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AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 BY J. H. REYNOLDS. 
 
 " Still as I clasp my burning brain, 
 
 " A Death-scene rushes on my sight j 
 
 " It rises o'er and o'er again : 
 " The bloody feud the fatal night !" 
 
 CAMPBELL. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR JAMES CAWTHORN, COCKSPUR-STREET ; AMI) 
 JOHN MARTIN, HOLLES-STREET, CAVENDISH-SQUARE. 
 
 1814. 
 
W. Wilson, Printer, 4, Greville-Street, Hattoft-Garden, London. 
 

 THIS 
 
 Cale fe twscribeft, 
 
 WITH EVERY SENTIMENT OF GRATITUDE AND RESPECT, 
 TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 
 
 LORD BYRON. 
 

INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 
 
INTRODUCTORY STANZAS 
 
 TO 
 
 AN EASTERN TALE, 
 
 of the East ! long loved, and lately sung, 
 By one whose touch could animate the lyre ; 
 Above whose tones the Muses listening hung, 
 Rapt by their sweetness, startled at their fire : 
 Thy woes could move, thy graces could inspire 
 The heart to mourn, the genius to express: 
 Alas! I fear my humble verse will tire; 
 But though I fail, I do not feel the less, 
 But love thy sunny clime, and mourn o'er thy distress, 
 
INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 
 II. 
 
 Yes ! thy distress ; for sad distress it is 
 To see the freeman tamed into the slave, 
 To have known thyself the throne of manly bliss, 
 Pride of the world, and birth-place of the brave ; 
 And now a blooming, but disgraceful grave, 
 Where Freedom lies, regretted but by few: 
 Is then that spirit gone thy fathers gave ? 
 Will none now struggle for what's still in view? 
 Is there no breast that beats to former feelings true ? 
 
 III. 
 
 - 
 
 )r fis not too late; too late it cannot be 
 To strive again for independent power ;. 
 Glory awaits the valiant and the free, 
 Whose swords are waving, and whose spirits tower : 
 The cause, if gain'd, will consecrate the hour, 
 If lost, its fame will pass to after-time; 
 And maids and lovers, in the hall and bower, 
 Minstrels, whose task it is to weave the rhyme, 
 Will sing of those who toil'd to save a sinking clime. 
 
INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 5 
 
 IV. 
 
 Lovely, though lost ! and elegant, though faded ! 
 Well o'er thy sorrows may the tears fast flow; 
 Hearts not subdued, and minds not yet degraded, 
 Must feel the change, and long lament thy woe : 
 Worthy, alas ! a better fate to know, 
 The vines still flourish on the mountains green, 
 The orange blossoms, and the flowers still blow; 
 And where destroying man hath never been, 
 Decay's slow crumbling touch doth yet remain unseen. 
 
 V. 
 
 And thou canst boast a line of beauty too, 
 In the n'nje features of thy lovely fair; 
 A poet's fancy might in vain pursue 
 The task of painting loveliness so rare : 
 Eyes dark, yet soft, and teeth that might compare 
 With polish'd rows of whitest ivory; 
 A glossy flow of Hyacinthine ' hair, 
 A cheek whose glowing colour well might vie 
 With the first roseate blush that tints the morning sky. 
 
o INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 
 
 VI. 
 
 Thine is the clime where stranger never stay'd 
 Free from the conquest of the plaintive eye; 
 The fine-turn'd form, with elegance array'd ; 
 The easy grace ; the artful half-breath'd sigh; 
 The eye that seems to gaze upon the sky, 
 Ah ! sweetly raised to shew its orb of white ; 
 The taper hand, that cunningly would try 
 To toss the raven ringlets from the sight ; 
 The voice so sweet and soft ; the step so free and light. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Then how they love 1 unlike those cold of clime 
 Who never feel the flames they falsely speak; 
 But whine and flatter the accustom'd time, 
 And then their promises unkindly break; 
 In tempers chilly, and in spirits weak : 
 With thee love speaks by glance of lady's eye, 
 The silent furtive kiss upon the cheek, 
 The feigned forgetful ness, the whisper sly, 
 The pressure of the hand, the sympathetic sigh ! 
 
INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 7 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Thine is the land for love ! the land for soul ! 
 For hearts of ardour, and for beauty bright ; 
 Love lives and roves with thee without controul, 
 Smiles in the air and in the laughing light : 
 Oh ! Woman's frown is like a moonless night, 
 When every cheering ray from earth is driven; 
 Her glance is promise to the gazer's sight, 
 Her lively smile bestow'd is rapture given, 
 And oh ! her feeling heart is ever Eastern heaven a . 
 
 IX. 
 
 Ye ! who are chosen in the light blue world 
 To welcome spirits to eternal day, 
 Oh ! be one sign, one heavenly sign unfurl'd, 
 To cheer my task, and light me on my way : 
 My verse records a deed of warlike fray ; 
 Love prompts my song, and can ye then deny 
 A glance to animate the tender lay ; 
 Theme of the tongue, and pleasure of the eye, 
 The dearest, first best bliss the soul partakes on high. 
 
8 INTRODUCTORY STANZAS. 
 
 Smile then, ye Houries ! 6n my bold attempt, 
 With Eastern charms to decorate rriy song; 
 Oh ! be my verse from dirtiness, aye exempt, 
 Iri thought expressive, arid in language strong : 
 May all that doth to Music's voice belong, 
 Breathe through my lines melodious to the ear; 
 May Fancy fire those lines that speak of wrong, 
 And give them power to draw the generous tear, 
 To raise within the heart a gentle, pleasing fear. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 OH ! Peace had long rested in Assad's hararo, 
 Till the clang of arms, the war's alarum, 
 Had scared the meek-eyed damsel from 
 Her fair abode, her smiling home. 
 Happiest Assad ! then wast thou sharing 
 
 The smiles of a maiden fair and free, 
 
 As e'er whisper'd lover's melody; 
 Ever fulfilling, and ever declaring. 
 She kiss'd thee hence when the steed was mounted, 
 
 For the rural pleasures of hunt and chase ; 
 
12 SAFIE ; 
 
 She listen'd to hear the feats recounted, 
 
 With words of praise and smiling face : 
 She swept the lute with an airy lightness 
 
 That hardly seem'd to touch the chords ; 
 
 She sang such sweet, such witching words, 
 And her eyes flash'd such expressive brightness 5 
 That a Houri could never in hours of pleasure, 
 Breathe a softer tone or a lovelier measure ; 
 Nor could brighter glances ever be given, 
 To welcome the souls of the dead to Heaven !*- 
 
 She was as cheering and as bright 
 
 As the first sun-beam to the sight, 
 
 Which glances on the mountain high, 
 
 But scorning earth, reseeks the sky* 
 I may not I cannot picture her form ! 
 
 'Twas all that was graceful, 'twas all that was fair; 
 'Twas like gleam of sunshine amid a storm, 
 
 'Twas a ray of hope, amid despair. 
 
AN EASTERN TALK. 18 
 
 I cannot I dare not describe her face ! 
 
 That might soothe with a smile the heart when 
 
 breaking ; 
 Expression and love the eye might trace, 
 
 Which in moments of silence were ever speaking. 
 
 Her caftan 3 was of gold and green, 
 
 The richest in the Bizestien 4 , 
 
 Which, clasp'd by diamond on her neck, 
 
 Fell o'er the form it loved to deck 5- 
 
 Her talpack 5 rested on a brow 
 
 Far whiter than the flakes of snow, 
 
 By winter winds unruly driven 
 
 From earth, uninjured, back to heav'n. 
 Ah ! who could gaze without a sigh; 
 
 The monk that pines and prays in cell 
 Would view her with enraptured eye, 
 
 And cry Guzelle ! Guzelle ! 6 
 
1 4 SAFIB ; 
 
 The noblest monarch on the globe 
 Might love to kiss her sacred robe 7 . 
 
 Yes ! she was dear as living light, 
 
 As angel pure, as morning bright; 
 
 Her heart could love Oh ! Assad tell, 
 
 Awhile how faithfully ! how well ! 
 
