Canto IV

The youthful Paladin begins his dream —
" Friend Sherasmin, whate'er thy honest heart
" May chance to think of what my lips impart,
" Do not the words of truth invention deem ;
" Such as thou see'st me here, thus chaste, be sure,
" Yes, Heaven be prais'd ! in mind and body pure,
" Has Huon liv'd a bachelor unblam'd :
" Love, till this time, my spirit ne'er inflam'd,
" Nor beauty snar'd my soul with sweet attractive lure !

" That from my childhood I so oft had seen
" Full many a shoulder bare, and ivory breast,
" No doubt, the tumult of the soul supprest:
" Custom in this, like dread Medusa's mien,
" Turns us to stone, though fairest charms unfold :
" But what avail'd it me that, coy and cold,
" I liv'd till twenty years had o'er me past !
" It came, my friend ! the fated hour at last !
" And in a dream, alas ! the goddess I behold !

" Yes, Sherasmin, these eyes at length beheld
" The goddess fixt by fate to sway my soul —
" Soon as I view'd, I felt love's sweet control,
" Nor has a wish in secret since rebell'd !
" And call'st thou this a dream? Can phantoms vain
" Thus leave their trace on the retentive brain ?
" Say that my senses are for ever lost,
" Wild in a sea of willing frenzy tost !
" She lives — I clasp'd her charms— and will embrace again !

" Oh! hadst thou but my lovely angel seen,
" Such as I saw her ; or were mine the art
" To paint her as she hovers round my heart ;
" Old as thou art, all glowing at her mien,
" Thyself hadst burn'd like embers swift consum'd !
" Oh, were some relick mine, by love illum'd!
" Some relick that from her its life receiv'd !
" Then had my spirit less intensely griev'd —
" Oh ! were it but the flower that in her bosom bloom'd !

" Paint to thyself in fancy's colouring warm
" A vision woven by the hand of love,
" Trac'd from the bright originals above !
" Grant that proportion mould her angel form,
" That on her lip soft smiles celestial play,
" That youth each charm with winning grace array,
" That temper'd majesty the whole inspire,
" At once to waken and repress desire,
" Then fancy's golden tints her shadow scarce portray !

" While softly lur'd by her enticing charms,
" I to my soul this lovely vision prest,
" Who seem'd in heaven's aerial colours drest,
" And felt her heart dissolve within my arms;
" How was it that my soul, when tranc'd I lay,
" Swoon'd not with bliss, and gradual died away ?
" Come, coldly scorn this dream, by fancy bred ;
" All my past life how flat, how void, how dead,
" Compar'd to dreams like these that heavenly bliss convey !

" Oh, Sherasmin ! 'twas no delusive shade,
" The sport of fancy rais'd by fumes of wine !
" She lives, my conscious bosom speaks her mine !
" Says, that for me was born the lovely maid !
" Perchance the fairy deign'd the vision weave !
" Ah, friend ! though vain, the sweet illusion leave !
" Talk not of fancy, her aerial shade
" Leaves not a trace, at once the visions fade !
" If fancy, truth is false, and can, like dreams, deceive !"

The old man shakes his head in caution mute,
As one who pondering with suspicious ear,
If e'er he chance a wondrous tale to hear,
Doubts, disbelieves, yet knows not to refute.
" What think'st thou, friend?" exclaims th' impatient knight,
Tis that,' returns the unenamour'd wight,
'Tis that which puzzles me : I had, indeed,
Doubts and objections strong, but why proceed ?
Twould serve no other end, but grieve thee, sir, outright !

' Now, since your princely word, howe'er obtain'd,
' In honour binds you to the emperour's will,
' Haste ! speed we on, his order to fulfil !
' Glory, sir knight ! at Bagdad may be gain'd —
' Who knows, the strange enchantment may subside !
' Who knows, good Oberon our path may guide,
' And the dream-princess may again appear !
' Meanwhile, if hope, good sir, your spirits cheer,
' Hope on — her dreams, at least, refresh the vital tide.'

