« 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 ་་ 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; By the fringe of its willows, In the light of its billows; As the bolt bursts on high From the black cloud that bound it, Through the long lashes round it. 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 « This morning clouds upon me lowered, 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 « I know the wretch who dares demand « Think not I am what I appear; « I've arms, and friends, and vengeance near. » XIII. « Think not thou art what thou appearest ! " My Selim, thou art sadly changed: This morn I saw thee gentlest, dearest ; ་་ 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, And hate the night I know not why, « Thy check, thine eyes, thy lips to kiss, 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, 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 ? "The cause I cannot dream nor tell, « But be it, since thou say'st 'tis well; 6 «Yet what thou mean'st by arms' and 'friends' Beyond my weaker sense extends. K I meant that Giaffir should have heard 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 These cherished thoughts with life begun, « 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. " a Deep were my anguish, thus compelled «To wed with one I ne'er beheld: « This wherefore should I not reveal? " 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 K My heart concealment weighs like sin. « If then such secrecy be crime, k ་་ 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, ་ 22 My father leaves the mimic war; << I tremble now to meet his eye— ་་ Say, Selim, cau'st thou tell me why?»> XIV. « Zuleika ! to thy tower's retreat « Betake thee—Giaffir I can greet: ་་ And now with him I fain must prate "Of firmans, imposts, levies, state. ་་ 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 ་་ 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 |