Digtsamling

{
  "data": [
    {
      "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer",
      "line_count": "1220",
      "lines": [
        "THE PROLOGUE.",
        "",
        "\"SIR Clerk of Oxenford,\" our Hoste said,",
        "\"Ye ride as still and coy, as doth a maid",
        "That were new spoused, sitting at the board:",
        "This day I heard not of your tongue a word.",
        "I trow ye study about some sophime:",
        "But Solomon saith, every thing hath time.",
        "For Godde's sake, be of better cheer,",
        "It is no time for to study here.",
        "Tell us some merry tale, by your fay;",
        "For what man that is entered in a play,",
        "He needes must unto that play assent.",
        "But preache not, as friars do in Lent,",
        "To make us for our olde sinnes weep,",
        "Nor that thy tale make us not to sleep.",
        "Tell us some merry thing of aventures.",
        "Your terms, your coloures, and your figures,",
        "Keep them in store, till so be ye indite",
        "High style, as when that men to kinges write.",
        "Speake so plain at this time, I you pray,",
        "That we may understande what ye say.\"",
        "",
        "This worthy Clerk benignely answer'd;",
        "\"Hoste,\" quoth he, \"I am under your yerd,",
        "Ye have of us as now the governance,",
        "And therefore would I do you obeisance,",
        "As far as reason asketh, hardily:",
        "I will you tell a tale, which that I",
        "Learn'd at Padova of a worthy clerk,",
        "As proved by his wordes and his werk.",
        "He is now dead, and nailed in his chest,",
        "I pray to God to give his soul good rest.",
        "Francis Petrarc', the laureate poet,",
        "Highte this clerk, whose rhetoric so sweet",
        "Illumin'd all Itale of poetry,",
        "As Linian  did of philosophy,",
        "Or law, or other art particulere:",
        "But death, that will not suffer us dwell here",
        "But as it were a twinkling of an eye,",
        "Them both hath slain, and alle we shall die.",
        "",
        "\"But forth to tellen of this worthy man,",
        "That taughte me this tale, as I began,",
        "I say that first he with high style inditeth",
        "(Ere he the body of his tale writeth)",
        "A proem, in the which describeth he",
        "Piedmont, and of Saluces  the country,",
        "And speaketh of the Pennine hilles high,",
        "That be the bounds of all West Lombardy:",
        "And of Mount Vesulus in special,",
        "Where as the Po out of a welle small",
        "Taketh his firste springing and his source,",
        "That eastward aye increaseth in his course",
        "T'Emilia-ward,  to Ferraro, and Venice,",
        "The which a long thing were to devise.",
        "And truely, as to my judgement,",
        "Me thinketh it a thing impertinent,",
        "Save that he would conveye his mattere:",
        "But this is the tale, which that ye shall hear.\"",
        "",
        "THE TALE.",
        "",
        "Pars Prima.",
        "",
        "There is, right at the west side of Itale,",
        "Down at the root of Vesulus the cold,",
        "A lusty plain, abundant of vitaille;",
        "There many a town and tow'r thou may'st behold,",
        "That founded were in time of fathers old,",
        "And many another delectable sight;",
        "And Saluces this noble country hight.",
        "",
        "A marquis whilom lord was of that land,",
        "As were his worthy elders him before,",
        "And obedient, aye ready to his hand,",
        "Were all his lieges, bothe less and more:",
        "Thus in delight he liv'd, and had done yore,",
        "Belov'd and drad, through favour of fortune,",
        "Both of his lordes and of his commune.",
        "",
        "Therewith he was, to speak of lineage,",
        "The gentilest y-born of Lombardy,",
        "A fair person, and strong, and young of age,",
        "And full of honour and of courtesy:",
        "Discreet enough his country for to gie,",
        "Saving in some things that he was to blame;",
        "And Walter was this younge lordes name.",
        "",
        "I blame him thus, that he consider'd not",
        "In time coming what might him betide,",
        "But on his present lust was all his thought,",
        "And for to hawk and hunt on every side;",
        "Well nigh all other cares let he slide,",
        "And eke he would (that was the worst of all)",
        "Wedde no wife for aught that might befall.",
        "",
        "Only that point his people bare so sore,",
        "That flockmel on a day to him they went,",
        "And one of them, that wisest was of lore",
        "(Or elles that the lord would best assent",
        "That he should tell him what the people meant,",
        "Or elles could he well shew such mattere),",
        "He to the marquis said as ye shall hear.",
        "",
        "\"O noble Marquis! your humanity",