While Sherasmin thus speaks, with downcast look
Bends the wan lover : ah ! how chang'd the scene !
The wo that chills his heart o'erclouds his mien.
" Deceive me not with hope by fancy fed !
" Deceive me not with show of solace vain !
" Malignant stars my misery pre-ordain !
" What can I hope ! the storm, the destin'd storm
" That tore from my embrace her angel form,
" Predicts my fate to come, and kills with prescient pain !

" See ! she is snatch'd away, and from the wave
" In life's last struggle, lo ! her arms extend !
" My heart-blood freezes as the floods ascend —
" Fixt on the ground, without the pow'r to save,
" I stand as one whom massy fetters bind !" —
' That was a dream, sir !' Sherasmin rejoin'd ;
' Those darker bodings, shadows vain esteem —
' Sir, after all, a dream is but a dream :
' Trust me, select at will what most delights the mind.

' That some kind spirit in a dream of night
' Should shadow forth the empress of your heart,
' So far 'tis well — there truth may bear a part :
' I credit that alone which gives delight :
' But for the rest, storm, whirlwind, wave, and screws
' On hand and foot, there dreams the sense abuse :
' Mere forgeries those, base coinage of the brain !
' Such in my youth I felt, illusions vain,
' When by the night-mare prest I stream'd with icy dews.

' There, for example, I remember well,
' When forth I went to saunter free from care,
' Heaven knows from whence, a black and bristly bear
' Rush'd out before my pathway, grim as hell !
' I, mute with horrour, grasp my trusty blade,
' Pull, pull in vain ! — my limbs no longer aid —
' Down drop my slackened joints — the monster there
' Grows as I gaze — jaws widen — eyeballs glare !—
' I cannot fight, nor fly, by viewless force delay'd !

' Another time, when, from your evening meal
' You dream that home returning, by the way
' Where an old mansion totters in decay,
' As fearfully along the gloom you steal,
' At once a little window shutter rings,
' And looking out a nose of giant springs
' Long as your arm ! where'er you strive to fly,
' Before, behind, strange phantoms fix your eye,
' Loll out a length of tongue, and dart their fiery stings !

' Then while in deadly fright you breathless glide,
' And sideways press against the wall, behold
' A wrinkled hand with skinny finger cold,
' From a round hole at once is felt to slide
' Chill down your back, and fumbles you about
' From rib to rib, to pinch you well, no doubt :
' Up starts each bristling hair ; to bar your flight
' The street still narrower grows before your sight,
Colder the hand of ice, longer the giant snout !

' Such things as I have said, full oft appear,
' But at the last they prove mere fooleries vain,
' Spun by night spirits in the heated brain :
' The nose, and all the pangs of idle fear,
' Fade as you wake — Were I, sir, in your place,
' I should erase what grieves me from the case,
' And stick to what the spirit promis'd fair.
' Courage, sir knight ! my bodings good declare !
' Go forth ! the living maid in Babylon embrace !'

Fresh springs, embolden'd at his word, the knight
New spirits to his nerves new life impart:
No more the dream lies heavy at his heart.
His steed, in trappings gay, that greets his sight,
Neighs to the freshness of the morning wind ;
Up Huon vaults, and as he looks behind,
The tent is vanish'd from his wond'ring eyes !
Now, in a moment, seems in air to rise,
Now all is blown away, a vision of the mind !

Where high Euphrates winds its gentle tide,
Onward they took their solitary way,
Beneath o'ershadowing palms that dim the day.
Enchanting land ! creation's fairest pride !
Slowly they went : still, pensive, neither spoke :
Each inly mus'd — no voice the silence broke.
The balmy breath of morn, her roseate gleam,
The birds gay melodies, the murmuring stream,
To visions of delight enchanted fancy woke !

