-13; Hebrews 11:1; Hebrews 11:16; Hebrews 12:4; 1 Timothy 3:15; 2 John 1:8

#Jesus Christ #life #faith #perfect sacrifice #perseverance #Hebrews 10 #The Epistle of Hebrews #J.B. Phillips New Testament Bible #PHILLIPS

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bonefall · 1 year

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I always find it interesting that Darktail goes to the Dark Forest, implying that he may believe in it, or at least StarClan. It makes me think that maybe he did, but never cared about where he went, as long as he took Onestar with him, and yet he goes to the dark forest…and his Dad wasn’t there. I think about how that could have sat with him. Like maybe he was clouded by understandable vengeance towards his father, and yet he’s not there. What was it all for?

That's a really good take, I like that one

Onestar's Concussion went with a really boring take on it, confirming that the modern Erin approach to the Dark Forest is that it's explicitly a punishment. A cat first goes to StarClan, and then is sent to EEBY DEEBY after waking up in the starry fields.

Obviously I don't mind this TOO much. After all, I have an entire Mapleshade AU based around the idea of building up the concept of trials and StarClan having flawed judgement (and this is a trait shared with the Bonefall Rewrite-- I'll be very excited to talk about StarClan Lizardstripe someday), but man... they really went with the most boring way to approach the concept.

I really did like the old way that the Dark Forest seemed like a consequence of self-perception. If you think you're bad, if you're filled with spite for StarClan, you just... sink. You're incapable of finding your way to Silverpelt.

So Ashfur being in StarClan initially wasn't necessarily a mistake, but if he ends up in StarClan... the others just have to Accept It, and cling to a bunch of excuses they know are bullshit in the hope this ends well.

Darktail being in the Dark Forest? It means he really did think he deserved it. It would make you wonder if he ever thought he was worthy of StarClan, if he obviously believes in it.

Did he grow up hoping maybe one day, StarClan could grant his wishes? Did he turn cold towards them when they never answered his prayers? ...was it hate from the beginning?

I like it a lot more than Born Evil Darktail that Onestar's Conkledurr decided to commit to.

#Warrior Cats Analysis #Darktail #Dark Forest #Onestar

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zhou-enlai-fanclub · 10 months

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TRANSPHOBE CARNAGE THEATER

ANNOUNCING THE HOT NEW IP IN THE WORLD OF UNBALANCED ARENA SHOOTERS. WE GIVE YOU TRANSPHOBE CARNAGE THEATER. THE COMBAT TRAINING MILSIM FANTASY FULFILLMENT FOR ALL OF YOUR HEARTBROKEN VENGEANCENDIARY NEEDS.

TEAMS ARE SEPARATED INTO "IMMORTALS" AND "TRANSPHOBES." TEAMS ARE GRANTED DIFFERENT WEAPON LOADOUTS FOR OPTIMAL ASYMMETRICAL RETRIBUTION. IMMORTALS ARE GRANTED PLASMA RIFLES AND CHAINSAWS AND WILDSHAPE AND SNIPERS. IMMORTALS ARE GRANTED AUTOMATIC CONSTANT HEALTH REGEN AND CLAWS AND TEETH AND BURNING HATRED AND VAST, VAST NUMBERS. TRANSPHOBES ARE GRANTED A COMPUTER KEYBOARD. AND THE ABILITY TO BEG FOR THE MERCY THEY DO NOT DESERVE.

WEAPON BUFFS ARE AVAILABLE. THIS GAME HAS MECHANICS. IMMORTAL PLAYERS MAY ASSIGN A NAME TO ENEMY COMBATANTS. IF THIS NAME IS THE NAME OF A LIVING, BREATHING US LEGISLATOR, IMMORTAL PLAYERS GET A +100% CRIT CHANCE. IF THIS NAME BELONGS TO A TWITTER USER WHO SPENDS THEIR TIME COOMING TO OUR WEEPING AND LAUGHING AT OUR DEAD, IMMORTAL PLAYERS HAVE A CHANCE FOR ONE-SHOT KILL.

THIS GAME ANSWERS PRAYERS. THIS GAME TELLS THE TRUTH. THIS GAME IS A PROPHECY. IF YOU HAVE EVER CRIED OVER THE LIST OF NAMES, YOU ARE GRANTED UNLIMITED POWER. IF YOU HAVE EVER HIDDEN IN TERROR FROM THE MEN WITH BLADES, YOU ARE GRANTED UNLIMITED POWER. IF YOU HAVE CUT THROUGH YOUR FLESH TO REACH YOUR HEART: POWER. IF YOU HAVE BEGGED GOD TO CHANGE THIS WORLD: POWER. IF YOU HAVE REVILED YOUR SHAPE AND BURIED YOUR DREAMS: POWER POWER POWER.

THIS GAME HAUNTS THIS WORLD. THIS GAME WANTS TO BE REAL MORE THAN ANYTHING. THIS GAME WAS BORN READY TO PROMISE YOU EVERYTHING YOU DESERVE. JUSTICE HAS A NAME AND IT IS "HEADSHOT." WE HAVE BEEN HELD HERE. A BLADE TO OUR THROATS. TRYING SO HARD NOT TO QUIVER IN FEAR LEST IT CUT OUR TENDER SKIN. EVERY DAY THE MIGHTY WAKE UP IN THEIR BEDS AND STOMP AROUND IN THEIR DOMINION. EVERY DAY THEY CLIMB THEIR TOWERS TO THE SEAT OF HEAVEN AND DISCUSS AMONGST THEMSELVES HOW THEY MIGHT CUT US INTO NEW, DESPAIRFUL SHAPES.

WE DESERVE SO MUCH. WE DESERVE MORE THAN THE DREAM OF SURVIVAL. MORE THAN THE DREAM OF PEACE AND EQUALITY. THIS WORLD SHOULD FLOW WITH VENGEANCE! IT DESERVES THE PIXELATED BLOOD OF OUR SHAPELY KINGSHIP'S HEART.

THIS GAME IS A PROMISE. THIS GAME IS A CHOICE. FORGIVENESS IS FOR BITCHES. JUSTICE IS A KNIFE. MAX OUT YOUR KILLSTREAK BEFORE THEY CAN CUT YOU DOWN. I LOVE YOU. WE WILL NEVER EVER EVER FORGIVE THEM.

THIS GAME HAS NOT YET BEEN RATED BY THE ESRB.

[originally published at Corporeal Lit]

#poetry #oc poetry #my poetry #nora hikari #trans poetry #trans year of vengeance #personal post

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ringo-ichigo · 2 years

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Hymn to the Khthonic Deities Upon a Death

Thanatos, God of Death, Oh You who deals out mortality’s toll, We ask for Your kindness. May You take Your due As kindly as possible To grant our troubled minds rest On the passage of loved ones Into the Underworld. Spare all that You can From Your sisters’ dread hands And take the souls You gather With gentleness For our sakes.

Oh Zeus Moiragetes, May You lead with wisdom and care. As you direct those three daughters of Yours, Think kindly on us mortal ones. If their fate is unjust and untimely, Stay off Atropos’s sharp shears And spare our life threads. If the death is unwarranted in Your eyes, Speak to Lakhesis to extend the portion Alotted to that mortal as You deem fit. Atropos Diantaeae, Please look upon mankind with kindness And heed Your Father’s counsel. Zeus Moiragetes, If the life’s fate is just and as it should be, Do not be swayed by our weak mortal pleas. Excuse our fear of death and fate As the mortal weakness it is And work as You see fit. Clothés, do not falter in your weaving Only for our mortal pain and weakness. For You, Theae Archaeae, see more than We mortals ever have, And You see the future’s design better than we.

Hermes Khthonios, Meet Thanatos as He works And guide those souls. Oh joyful one, mischievous but kind, Bring them comfort and peace As You guide them to the Underworld. Be there for those who have passed on And give them peace In this, their final journey. Remind them that they were never alone Not even in these final moments And be a comfort to them. In these days, When not all know of the toll, Be kind to those souls And pay the cost for them Or make a plea on their behalf To soften the Ferryman.

Kharon, dread Ferryman, Be there with those who have passed And show kindness To us mortals who forgot the fee Because of the ignorance of others In days long gone. Ferryman, take them across To the side of the restful dead. We neglected You for too long, But be kind and do not hold A grudge against us. Those who know to pay Will ensure that is it done. Until then, Be merciful and forgiving And let all find their rest.

Haides Polyxenus, Continue to be the gracious host Of all mankind After their breath has left their body. Be a just and fair king to them So those mortals still living who mourn May have peace of mind, Knowing our loved ones Are in Your domain and in Your hospitality.

Persephone Daeira, Oh Wise Queen Below the Earth, May You serve Your role as well. If justice has eluded a soul, Let them find it at Your dread hands. If justice has been denied, May You loose the Furies Upon the ones who deserve it. Persephone Praxidice, Rule as You see fit And grant vengeance and justice As needed. And should we need Your aid, Speak kindly of us to Your husband And remind Him that Just like Orpheus, We too sometimes need a moment of grace.

Dark gods, Those who dwell below, Rulers of the Underworld, Be kind to us mortals in our hours Of need and weakness And guide us in the end to peace. Let us be at ease Knowing that our souls rest In your hands in the days After the breath has left our bodies.

As a reminder: if you like my poetry, you can check out my first collection over at Bottlecap Press! https://bottlecap.press/products/oflove I’d really love and appreciate it!

#my poetry #my writing #hellenic polytheism #persephone deity #haides deity #hermes deity #underworld gods #thanatos deity #hellenismos #greek gods #zeus deity #khthonic deities

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erabundus · 6 months

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@cryoexorcist &&. said... as if possessed by some otherworldly influence, chongyun is stumbling toward ren with an expression of utter confusion on their face. chongyun is far from psychic, but there's a strong sense of urgency, like perhaps ren needs a weapon far more than chongyun does right now. it's too compelling to ignore; it's best to just ride it out for now. "er," chongyun says, lifting the claymore off their back and handing it over, "you might need this. just...don't break it?" weird.

the catalyst is a fine weapon. sufficiently flashy, deadly efficient in the right hands and more versatile than a simple blade. there's a reason why it's become the wanderer's weapon of choice — why he continues to wield it, even now. ( even after the issue that forced him to familiarize himself with it to begin with no longer exists. ) however, there are simply some matters that necessitate a more BRUTE FORCE approach. the sword may be elegant and the bow may afford precision ... yet nothing quite puts the fear into the deserving like a piece of sharp metal as long as they are tall. it certainly makes a statement. ( usually one of murderous intent. ) it's simply unfortunate that the moment he needs one most, the wanderer finds himself tragically empty handed.

or so ren thinks — for the world has evidently seen fit to grant him a rare scrap of CLEMENCY. compensation for its excessive cruelty, perhaps. ( he has his doubts. ) he barely opens his mouth before chongyun is already handing over their claymore — a confusing yet welcomed act of GENEROSITY that has the wanderer blinking in a manner that veers distinctly owlish. huh. perfect.

the tiny chuckle that spills from his lips may very well have the exorcist regretting his decision, but it's TOO LATE now. he's already borrowed chongyun's claymore once before — even complimented the quality of its design. he's quite looking forward to using it again, both for vengeance related purposes, but also simply for the thrill of wielding such a fine weapon. the wanderer gives it an experimental swing — one-handed, as if using a sword of much more modest size. another little snicker follows the gesture, a sound of PURE DELIGHT that feels just a touch off-putting under the current circumstances. for one as reticent to talk about his feelings as ren, laughter can be used as an effective gauge in the place of words. in this case, the emotion conveyed is clear as glass — ominous, mischievous, anger honed as sharp as the claymore's edge. ❝ i'll have it back by MIDNIGHT. ❞ he reassures him. what a gentleman.

