The Sheik of Mount Sinai

"How sayest thou? Came to-day the Caravan
From Africa? And is it here?— Tis well!
Bear me beyond the tent, me and mine Ottoman!

I would myself behold it. I feel eager
To learn the youngest news. As the Gazelle
Rushes to drink will I to hear, and gather thence fresh vigour."

So spake the Sheik. They bore him forth; and thus began the Moor —
"Old man! Upon Algeria's towers the Tricouleur is flying!

Bright silks of Lyons rustle at each balcony and door;
In the streets the loud Reveil resounds at break of day:
Steeds prance to the Marseillaise o'er heaps of Dead and Dying.
The Franks came from Toulon, men say.

"Southwards their legions marched through burning lands;
The Barbary sun flashed on their arms — about
Their chargers' manes were blown clouds of Tunisian sands.

Knowest where the Giant Atlas rises dim in
The hot sky? Thither, in disastrous rout,
The wild Kabyles fled with their herds and women.

"The Franks pursued. Hu Allah!— each defile
Grew a very hell-gulf then, with smoke, and fire, and bomb!
The Lion left the Deer's half-cranched remains the while;
He snuffed upon the winds a daintier prey!
Hark! the shout, En avant! To the topmost peak upclomb
The conquerors in that bloody fray I
"Circles of glittering bayonets crowned the mountain's height.
The hundred Cities of the Plain, from Atlas to the sea afar,
From Tunis forth to Fez, shone in the noonday-light.

The spear-men rested by their steeds, or slaked their thirst at rivulets:
And round them through dark myrtles burned, — each like a star, —
The slender golden minarets.

"But in the valley blooms the odorous Almond-tree,
And the Aloe blossoms on the rock, defying storms and suns.
Here was their conquest sealed. Look! — yonder heaves the sea,
And far to the left lies Franquistan. The banners flouted the blue skies.

The artillerymen came up. Mashallah! how the guns
Did roar to sanctify their prize!"

"'Tis they!" the Sheik exclaimed: "I fought among them, I,
At the Battle of the Pyramids! Red all the long day ran,
Red as thy turban-folds, the Nile's high billows by!

But, their Sultaun? — Speak! — He was once my guest.
His lineaments, — gait, — garb? Sawest thou the Man?"—
The Moor's hand slowly felt its way into his breast.

"No" he replied: " he bode in his warm palace-halls.
A Pasha led his warriors through the fire of hostile ranks;
An Aga thundered for him before Atlas' iron walls!

His lineaments, thou sayest? On gold, at least, they lack
The kingly stamp. See here! A Spahi of the Franks
Gave me this coin in chaffering some days back."

The Kashef took the gold: he gazed upon the head and face.
"Was this the great Sultaun he had known long years ago?
It seemed not; for he sighed as all in vain he strove to trace
The still-remembered features. " Ah, no! — this," he said, "is
Not his broad brow and piercing eye: who this man is
I do not know.
How very like a Pear his head is!"