What can the youth in fancy's mirror view,
Save her, the maid that shines in all reveal'd ?
He paints the goddess on his polish'd shield : —
Now dares with fearless speed her trace pursue,
Up Taurus' height ; now penetrates the gloom
That shrouds the horrours of dread Merlin's tomb :
Goblins and dragons levels at a blow
That guard the castle, echoing to her wo :
Nor dreads to drag her forth from hell's unfathom'd womb !

While thus the knight, by many a danger won,
Clasps in his arms the visionary bride,
The old man from Euphrates' flowery side
Strays imperceptibly to sweet Garonne.
He sees once more those lovely plains expand,
Where the first flow' ret lur'd his infant hand :
No where, he thinks, the sun so mildly gleams
As on the banks where first he drank its beams :
So green no other mead, so smiles no other land !

" Thou little spot ! where first I suck'd the light,
" Thou witness of my earliest smile and tear !
" Lov'd haunt ! though distant far, how fair appear
" Thy scenes in day-dreams floating on my sight !
" Where'er I wander, my returning mind
" Still feels itself to thee in secret join'd !
" Feels without thee e'en Paradise unblest—
" Oh ! be the boding true that swells my breast !
" O lay me in thy lap amid my sires reclin'd !"

Tranc'd in such dreams the distance melts away —
Onward they hasten, till the mid-day heat
In shadowy groves compels them to retreat :
Beneath an aged tree their limbs they lay,
Where tufted moss its rich luxuriance weaves,
And to a velvet pillow softly heaves.
There as th' o'erflowing goblet thirst subdues,
And thrice with nectar draught their strength renews,
Sudden a thrilling shriek rings through th' embowering leaves !

Uprous'd they spring, his sword the warriour draws,
And finds, directed by the deadly sound,
A Saracen, whose steed from many a wound
Fast bleeds beneath a lion's rav'nous jaws :
Of force and courage reft, with hopeless air,
The shrieking Pagan rights from mere despair,
Fights with faint arm ; while maddening more and more,
The mangled courser welters in his gore,
And fiercely grinds his bit, and staggers here and there.

As forward darts the beast with hideous roar,
And flashes lightning from his eyes of flame,
Huon divides his flank with sidelong aim :
The wound inflames the forest king the more;
Fiercely he bounds, and rends with headlong spring
The iron plates that round the warriour cling:
Blood from a thousand sources dies the plain :
That single stroke had torn the knight in twain,
Save for the magick force of Angulaffer's ring !

Sir Huon summons his remaining strength,
And though death glar'd before him, undismay'd
Darts in the monster's neck his vengeful blade —
In vain, high rais'd, his tail's enormous length
Swings in the air, and curling to and fro
Had crush'd in instant death his prostrate foe,
If active Huon had not leap'd aside—
In vain his claws gigantick open wide;
Bold Sherasmin draws near, and fells him at a blow !'

The Pagan, round whose head the brilliant light,
That starr'd his jewell'd turban, richly flam'd,
And, at first sight, a man of note proclaim'd,
Yet shakes with fear, though rescu'd from the fight.
The knights support him, propt on either side,
To cooling shades his footsteps slowly guide,
Then lay him on the turf, the goblet reach :
And Sherasmin, well-skill'd in Eastern speech,
Cries, " Praise the Christian God, who sav'd, or thou hadst died !"

With evil eye, from Huon's courteous hand,
Fill'd to the brim, the heathen takes the bowl —
Back from his lip th' indignant bubbles roll !
The spring is dried, and hot as fiery brand,
Proof of internal guilt, the metal glows :
Far from his grasp the wretch the goblet throws,
Raves, roars, and stamps, till wearied at the scene
The knight, with sacred sword and threat'ning mien,
On sudden to convert the base blasphemer goes.

