Canto V

And, ah ! sweet sleep from thee, O Rezia, flew,
For thou didst see thyself encompass'd round
With rocks, where hope itself no passage found !
How dreadful stole on thy reluctant view
The twilight dawn ! How loath'd the roseate ray
That beam'd sad victim ! on thy bridal day !—
She sighs, she restless rolls, till, worn with woes,
Her drooping head in motionless repose
Sinks pillow'd on her breast — she swoons — and dies away!

Then Oberon, her soul once more to raise,
Soft weaves anew a visionary dream
That round her forehead swims — beneath the beam
Silvering with streaks of light the leafy sprays,
She seems within the harem's green alcove
Sunk in warm fancies of enchanting love —
Sweet restless wishes, sadly-pleasing fears,
Now heave her breast, and dim her eye in tears,
While, to the youth ador'd, her thoughts desponding rove.

Rous'd by distress, with swift unquiet pace,
She searches groves and lawns array'd in flow'rs,
Still cool retreats, deep grots, and shadowy bow'rs:
And as she strays unblest, from place to place,
Her eye with tender wildness, to and fro,
Seems from all nature, witness of her wo,
To ask some traces of that lovely knight :
Oft mute she stops, oft starts with pale delight
If but a shadow wave, a night-air gently blow.

Now, while she turns to a sequester'd seat,
Where bright the splendour of the full orb'd rays
Breaks through the night of thick inwoven sprays,
She thinks— oh, happiness ! if no deceit,
No shadowy light delusive blind her eye,
How willingly deceiv'd ! she sees him nigh —
She sees, is seen — their looks each other fire :
Forward she springs, impell'd by warm desire,
Stops — falters — tranc'd with love, and shame that fain would fly —

He springs with open arms to clasp the fair —
Fain would she fly, her limbs refuse to move :
A tree's thick shade scarce veils her from her love ;
In sweetest wo the vision melts in air.
How longs she to recall the youth again !
Herself, the tree, she loathes, and tries in vain
To rock herself once more in soothing sleep,
Once more in magick dreams her senses steep —
Ah ! but to trace the past, what other joys remain ?

Now flam'd the sun with high-ascending beam,
Yet still with Rezia it was ever night :
While her charm'd soul mid visions of delight,
Wove in her waking hours anew the dream.
Yet Fatma, for her lovely charge afraid,
(All signs of life, that day so long delay'd,)
Undraws the curtain of her golden bed,
And wond'ring views, by ling'ring day-dreams fed,
The smile of roseate joy illume th' enchanted maid.

" Yes, I have seen him, seen the lovely youth—
" Wish, wish me joy !" transported Rezia cries.
" Indeed !' and round she rolls her cunning eyes,
As if to spy the beauteous knight forsooth—
The damsel smiles : — " Thy wits are lost, 'tis plain :
" Fatma, such words, methinks themselves explain;
" I saw him — but 'twas only in a dream,
" Yet truth itself less certain I esteem —
" Dear youth ! thou hover'st near, nor are such visions vain !

" Oh ! trust these bodings — sure he hovers near—
" If them but love me, cease my warmth to blame!"—
" Yes — I am silent' — " Why, why desperate name
" The only gleams of hope that misery cheer ?
" Oh ! let me feed the hope that life sustains !"
Poor Fatma sighs, and sadly mute remains —
" What can the omnipotence of love withstand ?
" O'er me the lion-tamer holds his hand :
" And, though I know not how, will break the nuptial chains —

" Yet thou art silent — yet thou sigh'st — too well
" My soul, that silence and that sigh conceives !
" Sad o'er my fruitless flame thy spirit grieves,
" And I on hope, perhaps delusive, dwell,
" Since hope alone to sooth my wo is found !
" The hour draws near — the chains already sound—
" Turn where I will, destruction hovers there !
" What but a wonder saves me from despair ?
" But, if a wonder fail — lo ! here my hopes arc crown'd !"

She speaks ; and at the word with look elate,
Forth from her bosom draws the lifted steel —
" Here ! seest thou ? this re-animates my zeal !
" This lifts me high above the reach of fate,
" This frees my spirit from terrestrial might !" —
Poor Fatma thrills with horrour at the sight ;
Turns pale as death, and trembles like a reed —
' Help ! gracious Heaven ! prevent the desperate deed !'
And weep?, and wrings her hands, and shrieks with wild affright.

