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« Since words of mine, and songs must fail, "Even from my fabled nightingale.

« I knew our sire at times was stern,

« But this from thee had yet to learn: « Too well I know he loves thee not; « But is Zuleika's love forgot?

« Ah! deem I right? the Pacha's plan« This kinsman Bey of Carasman

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Perhaps may prove some foe of thine. "If so, I swear by Mecca's shrine, << If shrines that ne'er approach allow "To woman's step admit her vow, « Without thy free consent, command, << The Sultan should not have my hand! « Think'st thou that I could bear to part « With thee, and learn to halve my heart? Ah! were I severed from thy side,

« Where were thy friend-and who my guide? << Years have not seen, Time shall not see « The hour that tears my soul from thee: « Even Azrael, 18 from his deadly quiver « When flies that shaft, and fly it must, «< That parts all else, shall doom for ever " Our hearts to undivided dust! »

XII.

He lived he breathed-he moved--he felt;
He raised the maid from where she knelt:
His trance was gone-his keen eye shone
With thoughts that long in darkness dwelt;
With thoughts that burn-in rays that melt,
As the stream late concealed

By the fringe of its willows,
When it rushes revealed

In the light of its billows;

As the bolt bursts on high

From the black cloud that bound it,
Flashed the soul of that eye

Through the long lashes round it.
A war-horse at the trumpet's sound,
A lion roused by heedless hound,
A tyrant waked to sudden strife
By graze of ill-directed knife,
Starts not to more convulsive life
Than he, who heard that vow, displayed,
And all, before repressed, betrayed:

Now thou art mine, for ever mine,

« With life to keep, and scarce with life resign; « Now thou art mine, that sacred oath,

Though sworn by one, hath bound us both. « Yes, fondly, wisely hast thou done,

« That vow hath saved more heads than one : « But blench not thou-thy simplest tress « Claims more from me than tenderness ; « I would not wrong the slenderest hair « That clusters round thy forehead fair, « For all the treasures buried far

« Within the caves of Istakar. 19

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« This morning clouds upon me lowered,
Reproaches on my head were showered,
« And Giaffir almost called me coward!
«Now I have motive to be brave;
« The son of his neglected slave,

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Nay, start not, 'twas the term he gave, May show, though little apt to vaunt, « A heart his words nor deeds can daunt. His son, indeed!-yet, thanks to thee, «Perchance I am, at least shall be ;

« But let our plighted secret vow
« Be only known to us as now.

« I know the wretch who dares demand
« From Giaffir thy reluctant hand;
<< More ill-got wealth, a meaner soul
« Holds not a Musselim's 2° control:
« Was he not bred in Egripo?21
« A viler race let Israel show!
« But let that pass—to none be told
« Our oath; the rest shall time unfold.
« To me and mine leave Osman Bey;
«. I've partizans for peril's day:

« Think not I am what I appear;

« I've arms, and friends, and vengeance near. »

XIII.

« Think not thou art what thou appearest !

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My Selim, thou art sadly changed:

This morn I saw thee gentlest, dearest ;

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But now thou'rt from thyself estranged. My love thou surely knew'st before,

« It ne'er was less, nor can be more.

« To see thee, hear thee, near thee stay,

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And hate the night I know not why,
"Save that we meet not but by day;
<< With thee to live, with thee to die,
« I dare not to my hope deny:

« Thy check, thine eyes, thy lips to kiss,
« Like this—and this-no more than this;

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For, Alla! sure thy lips are flame:

« What fever in thy veins is flushing?

My own have nearly caught the same,

« At least I feel my cheek too blushing.

« To soothe thy sickness, watch thy health,

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Partake, but never waste thy wealth, « Or stand with smiles unmurmuring by, « And lighten half thy poverty; «Do all but close thy dying eye, « For that I could not live to try; «To these alone my thoughts aspire : « More can I do? or thou require? But, Selim, thou must answer why We need so much of mystery ?

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"The cause I cannot dream nor tell,

« But be it, since thou say'st 'tis well;

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«Yet what thou mean'st by arms' and 'friends' Beyond my weaker sense extends.

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I meant that Giaffir should have heard

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The very vow I plighted thee;

« His wrath would not revoke my word: « But surely he would leave me free.

« Can this fond wish seem strange in me, «To be what I have ever been?

« What other hath Zuleika seen
« From simple childhood's earliest hour?
« What other can she seek to see
« Than thee, companion of her bower,
«The partner of her infancy?

These cherished thoughts with life begun,
Say, why must I no more avow?

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« What change is wrought to make me shun « The truth; my pride, and thine till now? << To meet the gaze of stranger's eyes « Our law, our creed, our God denies; « Nor shall one wandering thought of mine « At such, our Prophet's will, repine: "No! happier made by that decree, « He left me all in leaving thee.

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Deep were my anguish, thus compelled «To wed with one I ne'er beheld:

« This wherefore should I not reveal?

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Why wilt thou urge me to conceal ? "I know the Pacha's haughty mood «To thee hath never boded good; «And he so often storms at nought, « Allah! forbid that e'er he ought! "And why I know not, but within

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My heart concealment weighs like sin. « If then such secrecy be crime,

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And such it feels while lurking here; Oh, Selim! tell me yet in time,

« Nor leave me thus to thoughts of fear.

« Ah! yonder see the Tchocadar,

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My father leaves the mimic war;

<< I tremble now to meet his eye—

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Say, Selim, cau'st thou tell me why?»>

XIV.

« Zuleika ! to thy tower's retreat

« Betake thee—Giaffir I can greet:

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And now with him I fain must prate

"Of firmans, imposts, levies, state.

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There's fearful news from Danube's banks; Our vizier nobly thins his ranks,

« For which the Giaour may give him thanks!

« Our Sultan hath a shorter way

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Such costly triumph to repay.

But, mark me, when the twilight drum

« Hath warned the troops to food and sleep,

<< Unto thy cell will Selim come :

«< Then softly from the Haram creep

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