“If shrines that ne'er approach allow “To woman's step admit her vow, “Without thy free consent, command, 315 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 ? 320 66 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 325 “Our hearts to undivided dust!" XII. 330 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, Flash'd the soul of that eye Through the long lashes round it. 335 A warhorse at the trumpet's sound, 940 A lion roused by heedless hound, A tyrant waked to sudden strife By graze of ill-directed knife, Starts not to more convulsive life Than he, who heard that vow, display'd, $45 And all, before repress'd, betray'd : « 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, 350 “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 355 "That clusters round thy forehead fair, “For all the treasures buried far “ Within the caves of Istakar. (19) “ This morning clouds upon me lower'd, “Reproaches upon my head were shower'd, 360 " And Giaffir almost call'd me coward ! “ Now I have motive to be brave; “The son of his neglected slave, “Nay, start not, 'twas the term he gave, “May show, though little apt to vaunt, 365 "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 “Be only known to us as now. 370 “I know the wretch who dares demand “From Giaffir thy reluctant hand; * More ill-got wealth, a meaner soul “Holds not a Musselim's (20) control: “ Was he not bred in Egripo ? (21) 375 “A viler race let Israel show! “But let that pass—to none be told “Our oath; the rest shall time unfold. “To me and mine leave Osman Bey; * I've partizans for peril's day: 380 “ Think not I am what I appear; “I've arms, and friends, and vengeance near.” XIII. 885 “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, “Save that we meet not but by day: “ With thee to live, with thee to die, “ I dare not to my hope deny: “Thy cheek, thine eyes, thy lips to kiss, “Like this and this---no more than this; 390 395 “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, 400 “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 ; 405 “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? 6. The cause I cannot dream nor tell, 410 6 But be it, since thou say'st 'tis well; “Yet what thou mean'st by 'arms' and 'friends,' “Beyond my weaker sense extends. “I meant that Giaffir should have heard “ The very vow I plighted thee; 415 6 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 ? 6. What other hath Zuleika seen 420 “From simple childhood's earliest hour? “What other can she seek to see “Than thee, companion of her bower, “ The partner of her infancy? 425 430 485 “ These cherish'd thoughts with life begun, “Say, why must I no more avow ? “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. "Deep were my anguish, thus compellid 5. 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 My heart concealment weighs like sin. “ If then such secrecy be crime, “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, can'st thou tell me why?" 440 445 450 |