Canto VI

Scarce had Aurora chas'd the shades of night,
And with her rosy finger, dipt in dew,
Unbarr'd the gates of day to mortal view,
Than underneath the palm-wood's sheltering height,
Not far from Askalon's sea-bounded strand,
Th' aerial steeds descending touch the land ;
The rocking wheels with soft vibration shake :
At once from sleep the faithful followers wake,
But these from waking dreams by love's light plumage fann'd.

The sultan's daughter starts in sweet amaze,
While, in the splendour of the morn array'd,
With golden gleams the world of waters play'd,
That ne'er till now had roll'd before her gaze —
Charm'd, full of wonder, darts her boundless glance
At distance where the waves to heaven advance :
Immensity seems spread before her sight!
Yet awful shudders temper the delight,
To see herself, how small ! amid the vast expanse !

A gray mist floats her wilder'd sight before —
" Where am I ?" — but at once, Sir Huon there,
Who waited by the car, and watch'd the fair,
On earth's green lap to fix her foot once more,
Recalls her spirit to its seat again —
' Oh, tremble not !' he cries, ' thy fear restrain !' —
And while he prints the tender kiss of love,
And strange alarms the maiden's bosom move,
' Here, in my arms repose ! — here rest from terrours vain !'

Again with love arid joy supremely crown'd,
In Huon's warm embrace she scarcely breathes.
Not link'd with closer twine young ivy wreathes
Her flexile shoot the wedded stem around,
Than with fond clasp her arms the youth enring.
Where overshadowing palms cool shelter fling,
Soft on the pillowy moss he seats his bride ;
And as he lies enchanted by her side,
Would not exchange his seat with Caesar or with king.

There Sherasmin and Fatma soon are found,
Resolv'd, through every hazard, true till death,
To serve the lovers with their latest breath—
And while the squire repos'd upon the ground
Before his lord, and happy Fatma smil'd
Close by the knee of her delighted child,
More swift than fancy's transitory gleam,
Along the air, that glow'd with roseate beam,
The beauteous fairy swam in radiant glory mild.

Soon as he views them, friendship's soften'd light
Breaks through the cloud of grief that dims his eye:
Serene in smiles he drew the lovers nigh,
And held a casket starr'd with jewels bright,
That like a sun-beam glitter'd in his hand—
" Take this, that far exceeds thy king's command,
" Proof of obedience to that rancorous lord,
" That thou hast all accomplish'd, word for word,
" Whene'er thy joyful foot regains its native land."

All must applaud this deed of fairy grace,
Which sav'd at once the honour of the knight,
And hid th' uncourteous act from Rezia's sight.
Close pack'd in cotton, in this precious case,
The sultan's silver beard and grinders lay :
These, on his couch when swoon'd the king away,
One of the wood-god's train, a viewless spright,
Who flew like lightning from his airy height,
Sans sheers, or pincers rude, had pluck'd without delay.

" Haste !" Oberon cries, " ere eager search prevails,
" Ere yet the king has time to trace your flight !
" Lo ! in yon road a vessel lies in sight —
" Ere the sev'nth sun illumes her fl)ing sails,
" Ye reach in safety far Lepanto's shore —
" A second, there equipt, shall waft you o'er
" Safe to Salerno's coast — then, quick as love,
" And warm desire your steps impatient move,
" Onward ! to Rome, away ! — there rest in peace once more.

" And deep, O Huon ! grave it in your brain !
" Till good Sylvester, pious father, sheds
" Heaven's holy consecration on your heads,
" As brother and as sister chaste remain !
" Oh ! may ye not, with inauspicious haste,
" The fruit forbidden prematurely taste !
" Know, if ye rashly venture ere the time,
" That Oberon, in vengeance of your crime,
" Leaves you, without a friend, on life's deserted waste !"