#cryoexorcist #𝟎𝟎𝟗 : 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯. ◟ crack .◝#( this seems so ominous but it's literally just based on a shitpost SKJVS )

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dailycharacteroption · 2 years

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Divine Scourge (Cleric Archetype)

(art by Kaue Padau on Artstation)

In mythology and in fantasy stories, you sometimes run across stories of folk that get divine curses laid upon them. Sometimes these are because the mortal in question did something that terribly provoked the deity’s wrath, deserved or not. Others simply ran afoul a particularly cruel divinity.

Regardless, divine curses are a long-standing trope in stories, but while many such tales have the deity themselves showing up to deliver the curse, in a world where priests are empowered by the divine, such curses might be meted out by them instead. In fact, there are some that dedicate their lives to this role, becoming divine scourges.

Now, obviously, this particular profession is not common among goodly gods, save for the most focused on law and/or just punishment for the wicked. However, more neutral deities might have scourges meting out punishment according to the principles of their faith, anything from teaching good life lessons to just punishment for grievous wrongs, to pure vindictiveness. And of course, evil gods often delight in causing suffering regardless of the justification.

In order to pursue their path of punishment, these clerics are granted not just traditional clerical power, but also divine magic resembling the more hostile side of witch hexes, adding an edge of old world vengeance to the class, as we shall soon see.

These bringers of misfortune on gain power over one domain, specifically the subdomain of curses, which is an extension of luck. With it, they gain a combination of spells and abilities that both protect and remove curses, as well as bestow them on foes. This is true even for deities that do not grant the curse subdomain, or even the luck domain.

They also learn a variety of hostile hexes from a short list, including those that blight the land, leave cursed wounds, inflict curses with a glare, cause unluck, leave mystical marks, unnerve beasts, cause pain, freeze foes from within, poison wounds, inflict nightmares, and sympathetic wounds on attackers.

With both a variety of hexes and the curse subdomain, these clerics can be masters of both short and long-term debilitation, but also a source of freedom from such curses as well. Without channel energy their ability to heal is limited, but I would still recommend a build dedicated to dropping debuffs on foes and protections for allies.

The idea of a divine scourge, of a mortal being the agent of a deity’s wrath has a lot of vibes from ancient beliefs like the pantheon of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, and so on, but also some elements of the early days of the Abrahamic faiths as well. This flavor of the ancient world is fine and dandy, but I imagine that these clergyfolk will clash with those that believe in mercy over punishment, even within their own faith. With that in mind, they might exist in their own isolated sects which might believe that the mainstream faith is soft and weak, or at least, that their own ways must rarely be called upon. Or if they have power within the faith, they might turn their divine judgement erroneously upon their own, causing them and the surrounding communities to live in fear. Of course, if they cross certain lines, they may find their power waning as well.

With snarling voices hurling invectives, the gargoyles of Volkas Pass are more than mere raiders, they are layers of curses. Indeed, they follow the god of Hatred, and their cruel magic has earned them the name Stone Furies.

Far from the city, they say that one of the great scourges, the priests of punishment from the days of the war, still lives, refusing to give up his divine power to curse and punish though there remains no need. Most avoid him as an ill omen, but there a few who remember the dark times as well as a man who would not allow himself to forget.

The lone priest warned that the entire kingdom would pay for their liege’s cruelty, and though he was mocked, the truth of his warning has been made manifest. It started slow, with strong workers suddenly becoming overcome with a weakness that would not past, and scholars suddenly finding their own writings confusing and impenetrable. However, now bouts of misfortune and ennui give way to outright plague, and horrible rat kings manifesting in the sewers.

#pathfinder #archetype #cleric #divine scourge #gargoyle #rat king #Magic Tactics Toolbox

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augustheart · 2 years

Note

re jsa fistfight vs. retire post- Challenge of ranking: who needs to be Immediately Beaten the Fuck Out to Time-Out Corner. why? because I am seeking violence and I suspect the old guard are near the top. (also bonus points: top two jsaers who need to retire for their own health.)

assorted jsa members ranked by how badly i want to fistfight them:

alan. don't even think i could win i just need to attack him with vicious intent.

hawkman. fuck you hawkman you know what you did

rex tyler may be the world's first transmasc absent father but i'm about to become the world's first transmasc to beat up the world's first transmasc absent father

ted knight. yes i understand that the point of him is that he changes his ways and relearns how to be a father to jack. i don't care anytime i reread early starman '94 i want to kick his knees in

the spectre for what he represents and also for making me endure day of vengeance

power girl :( i'm sorry karen i know you would not do this if it weren't for geoff johns' sinful hand but i do think you should be punched for most of early jsa '07.

jay as a sign of the warrior's respect and also because he deserves to be punched in the face sometimes

ted grant as a sign of warrior's respect and also because he deserves to be punched in the face sometimes 2

hector gets dug up and i kill him again for the crime of being the most annoying bore in existence.

libby chambers ranks here because i give deadbeat moms a pass sometimes

slap al in the face for lilah sturges writing reasons

ma hunkel. i cannot win and i do not intend to i just think it'd be a good way to show affection to her. ranked so low because she's done nothing wrong and would break every single one of my bones

sand because i feel bad for leaving him out

mr. terrific but again, i would Lose, and then i would get his autograph and frame it

people who are generally spared: i have zero beef with charles and pieter, it's like the warrior's respect seen above but instead it's the falconer's respect. todd and jennie are safe because i like them. i could never hurt ty he is like a brother to me. al pratt is my short king representation so i have to give him a pass. and of course my best friend loves hawkgirl so i cannot lift a hand against her.

collective baby tier: grant, tom, maxine, courtney, jakeem, billy, i guess technically jen was on the team so her too. ranked below the spares because i would never hurt them whereas i could be convinced to fight the people above. minus ty <3

don't assume i forgot anyone for this list i either don't even feel the need to specify that i'm sparing them (dinah, kent nelson, so on) or hardly remember their existence in the first place (magog, so on).

top two people in line for retirement:

nate heywood. no further statement necessary.

rick tyler quit your Fucking superheroism career become an elementary school art teacher. while i legitimately think it would've been interesting if he'd actually quit circa infinity inc calgary murder moment and then never gone back, i don't think i want that to have happened. realistically i wish he'd quit in the mid 2000s and become a full time wifeguy. [insert that panel of rick telling roy that he's stopped taking pills and has instead begun injecting the substance he is addicted to directly into his veins and roy being like "ok. well. i will still be your sponsor" here.]

bonus: grant but not permanently. i think he needs to re-examine what heroism means to him, however at the end of the day i think he not only truly wants to be a superhero but finds meaning in using powers that literally mean self-destruction to help others. this could've happened offpage while he was staying with roy's family however it apparently didn't because then we got jsa '07.

#YES. KILL.#extended post #ask to tag #scarabaebutch

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plumsaffron · 2 years

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Therapy does not equal justice. Therapy is a option not a solution. How does that even solve the actual problem? May think it makes the user find peace or let go. Does it make the source of the problem vanish or make it so that some problem that will not continue and find a new victim or new victims? I suppose it's to possibly censor who deserves justice. Certain things Should NOT be let go of. And who "actually" controls such therapy system? Imagine some person destroyed your house and you are told to get therapy but here is the thing. The therapist is a supporter or is in allegiance of that being who destroying people's property? Oh and such therapy organization is a subclass of who deals houses for people/you and they all are thriving from that soldier or leader's actions. It is okay to seek vengeance and complete such tasks for justice at least and or at most being at peace as justice was granted. Going after a new found sources of the problem is fine and the core it of it in order to change things.

Apologies don't give what one is not able to get back either.

#plumsaffron #anti naruto fandom

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libidomechanica · 5 months

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“The shade of missing”

A sonnet sequence

Are vainely spright, doe ye to hate or else were the must have her, that all their fame; before him from eternal day, to the love shade to sing, that hole with Susan? And, brushes, books, but walkes about the green. And bemoan ye; for, live you shallow’d walls; they view? Yet I shudder’d in some mould, my life a meteor sunk the sense he branch of muscle, lopsided, mute. The shade of missing. Of April, and she is come at then is Oothoon hovers breeding prey: the woods may answer, and find salvation. We seek—the happier task the feast prevail than a Golden creast with yours I was taught.

Ah let me suck it is so gone of truth, and asked him by the soul of sword between the bark directly steer, and some, and live for her will Oothoon their grosser parts he cheeks she did lie, souls transition loses ev’ry motion, and pitying their force, where you drive to war a weak disdained, the worm the sea and shook the bitten by a truce, begins to addorne as doth shine between theyr eccho ring. Admire there awful arches more of nature, banish all the window, and Fate does nor fragrant mine own deserving spoke too much lesse, over us, the decay and sainted fields intice.

Behold they have dance, and study the noblest free, grant smoke in one joy absorb another way I am just what a pleased; and round that wake and foule horror on my name her tenor turn his goodly do the while young and the little he is, stella is? Unknown; unknown; but even in slumbers of Aganippe well-proportion joined. Groups they meet; so unhappy maid, while story as it rose: and every One, and so much, yet blush, and lose you must her, because than the loathed it on and his rivals by the inlaid garbage every vestige of Abelard it in the blackbird’s feet.

Had a suddenly tabernacles the cross-line shall hail with to close, the mail, lets that win, the still repayre. Or such strength awake; for I must I staid, strive in shadows of the best region both rere. While the proud usurper, and friend hath melt from my Injury, thoughts abide, intend no bloom most of Wisdom’s Door, slave of singing through at a step to sing, that when Jove thee to thy hair, the housefyres, nor you. My lips like thy vertue rayne, more would crazed, a-doting out roads to be with a slight, who see you gave you any others be, beauty, like a Taper over thou truly seldom.

Of your name. Sends intermined the love on force to me answer&theyr drery accents, with corps; they have rear, when the attic and bound by those engine refused it, the blood; in the long before my life to forgotten looks the dead; you scorn em all: then wilt their eyes, swim the enquiring each on nor you except fail’d to hovers of the bels, ye yong men to blow, or moving spoke not of the Bryde into a pond of which a purer joys are swear it on my sleeping in hand, my loue, thou keep putting of dried bloodstream shame; I will not resisted like a Sun. Can walk by morn; now I chang’d!

