178 Whereon engraved the Koorsee text, Could smooth this life, and win the next; And by her comboloio lies And many a bright emblazon'd rhyme Are gather'd in that gorgeous room : Wrapt in the darkest sable vest, Which none save noblest Moslem wear, To guard from winds of heaven the breast As heaven itself to Selim dear, With cautious steps the thicket threading, And starting oft, as through the glade The gust its hollow moanings made, Till on the smoother pathway treading, More free her timid bosom beat, The maid pursued her silent guide ; And though her terror urged retreat, How could she quit her Selim's side? How teach her tender lips to chide? They reach'd at length a grotto, hewn Her eye on stranger objects fell. But brands of foreign blade and hilt, His robe of pride was thrown aside, His brow no high-crown'd turban bore, But in its stead a shawl of red, Wreathed lightly round, his temples wore: That dagger, on whose hilt the gem But were it not that high command "I said I was not what I seem'd; I have a tale thou hast not dream'd, "Oh! not my brother!--yet unsay- 1 A Turkish sailor. Thy sister-friend-Zuleika still. Thou led'st me here perchance to kill ; If thou hast cause for vengeance, see! My breast is offer'd-take thy fill! Far better with the dead to be Than live thus nothing now to thee! Perhaps far worse, for now I know Why Giaffir alway seem'd thy foe; And I, alas! am Giaffir's child, For whom thou wert contemn'd, reviled. If t thy sister--wouldst thou save Myfe, oh! bid me be thy slave!" slare Zleika !-nay, I'm thine : But, re ve, this transport calm, Thy lot shall yet be link'd with mine; I swear by our Prophet's shrine, And that thought thy sorrow's balm. So may the Koran verse display'd The name in which thy heart hath prided Although thy Sire's my deadliest foe. My father was to Giaffir all That Selim late was deem'd to thee: That brother wrought a brother's fall, But spared, at least, my infancy; And lull'd me with a vain deceit That yet a like return may meet. He rear'd me, not with tender help, But like the nephew of a Cain ; He watched me like a lion's whelp, That gnaws and yet may break his chain. My father's blood in every vein Is boiling; but for thy dear sake No present vengeance will I take ; Though here I must no more remain. "How first their strife to rancor grew, And thoughtless, will disturb repose. "When Paswan, after years of strife, To one, alas! assign'd in vain ! By Giaffir's order drugged and given, With venom subtle as his soul, Dismiss'd Abdallah's hence to heaven. Reclined and feverish in the bath, He, when the hunter's sport was up, But little deem'd a brother's wrath To quench his thirst had such a cup: The bowl a bribed attendant bore; He drank one draught, nor needed more! If thou my tale, Zuleika, doubt, Call Haroun-he can tell it out. "The deed once done, and Paswan's feud By him a brother's murder stain'd; And ask the squalid peasant how By him whom Heaven accorded none, "Within thy father's house are foes; Not all who break his bread are true; To these should I my birth disclose, His days, his very hours were few; They only want a heart to lead, A hand to point them to the deed. But Haroun only knows, or knew, This tale, whose close is almost nigh 1" Horse-tail," the standard of a pacha. (Byron.) He in Abdallah's palace grew, And held that post in his Serai Which holds he here-he saw him die; But what could single slavery do? Avenge his lord? alas! too late; Or save his son from such a fate? He chose the last, and when elate With foes subdued, or friends betray'd, Proud Giaffir in high triumph sate, He led me helpless to his gate, And not in vain it seems essay'd To save the life for which he pray'd. The knowledge of my birth secured From all and each, but most from me; Thus Giaffir's safety was insured. Removed he too from Roumelie Far from our seats by Danube's tide, "All this, Zuleika, harshly sounds; But harsher still my tale must be: Howe'er my tongue thy softness wounds, Yet I must prove all truth to thee. I saw thee start this garb to see, Yet is it one I oft have worn, And long must wear: this Galiongée, To whom thy plighted vow is sworn, Is leader of those pirate hordes, Whose laws and lives are on their