By strength superiour aw'd, the crafty wight,
Who dar'd them not with open force withstand,
Like a chas'd ostrich skimming o'er the sand,
Swift, where their horses graze, directs his flight —
At once he lightly vaults on Huon's steed,
Close gripes the mane, and with unbridled speed
Spurs his fleet pace, and vanishes from sight,
As if upborn upon a storm of night,
Whose wings divide the clouds that from its course recede.

Th' adventure was vexatious — yet in vain
All hope the dastard miscreant to pursue —
By chance a mule-like thing appears in view :
A trifle buys him from the willing swain ;
Though, scarce alive, the courser threat to fall
Oft, ere arriv'd at Bagdad's neighboring wall ;
Though with each tott'ring step his strength decline,
Yet the bare ridges of his rocky chine
More please the panting squire than slow on foot to crawl.

Now to the wish'd-for port without delay,
Well as they could, their knightly course they bend,
And as the sun's slope wheels to earth descend,
Far in a vale that stretch'd before their way,
The gleams of evening to their gaze expose
Where, crown'd with many a tower that stately rose,.
The queen of cities spreads her golden scene —
A Paradise expands, for ever green,
And here the Tigris winds, and there Euphrates flows.

How throbs his heart with mixt delight and awe,
Strange wild vicissitudes of hope and fear,
And secret bodings, as yon walls appear !
There more than earthly pow'rs his spirit draw:
There, more his courage and determined mind
Than Caesar's bidding, had a deed enjoin'd
Whose end was death ! — Though, ever fix'd the same,
Destruction brooded o'er his desperate aim,
Yet danger seem'd more dread, more near the spot assigned !

He, mid refulgent minarets of gold,
Sees, radiant, like the city of a god,
Studded with palaces by emirs trod,
The throne which Asia trembles to behold—
" And thou, fond man ! what sways thy mad career?"
He starts— -but yields not to invading fear,
Fir'd by his vow and knightly promise given,
And whispering sounds which seem to breathe from heaven,
" Knight ! to the destin'd bride thy course adventurous steer !"

" Up, Sherasmin," he cries, " each sail expand ;
" Behold the haven where our wandering ends :
" To Bagdad haste, ere night her shade extends !"
Onward they fly along the level land,
While horse and horseman pant from breathless speed:
The squire, in pity to his gasping steed,
Sprinkles his tongue with drops of fairy wine —
" There, drink, my friend," he cries, " for worth like thine
" The goblet never dries — drink, friend, and swift proceed."

Good Sherasmin judg'd well, for scarce his tongue
(That as a cinder dry hung forth to view)
Had from the goblet suck'd the nectar-dew,
Than, fill'd with life, the quick'ning juices sprung
Through all his bones, and boil'd within his veins.
With each fresh drop the beast fresh vigour gains :
With heart and lungs restor'd he flies away,
Swift as a grayhound springing on his prey —
'Tis done — the port is gain'd, ere night their course detains.

And now, while yet they wander'd in the street
With wearied step, by twilight, to and fro,
Without a guide uncertain where to go,
They chance, amid their doubts, by luck to meet,
Propt on her crutch, a little aged crone
Who cross'd their path, slow tottering on alone,
With shrivell'd skin, pale cheek, and temples gray —
" Guide to some inn, good mother ! guide our way,
" For here we rove in vain, unknowing and unknown !"

She leaning on her crutch, now rests her pace,
Screws up her head that nodded on her breast
To eye the strangers that her ear add rest —
" Good sir !" she says, " from hence fall far the space—
" But, since you seem with long fatigue half spent,
" And, chance, a little may in need content,
" Sirs, welcome to my hut — there's milk and bread,
" Grass for your beasts, clean straw to strew your bed ;
" There rest, and fresh at dawn go forth wherever bent."

The knight accepts with many a thank sincere :
To him more grateful than the palace gate,
Smiles the low cot where peace and kindness wait,
And point the open door— Our Baucis here
Strews for their bed clean straw, and o'er them show'rs,
Fresh gather'd from her garden, orange flowers —
Rich milk, and juicy peaches form the treat,
And figs now blackening on their native seat;
Yet griev'd she that bleak winds had nipt her almond bowers.