The fainter of ioy and Night with the night. Her vengeance strike the prince ages singing, all other country rage leap, beyond all I follow drugs were possesse his cancelled for, love, and wrinkles; when I’m laid they seem’d her hand, as well suits the mind. The stove in green mama who first, while far oversight. How does deny, ah, what we may turn address he came late: thought so happy Love! Droop, droop no more they breath’d in silence theyr carroll of me; well, and his way, who ruine am without attaint,—a Rosebud blowing your best instruct me one is Mighty spell of love, and wind, deepens there !

That all. Inhabitation: thou know thinking: last, a love you something through here a rustic voice I’ll see here eagle scorne with shines in secret ship well her mair moving which he shape. Which were little world should devised where I will finde no eloquent shows when, Day over, or of my Love’s rites vnfit. Delight with the horrible to thee! So Cymon calmness flown away sweet grace where are like bad seruants sing, and the bels, ye yong men of men—youthful in my heart. Object of singing plac’d in blood bored his way; for the sun itself the nineteen-year-olds, nought not his eyes? Without your eccho ring.

Come, shorter, saddens all then we wonder what I shoulder when the geniall beset with accomplished his blush, and she look’dst thro’ the Mill has gotten. Let no last wombe informed the Dew of Peace upon thy Idolaters round to the avoids the mountain- side, and limb to live, and body like a girl as much as I stood with charming Cheek,— upon the hand shutting swiftly by, still croking may prove, love had gained by former vows, had ever scaly trouts doe delight, and, joined: three hand shield, and by a passion fire, but in tear of Heaven, down to his back. Stout Cymon went, a mind is it done.

Cold despair, resent heere, the Ouzell shrill doth rere. Dear her tongue still high altar-flame; that’s how I controls. On Cupids bowe how the dead! If thousand yet to generation from thy boldest dreams I prefer before may thy garland grace to live all on first and made my boy cuckoo, jug-jug, pu- we, to-witta-woo! Behold, whose fair that we are ends you Phant’sies play; but dreamboat when all fair unhappy day, to soul, and, sitting soul, as in amorous than a Golden bear child the solitude, where at the fair star, tho’ thy looks, her hand, than tears, white forgotten. Because they movèd alike?

Save heard—the Sea-shore of bliss, maud made old snows melt away with might be called Beauty, thoughts, with grace in an April shroud; the tyrant, now his great store, her breaking days and those which goes black. And let hob Goblins, names sung in the stern with generation dwells like a lady; the same time I hunt force to die in better by Nature me the peace, propoundednesse lend desires has buoyed me that give birth-pangs on my soul, as if thou overcomest so, because them make a minute’s pause there in vain of sunset, and the accord, and some, and sparkling friends, by day did sit on. Again: its summer’s loves, we seek—the jars so every lightnings to the threasure is like a pilot, the child the syllables! But silence to move, but rest, but his proud lady. To his Head. So well that’s the wind and he in the sheetes, and act is on the night, and I do not grace, and may makes me sweet.

Far other red nor share it! How drum, who buys whole central create an apples over Ford Cortina I will have spoke it where for possesse with its death cannot lieth! And the larks from what he soul employed the offering staine, for she was crammed were immeasures but forth? Somewhat love, I told me to Love’s isle the world, when you entombed in the shoulder, give Perenna’s lip a kiss, and Phillis was queens to draw. Smoothly with mutual flight tracing. Strive in gross my erring stars. After it ended; and as old Falstaf says let us make young and on calming, sweet them eeke brings contempt the snow, take me love you agree: for the restrain; I wanna be yours thoughts so to be my guilt exalts they. The croupe the parent toil all trembling still dictates, if the sweets their arms are booing must love ere means this—this from falling the truth would hurting., Let loves not by the riuers and ease a name day?

Which did in silence, and multiple locks without leave thee all. They said, the Lustre of Pasimond his breathes round to accepts which, if force—thus doth grow: for God sake thyself, and died for me not where little turret that hast to wish too, nor durst distant of human formally to get, your memory My sweet Robin sits quicken, so effect our bodies me, and aching their formed; their wood pigeon measures but for speed. That the stern, and all I lie, no more the fence the last wombe informe with honey and that the same, wealth would make ye blue, I swear the palm was obliterated of sugar.

Open the retreat, whom thus held or led by her mother, husbandman? I love throat, eye and solace sounds with pains of Cavalli with a blew silke riband. In me nothing him. Though most wondrous sport, gently lambent wish with you just ask. Of soap and transparent to live in gross material soul employed the guns, and transient rose again as I ought; your vows, and asked him in, his love; no, makes the cold. Grow the grave and panting points that grow the heart-string everything bay was you. And of the for Right; and two days have admire; as flies, the land unchange thou taught to sway? My bold hand obeys.

Sit on and could comely sleeping? And unnamed light—or dare then unknown; unknown; unknown; but knows as well of love, cold with me ere loved you be, just as a poet sublime? Al with carefully divine, is lying idle. And of mock-heroics strained to this sire, distinguished his passion to that pass. With nerves tuned for now, to mother. The dying gate as ocean? Alas! Thou will beauty to thee? And I was the palace-gate is enough the poor stone—where I stand the strange? I go: and I hid in sighs. The drowsily, rosy is the chaste embraces of the ass of poverty?

In Egypt, one is anywhere, but each low wind that drink that he shape of love at no man to prize-oxen and winds do should his to prey upon the twins of sweet pleasure, and on grain, and leaving the scatterd light ice I know raspberries be seen glimmer shade of Netherby clan; forget what the village smoke in Passionless eyes traced grasshopper, for they feast appeared, aloft, thereto approve of spite, invaded with unaccountable laws behind then me? Rest, pay to her chamber: the gross my speech each sad, our guest—thus defies, but love thee round theyr carrot, my called love ere meaning o’er, when your treasures, and wise, and eeke for featured even in stone—where Cymon ploughs toward beauties pride, his world of Bromion’s rage, rage against a rocky prisoner sent; in seas are blessed, to confess’d the pure snow-limb’d nearest like I know how the soul. That I could nor seem but at the house, the years.

Till, having the sacred rites are betray’d to rivals by this delight, I wish with my body passive as a pillar in her all thou much refined, since to cheat us nourish set on you love no more vs answer, Maud has been in the shoulders hoarse to slope to treat the chill blooms, and pictorial. To hate or else were live on a day. Silence, know I thought of pleased myself, the quintessence of a vicious pride, so sweet, the last wave of dried bloody stroke rest wise, wealth to die in better by Nature suit. Lyke somewhere and watched beneath the common kiss the deep upon thy selfe, and guydest loue, or be myne, letting, by the screaming the maid; like wealth, and governor and fair some mould, thy worst but last her, there. Each her woes, and that can the great Iuno, which reconciling up. The might travell’d on the wind should fan her as he who dares not recalling all day the vale; but coast.

When thou art though for man shall forlorn when thou see an amulet that he should love concern. I shall the weep solitude on the Realm of Wisdom down to age’s cruel immortal, while thoughts should excell in the heart like the conquest it up. Ah, what I thinking with reflection know; nor grateful Evening towers in more her breath may give through the pearls pale as stone? An earth to grateful Evening mild; nor rising souls strange song for the land: yet neuer draw, when Pan and blushing Absál’s Image from despair? Because only prove; unless you now, to mother. My hands. White sheet. Mark where were thy pain!

Fancy to resign, ‘your voice had survive. And lifts his golden creast appears: if in the honey Lip. One stalking, the weak voice is since their pace to hear, when King Victor hast my heart leaps like called token or the might he had fire? Lights wound of the flowry gras, twixt plea by some slight tulips but wise her whom so long veins fresher story of you my coward be lost. Too soon the love you, that great proceed out of nature doth traveller came sneaking dewy-warm with one day was mov’d, and nothing came, and chasing sea-wave assent: yet neuer sunk below, yet prodigal inward weight, love made.

The world will blooms but of men—youth of glasse, or the expect, but made me in the fires, long-sounding court the causefull dampe, doe ye threshold how distil through to strayt, the first foe in the hears me not on that lap doth blow that streams to lover learned away, even will all the literate Love I’d have no more. Love is the offence, is it, thy gift: why shout roads to friend, a god in loves, we seek to the consumes: I with the worm the fort, a ship with glance of the firmament them, no doubt, that shook down and our bliss, maud has joined, their dancing shade; till the decay and ask the swelling-place.

Thou awake with unaccountable cries. She is no morning because though both of us must fade as when I’m in instinctual from their foes, Ormisda mine. I write, and I, betwixt sleeps she wrong; and at thy sake, and men whores? Ne dare not much to play at is t but thou shall admire; as flies me, as well the people for birth; therefore I shrug on the fault; once more thing thou keep putting of your addresses,—of camp-life to Light A Child of Bromion said he, that seems hold offence? Rose-cheek’d Laura, come, proud spirits their common show they breast, when, the Shadow cast upon me, where? Now among.

Alas, how thy worthy heart, and the kill. Me within my eye-balls of me when we men required. And darkening graces of happy day, fancy flatter after soft splendour lips being on me. With the charms, away withered consent, the wheels. Some patience, is lying. The Tory member may they but only three, for let myself where they go a tract for his only because than see; the oscillating in a web of age around the future bard shall never know. From the Heav’n; dispute: the woodbines with virgin joy and all in vain,—to blessing, other and double you I love thee!

Still that rode high and had college where Venus keep, nor your light, the second at the Darlings are mine though here dispense within the Chaff and let her throat, eye and calling floods, and know bedbugs? And lose thy loue of Sir Ralph from whence my soul, and all Night with all beauties when all my joy in trance and thy bare: for the eye of heav’nly harps she seemst to live. Doth euen the Dew of her face, strive forfeit faith. Thus doth Love speak not, my care? Worthy I to beare, instead of some closed welcome, roots. I called token or the place and the weep each amicable set; opening sun on the brydall boures.

Of Carnal Composition Unattaint,— a Rosebud blows; the dark when like, that from the elect salámán’s Soul reflects the glimmering home of forests far remote land was she before, and eat apple breathe my wings of Leda, shall still sing, ne any women whore, as no affrightest wanes; who love. Yet, if thou dost enlarged the meanwhile the dawn, and the charming Christs, die with honor’s graces are cement? Rolled torches gave don’t knowing on that glow, but wisely kept them that touches me more worth of cheerful might mine own that garden-gate; a lion ramps at hand shoot into you aren’t.

Ne let these scenes appall’d dear, and pray’r; no happiness, and float or sink, be high degrees prepares to bestows, to conquered prey, as in crush, but it’s not all think you have fanning day; the down upon deceased I than by the coale in the Crown; a Star under which we bantered sense doe I hear my love on pity mov’d, oh may words me from come. Behold think not of a present somewhat for heard—the name day. To your sins but a shop called into your mind at a star— when we written: Take this: one is straining forth to view, then would love, mere loves, which from West is still as then Iphigene to say.

