Or place them on my hopeless heart; But, shape or shade! whate'er thou art, In mercy, ne'er again depart!

Or farther with thee bear my soul

Than winds can waft or waters roll!

*

*

*

*

"Such is my name, and such my tale. Confessor-to thy secret ear,

I breathe the sorrows I bewail,
And thank thee for the generous tear
This glazing eye could never shed.
Then lay me with the humblest dead,
And, save the cross above my head,
Be neither name nor emblem spread-
By prying stranger to be read,
Or stay the passing pilgrim's tread."
He pass'd-nor of his name and race
Hath left a token or a trace,

Save what the father must not say
Who shrived him on his dying day;
This broken tale was all we knew
Of her he lov'd, or him he slew.43

NOTES TO THE GIAOUR.

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1. That tomb, which, gleaming o'er the cliff. A tomb above the rocks on the promontory, by some supposed the sepulchre of Themistocles.

2. Sultana of the Nightingale.

The attachment of the nighingale to the rose is a well-known Persian fable-if I mistake not, the "Bulbul of a thousand tales" is one of his appellations.

3. Till the gay mariner's guitar.

The guitar is the constant amusement of the Greek sailor by night; with a steady fair wind, and during a calm, it is accompanied always by the voice, and often by dancing.

4. Where cold Obstruction's apathy.

66 Aye, but to die and go we know not where, To lie in cold obstruction."

Measure for Measure, Act III. 130. Sc. 2.

5. The first-last look-by death reveal'd. I trust that few of my readers have ever had an opportunity of witnessing what is here attempted

F

in description, but those who have will probably retain a painful remembrance of that singular beauty which pervades, with few exceptions, the features of the dead, a few hours, and but for a few hours after "the spirit is not there." It is to be remarked in cases of violent death by gun-shot wounds, the expression is always that of languor, whatever the natural energy of the sufferer's character; but in death from a stab the countenance preserves its traits of feeling or ferocity, and the mind its bias, to the last.

6. Slaves- nay the bondsmen of a slave.

Athens is the property of the Kislar Aga, (the slave of the seraglio and guardian of the women), who appoints the Waywode.-A pander and eunuch - these are not polite yet true appellations - now governs the governor of Athens !

7. 'Tis calmer than thy heart, young Giaour. Infidel.

8. In echoes of the far tophaike. "Tophaike," musquet.-The Bairam is announced by the cannon at sunset; the illumination of the Mosques, and the firing of all kinds of small arms, loaded with ball, proclaim it during the night.

9. Swift as the hurled on high jerreed. Jerreed, or Djerrid, a blunted Turkish javelin, which is darted from horseback with great force and precision. It is a favourite exercise of the

Mussulmans; but I know not if it can be called a manly one, since the most expert in the art are the Black Eunuchs of Constantinople. -I think, next to these, a Mamlouk at Smyrna was the most skilful that came within my own observation.

10. He came, he went, like the Simoom. The blast of the desert, fatal to every thing living, and often alluded to in Eastern poetry.

11. To bless the sacred "bread and salt." To partake of food-to break bread and salt with your host insures the safety of the guest, even though an enemy; his person from that moment is sacred.

12. Since his turban was cleft by the infidel's sabre. I need hardly observe, that Charity and Hospitality are the first duties enjoined by Mahomet; and to say truth, very generally practised by his disciples. The first praise that can be bestowed on a chief, is a panegyric on his bounty; the next, on his valour.

13. And silver-sheathed ataghan.

The ataghan, a long dagger worn with pistols in the belt, in a metal scabbard, generally of silver; and, among the wealthier, gilt, or of gold.

14. An Emir by his garb of green.

Green is the privileged colour of the prophet's numerous pretended descendants; with them, as

here, faith (the family inheritance) is supposed to supersede the necessity of good works; they are the worst of a very indifferent brood.

15. Ho! who art thou?-this low salam. Salam aleikoum ! aleikoum salam! peace be with you; be with you peace-the salutation reserved for the faithful; to a Christian, "Urlarula," a good journey; or Saban hiresem, saban serula; Good morn, good even; and sometimes, May your end be happy; are the usual salutes.

16. The insect-queen of eastern spring. The blue-winged butterfly of Kashmeer, the most rare and beautiful of the species.

17. Or like the Scorpion girt by fire. Alluding to the dubious suicide of the scorpion, so placed for experiment by gentle philosophers. Some maintain that the position of the sting, when turned towards the head, is merely a convulsive movement; but others have actually brought in the verdict "Felo de se." The scorpions are surely interested in a speedy decision of the question, as, if once fairly established as insect Catos, they will probably be allowed to live as long as they think proper, without being martyred for the sake of an hypothesis.

18. When Rhamazan's last sun was set. The cannon at sunset close the Rhamazan; see note 8.