"Hath inspiration in its rosy beam "Beyond the' Enthusiast's hope or Prophet's dream; "So close with love's, men know not which they feel, "But why so mournful, child? those eyes, that shone "All life last night—what! - is their glory gone? "Come, come this morn's fatigue hath made them pale, "They want rekindling-suns themselves would fail "Did not their comets bring, as I to thee, ' "From light's own fount supplies of brilliancy. "Thou seest this cup no juice of earth is here, "Catching the gem's bright colour, as they go. 66 "Nay, drink-in every drop life's essence burns; "Come, come, I want thy loveliest smiles to-night: Nay, shrink not, pretty sage! 't is not for thee "To scan the mazes of Heav'ns mystery: "The steel must pass through fire, ere it can yield "Fit instruments for mighty hands to wield. "This very night I mean to try the art "Of powerful beauty on that warriors heart. "All that my Haram boasts of bloom and wit, "Of skill and charms, most rare and exquisite, "Shall tempt the boy; - young MIRZALA's blue eyes, "Whose sleepy lid like snow on violets lies; "AROUYA'S cheeks, warm as a spring-day sun, "And lips that, like the seal of SOLOMON, “Have magic in their pressure; ZEBA's lute, "And LILLA's dancing feet, that gleam and shoot 66 Rapid and white as sea-birds o'er the deep "All shall combine their witching powers to steep 66 "My convert's spirit in that softening trance, "From which to heav'n is but the next advance; "That glowing, yielding, fusion of the breast, "On which Religion stamps her image best. "But hear me Priestess! though each nymph of these "Hath some peculiar, practis'd power to please, "Some glance or step which, at the mirror tried, "First charms herself, then all the world beside; "There still wants one, to make the victory sure, "One who in every look joins every lure; "Through whom all beauty's beams concenter'd pass, "Dazzling and warm, as through love's burning glass; "Whose gentle lips persuade without a word, "Whose words, ev'n when unmeaning, are ador'd, "Like inarticulate breathings from a shrine, “Which our faith takes for granted are divine! "Such is the nymph we want, all warmth and light, "To crown the rich temptations of to-night; "Such the refin'd enchantress that must be "This hero's vanquisher, and thou art she!" With her hands clasp'd, her lips apart and pale, The maid had stood, gazing upon the Veil From which these words, like south winds through a fence Of Kerzrah flow'rs, came fill'd with pestilence; * So boldly utter'd too! as if all dread Of frowns from her, of virtuous frowns, were fled, At first, tho' mute she listen'd, like a dream Seem'd all he said: nor could her mind, whose beam As yet was weak, penetrate half his scheme. But when, at length, he utter'd, "Thou art she!" "Oh not for worlds!" she cried "I once knelt innocent, is this my Great God! to whom doom? "Are all my dreams, my hopes of heavenly bliss, "My purity, my pride, then come to this, “To live, the wanton of a fiend! to be "The pander of his guilt — oh infamy! "It is commonly said in Persia, that if a man breathe in the hot south wind which in June or July passes over that flower (the Kerzereh), it will kill him." - THEVENOT. "And sunk, myself, as low as hell can steep "But swear to me this moment 't is not he, “And I will serve, dark fiend, will worship even thee!" "Beware, young raving thing!-in time beware, warm, "Indeed resemble thy dead lover's form, "So much the happier wilt thou find thy doom, "As one warm lover, full of life and bloom, "Excels ten thousand cold ones in the tomb. "Nay, nay, no frowning, sweet! - those eyes were “On me, on me Heaven's vengeance cannot fall "Too heavily-but Azıм, brave and true "And beautiful- must he be ruin'd too? "Must he too, glorious as he is, be driven "A renegade like me from Love and Heaven? "Like me? --weak wretch, I wrong him - not like me; "No-he's all truth and strength and purity! "Fill up your madd'ning hell-cup to the brim, "Pure as when first we met, without a stain! Though ruin'd—lost - my memory, like a charm "Left by the dead, still keeps his soul from harm. "Oh! never let him know how deep the brow "He kiss'd at parting is dishonour'd now; "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'st this burning plague-spot in my heart, "And spread'st it — oh, so quick! thro' soul and frame, "With more than demon's art, till I became "A loathsome thing, all pestilence, all flame! "Nor tempt my rage — by Heaven, not half so bold |