        "Assureth us and gives us hardiness,",
        "As oft as time is of necessity,",
        "That we to you may tell our heaviness:",
        "Accepte, Lord, now of your gentleness,",
        "What we with piteous heart unto you plain,",
        "And let your ears my voice not disdain.",
        "",
        "\"All have I nought to do in this mattere",
        "More than another man hath in this place,",
        "Yet forasmuch as ye, my Lord so dear,",
        "Have always shewed me favour and grace,",
        "I dare the better ask of you a space",
        "Of audience, to shewen our request,",
        "And ye, my Lord, to do right as you lest.",
        "",
        "\"For certes, Lord, so well us like you",
        "And all your work, and ev'r have done, that we",
        "Ne coulde not ourselves devise how",
        "We mighte live in more felicity:",
        "Save one thing, Lord, if that your will it be,",
        "That for to be a wedded man you lest;",
        "Then were your people in sovereign hearte's rest.",
        "",
        "\"Bowe your neck under the blissful yoke",
        "Of sovereignty, and not of service,",
        "Which that men call espousal or wedlock:",
        "And thinke, Lord, among your thoughtes wise,",
        "How that our dayes pass in sundry wise;",
        "For though we sleep, or wake, or roam, or ride,",
        "Aye fleeth time, it will no man abide.",
        "",
        "\"And though your greene youthe flow'r as yet,",
        "In creepeth age always as still as stone,",
        "And death menaceth every age, and smit",
        "In each estate, for there escapeth none:",
        "And all so certain as we know each one",
        "That we shall die, as uncertain we all",
        "Be of that day when death shall on us fall.",
        "",
        "\"Accepte then of us the true intent,",
        "That never yet refused youre hest,",
        "And we will, Lord, if that ye will assent,",
        "Choose you a wife, in short time at the lest,",
        "Born of the gentilest and of the best",
        "Of all this land, so that it ought to seem",
        "Honour to God and you, as we can deem.",
        "",
        "\"Deliver us out of all this busy dread,",
        "And take a wife, for highe Godde's sake:",
        "For if it so befell, as God forbid,",
        "That through your death your lineage should slake,",
        "And that a strange successor shoulde take",
        "Your heritage, oh! woe were us on live:",
        "Wherefore we pray you hastily to wive.\"",
        "",
        "Their meeke prayer and their piteous cheer",
        "Made the marquis for to have pity.",
        "\"Ye will,\" quoth he, \"mine owen people dear,",
        "To that I ne'er ere thought constraine me.",
        "I me rejoiced of my liberty,",
        "That seldom time is found in rnarriage;",
        "Where I was free, I must be in servage!",
        "",
        "\"But natheless I see your true intent,",
        "And trust upon your wit, and have done aye:",
        "Wherefore of my free will I will assent",
        "To wedde me, as soon as e'er I may.",
        "But whereas ye have proffer'd me to-day",
        "To choose me a wife, I you release",
        "That choice, and pray you of that proffer cease.",
        "",
        "\"For God it wot, that children often been",
        "Unlike their worthy elders them before,",
        "Bounte comes all of God, not of the strene",
        "Of which they be engender'd and y-bore:",
        "I trust in Godde's bounte, and therefore",
        "My marriage, and mine estate and rest,",
        "I him betake; he may do as him lest.",
        "",
        "\"Let me alone in choosing of my wife;",
        "That charge upon my back I will endure:",
        "But I you pray, and charge upon your life,",
        "That what wife that I take, ye me assure",
        "To worship her, while that her life may dure,",
        "In word and work both here and elleswhere,",
        "As she an emperore's daughter were.",
        "",
        "\"And farthermore this shall ye swear, that ye",
        "Against my choice shall never grudge nor strive.",
        "For since I shall forego my liberty",
        "At your request, as ever may I thrive,",
        "Where as mine heart is set, there will I live",
        "And but ye will assent in such mannere,",
        "I pray you speak no more of this mattere.\"",
        "",
        "With heartly will they sworen and assent",
        "To all this thing, there said not one wight nay:",
        "Beseeching him of grace, ere that they went,",
        "That he would grante them a certain day",
        "Of his espousal, soon as e'er he rnay,",
        "For yet always the people somewhat dread",
        "Lest that the marquis woulde no wife wed.",
        "",
        "He granted them a day, such as him lest,",
        "On which he would be wedded sickerly,",
        "And said he did all this at their request;",
        "And they with humble heart full buxomly,",