Sir Huon thinks that till that happy hour
He never had enjoy'd such pleasant fare :
Sure, if aught fail, his hostess' busy care
And chat so glibly free, have more than power
To make amends — " The gentlemen, I know,
" Come even to the feast" — ' The feast ! how so ?'
" How ! know you not? all echo, sir, the thing;
" From tongue to tongue no other tidings ring,
" Our sultan's daughter weds, to morrow weds, I trow," —

' The sultan's daughter weds ! whom? tell me whom?'
' The bridegroom is a prince of royal -race,
" The sovereign of the Druses, high in grace,
" Comely and rich withal — let none presume,
" How skill'd so'er, to cope with him at chess ;
" A prince, in short — a prince, whom all confess
" Born for our Rezia : yet, to speak the truth,
" That angel rather, sir, than wed the youth,
" Would with infolding arms a dragon fierce caress !

" That deem I wonderful !' the knight replies,
Nor can I lightly credit the conceit,' —
" Again I say it, ere she deigns to meet
" That man, she clasps a dragon — some are wise—
" To me the why and wherefore well are known :
" And, sir, to speak the truth, I freely own
" In confidence, I had it from a third,
" And promis'd, doubtless, not to say a word—
" But — give rne, sir, your hand, the secret is your own.

" It wonders you, perchance, how things like these,
" Things from the princely race, and all conceal'd,
" Should slide within this cot, to me reveal'd !—
" One little word, and you the whole will seize.
" Such as you view me here, thus lone withal,
" Mother of Rezia's nurse myself I call :
" And much the princess holds her Fatma dear,
" Tho' since she nurs'd her 'tis the sixteenth year —
" You spy, sir, how I know what things at court befall.

" 'Tis known to all, that since, some time at least,
" Our sultan of bis daughter fondly proud,
" Not seldom call'd her where the princely crowd
" Of gallants came parading to the feast:
" Proud lords, and beauteous youths, a brilliant show:
" And this alike, both town and country know,
" No happy one preferr'd above the rest,
" Was, when he woo'd, with smiles peculiar blest :
" With more than coy reserve she saw them come and go.

" Meanwhile 'twas hop'd the coy one would endure
" The man who chosen by her father came ; -
" Prince Babekan, for thus they call his name.
" Not that her heart, at any time, be sure,
" With higher palpitations ever beat
" Whene'er she chanc'd his excellence to meet —
" She shunn'd him not — no more the prince obtain'd—
" But (since she none preferr'd) their hands once chain'd,
" Twas thought, love soon would pair their hearts in union sweet.

" Yet, since a few fleet weeks, his hopes are fled ;
" Rezia detests his highness more and more :
" Poor prince ! he scarce dares glide her eye before!
" Does he but whisper of the marriage bed,
" The roses die that bloom'd upon her cheek :
" And- though incredible, the truth I speak,
" Sir, of this change a dream has all the blame !"—
' A dream!' Sir Huon shouts with breath of flame—
" A dream !" the old man cries, " what strange and wondrous freak !"

" She dreamt" (continued the loquacious dame)
" That Babekan, mid wilds, with restless chase
" Urg'd her, in form a hind, from place to place,
" And, as his bloodhounds gain'd upon their game
" Down a steep hill, and hope for ever fled,
" While death in horrours darken'd o'er her head,
" At once a beauteous dwarf appear'd in view,
" Whose golden car two youthful lions drew :
" Onward in full career the flying axle sped.

" And Rezia, when the fairy near her came,
" Rear'd in his hand a lily wand descried :
" And one in knightly armour by his side,
" A strange young gentleman of graceful frame,
" Sweet, beauteous as a god ! — his eye of blue,
" And long, long locks that beam'd of golden hue,
" Betray'd that Asia boasted not his birth:
" Yet sure, where'er that blissful spot on earth,
" At once his glance of love her charmed spirit drew.

