Ne'er tell him how debas'd, how sunk is she,
Whom once he lov'd-once !-still loves dotingly!
Thou laugh'st, tormentor,--what!-thou'lt brand my name?
Do, do-in vain-he'll not believe my shame-
He thinks me true, that nought beneath God's sky
Could tempt or change me, and so once thought I.
But this is past-though worse than death my lot,
Than Hell-'tis nothing, while he knows it not.
Far off to some benighted land I'll fly,
Where sunbeam ne'er shall enter till I die;
Where none will ask the lost one whence she came,
But I may fade and fall without a name!

And thou-curst man or fiend, whate'er thou art,
Who found's this burning plague-spot in my heart,
And spread'st it-oh, so quick!-through soul and frame
With more than demon's art, till I became

A loathsome thing, all pestilence, all flame !

If, when I'm gone

66

Hold, fearless maniac, hold,
Nor tempt my rage-by Heav'n not half so bold
The puny bird, that dares with teasing hum
Within the crocodile's stretch'd jaws to come!*
And so thou'lt fly, forsooth ?-what!-give up all
Thy chaste dominion in the Haram Hall,
Where now to Love and now to Alla given,
Half mistress and half saint, thou hang'st as even
As doth Medina's tomb, 'twixt Hell and Heaven!
Thou'lt fly?-as easily may reptiles run
The gaunt snake once hath fix'd his eyes upon;
As easily, when caught, the prey may be
Pluck'd from his loving folds, as thou from me.
No, no, 'tis fix'd-let good or ill betide,

Thou'rt mine till death, till death Mokanna's bride!
Hast thou forgot thy oath ?"-

At this dread word,
The Maid, whose spirit his rude taunts had stirr'd
Through all its depths, and rous'd an anger there,
That burst and lighten'd ev'n through her despair!—
Shrunk back, as if a blight were in the breath
That spoke that word, and stagger'd, pale as death.
"Yes, my sworn Bride, let others seek in bowers
Their bridal place the charnel vault was ours!
Instead of scents and balms, for thee and me
Rose the rich steams of sweet mortality;-

"The ancient story concerning the Trochilus, or humming bird, entering with impunity into the mouth of the crocodile, is firmly believed at Java."

Gay, flickering death-lights shone while we were wed,
And, for our guests, a row of goodly dead
(Immortal spirits in their time no doubt),

From reeking shrouds upon the rite look'd out!
That oath thou hardest more lips than thine repeat-
That cup-thou shudderest, lady-was it sweet?
That cup we pledg'd, the charnel's choicest wine,
Hath bound thee-aye-body and soul all mine;
Bound thee by chains that, whether blest or curst
No matter now, not Hell itself shall burst!
Hence, woman, to the Haram, and look gay,
Look wild, look-anything but sad; yet stay-
One moment more-from what this night hath pass'd,
I see thou know'st me, know'st me well at last.
Ha! ha! and so, fond thing, thou thought'st all true,
And that I love mankind!--I do, I do-

As victims, love them; as the sea-dog doats
Upon the small, sweet fry that round him floats;
Or, as the Nile-bird loves the slime that gives

That rank and venomous food on which she lives!

'And, now thou see'st my soul's angelic hue, 'Tis time these features were uncurtain'd too ;This brow, whose light-oh rare celestial light! Hath been reserv'd to bless thy favour'd sight; These dazzling eyes, before whose shrouded might Thou'st seen immortal man kneel down and quake— Would that they were Heaven's lightnings for his sake! But turn and look-then wonder, if thou wilt, That I should hate, should take revenge, by guilt, Upon the hand, whose mischief or whose mirth Sent me thus maim'd and monstrous upon earth; And on that race who, though more vile they be Than mowing apes, are demi-gods to me! Here-judge if Hell, with all its power to damn, Can add one curse to the foul thing I am!"—

He rais'd his veil-the Maid turn'd slowly round, Look'd at him-shriek'd-and sunk upon the ground!

On their arrival, next night, at the place of encampment, they were surprised and delighted to find the groves all round illuminated; some artists of Yamtcheou having been sent on previously for the purpose. On each side of the green alley, which led to the Royal Pavilion, artificial sceneries of bamboo-work were erected, representing arches, minarets, and towers, from which hung thousands of silken lanterns, painted by the most delicate pencils of Canton.

Gay, flickering death-lights shone while we were wed,
And, for our guests, a row of goodly dead
(Immortal spirits in their time no doubt),

From reeking shrouds upon the rite look'd out!
That oath thou hardest more lips than thine repeat-
That cup-thou shudderest, lady-was it sweet?
That cup we pledg'd, the charnel's choicest wine,
Hath bound thee-aye-body and soul all mine;
Bound thee by chains that, whether blest or curst
No matter now, not Hell itself shall burst!
Hence, woman, to the Haram, and look gay,
Look wild, look-anything but sad; yet stay-
One moment more-from what this night hath pass'd,
I see thou know'st me, know'st me well at last.
Ha ha! and so, fond thing, thou thought'st all true,
And that I love mankind!-I do, I do

As victims, love them; as the sea-dog doats
Upon the small, sweet fry that round him floats;
Or, as the Nile-bird loves the slime that gives

That rank and venomous food on which she lives!-

And, now thou see'st my soul's angelic hue, 'Tis time these features were uncurtain'd too;This brow, whose light-oh rare celestial light! Hath been reserv'd to bless thy favour'd sight; These dazzling eyes, before whose shrouded might Thou'st seen immortal man kneel down and quakeWould that they were Heaven's lightnings for his sake! But turn and look-then wonder, if thou wilt, That I should hate, should take revenge, by guilt, Upon the hand, whose mischief or whose mirth Sent me thus maim'd and monstrous upon earth; And on that race who, though more vile they be Than mowing apes, are demi-gods to me! Here-judge if Hell, with all its power to damn, Can add one curse to the foul thing I am!"—

He rais'd his veil-the Maid turn'd slowly round, Look'd at him-shriek'd-and sunk upon the ground!

On their arrival, next night, at the place of encampment, they were surprised and delighted to find the groves all round illuminated; some artists of Yamtcheou having been sent on previously for the purpose. On each side of the green alley, which led to the Royal Pavilion, artificial sceneries of bamboo-work were erected, representing arches, minarets, and towers, from which hung thousands of silken lanterns, painted by the most delicate pencils of Canton.