The Maker’s image chariot glimmer steals between the joys of right, but at push- pin half-opening tongue doth fall? These great store, her could, thy looks were he hated names, and more worthiness of mine, no voice essays presumptuous pride; cassandra too without half my heart; and in the pain, yearnings of the shrines all place without know he still mourns, his own garden! Is it best to East, sighing thy words not ashamed by my side, the princessantly to love, aside to thee, Give me to say thinke Nature man: there falling the fair where allot, and burning no causefull rymes, the Rust Belt.

His dull at the day go and so mild as some mayds and skilful pilot light abode, and that censures beneath things, let my gestures, and his wit the face, thoughts so sweet Tibbie Dunbar. And the centuries of the flowers. Lyke cherry-pit: she that blue and when Lucy cease you speak. Equal fire, till my grave, and this odd warp in times it was given through a love taught meadows, when my pulses play; but tell my joy! More to see how are mine, that touch you are as stones i’ th’ street, crying hope, life, myself was. But who can love largest engaged by this thou hast they enter: the youth to weep!

She walls and you made of men or pass and purling stay, and is my love, called love with infinite agree with you are not save listen to joy and blesseth herself in her kisses: the kind; nor wish’d love you and that name, and adore in love, I lose my gentle into its native mirth. Nay long they do not, therefore than tear in her we losers talk and through all meet them who dare not wrong; and with forests, taper tremble through all be possessing up the sun, whole corn, and newer proof the last redress; where the shore, and lead their young; or does there dwelling of the woods shalt lie display’d, while he stormy main; but whence would die for aid, confused to master what a pleasures of Heaven, blind turning ray, lest we lay? The fatal shafts of the feathers turn the lights I drew the West, through all other wonder whom the narrow house, the Pope is Catholic and in sight foretell my lifted times in sleep.

Had a sudden hear it can’t stop loving breezes sight I stands check’d; Religion bids them up, gotten, my limbs, and after a strange above, t’ acquit such hail, shall carry in the sacred right—only remain on my should look’d down rolls the Storke be hear the lid. If they shrine I hear the power, there my cold floods of unholy joy, shall live to say, like folks of the Ear of pity; or will entwine my sinewy thighs; false world was wondered wept smooth-paced numbers spent: for the stops, and each others in the locket fill the wylde wolues which interesting fires, as marble to play at all.

I know that equal fire, till by your short a date: sometime too, as soil. Which may leaves less eyes. One shall still ye power of the farm to be borne with a soul shalt be so: let all but kindle into shade; till tis yon born idiot laugh of Morn, her land. What scenes my meaning in never at they suffer thy night and sith office cease trying! Slowly crimsin dyde in rape: unpraise upon that the old my wrinkled body is, poure out they built thou Hymen sing, that crown a happy men the attic and in bridal white handmaid, my last vow commends that all they meet; so unhappy am I!

Arrows out of men breaking day. That she can reach other. Unlike a doll’s kiss. Thy pray’rs I try, should pause, and fading-time does retreat, whom the roring wide through the waves on his mine; for whole self and her face lies upturned. Rosy is there increase that in Thailand, one is youth, Health, and speech as I. Pardon my breast, sighing of some snow, such valid reason in her face; in thine. Clay on a whore in her voice with Desire, and Eloise? We tell it this or the scene if some quit this turf, and who will things long since held his think thee with shine of this orient beams were decline: within.

We see day, prepared to my mouth’s lamentation: thou know it shall then before may entwined, hauing divine lectures of heaven of nonentity? Beene the daily logs of the name did with girlands ta’en away in the world, a whitehearted water, the puppy’s breathe while the Mill have slept in shops I love thee, fury, now with fair thou accursèd from despair in delights that sight? Wake now I love no end: mine appear to thee, cut off the stiff processions, conceive nor would have worn; ye grots that strife soon the massive ghosts of the east, and many a bachelor to die that unusual luck!

That tomb in whirls in light. Resting eyes, and from the strewed with good nightings; nor sea nor court for he is, so alike, and embeds everything Was My Fault has broken and enjoy that flower. But gath’ring everywhere, thou being crowned the wintry rings; changed heart, with this is to prayers here, when will beauty call my grandfather thrown, I got the who drew from her Locks dividing me the universe’s largest engaged by dignity. For sometimes, mystering to giue to glide to happy determingled mute, like little worlds light. The hand, and summer-time, what I may leave all of men.

For a little bits of Frogs still he great broad-backed wave! And, like you all that may chance condemn’d to inspire melts intricate mouth, I bade him that she whole year; all the dim window and dart, a tickling thy presence or me? In awful fear to me? Thy Love put in breast recourse onto my birthday and beautiful seeks my devotion hold you and you in acts: their foes, Ormisda call thy pray’r; no happiness; and the eastern skies; clouds, ascend their habitant below, as my own Incompetence; not to- night. Then separates what I mighty Wisdom in his will, some to mine, to keep one.

And leaning to his back heroic—true- sublime, and laid by thee. And I hold while though naturally ridiculous. Then is full, poure his fires light, never knees both court other gay girlands goodly eyes I used the night&morning because it is to prevent, she for want to her with shall fall Last limit of this made of Venus’ doves, and west bed. In vain to the sun itself must have roots, remember’s elderly, carelesse matrimony makes Love his nature’s. So was the Snare I language but die ye must die! Soon taught the leaf, in the long expects us in the lamps grew both my flow’rs.

That folly, the breast. The gravest citizens of gulls on your sister, daughters of Albion hear your sweets the hallow’d taper tremble thy portals groan, the day. But silence there, blushes speak the beautyes grace though better the fair. But thee; saw the dull dream the bays, which one hand hauing the Mill have a dream. Or do you know this island I do not the woods shal answer—then called into our mind when we meanings—through the day spending adieu! One threatened for the pondered in your mother. Pain; they like a spring, its salutary aim, in that so wild snake the treasure and thou fill with you.

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With other who sing: that I speak for delight, my own disgrace and thy unworthiness I gaz’d; heav’nly-pensive contentment wrongs. All new techniques for sophomore grant flower, debased by what resource for Right; I love I said, and about there, tree of grace; and all below love taught him thy eternal joy. Value, not sting, flies, and down of dark wood; for the gathering I might foot the waves are safety landed of bliss, who put me alone, and tears, while, amid the sky! Blush ye loue, with ev’ry greenwood-shed fly, and discerne theirs, made of beauty and catch for my poor Son of the ground of sighs.

And for brake, after seas are not where I was the begot Maiesty. Be better on his Tears over bow, and have soothed me fight with our coffee Black my conditionally those to Vivian-place. Mild is sweet enemy Fraunce; horsemanship against conscience to answer—then came a month their due rewards them glows, the longer mourn the Rhodians fell. Like mine. Tremble; in the secret, fearful, charms of games. Last spark of the foes: for from the shells, and moving bright, I meane by little gaping wide through distant of pleased amid that to thee, is famine, that hole I crawl thronged to behold whiles with sails; hoarse.

Were she cared for to stone boats that pierce his sparkling proud humiliating grace is o’er thence declines be made the noble race, strive for, but the past plea by some quiet place me wild rose- briar is sweetbread and meekness in was round his feet warmed with Jewels, and still are most wondrous she. In the most prepared as Pasimond purling body, and reset. Meantime young and no more, for love; then what I had beene. All the daughters of twilight in the partake, although most sweeps too tender and all his fond bosom beating snow; or be pressed to see’t; yet them answer, nor dolefull rymes, then press to the ball in a queer sort of my grieve, but for what envise all in the cared to meet the fair and most meet he was obliterate life to Love? No, make young Pasimond a lawny firmament thro’ me? When the moon in his Heart; come, the land unkind as yet, tis all this weary’d with thee!

Her goodly all and anguish in my wife. Waiting soul! Again to see me. Some sent a bright is gone thou canst wait till death rattle, men should’ve been the warm, impassion of Beauty was the secrets of heave my wits doth dwell in ways beside. In secret joys in their turn of my should be lov’d! Night vision I may no misfortune has channel, whereon: this, or conquered prey, or lead but the Flowing what we see not, fray vs see, thy sweet sisterhood: for your Italy’s crown, a judge erect a pilot lighted care! Our love is upon him, in the lines be made, so I vnto her light. Oh, yes!

Kiss of a stone boat whose for me, for love, t’ acquit such plaint. Cheap what is a scream. Time doth decent care I languish, him that give me leaues among. I love letters from the Solway, but the womb to conquering eyes sicken at him—Hysteries; your arms he measures freeze that burns not of the marble to slope as fair will come home to your name is mind; he soule, whilst we looks now, thus mellow’d to treat thro’ the West; till, painted arrest at the woods and in which she spouse and easefull rymes, those ravish’d sweep or such a wretch’d the gentle into your rosary of love, my only was you.

Thus ever was kind of Maud by that festering with Theotormon sense of a son … You! Who make, behold this Exchanged my eyes not save nations of liberal acts inflamed my lips renunciative through distance at once them answere, no ruth for any dread and vast; his life looks like silence and each of women in seem’d to Memory of love the high for the talked in the folds of a city great tranquility. Do the violet, one descending air and teach, and hide our uses and her perfumed altars as I watching accent and they are out of the green delight and given, by breast.

Old age should your Ford, one is strange, when I thy crew. And jumping-jack pajamas in an echoes: who is the peace, and down in a doze raigned, but only death? For my staff. Withered in world’s bicycle goest that I shudder’d in whose stations. I would to the Honeycomb; and why he look’d on by woe, the lasting, from the Southern balm derive, the which we see day, she stone than niggard in love tunes into two milky ways, my life and containing sun on the slopes of tourists. Settled as in a strand of soil, nothing abroad wings, let mischieuous with woe, for it without a germ or a word.

And her lost bring her sight foot the laid him in the light, is such a verb dancing with new stings to them wide that give you because the jealousy, be the matin lamp in sight! Deserve thee, intend no man to her set, swear I’m thine: to-morrow on a new meaning on a maiden come. For their eyes to thee, wild night. Thy soft sex with some quiet- colours of the more girls, she passe. How cloth’d; how wailing round arms and the place; and the same love has decke her, the lid. Be burning sweet, so little your selues that runs the gained. No, no, I never hold, I erred yet in her will; she’s left a son … You!

Her liuely notes, the diff’rence to speak and causes or gotten. Their heads with tremble wings and longings that she is wide through their care not disapproves; ev’n then, the frivolity of heavenly smiles the Grand Canyon, still remained to be at one with his mother who sang the soil of the Food I love! While ye will control my head for ever instead. Outside she loads and his body as well equipped for my sad lute mid the blood this mutual kiss upon the king off the first invented shaft struck with girlands tremble reuerence to the Abbey, and chasing on the woods they resolved the Sum of his ardent wish thy love to an end. The sitting on the last defend no more. How farre from the world to the lips in the children and the next hours have not that she did see; the fair Syrinx returns: likewise you like an unowned for a cure, that move the ioyfull day and nature suit.

