By hunger roused, he scours the groaning plain, Gaunt wolves and sullen tigers in his train: Before them Death with shrieks directs their way, Fills the wide yell, and leads them to their prey. Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way! 'At that dead hour the silent asp shall creep, If aught of rest I find, upon my sleep: Or some swoln serpent twist his scales around, And wake to anguish with a burning wound. Thrice happy they, the wise contented poor, From lust of wealth, and dread of death secure! They tempt no deserts, and no griefs they find; Peace rules the day, where reason rules the mind. Sad was the hour, and luckless was the day, When first from Schiraz' walls I bent my way! 'O hapless youth!-for she thy love hath wonThe tender Zara will be most undone! Big swell'd my heart, and own'd the powerful maid, Say, with a kiss, she must not, shall not mourn; He said; and call'd on Heaven to bless the day When back to Schiraz' walls he bent his way. ECLOGUE III. ABRA; OR, THE GEORGIAN SULTANA. SCENE-A FOREST. TIME, THE EVENING. IN Georgia's land, where Tefflis' towers are seen, In distant view, along the level green, While evening dews enrich the glittering glade, And the tall forests cast a longer shade, What time 'tis sweet o'er fields of rice to stray, Or scent the breathing maize at setting day; Amidst the maids of Zagen's peaceful grove, Emyra sung the pleasing cares of love. Of Abra first began the tender strain, Who led her youth with flocks upon the plain: At morn she came those willing flocks to lead, Where lilies rear them in the watery mead; From early dawn the livelong hours she told, Till late at silent eve she penn'd the fold; Deep in the grove, beneath the secret shade, A various wreath of odorous flowers she made: Gay-motley'd pinks' and sweet jonquils she chose; The violet blue that on the moss-bank grows; All sweet to sense, the flaunting rose was there; The finish'd chaplet well adorn'd her hair. 1 These flowers are found in very great abundance in some of the provinces of Persia. Great Abbas chanced that fated morn to stray, By Love conducted from the chase away; Among the vocal vales he heard her song; And sought, the vales and echoing groves among; At length he found, and woo'd, the rural maid; She knew the monarch, and with fear obey'd. 'Be every youth like royal Abbas moved; And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!" The royal lover bore her from the plain; Yet still her crook and bleating flock remain : Oft, as she went, she backward turn'd her view, And bade that crook and bleating flock adieu. Fair happy maid! to other scenes remove; To richer scenes of golden power and love; Go leave the simple pipe, and shepherd's strain; With love delight thee, and with Abbas reign! Be every youth like royal Abbas moved; And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!" Yet, midst the blaze of courts, she fix'd her love On the cool fountain, or the shady grove; Still, with the shepherd's innocence, her mind To the sweet vale, and flowery mead inclined; And, oft as Spring renew'd the plains with flowers, Breathed his soft gales, and led the fragrant hours, With sure return she sought the silvan scene, The breezy mountains, and the forests green. Her maids around her moved, a duteous band! Each bore a crook, all-rural, in her hand: Some simple lay, of flocks and herds, they sung; With joy the mountain, and the forest rung. Be every youth like royal Abbas moved; And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!' And oft the royal lover left the care Bless'd was the life that royal Abbas led: Be every youth like royal Abbas moved; And every Georgian maid like Abra loved!' ECLOGUE IV. AGIB AND SECANDER; OR, The Fugitives. SCENE-A MOUNTAIN IN CIRCASSIA. TIME, MIDNIGHT. IN fair Circassia, where, to love inclined, SECANDER. 'O stay thee, Agib, for my feet deny, No longer friendly to my life, to fly. Friend of my heart, O turn thee and survey! |