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"The supper done

prepare thee to reply,

"Clearly and full- I love not mystery."

"Twere vain to guess what shook the pious man,
Who looked not lovingly on that Divan;
Nor showed high relish for the banquet prest,
And less respect for every fellow guest.

'Twas but a moment's peevish hectic past Along his check, and tranquillized as fast: He sate him down in silence, and his look Resumed the calmness which before forsook: 720 The feast was ushered in but sumptuous fare He shunned as if some poison mingled there. For one so long condemned to toil and fast, Methinks he strangely spares the rich repast. "What ails thee, Dervise? eat-dost thou suppose "This feast a Christian's? or my friends thy foes? "Why dost thou shun the salt? that sacred pledge, "Which, once partaken, blunts the sabre's edge, "Makes even contending tribes in peace unite, "And hated hosts seem brethren to the sight! 730 ·

"Salt seasons dainties and my food is still "The humblest root, my drink the simplest rill; "And my stern vow and order's laws oppose

"To break or mingle bread with friends or foes; "It may seem strange-if there be aught to dread, "That peril rests upon my single head;

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save alone;

throne,

"I taste nor bread nor banquet

"Infringed our order's rule, the Prophet's rage "To Mecca's dome might bar my pilgrimage." 740

"Well as thou wilt ascetic as thou art

-

"One question answer; then in peace depart. "How many? - Ha! it cannot sure be day? "What star what sun is bursting on the bay?

"It shines a lake of fire!

away

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away! "Ho! treachery! my guards! my scimitar! "The galleys feed the flames and I afar! "Accursed Dervise! these thy tidings "Some villain spy seize

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cleave him

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thou

slay

him now!?

Up rose the Dervise with that burst of light, 750
Nor less his change of form appalled the sight:
Up rose that Dervise not in saintly garb,
But like a warrior bounding on his barb,
Dashed his high cap, and tore his robe away
Shone his mailed breast, and flashed his sabre's ray!

His close but glittering casque, and sable plume,
More glittering eye, and black brow's sabler gloom,
Glared on the Moslems' eyes some Afrit sprita,
Whose demon death-blow left no hope for fight.
The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow 760
Of flames on high, and torches from below;
The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell
For swords began to clash, and shouts to swell,
Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of hell!
Distracted, to and fro, the flying slaves
Behold but bloody shore and fiery waves;
Nought heeded they the Pacha's angry cry,
They seize that Dervise! seize on Zatanai! 7
He saw their terror checked the first despair
That urged him but to stand and perish there, 770
Since far too early and too well obeyed,

The flame was kindled ere the signal made;
He saw sheir terror from his baldric drew

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His bugle brief the blast but shrilly blew, "Tis answered-"Well ye speed, my gallant crew! "Why did I doubt their quickness of career? "And deem design had left me single here?" Sweeps his long arm -- that sabre's whirling sway, Sheds fast atonement for its first delay; Completes his fury: what their fear begun, 780. And makes the many basely quail to one.

The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread, And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head: Even Seyd, convulsed, o'erwhelmed with rage, surprise,

Retreats before him, though he still defies.

No craven he

and yet he dreads the blow,

So much Confusion magnifies his foe!

His blazing galleys still distract his sight,

He tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight; 8 For now the pirates passed the Haram gate, 790 And burst within and it were death to wait; Where wild Amazement shrieking - kneeling

throws

The sword aside - - in vain - the blood o'erflows!

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The Corsairs pouring, haste to where within,
Invited Conrad's bugle, and the din

Of groaning victims, and wild cries for life,
Proclaimed how well he did the work of strife.
They shout to find him grim and lonely there,
A glutted tyger mangling in his lair!

But short their greeting- shorter his reply- 800 ""Tis well but Seyd escapes and he must die. "Much hath been done- but more remains to do

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V.

Quick at the word-they seized him each a torch,
And fire the dome from minaret to porch.
A stern delight was fixed in Conrad's eye,
But sudden sunk for on his ear the cry
Of women struck, and like a deadly knell
Knocked at that heart unmoved by battle's yell.
"Oh! burst the Haram wrong not on your
lives

810

"One female form remember - we have wives. "On them such outrage Vengeance will repay; "Man is our foe, and such 'tis ours to slay: "But still we spared-must spare the weaker prey. "Oh! I forgot but Heaven will not forgive

"If at my word the helpless cease to live;

"Follow who will

I go

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we yet have time "Our souls to lighten of at least a crime." He climbs the crackling stair- he bursts the door. Nor feels his feet glow scorching with the floor; 820 His breath choaked gasping with the volumed smoke,

But still from room to room his way he broke.

They search they find they save: with lusty

arms

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Each bears a prize of unregarded charms;

Calm their loud fears, sustain their sinking frames

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