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With thee-most mighty Pacha! who can fear?
« How speed the outlaws? stand they well prepared
Their plundered wealth, and robber's rock, to guard?
Dream they of this our preparation, doomed

To view with fire their scorpion nest consumed?
Pacha! the fettered captive's mourning eye
That weeps for flight, but ill can play the spy;
I only heard the reckless waters roar,

Those waves that would not bear me from the shore; << I only marked the glorious sun and sky,

<< Too bright too blue for my captivity;

« And felt that all which Freedom's bosom cheers,
<< Must break my chain before it dried my tears.
<<This may'st thou judge, at least, from my escape,
They little deem of aught in peril's shape;

«Else vainly had I prayed or sought the chance
That leads me here. - if eyed with vigilance :
The careless guard that did not see me fly,
May watch as idly when thy power is nigh:

Pacha!

-

my limbs are faint and nature craves Food for my hunger, rest from tossing waves; << Permit my absence- peace be with thee! Peace « With all around! -now grant repose-release. » Stay, Dervise! I have more to question-stay, << I do command thee-sit- dost hear? - obey! << More I must ask, and food the slaves shall bring; Thou shalt not pine where all are banqueting: << The supper done prepare thee to reply,

c

Clearly and full-I love not mystery. »

'Twere vain to guess what shook the pious man
Who looked not lovingly on that Divan,
Nor showed high relish for the banquet prest,
And less respect for every fellow guest.
'Twas but a moment's peevish hectic past
Along his cheek, and tranquillized as fast:
He sate him down in silence, and his look
Resumed the calmness which before forsook :
The feast was ushered in- but sumptuous fare
He shunued as if some poison mingled there.

ес

For one so long condemned to toil and fast,
Methinks, he strangely spares the rich repast,
<< What ails thee, Dervise? eat-dost thou suppose
<< This feast a Chriotihn's? or my friends thy foes?
Why dost thou shun the salt? that sacred pledge,
Which, once partaken, blunts the sabre's edge,
<< Makes even contending tribes in
peace unite
« And hated hosts seem brethren to the sight! »
<<< Salt seasons dainties and my food is still
<< The humblest root, my drink the simplest rill;
And my stern vow and order's laws oppose

It may seem strange

;

- the Sultan's throne,

« To break or mingle bread with friends or foes;
-if there be aught to dread,
That peril rests upon my single head;
But for thy sway
nay more-
I taste nor bread nor banquet- save alone;
Infringed our order's rule, the Prophet's rage
<< To Mecca's dome might bar my pilgrimage.

Well-as thou wilt-ascetic as thou art<< One question answer; then in peace depart. How many?-Ha! it cannot sure be day? "What star- —what sun is bursting on the hay? « It shines a lake of fire!-away-away!

Ho! treachery! my guards! my scimitar!

The galleys feed the flames-and I afar!
Accursed Dervise!

these thy tidings - thou

Some villain spy-seize-cleave him-slay him now ! » Up rose the Dervise with that burst of light,

Nor less his change of form appalled the sight:
Up rose that Dervise- not in saintly garb,
But like a warrior bounding on his barb,
Dashed his high cap, and tore his robe away
Shone his mailed breast, and flashed his sabre's ray!
His close but glittering casque, and sable plume,
More glittering eye, and black brow's sabler gloom,
Glared on the Moslems' eyes some afrit sprite,
Whose demon death-blow left no hope for fight.
The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow
Of flames on high, and torches from below;

The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell-
For swords began to clash, and shouts to swell,
Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of hell!
Distracted, to and fro, the flying slaves
Behold but bloody shore and fiery waves;
Nought heeded they the Pacha's angry cry,
They seize that Dervise! seize on Zatanai!
He saw their terror-checked the first despair
That urged him but to stand and perish there,
Since far too early and too well obeyed,
The flame was kindled ere the signal made;
He saw their terror-from his baldric drew
His bugle-brief the blast—but shrilly blew,
'Tis answered- Well ye speed, my gallant crew,
Why did I doubt their quickness of career?
And deem design had left me single here? »
Sweeps his long arm- that sabre's whirling sway,
Sheds fast atonement for its first delay;
Completes his fury, what their fear begun,
And makes the many basely quail to one.
The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread,
And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head :
Even Seyd, convulsed, o'erwhelmed with rage, surprise,
Retreats before him, though he still defies.
No craven he- and yet he dreads the blow,
So much Confusion magnifies his foe!
His blazing galleys still distract his sight,
He tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight;
For now the pirates passed the Haram gate,
And burst within - and it were death to wait;