The princess seals her lip with cautious fear —
" Hush ! — silence — let the storm of passion rest !"
And hides again the dagger in her breast.
" Thou know'st throughout the world's extensive sphere,
" Nought like the loathsome Drusi prince I hate !
" Ere that detested man becomes my mate,
" A deadly snake shall twine around these arms !
" Ah ! if the knight redeem not Rezia's charms,
" What but the steel remains to fly malignant fate !"

Scarce had she said, when suddenly they hear
One who loud knocks at Fatma's little door ;
The careful nurse, impatient to explore,
Flies at the sound, and back with swift career,
Hastes in wild raptures that her speech impede —
Joy ! we are rescu'd in the hour of need —
Joy !' she exclaims with interrupted breath :
No more of Babekan, the steel, and death —
The stranger youth is ours, the knight is found indeed !'

Veil'd in her night-robe, that with wavy play
Roll'd like a mist, and scarce conceal'd her charms,
The princess springs from bed in Fatma's arms —
Found ! where ? — sweet dream ! thou art not fled away !
" Thou hast not then my trusting soul betray'd ?"—
Fatma herself, by rapture frantick made,
Scarce slips her neck from Rezia's eager hold,
And scarce has time to veil in decent fold
The charms that, wild with joy, the dreamer half disploy'd.

And now the happy crone, is hurried in,
Herself the proud narratress of the tale :
She suffers not a circumstance to fail,
Though from the very egg her words begin.
Each trait, each look, each motion of her guest,
Is in her painting, line by line exprest.
" We have him !" Fatma cries, " 'tis he, our man !
" In each, and all, he tallies with our plan —
" Heaven, that has sent the knight, will sure provide the rest."

Ther tale scarce told, the grandam, ask'd anew,
Repeats the wondrous story o'er again :
What done, what said, not said—eternal strain !
And ever paints the form the vision drew :
Trac'd trait by trait : the same his graceful air,
The same the radiance of his golden hair,
The same that large fine eye of heavenly blue.
Yet still some feature that escap'd her view
Demands a heightening tint, and stroke of closer care.

While thus she talks herself, the grandam gay,
More young by twenty years, each clust'ring braid
Of Rezia's hair by Fatma's skill display'd,
Beneath her finger winds in wavy play.
Mid ebon locks her fingers intertwine
Pearls that more bright than glist'ning dew-drops shine.
Her ear-rings, necklace, seem one diamond stone,
Her girdle studded like the starry zone —
What eye, when flames the sun, can bear her blaze divine ?

Now, by her virgins, as a bride array'd,
Bright as the day, and lovely as a roe
That feeds on lawns where roses only blow,
Deckt for the feast appears the radiant maid :
No eye undazzled o'er her beauty strays,
Though on her beauty none but virgins gaze.
Rezia herself unconscious seems alone
Of charms, that all, save her, resistless own :
Unconscious that each star must fade beneath her blaze !

The flame that lightens from her sparkling eyes,
Lips swelling with the warmth of young desire,
Soft cheek suffus'd with unaccustom'd fire,
And bosom gently heav'd by willing sighs,
Amaze the virgins that her charms adorn —
" Is this," the whisper ran, " the maid forlorn ?
" This, whom we late beheld, th' obdurate bride,
" Who in her anguish heav'n and earth defied,
" And more than death itself abhorr'd the nuptial morn ?"

Emirs, and viziers, all the courtly crowd
Meantime attendant at the sultan's call,
"With festal splendour grace the nuptial hall.
The banquet waits — the cymbals clang aloud,
The gray-beard caliph from his golden door
Stalks mid the slaves that fall his path before :
Behind, of stately gesture, proud to view,
The Drusi prince, though somewhat pale of hue,
Comes as a bridegroom deck'd, with jewels blazing o'er.

And, opposite, the ivory door unfolds,
That from the harem to the palace leads,
And lo ! the fascinating pride proceeds,
More fair, than Mahom's paradise beholds
The houri, seen in visionary dreams.
Temper'd to mortal eye her beauty gleams
Beneath a veil, that, like the silver gray
Of twilight vapour, shades its dazzling ray :
Yet as she steps, the hall with heavenly lustre streams!