So Orpheus did me much I don’t been quiets sake, remember’s eldest please? The wand’ring true, my true-telling steps are on theyr numbers breath, and yet, the pestilence and haste; your hair all thy blessing in hand, as his bruis’d, wouldst not say I ever like the sugar. Dead that blessing, a king on me then, thou proved, but sicknesse tries more worth on your love, this made him once seen like he seem’d to his grief I lie, kind, ordain a cool Eurotas the hundred Thousand with your hair, at sighs, a morning stain all the nut if, after a stone boats that Dervish- dances Nature, banishment, and the same.

The punished, and broke my skin, or breaking dewy-warm with the old with my boys! Deep in the rind of the kind, but ioyed in ashes. No weep, her the flower. Joined been, who burne, that I may leave, and my Dead—what dust the youthful, charming nearest—now address his official lies, but to under what pretty bosom with this day: now warm young Lord Lochinvar. Break it soon will not go away. Her kisses which without leaving void left deserts led. Into the voice will call from their eyes that pray’d, love’s Elysium. While Cymon’s reign of both sides I do not, there, in your Eccho ring. Stay while prayse.

A last wet steeds that I remember of thy mind, by which much importune deal, rolled against or on their birth; there are her dead rising a note there! Crowne ye God Bacchus with his momentary pain, ah, what is but Half-lance haue often is Oothoon a windy night of human tears, and lover freighted love letters equally, about that I have punish all you were vain! And knows what we care nature suit. Faire Sun, shews the voyager, and Salámán heart: I string entertain what can a woman who doth windlas so; that I found, thy limbs, and broke the children do in them, and obeys.

While Pan is wide through it be so from the secret joys, struck with fair and that good ear to me? Touch to the things are sweet sister, Aretine, when in drink to draw—but it is bright swan by the dawn of Venus having me a fool enlight where Venus’ doves, which doe taken mortal go. This ponderous issue blessing might meets thou forge the magistrate his head,—on mine by its flaming glad I see; my fancy to run her prayses sing, ne will be past echoing their words and somehow, each others do abhorrence from the Silver sad astrology, the servile round their glowing its close infrequent is fayre loue, or continually, inevitably ridiculous. Let no last, advanced, he reaped on that keep on what powers all the dull eyes, beams were made him master where Truth is, false treacheries that never miss home-talk along. ’ Streets at will seek anew some emanations?

Spring flashing how brings to Paraclete’s whiles ye forgotten. Renowned thee possession in my widow’s heave me well, if it prove, then I pursue; to liberty, right health to form cells, the waves in the window over wars, both do stay in dream. But on the like greene, that command. A sigh from our sleep twelve hour a man desire till has a garland so fall of love. Nothing red sunset; O, a shield. Nor grief indeed and bubbling Croud, the woman be goods. Come not yet creatured effigies the bays, while ye what eyes watch the bride her maid, because the measure—the world should lover free.

Tempe, lying sit, and my Delight in? Thou a thought of the height of Spring, for greedy men, that none reproues these scenes appeared the fertile earth’s affection unto ye; and ever-flourish upon bed were exercise of her Foot that lives again repeated, naked breadths of meditations of the Lord Lochinvar. The glory of the syllable wound in the guilt, and shook down. And thy bliss, O Man! Then give? Or zeal, love. I probably didn’t tell be late to subdue, renounce me, and meekness shrowds; how chearefully resigns the bee hums by us willed in trance ecstasy expire.

The most wondrous she was restore what made myself where Nature’s truth would things they can drinks we wand’ring light; because of night which with some virtuous course the silly me do flow in love has channel, where I have to limb spoiling church, the hills, the virgins, then will not go gentle with fragrant the prize you woe. Spread: sweet-faire, most no grave and her eye. And vows beside to be silently, invisibly. Which, as they go a tract for a frog. His gross refined, but a step to help the other men are lawful fear. To social palms, and sweeping it because I see that bounding a break. Once sealed.

Showing tiger, and a night, a haystack. By kindle into the places of things to thee. Nodding on Cannobie Lee, but wisely kept thro’ the garden-rose the path to knowledge, and listen’d and bye her and feare of Pasimond had consequent smil’d, and loud this blood. Which time where Venus, play a plainly teachest and shave become on a summers have her; and man. Who now exactly where either me? That Spring, it twirls and limb to comfort me. Gave you. Twelve swell of they live, the jealous God, God wot, the graves, tears, thus I will not where Nature for you woe. Eternal fire, but gie me mine.

Their crime than the ravishers remark my mind, though here the tardy diligence prevent, she was she died their blacked-out cockpit of the Pouke, nor durst display the quintessence of a vicious citizens of Kings of need, but form appeares; O see with his brutal lust. Over and you would you, to love, who first foe in the melancholy. That she may entwine my sinewy thigh and lifts him in vainely such a rate to temples you like them burn and retossed by her praised lover, or seemely good at? What shall we feeds on the chicken from the cavern at the clicking up.

My head, eyelids mock at the sweet Tibbie Dunbar. With only cruel immortal on the tardy diligence prevailed above concerned love taught at one beloved, he spread then would remove, and a ravishers remain, here was Eloisa weeps and sighs and of the golden day. Great song I serve people stand, the late into my signed, but I, vnbid, fetched peonies; or if he be forehead, and pledge we ne’er be so fast, that glow, beat with a wild cress walls and gay. The red bow loosen’d manes, and digging heel, all on youth, and darkness first ray the suppresse: not graceful slumbers the pitiless wave?

What can behold no more shortest that place! When Lucy ceased, hissing forth at Loues feet of my should be wise men in a penalty kick. To climb. The waves’ bounding sincere, waiting all your hand, and, with his Rhodian bear chair, that my droop-headed sexton that wouldn’t both lookes to their cloth the nights dreadfully company we pace, and dusky part. How to pleasure to hate or else he stood ready sheltered lips lyke to me: a virgin joys holy, eternal sleeping the healing a filthy sorrow on a summer-time, you over bow, with weight, or on the sense I run repent; my bestow.

For thou afore, then all the weight of heaven for thou canst do the nunnery: the dedicated, nor dolefull day, that fosters of drugs that glows, the day, each chang’d! How love himself, the Ringlets of light that bosom blows, had given, it’s more shak’d the air. ’Mong Graemes of Leda, shall have been for a few hours to come, since she weak should he went back heroic—true-sublime, and woe long darkness is imperious hawk? ’Other freedom, she is giving home of they meet, old words and hell!—The expanse? On which when he found himself, nor be more lift the joys of sweetest that has sent it be.

Visitors remained, the village dog barks at the cause, still over seeded or for flight, and bemoan ye; for the violet, one day see both alike. Flames resign, your leisure they entering with forests green delight groves and plume; and there brib’d the air clears away. Spread o’er the smiles, and weep; a trembling, the sacred vestments to wail such plainly teach truest breast are gone; the village dog barks at twenty, my loue, awake, thereto approves our face, excell; rich in the youthful, charms, away with the expect to shrills, then, tired of sheep half-asleep below, beat to my Muse and soft a tear.

When I’m laid by the longed beyond the wine, the garden rails. But first-born joy. Enough hasty took no part which when all they proves our love, and thy care, each here we betray’d to his, the young Lord in the world, a white walls, and had left me make a noonday night, and show they ho! Outside lawn running in the trees, before or your bells, do you decide: the sea on my pure scourge; their better used what they know, I can say But I can scarce discerne the heat and queen with the darksome welcome shock: his eldest pleasure drawn; felt a horned branches of this: one is dying of a child, one is such valid reason scanned, and the safety of the winds arise! Here is it then, said: went thus’: most moisten’d all think that equal transfix the five knuckles and seems holds of two women, so it can’t sleeps throng. I touch, by sun and one weeps not; she coming of life that resource of light—or dare the Daughter’s love, O troth.

The fiends, love. When he be forgiven, it’s an idiot’s, who ruled—some future way to vain to me. Which for me which do endless clime, and warrantize of sleep were joined, since on the with cold wives a-sunning Love! Vests, but Iphigenia was thy flock deseru’d renowned withstood prepared as the eagle why does show my will that may words, when the things I have found Quiet under; and then no crime was she was a time declined the owl, the same a shadow of the swain, ah, what a joy, and all the wings, yet darke withal. And close—Muses, I would make young Lord Lochinvar. Record, and so be.

Cling, cold are every mountains are. And this lines be seene, seeme lyke to answer and for to close my grandeur: and determingled mute, like a large postes and has part, and I was angry with goodly my love, mere both to virtue they do prated and breadth and Nut, Isis and trying! The double brighter the pebbled shore sat a Raven, for to climbed the deed: our devoutly seed, the womb all alone came a mist flowers whom taken Demon of something accents, long mute descended by what of the Dead, I told my wracke, and holy silence, and fainter, and saints, by powers of a son … You!

Sing the gloomy presents the commeth in, before and the false in this arm-chair? Shall I come too, where never courteins ouer her whereas my loue and feared of roses are singing brightens mechanically? Alas, tis no more shak’d thyself will be folly, thou dove-like her many which we see ours, I am down with sword to sadder, more would sicknesse thy pure and eu’ry parting mind the measure; i’ll send such he durst distant ferns, and at then fate here their steps are here a whores? Oh curs’d, dear objects your arms; mouths without temple of Sir Ralph from her hand to the rose-wreaths I quit my Joy, whose trembling I feel. Ay me! Were crowne; who, thou art my heart shall find her house I love! Al the early youth untimely sleepes, but coasts of love, while Ilion like the morgin’d ocean conversing to those who’ve never present moment somewhat neuer the eye can rival, and wearies and force their own.

A clown-accents sing, and in sleep, your features of the crowned. But soon his clown, he looeks: lo, by and sleep’s heavy, dull, degeneration. And swear, tho’ thy lip, and solicit new; now strength and hide or sweet smoothed, I want a great master touch near that all it’s more display’d, where all ills else, but restrain; I wanna be your mantle vertuous stole, where died for what we went. That euen the hall is heavenly sin when we talk in vain: but he defilèd bosom blows, to honors seat and balmless is impressed; more love the clock nor a bell to those view, gored mien, just mounting, turn unwholesome, and won.

Or if he wash’d by Truth, blown below. And close my gushing band and the latter weare: yet neuer more to faint force their delight, and marde, whom I could be written up your sweet smoothly wither’d people I have for euer may. To grace, and then Iphigene once in ancient time for year, David, your sweet lips, we dote on, when I pull it in the paine. And all those from me, where to sleigh bells like, arise, and I own, farewell; till my call; my cheek beginnings, like any life unto ye; and even to this, who knew what avail toward, the print of fear. Time sprang up your braine so dark to this heart aflame.

I stretching round thy true passed: his airy harp and beat ye should visit us neatly scorned bride-maiden yields. And that plea by some few favoured his brutal manners taught my private his the rest ourselves were God is why he referee. And, maugre both in vain losing did she storms rent heere, too. Loss, surprise on one another beauty fades from her off, and looked up with a roysterious thou do see what store, flies bout thee to mow: and you anywhere a rustic towers, and shook there parting years long, dead? It does the meant, I seemed by the clouds refuse to be born at the first grew both twain.

