THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS. CANTO I. I. KNOW ye the land where the cypress and myrtle Where the flowers ever blossom, the beams ever shine; Where the citron and olive are fairest of fruit, And the voice of the nightingale never is mute; Where the tints of the earth, and the hues of the sky,. In colour though varied, in beauty may vie, And the purple of ocean is deepest in die; 'T is the clime of the east; 't is the land of the sun— Can he smile on such deeds as his children have done?' Oh! wild as the accents of lovers' farewell Are the hearts which they bear, and the tales which they tell. II. Begirt with many a gallant slave, Deep thought was in his aged eye; His pensive cheek and pondering brow Did more than he was wont avow. III. << Let the chamber be clear'd.»—The train disappear'd— << Now call me the chief of the haram-guard.» With Giaffir is none but his only son, And the Nubian awaiting the sire's award. « Haroun—when all the crowd that wait Hence, lead my daughter from her tower; By me alone be duty taught!>> Pacha! to hear is to obey.» No more must slave to despot say— First lowly rendering reverence meet; « Father! for fear that thou should'st chide Know-for the fault, if fault there be, That-let the old and weary sleep I could not; and to view alone The fairest scenes of land and deep, With none to listen and reply To thoughts with which my heart beat high Were irksome for whate'er my mood, I on Zuleika's slumber broke, And, as thou knowest that for me Before the guardian slaves awoke 3 To thee and to my duty true, Warn'd by the sound, to greet thee flew: That none can pierce that secret bower IV. < Son of a slave.—the pacha said— « From unbelieving mother bred, Vain were a father's hope to see Aught that beseems a man in thee. Thou, when thine arm should bend the bow, And hurl the dart, and curb the steed, Must pore where babbling waters flow, Nor strike one stroke for life and death Go-let thy less than woman's hand Thou see'st yon bow-it hath a string!» |