The bridegroom's hears nowswells and sinks by turns,
As hangs his gaze in rapture on her charms :
No boding consciousness the prince alarms,
Though, while he views, his ardent eye discerns
Pale Rezia's look, more cold than Alpine snow ;
Yet fir'd by vanity his spirits glow :
Her self-deceiving hues that never fail,
Paint love conceal'd beneath that icy veil,
Which, sure, shall melt at night, and warm with bliss o'erflow :

If hope deceived the prince, shall soon appear :
Not this the time superfluous things to trace.
How at the ending of the Iman's grace,
Amid the clang that deafen'd every ear,
Cymbals, and cornets, in imperial pride
First sat the sultan, at his right the bride,
The bridegroom at his left — such things explain
Themselves untold — I gladly bend the strain
To tell what turns of fate our gallant knight betide.

Fever'd by restless bodings, foe to sleep,
Not softer on the straw the night he past,
Than the poor ship-boy on the giddy mast,
Rock'd by the billows of the stormy deep :
But scarcely did Aurora's rosy hand
The golden portals of the day expand,
Than, like a mist, the soft descending dews
That poppies, lilacks, lilies, round diffuse,
Sunk on his closing eye, and bath'd in slumber bland.

Calm he reposes in unbroken sleep,
Till the fleet chariot of the flaming sun
Had half its course through heaven's wide circle run;
But Sherasmin steals forth with wary pace
To spy the castle's site, and all provide,
Swift at the word to carry off the bride.
Meanwhile their hostess with officious cares
O'er her small hearth the mid-day meal prepares,
Yet, inly-murmuring, seem'd her lazy guest to chide.

She totters to the door, and chanc'd to peep
Just at the time, when, happily descried,
Amid inviting crannies gaping wide,
Sir Huon rising from enchanted sleep,
His eye first open'd on the golden day ;
Fresh as the lovely form of youthful May
(When nymphs and graces in the choir unite)
Steps forth to dance, half-rais'd he met her sight-
Now guess what scene at first his opening eyes survey !

A caftan, such as highest emirs wear,
In courtly splendour for the feast array'd,
With pearls in many a knot of curious braid,
Broider'd on golden tissue rich and rare ;
A turban woven, as from virgin snow ;
And near it, to complete the emir show,
A diamond girdle whence a sabre plays,
Whose sheath and hilt in ever-dazzling rays,
Half-blind the eye confus'd beneath its sun-like glow!

In every ornament, from head to foot,
Down from the diamond button that illumes
The turban shadow'd o'er with ostrich plumes,
To the gilt leather of the little boot,
There, nothing fail'd — he thinks, enchanted knight !
That visionary dreams deceive his sight —
The grandam cries, " There's witchery in the scene,
" Or I had, doubtless, in the secret been," —
' Ay,' Sherasmin exclaims, ' 'tis he ! the friendly spright !'

So thinks our knight, and that amid the crowd
Twill clear his passage to the nuptial hall :
Then clothes himself with caftan, girdle, all —
The hostess prides herself to prank him out —
" But for this turban here, this puzzling fold !
" Ah ! must we clip these beauteous locks of gold ?
" Dare, dare not for the world that heinous sin —
" O stop ! 'Twill do — it goes all well within :
" Heaven sure its circle form'd those lovely curls to hold !"

Our knight, in all except his beardless cheek,
Shines like a sultan for the banquet crown'd :
The grandam ever eyes him round and round,
And pranks anew, and smooths with finger sleek ;
But when his squire, by secret boding prest,
Had in his ear some whisper'd words addrest,
Forth Huon goes, impatient for the deed,
And gifts his hostess kind with golden meed —
" Adieu ! till next we meet, and Heaven provide the rest !"

As fays not sparingly their favourites aid,
A stately courser at the cottage door
Champs, with gay trappings richly cover'd o'er.
Two beauteous youths in silver cloth array'd
Wait at the stirrups, bright with burnish'd gold—
Up vaults the knight ; the boys before him hold
Their nimble course, through secret pathways guide,
Rich meads fair blooming by Euphrates' side :
Till his impatient eyes the imperial tow'r behold.

Now thro' the outward court swift speeds the knight,
Within the second from his steed descends ;
Along the third his pace majestick bends ;
Where'er he enters, dazzled by his sight,
The guards make way — his gait, his dress, his air,
A nuptial guest of highest rank declare.
Now he advances tow'rds an ebon gate,
Where with drawn swords twelve moors gigantick wait,
And piece-meal hack the wretch who steps unbidden there.

But the bold gesture and imperial mien
Of Huon, as he opes the lofty door,
Drive back the swords that cross'd his path before,
And at his entrance flam'd with lightning sheen.
At once with rushing noise the valves unfold :
High throbs the bosom of our hero bold,
When, lock'd behind him, harsh the portals bray ;
Through gardens deck'd with columns leads the way,
Where tower'd a gate incas'd with plates of massy gold.