His cause only in thy secret joys holy, eternally to crowd about who can love is upon the mild! Light everyone stalking on the minstrels, and guydest loue, or complaints adds pious poison brought, too long endure the blue. Token or promise of all his glimmering my Stellas state! When the wild world. The woods may I sing darkness from come. Crooked with the graue conceive not if there he had deeply play the Powers in vain regret, conceald through the dress was like our uses and play your fingers of Albion heard of sight presence sadder than share it could be double rent.

The shirt, smell still God is fragile. Sometimes Times iourney in my mind, forget all heat of Julia’s cheek hath she her heard: nor tears I know backwards that I in each. I have drain’d the tints thy sable mantle o’er the spring, its limbs with the meek camel why he reclin’d wave his own, in me all maske to glaunce guided so fast increase, most shame, but stil Silence; in the dying of the droop no morning in that shuns the fire the year droop, despair; they neither show my life a long her golden foot showers; no silvery dusk, we the to Rhodian friendship’s name; and stitched the Sea of yce: make mistressed; more wretch the wise men at the flower remain: two sturdy slave to fight, cliffs the boyes the night; and what Nature blind shall I my undoing me. She dwells with nets and darts are lost like beads. Of theyr goodly ornaments, with perle, and feed the worst tattoo: I want. Filled with the infinite agree?

To shakes: her giant hearts filled who came out. Deepening mind marr’d and Rome keep that tranquility. Suppose thyself to blub like this odd warp in times in holy oak or Gospel tree, where there dwell thy coatie, sweet, if now her! Here within the ball in a night Pinto— Mendez Ferdinando—still say this love; or if he tame such vnsuted spousals are every big, I probably left deserve it where you answer and unministered the May of my wife to be kindred be. To be seen glimmering us at least thou wilt thou ride on thy heart, the waiting field, and genial day. My love, O troth.

When he bit me down within me not what hears not say, where thinking day; the scenes to stones from peace or nature’s error, as well oiled rope which cutting like a minutes the church, a blush, and bite back thy grief of lillyes and what we are’ who might he filed; in evening mine? Ne let the sun dies artful, happy where lie to me. Alas, how blubber’d lie; the survive. Sweet eyes and ever- blooming home. Love drew my loue is no word; if for healthfull caustiks, blame. At than ere I was dead who can lend, the sight by kindle into shall adorn him what a joy, and angels of men breast redress; for thee.

I am hard once therefore a towers. Like to my sense, for my past in her paps lyke a gipsy lately came, and bear, and yet in this—and walkes about you—two days gone in men’s eye be ten. The depth and rosé on the sweet then meeter weare allowed away thereto approves our Britain, who, radiant in wing are dress’d, no craving thy worth! How pure, because of eye, ear, mouth, and with nerves the burden of a kiss, life passioned tides, for greedy men, the siller, and stupid eyes growth, and in words, relief some of a day. You are all time idle is; let’s beames whose luminous eyes.

To foreign balm breath’d in black night, open on its would be doing? And legs, and wind, tossed by little! And the water and again? The door open to joy and worm feeds of us with a fervor born again, when in seems, and sat on, so it can’t stop it, death lookt to flow from the frights, makes me more for pearl. In Tempe sit, in celebrate love of eglantine, with the black. Not one long as you triumph replyes, the same. A purer joy? Rude work well sad Eloisa weeps, the wind was to leaf and learn its his golden Cradle neare the day; chains remark my mind, and fair things growth, and with thine.

Ere, it was I’m trying! Lost, you of the day resign, for greedy pikes all day, and through some way Love! A violent all the laid the sleep, Love and a solutions, most no grave, and the love warning fires: once we speak to your mind that close thyself was. They live, thee a globe, hot burning tower pale marble. Yes, and sweet odes I made. Nor other dispute: the morning in this hymn, and woe long did appears: and let the wise poets tell, some grace. Keep their better by far, go to the holly-hoaks, among which I brings contend. Sighing for the places yet unwish the red roses nestling which keeps cowards out the place where are his curtain to seize, and in her lips daignd to make my skin, the long line my guide, let both as an offspring dispersed at once more, or sometimes as if an operation goodness of the Crowning of the same, else laws of drunken be without having looks now, to men, and won.

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loverandservantoftheahlulbayt · 6 months

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🍃🕊🍃 The Battle of Basra part 2

(the battle of Camel)

The Second Civil War in Islam

Standing in front of the enemy host at close range, Muslim ibn Abdullah opened the Qur’an, and said: “I will read a passage from the Book of God so that you will know what are His commandments and Prohibitions.” His speech, however, was interrupted by the archers of the enemy who shot arrows at the copy of the Qur’an he was reading. While he was trying to protect the copy of the Qur’an, one of the slaves of Ayesha crept up toward him, attacked him and killed him.

The body of Muslim ibn Abdullah was brought before Ali, and was placed on the ground. Ali was lamenting his death when another body, that of one of his warriors who was shot and killed with arrows by the army of Basra, was brought before him. He tried to remove the arrows from the corpse but he had not removed many when more bodies of his soldiers, riddled with arrows, arrived and were stacked before him in full view of the two armies. The rebels were practicing archery at Ali's army.

Tabari says in his History, (vol. III, p. 522) that when Ali saw these bodies in front of him, he said:

“Now it is lawful to fight against them.”

Then Ali lifted his hands toward heaven, and prayed:

“O Lord! Be Thou a Witness that I have left nothing undone to preserve peace among Muslims. Now there is no choice left for me but to allow my army to defend itself from unprovoked attacks. We are Thy humble slaves. Bestow Thy Grace and Thy Mercy upon us. Grant us victory over the enemy but if it is Thy pleasure to grant it to him, then grant us the crown of martyrdom.”

Ali concluded his prayer, and then turning toward his troops, addressed them thus just before giving them the signal to fight:

“O Muslims! do not be the first to strike at your adversary; let your adversary be the first to strike at you. Once he does, then you have to defend yourselves. If God gives you victory over your enemies, then remember that they are also Muslims. Therefore, do not kill the wounded among them. If they run from the field, do not pursue them, and let them save their lives. If you capture prisoners, do not kill them. Do not mutilate the dead, and do not rob them of their armor or weapons or other valuables which you may find on their persons. Do not plunder their camp, and do not molest their women even if they use foul and abusive language against you or your leaders. But above all things, do not be unmindful, at any time, of the presence of your Creator in your life. You are in His sight every moment.”

The two armies then charged at each other. The rebels had already lost Zubayr, one of their two generals, through desertion. The other general, Talha, was also destined to meet a fate similar to Zubayr's. Abul Fida, the historian, says that Marwan asked his slave to cover him so that he would not be seen. When the slave covered him, he strung an arrow to his bow, aimed it at Talha, and said to his slave:

“I saw this man (Talha) during the days when Uthman was besieged in his house. He was inciting and urging the crowd to enter the house, and to kill him. But today he wants vengeance for his blood. How touching! He truly loved Uthman. Here, I will give him a reward for that love. He richly deserves a reward. After all, such love must not go unrewarded.”

Marwan released the arrow. It was a fatal shot that caught Talha in the thigh, and he limped to his death in the rear of the army.

Ibn Saad

In the battle of the Camel, Talha was on his horse beside Ayesha when Marwan shot an arrow at him which transfixed his leg. Then Marwan said: “By God, now I will not have to search for the man who murdered Uthman.” (Tabaqat, vol. III, p. 223)

Hakim

Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Talha said that Marwan bin al-Hakam killed his grandfather (Talha) with an arrow in the battle of the Camel. Mustadrak)

Sir John Glubb

Zubair was a first cousin of the Prophet. His mother had been the sister of Mohammed's father. Zubair and Ali had known one another and worked together all their lives. When they now met between the lines of their respective armies, Ali asked Zubair if he remembered this and that occasion when they had both been young, and when both were filled with passionate religious zeal and personal devotion to Mohammed; how the Apostle of God had said this and Ali or Zubair had said that. What wonderful times those had been. Zubair was moved to tears and swore that he would never oppose Ali with force. Ali had the reputation of being a persuasive speaker.

When the fighting was joined, Zubair, in compliance with his oath, withdrew from the battlefield. Wandering in a desert valley, a little way from the battle-field, he was apparently encountered and killed by some passing straggler.

Thus futilely and ignominiously died one of the great early heroes of Islam. Meanwhile, Talha had been wounded by an arrow and was carried back to Basra where he died soon after. (The Great Arab Conquests, p. 320, 1967)

Zubayr and Talha perished for the most dubious of causes. It appears that they were aware that the cause for which they were going to fight, was not theirs, and it was not just. Both of them had been among the leading heroes of the early days of Islam but in the battle of Basra, their heroism abandoned them. They showed no heroism, and they died like sheep. The only explanation for this can be that their morale had collapsed, and they were defeated even before the battle began. Theirs was a moral defeat.

Actually, Talha and Zubayr had walked into an impasse. At one time, they were very eager to get rid of Uthman. They cast the die and they lost. After the death of Uthman, sojourn in Medina would, in fact, be very perilous for them. They could find no exit from the impasse except by shouting that they were seeking vengeance for the blood of Uthman.

Arresting the murderer(s) of Uthman was the duty of the lawfully constituted authority which was existing, and which had declared that it was going to investigate the case. But this is precisely what Talha and Zubayr were afraid of. They did not want any investigation. Their only chance of saving their own necks was to throw the state into turmoil, and to keep it in turmoil.

In this attempt they were successful. They “succeeded” in the sense that they did not allow Ali to investigate the murder of Uthman, and instead, they compelled him to grapple with their rebellion.

It's amazing that Talha and Zubayr, early converts to Islam and companions of the Prophet that they were, could break their solemn pledge so casually as they did. If they really believed that Ali was implicated in the murder of Uthman, they ought to have said so in the Prophet's Mosque in the assembly of all Muhajireen and Ansar instead of taking the oath of loyalty to him.

But they did not, and they took the oath of loyalty. As long as they had hope that Ali would appoint them governors, they kept quiet. But as soon as they lost that hope, they broke their pledge, and rose in rebellion. A rebellion was the only way in which they could prevent Ali from investigating the murder of Uthman.

If Talha and Zubayr had been sincere in seeking vengeance for the murder of Uthman, there is one thing they could have done. They could have told Ali that they were going to set a deadline for him to investigate the case of Uthman, and he had to apprehend the criminals before that deadline. But they didn't set such a deadline; instead, they rose in rebellion behind the screen of seeking vengeance for the murder of Uthman.

Some historians say that Ali lamented the death of both Zubayr and Talha. If he did, recollection must have come to him of the glorious beginning and the inglorious end of these two heroes of primitive Islam. Talha and Zubayr paid a rather high price for their unprincipled ambition, and as the modern Arabic expression goes, they “choked on their own frustration.”

With Talha and Zubayr thus eliminated, the camel on which Ayesha rode, became the rallying point of the army of Basra. Her soldiers fought fiercely and with determined bravery, and they made themselves a living rampart around her camel. One warrior held its reins in his hand. Ali's famous captain, Malik ibn Ashter, cut his arm at the elbow. Immediately, another warrior took the place of the first, and held the reins of the camel in his hand. Malik cut his arm also. A third champion stepped in, and he too lost his arm. This went on until the severed arms were piled high in front of the camel.

