I know him by his pallid brow; It shall not save him from the death: Lost Leila's love, accursed Giaour!" Yet dripping with the blood he spilt; And crimson as those clouds of morn A stain on every bush that bore A fragment of his palampore,1 His breast with wounds unnumber'd riven, His back to earth, his face to heaven, Fall'n Hassan lies-his unclosed eye Yet lowering on his enemy, As if the hour that seal'd his fate Surviving left his quenchless hate; And o'er him bends that foe with brow As dark as his that bled below. 1 The flowered shawl generally worn by persons of rank. HASSAN'S MOTHER. (From THE GIAOUR.) THE browsing camels' bells are tinkling: His Mother look'd from her lattice high, She saw the dews of eve besprinkling The pasture green beneath her eye, She saw the planets faintly twinkling: "'T is twilight — sure his train is nigh." She could not rest in the garden-bower, But gazed through the grate of his steepest tower: 66 'Why comes he not? his steeds are fleet, Nor shrink they from the summer heat; Why sends not the Bridegroom his promised gift: Has gain'd our nearest mountain's brow, And now within the valley bends; And he bears the gift at his saddle bow The Tartar lighted at the gate, His garb with sanguine spots was dyed, Angel of death! 't is Hassan's cloven crest! "Lady, a fearful bride thy Son hath wed: THE GIAOUR'S LOVE. (From THE GIAOUR.) THE cold in clime are cold in blood, Their love can scarce deserve the name; But mine was like the lava flood That boils in Etna's breast of flame. I cannot prate in puling strain I knew but to obtain or die. 1 The solid cap or centre of the head-dress; the shawl is wound round it and forms the turban. I die - but first I have possess'd, And come what may, I have been blest. But for the thought of Leila slain, This breaking heart and throbbing head DEATH OF SELIM. (BRIDE OF ABYDOS, Canto ii. Stanzas 22-26.) ZULEIKA, mute and motionless, Stood like that statue of distress, Beneath the garden's wicket porch Far flash'd on high a blazing torch! "Oh! fly- -no more - yet now my more than brother! Far, wide, through every thicket spread, The fearful lights are gleaming red; Nor these alone for each right hand Is ready with a sheathless brand. They part, pursue, return, and wheel With searching flambeau, shining steel ; Stern Giaffir in his fury raving: And now almost they touch the cave— Dauntless he stood "Tis come soon past One kiss, Zuleika - 't is 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 : yet one effort more. No matter Forth to the cavern mouth he stept; His pistol's echo rang on high, Zuleika started not, nor wept, 66 Despair benumb'd her breast and eye! - Their oars, 't is but to see me die ; That sound hath drawn my foes more nigh. Then forth my father's scimitar, Thou ne'er hast seen less equal war! Farewell, Zuleika! - Sweet! retire: |