There, a large fore-court held a various race
Of slaves, a hapless race, sad harem slaves,
Who die of thirst mid joy's o'erflowing waves !
And when a man whom emir honours grace,
Swells in his state before their hollow eye,
Breathless they bend, with looks that seem to die
Beneath the weight of servitude opprest :
Bow down with folded arms across the breast,
Nor dare look up to mark the pomp that glitters by.

Already cymbals, drums, and fifes resound,
With song and string the festive palace clangs,
The sultan's head already heavy hangs,
While vinous vapours float his brain around :
Already mirth in freer current flows,
And the gay bridegroom, wild with rapture, glows.
Then, as the bride, in horrour turn'd away,
Casts on the ground her looks that never stray,
Huon along the hall with noble freedom goes.

Now to the table he advances nigh,
And with uplifted brow in wild amaze
Th' admiring guests upon the stranger gaze :
Fair Rezia tranc'd with fascinated eye,
Still views her dream, and ever downward bends:
The sultan, busy with the bowl, suspends
All other thoughts ; prince Babekan alone,
Warn'd by no vision, tow'rds the guest unknown,
All fearless of his fate his length of neck extends.

Soon as Sir Huon's scornful eyes retrace
The man of yesterday, that he, the same
Who lately dar'd the Christian God defame,
Sits at the left, high-plum'd in bridal grace,
And bows the neck as conscious of his guilt:
Swift as the light he grasps the sabre's hilt;
Off at the instant flies the heathen's head !
And o'er the caliph and the banquet shed,
Up spirts his boiling blood, by dreadful vengeance spilt !

As the dread visage of Medusa fell
Swift flashing on the sight, with instant view
Deprives of life the wild-revolted crew ;
While reeks the tow'r with blood, while tumults swell,
And murderous frenzy fierce and fiercer grown,
Glares in each eye, and maddens every tone—
At once, when Perseus shakes the viper hair,
Each dagger stiffens as it hangs in air,
And every murderer stands transform'd to living stone !

Thus at the view of this audacious feat,
The jocund blood that warm'd each merry guest
Suspends its frozen course in every breast :
Like ghosts, in heaps, all shiv'ring from their seat
They start, and grasp their swords, and mark their prey;
But shrunk by fear, their vigour dies away :
Each in its sheath their swords remain at rest :
"With powerless fury in his look exprest,
Mute sunk the caliph back, and star'd in wild dismay.

The uproar which confounds the nuptial hall
Forces the dreamer from her golden trance :
Round her she gazes with astonish'd glance,
While yells of frantick rage her soul appal :
But as she turns her face tow'rds Huon's side
How throbs his bosom, when he sees his bride ! —
" 'Tis she—'tis she herself!" he wildly calls:
Down drops the bloody steel ; the turban falls !
And Rezia knows her knight, as float his ringlets wide

' Tis he !' she wild exclaims : yet virgin shame
Stops in her rosy mouth th' imperfect sound :
How throbs her heart ! what thrillings strange confound!
When with impatient speed the stranger came,
And, love-embolden'd, with presumptuous arms
Clasp'd in the sight of all her angel charms !
And, oh ! how fiery red, how deadly pale
Her cheek, as love and maiden fear assail,
The while he kist her lip that glow'd with sweet alarms !

Twice had his lip already kiss'd the maid—
" Where shall the bridal ring, oh ! where be found ?
Lo ! by good fortune, as he gazes round,
The elfine ring shines suddenly display'd,
Won from the giant of the iron tow'r : —
Now, all unconscious of its magick power,
This ring, so seeming base, th' impatient knight
Slips on her finger, pledge of nuptial rite.
" With this, O bride belov'd ! I wed thee from this hour!"

Then, for the third time, at these words, again
The bridegroom kist the soft reluctant fair :
The sultan storms and stamps in wild despair —
' Thou suffer'st, then — inexpiable stain !
' This Christian dog to shame thy nuptial day ? —
' Seize, seize him, slaves ! — ye die, the least delay !
' Haste ! drop by drop, from every throbbing vein,
' By lengthen'd agonies his life-blood drain —
' Thus shall the pangs of hell his monstrous guilt repay !'