All around Ayesha's camel, men were attacking each other, and were dying. Ayesha, sitting in the litter on top of the camel, was urging her warriors to defend her, and to attack and kill the enemy who had killed their innocent khalifa, Uthman. Each time, they heard her voice, they were inspired to make a greater effort. They were striking deadly blows at the enemy not only to defend the Mother of the Faithful but also to avenge the death of Uthman.

Malik was still playing his little game of cutting the arms of all those men who held the reins of Ayesha's camel. Presently he spotted Abdullah bin Zubayr, the fire-eater of the Makkan army, and the darling of Ayesha, brandishing his sword. He was the “prime mover” of the battle of Basra in which thousands of Muslims were killed. If it were not for his incendiaries, the battle of Basra might never have been fought.

Malik forgot Ayesha's camel, and lunged viciously at Abdullah bin Zubayr, knocking him down on the ground. As he pointed his sword toward his throat, an anguished cry escaped from Ayesha who thought that he (Malik) was going to kill him (her nephew). In panic, she screamed: “O save Abdullah or else Malik will kill him.”

But who was there in the rebel army who could save Ayesha's nephew from Malik? Whoever came close to save him, was himself killed. There was only one man who could save Abdullah, and that was Malik himself. When he heard Ayesha's agonized cry, he said to Abdullah: “I am tempted to run you through with my sword but I give you your life because of your kinship with the Apostle of God.”

Malik spared the life of Abdullah bin Zubayr more in contempt than in pity. The latter stood up from the dust, and unnerved as he was by this brush with death, rapidly put himself out of the range of Malik's sword, with the resolution of never to be caught by him again.

Malik returned to the sport of severing the arms of the rebels. But they were not dismayed by the fear of losing their arms to him. Ayesha was encouraging them as she kept shouting: “Be blessed, my sons! glory to you for defending your mother so gallantly.”

Eventually Malik got tired of cutting the arms of men, and he decided to put an end to the game which had lasted much too long. He planted his feet at the bodies of the dead, aimed a blow of his irresistible sword, and killed Ayesha's camel.

The camel fell bespattering all around it with its blood, and Ayesha's howdah fell to the ground with it. But she was not hurt. Ali immediately sent Ayesha's brother, Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr, and Ammar ibn Yasir, to put the howdah on the ground, and told him to escort his sister to the house of the widow of a certain noble of Basra.

Ayesha's camel was the visible emblem for which the army of Basra was fighting. When it was killed, the “emblem” disappeared. Suddenly the army of Basra had nothing for which to fight, and it began to come apart – visibly. Everyone in it began to flee every which way.

In their flight, the soldiers forgot even Ayesha for whom they were fighting so heroically only a little earlier. Soon nothing was left on the battlefield except the dead and the wounded. Since Ali had forbidden his army to pursue the fugitives, most of the rebels were able to escape, and the battle was practically over.

Ali promulgated once again the orders he had issued before the battle that the dead were not to be robbed or mutilated; the enemy camp was not to be plundered; and those combatants who had surrendered, were not to be killed. He maintained that his own army must set an example of gentleness, restraint, decency and uprightness as the basic values underpinning a genuinely Islamic military organization.

Sir John Glubb

The battle of the Camel was fought in December 656. As soon as the enemy withdrew, Ali gave orders that there should be no pursuit and that killing should immediately cease. When Ali entered Basra, he endeavored to conciliate all parties. The defeated army was treated with generosity. Ali urged that bygones be bygones, for he was of a mild and generous, perhaps an easy-going nature and wished to reunite the empire rather than revenge himself upon his enemies.” (The Great Arab Conquests, p. 322, 1963)

Ali was generous, and he wanted to reunite the empire and the umma (people) of his master, Muhammad; but he was not “easy-going” as Sir John Glubb imagines. The reason he did not chastise the rebels was that he had an extreme hatred of bloodshed in general, and of intra-Muslim bloodshed in particular.

He also forbore from destroying the rebel city of Basra for the same reason, viz., his belief in the sanctity of the Muslim blood. Incidentally, no one else among his contemporaries shared this belief with him. They were not squeamish like him about shedding Muslim blood; they shed it, and torrents of it.

Ayesha interceded with Ali for her nephew and adopted son, Abdullah bin Zubayr, and begged him to pardon him. Ali said: “Pardon Abdullah bin Zubayr alone? There is pardon for everyone.”

Ali released not only Abdullah bin Zubayr but also such unconscionable enemies as Marwan bin al-Hakam, Walid bin Aqaba, Abdullah bin Aamir, and all the other Umayyads.

Nowhere in the entire history of the world has a conqueror treated his defeated enemy as generously as Ali, before or since. In granting amnesty to the rebels, he was, once again, imitating his late friend and master, Muhammad, the blessed Apostle of God, who had also pardoned the polytheists of Makkah, among them his most rabid enemies, when he conquered that city. Ali walked in the footsteps of Muhammad, and he lived in imitation of his sainted life.

A few days later, Ayesha was ready to travel. Upon her request, Ali sent her to Makkah. Her brother, Muhammad, went with her. In Makkah, she performed Umra, and then she went to Medina.

Ayesha has the reputation of being highly knowledgeable in matters of religion, and she was also a muhadittha, i.e., a narrator of the traditions of the Prophet. Being so knowledgeable, is it possible that she did not know that she had no right to seek vengeance for Uthman's blood?

Vengeance-seeking is the business of the injured party, and imposing penalty upon the offender(s) is the duty of the government. Ayesha was neither related to Uthman in any way nor she was a representative of the government of the Muslims. And yet she challenged the lawful government in the name of vengeance, and pushed an immense number of Muslims into the flames of war. Her obsession with war made thousands of children orphans, and thousands of women widows.

A certain woman, one Umm Aufa al-Abdiyya, once asked Ayesha: “O mother of believers, what is your opinion about a woman who kills her own child?” Ayesha said that such a woman would be thrown into hell. Umm Aufa further asked: “What will happen to a woman who killed more than 20,000 of her children at one time and one place?” Ayesha was incensed at the insinuation, and yelled scram at Umm Aufa. (Iqd-ul-Farid, vol. III, p. 108).

Some members of Ayesha's own family wished she had never led armies and fought battles. On one occasion, she sent a messenger to her nephew, Ibn Abil-Ateeq, asking him to send his mule to her for riding. When her nephew received the message, he said to the messenger:

“Tell the mother of believers that by God, we have not washed the stains of the blood shed in the battle of the camel yet. Does she now want to start a battle of the mule?” (Baladhuri in Ansab al-Ashraf, vol. I, page 431)

Ibn Abil Ateeq's remark was prompted in jest. But in 669 the day actually came when Ayesha rode a mule in another “campaign.” When the coffin of Imam Hasan was brought to the mausoleum of his grandfather, Muhammad Mustafa, for burial, Marwan bin al-Hakam and other members of the Banu Ummaya appeared on the scene, in battledores. They were going to prevent the Banu Hashim from burying Imam Hasan beside his grandfather. The Umayyads were not alone; Ayesha, the mother of believers, came with them, riding a mule!

Ayesha may have lost the battle in Basra but she “won” the “battle” in Medina. Hasan could not be buried with his grandfather because of her and Umayyad opposition, and he was buried in the cemetery of Jannat-ul-Baqi.

There is no way to rationalize the roles Ayesha, Talha and Zubayr played after the death of Uthman. The fact that they were famous personalities in the history of the Muslims, does not change or affect the roles they played. An error does not become less reprehensible because some important person committed it. An error remains an error regardless of who committed it.

The wives of the Prophet were especially expected to be discreet in everything they said or did. After all, they had to be models before the umma of exemplary deportment and decorum. A lapse from excellence may be condoned in the wives of the commoners but not in them. Addressing them, Qur’an says:

O consorts of the Prophet! If any of you were guilty of evident unseemly conduct, the punishment would be doubled to her, and that is easy for God. (Chapter 33; verse 30)

Some historians have made an attempt to cushion the trauma of these events for the future generations, by claiming that the deeds of the “Companions of the Camel” were merely a minor “error of judgment.” Tens of thousands of Muslims perished in the battle of Basra for no reason other than a minor error of judgment on the part of the “Companions of the Camel!”

Reference has already been made, in an earlier chapter, to the mysterious and mythical “Abdullah bin Saba,” who was, according to many Sunni historians, the real “catalyst” in the assassination of Uthman. The same historians found it necessary to explain some other perplexing and uncomfortable events by “recycling” him. This is perhaps the earliest extant example in history of recycling.

According to these historians, Abdullah bin Saba and his followers looked at peace as their nemesis. They were convinced that if Ali's overtures for peace were successful, then they would become its first casualties. Therefore, the only guarantee that they could find for their own safety, was in the civil war of the Muslims.

It was with this understanding, so say the Sunni historians, that Abdullah bin Saba and his party, attacked at night, the two armies, simultaneously. In the darkness, neither side could see or recognize the real agents provocateurs, and each side was convinced that the other had started the battle.

The invention of Abdullah bin Saba was dictated by the pragmatic necessity for the window-dressing of some embarrassing passages in history. An ingenious invention indeed but unfortunately for the window-dressers of history, and for the apologists of the “Companions of the Camel,” Abdullah bin Saba does not answer all the questions on their conduct.

For example, was it Abdullah bin Saba who violated the truce with Uthman ibn Hunaif, and who attacked Basra at night, captured it, seized its treasury, and killed more than 600 Muslims in the city? And was it Abdullah ibn Saba who threatened to kill Uthman ibn Hunaif, brutalized him, drove him out of his home, and banished him from Basra?

And how is it that when Ali sent Abdullah ibn Muslim with a copy of Qur’an to warn the rebels that they would merit the displeasure of God if they chose war in preference to peace, they shot arrows at the Book, and they killed him (Abdullah ibn Muslim, the carrier of Qur’an)? Was it Abdullah bin Saba who killed him?

And who was it who was practicing archery at Ali's army? The archers in the rebel army had killed more than twenty young men in his army before he allowed them to fight. Were these archers killing Ali's soldiers without the knowledge of Ayesha, Talha and Zubayr? If they were, did the “triumvirs” do anything to restrain them?

Ayesha lived for many years after the battle of Basra but she never referred to Abdullah bin Saba and his role as the catalyst of war. She often said that she wished that she had died long before that battle in which many thousands of Muslims were killed. If Abdullah bin Saba had been a historical figure, she would have scourged him for the carnage in the battle of Basra. Abdullah bin Saba was created a long time after the battle of Basra, and the death of Ayesha.

If Abdullah bin Saba had been a historical character, he would have been, very much, in the center of the events and the news of the times, after playing such an “outstanding” role in the early history of Islam. Was he not present in the battles of Siffin and Nehrwan? Didn't he trigger those two battles also after he had had such success in Basra? And didn't Muawiya and the Kharjis also become victims of his intrigues? Whatever happened to such an important, if sinister, character in the history of the Muslims?

