"Warriors rejoice- the port, to which we've pass'd "O'er destiny's dark wave, beams out at last!

"Victory's our own -'tis written in that Book

"Upon whose leaves none but the angels look, "That ISLAM'S sceptre shall beneath the power "Of her great foe fall broken in that hour, "When the moon's mighty orb, before all eyes, “From NEKSHEB's Holy Well portentously shall rise ! "Now turn and see !"

They turn'd, and, as he spoke, A sudden splendour all around them broke, And they beheld an orb, ample and bright, Rise from the Holy Well, and cast its light Round the rich city and the plain for miles, Flinging such radiance o'er the gilded tiles Of many a dome and fair-roof'd imaret,

3

As autumn suns shed round them when they set!
Instant from all who saw the' illusive sign

A murmur broke

"Miraculous! divine!"

3 "Il amusa pendant deux mois le peuple de la ville de Nekhscheb en faisant sortir toutes les nuits du fonds d'un puits un corps lumineux semblable à la Lune, qui portoit sa lumière jusqu'à la distance de plusieurs milles." — D'Herbelot. Hence he was called Sazendéh mah, or the Moon-maker.

The Gheber bow'd, thinking his idol Star
Had wak'd, and burst impatient through the bar
Of midnight, to inflame him to the war!
While he of MOUSSA's creed saw, in that ray,
The glorious Light which, in his freedom's day,
Had rested on the Ark, and now again
Shone out to bless the breaking of his chain !

"To victory!" is at once the cry of all
Nor stands MOKANNA loitering at that call;
But instant the huge gates are flung aside,
And forth, like a diminutive mountain-tide
Into the boundless sea, they speed their course
Right on into the MOSLEM's mighty force.

}

who, in their rounds,

Had paus'd and ev'n forgot the punctual sounds

Of the small drum with which they count the night, ' To gaze upon that supernatural light,

5

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.
"On for the lamps, that light yon lofty screen,

6

"Nor blunt your blades with massacre so mean;
"There rests the CALIPH 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,
The mighty camp swarms out in all its strength,
And back to NEKSHEB's gates, covering the plain
With random slaughter, drives the adventurous train ;
Among the last of whom, the Silver Veil

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

a celebrated honey."- Morier's Travels.

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 With heaven's rainbow; -- alchymists may doubt The shining gold their crucible gives out, But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast

To some dear falsehood, hugs it to the last.

And well th' Impostor knew all lures and arts, That LUCIFER e'er taught to tangle hearts; Nor, mid these last, bold workings of his plot Against men's souls, is ZELICA forgot. Ill-fated ZELICA! had reason been

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.

But 'twas not so a torpor, a suspense

Of thought, almost of life, came o'er th' intense
And passionate struggles of that fearful night,
When her last hope of peace and heav'n took flight:
And though, at times, a gleam of frenzy broke, -
As through some dull volcano's veil of smoke
Ominous flashings now and then will start,
Which show the fire's still busy at its heart;
Yet was she mostly wrapp'd in sullen gloom,
Not such as Azim's, brooding o'er its doom,
And calm without, as is the brow of death,
While busy worms are gnawing underneath!
But in a blank and pulseless torpor, free
From thought or pain, a seal'd up apathy,
Which left her oft, with scarce one living thrill,
The cold, pale victim of her torturer's will.

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;