At once in flames before Sir Huon's eyes,
A thousand weapons glitter at the word !
And, ere our hero snatches up his sword,
On every side the death-storms fiercely rise !
On every side he turns his brandish'd blade—
By love and anguish wild, at once the maid
Around him wreaths her arm, his shield her breast,
Seizes his sword, by her alone represt —
" Back ! daring slaves !" she cries, " I, I the hero aid—

" Back ! — to that breast — here, here the passage lies !
" No other way than through the midst of mine !"—
And she who lately seem'd love's bride divine,.
Now flames a Gorgon with Medusa's eyes !
And ever, as the emirs near enclose,
She dares with fearless breast their swords oppose.
" Spare him, my father ! spare him ! and, O thou !
" Destin'd by fate to claim my nuptial vow,
" Spare him ! — in both your lives the blood of Rezia flows !

The sultan's frenzy rages uncontroll'd :
Fierce on Sir Huon storm the murderous train ;
Yet still his glittering falchion flames in vain,
While Rezia's gentle hand retains its hold :
Her agonizing shrieks his bosom rend ;
And what remains the princess to defend—
What but the horn can rescue her from death ?
Soft through the ivory flows his gentle breath,
And from its spiry folds sweet fairy tones ascend.

Soon as its magick sounds, the powerless steel
Falls without struggle from the lifted hand :
In rash vertigo turn'd, the emir band
Wind arm in arm, and spin the giddy reel :
Throughout the hall tumultuous echoes ring,
All, old and young, each heel has Hermes' wing :
No choice is left them by the fairy tone :
Pleas'd and astonish'd Rezia stands alone
By Huon's side unmov'd, while all around them spring.

The whole divan, one swimming circle glides
Swift without stop : the old bashaws click time.
As if on polish'd ice, in trance sublime
The iman hoar with some spruce courtier slides.
Nor rank nor age from capering refrain ;
Nor can the king his royal foot restrain !
He too must reel amid the frolick row,
Grasp the grand vizier by his beard of snow,
And teach the aged man once more to bound amain !

The dancing melodies ne'er heard before,
From every crowded antichamber round,
First draw the eunuchs forth with airy bound,
The women next, and slaves that guard the door.
Alike the merry madness seizes all.
The harem's captives at the magick call
Trip gaily to the tune, and whirl the dance :
In party-colour'd shirts the gard'ners prance,
Rush mid the youthful nymphs, and mingle in the ball.

Entranced, with fearful joy, while doubt alarms,
Fair Rezia stands almost deprived of breath —
" What wonder ! at the time, when instant death,
" Hangs o'er us, that a dance the god disarms !
" A dance thus rescues from extreme distress !"
' Some friendly genius deigns our union bless !'
Sir Huon says : meanwhile amid the throng
With eager step darts Sherasmin along,
And tow'rds them Fatma hastes unnotice'd through the press.

" Haste!" Sherasmin exclaims, " not now the hour
" To pry with curious leisure on the dance —
" All is prepar'd — the steeds impatient prance—
" While raves the castle, while unbarr'd the tow'r,
" And every gate wide open, why delay ?
" By luck I met dame Fat ma on the way,
" Close pack'd, like beast of burthen, for the flight." —
' Peace ! 'tis not yet the time !' replies the knight,
' A dreadful task impends— for that must Huon stay,'

Pale Rezia shudders at the dreadful sound :
And looks with longing eye, that seems to say,
" Why, on the brink of ruin, why delay ?
" Oh, hasten ! let our footsteps fly the ground,
" Ere bursts the transient charm that binds their brain,
" And rage and vengeance repossess the train !
Huon, who reads the language of her eyes,
With looks of answering love alone replies,
Clasps to his heart her hand, nor dares the deed explain.

And now the fairy tones to soft repose
Melt in the air; each head swims giddy round,
And every limb o'ertir'd forgets to bound;
Wet every thread, and every pore o'erflows.
The breath half-stopt scarce heaves with struggling pain,
The drowsy blood slow creeps through every vein ;
Involuntary joy, like torture, thrills :
The king, as from a bath, in streams distils.
And pants upon his couch, amid th' exhausted train.

Stiff, without motion, scarce with sense endued,
Down, one by one, th' o'erweary'd dancers fall,
Where swelling bolsters heave around the wall :
Emirs, and lowly slaves, in contrast rude
Mix with the harem goddesses, as chance
Tangles the mazes of the frantick dance.
At once together by a whirlwind blown,
On the same bed, in ill-pair'd union thrown,
The groom and favourite lie confus'd in breathless trance.

