The Works of Lord Byron Volume III Part 29

5. Four sheets of notes to Canto I. stanza vi., dated November 20, November 22, 1813.

6. Two sheets of notes to stanza xvi.

7. Sixteen additional lines to stanza xiii.

The fourteen additional sheets to Canto II. consist of--

1. Ten lines of stanza iv., and four lines of stanza xvii.

2. Two lines and note of stanza v.

3. Sheets of additions, etc., to stanza xx. (eight sheets).

(a) Eight lines, "Or, since that hope,"--"thy command."

() "For thee in those bright isles" (twenty-four lines).

(?) "For thee," etc. (thirty-six lines).

(d) "Blest as the call" (three variants).

(e) "For thee in those bright isles" (seven lines).

(?) Fourteen lines, "There ev'n thy soul,"--"Zuleika's name," "Aye--let the loud winds,"--"bars escape," additional to stanza xx.

4. Two sheets of five variants of "Ah! wherefore did he turn to look?"

being six additional lines to stanza xxv.

5. Thirty-five lines of stanza xxvi.

6. Ten lines, "Ah! happy! but,"--"depart." And eleven lines, "Woe to thee, rash,"--"hast shed," being a continuous addition to stanza xxvii.

REVISES.

Endorsed-- i. November 13, 1813.

ii. November 15, 1813.

iii. November 16, 1813.

iv. November 18, 1813.

v. November 19, 1813.

vi. November 21, 1813.

vii. November 23, 1813.

viii. November 24, 1813. A wrong date, ix. November 25, 1813.

x. An imperfect revise = Nos. i.-v.

to

the right honourable

LORD HOLLAND,

this tale

is inscribed, with

every sentiment of regard

and respect,

by his gratefully obliged

and sincere friend,

BYRON.[ey]

THE BRIDE OF ABYDOS.[124]

CANTO THE FIRST.

I.

Know ye the land where the cypress and myrtle[125]

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 s.h.i.+ne; Where the light wings of Zephyr, oppressed with perfume, Wax faint o'er the gardens of Gul[126] in her bloom; Where the citron and olive are fairest of fruit, And the voice of the nightingale never is mute;[127] 10 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-- Tis the clime of the East--'tis the land of the Sun-- Can he smile on such deeds as his children have done?[128]

Oh! wild as the accents of lovers' farewell[ez]

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

II.[fa]

Begirt with many a gallant slave, 20 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 aged eye; And though the face of Mussulman Not oft betrays to standers by The mind within, well skilled to hide All but unconquerable pride, His pensive cheek and pondering brow[fb] 30 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 pa.s.sed beyond the outer gate, (Woe to the head whose eye beheld My child Zuleika's face unveiled!) Hence, lead my daughter from her tower--[fc] 40 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: 50 For son of Moslem must expire, Ere dare to sit before his sire!

"Father! for fear that thou shouldst chide My sister, or her sable guide-- Know--for the fault, if fault there be, Was mine--then fall thy frowns on me!

So lovelily the morning shone, That--let the old and weary sleep-- I could not; and to view alone The fairest scenes of land and deep, 60 With none to listen and reply To thoughts with which my heart beat high Were irksome--for whate'er my mood, In sooth I love not solitude; I on Zuleika's slumber broke, And, as thou knowest that for me Soon turns the Haram's grating key, Before the guardian slaves awoke We to the cypress groves had flown, And made earth, main, and heaven our own! 70 There lingered we, beguiled too long With Mejnoun's tale, or Sadi's song;[fd][129]