1

THE serfs ar

And slavery
He, their un
The long self

There be bri
Bowls on the
Far checkeri
The unwonte
And gay reta
With tongues

The chief of L

And why had

Left by his sir

Lord of himsel

That fearful en

But holds to ro
With none to
The thousand

LARA.

CANTO I.

I.

THE serfs are glad through Lara's wide domain,
And slavery half forgets her feudal chain;
He, their unhoped, but unforgotten lord,
The long self-exiled chieftain is restored:
There be bright faces in the busy hall,
Bowls on the board, and banners on the wall;
Far checkering o'er the pictured window, plays
The unwonted faggots' hospitable blaze;

And

gay retainers gather round the hearth, With tongues all loudness, and with eyes all mirth.

II.

The chief of Lara is return'd again:

And why had Lara cross'd the bounding main?
Left by his sire, too young such loss to know,
Lord of himself;-that heritage of woe-
That fearful empire which the human breast
But holds to rob the heart within of rest!-
With none to check, and few to point in time
The thousand paths that slope the way to crime;