Sir Huon, mindful of the fav'ring hour,
While rests in peaceful silence all around,
Pursues his task by plighted promise bound :
Leaves his fair angel in the old man's pow'r,
Gives him the ivory horn, and cautions well
By timely use the danger to repel ;
Then boldly hastens forward to the place
Where gasps the sultan wearied with the race,
And heaving with his breath the billowy pillows swell.

In awful silence, with expanded wings,
Soft-breathing expectation stilly broods ;
And, though by fits, thick drowsiness intrudes,
The languid dancers that surround the king,
Strive to unbolt their slumber-closing eye
To view the stranger as he passes by ;
Who, after such a deed, with hand unarmed,
And courteous posture, ventures unalarm'd
To front the lightning glance of injur'd majesty.

Low on his knee Sir Huon humbly bends ;
With cool heroick look, and gentle tone
Begins — " Imperial Charles, before whose throne
" I bow, his faithful vassal hither sends,
" To hail thee, Asia's lord ! with greeting fair,
" And beg — forgive, what duty bids declare —
" (For, as my arm, my tongue obeys his laws — )
" And beg — great sir ! — four grinders from your jaws,
" And from your reverend beard a lock of silver hair !"

He speaks it, and is silent — and stands still,
In expectation of the sultan's word.
Soon as the caliph had the message heard —
— But words, alas ! are wanting to my will ;
I cannot paint, while pride and rage conspire,
How every feature writhes with maniack ire —
How from his throne he darts, how fiercely stares,
How from his eye incessant lightning glares,
While every bursting vein high boils with living fire.

He stares, would curse, but fury uncontroll'd
In his blue lip breaks short th' imperfect sound —
" Tear out his heart ! to dust the villain pound !
" Hack, hack him limb by limb, a thousand fold !
" With searching awls explore each secret vein !
" Crack joint by joint, each tortur'd sinew strain !
" Roast him — to all the winds his ashes cast !
"Him, and his emperour Charles, whom lightnings blast !
"Teeth! beard! — beneath this roof! — to me! — it burns my brain !

" Who is this Charles, who thus presumptuous dares
" Against us swell himself? Why comes he not,
" Since thus he longs, in person, on the spot,
" To take my grinders, and my silver hairs ?" —
' Ah, ah !' exclaims a hoary-headed kan,
' Whate'er he be, no doubt, that mighty man
' Is not with overweight of brains opprest !
' He should at least, who makes the mad request,
' In front of myriads march, then execute the plan,'

" Caliph of Bagdad," says the tranquil knight,
With noble pride, " let all be silent here !
" Mark me — the emperour's awful task severe,
" And the bold promise that I dar'd to plight,
" Long on my soul, ere now, have heavy sate :
" Yet bitter, monarch ! is the force of fate !
" What pow'r on earth her sov'reignty withstands ?
" Whate'er to do or suffer fate commands,
" Must be perform'd, and born, with patient mind sedate.

" Here stand I, like thyself, a mortal man,
" Alone, in proud defiance of thy train,
"At risk of life my honour to maintain :
" Yet honour bids propose another plan—
" Abjure thy faith — from Mahomet recede,
" With pious lip profess the Christian creed ;
" Erect the cross in all these Eastern lands :
" So wilt thou more perform than Charles demands ;
" Charles shall remain content, and thou from trouble freed.

" Yes, on myself the terms I undertake,
" No rash offence shall wound imperial pride:
" And he who dares these holy terms deride,
" Shall in my blood at will his vengeance slake.
" Thus young, thus lonely, as thou seest me here,
" Thy own experience, caliph, makes it clear,
" That some unseen protector guides my way :
" He can the rage of all thy host allay :
" Choose then the better part, and bow to truth thine ear."

Like a commission'd angel of the skies,
In awful beauty and commanding mien,
While Huon stands by wond'ring mortals seen,
And though destruction flames before his eyes,
Speaks his high mandate with unshaken mind :
Rezia, from far, tow 'ids him alone inclin'd,
Her beauteous neck in graceful guise extends,
Tow'rds him her cheek by love illumin'd bends,
Yet fearful how at last these wonders will unwind.

Scarce had our knight the last proposal made,
Than the old caliph, hell within his breast,
Raves, shrieks, and stamps the ground, like one possest :
On each swoln feature frenzy stood displayed :
Not less enrag'd around their fiery king
Up from their seats at once the Pagans spring,
And foam, and threat, and horrid vengeance swear !
Swords, lances, daggers, clatter in the air,
All press on Mahom's foe, and closely round enring.

