He slept Who o'er his placid slumber bends? Of that closed eye, which opens but to pain, That shines like snow, and falls on earth as mute— And chill and nodding at the turret door, They stretch their listless limbs, and watch no more: XIII. She gazed in wonder, "Can he calmly sleep, "While other eyes his fall or ravage weep? "And mine in restlessness are wandering here— "What sudden spell hath made this man so dear? "True 'tis to him my life, and more, I owe, "And me and mine he spared from worse than woe: ""Tis late to think-but soft-his slumber breaks"How heavily he sighs!—he starts-awakes!" He raised his head and dazzled with the light, His eye seem'd dubious if it saw aright: He moved his hand-the grating of his chain Too harshly told him that he lived again. "What is that form? if not a shape of air, "Methinks, my jailor's face shows wond'rous fair!" "Pirate! thou know'st me not but I am one, "Grateful for deeds thou hast too rarely done; "Look on me and remember her, thy hand "Snatch'd from the flames, and thy more fearful band. "I come through darkness and I scarce know why"Yet not to hurt-I would not see thee die." "If so, kind lady! thine the only eye "That would not here in that gay hope delight: "Theirs is the chance and let them use their right. "But still I thank their courtesy or thine, "That would confess me at so fair a shrine!" Strange though it seem-yet with extremest grief And sometimes with the wisest and the best, Yet 'gainst his nature-for through that short life, XIV. "Corsair! thy doom is named-but I have power "To soothe the Pacha in his weaker hour. "Thee would I spare-nay more would save thee now, "But this time-hope-nor even thy strength allow; "But all I can, I will: at least delay "The sentence that remits thee scarce a day. "More now were ruin-even thyself were loth "Yes!-loth indeed:-my soul is nerved to all, "The one of all my band that would not die? "Were these my bark-my sword-my love-my God! "The last I left in youth-he leaves me now- "Thou lov'st another then?-but what to me "Is this 'tis nothing-nothing e'er can be: "But yet-thou lov'st-and-Oh! I envy those "Whose hearts on hearts as faithful can repose, "Who never feel the void-the wandering thought "That sighs o'er visions—such as mine hath wrought." “Lady—methought thy love was his, for whom "This arm redeem'd thee from a fiery tomb." "My love stern Seyd's! Oh-No-No-not my love"Yet much this heart, that strives no more, once strove "To meet his passion-but it would not be. "I felt I feel-love dwells with-with the free. "I am a slave, a favour'd slave at best, "To share his splendour, and seem very blest! "Oft must my soul the question undergo, "Of Dost thou love?' and burn to answer, 'No!' "Oh! hard it is that fondness to sustain, "And struggle not to feel averse in vain; "But harder still the heart's recoil to bear, "And hide from one-perhaps another there. "He takes the hand I give not-nor withhold"Its pulse nor check'd—nor quicken'd-calmly cold: "And when resign'd, it drops a lifeless weight "From one I never loved enough to hate. "No warmth these lips return by his imprest, "And chill'd remembrance shudders o'er the rest. "Yes-had I ever proved that passion's zeal, "The change to hatred were at least to feel: "But still he goes unmourn'd-returns unsought"And oft when present-absent from my thought. "Or when reflection comes, and come it must"I fear that henceforth 'twill but bring disgust; "I am his slave-but, in despite of pride, ""Twere worse than bondage to become his bride. "Oh! that this dotage of his breast would cease! "Or seek another and give mine release, "But yesterday I could have said, to peace! "Yes if unwonted fondness now I feign, "Remember-captive! 'tis to break thy chain; Repay the life that to thy hand I owe; "To give thee back to all endear'd below, "Who share such love as I can never know. "Farewell-morn breaks-and I must now away: ""Twill cost me dear but dread no death to-day!" XV. She press'd his fetter'd fingers to her heart, |