More free her timid bosom beat, The maid pursued her silent guide; And though her terror urged retreat, How could she quit her Selim's side? VII. They reach'd at length a grotto, hewn And oft her Koran conn'd apart; She dream'd what Paradise might be: 580 585 590 Without her, most beloved in this! Oh! who so dear with him could dwell? What Houri soothe him half so well? 595 VIII. Since last she visited the spot Some change seem'd wrought within the grot: It might be only that the night Disguised things seen by better light: That brazen lamp but dimly threw 600 But in a nook within the cell Her eye on stranger objects fell. There arms were piled, not such as wield 605 Her Selim-" Oh! can this be he?" And from his shoulder loosely hung The greaves below his knee that wound With silvery scales were sheathed and bound. 625 But were it not that high command In him was some young Galiongée. (28) X. "I said I was not what I seem'd; "And now thou seest my words were true: "I have a tale thou hast not dream'd, "If sooth-its truth must others rue. "My story now 'twere vain to hide, "Zuleika! I am not thy brother!" XI. "Oh! not my brother!-yet unsay— "God! am I left alone on earth 630 635 640 645 "To mourn-I dare not curse-the day "That saw my solitary birth? 650 "Oh! thou wilt love me now no more! "My sinking heart foreboded ill; "But know me all I was before, 66 Thy sister-friend-Zuleika still. 655 "Thou led'st me here perchance to kill; "Than live thus nothing now to thee: "Perhaps far worse, for now I know 660 "Why Giaffir always seem'd thy foe; "And I, alas! am Giaffir's child, "For whom thou wert contemn'd, reviled. "If not thy sister--would'st thou save 66 My life, Oh! bid me be thy slave!" 665 XII. "My slave, Zuleika!—nay, I'm thine: "And be that thought thy sorrow's balm. 670 "So may the Koran (29) verse display'd "Upon its steel direct my blade, "In danger's hour to guard us both, "As I preserve that awful oath! "The name in which thy heart hath prided 675 "Must change; but, my Zuleika, know, "That tie is widen'd, not divided, "Although thy Sire's my deadliest foe. "My father was to Giaffir all 680 "That Selim late was deem'd to thee; “That brother wrought a brother's fall, "But spared, at least, my infancy; "And lull'd me with a vain deceit "But like the nephew of a Cain ; (30) "Though here I must no more remain. "But first, beloved Zuleika! hear "How Giaffir wrought this deed of fear. 685 690 XIII. "How first their strife to rancour grew, "If love or envy made them foes, 695 "It matters little if I knew; "And thoughtless, will disturb repose. 700 "And Paswan's (31) rebel hordes attest "How little love they bore such guest: "His death is all I need relate, "The stern effect of Giaffir's hate; 705 "And how my birth disclosed to me, "Whate'er beside it makes, hath made me free. |