        "Kneeling upon their knees full reverently,",
        "Him thanked all; and thus they have an end",
        "Of their intent, and home again they wend.",
        "",
        "And hereupon he to his officers",
        "Commanded for the feaste to purvey.",
        "And to his privy knightes and squiers",
        "Such charge he gave, as him list on them lay:",
        "And they to his commandement obey,",
        "And each of them doth all his diligence",
        "To do unto the feast all reverence.",
        "",
        "Pars Secunda",
        "",
        "Not far from thilke palace honourable,",
        "Where as this marquis shope his marriage,",
        "There stood a thorp, of sighte delectable,",
        "In which the poore folk of that village",
        "Hadde their beastes and their harbourage,",
        "And of their labour took their sustenance,",
        "After the earthe gave them abundance.",
        "",
        "Among this poore folk there dwelt a man",
        "Which that was holden poorest of them all;",
        "But highe God sometimes sende can",
        "His grace unto a little ox's stall;",
        "Janicola men of that thorp him call.",
        "A daughter had he, fair enough to sight,",
        "And Griseldis this younge maiden hight.",
        "",
        "But for to speak of virtuous beauty,",
        "Then was she one the fairest under sun:",
        "Full poorely y-foster'd up was she;",
        "No likerous lust was in her heart y-run;",
        "Well ofter of the well than of the tun",
        "She drank,  and, for she woulde virtue please",
        "She knew well labour, but no idle ease.",
        "",
        "But though this maiden tender were of age;",
        "Yet in the breast of her virginity",
        "There was inclos'd a sad and ripe corage;",
        "And in great reverence and charity",
        "Her olde poore father foster'd she.",
        "A few sheep, spinning, on the field she kept,",
        "She woulde not be idle till she slept.",
        "",
        "And when she homeward came, she would bring",
        "Wortes, and other herbes, times oft,",
        "The which she shred and seeth'd for her living,",
        "And made her bed full hard, and nothing soft:",
        "And aye she kept her father's life on loft",
        "With ev'ry obeisance and diligence,",
        "That child may do to father's reverence.",
        "",
        "Upon Griselda, this poor creature,",
        "Full often sithes this marquis set his eye,",
        "As he on hunting rode, paraventure:",
        "And when it fell that he might her espy,",
        "He not with wanton looking of folly",
        "His eyen cast on her, but in sad wise",
        "Upon her cheer he would him oft advise;",
        "",
        "Commending in his heart her womanhead,",
        "And eke her virtue, passing any wight",
        "Of so young age, as well in cheer as deed.",
        "For though the people have no great insight",
        "In virtue, he considered full right",
        "Her bounte, and disposed that he would",
        "Wed only her, if ever wed he should.",
        "",
        "The day of wedding came, but no wight can",
        "Telle what woman that it shoulde be;",
        "For which marvail wonder'd many a man,",
        "And saide, when they were in privity,",
        "\"Will not our lord yet leave his vanity?",
        "Will he not wed?  Alas, alas the while!",
        "Why will he thus himself and us beguile?\"",
        "",
        "But natheless this marquis had done make",
        "Of gemmes, set in gold and in azure,",
        "Brooches and ringes, for Griselda's sake,",
        "And of her clothing took he the measure",
        "Of a maiden like unto her stature,",
        "And eke of other ornamentes all",
        "That unto such a wedding shoulde fall.",
        "",
        "The time of undern of the same day",
        "Approached, that this wedding shoulde be,",
        "And all the palace put was in array,",
        "Both hall and chamber, each in its degree,",
        "Houses of office stuffed with plenty",
        "There may'st thou see of dainteous vitaille,",
        "That may be found, as far as lasts Itale.",
        "",
        "This royal marquis, richely array'd,",
        "Lordes and ladies in his company,",
        "The which unto the feaste were pray'd,",
        "And of his retinue the bach'lery,",
        "With many a sound of sundry melody,",
        "Unto the village, of the which I told,",
        "In this array the right way did they hold.",
        "",
        "Griseld' of this (God wot) full innocent,",
        "That for her shapen was all this array,",
        "To fetche water at a well is went,",
        "And home she came as soon as e'er she may.",
        "For well she had heard say, that on that day",
        "The marquis shoulde wed, and, if she might,",
        "She fain would have seen somewhat of that sight.",
        "",
        "She thought, \"I will with other maidens stand,",