Where wild Amazement shrieking — kneeling-throws
The sword aside in vain-the blood o'erflows!
The Corsairs pouring, waste to where within,
Invited Conrad's bugle, and the din

Of groaning victims, and wild cries for life,
Proclaimed how well he did the work of strife.
They shout to find him grim and lonely there,
A glutted tyger mangling in his lair!

But short their greeting- shorter his reply —

27

'Tis well-but Seyd escapes and he must die Much hath been done - but more remains to do. why not their city too?

<< Their galleys blaze

V.

--

Quick at the word—they seized him each a torch,
And fire the dome from minaret to porch.
A stern delight was fixed in Conrad's eye,
But sudden sunk - for on his ear the cry
Of women struck, and like a deadly knell
Knocked at that heart unmoved by battle's yell.
Oh! burst the Haram-
wrong not on your lives
One female form-remember- we have wives.
<< On them such outrage Vengeance will repay;
<< Man is our foe, and such'tis 'ours to slay:
<< But still we spared· must spare the weaker prey.
« Oh! I forgot - but Heaven will not forgive
If at my word the helpless cease to live;
<< Follow who will - I go - we yet have time
« Our souls to lighten of at least a crime.»
He climbs the crackling stair - he bursts the door,
Nor feels his feet glow scorching with the floor;
His breath choaked gasping with the volumed smoke.
But still from room to room his way he broke.
They search - they find they save: with lusty arms
Each bears a prize of unregarded charms;
Calm their loud fears, sustain their sinking frames
With all the care defenceless beauty claims :
So well could Conrad tame their fiercest mood,
And check the very hands with gore imbrued.
But who is she? whom Conrad's arms, convey
From reeking pile and combat's wreck - away -
Who but the love of him he dooms to bleed?
The Haram queen - but still the slave of Seyd!

VI.

Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare,
Few words to reassure the trembling fair;
For in that pause compassion snatched from war,
The foe before retiring, fast and far,

With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued,

First slowlier fled - then rallied - then withstood.
This Seyd perceives, then first perceives how few,
Compared with his, the Corsair's roving crew
And blushes o'er his error as he eyes

The ruin wrought by panic and surprise.
Alla il Alla! Vengeance swells the cry -
Shame mounts to rage that must atone or die!
And flame for flame, and blood for blood must tell,
The tide of triumph ebbs that flowed too well-
When wrath returns to renovated strife,

And those who fought for conquest strike for life.
Conrad beheld the danger - he beheld

His followers faint by freshening foes repelled:
« One effort or
- one - to break the circling host!>>
They form - unite - charge - waver - all is lost!
Within a narrower ring compressed, beset,
Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet-
Ah! now they fight in firmest file no more,
Hemmed in-cut off - cleft down -and trampled o'er;
But each strikes singly, silently, and home,
And sinks outwearied rather than o'ercome,
His last faint quittance rendering with his breath,
Till the blade glimmers in the grasp of death!

VII.

But first, ere came the rallying host to blows,
And rank to rank, and hand to hand oppose,
Gulnare and all her Haram handmaids freed
Safe in the dome of one who held their creed,
By Conrad's mandate safely were bestowed,
And dried those tears for life and fame that flowed:
And when that dark - eyed lady, young Gulnare,
Recalled those thoughts late wandering in despair,
Much did she marvel o'er the courtesy

That smoothed his accents; softened in his eye :
'Twas strange - that robber thus with gore bedewed,
Seemed gentler then than Seyd in fondest mood.
The Pacha wooed as if he deemed the slave
Must seem delighted with the heart he gave;
The Corsair vowed protection, soothed affright,