«Be but thy soul, like Selim's, firmly shown; ་ By fatal Nature to man's warring kind : « Mark! where his carnage and his conquests cease! He makes a solitude, and calls it-peace! «< I like the rest must use my skill or strength, « And woman, more than man, when death or woe « Or even Disgrace would lay her lover low, « Sunk in the lap of Luxury will shame ་ Away suspicion! not Zuleika's name! << But life is hazard at the best; and here <«< No more remains to win, and much to fear; ་ ་ Yes, fear!-the doubt, the dread of losing thee, By Osman's power and Giaffir's stern decree. "That dread shall vanish with the favouring gale,, "Which Love to-night hath promised to my sail : "No danger daunts the pair his smile hath blest, << Their steps still roying, but their hearts at rest. « With thee all toils are sweet, each clime hath charms; « Earth-sea alike-our world within our arms! ㄍ Ay-let the loud winds whistle o'er the deck, << So that those arms cling closer round my neck: « The deepest murmur of this lip shall be «No sigh for safety, but a prayer for thee! «The war of elements no fears impart «To Love, whose deadliest bane is human art: « Few words remain of mine my tale to close; XXI. « His head and faith from doubt and death « No deed they've done, nor deed shall do, « But now too long I've held thine ear; Arrives-to-night must break thy chain : « And wou'd'st thou save that haughty Bey, Perchance his life who gave thee thine, "With me this hour away-away! a But yet, though thou art plighted mine, « Would'st thou recall thy willing vow, Appalled by truths imparted now, « Here rest I-not to see thee wed: « But be that peril on my head! » XXII. Zuleika, mute and motionless, But ere her lip, or evʼn her eye, Essayed to speak, or look reply, Far flashed on high a blazing torch! Another and another—and another " Oh! fly—no more-yet now my more than brother!» Far, wide, through every thicket spread, The fearful lights are gleaming red; XXIII. Dauntless he stood.-« 'Tis come « One kiss, Zuleika-'tis my last: -soon past « But yet my band not far from shore May hear this signal, see the flash ; >> Yet now too few-the attempt were rash: >> No matter-yet one effort more. » Forth to the cavern mouth he stept; His pistol's echo rang on high. Zuleika started not, nor wept, Despair benumbed her breast and eye!<< They hear me not, or if they ply << Their oars, 'tis but to see me die; « That sound hath drawn my foes more nigh. << Thou ne'er hast seen less equal war! No-though by him that poison poured; « But tamely shall I meet their steel? XXIV. One bound he made, and gained the sand: The foremost of the prying band, A gasping head, á quivering trunk : And almost met the meeting wave; 1 Oh! are they yet in time to save? XXV. Escaped from shot, unharmed by steel, To where the strand and billows met: For her his eye but sought in vain ? That pause, that fatal gaze he took, Hath doomed his death, or fixed his chain. Sad proof, in peril and in pain, How late will Lover's hope remain! Whose voice is heard? whose carbine rang? The son hath found a quicker fate : |