        "That be my fellows, in our door, and see",
        "The marchioness; and therefore will I fand",
        "To do at home, as soon as it may be,",
        "The labour which belongeth unto me,",
        "And then I may at leisure her behold,",
        "If she this way unto the castle hold.\"",
        "",
        "And as she would over the threshold gon,",
        "The marquis came and gan for her to call,",
        "And she set down her water-pot anon",
        "Beside the threshold, in an ox's stall,",
        "And down upon her knees she gan to fall,",
        "And with sad countenance kneeled still,",
        "Till she had heard what was the lorde's will.",
        "",
        "The thoughtful marquis spake unto the maid",
        "Full soberly, and said in this mannere:",
        "\"Where is your father, Griseldis?\" he said.",
        "And she with reverence, in humble cheer,",
        "Answered, \"Lord, he is all ready here.\"",
        "And in she went withoute longer let",
        "And to the marquis she her father fet.",
        "",
        "He by the hand then took the poore man,",
        "And saide thus, when he him had aside:",
        "\"Janicola, I neither may nor can",
        "Longer the pleasance of mine hearte hide;",
        "If that thou vouchesafe, whatso betide,",
        "Thy daughter will I take, ere that I wend,",
        "As for my wife, unto her life's end.",
        "",
        "\"Thou lovest me, that know I well certain,",
        "And art my faithful liegeman y-bore,",
        "And all that liketh me, I dare well sayn",
        "It liketh thee; and specially therefore",
        "Tell me that point, that I have said before, --",
        "If that thou wilt unto this purpose draw,",
        "To take me as for thy son-in-law.\"",
        "",
        "This sudden case the man astonied so,",
        "That red he wax'd, abash'd, and all quaking",
        "He stood; unnethes said he wordes mo',",
        "But only thus; \"Lord,\" quoth he, \"my willing",
        "Is as ye will, nor against your liking",
        "I will no thing, mine owen lord so dear;",
        "Right as you list governe this mattere.\"",
        "",
        "\"Then will I,\" quoth the marquis softely,",
        "\"That in thy chamber I, and thou, and she,",
        "Have a collation; and know'st thou why?",
        "For I will ask her, if her will it be",
        "To be my wife, and rule her after me:",
        "And all this shall be done in thy presence,",
        "I will not speak out of thine audience.\"",
        "",
        "And in the chamber while they were about",
        "The treaty, which ye shall hereafter hear,",
        "The people came into the house without,",
        "And wonder'd them in how honest mannere",
        "And tenderly she kept her father dear;",
        "But utterly Griseldis wonder might,",
        "For never erst ne saw she such a sight.",
        "",
        "No wonder is though that she be astoned,",
        "To see so great a guest come in that place,",
        "She never was to no such guestes woned;",
        "For which she looked with full pale face.",
        "But shortly forth this matter for to chase,",
        "These are the wordes that the marquis said",
        "To this benigne, very, faithful maid.",
        "",
        "\"Griseld',\" he said, \"ye shall well understand,",
        "It liketh to your father and to me",
        "That I you wed, and eke it may so stand,",
        "As I suppose ye will that it so be:",
        "But these demandes ask I first,\" quoth he,",
        "\"Since that it shall be done in hasty wise;",
        "Will ye assent, or elles you advise?",
        "",
        "\"I say this, be ye ready with good heart",
        "To all my lust, and that I freely may,",
        "As me best thinketh, do you laugh or smart,",
        "And never ye to grudge, night nor day,",
        "And eke when I say Yea, ye say not Nay,",
        "Neither by word, nor frowning countenance?",
        "Swear this, and here I swear our alliance.\"",
        "",
        "Wond'ring upon this word, quaking for dread,",
        "She saide; \"Lord, indigne and unworthy",
        "Am I to this honour that ye me bede,",
        "But as ye will yourself, right so will I:",
        "And here I swear, that never willingly",
        "In word or thought I will you disobey,",
        "For to be dead; though me were loth to dey.\"",
        "",
        "\"This is enough, Griselda mine,\" quoth he.",
        "And forth he went with a full sober cheer,",
        "Out at the door, and after then came she,",
        "And to the people he said in this mannere:",
        "\"This is my wife,\" quoth he, \"that standeth here.",
        "Honoure her, and love her, I you pray,",
        "Whoso me loves; there is no more to say.\"",
        "",
        "And, for that nothing of her olde gear",
        "She shoulde bring into his house, he bade",
        "That women should despoile her right there;",
        "Of which these ladies were nothing glad",