He speaks, and sighs — still wo that inly grieves
Swells his dim eye — he bids his friends draw near,
Kisses their brow, and sheds on each a tear :
Then, like a figur'd cloud that fades at eve,
While steep'd in tears they raise their straining eyes,
Swift melting into air the fairy flies ! —
The sun is veil'd, the palm-grove murmurs round,
And earth and sea in deep dull pause profound,
Exhale a mournful mist, whence shapeless shades arise.

A strange still wo the lovely pair subdues —
They, on each other, tranc'd in silence gaze,
Their cheeks all ghastly pale with dread amaze—
What each would speak, their falt'ring lips refuse :
Fain would they meet with clasping arms — in vain—
Terrours unknown their opening arms restrain :
But, in a moment flies the mist away,
Fair as before expands the golden day,
Hope paints anew their cheek, and pleasure smiles again.

They haste, and overjoy'd the vessel find,
By touch invisible of fairy spright,
Fitted for use, and furnished for delight.
The streamers wave before the fav'ring wind :
The anchor weigh'd, joy rings from side to side-
Swift as expanded wings the air divide,
Mid the blue flood the vessel cuts her way :
Pure breathes the air, the dancing sun-beams play,
And smooth as polish'd glass the mirror of the tide.

Proud sailing like a swan, in easy state,
Smooth through the dimpled sea the vessel glides,
The crew, unconscious that a fairy guides,
Aloud with jocund spirit shout elate —
" Some god directs us to the promis'd shore !"
And as they ceaseless gaze the ocean o'er,
Sir Huon and fair Rezia, hand in hand.,
Fix'd on the deck in silent rapture stand,
And love seems mute mid views that vary evermore.

And as illimitable scenes expand,
And their enchanted eyes the waves pursue
Where the blue ocean melts in air from view,
Huon begins to praise his native land :
" How sweet her lovely scenes ! her sons how gay !
" From east to west th' all-seeing eye of day
" That lights the vast creation, smiles on none
" No spot so charming as his dear Garonne." —
All this his liegeman swears, and echoes back the lay.

How leaps his heart, whene'er the old man hears
The praises of his native Gascony !
Tun'd to that strain, each sound is melody !
And Rezia listens with delighted ears,
Though oft to her the words no sense convey.
Yet while he speaks, his looks his soul betray ;
To these the maiden motionless attends,
Not one escapes her, all she comprehends :
Tho' new, yet not unknown what Huon's glances say.

The glowing hand whose gentle pressure fires,
A sigh that lightens the o'erladen heart,
A kiss soft stol'n from cheeks where blushes start,
And, oh ! a look that love himself inspires,
Bathing in blissful dew the languid eye —
Can winning eloquence such pow'rs supply ?
What can like these confute, convince, control,
What dart so penetrate from soul to soul ?
So deep, yet softly, wound — so swift, yet certain, fly ?

Oft in this speechless language, glance on glance,
When mute the tongue, how voluble the heart,
And oft retiring from the rest apart,
Silent they sit in fascinating trance :
Or standing, arm in arm, as soul in soul,
View far around the world of waters roll :
Yet not without a witness — Fatma came,
At once the friend, and soother of their flame :
E'en Huon begg'd her stay, and own'd her kind control.

Deep thunders ever the terrifick tone —
" Taste not the fruit forbidden ere the time,
" Or Oberon, in vengeance of the crime,
" Leaves you en life's wide desert, lost, alone !"—
What meant the spirit by that boding cry ?
Yet a deep meaning menac'd in his eye,
Which, as he spoke, grew more and more severe ;
And as its lustre sunk beneath a tear,
I saw his heavenly charms in gradual darkness die.

These bodings chill wild passion's raging fire-
Shall he again with sportive freedom dare
Breathe on her cheek, and braid her ebon hair
Regardless of the god's predicted ire ?—
But, ah ! the hidden flame more fiercely glows :
Love wantons in the air that round him flows,
Warm'd by her balmy breath — by love portray'd,
Still floats before his view th' enchanting maid —
How shall each tortur'd sense be sooth'd to still repose!