On as they rush, th' intrepid knight in haste
Wrenches a pole from one that near him stood.
And aim'd as with a mace, in fearless mood,
Where'er he swings it spreads destructive waste :
Thus, ever fighting, presses near the wall.
A golden bowl, that grac'd the banquet hall,
Serves him at once for weapon and for shield :
Already to his might the foremost yield,
And stretch'd before his feet the gasping heathens fall!

Brave Sherasmin, the guardian of the fair,
Who thinks he views amid the press afar
His former lord victorious in the war,
Glows at the scene with wild triumphant air :
But rous'd by Rezia's agonizing cries,
The fond delusion of the dreamer flies ;
He sees the youth close girt by heathen foes —
Sets to his lip the horn, and loudly blows,
As one by heaven ordain'd to bid the dead arise.

Loud rings the castle with rebellowing shocks ;
Night, tenfold midnight, swallows up the day ;
Ghosts, to and fro, like gleams of lightning play,
The stony basis of the turret rocks !
Clap after clap, and peals on peals resound :
Terrours unknown, the heathen race confound !
Sight, hearing lost, they stagger, drunk with fear;
Drops from each nerveless hand the sword and spear,
And stiff upon the spot all lie in groups around.

With miracle on miracle opprest,
The caliph struggles with the pangs of death ;
His arm hangs loose, deep drawn his heavy breath,
Scarce beats his pulse, it flutters, sinks to rest.
'At once the storm is hush'd that roar'd so loud ;
While sweetly breathing o'er the prostrate crowd,
A lily vapour sheds around perfume,
And, like an angel image on a tomb,
The fairy spright appears, array'd in silver cloud !

A mingled shriek of terrour and desire
From Rezia bursts — a strange sensation awes :
A trembling trust, and hopes that frequent pause,
Temper at once the ardour they inspire.
Pensive, with lifeless arms that cross her breast,
By virgin shame her wishes half-supprest,
Near the fond youth she stands, and fears to move,
And sweetly conscious of the crime of love,
Dares scarce behold the dwarf with stealing glance distrest.

" Thou hast fulfill'd the word by honour giv'n,
" Intrepid Huon ! — I am well content —
" How glorious the reward to virtue sent!
" The lovely bride is thine, best gift of heaven —
" Yet, ere thou waft her from her native shore,
" Let her with cool reflection o'er and o'er
" Pause, lest in after time, the maid in vain
" Of the seduction of her eyes complain !
" Fate leaves her free to choose — but now — and never more.

" Can Rezia, then, without a sigh, forego
" Pow'r, riches, pomp, her court, and native throne,
" Mid the wide world, thro' dangerous seas unknown
" To plunge adventurous in the storms of wo?
" To love but him alone, with him await,
" Fearless each dread vicissitude of fate !
" And, ah ! perchance, by sad experience, prove
" How oft affliction flows from him we love !
" Oh ! question well thy heart ! reflect, ere yet too late !

" Yet if this dangerous flight thy soul alarm,
" Bid love's delusive visions melt away !
" These sleepers, seeming dead, without delay
" Rise at the waving of my potent arm —
" How willingly, the past no longer known,
" The sultan shall again his daughter own,
" And to his fond embrace his child restore;
" And Rezia, great and glorious as before,
" O'er all shall reign ador'd, the pride of Asia's throne!"

Here the fair dwarf was silent — pale-as death
Sir Huon stands, and waits th' impending doom
That Oberon threats — hope dares no more presume—
How fades his fiery cheek ! how fails his breath !
The knight too noble, or too proud, perchance,
With love's delusive witchcraft to entrance
A doubtful heart, mute looks upon the ground,
And buries in his soul each pang profound :
Nor dares to sway her choice by one seductive glance.

Yet, his first kiss, still thrilling in her heart,
Requires no other aid to swell the flame :
Wealth, glory, splendour, all an empty name :
From these it little seems at once to part,
So the enchanted maid her Huon keeps :
With shame and love o'erpower'd she fondly weeps,
And hides her burning face on Huon's breast;
While rais'd to meet his heart, with rapture prest,
High swells her glowing heart, and 'gainst his bosom leaps.

And gently o'er them Oberon extends
His lily wand, as if in act to place
His nuptial blessing, as their hearts embrace.
Soft from his eye a stealing tear descends
On both their brows — " So haste, thou matchless pair
" On wings of love, my car, that cuts the air,
" Shall waft you high above terrestrial sight,
" And place, ere morning melt the shades of night,
" On Askalon's far shore, beneath my guardian care."

