The Gheber bow'd, thinking his idol Star While he of MOUSSA's creed saw, in that ray, Shone out to bless the breaking of his chain! "To victory!" is at once the cry of all } The watchmen of the camp, who, in their rounds, Of the small drum with which they count the night, To 4 The Shechinah, called Sakînat in the Koran. - -v. Sale's Note, chap. ii. 5 The parts of the night are made known as well by instruments of music, as by the rounds of the watchmen with cries and small drums. - -v. Burder's Oriental Customs, vol. i. p. 119. Now sink beneath an unexpected arm, And in a death-groan give their last alarm. 6 "Nor blunt your blades with massacre so mean; "There rests the CALIPH-speed speed one lucky lance "May now achieve mankind's deliverance !" Desperate the die— such as they only cast, Who venture for a world, and stake their last. But Fate's no longer with him- blade for blade Springs up to meet them through the glimmering shade, And, as the clash is heard, new legions soon Pour to the spot, like bees of KAUZEROON 7 To the shrill timbrel's summons, — till, at length, Is seen glittering at times, like the white sail 6 The Serrapurda, high screens of red cloth, stiffened with cane, used to inclose a considerable space round the royal tents. on the Bahardanush. Notes 7 "From the groves of orange trees at Kauzeroon the bees cull Of some toss'd vessel, on a stormy night, Catching the tempest's momentary light! And hath not this brought the proud spirit low? Nor dash'd his brow, nor check'd his daring? No. Though half the wretches, whom at night he led To thrones and victory, lie disgrac'd and dead, Yet morning hears him, with unshrinking crest, Still vaunt of thrones, and victory to the rest; And they believe him!-oh, the lover may Distrust that look which steals his soul away; The babe may cease to think that it can play And well th' Impostor knew all lures and arts, Awake, through half the horrors thou hast seen, } Thou never couldst have borne it- Death had come At once, and taken thy wrung spirit home. Of thought, almost of life, came o'er th' intense Again, as in MEROU, he had her deck'd Gorgeously out, the Priestess of the sect; And led her glittering forth before the eyes Of his rude train, as to a sacrifice; Pallid as she, the young, devoted Bride Of the fierce NILE, when, deck'd in all the pride And while the wretched maid hung down her head, Possess'd her now, and from that darken'd trance Her soul was rous'd, and words of wildness came, Would hail heavn's signals in her flashing eyes, But vain at length his arts-despair is seen Gathering around; and famine comes to glean All that the sword had left unreap'd: - in vain At morn and eve across the northern plain } 7" A custom still subsisting at this day, seems to me to prove that the Egyptians formerly sacrificed a young virgin to the God of the Nile; for they now make a statue of earth in shape of a girl, to which they give the name of the Betrothed Bride, and throw it into the river." Savary. |