"The cause I cannot dream nor tell,

"But be it, since thou say'st 'tis well;

"Yet what thou mean'st by 'arms' and 'friends',

"I meant that Giaffir should have heard

"The very vow I plighted thee;

"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?

"What other hath Zuleika seen

"From simple childhood's earliest hour?
"What other can she seek to see
"Than thee, companion of her bower,
"The partner of her infancy?

"These cherished 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?

410

420

"To meet the gaze of strangers eyes "Our law, our creed, our God denies;

430

"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 compelled
"To wed with one I ne'er beheld-
"This-wherefore should I not reveal?
66 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,

"My father leaves the mimic war;

"I tremble now to meet his eye

22

Say, Selim, can'st thou tell me why?"

4.40

450

XIV.

"Zuleika-to thy tower's retreat

"Betake thee-Giaffir I can greet;

"And now with him I fain must prate “Of firmans, imposts, levies, state :

"There's fearful news from Danube's banks,

"Our Vizier nobly thins his ranks,

"For which the Giour may give him thanks!

"But, mark me, when the twilight drum

"Hath warned the troops to food and sleep,

"Unto thy cell will Selim come:

"Then softly from the Haram creep

"Where we may wander by the deep,

Our garden-battlements are steep:

"Nor these will rash intruder climb "To list our words, or stint our time; "And if he doth-I want not steel

"Which some have felt, and more may feel.

"Then shalt thou learn of Selim more

"Than thou hast heard or thought before;

· 460

470

"Trust me, Zuleika-fear not me!
"Thou know'st I hold a Haram key."

"Fear thee, my Selim! ne'er till now "Did word like this-"

"Delay not thou;

"I keep the key-and Haroun's guard
"Have some, and hope, of more reward.
"To night, Zuleika, thou shalt hear
"My tale, my purpose, and my fear-
"I am not, love! what I appear."

END OF CANTO I.

480

THE

BRIDE OF ABYDOS.

CANTO II.

THE winds are high on Helle's wave,
As on that night of stormy water
When Love-who sent-forgot to save

The young, the beautiful, the brave,
The lonely hope of Sestos' daughter.

Oh! when alone along the sky

Her turret-torch was blazing high,

Though rising gale, and breaking foam,

And shrieking sea-birds warn'd him home;

And clouds aloft, and tides below,
With signs and sounds forbade to go,
He could not see, he would not hear,
Or sound or sign foreboding fear;

10