6

"Go-let thy less than woman's hand
"Assume the distaff-not the brand.

"But, Haroun!-to my daughter speed

"And hark-of thine own head take heed-
"If thus Zuleika oft takes wing-

"Thou see'st yon bow-it hath a string!"

V.

No sound from Selim's lip was heard,
At least that met old Giaffir's ear,
But every frown and every word

Pierced keener than a Christian's sword

"Son of a slave !-reproached with fear

"Those gibes had cost another dear. "Son of a slave!-and who my sire?"

Thus held his thoughts their dark career,

And glances even of more than ire

Flash forth-then faintly disappear.

Old Giaffir gazed upon his son

And started-for within his eye
He read how much his wrath had done,
He saw rebellion there begun-

"Come hither, boy-what, no reply?

"I mark thee-and I know thee too;
"But there be deeds thou dar'st not do:
"But if thy beard had manlier length,
"And if thy hand had skill and strength,
"I'd joy to see thee break a lance,
"Albeit against my own perchance."

As sneeringly these accents fell,
On Selim's eye he fiercely gazed-

That eye returned him glance for glance,
And proudly to his sire's was raised,

Till Giaffir's quailed and shrunk askanceAnd why he felt, but durst not tell.— "Much I misdoubt this wayward boy "Will one day work me more annoy— "I never loved him from his birth, "And-but his arm is little worth,

"And scarcely in the chace could cope "With timid fawn or antelope,

"Far less would venture into strife

"Where man contends for fame and life

"I would not trust that look or tone

"No-nor the blood so near my own

120

130

140

"That blood-he hath not heard-no more

"I'll watch him closer than before

5

"He is an Arab to my sight,

"Or Christian crouching in the fight.— "But hark!-I hear Zuleika's voice,

"Like Houris' hymn it meets mine ear; "She is the offspring of my choice

"Oh! more than even her mother dear, "With all to hope, and nought to fear, "My Peri! ever welcome here! "Sweet, as the desart-fountain's wave "To lips just cooled in time to save

"Such to my longing sight art thou; "Nor can they waft to Mecca's shrine "More thanks for life, than I for thine

"Who blest thy birth, and bless thee now."

VI.

Fair-as the first that fell of womankind

When on that dread yet lovely serpent smiling, Whose image then was stamped upon her mindBut once beguiled-aud ever more beguiling;

150

160

Dazzling-as that, oh! too transcendant vision

To Sorrow's phantom-peopled slumber given,
When heart meets heart again in dreams Elysian,

And paints the lost on Earth revived in Heaven→
Soft-as the memory of buried love-
Pure-as the prayer which Childhood wafts above-
Was she the daughter of that rude old Chief,
Who met the maid with tears-but not of grief.

Who hath not proved-how feebly words essay
To fix one spark of Beauty's heavenly ray?
Who doth not feel-until his failing sight

Faints into dimness with its own delight-
His changing cheek-his sinking heart confess
The might-the majesty of Loveliness?

Such was Zuleika-such around her shone

The nameless charms unmarked by her alone→→→→

The light of love-the purity of grace

The mind-the Music breathing from her face!"
The heart whose softness harmonized the whole-
And, oh! that eye was in itself a Soul!

170

180

Her graceful arms in meekness bending
Across her gently-budding breast-

At one kind word those arms extending
To clasp the neck of him who blest
His child caressing and carest,
Zuleika came-and Giaffir felt
His purpose half within him melt;
Not that against her fancied weal

His heart though stern could ever feel

Affection chained her to that heart

Ambition tore the links apart.

VII.

"Zuleika-child of gentleness!

"How dear-this very day must tell,

"When I forget my own distress
"In losing what I love so well

"To bid thee with another dwell,
"Another-and a braver man

"Was never seen in battle's van.

"We Moslem reck not much of blood

"But yet the line of Carasman 7

"Unchanged-unchangeable hath stood,

190

200