“Why did I doubt their quickness of career?
“ And deem design had left me single here ?"
Sweeps his long arm---that sabre's whirling sway, 780
Sheds fast atonement for its first delay;
Completes his fury, what their fear begun,
And makes the many basely quail to one.
The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread,
And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head: 785
Even Seyd, convulsed, o'erwhelm'd with rage, surprise,
Retreats before him, though he still defies.
No craven he—and yet he dreads the blow,
So much Confusion magnifies his foe!
His blazing galleys still distract his sight,

790
He tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight; (8)
For now the pirates pass'd the Haram gate,
And burst within—and it were death to wait;
Where wild Amazement shrieking-kneeling-throws
The sword aside-in vain---the blood o'erflows! 795
The Corsairs pouring, haste to where within,
Invited Conrad's bugle, and the din
Of groaning victims, and wild cries for life,
Proclaim'd how well he did the work of strife.
They shout to find him grim and lonely there, 800
A glutted tyger mangling in his lair!
But short their greeting---shorter his reply---
“ 'Tis well—but Seyd escapes—and he must die.
“Much hath been done-but more remains to do-
“Their galleys blaze-why not their city too ?” 805

V. Quick at the word—they seized him each a torch, And fire the dome from minaret to porch. A stern delight was fix'd in Conrad's eye, But sudden sunk-for on his ear the cry Of women struck, and like a deadly knell 810 Knock'd at that heart unmoved by battle's yell. "Oh! burst the Haram--wrong not on your lives

One female form-remember-we have wives. On them such outrage Vengeance will repay; “Man is our foe, and such 'tis ours to slay: 815 “ But still we spared---must spare the weaker prey. “Oh! I forgot---but Heaven will not forgive “If at my word the helpless cease to live; "Follow who will---I go---we yet have time “Our souls to lighten of at least a crime.” 820 He climbs the crackling stair---he bursts the door, Nor feels his feet glow scorching with the floor; His breath choak'd gasping with the volumed smoke, But still from room to room his way he broke. They search---they find---they save: with lusty arms Each bears a prize of unregarded charms; 826 Calm their loud fears; sustain their sinking frames With all the care defenceless beauty claims: So well could Conrad tame their fiercest mood, And check the very hands with gore inrbrued. 830

But who is she? whom Conrad's arms convey
From reeking pile and combat's wreck-away-
Who but the love of him he dooms to bleed ?
The Haram queen-but still the slave of Seyd!

VI.

Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare, (9) 835
Few words to reassure the trembling fair ;
For in that pause compassion snatch'd from war,
The foe before retiring, fast and far,
With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued,
First slowlier fled--then rallied—then withstood. 840
This Seyd perceives, then first perceives how few,
Compared with his, the Corsair's roving crew,
And blushes o'er his error, as he eyes
The ruin wrought by panic and surprise.
Alla il Alla! Vengeance swells the cry-

845
Shame mounts to rage that must atone or die!
And flame for flame and blood for blood must tell,
The tide of triumph ebbs that flow'd too well-
When wrath returns to renovated strife,
And those who fought for conquest strike for life. 850
Conrad beheld the danger--he beheld
His followers faint by freshening foes repelld :
6 One effort--one-to break the circling host !"
They form-unite--charge--waver--all is lost!
Within a narrower ring compress'd, beset,
Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet--
Ab! now they fight in firmest file no more,
Hemm'd in--cut off--cleft down—and trampled o'er ;

855