"I come through darkness---and I scarce know why--"Yet not to hurt---I would not see thee die."

"If so, kind lady! thine the only eye

1050

"That would not here in that gay hope delight: "Theirs is the chance---and let them use their right. "But still I thank their courtesy or thine,

"That would confess me at so fair a shrine !" 1055

1060

Strange though it seem---yet with extremest grief
Is link'd a mirth---it doth not bring relief---
That playfulness of Sorrow ne'er beguiles,
And smiles in bitterness---but still it smiles;
And sometimes with the wisest and the best,
Till even the scaffold (10) echoes with their jest!
Yet not the joy to which it seems akin---
It may deceive all hearts, save that within.
Whate'er it was that flash'd on Conrad, now
A laughing wildness half unbent his brow:
And these his accents had a sound of mirth,
As if the last he could enjoy on earth;

1065

Yet 'gainst his nature---for through that short life, Few thoughts had he to spare from gloom and strife.

XIV.

"Corsair! thy doom is named-but I have power "To sooth the Pacha in his weaker hour.

1071

"Thee would I spare-nay more-would save thee

now,

-time-hope-nor even thy strength allow ;

"But all I can, I will: at least, delay

1075

"The sentence that remits thee scarce a day. "More now were ruin-even thyself were loth "The vain attempt should bring but doom to both."

"Yes!—loth indeed :-my soul is nerved to all, "Or fall'n too low to fear a further fall:

66

Tempt not thyself with peril; me with hope, 1080 "Of flight from foes with whom I could not cope: "Unfit to vanquish-shall I meanly fly,

"The one of all my band that would not die? "Yet there is one-to whom my memory clings, "Till to these eyes her own wild softness springs. 1085

66 My sole resources in the path I trod

"Were these---my bark---my sword---my love---my God!

1089

"The last I left in youth---he leaves me now--"And Man but works his will to lay me low. "I have no thought to mock his throne with prayer "Wrung from the coward crouching of despair; "It is enough---I breathe---and I can bear. "My sword is shaken from the worthless hand "That might have better kept so true a brand; "My bark is sunk or captive---but my love--"For her in sooth my voice would mount above: "Oh! she is all that still to earth can bind--"And this will break a heart so more than kind, "And blight a form---till thine appear'd, Gulnare! "Mine eye ne'er ask'd if others were as fair?" 1100

1095

"Thou lov'st another then ?---but what to me "Is this---'tis nothing---nothing e'er can be: "But yet---thou lov'st---and---Oh! I envy those "Whose hearts on hearts as faithful can repose, 1104 "Who never feel the void---the wandering thought "That sighs o'er visions---such as mine hath wrought.”

“Lady---methought thy love was his, for whom "This arm redeem'd thee from a fiery tomb."

My love stern Seyd's! Oh---No---No---not my love--

"Yet much this heart, that strives no more, once strove "To meet his passion---but it would not be.

"I felt---I feel---love dwells with---with the free. "I am a slave, a favour'd slave at best,

"To share his splendour, and seem very blest! "Oft must my soul the question undergo,

1111

1115

"Of---Dost thou love?' and burn to answer "No!'

"Oh! hard it is that fondness to sustain, "And struggle not to feel averse in vain;

"But harder still the heart's recoil to bear,

"And hide from one---]

---perhaps another there. 1120

"He takes the hand I give not---nor withhold--

"Its pulse nor check'd--nor quicken'd---calmly cold: "And when resign'd, it drops a lifeless weight

"From one I never loved enough to hate.

"No warmth these lips return by his imprest, 1125

"And chill'd remembrance shudders o'er the rest.

"Yes---had I ever proved that passion's zeal, "The change to hatred were at least to feel: "But still---he goes unmourn'd---returns unsought--"And oft when present---absent from my thought. "Or when reflection comes, and come it must--- 1151 "I fear that henceforth 'twill but bring disgust; "I am his slave---but, in despite of pride,

""Twere worse than bondage to become his bride. "Oh! that this dotage of his breast would cease! 1135 "Or seek another and give mine release, "But yesterday---I could have said, to peace! "Yes---if unwonted fondness now I feign, "Remember---captive! 'tis to break thy chain; Repay the life that to thy hand I owe; "To give thee back to all endear'd below,

"Who share such love as I can never know.

1140

"Farewell---morn breaks---and I must now away: ""Twill cost me dear---but dread no death to-day!"

XV.

She press'd his fetter'd fingers to her heart,

And bow'd her head, and turn'd her to depart,

And noiseless as a lovely dream is gone.

And was she here? and is he now alone?

1145

What gem hath dropp'd and sparkles o'er his chain? The tear most sacred, shed for other's pain,

1150

That starts at once---bright---pure---from Pity's mine, Already polish'd by the hand divine!

Oh! too convincing---dangerously dear---
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear!
That weapon of her weakness she can wield,
To save, subdue---at once her spear and shield:
Avoid it---Virtue ebbs and Wisdom errs,
Too fondly gazing on that grief of hers!
What lost a world, and bade a hero fly?
The timid tear in Cleopatra's eye.

Yet be the soft triumvir's fault forgiven,

By this---how many lose not earth---but heaven!
Consign their souls to man's eternal foe,

And seal their own to spare some wanton's wo!

XVI.

'Tis morn---and o'er his alter'd features play
The beams---without the hope of yesterday.
What shall he be ere night? perchance a thing
O'er which the raven flaps her funeral wing:
By his closed eye unheeded and unfelt,

1155

1160

1165

While sets that sun, and dews of evening melt, 1170 Chill---wet---and misty round each stiffen'd limb, Refreshing earth---reviving all but him!

END OF CANTO II.