"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,
"Like this—and this-no more than this,
"For, Alla! sure thy lips are flame,
"What fever in thy veins is flushing?
"My own hath nearly caught the same,
"At least I feel my cheek too blushing.
"To soothe thy sickness, watch thy health,
<< Partake, but never waste thy wealth,
"Or stand with smiles unmurmuring by,
"And lighten half thy poverty;
"Do all but close thy dying eye,
"For that I could not live to try;
"To these alone my thoughts aspire-

"More can I do? or thou require ?
"But, Selim, thou must answer why
"We need so much of mystery 2

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?
"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 :

4.40

"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?
"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, 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!
"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