" The car now stopt, the dwarf o'er Rezia wav'd
" His lily wand, and softly touch'd the maid—
" Off falls the hide ! fair Rezia stands displayed :
" And, at his pray'r who thus her life had sav'd,
" She seats herself, half-pleas'd, with blushing mien,
" TLe friendly dwarf and beauteous knight between,
" Though love and struggling shame her bosom fill.
" And now the lion-car ascends the hill,
" Now strikes against a stone — swift flies the shadowy scene !

" The shadow flies, but from her heart again
" He never fled : the youth with golden hair—
" Eternally his image hovers there,
" Exhaustless source of sweetly-pensive pain,
" In nightly visions, and in day-dreams shown.
" Sithence our Drusi prince is loathsome grown,
" She hears, she sees him not without disdain—
" Vainly to search the cause all rack the brain :
" She broods in silent gloom, and heaves the secret groan !

" Alone her nurse, whose mother, sir, I am,
Finds out the means, sad solace this at best,
To wind the whisper'd secret from her breast,
Which hourly prey'd upon her lovely lamb !
" You, sir, may judge on what uncertain ground
" Rests the slight hope, ah ! still illusive found,
" To cure an ill whose torments strangely please :
" Sweet child ! herself she nurtures the disease !
" And Fatma's flattering voice must hourly feed the wound.

" Yet, ah ! the day of marriage nearer drew,
" And Babekan in vain his utmost tried
" To force out favour from the scornful bride ;
" With each fresh effort fresh abhorrence grew :
" 'Twas known the fair in valour took delight,
" That brave men found distinction in her sight,
" He, in this shape, himself had never shewn :
" Here then, he thought, the princess is our own—
" Let us achieve a feat exceeding human might !

" Now, you must know, that since some time, a beast,
" A monster dread, has fill'd the realm with fear:
" In mid-day sunshine broad he dares appear,
" Lays waste our hamlets, and for daily feast
" Gorges both man and cattle — Sir, the thing
" Has, as they say, a dragon's scaly wing,
" Quills of a porcupine, and griffin claws,
" No elephant so huge, and from his jaws
" Fierce storms, whene'er he snorts, throughout the country ring !

" Since memory of man so dread a beast
" Was ne'er till now by eye of mortal seen—
" Great price is fixt upon his head, I ween;
" But as each one prefers his own at least,
" No rash adventurers seek the golden meed.
" Our prince, who thinks if chance his arm succeed.,
" That Rezia's scorn at once would melt away,
" Stalks to the Sultan's court in proud array,
" And begs his gracious leave to dare the desperate deed.

" Reluctantly the caliph bow'd consent :
" This day, ere morning, Babekan bestrode
" His proudest steed, and forth adventurous rode.
" What past we know not : yet, whate'er th' event,
" Back to his house the hero slily came,
" On a strange horse, by stealth— and— much to blame,
" For, ah ! not e'en a claw has blest our sight !
" 'Tis said he laid him down in piteous plight,
" And bezoar took — belike to sooth his bruised frame !

" Yet, with magnificence unknown before
" The marriage feast they joyfully prepare;
" To morrow's sun beholds the wedded pair,
" And Rezia, ere the fatal night be o'er,
" Sinks in his arms, a death-devoted bride !" —
' No ! — ere that happens,' Huon rash replied,
' The wheel of the creation shall stand still ! —
' Trust me, the dwarf his promise shall fulfil,
' The knight shall join the feast, whatever fate betide !'

The grandam, wond'ring at his answer, views
The stranger youth with close arid closer gaze :
His eye of blue, his armour's knightly blaze,
His length of hair, that gleams with golden hues,
His face, the loveliest that e'er blest her eyes,
Voice, that in broken Arabick replies,
The fiery word that rash impatience spoke,
The likeness — each, and all, suspicion woke —
" Tis wonderful," she thinks, and stares in mute surprise.

