235

And mounting featly for the mead,

With Maugrabee (11) and Mamaluke,
His
way

amid his Delis took, (12)
To witness many an active deed
With sabre keen, or blunt jereed.
The Kislar only and his Moors
Watch well the Haram's massy doors.

240

IX.

245

His head was leant upon his hand,
His
eye

look'd o'er the dark blue water
That swiftly glides and gently swells
Between the winding Dardanelles ;
But yet he saw nor sea nor strand,
Nor even his Pacha's turban'd band

Mix in the game of mimic slaughter,
Careering cleave the folded felt (13)
With sabre stroke right sharply dealt;
Nor mark'd the javelin-darting crowd,
Nor heard their Ollahs (14) wild and loud-

He thought but of old Giaffir's daughter !

250

X.

255

No word from Selim's bosom broke;
One sigh Zuleika's thought bespoke:
Still gazed he through the lattice grate,
Pale, mute, and mournfully sedate.
To him Zuleika's eye was turn'd,

****le from his aspect learn'd:

260

265

270

Equal her grief, yet not the same;
Her heart confess'd a gentler flame:
But yet that heart alarmid or weak,
She knew not why, forbade to speak.
Yet speak she must-but when essay ?
“How strange he thus should turn away!
“Not thus we e'er before have met;
“ Not thus shall be our parting yet.”
Thrice paced she slowly through the room,

And watch'd his eye-it still was fix'd :

She snatch'd the urn wherein was mix'd
The Persian Atar-gul's (15) perfume,
And sprinkled all its odours o'er
The pictured roof (16) and marble floor:
The drops, that through his glittering vest
The playful girl's appeal addrest,
Unheeded o'er his bosom flew,
As if that breast were marble too.
“What sullen yet? it must not be-
“Oh! gentle Selim, this from thee !"
She saw in curious order set
The fairest flowers of Eastern land-
“ He loved them once; may touch them yet,

“ If offer'd by Zuleika's hand."
The childish thought was hardly breathed
Before the Rose was pluck'd and wreathed;
The next fond moment saw her seat
Her fairy form at Selim's feet:

275

280

285

290

“ This rose to calm my brother's cares
“A message from the Bulbul (17) bears;
"It says to-night he will prolong
“ For Selim's ear his sweetest song;
“And though his note is somewhat sad,
“ He'll try for once a strain more glad,
“ With some faint hope his alter'd lay
"May sing these gloomy thoughts away.

XI.

“What! not receive my foolish flower? 295

“Nay then I am indeed unblest: “On me can thus thy forehead lower ?

“And know'st thou not who loves thee best? “Oh, Selim dear! Oh, more than dearest! “Say, is it me thou hat'st or fearest?

300 “Come, lay thy head upon my breast, « And I will kiss thee into rest, “ Since words of mine, and songs must fail, “Ev'n from my fabled nightingale. “I knew our sire at times was stern,

305 “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

310 “Perhaps may prove some foe of thine. “If so, I swear by Mecca's shrine,