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

460

"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;

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

His eye but saw that light of love,
The only star it hail'd above;

His ear but rang with Hero's song,
"Ye waves divide not lovers long!"

That tale is old, but love anew

May nerve young hearts to prove as true.

II.

The winds are high-and Helle's tide
Rolls darkly heaving to the main;
And Night's descending shadows hide
That field with blood bedew'd in vain;
The desart of old Priam's pride—

The tombs-sole relics of his reign

All, save immortal dreams that could beguile
The blind old man of Scio's rocky isle!

III.

Oh! yet-for there my steps have been,

These feet have press'd the sacred shore, These limbs that buoyant wave hath borneMinstrel! with thee to muse, to mourn

To trace again those fields of yore

20

30

Believing every hillock green

Contains no fabled hero's ashes

And that around the undoubted scene

Thine own "broad Hellespont" 23 still dashesBe long my lot-and cold were he

Who there could gaze denying thee!

IV.

The night hath closed on Helle's stream,

Nor yet hath risen on Ida's hill

That moon, which shone on his high theme

No warrior chides her peaceful beam,

But conscious shepherds bless it still.

Their flocks are grazing on the mound

Of him who felt the Dardan's arrow;—
That mighty heap of gather'd ground
Which Ammon's 24 son ran proudly round,
By nations rais'd, by monarchs crown'd,
Is now a lone and nameless barrow
Within-thy dwelling-place how narrow!
Without-can only strangers breathe

The name of him that was beneath.

40

50