"Oh! ever thus, from childhood's hour, "I've seen my fondest hopes decay; "I never lov'd a tree or flower, "But 'twas the first to fade "I never nurs❜d a dear gazelle, away. "To glad me with its soft black eye, "But when it came to know me well, "And love me, it was sure to die! "Now too the joy most like divine "Of all I ever dreamt or knew, "To see thee, hear thee, call thee mine, — "Oh misery! must I lose that too? "Yet go on peril's brink we meet; "Those frightful rocks that treacherous sea “Though heaven, it may be death to thee. "Farewel—and blessings and blessings on thy way, "Where'er thou go'st, beloved stranger ! "Better to sit and watch that ray, "And think thee safe, though far away, "Than have thee near me, and in danger!" "Danger! oh, tempt me not to boast —” The youth exclaim'd—" thou little know'st "What he can brave, who, born and nurst "In Danger's paths, has dar'd her worst! "Upon whose ear the signal-word "Of strife and death is hourly breaking; "Who sleeps with head upon the sword "His fever'd hand must grasp in waking! “Danger! —” "I now fear nothing but those eyes. "If aught could make this soul forget "The bond to which its seal is set, ""Twould be those eyes; they, only they, "Could melt that sacred seal away! "Has rent asunder wide as ours? "As I be link'd with thee or thine! "His grey head from that lightning glance! "Thou know'st him not he loves the brave; "Nor lives there under heaven's expanse "One who would prize, would worship thee, "And thy bold spirit, more than he. "Oft when, in childhood, I have play'd "With the bright falchion by his side, "I've heard him swear his lisping maid "In time should be a warrior's bride. "And still, whene'er, at Haram hours, "Art form'd to make both hearts thy own. "Go-join his sacred ranks thou know'st "Th' unholy strife these Persians wage: "Good Heav'n, that frown! -ev'n now thou glow'st "With more than mortal warrior's rage. "Haste to the camp by morning's light, "One victory o'er those Slaves of Fire, "Hold, hold-thy words are death-" The stranger cried, as wild he flung His mantle back, and show'd beneath 8 The Gheber belt that round him clung. "Here, maiden, look - weep - blush to see "All that thy sire abhors in me! "Yes I am of that impious race, "Those Slaves of Fire who, morn and even, 8" They (the Ghebers) lay so much stress on their cushee or girdle, as not to dare to be an instant without it." Grose's Voy- Le jeune homme nia d'abord la chose; mais, ayant été dépouillé de sa robe, et la large ceinture qu'il portoit comme - D'Herbelot, art. Agduani. age. Ghebr, &c. &c. - "Hail their Creator's dwelling-place "He, who gave birth to those dear eyes, "With me is sacred as the spot "From which our fires of worship rise! "But know-'twas he I sought that night, "When, from my watch-boat on the sea, "I caught this turret's glimmering light, "And up the rude rocks desperately "Rush'd to my prey thou know'st the rest "I climb❜d the gory vulture's nest, "And found a trembling dove within ; — "Thine, thine the victory-thine the sin 9 They suppose the Throne of the Almighty is seated in the sun, and hence their worship of that luminary. — Hanway. |