 'Tis even sweet, though years are past 
 
 Since Safie look'd and sigh'd her last ; 
 
 Tis even sweet to think upon 
 
 The semblance of those beauties gone, 
 
 To meditate most silently 
 
 Upon that form that heart that eye; 
 
 And yet, amid the soft reflection, 
 
 At times a sadden'd recollection 
 
 Of Safie's sorrow darts its pain 
 
 Across the meditating brain, 
 
 And makes it dread to think again. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 15 
 
 Yet, loving still, the memory scorns 
 
 To shun the object that adorns; 
 
 But ponders still and still admires, 
 
 And loves the shade with living fires : 
 
 Till one sad thought, more dread than hate, 
 
 Glares on the mind the maiden's fate ! 
 
 Then memory staggers in its pain, 
 
 And cannot cannot rise again. 
 
 Thus the light -loving insect dares 
 
 To court the flame that only glares 
 
 To lure its heedless fluttering, 
 
 Destroy its down, and scorch its wing : 
 
 Thus does it love the fire that burns, 
 
 Though injured oft, it yet returns, 
 
 And, seeking still the bright'ning hue, 
 
 It struggles back and flutters through, 
 
 The dazzling desolating fire, 
 
 Till all its energies expire : 
 
16 SAFIE; 
 
 Then then the scorching heat appals, 
 The flame o'ercomes the insect falls ! 
 
 Tis still remember'd; that dark hour, 
 When broken was the Haram bower, 
 By Turkish horde, that came and fled 
 Like vision of the restless dead ! 
 Savage, yet short, the sudden strife 
 Of those who fought for love and life ; 
 And desperate was the mortal fray 
 Of those who came to rob and slay. 
 The Turkish chieftain gain'd the maid, 
 'Twas all he sought, 'twas all he had ; 
 Alone he fled, the rest betray'd, 
 Were left to flee, or fight, or fall : 
 They fought, they fell, aye, one and all, 
 Oh ! Assad struggled long to save 
 His Safie from the ruffian brave,- 
 And staked his life, and dared the grave. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 17 
 
 The Turkish robber threw his arm 
 Around the fair, whose eye might charm 
 A wolf, to guard her form from harm. 
 Across the steed his prey was thrown, 
 The spurs were lanced the lady gone ! 
 
 Yes ! now they speed from tumult's scene, 
 Where struggled madly serf with serf 5 
 
 And now the trees and bushes screen, 
 Yet still is seen the scattered turf, 
 
 Spurn'd by the dashing hoof on high ; 
 
 And oft, through brake, the searching ey< 
 
 May catch a glimpse of those that fly : 
 
 An arm quick waving o'er the head/ 
 
 A palampore 8 , a turban red, 
 
 The fleet black courser's glossy tail, 
 
 Tossing and lashing on the gale : 
 
SAFIE ; 
 
 At times a shout of rage or fear 
 Steals faintly on the listening ear, 
 Utter'd to urge the courser on : 
 And now beyond all bushes pacing, 
 A moving form the eye is tracing ; 
 Yes ! yet a moment it is seen, 
 Gliding o'er vale up mountain green; 
 Seen but a moment seen : now gone ! 
 
 When storms are up, the midnight sky, 
 
 Rent by the thunderbolt on high, 
 
 Regains one moment of repose 
 
 Before its force more raging grows; 
 
 And awful is the silence then, 
 
 Till violence returns again. 
 
 So for a space the battle stood, 
 
 And stillness mark'd the scene of blood; 
 
AN EASTERN TALK. 19 
 
 But when their chief was seen no more 
 The fight grew fiercer than before, 
 And ere the evening twilight shed 
 Its dewy veil on mountain-head, 
 The plain was strew'd with limbs, and dyed with gore. 
 
 ** 
 Yes ! sad was the scene where lay scattered the wounded 5 
 
 By beasts of the desart the spot was surrounded : 
 The forms of the dead and the dying remained, 
 To rot on the places their life-streams had stain'd ; 
 Or to feed the wild wolves that came howling to tear, 
 Allured by the blood-scent that rode on the air. 
 With ruinous gashes 9 the vassals lay moaning, 
 
 The wind was their comfort; the sand was their 
 
 covering ; 
 The weary were weeping, the wounded were groaning, 
 
 And over their heads were the dark vultures hovering. 
 They heard the birds screaming a desolate sound, 
 And the flap of their wings as they lit on the ground: 
 
20 SAFIE ; 
 
 They felt the fierce beasts gnash their horrible teeth, 
 But they could not they wish'd not, to flee from their 
 
 death ; 
 
 For their arras were too mangled, their spirits too weak, 
 To resist the wolf's fang, or the vulture's strong beak 10 . 
 
 Wounded and fainting Assad fell 
 Upon the carnage-cover'd ground ; 
 
 But outward he was hale and well, 
 Compared with inward wound. 
 
 A moment gazed he on the fair, 
 
 With nerveless hand and frenzied stare; 
 
 He saw her borne on courser, fleet 
 
 As ever paw'd with restless feet : 
 
 He tried to raise his voice,-^twas vain ; 
 
 Convulsed with rage, fatigue, and pain, 
 
 He fell like tenant of the grave, 
 
 Too faint to fight, too weak to save. 
 
AN EASTERN TALK. 21 
 
 And what, when waking, were Assad's throes, 
 When returning mem'ry drew each scene ? 
 
 What then were his feelings Ah ! what were his woes 
 To remember what late had been ! 
 To trace the shock, the blood of war, 
 The tophaike" and the scimitar, 
 The turban cleft, the trunkless head, 
 The groans of those who fought and bled,- 
 The faint, the dying, and the dead ! 
 The savage fury of the foe, 
 The flashing steel that mark'd the blow, 
 That blow which fell'd him from his maid, 
 That hateful blow from Turkish blade ! 
 The evil eye that on him glanced, 
 The fiery steeds that foam'd and pranced, 
 The s"houts, the thunder of the fight, 
 The flashes of each carabine, 
 
22 SAFIE ; 
 
 That cast a momentary light, 
 
 In which pale Death was seen to shine. 
 The last, the worst, the maddening sight, 
 Of Guleph's prey, and Safie's flight ? 
 
 And did he rave when life returned * 
 And was all hope, all pity spurn'd ? 
 And did he call on maiden lost ? 
 And did he say a spectre crost 
 
 In Turkish turban stain'd with blood ; 
 Or boast of wading gory flood ? 
 Did voice speak madness loud and dire ? 
 Did eye flash rage, revengeful fire ? 
 Was bosom beat ? Was garment rent ? 
 Were curses mutter'd on the brand 
 That cleaved him from a Turkish hand t 
 Were savage imprecations sent 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 To those who let the foe escape ? 
 
 Did he not court in every shape, 
 From hands of a vassal, from stab of a slave, 
 The comfort of death the repose of the grave ! 
 
 No! There was in his face, his air, 
 
 The settled horror of despair ! 
 
 The sunken eye, the bloodless cheek, 
 
 The tongue that scorns to mourn, to speak, 
 
 The heedless ear, the memory gone 
 
 Of every object past, save one ! 
 
 Those brooding thoughts that ne'er depart, 
 
 The inward bleeding of the heart, 
 
 The sudden tear, the sadden'd face, 
 
 The mind's dejection and disgrace, 
 
 The seeming peace, yet hidden strife, 
 
 The weary listlessness of life : 
 
24 SAFIE ; 
 
 Oh ! there was in his face, his air, 
 The settled horror of despair! 
 
 Oh ! what is love ? -A. smiling guest 
 That lights the look, and joys the breast, 
 That wantons in the train of beauty, 
 
 And lives in many a bright black eye ; 
 Whose promises of faith and duty 
 
 Are utter'd in a sigh : 
 With ardour breathed, remember'd Ion?, 
 The theme of every tale and song, 
 The glowing flame that burns to strengthen,- 
 The chain that time and absence lengthen ;- 
 A mystic feeling of the breast, 
 That makes anxiety seem rest ! 
 Oh ! Love is never prized unless 
 
 It brings a host of grief and fears ; 
 
 A calm return of love appears 
 A weary weight of nothingness, 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 25 
 
 A still, insipid pledge of hearts, 
 Where quick success disgust imparts, 
 
 Where nought is left to hope or dread, 
 Where all is gain'd that e'er was sought ; 
 A fireless passion bred from nought, 
 
 That slumbers in the bosom dead. 
 When sailing on the wide, wide ocean, 
 
 The sailor values not repose ; 
 He joys to see the tide in motion, 
 
 To feel it roughen as it flows, 
 To feel the dark blue waters ride 
 In billows 'gainst the vessel's side ; 
 For sad is idle calm, when dull 
 
 The breezes breathe, and not a wave 
 
 The timbers of the vessel lave ; 
 When silence tends the mind to lull, 
 When like a log the ship remains, 
 And ne'er her trackless travel gains. 
 s 
 
1*6 SAFIB ; 
 
 Ah ! What is love ? Can any tell ? 
 
