LXIX. It came to pass, that when he did address To traverse Acarnania's forest wide, In war well season'd, and with labours tann'd, And from his further bank Ætolia's wolds espied. LXX. Where lone Utraikey forms its circling cove, Nor did he pass unmoved the gentle scene, For many a joy could he from Night's soft presence glean. LXXI. On the smooth shore the night-fires brightly blazed, And he that unawares had there ygazed With gaping wonderment had stared aghast ; Each Palikar his sabre from him cast, And bounding hand in hand, man link'd to man, Yelling their uncouth dirge, long daunced the kirtled clan. LXXII. Childe Harold at a little distance stood, And view'd, but not displeased, the revelrie, Nor hated harmless mirth, however rude: In sooth, it was no vulgar sight to see Their barbarous, yet their not indecent, glee: And as the flames along their faces gleam'd, Their gestures nimble, dark eyes flashing free, The long wild locks that to their girdles stream'd, While thus in concert they this lay half sang, half screamed: I. TAMBOURGI! Tambourgi! thy larum afar Gives hope to the valiant, and promise of war; 2. Oh! who is more brave than a dark Suliote, In his snowy camese and his shaggy capote? To the wolf and the vulture he leaves his wild flock, And descends to the plain like the stream from the rock. 3. Shall the sons of Chimari, who never forgive The fault of a friend, bid an enemy live? Let those guns so unerring such vengeance forego? 4. Macedonia sends forth her invincible race; For a time they abandon the cave and the chase: 5. Then the pirates of Parga that dwell by the waves, 6. I ask not the pleasures that riches supply, My sabre shall win what the feeble must buy; Shall win the young bride with her long flowing hair, And many a maid from her mother shall tear. 7. I love the fair face of the maid in her youth; Her caresses shall lull me, her music shall soothe : Let her bring from the chamber her many-toned lyre, And sing us a song on the fall of her sire. 8. Remember the moment when Previsa fell, The shrieks of the conquer'd, the conquerors' yell; 9. I talk not of mercy I talk not of fear; He neither must know who would serve the Vizier; Since the days of our prophet the Crescent ne'er saw A chief ever glorious like Ali Pashaw. IO. Dark Muchtar his son to the Danube is sped, Let the yellow-hair'd Giaours view his horsetail with with dread; When his Delhis come dashing in blood o'er the banks, How few shall escape from the Muscovite ranks ! II. Selictar! unsheath then our chief's scimitar : LXXIII. Fair Greece! sad relic of departed worth! Leap from Eurotas' banks, and call thee from the tomb? LXXIV. Spirit of Freedom, when on Phyle's brow Thou sat'st with Thrasybulus and his train, Could'st thou forebode the dismal hour which now Dims the green beauties of thine Attic plain ? Not thirty tyrants now enforce the chain, Nor rise thy sons, but idly rail in vain, Trembling beneath the scourge of Turkish hand, From birth till death enslaved; in word, in deed, unmann'd. LXXV. In all save form alone, how changed! and who Or tear their name defiled from Slavery's mournful page. LXXVI. Hereditary bondsmen ! know ye not Who would be free themselves must strike the blow? By their right arms the conquest must be wrought? Will Gaul or Muscovite redress ye? No! True, they may lay your proud despoilers low, But not for you will Freedom's altars flame. Shades of the Helots! triumph o'er your foe: Greece! change thy lords, thy state is still the same; Thy glorious day is o'er, but not thine years of shame. LXXVII. The city won for Allah from the Giaour, Receive the fiery Frank, her former guest; Or Wahab's rebel brood, who dared divest The prophet's tomb of all its pious spoil, May wind their path of blood along the West; But slave succeed to slave through years of endless toil. LXXVIII. Yet mark their mirth-ere lenten days begin, |