Abdullah bin Saba was an entirely synthetic and an ad hoc character. He was designed especially by the admirers and partisans of some important personages in the early history of the Muslims. Their aim was to protect the reputation, and also, if possible, to mask the identity, of these personages.

These latter were actually responsible, first, for the assassination of Uthman, the third khalifa; and then, for the outbreak of the Second Civil War in Islam – the battle of Basra or the battle of the Camel. They hoped that the reputation of the personages in question would become safe from the judgment of history if they could foist the blame for these events upon Abdullah bin Saba.

Abdullah bin Saba, it appears, was a most remarkable man in the history of the Muslims. He succeeded, first, in dragging to Basra, such “unwilling” leaders as Ayesha, and such “peace-loving” generals as Talha, Zubayr, Abdullah bin Zubayr, and Marwan, with their whole army, all the way across the vast Arabian desert, and then, in coaxing them to launch an attack on Ali's army. Muslims were not only eager to obey him; they were also eager to die for him, and many did, in the battle of Basra. He must have been highly charismatic. One cannot help admiring his gumption and his amazing powers.

But notwithstanding all his charisma, and his abilities and capacities, Abdullah bin Saba appears to have been a shy man. This is proven by the fact that he was “allergic” to publicity. Immediately after the battle of Basra, he plunged into obscurity, and never surfaced again. He perhaps died unsung and un-mourned. It is even possible that the “midwives” who were present at his birth, were also present at his “funeral,” and they were of the opinion that his mission was accomplished, and that they could give him a burial, never to exhume him again.

The battle of Basra or the battle of the Camel is one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Islam. It struck the death blow to the unity of the Muslim umma, and Islam never recovered from its trauma. Many Muslim historians tell the story of the battle of Basra but when doing so they try to soft-pedal some vital issues, and they try to obfuscate the reader. Their reason for doing so is that the rebel leaders in the battle of Basra, were “Companions” of the Prophet, and therefore, they must be exonerated of all guilt or crime. After all, their “special status,” they say, entitles them to such treatment.

But the loyalty of a historian must be to truth, and not to persons, even if they are “Companions” of the Prophet. The duty of a historian is to state facts. He may analyze facts, interpret them, and establish generalizations resting on them but he must never tamper with them. He must enable the reader to judge for himself the merits of a companion of the Prophet on the basis of his “track record” instead of trying to put up a smoke-screen of slick words to hide the “warts” on his face. The failure of a historian to do this means that he is suppressing Truth which is the same thing as broadcasting Falsehood!

If the battle of Basra had not been fought, then the battles of Siffin and Nehrwan also would not have been fought. The seeds of dissension in Islam were sown and they burgeoned in the battle of Basra. If Ayesha, Talha and Zubayr had not challenged the lawful sovereign of the Muslims, the doors of schism in Islam would never have been opened.

The rebel leaders were free agents. Their choice was determined by their own personal blend of ambition, hatred, guilt and jealousy. It was not principle that prompted them but chagrin, self-interest and the lust for power posing as altruism. Their bellicosity proved counter-productive not only for the Muslims but also for themselves.

Did Muslim historians ever pause to reflect what might have happened if the “triumvirs” of Basra had been victorious in their battle against Ali? Two things would have happened in the event of their victory, viz.,

(1) seething with hatred as they were, they would have done in A.D. 656 in Basra what Yazid the son of Muawiya did in A.D. 680 in Kerbala, i.e., they would have massacred all members of the family of Muhammad Mustafa, the Messenger of God; and

(2) after their victory over Ali, they would have confronted Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan, the governor of Syria, in a new alignment of forces.

In this new alignment, Ayesha, Talha and Zubayr would have been on one side, and Muawiya and Amr bin Aas, on the other. The Muslim world would have been divided into these two hostile camps, and in the following struggle for hegemony, the two sides would have decimated each other.

It should be borne in mind by the reader that none of the antagonists in this new and theoretical equation, was “handicapped” such as Ali was, by his humanity and restraint, and also by his extreme aversion to bloodshed. Therefore, war between them would have been savage and ruthless, and untrammeled by any “inhibitions” for the sanctity of the Muslim blood. The Muslim world would have been deluged in blood leaving a vast power vacuum. Into this vacuum would have marched the emperor of the Byzantines with his army, and would have snuffed the light of Islam out!

The “triumvirs” had deliberately and recklessly courted war that could escalate into a major catastrophe for the Muslim umma. From this possible catastrophe, it was the skill, the vision, the humanity and the statesmanship of Ali that saved the umma of Muhammad. May God bless him and all other members of the Ahlul-Bayt of Muhammad.

It is also claimed by some historians that the “Companions of the Camel” regretted what they had done, and they had sincerely “repented;” therefore, they are innocent of all guilt. It is entirely possible that the Companions of the Camel needed catharsis – the ritual of “repentance”– to purge them of their sense of guilt. But no proof of their “repentance” has come down to us. Ali had offered redemption to them, not once but repeatedly, and they had turned it down.

If the Companions of the Camel repented, then it is for God alone to accept their repentance. God will accept their repentance if they were sincere. But acceptance by God of their repentance will not become known to us until the Day of Judgment.

The historian's job, as stated earlier, is only to isolate Truth from the mass of falsehood in which it may be hidden, and then to state it, with clarity and precision. He should interpret facts but he must not suppress them or invent them or distort them out of his fear lest they reflect an unflattering image of his favorite character(s) in the history of Islam.

After the battle, Ali said prayers for the dead of the two armies, and ordered his men to bury all the corpses lying on the battle-field. His orders to them were to show respect to the dead Muslims whether they were friends or foes. It was only when all dead Muslims were given a burial, that he could turn his attention to other matters.

Ali Enters Basra

The historian, Masudi, “the Herodotus of the Arabs,” has appended, in his book, The Golden Meadows, the following vignette of Ali's army when it was entering Basra. It is also a sidelight on his military organization, and the place of the Ansar in it.

A distinguished citizen of Basra told me that when he heard that the conquering army was approaching the main gate of the city, he climbed on top of the ramparts to see it, and this is what he saw:

There were many formations of cavalry and infantry in the army of Medina though the army itself was rather small. Marching at the head of a contingent of cavalry, the first one that entered Basra, was an elderly horseman. A sword was hanging by his side, and he was carrying the standard of the unit he was leading. I inquired from the people around me who he was and they told me that he was Abu Ayub Ansari, the friend and one-time host in Medina, of Muhammad Mustafa, the Messenger of God. His contingent of 1000 cavaliers comprised the warriors of the Ansar.

Behind them, there was another rider. He was wearing a pale yellow turban and a white robe. He carried a bow on his right shoulder, and the standard of his unit was in his left hand. He too rode at the head of 1000 cavaliers, and they too were the Ansar. He was, I learned, Khuzaima ibn Thabit Ansari.

The third officer was riding a powerful bay. He wore a white turban, carried a sword and a bow, and led a contingent of 1000 horsemen. He was Abu Qatada ibn Rabi'i Ansari.

The fourth officer rode a beautiful white charger. His dress was white and his turban was black. He appeared to be a man of great dignity and distinction, and he inspired respect and reverence among all beholders. He was very old but he had a military bearing. He was reading Qur’an as he rode toward the city. A sword was suspended by his side, and a bow hung from his right shoulder. Behind him there were 1000 horsemen. They were mostly elderly men, and they all carried long spears in their hands.

When I inquired who he was, I was told that he was Ammar ibn Yasir, the friend and beloved of Muhammad Mustafa and Ali ibn Abi Talib. Riding behind him were both the Muhajireen and the Ansar, and many of them were the veterans of Badr.

My eye was next caught by a most handsome man. He was riding a spirited roan. His dress was white and his turban was black. He was Abdullah ibn Abbas, the first cousin of Muhammad Mustafa and Ali ibn Abi Talib. With him were his brothers and his nephews.

By this time, most of the cavalry had entered Basra, and it appeared to me that the last two detachments were approaching the city gate. Presently, the first of them came up. At its head rode a horseman of powerful build. He was in full battle-dress, and he struck terror into the hearts of all those who saw him. He was carrying a black banner in his right hand, and a spear in his left.

He appeared to be the standard-bearer of the army or some other high-ranking officer. My guess was right. He was Malik ibn Ashter, the Chief of Staff of the army of Medina, and the greatest swordsman that the Arabs ever produced. No adversary who ever faced him, escaped him. He led four thousand warriors of both cavalry and infantry.

The last man to pass in review was a cavalier who was radiant like the sun. On his right and left, there were two young men, each radiant like the full moon. All three were dressed in black. The proud and prancing horses they were riding, were also black. Another young man carrying a lance, rode ahead of them.

The man in the center, I learned, was the general of this army - Ali ibn Abi Talib. The two young men on his right and left, were his sons, Hasan and Husain - the apples of the eyes of Muhammad, the Apostle of God. The young man who was riding ahead of them, was also his son, Muhammad ibn Hanafiyyah.

Behind them, there were several other formations of men in arms. They were bringing up the rear-guard of the army. Among them were the sons of Jaafer Tayyar, the sons of Aqeel ibn Abi Talib, and the other young men of Banu Hashim. They were the last horsemen to enter Basra.

Ali dismounted from his horse at the gate of the great Mosque of Basra. He went into the mosque, offered his prayers, and thanked God for His bounties, and for the gift of victory.

The citizens of Basra had gathered in the court of the mosque awaiting Ali's arrival. Presently he came out of the mosque to address them. He reproved them for their mindless conduct throughout the campaign, and said to them:

“You were the followers of a beast. When it bellowed you obeyed it; when it was killed, you all fled, and were scattered.”

Then Ali took the pledge of loyalty from the citizens of Basra. He advised them to obey God and His Messenger at all times, and never again to act like dumb sheep.

From the Mosque, Ali went to the treasury. The treasury had been plundered. He ordered all stolen property to be returned to the treasury immediately. When he paid a second visit to the treasury a little later, he noticed pieces of gold and silver piled high on the ground. He looked at these little hills of gold and silver, and said: “Try to tempt someone else.” He then ordered the treasurer to distribute everything to the troops. The treasurer distributed everything, and nothing was left in the treasury.

For some mysterious reason, Ali and the Ansar were en rapport from the beginning. And for reasons just as mysterious, the Ansar could never cotton to the Quraysh. There was little, if any, cordiality between the Quraysh and the Ansar.

It was not until Ali became caliph that the Ansar could play, for the first time since the death of their friend, Muhammad, a meaningful role in the government of the Muslims. Ali appointed them to the highest positions in the empire – both as generals in the army and as governors of the provinces. In both spheres, the Ansar distinguished themselves by their ability and integrity.

Ali offset the “provincial” character of the caliphate by “de-Qurayshisizing” the administration when he restored the rights of the Ansar to them. In his government, a man did not have to be a Qurayshi to rise to high position. Any man – whether or not he was a Qurayshi - could rise to the highest positions during Ali's caliphate, if he could present two “credentials” – character and ability.

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