 Can even the heart that feels it well ? 
 
 For it is such an inward feeling, 
 
 That gathers wildness from concealing, 
 
 That gives a joy amid its grief, 
 
 And brings in anguish a relief. 
 
 Yes ! Love is cherish'd, yet upbraided ; 
 
 Ah ! Love is honour'd, yet degraded; 
 
 And those who feel its strength increase. 
 
 Ask for, yet ne'er desire, release, 
 
 But live in self-created pains, 
 
 And rave aloud, yet hug their chains. 
 
 The mist was dispersing o'er rock and mount 
 The mist was flitting from wave and fount ; 
 The dew was dropping from grass and flower, 
 The trembling beauty of an hour ; 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 2J 
 
 You would think it was morn by the freshened air, 
 
 That kiss'd the face, so cool, so fair, 
 
 And by many a tint that loves to lie 
 
 On the furthest edge of an Eastern sky :~- 
 
 For as maiden coy, when her lover near 
 
 Whispers his suit in her listening ear, 
 
 Feels at the praise a modest blush 
 
 Spread o'er her cheek its glowing flush, 
 
 Till a smiling light and pleasure dance 
 
 Bright on her rosy countenance 5 
 
 So the faint red tints of rising morn 
 
 At first the bashful East adorn, 
 
 Till increasing in glow, at last the day 
 
 Burst forth on many a laughing ray ; 
 
 And so the rose, the garden's glory, 
 
 Resplendent in Arabian story, 
 
 That sweetly trembles to the tale, 
 
 When warbled by the Nightingale 12 , 
 
8 SAFIE \ 
 
 That seeks to share the lover's bliss, 
 With ruby lip, and perfumed kiss, 
 Displays at first such simple streaks, 
 As line the sky when morning breaks, 
 Which heightening still, and still increasing, 
 As from the circling leaves releasing, 
 Divinely sweet, supremely gay, 
 It blows, it blushes into day. 
 
 Look to the West, and you'd think 'twas night, 
 By the pensive cast of the sober light, 
 By many a lingering moonbeam shining, 
 Though faintly in the light declining, 
 And by scatter'd stars o'er the pale blue sky, 
 That tremble in bright uncertainty. 
 
 'Twas just that dim, that dubious hour, 
 When darkness yields her gloomy power, 
 
A!f EASTERN TALE. 29 
 
 When the day first vising in the East 
 Sees the night expiring in the West, 
 And every object shuns the sight, 
 So faintly seen in the faint twilight. 
 
 Dark Assad from his couch arose, 
 Oppress'd with weight of weary woes : 
 The night was pass'd by the lonely lover 
 
 In lengthen'd sighs and falling tears ; 
 
 But not for present hopes or fears ; 
 His fears were fled, his hopes were over : 
 One sad remembrance haunted his mind, 
 
 And though joys might come or cares depart, 
 Yet still this sorrow remain'd behind, 
 
 A spectre to the heart ! 
 He look'd from his lattice on rising day, 
 
 He sigh'd aloud and wept alone ; 
 And though loveliest scenes around him lav, 
 
 He look'd upon all, and thought on none I 
 
SO SAFIE; 
 
 There verdant hill and cultured vale, 
 As sweet as ever western gale, 
 Sigh'd on in airy playfulness, 
 Appeared in Nature's fairest dress : 
 There many a lake the green shore laves 
 With ripple soft of rising waves ; 
 And many a tuneful reed is there, 
 That rustles to the passing air ; 
 And flowers are budding, ever new, 
 Of fairest form and brightest hue, 
 To speck the grass and glad the eye, 
 To catch the dew, the zephyr sigh, 
 And o'er the green, refreshing field, 
 A rich variety to yield. 
 And could the sun his progress stay, 
 Oh ! He would linger on his way, 
 To gaze on Eastern hill and vale, 
 Till sight decline and glory fail ; 
 
AN EASTERN TALB. 31. 
 
 But since he cannot rest awhile, 
 A warmer ray,-*-a kinder smile 
 Is beaming from his golden brow, 
 To light and cheer such scenes below. 
 
 The camels were burthen'd silently, 
 
 With many a rich and varied garb ; 
 
 And the strongest camel, the fleetest barb, 
 Were there selected carefully : 
 For they were to travel o'er sand and plain, 
 That never shone with dew or rain ; 
 And they were to journey o'er many a hill, 
 That never felt a trickling rill ; 
 O'er barren shores and wasted fields, 
 That not a blade of herbage yields : 
 But rough and hot, to weary feet, 
 Serve but to harden in the heat. 
 
32 SAFIE ; 
 
 A few went with him, and few were meet, 
 
 Of harden'd valour and chosen might ; 
 The first to attack, the last to retreat, 
 
 In the frenzied hour of fight. 
 
 And they were arm'd for fray or flight, 
 For combat close, or savage chase : 
 
 Their arms were many, strong, and light, 
 To aid the war or aid the race ; 
 Beside the thigh a sabre hung, 
 Across the back a musket slung, 
 And close observer might behold 
 An Ataghan 13 in garments' fold : 
 The chosen steeds, in spirit high, 
 Threw their black foreheads to the sky, 
 And seemM, all restless of .delay, 
 To fret and foam at weary stay : 
 And Assad stays no more ! They feel 
 The shaking rein, the spur of steel; 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 35 
 
 With spurning foot, and lashing tail, 
 They speed away from Eastern vale, 
 And, freely to their rider's will, 
 Rush up the steep and rugged hill. 
 
 On mountain ridge, ere he withdrew, 
 Sad Assad took a parting view; 
 And there seem'd in that latest glance 
 
 Remembrance, doubt, and melancholy, 
 
 A sadden'd cast, a feeling holy; 
 It was a wistful countenance ! 
 He rested long on his own dark bower, 
 That had given him many a joyous hour, 
 That had held him from his day of birth 
 Till the moment he left his native earth ; 
 Whose floors had often felt the press 
 Of mirthful feet in playfulness ; 
 
34 SAFIB ; 
 
 Whose mirrors had often hack reflected 
 The bright black eyes of a loving maid, 
 Long since by Turkish hand betray'd. 
 
 Alas ! those mirrors are now neglected ; 
 
 And she who looks on the polish'd plates, 
 
 Dust unmolested contemplates, 
 
 And well may read, as she gazes there, 
 
 The fate of all that's bright and fair. 
 
 He paused on many a circling lake, 
 
 That had help'd in the course his thirst to slake ; 
 
 He paused on shrub, and rock, and valley, 
 
 Where playful sunbeams love to dally : 
 
 And then his face, his eye express'd 
 
 A wish to linger, yet to fly ; 
 
 His home was here, his love was gone, 
 With her was every feeling flown ? 
 
 Ah ! No : his mother claim'd a sigh ! 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 He long'd to stay, but then again, 
 Suddenly through his frenzied brain, 
 The image of his maid would cross, 
 Her trackless flight, her cruel loss ; 
 Perchance o'er hot and sandy plain, 
 Perhaps sailing on the dark blue main, 
 Or wandering on some desart shore, 
 With prospect of protection o'er ; 
 The thoughts would rush so quick, so strong, 
 Of his despair, of Safie's wrong, 
 That mind and heart were bent to flee 
 From land, from home, from misery ! 
 He turn'd his steps, and sought to smother 
 All rankling feelings of the past ; 
 He sought to fly with maddening haste ; 
 But could he then desert his mother ! 
 Leave her without a last farewell, 
 The mother he had loved so well ! 
 