And, oh ! herself beneath the morning light,
Herself beneath the evening's roseate gleam,
Herself beneath the moon's pale silvery beam,
For ever shines before his ravish'd sight !
In every graceful attitude display'd,
How charms the nymph-like figure of the maid !
And when from sight the lovers lone retire,
And Rezia stands unveil'd, his glance of fire
Glides o'er her snowy neck, and charms by stealth survey'd !

Th' alluring danger more and more assails—
" Rezia !" he cries, " if aught on earth have power
" To guard frail nature till the destin'd hour,
" Oh, hide thy charms beneath impervious veils !
" Give not a grace to view : — in many a fold
" Hide from my ravish'd sight this beauteous mould,
" The living ivory of thy polish'd arm !
" And, oh ! to shield me from each tempting charm,
" Kind spirit ! change my heart, and turn to marble cold !"

Tho' weary'd virtue oft his soul forsake,
Heroick ardour burning in his breast
Resolv'd, unvanquish'd, to sustain the test.
For great and fair it seem'd, to undertake
Stern virtue's fiery conflict, great and fair
The wish to conquer, and the heart to dare —
How glorious, then, to gain th' unrivall'd prize !
But, ah ! when more oppos'd, more strongly rise
The foe's resistless pow'rs, hope sinks in deep despair.

Yet what, triumphant beauty ! spreads thy sway,
Like wistful looks, that indolently rove,
Tranc'd in sweet visions of insatiate love ?
Each treacherous glance dissolves the soul away.
Struck by this thought, the youth delays no more
The pious custom of the knights of yore,
To turn to Christian faith the Pagan race.
For Rezia yet untouch'd by heavenly grace,
Bow'd to her native rites, fierce Mahom's heathen lore.

To wean his angel from this baneful pest
Impatient Huon prest the willing fair
His little lot of Christian grace to share.
Each word streamed full conviction in her breast ;
No martyr could in zeal our youth exceed:
Tho' strong in faith, in knowledge weak indeed :
Nor was theology his forte, I own —
Without a gloss or comment, simply shown,
He taught her all he knew — his pater, and his creed.

If aught in ground-work, or instruction fail'd,
The preacher fill'd her heart with fiery glow :
And, like brave knight to wordy strife a foe,
By force, not eloquence, her faith assail'd.
Test of the truth, the oath he roundly swears
By life and limb to prove what Heaven declares —
From Turk, Jew, Infidel, his ready zeal
Cuts off each scruple by impartial steel,
And all the heathen world on earth and ocean dares.

Truth from the rosy lip of one belov'd
Wins with resistless sway, her willing heart.
Whate'er he utters, needs no grace of art.
She listens, hears, concludes all plainly prov'd —
What can, like love, so feelingly persuade ?
A look and kiss at once convince the maid :
Her brain no curious web of mystery weaves ;
Does Huon credit it ? — his bride believes,
And quickly signs the cross on brow and breast dis- play'd.

And what now fails the Christian to complete ?
One rite alone — (so thinks th' impatient youth,
Who thus had wrought this miracle of truth)
With longing zeal her Huon's wish to meet,
The ready convert by like ardour sway'd,
Thinks every moment lost, the rite delay'd.
A reverend priest, St. Basil's pious son,
Perfects the work by Huon's zeal begun,
And heavenly grace implores, and names th' adopted maid.

Now by the name of sweet Amanda known,
Fair Rezia, since her lip by heavenly grace
Renounc'd the errours of the heathen race,
Gains by this step not Paradise alone,
But in her Huon's eye more lovely shines.
Yet, ah ! his virtue visibly declines !
Where will the witchery of rapture end
When hands and meeting hearts each moment blend ?
In vain old Mentor winks, and warns with ceaseless signs.

In vain before them Fatma hourly frets :
Wild with the fever that inflames the soul,
Th' o'erheated Paladin, beyond control,
The dwarf, the warning, and his doom forgets —
Worn Sherasmin in winks may die away—
The boundless ecstacies that day by day
Thrill o'er Amanda's charms, whose angel kiss
Heaven may permit him, nor reprove the bliss,
Wild with inebriate love, each reeling sense betray.

