"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, "More can I do? or thou require ? 390 400 "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', "Beyond my weaker sense extends "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? "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 : 4.40 "No-happier made by that decree, "Deep were my anguish, thus compelled "And he so often storms at nought, "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 66 Say, Selim, can'st thou tell me why?" 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! "Our Sultan hath a shorter way "Such costly triumph to repay. "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! "Fear thee, my Selim! ne'er till now "Did word like this-" "Delay not thou; "I keep the key—and Haroun's guard END OF CANTO I. 480 |