36 SAPIE ; 
 
 A kiss might soften timeless flight ; 
 A parting look were ray of light, 
 In such a day of gloomy grief, 
 When sighs were hope, and tears relief, 
 
 66 It must not be I Away ! Away ! 
 ts I may not gaze, I cannot stay ; 
 " The vales that I have loved so deal 1 , 
 
 " When life was fed by youthful dreaming, 
 " When love was life, when joy was seeming, 
 " When words could raise, and looks could cheer, 
 " Are now beheld as prospects drear, 
 " And many a cause for grief and fear 
 " Have made me hate to sojourn here. 
 " I've tried my SafiVs loss to bear, 
 " I cannot overcome despair J 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 37 
 
 " Oh ! what were dearest are now most hated, 
 
 " The form so fair, the light of the eye, 
 " The look that promised, the voice that elated, 
 
 The tear of affection, the causeless sigh ; 
 
 " Shed to betray and breathed but to die ; 
 " For fate on my happiest joys hath sated, 
 
 " And hath left me but to fly/' 
 
 He left the ridge, he look'd no more 
 
 On native scene of earliest joy ; 
 The prospect on his sight before 
 Gave promises of travel sore, 
 
 Which hope could not destroy : 
 But there were in this chosen few, 
 Men that could bear a wasted view ; 
 They loved their lord too well to shun 
 The bleak, black night, and parching sun ; 
 
38 SAFIE ; 
 
 They long had lived without controul, 
 Though slaved in body, free in soul, 
 And each would in his cause be brave, 
 And fight like warrior, not like slave. 
 The bonds that custom long had bound, 
 By usage bland, were part unwound, 
 And care and kindness eased the pains 
 Once fretted by oppression's chains. 
 He pass'd at times o'er sallow plain, 
 Untrodden, save when men of gain 
 The long, long travel undergo, 
 
 For mercenary recompence \ 
 And hardened bear the night of woe, 
 
 And in the day the heat intense. 
 And there no bush, nor forests lie, 
 To darken 'gainst the distant sky, 
 And not the faintest form is given 
 To break the space 'twixt earth and heaven. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 And oft he saw the tigers prowl, 
 And oft he heard the mournful howl, 
 When, roused by camels' bells at night, 
 They feared to face the torches' light ". 
 Short was his sleep and dark his dream ; 
 He scarcely rested by a stream 15 , 
 Although the banks, witli flowers besprent, 
 Seem'd to invite the spreading tent. 
 Through many a vale at times he pass'd, 
 Preserved by rocks from stormy blast, 
 Where many a tender floweret fair, 
 Waved its light blossom in the air ; ' 
 And much the Eastern air would love 
 The tulip's 16 varied bud to move ; 
 Where, browzing over lawn and dell, 
 Is seen the graceful slim Gazelle, 
 With eye of fire, and arrowy feet, 
 That speed his fickle course so fleet ; 
 
40 SAFIB ; 
 
 Where, after ve, the fair moon lights 
 The hanging trees and rocky heights, 
 And loves to find in trembling lake 
 Her playful silvery beauties shake ; 
 Or, if the waves have ceased to dance, 
 To view the wide and silent trance, 
 A trance that seems like Nature's death, 
 And see as sweet a light beneath. 
 Oh ! there the fancy well might trace, 
 When gazing on the watery space, 
 As bright a moon, and stars as true 
 As those that deck the sky of blue, 
 The same faint, flitting clouds that move 
 So free, so gracefully above ; 
 And it might then believe, beneath, 
 So long as slept the zephyr breath, 
 There beam'd a sky as blue, as bright, 
 As that which gives the living light; 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 41 
 
 And while the glassy lake was even, 
 
 There glow'd below as rich a heaven.-*- 
 
 And yet how soon the fancy loses 
 
 The fickle fairy dream it chooses ; 
 
 For soon as breathes a single sigh, 
 
 The waves disperse the faithless sky, 
 
 The moon is starr'd 17 , the stars are gone, 
 
 The flitting clouds are quickly flown ; 
 
 That moon so still ! Those stars so fair ! 
 
 And all is bright commotion there. 
 
 Thus does the brain awhile conceive, 
 
 Its brilliant fancies, and believe 5 
 
 And oh ! those glowing hopes remain 
 
 A dazzling, yet deceitful train; 
 
 And many a liken'd image find, 
 
 Upon the mirror of the mind : 
 
 So when the breeze of life is felt 
 
 To ruffle, how those fancies melt ; 
 
42 SAFIB ; 
 
 And real woe, ideal rest, 
 Flutter uncertain in the breast. 
 
 He pass'd beneath a Haram bower, 
 
 At evening's cool and peaceful hour, 
 
 When, gently breathed, the freshening breeze 
 
 Came perfumed through the orange trees, 
 
 And to its breath such sweets were given, 
 
 It wafted like the sighs of heaven; 
 
 The leaves combined to mar its way, 
 
 And gently craved its dallying stay, 
 
 Heedless it just the blossoms shed, 
 
 Kiss'd the green foliage, and fled. 
 
 The lamps in many a Mosque were set, 
 
 And guests in the Kiosk " were met, 
 
 To flaunt it by the taper's ray, 
 
 And revel at departed day. 
 
 He paused awhile beneath the wall, 
 
 To hear the music 19 of the hall, 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 43 
 
 Where ladies sang, and look'd, and sigh'd, 
 
 In prime of youth, in beauty's pride. 
 
 Well guarded by the dark Schaban 20 , 
 
 That living relic of a man, 
 
 Whose only task it is to move 
 
 A joyless slave to tyrant love. 
 
 He paused awhile : each tongue was mute 5. 
 
 For lightly wander'd o'er the lute, 
 
 Some hand that loved to kiss, and fly 
 
 The instrument of melody : 
 
 He knew the touch ; he knew the note 
 
 That seem'd upon the gale to float, 
 
 So softly that the passing wind 
 
 Caught not an echo left behind : 
 
 It burst on Assad's throbbing heart, 
 
 Too strong to waver or depart ! 
 
 'Twas fancy, perhaps : and yet the sound 
 
 A tone within his bosom found, 
 
44 SAPIE; 
 
 That something of resemblance bore 
 To music he had heard of yore: 
 A Turkish haram ! Could it be ! 
 The scene of noise, and vice, and glee. 
 The lamps of eve, the brilliant dress, 
 The touch that spoke fofgetfulness ! 
 Ah ! No, 'twas fancy led him on 
 To think of days and pleasures gone. 
 " Let me away ; for go I must j 
 t( The tones of mirth I dare not trust ! 
 " Those tones which speak of others joy 
 " Thrill through my bosom to destroy : 
 " I find, unbless'd with short relief, 
 " Despair in mirth, and peace in grief." 
 
 He closer wrapp'd his palampore, 
 
 And sought to trace the plain before ; 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 45 
 
 But as he left a lovely voice, 
 
 Too dearly known to Assad's mind, 
 Came laughing on the heedless wind ; 
 
 And one was heard to sing: Rejoice f 
 
 To sing the air so loved of old, 
 
 To tell again what once was told , 
 
 So fondly that the heart might deem 
 
 That faith adorn'd the witching theme. 
 
 Though many a weary day had flown 
 
 Since Assad heard its melting tone, 
 
 It echoed, as it warbled near, 
 
 Distraction in the startled ear : 
 
 It spoke at once of early hours, 
 
 When peace reposed in Eastern bowel's, 
 
 When not a single sound was heard, 
 
 Save laugh, and song, and summer bird, 
 
 That caroll'd lightly on the tree 
 
 A sweet and simple melody. 
 
6 SAFIKJ 
 
 " I know her voice ; now, Vassals, now 
 <( The moment of revenge is come ! 
 No further need to rail, or roam 
 " In search of him with darkened brow ; 
 " Within this wall regales our foe. 
 " By tapers' light he quaffs the wine 21 , 
 " Yes ! gaily in retirement quaffs, 
 " And at forbidding tenet laughs! 
 " But other light shall deftly shine, 
 " And other stream shall quickly flow ; 
 fe He feeds unfear'd, nor thinks of woe, 
 " But this my arm shall lay him low. 
 " There breathe within this Haram's gate 
 " All that I love, and seek, and hate : 
 " Let blood and conquest mark the path 
 " That's singled out by Assad's wrath !" 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 47 
 
 With horrid yell, and arms outspread, 
 And sabres waving o'er the head ; 
 The valiant vassals heard no more, 
 But glided to the scene of gore, 
 Like the Simurgh 2a , that Eastern bird, 
 Which few have seen, but all have fear'd ! 
 