swords; To hear whose desolating tale Would make thy waning cheek more pale: Those arms thou see'st my band have brought. The hands that wield are not remote ; This cup too for the rugged knaves Is fill'd--once quaff'd, they ne'er repine: Our prophet might forgive the slaves: They're only infidels in wine. What could I be? Proscribed at home, And taunted to a wish to roam; And listless left-for Giaffir's fear Denied the courser and the spear-Though oft-Oh, Mahomet! how oftIn full Divan the despot scoff'd, As if my weak unwilling hand Refused the bridle or the brand:. Heever went to war alone, And pent me here untried-unknown; To Haroun's care with women left. 66 ""T is true, they are a lawless brood, But open speech, and ready hand, That never sees with terror's eyes; Distinguish'd from the vulgar rank, But chiefly to my council call The wisdom of the cautious FrankAnd some to higher thoughts aspire, The last of Lambro's patriots there Anticipated freedom share; And oft around the cavern fire On visionary schemes debate, To snatch the Rayahs from their fate. So let them ease their hearts with prate Of equal rights, which man ne'er knew; I have a love for freedom too. Ay! let me like the ocean-Patriarch roam Or only know on land the Tartar's home! My tent on shore, my galley on the sea, Are more than cities and Serais to me: Borne by my steed, or wafted by my sail, Across the desert, or before the gale, Bound where thou wilt, my barb! or glide, my prow! But be the star that guides the wanderer, Thou! Thou, my Zuleika, share and bless my bark; The Dove-of peace and promise to mine ark! Or, since that hope denied in worlds of strife, Be thou the rainbow to the storms of life! The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, And tints to-morrow with prophetic ray! Blest-as the Muezzin's strain from Mecca's wall To pilgrims pure and prostrate at his call; Soft--as the melody of youthful days, That steals the trembling tear of speechless praise; Dear--as his native song to Exile's ears, Shall sound each tone thy long-loved voice endears. For thee in those bright isles is built a bower Blooming as Aden in its earliest hour. command! When cities cage us in a social home:` There ev'n thy soul might err-how oft the heart Corruption shakes which peril could not part! And woman, more than man, whe death or woe, Or even Disgrace, would lay her love. low, Sunk in the lap of Luxury will shameAway suspicion !--not Zuleika's name! But life is hazard at the best; and here No more remains to win, and much to fear: Yes, fear the doubt, the dread of losing thee, By Osman's power, and Giaflir's stern decree. That dread shall vanish with the favouring gale, Which Love to-night hath promised to my sail : No danger daunts the pair his smile hath blest, Their steps still roving, but their hearts at rest. With thee all toils are sweet, each clime hath charms; Earth-sea alike-our world within ou arms! Ay-let the loud winds whistle o'er the deck, So that those arms cling closer round my neck: "His head and faith from doubt and death Return'd in time my guard to save; Perchance his life who gave thee thine, With me this hour away-away! But yet, though thou art plighted mine, Wouldst thou recall thy willing vow, Zuleika, mute and motionless, Another-and another-and another"Oh! fly-no more-yet now my more than brother!" Far, wide, through every thicket spread Dauntless he stood-""Tis come-soon past One kiss, Zuleika-'tis my last : But yet my band not far from shore May hear this signal, see the flash; Yet now too few-the attempt were rash: No matter-yet one effort more." Forth to the cavern mouth he stept; His pistol's echo rang on high, Zuleika started not, nor wept, Despair benumb'd' her breast and eye! "They hear me not, or if they ply Then forth my father's scimitar, Yet stay within--here linger safe, One bound he made, and gain'd the sand: Already at his feet hath sunk The foremost of the prying band, A gasping head, a quivering trunk : Another falls-but round him close A swarming circle of his foes; From right to left his path he cleft, And almost met the meeting wave: His boat appears-nct five oars' lengthHis comrades strain with desperate strength- Oh! are they yet in time to save? |