With not a friend to animate, and tell
To other ears that death became thee well;
Around thee foes to forge the ready lie, 230
And blot life's latest scene with calumny;
Before thee tortures, which the soul can
dare,

Yet doubts how well the shrinking flesh may bear,

But deeply feels a single cry would shame, To valour's praise thy last and dearest claim;

The life thou leav'st below, denied above
By kind monopolists of heavenly love;
And more than doubtful paradise, thy
heaven

Of earthly hope, thy loved one from thee riven;

Such were the thoughts that outlaw must sustain,

240

And govern pangs surpassing mortal pain: And those sustain'd he boots it well or ill? Since not to sink beneath, is something still!

Whate'er her sins, to him a guardian saint, And beauteous still as hermit's hope can

paint;

Yet changed since last within that cell she

came,

More pale her cheek, more tremulous her frame.

On him she cast her dark and hurried eye,

Which spoke before her accents 'Thou must die!

Yes, thou must die; there is but one re

280

source, The last the worst - if torture were not worse.'

'Lady! I look to none; my lips proclaim What last proclaim'd they-Conrad still

the same.

Why should'st thou seek an outlaw's life to spare,

And change the sentence I deserve to bear? Well have I earn'd the meed

nor here alone

Of Seyd's revenge, by many a lawless deed.'

'Why should I seek? because-Oh! didst

thou not

Redeem my life from worse than slavery's lot?

Once more his limbs are free as mountain wind!

But on his heavy heart such sadness sate, As if they there transferr'd that iron weight.

No words are utter'd; at her sign, a door Reveals the secret passage to the shore; The city lies behind they speed, they reach

The glad waves dancing on the yellow beach;

And Conrad following, at her beck, obey'd,
Nor cared he now if rescued or betray'd;
Resistance were as useless as if Seyd
Yet lived to view the doom his ire decreed.

XIII

450

The blue waves sport around the stern they urge;

Far on the horizon's verge appears a speck, A spota mast- a sail-an armèd deck! Their little bark her men of watch descry, And ampler canvass woos the wind from high;

She bears her down majestically near, Speed on her prow, and terror in her tier; A flash is seen- the ball beyond their bow Booms harmless, hissing to the deep be

low.

489

Up rose keen Conrad from his silent trance, A long, long absent gladness in his glance; "T is mine - my blood-red flag! againagain

I am not all deserted on the main !'