The heart asunder;- then, as more or less

Their speed abated or their strength grew dull, She sunk down on her seat by slow degrees, And bow'd her throbbing head o'er trembling knees.

CVIII.

Her face declined and was unseen; her hair
Fell in long tresses like the weeping willow,
Sweeping the marble underneath her chair,
Or rather sofa, (for it was all pillow,
A low, soft ottoman,) and black despair

Stirr'd up and down her bosom like a billow, Which rushes to some shore whose shingles check Its farther course, but must receive its wreck.

CIX.

Her head hung down, and her long hair in stooping
Conceal'd her features better than a veil ;
And one hand o'er the ottoman lay drooping,
White, waxen, and as alabaster pale:
Would that I were a painter! to be grouping
All that a poet drags into detail!

Oh that my words were colours! but their tints
May serve perhaps as outlines or slight hints.

CX.

Baba, who knew by experience when to talk
And when to hold his tongue, now held it till
This passion might blow o'er, nor dared to balk
Gulbeyaz' taciturn or speaking will.

At length she rose up, and began to walk

Slowly along the room, but silent still,

And her brow clear'd, but not her troubled eye;
The wind was down, but still the sea ran high.

CXI.

She stopp'd, and raised her head to speak-but

paused,

And then moved on again with rapid pace; Then slacken'd it, which is the march most caused By deep emotion:- -you may sometimes trace A feeling in each footstep, as disclosed

By Sallust in his Catiline, who, chased By all the demons of all passions, show'd Their work even by the way in which he trode. (1)

CXII.

Gulbeyaz stopp'd and beckon'd Baba :-" Slave! Bring the two slaves!" she said in a low tone, But one which Baba did not like to brave,

And yet he shudder'd, and seem'd rather prone Το prove reluctant, and begg'd leave to crave (Though he well knew the meaning) to be shown What slaves her highness wish'd to indicate, For fear of any error, like the late.

(1) ["His guilty soul, at enmity with gods and men, could find no rest; so violently was his mind torn and distracted by a consciousness of guilt. Accordingly his countenance was pale, his eyes ghastly, his pace one while quick, another slow; indeed, in all his looks there was an air of distraction."-SALLUST.]

CXIII.

"The Georgian and her paramour," replied

The imperial bride—and added, "Let the boat Be ready by the secret portal's side:

You know the rest." The words stuck in her throat, Despite her injured love and fiery pride;

And of this Baba willingly took note,
And begg'd by every hair of Mahomet's beard,
She would revoke the order he had heard.

CXIV.

"To hear is to obey," he said; " but still, Sultana, think upon the consequence:

It is not that I shall not all fulfil

Your orders, even in their severest sense; But such precipitation may end ill,

Even at your own imperative expense: I do not mean destruction and exposure, In case of any premature disclosure;

CXV.

"But your own feelings. Even should all the rest Be hidden by the rolling waves, which hide Already many a once love-beaten breast

Deep in the caverns of the deadly tideYou love this boyish, new, seraglio guest, And if this violent remedy be triedExcuse my freedom, when I here assure you, That killing him is not the way to cure you."

CXVI.

"What dost thou know of love or feeling?-Wretch!
Begone!" she cried, with kindling eyes-"and do
My bidding!" Baba vanish'd, for to stretch
His own remonstrance further he well knew
Might end in acting as his own " Jack Ketch;"
And though he wish'd extremely to get through
This awkward business without harm to others,
He still preferr'd his own neck to another's.

CXVII.

Away he went then upon his commission,
Growling and grumbling in good Turkish phrase
Against all women of whate'er condition,
Especially sultanas and their ways;

Their obstinacy, pride, and indecision,

Their never knowing their own mind two days, The trouble that they gave, their immorality, Which made him daily bless his own neutrality.

CXVIII.

And then he call'd his brethren to his aid,
And sent one on a summons to the pair,
That they must instantly be well array'd,
And above all be comb'd even to a hair,
And brought before the empress, who had made
Enquiries after them with kindest care:
At which Dudù look'd strange, and Juan silly;
But go they must at once, and will I—nill I.

CXIX.

And here I leave them at their preparation
For the imperial presence, wherein whether
Gulbeyaz show'd them both commiseration,
Or got rid of the parties altogether,
Like other angry ladies of her nation,—

Are things the turning of a hair or feather
May settle; but far be 't from me to anticipate
In what way feminine caprice may dissipate.

CXX.

I leave them for the present with good wishes, Though doubts of their well doing, to arrange Another part of history; for the dishes.

Of this our banquet we must sometimes change; And trusting Juan may escape the fishes,

Although his situation now seems strange, And scarce secure, as such digressions are fair, The Muse will take a little touch at warfare.