ΤΟ

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LORD HOLLAND,

THIS TALE

IS INSCRIBED, WITH

EVERY SENTIMENT OF REGARD

AND RESPECT,

BY HIS GRATEFULLY OBLIGED

AND SINCERE friend,

BYRON.i.

i. To the Right Honble. Henry Richard Vassal Lord Holland

This Tale

Is inscribed with
Every sentiment of the
Most affectionate respect

by his gratefully obliged serv

And sincere Friend

Byron

[Proof and Revise.-See Letters to Murray,

November 13, 17, 1813.]

THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS.'

CANTO THE FIRST.

I.

KNOW ye the land where the cypress and myrtle

2

Are emblems of deeds that are done in their clime? Where the rage of the vulture, the love of the turtle,

Now melt into sorrow, now madden to crime? Know ye the land of the cedar and vine,

Where the flowers ever blossom, the beams ever shine; Where the light wings of Zephyr, oppressed with perfume, Wax faint o'er the gardens of Gúl3 in her bloom;

1. ["Murray tells me that Croker asked him why the thing was called the Bride of Abydos? It is a cursed awkward question, being unanswerable. She is not a bride, only about to become one. I don't wonder at his finding out the Bull; but the detection is too late to do any good. I was a great fool to make it, and am ashamed of not being an Irishman."-fournal, December 6, 1813; Letters, 1898, ii. 365.

Byron need not have been dismayed. "The term is particularly applied on the day of marriage and during the 'honeymoon,' but is frequently used from the proclamation of the banns.

In the debate on Prince Leopold's allowance, Mr. Gladstone, being criticized for speaking of the Princess Helena as the 'bride,' said he believed that colloquially a lady when engaged was often called a 'bride.' This was met with Hear! Hear!' from some, and 'No! No!' from others."-N. Engl. Dict., art. "Bride."]

2. [The opening lines were probably suggested by Goethe's

"Kennst du das Land wo die citronen blühn?"]

3. "Gúl," the rose,

Where the citron and olive are fairest of fruit,
And the voice of the nightingale never is mute;1
Where the tints of the earth, and the hues of the sky,
In colour though varied, in beauty may vie,

And the purple of Ocean is deepest in dye;
Where the virgins are soft as the roses they twine,

And all, save the spirit of man, is divine

10

'Tis the clime of the East—'tis the land of the SunCan he smile on such deeds as his children have done? : Oh! wild as the accents of lovers' farewell 1

Are the hearts which they bear, and the tales which they tell.

II..

Begirt with many a gallant slave,
Apparelled as becomes the brave,
Awaiting each his Lord's behest
To guide his steps, or guard his rest,
Old Giaffir sate in his Divan :

Deep thought was in his agéd eye;
And though the face of Mussulman
Not oft betrays to standers by

i. For wild as the moment of lovers' farewell.-[MS.]
ii. Canto 1st. The Bride of Abydos. Nov. 1st. 1813.—[MS.]

20

I. ["Where the Citron,' etc. These lines are in the MS., and omitted by the Printer, whom I again request to look over it, and see that no others are omitted.-B." (Revise No. 1, November 13, 1813.)

"I ought and do apologise to Mr.

the Printer for charging

him with an omission of the lines which I find was my own-but I also wish he would not print such a stupid word as finest for fairest.” (Revise, November 15, 1813.)

The lines, "Where the Citron," etc., are absent from a fair copy dated November II, but are inserted as an addition in an earlier draft.]

2.

"Souls made of fire, and children of the Sun,

With whom revenge is virtue."

YOUNG'S Revenge, act v. sc. 2 (British Theatre, 1792, p. 84),

The mind within, well skilled to hide

All but unconquerable pride,

His pensive cheek and pondering brow↳

Did more than he was wont avow.

III.

"Let the chamber be cleared."-The train disappeared"Now call me the chief of the Haram guard"

With Giaffir is none but his only son,

And the Nubian awaiting the sire's award.
"Haroun-when all the crowd that wait
Are passed beyond the outer gate,
(Woe to the head whose eye beheld
My child Zuleika's face unveiled!)

Hence, lead my daughter from her tower—
Her fate is fixed this very hour;
Yet not to her repeat my thought—
By me alone be duty taught!"

"Pacha! to hear is to obey."-
No more must slave to despot say-
Then to the tower had ta'en his way :
But here young Selim silence brake,

First lowly rendering reverence meet;
And downcast looked, and gently spake,
Still standing at the Pacha's feet:

For son of Moslem must expire,

น.

330

40

50

Ere dare to sit before his sire !

i. The changing cheek and knitting brow.—[MS. i.]

ii. Hence-bid my daughter hither come

This hour decides her future doom—

Yet not to her these words express

But lead her from the tower's recess.—[MSS. i., ii.]

[These lines must have been altered in proof, for all the revises accord with the text.]