With all the care defenceless beauty claims; VI. Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare, With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued, The ruin wrought by panic and surprise. he beheld 850 His followers faint by freshening foes repelled: "One effort They form one- to break the circling host!" unite-charge-waver all is lost! Within a narrower ring compressed, beset, Hopeless, not heartless, strive and struggle yet Ah! now they fight in firmest file no more, But each strikes singly, silently, and home, His last faint quittance rendering with his breath, 860 VII. But first, ere came the rallying host to blows, 870 The Pacha wooed as if he deemed the slave Must seem delighted with the heart he gave; The Corsair vowed protection, soothed affright, As if his homage were a woman's right. "The wish is wrong vain: nay worse for female "Yet much I long to view that chief again; "If but to thank for, what my fear forgot, 880 "The life my loving lord remembered not!" VIII. And him she saw, where thickest carnage spread, But drop by drop, for Seyd's unglutted eye ne'er to die! Can this be he? triumphant late she saw, 890 When his red hand's wild gesture waved, a law! "Tis he indeed disarmed but undeprest, His sole regret the life he still possest; His wounds too slight, though taken with that will, Which would have kissed the hand that then could kill. Oh were there none, of all the many given, Who more than all had striv'n and struck for death? He deeply felt what mortal hearts must feel, When thus reversed on faithless fortune's wheel, For crimes committed, and the victor's threat Of lingering tortures to repay the debt He deeply, darkly felt; but evil pride That led to perpetrate now serves to hide. Still in his stern and self-collected mien A conqueror's more than captive's air is seen, 910 Though faint with wasting toil and stiffening wound, But few that saw so calmly gazed around: IX. The Leech was sent but not in mercy there To note how much the life yet left could bear; 920 To-morrow Will sinking see impalement's pangs begun, And rising with the wonted blush of morn Behold how well or ill those pangs are borne. Of torments this the longest and the worst, Which adds all other agony to thirst, That day by day death still forbears to slake, While famished vultures flit around the stake. 930 "Oh! water water!" smiling Hate denies The victim's prayer for if he drinks he dies. This was his doom: the Leech, the guard were gone, And left proud Conrad fettered and alone. X. "Twere vain to paint to what his feelings grew It even were doubtful if their victim knew. There is a war, a chaos of the mind, When all its clements convulsed combined 940 |