They reach the grove of pine at last, "Bismillah *! now the peril's past;

435

"For yonder view the opening plain,

“And there we'll prick our steeds amain:"

The Chiaus spake, and as he said,

440

A bullet whistled o'er his head;

The foremost Tartar bites the ground!

Scarce had they time to check the rein

Swift from their steeds the riders bound,

But three shall never mount again,
Unseen the foes that gave the wound,

The dying ask revenge in vain.

With steel unsheath'd, and carbines bent,

445

Some o'er their courser's harness leant,

Half shelter'd by the steed,

450

Bismillah-"In the name of God;" the commencement of all the chapters of the Koran but one, and of prayer and thanksgiving.

Some fly behind the nearest rock,

And there await the coming shock,

Nor tamely stand to bleed

Beneath the shaft of foes unseen,

Who dare not quit their craggy screen.

455

Stern Hassan only from his horse

Disdains to light, and keeps his course,

Till fiery flashes in the van

Proclaim too sure the robber-clan
Have well secur'd the only way

Could now avail the promis'd prey;

Then curl'd his very beard* with ire,
And glared his eye with fiercer fire.

460

"6 Though far and near the bullets hiss,
"I've scaped a bloodier hour than this."

465

And now the foe their covert quit,

And call his vassals to submit;

* A phenomenon not uncommon with an angry Mussulman. In 1809, the Capitan Pacha's whiskers at a diplomatic audience were no less lively with indignation than a tiger cat's, to the horror of all the dragomans; the portentous mustachios twisted, they stood erect of their own accord, and were expected every moment to change their colour, but at last condescended to subside, which, probably, saved more heads than they contained hairs.

But Hassan's frown and furious word

Are dreaded more than hostile sword,

Nor of his little band a man

Resign'd carbine or ataghan

Nor raised the craven cry, Amaun *!
In fuller sight, more near and near,
The lately ambush'd foes appear,
And issuing from the grove advance,
Some who on battle charger prance.-

Who leads them on with foreign brand,
Far flashing in his red right hand?

""Tis he-'tis he-I know him now,

"I know him by his pallid brow;
"I know him by the evil eye+
"That aids his envious treachery;

470

475

4.80

"I know him by his jet-black barb,
Though now array'd in Arnaut garb,

"Apostate from his own vile faith,

485

"It shall not save him from the death;

* "Amaun," quarter, pardon.

The "evil eye," a common superstition in the Levant, and of which the imaginary effects are yet very singular on those who conceive themselves affected.

""Tis he, well met in any hour,
"Lost Leila's love-accursed Giaour!"

With waves that madden as they meet

Thus join the bands whom mutual wrong,

And fate and fury drive along.

The bickering sabres' shivering jar,

505

And peal.ng wide—or ringing near

It's echoes on the throbbing ear

The deathshot hissing from afar

The shock-the shout-the groan of war

Reverberate along that vale,

More suited to the shepherd's tale:

Though few the numbers-their's the strife,
That neither spares nor speaks for life!

Ah! fondly youthful hearts can press,

To seize and share the dear caress;
But Love itself could never pant

For all that Beauty sighs to grant,

With half the fervour Hate bestows

510

515

Upon the last embrace of foes,

When grappling in the fight they fold

520

Those arms that ne'er shall lose their hold.

Friends meet to part-Love laughs at faith;—

True foes, once met, are joined till death!