With cautious reverence from the outer gate
Slow stalks the slave, whose office there to wait,
Bows his bent head-his hand salutes the floor,
Ere yet his tongue the trusted tidings bore:
"A captive Dervise, from the pirate's nest
"Escaped, is here-himself would tell the rest.”
He took the sign from Seyd's assenting eye,
And led the holy man in silence nigh.
His arms were folded on his dark-green vest,
His step was feeble, and his look deprest;
Yet worn he seem'd of hardship more than years,
And pale his cheek with penance, not from fears.
Vow'd to his God-his sable locks he wore,
And these his lofty cap rose proudly o'er:
Around his form his loose long robe was thrown,
And wrapt a breast bestow'd on heaven alone;
Submissive, yet with self-possession mann'd,
He calmly met the curious eyes that scann'd;
And question of his coming fain would seek,
Before the Pacha's will allow'd to speak.
"Whence com❜st thou, Dervise?"
"Thy capture where and when?"
"From Scalanovo's port to Scio's isle,
"The Saick was bound; but Alla did not smile "Upon our course-the Moslem merchant's gains "The Rovers won: our limbs have worn their chains.
"But for thy sway-nay more-thy Sultan's throne, "I taste nor bread nor banquet-save alone; "Infringed our order's rule, the Prophet's rage "To Mecca's dome might bar my pilgrimage."
"Well as thou wilt-ascetic as thou art"One question answer; then in peace depart. "How many?-Ha! it cannot sure be day? "What star-what sun is bursting on the bay? "It shines a lake of fire!-away-away! "Ho! treachery! my guards! my scimitar! "The galleys feed the flames-and I afar! "Accursed Dervise!-these thy tidings-thou "Some villain spy-seize-cleave him-slay him now!
Up rose the Dervise with that burst of light,
Nor less his change of form appall'd the sight:
Up rose that Dervise-not in saintly garb,
But like a warrior bounding on his barb,
Dash'd his high cap, and tore his robe away-
Shone his mail'd breast, and flash'd his sabre's ray!
His close but glittering casque, and sable plume,
More glittering eye, and black brow's sabler gloom,
Glared on the Moslems' eyes some Afrit sprite,
Whose demon death-blow left no hope for fight.
The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow
Of flames on high, and torches from below;
The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell-
For swords began to clash, and shouts to swell,
Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of hell!
Distracted, to and fro, the flying slaves
Behold but bloody shore and fiery waves;
Nought heeded they the Pacha's angry cry,
They seize that Dervise!-seize on Zatanai! (7)
He saw their terror-check'd the first despair
That urged him but to stand and perish there,
Since far too early and too well obey'd,
The flame was kindled ere the signal made;
He saw their terror-from his baldric drew
His bugle-brief the blast-but shrilly blew :
'Tis answer’d—“ Well ye speed, my gallant crew!
"Why did I doubt their quickness of career?
"And deem design had left me single here ?"
Sweeps his long arm-that sabre's whirling sway
Sheds fast atonement for its first delay;
Completes his fury, what their fear begun,
And makes the many basely quail to one.
The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread,
And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head:
Even Seyd, convulsed, o'erwhelm'd with rage, surprise,
Retreats before him, though he still defies.
No craven he and yet he dreads the blow,
So much Confusion magnifies his foe!
His blazing galleys still distract his sight,
He tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight; (8)
For now the pirates pass'd the Haram gate,
And burst within-and it were death to wait;
Where wild Amazement shrieking-kneeling-throws
The sword aside-in vain-the blood o'erflows!
The Corsairs pouring, haste to where within,
Invited Conrad's bugle, and the din
Of groaning victims, and wild cries for life,
Proclaim'd how well he did the work of strife.
They shout to find him grim and lonely there,
A glutted tiger mangling in his lair!
But short their greeting-shorter his reply""Tis well-but Seyd escapes and he must die"Much hath been done but more remains to do"Their galleys blaze_why not their city too?”
Quick at the word—they seized him each a torch,
And fire the dome from minaret to porch.
A stern delight was fix'd in Conrad's eye,
But sudden sunk-for on his ear the cry
Of women struck, and like a deadly knell
Knocked at that heart unmoved by battle's yell.
"Oh! burst the Haram-wrong not on your lives
"One female form-remember-we have wives.
"On them such outrage Vengeance will repay;
"Man is our foe, and such 'tis ours to slay:
"But still we spared-must spare the weaker prey.
"Oh! I forgot-but Heaven will not forgive
"If at my word the helpless cease to live:
"Follow who will I go-we yet have time
"Our souls to lighten of at least a crime."
He climbs the crackling stair-he bursts the door,
Nor feels his feet glow scorching with the floor;
His breath choked gasping with the volumed smoke,
But still from room to room his way he broke.
They search they find they save: with lusty arms
Each bears a prize of unregarded charms;
Calm their loud fears; sustain their sinking frames
With all the care defenceless beauty claims:
So well could Conrad tame their fiercest mood,
And check the very hands with gore imbrued.
But who is she? whom Conrad's arms convey
From reeking pile and combat's wreck-away-
Who but the love of him he dooms to bleed?
The Haram queen-but still the slave of Seyd!
Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare, (9)
Few words to reassure the trembling fair;
For in that pause compassion snatch'd from war,
The foe before retiring, fast and far,
With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued,
First slowlier fled then rallied-then withstood.
This Seyd perceives, then first perceives how few,
Compared with his, the Corsair's roving crew,
And blushes o'er his error, as he eyes
The ruin wrought by panic and surprise.
Alla il Alla! Vengeance swells the cry-
Shame mounts to rage that must atone or die!
And flame for flame and blood for blood must tell,
The tide of triumph ebbs that flow'd too well-
When wrath returns to renovated strife,
And those who fought for conquest strike for life.
Conrad beheld the danger-he beheld
His followers faint by freshening foes repell'd:
"One effort one-to break the circling host!"
They form-unite-charge-waver all is lost!
Within a narrower ring compress'd, beset,
Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet-
Ah! now they fight in firmest file no more,
Hemm'd in cut off cleft down-and trampled o'er ;
|