LIV. Epirus' bounds recede, and mountains fail; Tired of up-gazing still, the wearied eye As ever Spring yclad in-grassy dye: Ev'n on a plain no humble beauties lie, trance. LV. The Sun had sunk behind vast Tomerit; 25 Whose wallso'erlook the stream; and drawing nigh, He heard the busy hum of warrior-mcn Swelling the breeze that sighed along the lengthening glen. LVI. He passed the sacred Haram's silent tower, LVII. Richly caparisoned, a ready row Of armed horse, and many a warlike store While the deep war-drum's sound announced the close of day. LVIII. The wild Albanian kirtled to his knee, With shawl-girt head and ornamented gun, And crooked glaive, the lively, supple Greek; The bearded Turk that rarely deigns to speak Master of all around, too potent to be meek, LIX. Are mixed conspicuous: some recline in groups, Scanning the motley scene that varies round; There some grave Moslem to devotion stoops, And some that smoke, and some that play, are found; Here the Albanian proudly treads the ground; Half whispering there the Greek is heard to prate; Hark! from the mosque the nightly solemn sound, The Muezzin's call doth shake the minaret, "There is no god but God!-to prayer-lo! God is great!" LX. Just at this season Ramazani's fast Through the long day its penance did maintain: But when the lingering twilight hour was past, Revel and feast assumed the rule again: Now all was bustle, and the menial train Prepared and spread the plenteous board within; The vacant gallery now seemed made in vain, But from the chambers came the mingling din, As page and slave anon were passing out and in. LXI. Here woman's voice is never heard: apart, Blest cares! all other feelings far abovel Herself more sweetly rears the babe she bears, Who never quits the breast, no meaner passion shares. LXII. In marble-paved pavilion, where a spring And soft voluptuous couches breathed repose, Yet in his lineaments ye cannot trace, While Gentleness her milder radiance throws The deeds that lurk beneath, and stain him with disgrace. LXIII. It is not that yon hoary lengthening beard span, In bloodier acts conclude those who with blood began. |