        "To handle her clothes wherein she was clad:",
        "But natheless this maiden bright of hue",
        "From foot to head they clothed have all new.",
        "",
        "Her haires have they comb'd that lay untress'd",
        "Full rudely, and with their fingers small",
        "A crown upon her head they have dress'd,",
        "And set her full of nouches  great and small:",
        "Of her array why should I make a tale?",
        "Unneth the people her knew for her fairness,",
        "When she transmuted was in such richess.",
        "",
        "The marquis hath her spoused with a ring",
        "Brought for the same cause, and then her set",
        "Upon a horse snow-white, and well ambling,",
        "And to his palace, ere he longer let",
        "With joyful people, that her led and met,",
        "Conveyed her; and thus the day they spend",
        "In revel, till the sunne gan descend.",
        "",
        "And, shortly forth this tale for to chase,",
        "I say, that to this newe marchioness",
        "God hath such favour sent her of his grace,",
        "That it ne seemed not by likeliness",
        "That she was born and fed in rudeness, --",
        "As in a cot, or in an ox's stall, --",
        "But nourish'd in an emperore's hall.",
        "",
        "To every wight she waxen is so dear",
        "And worshipful, that folk where she was born,",
        "That from her birthe knew her year by year,",
        "Unnethes trowed they, but durst have sworn,",
        "That to Janicol' of whom I spake before,",
        "She was not daughter, for by conjecture",
        "Them thought she was another creature.",
        "",
        "For though that ever virtuous was she,",
        "She was increased in such excellence",
        "Of thewes good, y-set in high bounte,",
        "And so discreet, and fair of eloquence,",
        "So benign, and so digne of reverence,",
        "And coulde so the people's heart embrace,",
        "That each her lov'd that looked on her face.",
        "",
        "Not only of Saluces in the town",
        "Published was the bounte of her name,",
        "But eke besides in many a regioun;",
        "If one said well, another said the same:",
        "So spread of here high bounte the fame,",
        "That men and women, young as well as old,",
        "Went to Saluces, her for to behold.",
        "",
        "Thus Walter lowly, -- nay, but royally,-",
        "Wedded with fortn'ate honestete,",
        "In Godde's peace lived full easily",
        "At home, and outward grace enough had he:",
        "And, for he saw that under low degree",
        "Was honest virtue hid, the people him held",
        "A prudent man, and that is seen full seld'.",
        "",
        "Not only this Griseldis through her wit",
        "Couth all the feat of wifely homeliness,",
        "But eke, when that the case required it,",
        "The common profit coulde she redress:",
        "There n'as discord, rancour, nor heaviness",
        "In all the land, that she could not appease,",
        "And wisely bring them all in rest and ease",
        "",
        "Though that her husband absent were or non,",
        "If gentlemen or other of that country,",
        "Were wroth, she woulde bringe them at one,",
        "So wise and ripe wordes hadde she,",
        "And judgement of so great equity,",
        "That she from heaven sent was, as men wend,",
        "People to save, and every wrong t'amend",
        "",
        "Not longe time after that this Griseld'",
        "Was wedded, she a daughter had y-bore;",
        "All she had lever borne a knave child,",
        "Glad was the marquis and his folk therefore;",
        "For, though a maiden child came all before,",
        "She may unto a knave child attain",
        "By likelihood, since she is not barren.",
        "",
        "Pars Tertia.",
        "",
        "There fell, as falleth many times mo',",
        "When that his child had sucked but a throw,",
        "This marquis in his hearte longed so",
        "To tempt his wife, her sadness for to know,",
        "That he might not out of his hearte throw",
        "This marvellous desire his wife t'asssay;",
        "Needless, God wot, he thought her to affray.",
        "",
        "He had assayed her anough before,",
        "And found her ever good; what needed it",
        "Her for to tempt, and always more and more?",
        "Though some men praise it for a subtle wit,",
        "But as for me, I say that evil it sit",
        "T'assay a wife when that it is no need,",
        "And putte her in anguish and in dread.",
        "",
        "For which this marquis wrought in this mannere:",
        "He came at night alone there as she lay,",
        "With sterne face and with full troubled cheer,",
        "And saide thus; \"Griseld',\" quoth he \"that day",
        "That I you took out of your poor array,",
        "And put you in estate of high nobless,",
        "Ye have it not forgotten, as I guess.",
