A single rose is shedding there It's lonely lustre, meek and pale: It looks as planted by Despair So white-so faint-the slightest gale Might whirl the leaves on high; And yet, though storms and blight assail, And hands more rude than wintry sky May wring it from the stem-in vain 1155 1161 And buds unsheltered by a bower; Nor droops, though spring refuse her shower, Nor woos the summer beam: 1171 To it the livelong night there sings A bird unseen-but not remote: And yet so sweet the tears they shed, 'Tis sorrow so unmixed with dread, They scarce can bear the morn to break That melancholy spell, 1185 And longer yet would weep and wake, He sings so wild and well! But when the day-blush bursts from high Expires that magic melody. And some have been who could believe 1190 (So fondly youthful dreams deceive, Yet harsh be they that blame) That note so piercing and profound For there, as Helle's legends tell, Next morn 'twas found where Selim fell; Lashed by the tumbling tide, whose wave Denied his bones a holier grave: And there by night, reclined, 'tis said, Is seen a ghastly turbaned head: 1205 And hence extended by the billow, "Tis named the "Pirate-phantom's pillow!" Where first it lay that mourning flower Hath flourished; flourisheth this hour, Alone and dewy, coldly pure and pale; 1210 As weeping Beauty's cheek at Sorrow's tale! 1215 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? "With whom Revenge is Virtue." YOUNG'S REVENGE. Note 3, page 112, line 8. With Mejnoun's tale, or Sadi'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. |