He spoke — and ere the last expiring sound
Dissolv'd at distance, vanished from her sight !
As if new-wak'd from visions of delight,
The lovely bride, while fragrance floats around,
Pants with warm lip, desirous to inhale
The breathing odours of the lily gale :
Then, with side-glance upon her father cast,
Who seems in slumb'rous death to stare aghast,
She sighs, while stealing woes by fits her heart assail,

In pensive thought she wraps herself around.
No sooner, keen with love, our knight perceives
How his wan bride with inward anguish grieves,
Views her faint eye, and hears her sigh profound,
Than with sweet violence, and fond alarm
Round her he folds his soft-constraining arm,
And steals her from the hall — " Oh, come, ere night
" Surprise us, and once more, to bar our flight,
" The dread avengers rise, now bound by fairy charm.

" Haste! let us fly, ere, chance, some hostile band
" Now unforeseen, our vent'rous flight impede —
" And, oh ! be sure, when once from peril freed,
" We rest in peace upon a distant land,
" Our guardian spirit will these slumberers aid !"
He speaks, and lifts from earth the silent maid :
And down the marble steps with youthful might
Bears to the fairy chariot, wing'd for flight —
Sure never earthly arm so fair a form convey'd !

A fearful silence through the castle reigns :
Still as the grave, and peaceful as the dead,
The guards lie here and there around them spread :
No mortal pow'r the blissful pair restrains.
They mount the car — 'tis love's celestial throne ;
Yet Rezia dares not trust herself alone :
There with quick footstep Sherasmin ascends,
Kind Fatma there her lovely charge attends,
And, wild with wonder, hastes to distant scenes unknown.

How is it ! when she backward bends, and views
Four swans, for horses, stretch'd Before her sight,
Rein'd by a child that guides their pathless flight !
How, when the dwarf th' aerial course pursues,
Her restless eyes that roll amazement, note
O'er earth's dim speck the self-rais'd chariot float!
She views, yet doubts, nor ever comprehends
Heavily laden, how the car ascends,
And cuts the clouds secure, as sails a well-pois'd boat !

But when the shades of night fall thick around,
What wonder then ! as fear surpasses shame,
That on the squire so closely leans the dame,
As on a pillow hugg'd in sleep profound —
Perhaps the man is mov'd with strange desire:
Contact so close may well some warmth inspire ;
And nature freely mingles in the game —
Yet, his bright virtue melts not in the flame,
But pure as purest gold, sustains the test of fire.

Far other thoughts inspire the youthful pair,
Whom love with Cytherea's swans conveys —
Whether they speed along unwonted ways,
Wing'd through the pathless regions of the air ;
Whether they roll on earth, or swim the main ;
Whether with flying course, or flagging rein;
How born, thro' rough or smooth, by swan or steed ;
What perils threaten, or what scenes succeed ;
Of these no transient thought e'er flits across the brain,

A dream of bliss unknown, a new delight,
Joys that in Paradise the blest await,
Seem but the shadow of their happy state—
What can they, but with fixt unsated sight
Each on the other gaze — no word exprest—
Their hands, and meeting hearts in rapture prest;
And ask, while heaven and earth away are flown,
And they of all creation left alone,
" Is it one car thus holds?— or dream, we, fancy-blest ?"

" It was no dream then," each enamour'd says,
" When first I saw thee in the nightly shade !
" So Rezia smil'd, so Huon stood display'd !—
" Some god directed our mysterious ways.
" Thou mine? — I thine? — could hope thus highly soar?
" So strangely met ! — and never, never more
" To part-! — can souls on earth such joy sustain ?"—
Then in each other lost they gaze again,
And mingle lips and hearts, and silently adore.

In vain the night with vapour-laden wing
Inwraps the viewless canopy above ;
No darkness dims th' all-seeing power of love—
Their eyes, whence rays of light celestial spring,
Each in the other fixt, their souls behold.
Night is not night to them— but ever roll'd
Heaven and Elysium, round and round them flow—
Their sunshine from within expands its glow :
And rous'd at every look, new senses sweet unfold !

The boundless transports gradually decay,
And rock th' o'erflowing heart in charmed sleep.
Delicious dews the languid eyelid steep,
And sweet oblivion steals each sense away,
The spirit from its body seems disjoin'd,
In one sole feeling center'd, clasp'd, combin'd —
In that, all breath, all life, all sense, all soul ;
Center'd in one the comprehensive whole,
In one alone— but, oh ! that one how unconfin'd !