And Rezia, since the time her former name
Was barter'd for Amanda in exchange,
In wider limits seems at large to range.
All that high birth, and proud distinction claim
Unnotic'd die — court, country, royal state,
All trace and memory of her former fate,
That on her drooping soul oppressive hung,
Were, with a word, in cold oblivion flung—
At lov'd Amanda's name off fell at once the weight.

For.Huon born with new-created charms,
All former joys she gave for him alone,
Resign'd for him her country and a throne,
And feels how great her gain in Huon's arms.
Rezia is dead — Amanda lives to prove
Source, centre, circle of existence, love !
She gave herself — has nothing more to give —
Has in the world but Huon to receive :
Self-dead, for him alone to be, to breathe, to move.

The squire, in mirror of remember'd days
Perceives too plain, what both no more perceive ;
Sees, like a moth that doth herself deceive,
Virtue unvers'd, unwarn'd, approach the blaze —
How mild the lustre of that lovely ray !
How soft the warmth that flatters to betray !
Alas ! 'tis innocence, that self-abus'd
Still floats in lessening circles more confus'd,
And burns her quivering wings, and gradual dies away !

The old man, in this season of distress
(With Fatma secretly in union join'd),
Tries every mode that comes across his mind
To curb impetuous passion's dread excess !
How shall he fetter love in reason's chain ?
Now this, now that, distracts his searching brain,
To occupy, to rouse them, to amuse —
At last he tells, long tedious hours to lose,
A little tale he tells, their ardour to restrain.

Now, near the scene, by chance that very day
Reclin'd upon a bank of blooming flowers,
To pass in cool repose the sultry hours,
King Oberon and fair Titania lay,
His elfine queen : while, zephyr-like, the train
Of sportive fays that trip beneath their reign,
Now here, now there, along the garden strown,
Or hid in pillowy moss with flow'rs o'ergrown,
Slept till the moon-light beam impearl'd the dewy plain.

Invisibly they sat, and caught each word,
All that had past the man and wife between,
And view'd with scornful eye the pear-tree scene !
Fierce indignation fir'd the elfine lord—
" There !" said he to Titania, " there behold,
" How true the saying of the wise of old !—
" Who that bold guilt, that horrid crime can name,
" Which raging woman to attain her aim,
" Dares not, with frontless face, and fury uncontrolled ?

" Friend Solomon ! thou rightly tun'st the strain :
" One single honest man may yet be found !
" But he who wanders all the world around
" To find one honest wife will search in vain !
" Seest thou, Titania, mid yon pear-tree leaves,
" The faithless woman that her mate deceives,
" And mocks the miseries of the helpless wight;
" And thinks herself secure from mortal sight,
" As mid the deepest gloom that Pluto's grotto weaves.

" No— by my lily wand, my sovereign throne,
" And by that awful pow'r whose high command
" What time he plac'd this sceptre in my hand,
" Bad all the fairy world my empire own,
" Nor art nor blindness, shall that woman aid !
" Such treason in my presence, so display'd,
" Shall not unpunish'd pass ! — Again the light
" Shall pierce the film that dims Gangolfo's sight,
" And glare upon their guilt in open act survey'd !" —

' Wilt thou ?' Titania says, with angry mien,
And cheeks that flush'd with rash impatience' glow ;
' So shall my oath match thine ! — and, mark my vow !—
' I swear as true as I am fairy queen,
' As true as I am partner of thy throne,
' The woman shall find out some way unknown,
' To gloss her guilt, and screen herself from shame :
' Is then Gangolfo wholly free from blame ?
' Is liberty your lot, and patience ours alone ?'

" Titania ! now thou hear'st" — with scornful air
The elfin monarch says, " a little tear
" Blots out what eyes beheld — thou triumph'st there— -
" Yet mark the oath ! the holiest oath I swear —
" I lov'd thee, and I thought myself belov'd !
" And all my life a sweet enchantment prov'd —
" Twas but a dream ! — 'tis thou dissolv'st the charm —
" Think not a tear shall Oberon disarm !—
" Hence ! fly to haunts unblest, from love and me remov'd !