        "",
        "\"I say, Griseld', this present dignity,",
        "In which that I have put you, as I trow",
        "Maketh you not forgetful for to be",
        "That I you took in poor estate full low,",
        "For any weal you must yourselfe know.",
        "Take heed of every word that I you say,",
        "There is no wight that hears it but we tway.",
        "",
        "\"Ye know yourself well how that ye came here",
        "Into this house, it is not long ago;",
        "And though to me ye be right lefe and dear,",
        "Unto my gentles ye be nothing so:",
        "They say, to them it is great shame and woe",
        "For to be subject, and be in servage,",
        "To thee, that born art of small lineage.",
        "",
        "\"And namely since thy daughter was y-bore",
        "These wordes have they spoken doubteless;",
        "But I desire, as I have done before,",
        "To live my life with them in rest and peace:",
        "I may not in this case be reckeless;",
        "I must do with thy daughter for the best,",
        "Not as I would, but as my gentles lest.",
        "",
        "\"And yet, God wot, this is full loth to me:",
        "But natheless withoute your weeting",
        "I will nought do; but this will I,\" quoth he,",
        "\"That ye to me assenten in this thing.",
        "Shew now your patience in your working,",
        "That ye me hight and swore in your village",
        "The day that maked was our marriage.\"",
        "",
        "When she had heard all this, she not amev'd",
        "Neither in word, in cheer, nor countenance",
        "(For, as it seemed, she was not aggriev'd);",
        "She saide; \"Lord, all lies in your pleasance,",
        "My child and I, with hearty obeisance",
        "Be youres all, and ye may save or spill",
        "Your owen thing: work then after your will.",
        "",
        "\"There may no thing, so God my soule save,",
        "Like to you, that may displease me:",
        "Nor I desire nothing for to have,",
        "Nor dreade for to lose, save only ye:",
        "This will is in mine heart, and aye shall be,",
        "No length of time, nor death, may this deface,",
        "Nor change my corage to another place.\"",
        "",
        "Glad was the marquis for her answering,",
        "But yet he feigned as he were not so;",
        "All dreary was his cheer and his looking",
        "When that he should out of the chamber go.",
        "Soon after this, a furlong way or two,",
        "He privily hath told all his intent",
        "Unto a man, and to his wife him sent.",
        "",
        "A manner sergeant was this private man,",
        "The which he faithful often founden had",
        "In thinges great, and eke such folk well can",
        "Do execution in thinges bad:",
        "The lord knew well, that he him loved and drad.",
        "And when this sergeant knew his lorde's will,",
        "Into the chamber stalked he full still.",
        "",
        "\"Madam,\" he said, \"ye must forgive it me,",
        "Though I do thing to which I am constrain'd;",
        "Ye be so wise, that right well knowe ye",
        "That lordes' hestes may not be y-feign'd;",
        "They may well be bewailed and complain'd,",
        "But men must needs unto their lust obey;",
        "And so will I, there is no more to say.",
        "",
        "\"This child I am commanded for to take.\"",
        "And spake no more, but out the child he hent",
        "Dispiteously, and gan a cheer to make",
        "As though he would have slain it ere he went.",
        "Griseldis must all suffer and consent:",
        "And as a lamb she sat there meek and still,",
        "And let this cruel sergeant do his will",
        "",
        "Suspicious was the diffame of this man,",
        "Suspect his face, suspect his word also,",
        "Suspect the time in which he this began:",
        "Alas! her daughter, that she loved so,",
        "She weened he would have it slain right tho,",
        "But natheless she neither wept nor siked,",
        "Conforming her to what the marquis liked.",
        "",
        "But at the last to speake she began,",
        "And meekly she unto the sergeant pray'd,",
        "So as he was a worthy gentle man,",
        "That she might kiss her child, ere that it died:",
        "And in her barme this little child she laid,",
        "With full sad face, and gan the child to bless,",
        "And lulled it, and after gan it kiss.",
        "",
        "And thus she said in her benigne voice:",
        "Farewell, my child, I shall thee never see;",
        "But since I have thee marked with the cross,",
        "Of that father y-blessed may'st thou be",
        "That for us died upon a cross of tree:",
        "Thy soul, my little child, I him betake,",
        "For this night shalt thou dien for my sake.",
        "",
        "I trow that to a norice in this case",
        "It had been hard this ruthe for to see:",