" Who is he ? — whence ? on what strange purpose bent ?"
Such thousand questions rushing into sound,
Sir Huon's earnest air in silence drown'd —
The knight, with soul-perplexing wonders rent,
Seeks his straw-bed, pretending needful rest :
She wishes him sweet dreams by angels blest,
And softly slips away — and shuts the door —
'Twas worn, worm-eaten, crackt at every pore —
How tempting to an ear by itching fiends possest !

So back she slides, and closely as she can
Pressing against a crack her gaping ear,
Bends with wide mouth, and breathless lungs, to hear.
In vain she listens to the strange divan :
Tho' loud their speech, and warm each forceful word,
And every syllable distinctly heard,
'Twas all confusion to the Bagdad dame,
Save, now and then, to sooth her wo, the name
Of Rezia clearly sounds, by earnest lip preferr'd—

" How wonderfully strange my fate unweaves !
" The spirit spoke it with presageful mind—
" How weak is man ! and to the future blind !
" While Charles, with wicked hope his soul deceives,
" And deems my neck, ere this, of little worth,
" And that his word has rooted me from earth,
" The man but blindly works Fate's high command —
" The beauteous dwarf extends his lily wand,
" And guides me in a dream to joys of heavenly birth !"

' And that the maid,' cries Sherasmin, ' descried
' In nightly visions that your senses fir'd,
' Should prove, by luck, the very one desir'd —
' The sultan's child, whom Charles had nam'd your bride ;
' That she too burns, that dream to dream replies,
' In such a thing, man scarcely trusts his eyes !'—
" Strange though I grant it, yet this Bagdad dame
" She feign'd it not — Heaven blows the mutual flame,
" And fate's resistless hand the knot mysterious ties !

" Now, how it may be loosen'd, there alone,
" My faithful friend, the difficulty lies !"—
' Sir,' answers Sherasmin, ' might I advise,
' I'd cut it short in twain — the day's our own—
' Him on the left, who feasts the king beside,
' Give the fine gentleman free passage wide,
' And all his grinders to the caliph leave :
' But to the beauteous maiden closely cleave —
' Cleave closely to the maid, and clasp the fated bride.

' Only bethink yourself, before her sight
' To preface thus your courtship — 'tis no joke
' That slicing off a head, sir, at a stroke !—
' Then, from the ancient gentleman, poor wight,
' To beg four grinders from his honour's jaws,
' And his gray silver beard to pluck like straws—
' Then — to embrace his child before his nose —
' It has no colour, sir ! — Let none suppose
' Fate wills that we ourselves should thus defeat our cause.

' Tis well for us, that our protecting spright
' Has, long ere this, provided for the best—
' Now what remains; chief work, no doubt, confest,
' Is from that coxcomb of a prince, outright
' To blow away the angel — for this end
' Rezia herself will surely stand our friend,
' If rightly counsell'd of the yellow hair —
' I, for my part, two sprightly nags prepare,
' And, by the garden gate, at hand for flight attend.' —

" Sir Sherasmin," the knight replies, " it seems
" You quite forget the word I gave the king :
" All must be done, each tittle of the thing —
" Huon beyond his life his fame esteems !
" Not an iota shall be wanting, friend,
" Befall what may, my footsteps thither tend :
" Nor will I now anticipate the deed."—
' At least,' cries Sherasmin, ' in case of need,
' The dwarf must, ere we drown, a helping hand extend.'

Insensibly the old man falls asleep —
But through the livelong night no soothing rest
Allays the pangs that burn in Huon's breast;
Like a canoe that dances on the deep,
His boding heart with palpitation high,
Mid thoughts that roll on thoughts tempestuously
Floats to and fro, as struggling passions war-
So near the port ! — so near, and yet so far !
One moment— yet that one — it seems eternity !