" On earth, in air, and sea, we meet no more!
" Nor in the groves whose branches balsam weep ;
" Nor where in secret caverns dark and deep,
" The griffin broods enchanted treasures o'er !
" Thy breath pollutes the air that round thee blows !
" Hence ! in each tainted gale infection flows ! —
" Fly ! wo to thee ! and the deceitful brood,
" Thy sex ! and wo the slave by love subdu'd !
" I loathe ye all alike ! — all bane of my repose !

" And when a man within the wedded snare,
" Urg'd by resistless impulse lowly woos,
" Pleas'd to be caught, and while he pants and coos,
" Sweet poison sucks from looks so seeming fair,
" Thinks it is love when fires unhallow'd wake
" Th' envenom'd passions of the bosom-snake—
" And when the siren speaks, enchanted hears,
" Trusts her loud oath, believes her traitour tears,
" May penury, wo, and pain, the willing fool o'ertake !

" And now by heav'n's tremendous pow'r I swear !
" By him whom spirits silently adore !
" No pow'r shall shake the solemn oath I swore,
" Till, mark'd by fate itself, a youthful pair,
" Warm'd by pure love, and faith's undying flame,
" In weal or wo eternally the same,
" Joys that seduce, and pains that tame the heart,
" Their souls still join'd, tho' doom'd by fate to part,
" By innocence absolve this deed of wanton shame !

" And when this union of congenial souls
" Shall meet in love, and fate's severest stroke
" Sustain, while patience smiles beneath the yoke ;
" And o'er their brow when raging ocean rolls,
" Still hold their plighted faith, and chaste desires ;
" And when they truth prefer mid tort'ring fires
"'To siren pleasure on a proffer'd throne —
" Be this accomplished, then, and then alone,
" Again we meet in bliss — but now, e'en hope expires !"

So spake the king, and vanish'd from her sight-
In vain with soothing voice, and angel charms
Following his flight she lur'd him to her arms ;
No earnest pray'r recalls the indignant spright—
Should he too haply sigh with alter'd mind,
Who shall his heaven-attested oath unbind ?
In vain with tears of wo repentance pleads,
Till faith, which sure all human faith exceeds,
Points out the wish'd-for pair, by heav'n in union join'd !

And from that fatal moment, till this time
The fairy king has never deign'd to show
His native form, but wandering to and fro,
Now dwells upon the mountain peak sublime,
Now hid beneath a forest's gloomy shade,
Or in abandon'd desert lonely laid ;
His ceaseless pleasure, and his sole employ
To torture lovers, and their bliss destroy —
How wondrous that the god has deign'd your union aid!

Here the old man his long narration ends.
Sir Huon takes Amanda by the hand —
' If two fond hearts made one by heaven's command,
' Bless with reunion sweet the fairy friends,
' Soon shall the elfine queen her sov'reign greet ;
' Our faith the hard condition shall complete :
' Did not the god himself unite our minds ?
' The god, once foe of love, our union binds ! —
' Ye ling'ring trials, haste ! I long the test to meet !'

She hears : consenting smiles alone reply :
Amanda lays his hand upon her heart,
With looks that souls in bliss alone impart.
Ah ! what was left that language could supply,
To her whose life and soul on Huon rest ?
And now such transports shot from breast to breast,
That Sherasmin is fearful all will fail,
The promis'd fruit of his instructive tale,
Tho' ceaseless winks and nods his wary mind exprest.

Fair was the veil that hid th' increasing ill :
Twas innocence that wove it, self-abus'd :
And love, that still more free its flow diffus'd,
As purer gush'd the spring that fed the rill.
Never more new to love met youthful pair :
Yet, thence, dependant on a single hair,
Hung their whole lot— one moment might destroy !
Brush from their path the filmy thread of joy !
One moment — they are lost! and, ah! how ill aware!