 The walls were strong, the guard was true, 
 And dearly might the Persian rue 
 His rash attack on what had stood 
 The raging storms of fire and flood. 
 Oh ! scarcely had the madden J d fray, 
 Of him who sought his Turkish prey, 
 Been known to turban'd chief, than throng 
 A band of vassals fierce and strong, 
 And numerous as the leaves that play, 
 In breezes light, on autumn day. 
 
48 SAFIE j 
 
 They soon disarm'd the threatening hand, 
 That came so furious to their land. 
 Though Assad raved and raged aloud, 
 And cursed the overpowering crowd, 
 And many a wound unheeded bore ; 
 Nor cared for pain and streaming gore ; 
 But thirsted for revenge on one ! 
 Dark, dread revenge : Revenge alone ! 
 
 Disarm'd despairing wounded pain'dj- 
 His brain on fire ; his body chain'd ; 
 With sullen sadness, Assad paced 
 To. the dark cell : his mind a waste ! 
 And sadly in the cell of stone, 
 He pass'd the gloomy night, alone, 
 Save one poor sharer of his care, 
 That harassed deeply, slumber'd there. 
 
AN EASTERN. TALE. 49 
 
 He gazed upon his vassal sadly, 
 And tears, the medicine to his grief, 
 Stole down his cheek, a cool relief ! 
 
 To one whose spirit burn'd so madly. 
 
 " To live is but to crawl along 
 
 " A weary world, amidst a throng 
 
 " Of heartless beings, form'd to prey 
 
 - On all who cross their watchful way. 
 
 " To live, when all we love of life 
 
 " Is overwhelmed by woe and strife, 
 
 " Is but to drag a lengthen'd chain, 
 
 " Whose links are solitude and pain. 
 
 " When what the heart most seeks to love 
 
 " Leaves it in solitude to move, 
 
 " When all of earthly joy is gone, 
 
 " And what the hopes were fix'd upon, 
 
 " When light no more can gladness give, 
 
 'Tis best to die ! 'Tis base to live !" 
 u 
 
50 
 
 By fitful ray of lamp's dim light 
 
 He pass'd the long and weary night, 
 
 In tracing to his faithless fair 
 
 The 'wilder'd sorrows of despair ! 
 
 And ere the morning twilight came, 
 
 To mock and mark his woe and shame, 
 
 An Ataghan-, misfortune's token, 
 
 Pierced deep the heart which love had broken ; 
 
 But first he cal'l'd the slumbering slave, 
 
 And thus his latest orders gave. 
 
 " Vassal ! The scroll which T shall leave, 
 ts When all my loneliness is o'er, 
 " And when 'twill be my fate no more 
 
 " The form to love, the heart to grieve, 
 
 " I charge you see it safe convey 'd 
 
 " Unto that dear, deluding maid, 
 
 " Beloved, betraying, and betray'd : 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 5} 
 
 " Shell find within a saddeu'd tale, 
 " And many a hopeless word to wail, 
 " The fragments of a gloomy mind, 
 " Left by its sufferer's hand behind ; 
 " The reasons why he sigh'd so long, 
 " The upbraidings of his woeful wrong ;- 
 " His sad resolves at last to part ; 
 " The throbbings of a broken heart !" 
 
 The slave hath said who saw him die, 
 
 That not for worlds woujd he again 
 View the last look of such an eye : 
 
 It glancing spoke of inward pain, 
 Of faded hope of baffled hate, 
 Which blood would glad, and nought but death 
 could sate. 
 
52 SAFIB; 
 
 And might he once but live again, 
 The same dread deeds so dared of late, 
 Again he'd venture for his mate ; 
 And sorrow love revenge would wait, 
 
 To lead him on, yet lead in vain. 
 The slave hath said, while life was leaving 
 
 In dark red streams his mangled breast, 
 The causes of his death, his grieving, 
 
 Upon his thoughts tumultuous prest. 
 He dash'd his arm upon the floor, 
 So wet, so stain'd with his own gore ; 
 He writhed his body, struck his wound, 
 And scatter'd wide the blood around ; 
 But towards the last his strength grew tame, 
 And languor mark'd a weaken'd frame ; 
 His thoughts, his love were still the same 5 
 While dying, lovely Safie's name 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 53 
 
 In murmurs from his pale lips past; 
 
 One groan he utter'd : 'twas his last ! 
 
 Yet still upon his pallid face, 
 
 Revenge the vassal's eye could trace, 
 
 Which living feelings first imprest, 
 
 Which Death had fix'd with his cold touch ; 
 
 And oh ! that faded front exprest 
 Of unextinguished hate so much, 
 The slave could scarce believe that such 
 
 Was the last look of one at rest ! 
 
 Oh, love ! what art thou ? Sadly sweet ! 
 A grief the bosom pants to meet ; 
 A weary source of restlessness, 
 That makes all other woes seem less : 
 Thy charms are such, that, syren like, 
 Upon the tranced heart they strike : 
 
54 
 
 Thy hapless victims all admire 
 The gilded ray of future ruin ; 
 For darksome woe waits present wooing, 
 As blacken'd embers follow fire. 
 'Tis thine to lead the ardent soul 
 To deeds that spurn a cool controul ; 
 Through scenes of varied woe and joy. 
 To break the spirit and destroy. 
 'Tis thine to pause, retreat, and range, 
 To promise truth, and yet to change ; 
 To lead to poverty and care, 
 To bondage, madness, and despair ! 
 
 Despair is poison of the heart ! 
 It rankles in a feeling part ; 
 It blasts the prospects of the mind, 
 And leaves a dreary waste behind : 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 55 
 
 'Tis form'd to flourish in decay, 
 And chase the hope of life away ! 
 Oli ! it is like that dreadful tree 23 
 
 Which on the barren desart lives, 
 
 And e'en mid desolation thrives, 
 In horrible solemnity ! 
 Whose boughs upon the infected air, 
 Spread their dark arms, diseased and bare j 
 Whereon reclines, in sullen state, 
 The mystic form of mystic fate ; 
 
 Whose branches frame the wither'd wreath. 
 
 That crowns the fleshless brow of death ! 
 And as the poison'd breezes wave, 
 
 Scatter around that deadly breath, 
 That whispers of the grave ! 
 
56 SAFIE ; 
 
 f>e Scroll. 
 
 " Safie ! Safie ! Assad now 
 
 " With hopeless heart, and fever'd brow, 
 
 fe And trembling hand, essays to send, 
 
 " Ere life, and thought, and grief shall end, 
 
 e( A mournful tale of sorrow, proved, 
 
 " By her who caused, and him who loved. 
 
 " I soon shall be a pallid corse, 
 
 " Then, Safie, thou wilt feel remorse, 
 
 " And own that never heart was tried 
 
 " With heavier ills than his who died : - 
 
 " Remember that my love was such, 
 
 " It could not praise nor prize too much ; 
 
 " Remember, too, thy pledge of yore, 
 
 <c But this is now esteem'd no more ; 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 57 
 
 vf For faith was often sigh'd and spoken, 
 " And yet how negligently broken : 
 " I never could of thought that force 
 " Could turn affection in its course, 
 " And wean the heart from what had first 
 " Within its pulse been bred and nurst. 
 " I mourn'd thy loss when thou wast gone, 
 " And sigh'd and sought to be alone ; 
 
 " But then, amid my grief, I fed 
 " A hope that still thy heart remain'd 
 
 " The same as when thy beauties fled : 
 " The faithless hope was close retain'd. 
 " I cursed my fate, and cursed the hour, 
 " That bless'd thy dark-brow'd paramour : 
 
 " I cannot curse thee : Love can ne'^r 
 " Descend for once to execrate 
 
 " The form that was so fond, so fair, 
 " Howe'er the mind is desolate : 
 
53 
 
 " Enough to know and feel that fate 
 " Can change the temper of a mate, 
 " And make her look on newer feres 
 a With all the love of earlier years : > 
 " Enough to know that she can give 
 " Those looks that bid a lover live, 
 " And change at once the faithless sigh 
 " To words that urge him but to die. 
 " The very bird that haunts the shock 
 " Of cataract from blacken'd rock, 
 (e Who builds in crags her lonely nest, 
 " Loves the dear object of her breast 
 " With chaster fire, and purer truth, 
 " Than warm the fickle heart ofyouth. 
 " The savage monarch of the waste, 
 " Whose days on parched sands are past, 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 59 
 
 " With surly fondness loves to share 
 " That life which hlood alone can sate, 
 
 " With one, that's true enough to dare 
 " Fatigue and peril for its mate. 
 
