NOTES

TO THE

BRIDE OF ABYDOS.

Note 1, page 107, line 8.

Wax faint o'er the gardens of Gúl in her bloom.

"Gúl," the rose.

Note 2, page 108, line 9.

Can he smile on such deeds as his children have done? "Souls made of fire, and children of the Sun,

"With whom Revenge is Virtue."

YOUNG'S REVENGE.

Note 3, page 112, line 8.

With Mejnoun's tale, or Sudi's song.

Mejnoun and Leila, the Romeo and Juliet of the East. Sadi, the moral poet of Persia.

Note 4, page 112, line 9.

Till I, who heard the deep tambour.

Tambour, Turkish drum, which sounds at sunrise, noon, and twilight.

Note 5, page 117, line 3.

He is an Arab to my sight.

The Turks abhor the Arabs (who return the compliment a hundred fold) even more than they hate the Christians.

Note 6, page 119, line 8.

The mind, the Music breathing from her face.

This expression has met with objections. I will not refer to "Him who hath not Music in his soul," but merely request the reader to recollect, for ten seconds, the features of the woman whom he believes to be the most beautiful; and if he then does not comprehend fully what is feebly expressed in the above line, I shall be sorry for us both. For an eloquent passage in the latest work of the first female writer of this, perhaps, of any age, on the analogy (and the immediate comparison excited by that analogy) between "painting and music," see vol. iii. cap. 10. DE L'ALLEMAGNE. And is not this connexion still stronger with the original than the copy? With the colouring of Nature than of Art? After all, this is rather to be felt than described; still I think there are some who will understand it, at least they would have done had they beheld the countenance whose speaking harmony suggested the idea; for this passage is not drawn from imagination but memory, that mirror which Affliction dashes to the earth, and looking down upon the fragments, only beholds the reflection multiplied!

Note 7, page 121, line 1.

But yet the line of Carasman.

Carasman Oglou, or Kara Osman Oglou, is the principal landholder in Turkey, he governs Magnesia; those who, by a kind of feudal tenure, possess land on condition of service, are called Timariots: they serve as Spahis, according to the extent of territory, and bring a certain number into the field, generally cavalry.

Note 8, page 121, line 13.

And teach the messenger what fate.

When a Pacha is sufficiently strong to resist, the single messenger, who is always the first bearer of the order for his death, is strangled instead, and sometimes five or six, one after the other, on the same errand, by command of the refractory patient; if, on the contrary, he is weak or loyal, he bows, kisses the Sultan's respectable signature, and is bowstrung with great complacency. In 1810, several of these presents were exhibited in the niche of the Seraglio gate; among others, the head of the Pacha of Bagdat, a brave young man, cut off by treachery, after a desperate resistance.

Note 9, page 123, line 3.

Thrice clapped his hands, and called his steed.

Clapping of the hands calls the servants.

The Turks hate

a superfluous expenditure of voice, and they have no bells.

Note 10, page 123, line 4.

Resign'd his gem-adorn'd Chibouque.

Chibouque, the Turkish pipe, of which the amber mouth

VOL. II.

piece, and sometimes the ball which contains the leaf, is adorned with precious stones, if in possession of the wealthier orders.

Note 11, page 123, line 6.

With Maugrabee and Mamaluke.

Maugrabee, Moorish mercenaries.

Note 12, page 123, line 7.

His way amid his Delis took.

Deli, bravos who form the forlorn hope of the cavalry, nd always begin the action.

Note 13, page 124, line 6.

Careering cleave the folded felt.

A twisted fold of felt is used for scimitar practice by the Turks, and few but Mussulman arms can cut through it at a single stroke: sometimes a tough turban is used for the same purpose. The jerreed is a game of blunt javelins, animated and graceful.

Note 14, page 124, line 9.

Nor heard their Ollahs wild and loud—

"Ollahs," Alla il Allah, the "Leilies," as the Spanish poets call them, the sound is Ollah; a cry of which the Turks, for a silent people, are somewhat profuse, particularly during the jerreed, or in the chase, but mostly in battle. Their animation in the field, and gravity in the chamber, with their pipes and comboloios, form an amusing contrast.

Note 15, page 125, line 14.
The Persian Atar-gul's perfume.

Atar-gul," ottar of roses.

The Persian is the finest.

Note 16, page 125, line 16.

The pictured roof and marble floor.

The ceiling and wainscots, or rather walls, of the Mussulman apartments are generally painted, in great houses, with one eternal and highly coloured view of Constantinople, wherein the principal feature is a noble contempt of perspective; below, arms, scimitars, &c. are in general fancifully and not inelegantly disposed.

Note 17, page 126, line 16.

A message from the Bulbul bears.

It has been much doubted whether the notes of this "Lover of the rose" are sad or merry; and Mr. Fox's remarks on the subject have provoked some learned controversy as to the opinions of the ancients on the subject. I dare not venture a conjecture on the point, though a little inclined to the "errare mallem," &c. if Mr. Fox was mistaken.

Note 18, page 129, line 5.

Even Azrael, from his deadly quiver.

"Azrael"-the angel of death.

Note 19, page 131, line 12.

Within the caves of Istakar.

The treasures of the Preadamite Sultans. See D'HER

BELOT, article Istakar.