"His death is all I need relate, 705 "The stern effect of Giaffir's hate; "And how my birth disclosed to me, "Whate'er beside it makes, hath made me free. XIV. "When Paswan, after years of strife, "At last for power, but first for life, 710 "They gave their horsetails to the wind, 715 "And mustering in Sophia's plain "Their tents were pitched, their post assigned; "To one, alas! assigned in vain! "What need of words? the deadly bowl, "By Giaffir's order drugged and given, "With venom subtle as his soul, "Dismissed Abdallah's hence to heaven. "Reclined and feverish in the bath, “He, when the hunter's sport was up, "The bowl a bribed attendant bore; 720 725 "If thou my tale, Zuleika, doubt, "Call Haroun he can tell it out. XV. "The deed once done, and Paswan's feud 730 735 "Would'st question whence? Survey the waste, 740 "And ask the squalid peasant how "His gains repay his broiling brow! "Why me the stern usurper spared, "Why thus with me his palace shared, "I know not. Shame, regret, remorse, 745 "And little fear from infant's force; "Besides, adoption as a son "By him whom Heaven accorded none, "Or some unknown cabal, caprice, "Preserved me thus; but not in peace: 750 "He cannot curb his haughty mood, "Nor I forgive a father's blood. XVI. "Within thy father's house are focs, 755 "His days, his very hours were few: "They only want a heart to lead, "A hand to point them to the deed. "But Haroun only knows, or knew "This tale, whose close is almost nigh: 760 "He in Abdallah's palace grew, "And held that post in his Serai "Which holds he here he saw him die: 765 "Or save his son from such a fate? "He chose the last, and when elate "With foes subdued, or friends betrayed, "Proud Giaffir in high triumph sate, "He led me helpless to his gate, "And not in vain it seems essayed "To save the life for which he prayed. "The knowledge of my birth secured "From all and each, but most from me; "Thus Giaffir's safety was ensured. "Removed he too from Roumelie "To this our Asiatic side, 770 775 "Far from our seats by Danube's tide, “With none but Haroun, who retains "Such knowledge — and that Nubian's feels 780 "A tyrant's secrets are but chains, "From which the captive gladly steals, "And this and more to me revels: “Such still to guilt just Alla sends "Slaves, tools, accomplices — no friends! 785 XVII. "All this, Zuleika, harshly sounds; “I saw thee start this garb to see, “Yet is it one I oft have worn, "And long must wear: this Galiongee, "To whom thy plighted vow is sworn, "Is leader of those pirate hordes, 790 "Whose laws and lives are on their swords; "To hear whose desolating tale 796 “Would make thy waning cheek more pale; "Those arms thou see'st my band have brought, “The hands that wield are not remote; "This cup too for the rugged knaves 800 "Is filled once quaffed, they ne'er repine: "Our Prophet might forgive the slaves; "They're only infidels in wine. XVIII. "What could I be? Proscribed at home, "And taunted to a wish to roam; "And listless left for Giaffir's fear 805 "Denied the courser and the spear "Though oft Oh, Mahomet! how oft! "In full Divan the despot scoffed, "As if my weak unwilling hand "Ang pent me here untried, unknown; "By hope unblest, of fame bereft. 810 815 While thou-whose softness long endeared, "Though it unmanned me, still had cheered "To Brusa's wells for safety sent, "Awaited'st there the field's event. "His captive, though with dread resigning, "My thraldom for a season broke, 820 "On promise to return before "The day when Giaflir's charge was o'er. 825 |