 " 'Tis sad to know, I eould not stand 
 
 " To see thee take a Turkish hand, 
 
 " And promise faith in soothing strain, 
 
 " Although to break, perchance, again : 
 
 " And yet to break ! Oh ! that would be 
 
 " A lasting pang of agony, 
 
 " That well might suit my rival's fate, 
 
 " And satisfy revenge and hate. 
 
 " I could not look on thee again, 
 
 " A look would be despair and pain, 
 
 " Would bring once more to memory's gaze 
 
 " The shades of past, yet blissful days : ' 
 
60 SAFIE ; 
 
 " A look would hurry me to trace 
 
 " Each charm of form, each mental grace, 
 
 " That faithlessness could well deface : 
 
 ff I could not bear one single glance 
 
 " Of thy remember'd countenance, 
 
 (( Which better had I never seen : 
 
 " Oh ! better had I never been ! 
 
 " For thou hast madden'd me beneath, 
 
 " And lured me with betraying breath, 
 
 " To leave me in the grasp of death. 
 
 " I think that I could view, unmoved, 
 
 " Thy wasted form, though so beloved, 
 
 " More peacefully, than see its charms 
 
 " Reposing in my rival's arms : 
 
 " Better to wake within the grave, 
 
 " With none to hear, or see, or save ; 
 
 " To wake upon a stormy night, 
 
 " And view a strange, unearthly light 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 " Upon the dark, damp cavern dancing, 
 
 " And see the spirits blood-draughts laving:- 
 " To view the ravenous Gouls' 4 advancing, 
 
 " With fury for the flesh-feast craving; 
 " To feel them. tear the throbbing breast, 
 " With burning fangs that know no rest, 
 " Regardless of convulsive moan, 
 " To feel them feed ere life is gone! 
 " Better, exposed in light Caique, 
 " A slow approach of death to seek, 
 " And feel the sad attacks on life 
 " From storms abave and ocean's strife ; 
 " A weary course, declining power, 
 " The same sad scene each passing hour ; 
 " Across a trackless desart driven, 
 " By rolling waves and winds of heaven. 
 
SAFIE; 
 
 " I'd rather gaze on beauties gone, 
 
 ** And ponder over them alone, 
 
 " Till fancy well might animate 
 
 " The face that look'd so pale of late ; 
 
 " Revive the ruby in the cheek, 
 
 " The lips with rosy colour streak,- 
 
 " And throw upon the faded eye 
 
 " A lightness like reality. 
 
 And fancy then again might paint 
 
 " A seeming smile, however faint ; 
 
 " And think the heart once more as warm 
 
 " As 'twas before the Turkish storm : - 
 
 " And many a prayer would scape the breast. 
 
 " To see the silent placid rest. 
 
 "But fancy should not fly ; for then 
 
 " Thy death would be recall'd again ; 
 
 " And grief would view with sighs and tears 
 
 " The lonely object of its fears ; 
 
AN EASTERN TALK. 
 
 " Would see the loose and glossy hair 
 
 " Reposing on the neck so fair; 
 
 " The pale, still hand, where jewels seem'd 
 
 " To mock its heauty while they gleam 'd. 
 
 " I cannot pause I must not trace 
 
 " The lines of death upon thy face : 
 
 " Thy face !- -Twere mad impiety 
 
 " For death to claim, to think of thee ! 
 
 " You knew me well: Ah ! wherefore think 
 " That Assad would at peril shrink, 
 " In rescuing thee, from one who bore 
 " Thy fainting beauties from the shore : 
 " The perils I have dared are o'er, 
 
 " In search of thee, deceitful slave ! 
 
 " I've travell'd to revenge or save^ 
 " But rescue, I desire no more. 
 
6*4 SAFIE ; 
 
 " I cannot now receive again 
 
 " A heart, defaced with, such a stain 
 
 " As rests on and disfigures thine ; 
 
 <e Thou hast been false to me and mine ! 
 <f And should I once asrain regain, 
 " I should not covet to retain. 
 
 " 'Twould be but madness to recall 
 " Thy fondness, that could once sustain 
 
 a That heartless and degrading fall, 
 " That thrills and throbs my brain. 
 " Alas ! 'twould be but to replace, 
 
 " In all the faith of first esteem, 
 " A form of beauty and disgrace, 
 
 " And love those eyes that falsely beam. 
 
 <c Die ! Safie, die ! Thou'rt all too sweet, 
 ** To sigh, yet torture with deceit ; 
 
AN KA$TBRN TALE. (>5 
 
 *' Thy soft black eyes are all too bright, 
 " With that betraying lovely light, 
 <e That raises and sustains desire, 
 
 " Yet but sustains it to deceive ; 
 '' That fans with sighs the treacherous fire, 
 
 " And fans it but to leave. 
 " That dark-brow'd paramour, who now 
 " Each morn may kiss thy marble brow 25 , 
 " Will find a fresher fere in time 
 u Can lure thee on to newer crime ; 
 " And thou wilt from his praises flee, 
 " And ruin him as thou hast me ! 
 
 " I knew the time, when not for all 
 " The steeds that feed in Turkish stall, 
 
 " Would I have seen the messenger 
 
 " Relate to thee a tale of fear, 
 
SAFIE ; 
 
 " For darkly to thy list'ning ear 
 
 " Would speak such woeful tidings clear ; 
 
 <f But now thy cheek is never wet, 
 " Is never stain'd with pitying tear ; 
 
 M And thou hast ceased to feel and fret, 
 " Since I am not beloved so dear : 
 (e And thou canst, doubtless, bear to hear 
 " The fate of one, whose death is near. 
 
 " I've boldly dared but dared in vain ; 
 
 a Of fate and falsehood I complain : 
 
 " Twice have I stain'd with blood the ground, 
 
 " At first when lost and last when found : 
 
 " I would that I had never lost 
 
 " That form my blessing, and my boast 3 
 
 " And yet, to find th.ee as I have, 
 
 <( Gives further cause to fear to rave : 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 " Twere better to have ranged for ever, 
 
 " In weary search, and find thec never, 
 
 " Than thus to know that time can sever 
 
 " The former feelings of a breast, 
 
 " That seem'd the seat of love and rest ! 
 
 " Strange, that a breast so form'd to move 
 
 " In all the elegance of love, 
 
 " Should harbour danger and deceit, 
 
 " And spurn the form it sought to greet. 
 
 " Strange, that an eye so soft, so bright, 
 
 " With all the love of Eastern light, 
 
 " Should gaze awhile, then turn away, 
 
 " And after fresher objects stray. 
 
 " Strange, that those lips, so sweetly glowing, 
 
 " Should set the tide of promise flowing, 
 
 *< Should kiss, and yet delight to seek 
 
 " The pressure of another's cheek. 
 
 C^^r^y .^ * 
 
 
68 SAFIE ; 
 
 " Oh ! woman, thou wast form'd to rove 
 " In passion's chase, yet not to love : 
 " Wast ixmn'd to lire the human breast, 
 " And rob it of its earthly rest. 
 " 'Tis well to learn, yet sad to know, 
 <c The eye that lures will lead to woe,-*- 
 " The lips that woo with thrilling kiss, 
 " Will breathe to others promised bliss, 
 " Will whisper faith, and yet deceive, 
 " And fawn and flatter but to leave ! 
 " The breast so fair, yet fickle, feigns 
 " A crowded host of pleasing pains ; 
 " But quickly what it sought disdains, 
 " And promises, but ne'er retains 5 
 " For every sigh and saying prove 
 " It will not rest, and cannot love ! 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. <>i> 
 
 " Oh ! crimes I have, and yet I fail 
 " To breathe to Alia aught of mine ; 
 te J Tis useless now to wail to whine : 
 
 " Will prayer or penitence avail 
 
 " From one who long hath shunn'd his shrine ? 
 
 " I long for, but I cannot have 
 
 " The blessing which my feelings crave, 
 
 " A father's last and lonely blessing, 
 
 " To save and soothe my heated breast, 
 
 " So long deceived, distressed, distressing ; - 
 " To lull it into tranquil rest. 
 
 " But though I need the Iman's 25 prayer, 
 
 " I dread his close and pious care ; 
 
 " For should he all my failings prove, 
 
 " Then would appear my lasting love, 
 
 " Love, such as holy words could never 
 
 " From my unaltered bosom sever ! 
 
