Selected Poems (44 page)

Years have not seen, Time shall not see

The hour that tears my soul from thee:

Ev’n Azrael
¹
from his deadly quiver

When flies that shaft, and fly it must,

325

That parts all else, shall doom for ever

Our hearts to undivided dust!’

XII

He lived – he breathed – he moved – he felt;

He raised the maid from where she knelt;

His trance was gone – his keen eye shone

330

With thoughts that long in darkness dwelt;

With thoughts that burn – in rays that melt.

As the stream late conceal’d

By the fringe of its willows,

When it rushes reveal’d

335

In the light of its billows;

As the bolt bursts on high

From the black cloud that bound it,

Flash’d the soul of that eye

Through the long lashes round it.

340

A war-horse at the trumpet’s sound,

A lion roused by heedless hound,

A tyrant waked to sudden strife

By graze of ill-directed knife,

Starts not to more convulsive life

345

Than he, who heard that vow, display’d,

And all, before repress’d, betray’d:

‘Now thou art mine, for ever mine,

With life to keep, and scarce with life resign;

Now thou art mine that sacred oath,

350

Though sworn by one, hath bound us both.

Yes, fondly, wisely hast thou done;

That vow hath saved more heads than one;

But blench not thou – thy simplest tress

Claims more from me than tenderness;

355

I would not wrong the slenderest hair

That clusters round thy forehead fair,

For all the treasures buried far

Within the caves of Istakar.
¹

This morning clouds upon me lower’d,

360

Reproaches on my head were shower’d,

And Giaffir almost call’d me coward!

Now I have motive to be brave;

The son of his neglected slave,

Nay, start not, ’twas the term he gave,

365

May show, though little apt to vaunt,

A heart his words nor deeds can daunt.

His
son, indeed! – yet, thanks to thee,

Perchance I am, at least shall be;

But let our plighted secret vow

370

Be only known to us as now.

I know the wretch who dares demand

From Giaffir thy reluctant hand;

More ill-got wealth, a meaner soul

Holds not a Musselim’s
²
control:

375

Was he not bred in Egripo?
³

A viler race let Israel show;

But let that pass – to none be told

Our oath; the rest shall time unfold.

To me and mine leave Osman Bey;

380

I’ve partisans for peril’s day:

Think not I am what I appear;

I’ve arms, and friends, and vengeance near.’

XIII

‘Think not thou art what thou appearest!

My Selim, thou art sadly changed:

385

This morn I saw thee gentlest, dearest;

But now thou’rt from thyself estranged.

My love thou surely knew’st before,

It ne’er was less, nor can be more.

To see thee, hear thee, near thee stay,

390

And hate the night I know not why,

Save that we meet not but by day;

With thee to live, with thee to die,

I dare not to my hope deny:

Thy cheek, thine eyes, thy lips to kiss,

395

Like this – and this – no more then this:

For, Alla! sure thy lips are flame:

What fever in thy veins is flushing?

My own have nearly caught the same,

At least I feel my cheek too blushing.

400

To soothe thy sickness, watch thy health,

Partake, but never waste thy wealth,

Or stand with smiles unmurmuring by,

And lighten half thy poverty;

Do all but close thy dying eye,

405

For that I could not live to try;

To these alone my thoughts aspire:

More can I do? or thou require?

But, Selim, thou must answer why

We need so much of mystery?

410

The cause I cannot dream nor tell,

But be it, since thou say’st ’t is well;

Yet what thou mean’st by ‘arms’ and ‘friends,’

Beyond my weaker sense extends.

I meant that Giaffir should have heard

415

The very vow I plighted thee;

His wrath would not revoke my word:

But surely he would leave me free.

Can this fond wish seem strange in me,

To be what I have ever been?

420

What other hath Zuleika seen

From simple childhood’s earliest hour?

What other can she seek to see

Than thee, companion of her bower,

The partner of her infancy?

425

These cherish’d thoughts with life begun,

Say, why must I no more avow?

What change is wrought to make me shun

The truth; my pride, and thine till now?

To meet the gaze of stranger’s eyes

430

Our law, our creed, our God denies;

Nor shall one wandering thought of mine

At such, our Prophet’s will, repine:

No! happier made by that decree,

He left me all in leaving thee.

435

Deep were my anguish, thus compell’d

To wed with one I ne’er beheld:

This wherefore should I not reveal?

Why wilt thou urge me to conceal?

I know the Pacha’s haughty mood

440

To thee hath never boded good;

And he so often storms at nought,

Allah! forbid that e’er he ought!

And why, I know not, but within

My heart concealment weighs like sin.

445

If then such secrecy be crime,

And such it feels while lurking here;

Oh, Selim! tell me yet in time,

Nor leave me thus to thoughts of fear.

Ah! yonder see the Tchocadar,
¹

My father leaves the mimic war;

450

I tremble now to meet his eye –

Say, Selim, canst thou tell me why?’

XIV

‘Zuleika – to thy tower’s retreat

Betake thee – Giaffir I can greet:

455

And now with him I fain must prate

Of firmans, impost, levies, state.

There’s fearful news from Danube’s banks,

Our Vizier nobly thins his ranks,

For which the Giaour may give him thanks!

460

Our Sultan hath a shorter way

Such costly triumph to repay.

But, mark me, when the twilight drum

Hath warn’d the troops to food and sleep,

Unto thy cell will Selim come:

465

Then softly from the Haram creep

Where we may wander by the deep:

Our garden-battlements are steep;

Nor these will rash intruder climb

To list our words, or stint our time;

470

And if he doth, I want not steel

Which some have felt, and more may feel.

Then shalt thou learn of Selim more

Than thou hast heard or thought before:

Trust me, Zuleika – fear not me!

475

Thou know’st I hold a Haram key.’

‘Fear thee, my Selim! ne’er till now

Did word like this –’

‘Delay not thou;

I keep the key – and Haroun’s guard

Have
some
, and hope of
more
reward.

480

To-night, Zuleika, thou shalt hear

My tale, my purpose, and my fear:

I am not, love! what I appear.’

Canto the Second

I

The winds are high on Helle’s wave,

As on that night of stormy water

When Love, who sent, forgot to save