70 SAFIE ; 
 
 " Oh ! if it be a crime to cherish 
 " An everlasting, quenchless flame, 
 " Which neither pain nor prayer can tame, 
 " Which wastes not with the wasting frame, 
 " In faithless mirth in grief the same j 
 
 a Then must my hopes of heaven perish. 
 
 " If this be crime and if for this 
 
 " The soul must be denied its bliss ; 
 
 " Then must I dread what death will give, 
 
 (f Then might I almost long to live ! 
 
 " Can pity calm my love for thee, 
 
 " Or bring a truce to memory ? 
 
 6( Can holy words awhile assuage 
 
 ee My scorn regret revenge and rage ; 
 
 " Or can an Iman cool that part, 
 
 " Which burns for ever in my breast ? 
 " Oh ! can he soothe me into rest, 
 
 " Or crush the viper at my heart ? 
 
AN EASTKRN TALE. 71 
 
 " I care not now what arms entwine 
 " That well-remcmber'd form of thine, 
 " Since now no longer solely mine. 
 " I care not now what eye beholds 
 " The charms thy lifted veil unfolds *, 
 " Which ne'er was cast aside before 
 " For stranger's eye. to wander o'er;. 
 " But hung like silver mist of even, 
 " That dims the starry front of heaven. 
 
 " Oh, Safie ! send to her who pines 
 
 " In distant vale at my delay ; 
 " And she will weary all the shrines^ 
 
 " If grief will let her pause to pray. 
 " Tell her my dear, deserted mother ! 
 
 " Her whom I basely left of late, 
 
 " Tell her the tidings of my fate, 
 " Because I could not love another : 
 
SAFIE ; 
 
 ** And she will weep, but wonder not, 
 '" To hear the troubles of my lot : 
 " She knows what 'tis to love most truly, 
 " She knows love's storm is most unruly, 
 * f Hurrying the soul to dare such deed 
 (( As fearful reason dreads to view ; 
 <c To brave the waves so dark, so blue, 
 *" To fly from home to fight to bleed ! 
 * l She'll weep and wail, but midst her woe, 
 *' 'Twill soothe awhile the heart to know 
 f( Her son's affection none could sever, 
 '"That when he loved he loved for ever! 
 
 
 :<c Lhad a brother who would weep, 
 
 " If life were -his, to know my change ; 
 " But ah ! it was his fate to range 
 " In galley o'er the mountain water : 
 " He fell in hour of savage slaughter ! 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 7$ 
 
 " And pirate hands his body threw 
 
 " To ocean billows dark and blue : 
 
 " And now he lies in pearly bed, 
 
 " Which Sea-nymphs deck with coral red, 
 
 " With silvery spar, and glossy shell, 
 
 " Cull'd from many a hidden cell : 
 
 " Yet rushes o'er his body sweep, 
 
 " And weeds around his forehead creep ; 
 " For he hath found a restless grave 
 
 ' ( Within the dark and dreary deep ; 
 " And on his breast the shelving wave 
 
 e< Is never known to sleep. 
 
 " And now I leave 5 but Safie, say, 
 " When I shall mingle with the clay, 
 " That thou, amidst thy gaiety, 
 (< Wilt pause at times to think on me, - 
 L 
 
SAFIE ; 
 
 " And then, perchance, a thought may rise, 
 
 " Of what was once our Paradise ; 
 
 The early home, the peaceful scene, 
 
 " The joys that were and might have been. 
 
 " I'm now like one who long hath traced 
 
 A weary and a lengthening waste, 
 
 " With travel and fatigue opprest, 
 
 " Who longs for, yet despairs of rest ; 
 
 " Whose prospect widens on the sight, 
 
 " And only ends with endless night; 
 
 " Whose backward glance, with horror cast. 
 
 " Sees nought but woe and distance past, 
 
 " And forward sees those troubles o'er 
 
 " Still darken on his way before. 
 
 " I cannot look, without a sigh, 
 
 " On every moment now gone by ; 
 
 " I cannot gaze, devoid of gloom, 
 
 " On every minute yet to come. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 
 
 " But I shall meet a night's repose, 
 " An endless night to all my woes ; 
 " And soon the tree of death will wave 
 " In loneliness upon my grave ; 
 " And, save the night wind, not a sound 
 " Will whisper o'er my charnel ground. 
 
 Safie, farewell ! On earth farewell ! 
 " The light now glimmers in my cell, 
 " The latest ray of earthly light 
 " That e'er will beam upon my sight : 
 " At morn I shall be dead and chill, 
 " My veins uncoursed, my pulses still, 
 " And not an eye will weep my fate. 
 " Nor o'er my sorrows ruminate ; 
 ff A simple stone, perchance, may say 
 " Where Assad's body rots away : 
 
76 SAFIE ; 
 
 " The stone, perhaps, may ne'er be read ! 
 
 e Nor Assad once remembered ! 
 
 " No holy streamers now will wave 
 
 " With rich inscriptions o'er my grave 28 ; 
 
 " Whilst dying, if my woes be told, 
 
 " They'll be forgot before I'm cold ! 
 
 " Read, Safie ! read : and then confess 
 
 " That I deserved of sorrow less ; 
 
 " And should some stranger ask, then tell, 
 
 " I felt too keen, I loved too well !" 
 
 Tis told that Safie read the woes 
 Of Assad after evening's close, 
 When others coveted repose. 
 'Tis said she wept ; but tears will flow 
 In common at dissembled woe. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 77 
 
 Tis said she sigh'd ; but oft-times sighs 
 
 Will causeless in the bosom rise. 
 
 Oh ! Safie mourn'd when none was nigh 
 
 To chase the tear or check the sigh ; 
 
 When none was nigh to force a smile 
 
 To flutter on the cheek awhile, 
 
 And make the mind forget its grief 
 
 In noisy mirth, and find relief 
 
 A space, although that space be brief ! 
 
 The heart where thought and sadness brood, 
 
 When left to throb in solitude, 
 
 Finds former revels leave behind 
 
 A weariness upon the mind, 
 
 With which nor mind nor heart can cope, 
 
 Which throws a languor over Hope. 
 
 Thus Safie felt when all were fled, 
 
 And she was left alone to dread : 
 
78 SAFIE; 
 
 The hollow laugh would echo long, 
 The thoughts of earlier mirth would throng 
 Till worn by watching, thought, and care> 
 She shrank from terror to despair ! 
 
 Tis told the maiden felt at last 
 
 A dreadful horror of the past, 
 
 And shunn'd the light, and scorn'd repast ; 
 
 That pity she ne'er listen' d to, 
 
 Nor comfort craved, nor wish'd below. 
 
 Thus drooping, Safie sought the grave, 
 
 Nor art could e'er arrest or save ; 
 
 But at the last, one hectic blush 
 
 Was seen upon her cheek to rush ; 
 
 That came to promise, yet betray, 
 
 And only flutter'd, like the ray 
 
 That dances. in the evening sky, 
 
 That lights awhile, but lights to die. 
 
AN EASTERN TALE. 79 
 
 She journey'd lonely to her rest, 
 Her heart was breaking in her breast ; 
 Yet hope, at last, appeared to throw 
 A cheering beam upon her woe, 
 Like ray of sun on winter's snow ; 
 And when her latest sigh was given, 
 It lit the maiden into heaven. 
 Thus true at last to Assad's love, 
 She long'd to meet his soul above : 
 Thus Safie bless'd his memory 
 With many a fond departing sigh ; 
 And loving with her latest breath, 
 She proved her faithfulness in death ! 
 

NOTES TO SAFIE. 
 
 Note 1, page 5, Introductory Stanzas. 
 A glossy flow of Hyacinthine hair. 
 
 THE metaphor taken from the Hyacinth is very com- 
 mon with the Arabians, and was so with the Greeks : a 
 poem can hardly lay claim to the title of " Oriental" 
 without it. Sir William Jones has made use of it in an 
 Eclogue composed of Eastern images : 
 
 " The fragrant Hyacinths of Azza's hair, 
 
 4t That wanton with the laughing summer air." 
 
 Note 2, page 7, Introductory Stanzas. 
 And oh ! her feeling heart is ever Eastern Heaven. 
 
 A Female heart does not strictly form the " divine place 
 of rest" promised by Mahomet ; but mortals in general, 
 and Arabians in particular, entertain very sublime notions 
 
84 NOTES. 
 
 of it. The following are held out to Mussulmen as the 
 rewards of heaven : 
 
 " The righteous, after having passed the bridge, will be 
 refreshed by drinking at the pond of their prophet, and 
 then admitted into Paradise, situated in the seventh heaven, 
 and next to the throne of God ; where they will be fed on 
 the most delicious fruits, be clothed in the most splendid 
 silken garments, refreshed with rivers of water, wine, milk, 
 and honey, and entertained with the most delightful music, 
 and the ravishing black -eyed girls of Paradise, the enjoy- 
 ment of whose company will be a principal felicity of the 
 faithful. 
 
 Note 3, page 13. 
 Her Caftan was of gold and green. 
 
 The Caftan is a robe exactly fitted to the shape, and 
 reaches to the feet : it has long, strait, falling sleeves. A 
 girdle is worn over it, of about three inches broad, which 
 all that can afford it have entirely of diamonds and precious 
 tones : those who will not be at this expence, have it of 
 exquisite embroidery on satin ; but it must be fastened be- 
 fore with a clasp of diamonds. 
 
 Note 4, page 13, 
 The richest in the Ttizestien. 
 
 The Bizestien is a market-place ; chiefly, I believe, for 
 jewellers and embroiderers. 
 
NOTES. 85 
 
 Note 5, page 13. 
 Her talpack rested on a brow. 
 
 The talpack is a cap, which in winter is made of velvet,, 
 embroidered with pearls or diamonds ; and in summer of a 
 light shining silver stuff. It is fixed on one side of the 
 head, hanging a little way down with a gold tassel, and 
 bound on either with a circle of diamonds, or a rich em- 
 broidered handkerchief. 
 
 Note 6, page 13. 
 And cry Guzelle ! Gazelle ! 
 Guzelle! Guzelle ! Beautiful ! Beautiful! 
 
 Note 7, page 14. 
 Might love to kiss her sacred robe. 
 
 This observance was accounted an act of the most pro- 
 found respect throughout the East. 
 
 Note 8, page 17. 
 A Palampore, a Turban red. 
 
 A Palampore is a very elegant shawl, fancifully flower- 
 ed 'j which is usually worn by persons of consequence. 
 
 Note 9, page 19. 
 With ruinous gashes the vassals lay moaning. 
 
 " And his gash' d stabs look'd like a wound in nature, 
 " For ruin's wasteful entrance." MACBETH. 
 
86 NOTES. 
 
 Note 10, page 20. 
 To resist the Wolf's fang, or the Vulture's strong beak. 
 
 Wolves and Vultures are very numerous in the East, and 
 the bloody frays of the Arabs draw them together fre- 
 quently. 
 
 Note 11, page 21. 
 The Tophaike and the Scimitar. 
 Tophaike, a Musquet. 
 
 Note 1 2, page 27. 
 When warbled by the Nightingale. 
 
 Most of the Turkish songs open with an allusion to the 
 attachment of the Rose and Nightingale. The following 
 is a specimen of one : 
 
 " The Nightingale now wanders in the vines, 
 " Her passion is to seek Roses." 
 
 Note 13, page 32. 
 An Ataghan in garment' 's fold. 
 An Ataghan is a long dagger worn in the belt. 
 
 Note 14, page 39. 
 They fear' d to face the torches' light. 
 
 Mr. Marsden, in his History of Sumatra, relates, that 
 tigers prove most fatal and destructive enemies to the inha- 
 
NOTES. 87 
 
 bitants, particularly in their journies. As these horrible 
 enemies are alarmed at the appearance of fire, it is usual to- 
 carry lighted torches as a safeguard. 
 
 Note 15, page 39. 
 He scarcely rested by a stream. 
 
 It is a practice in the East, particularly when parties 
 journey together, to halt if possible in the vicinity of a 
 stream : 
 
 " Now when they have reached the brink of yon bine 
 " gushing rivulet, they fix the poles of their tent, like the 
 " Arab in a settled mansion." ZOHAIR. 
 
 Note 16, page 39. 
 The tulip's varied bud to move. 
 
 The tulip is a flower of Eastern growth, and there held in 
 great estimation : Thus in an ode of Mesihi 
 
 " The edge of the bower is filled with the light of Ah- 
 " med; among the planis, the fortunate Tulips represent 
 " his companions/' 
 
 Note 17, page 41. 
 
 The Moon is starr'd, The stars are gone. 
 This expression is in allusion to the appearance of the 
 moon on ruffled water. 
 
88 NOTES. 
 
 Note 18, page 42. 
 And guests in the Kiosk were met. 
 
 " In the midst of the garden is the Kiosk; that is, a large 
 room, commonly beautified with a fine fountain in the 
 midst of it. It is raised nine or ten steps, and inclosed 
 with gilded lattices ; round which vines, jessamines, and 
 honey-suckles, make a sort of green wall. Large trees are 
 planted round this place, which is the scene of their 
 greatest pleasures, and where the ladies spend most of their 
 hours employed by their music or embroidery." 
 
 Lady M. W. MONTAGUE. 
 
 Note 19, page 42. 
 To hear the Music of the Hall. 
 
 The great men of the East are particularly fond of 
 Music. Though forbidden by the Mahometan religion, 
 it commonly makes a part of every entertainment. 
 
 Note 20, page 43. 
 Well guarded by the dark Schaban. 
 
 The apartments of the women are in general guarded by 
 black eunuchs with drawn sabres. Schaban is the name 
 given to them in common. 
 
 Note 21, page 46. 
 "By tapers' light he quaffs the Wine. 
 Sir John Chardin speaks of a wine much admired in the 
 
NOTES. V) 
 
 East, and particularly in Persia, called Roubnar ; which 
 is made from the juice of the pomegranate, and sent abroad 
 in large quantities. A Moslem would doubtless in private, 
 (unless very strict in his religion) indulge himself with 
 a taste of this forbidden beverage. In fact, some of the 
 impious have been known to quaff the goblet to the health 
 of Mahomet. However, the liquor in most general use, is 
 Sherbet; which consists of various syrups, such as lemon 
 or capillaire, mixed with water. It is both cooling and 
 pleasant. 
 
 Note 22, page 47. 
 Like the Simurgh, that Eastern bird. 
 
 Many marvellous things are related of this bird; that it 
 was not only endowed with reason, but possessed also the 
 knowledge of every language. The Simurgh is said to 
 have lived on Mount Caucasus : and Sadi, an admired 
 Eastern writer, gives it as an instance of the universality of 
 Providence, that notwithstanding its immense bulk, it 
 never wanted sustenance on this mountain. The bird re- 
 lates of itself, that it had seen the great revolution of seven 
 lhou>;uid years, twelve times, commence and close; and 
 that in its duration, the world had been seven times void of 
 inhabitants, and as often replenished. 
 
 Note 23, page 55. 
 Oh ! it is like that dreadful Tree. 
 
 The Upas or Poison Tree, said to be situated in the 
 island of Java. 
 
NOTES. 
 
 Note 24, page 61. 
 
 To see the ravenous Gouls advancing. 
 
 The Gouls are monsters that are supposed to haunt 
 forests, cemeteries, and other lonely places ; and believed 
 not only to tear in pieces the living, but to dig up and de- 
 vour the dead. 
 
 Note 25, page 65. 
 " Each morn may kiss thy marble brow." 
 
 It is a very common custom to kiss the ladies on the 
 forehead, between the eyes, as a morning salutation. 
 
 Note 26, page 69. 
 
 " But though I need the Jman* sprayer." 
 The Iman or Imaum is the Chief Priest of the Mosque. 
 
 Note 27, page 71. 
 " The charms thy lifted veil unfolds." 
 
 " I was informed/' says Dr. Cooke, " that the Eastern 
 women would sooner expose to public view any part of their 
 bodies, than their faces" 
 
 Note 28, page 76. 
 
 " With rich inscriplions o'er my grave" 
 Banners with rich inscriptions are carried before the de- 
 ceased, and deposited over their tombs. The inhabitants 
 
NOTES. 91 
 
 of the east being particularly fond of pomp, would not die 
 easy, if they were not convinced that their last rites would 
 he splendid. 
 
 " Even in our ashes live their wonted fires." 
 
 CRAY. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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