        "Well might a mother then have cried, \"Alas!\"",
        "But natheless so sad steadfast was she,",
        "That she endured all adversity,",
        "And to the sergeant meekely she said,",
        "\"Have here again your little younge maid.",
        "",
        "\"Go now,\" quoth she, \"and do my lord's behest.",
        "And one thing would I pray you of your grace,",
        "But if my lord forbade you at the least,",
        "Bury this little body in some place,",
        "That neither beasts nor birdes it arace.\"",
        "But he no word would to that purpose say,",
        "But took the child and went upon his way.",
        "",
        "The sergeant came unto his lord again,",
        "And of Griselda's words and of her cheer",
        "He told him point for point, in short and plain,",
        "And him presented with his daughter dear.",
        "Somewhat this lord had ruth in his mannere,",
        "But natheless his purpose held he still,",
        "As lordes do, when they will have their will;",
        "",
        "And bade this sergeant that he privily",
        "Shoulde the child full softly wind and wrap,",
        "With alle circumstances tenderly,",
        "And carry it in a coffer, or in lap;",
        "But, upon pain his head off for to swap,",
        "That no man shoulde know of his intent,",
        "Nor whence he came, nor whither that he went;",
        "",
        "But at Bologna, to his sister dear,",
        "That at that time of Panic' was Countess,",
        "He should it take, and shew her this mattere,",
        "Beseeching her to do her business",
        "This child to foster in all gentleness,",
        "And whose child it was he bade her hide",
        "From every wight, for aught that might betide.",
        "",
        "The sergeant went, and hath fulfill'd this thing.",
        "But to the marquis now returne we;",
        "For now went he full fast imagining",
        "If by his wife's cheer he mighte see,",
        "Or by her wordes apperceive, that she",
        "Were changed; but he never could her find,",
        "But ever-in-one alike sad and kind.",
        "",
        "As glad, as humble, as busy in service,",
        "And eke in love, as she was wont to be,",
        "Was she to him, in every manner wise;",
        "And of her daughter not a word spake she;",
        "No accident for no adversity",
        "Was seen in her, nor e'er her daughter's name",
        "She named, or in earnest or in game.",
        "",
        "Pars Quarta",
        "",
        "In this estate there passed be four year",
        "Ere she with childe was; but, as God wo'ld,",
        "A knave child she bare by this Waltere,",
        "Full gracious and fair for to behold;",
        "And when that folk it to his father told,",
        "Not only he, but all his country, merry",
        "Were for this child, and God they thank and hery.",
        "",
        "When it was two year old, and from the breast",
        "Departed of the norice, on a day",
        "This marquis caughte yet another lest",
        "To tempt his wife yet farther, if he may.",
        "Oh! needless was she tempted in as say;",
        "But wedded men not connen no measure,",
        "When that they find a patient creature.",
        "",
        "\"Wife,\" quoth the marquis, \"ye have heard ere this",
        "My people sickly bear our marriage;",
        "And namely since my son y-boren is,",
        "Now is it worse than ever in all our age:",
        "The murmur slays mine heart and my corage,",
        "For to mine ears cometh the voice so smart,",
        "That it well nigh destroyed hath mine heart.",
        "",
        "\"Now say they thus, 'When Walter is y-gone,",
        "Then shall the blood of Janicol' succeed,",
        "And be our lord, for other have we none:'",
        "Such wordes say my people, out of drede.",
        "Well ought I of such murmur take heed,",
        "For certainly I dread all such sentence,",
        "Though they not plainen in mine audience.",
        "",
        "\"I woulde live in peace, if that I might;",
        "Wherefore I am disposed utterly,",
        "As I his sister served ere by night,",
        "Right so think I to serve him privily.",
        "This warn I you, that ye not suddenly",
        "Out of yourself for no woe should outraie;",
        "Be patient, and thereof I you pray.\"",
        "",
        "\"I have,\" quoth she, \"said thus, and ever shall,",
        "I will no thing, nor n'ill no thing, certain,",
        "But as you list; not grieveth me at all",
        "Though that my daughter and my son be slain",
        "At your commandement; that is to sayn,",
        "I have not had no part of children twain,",
        "But first sickness, and after woe and pain.",
        "",
        "\"Ye be my lord, do with your owen thing",
        "Right as you list, and ask no rede of me:",
        "For, as I left at home all my clothing",
        "When I came first to you, right so,\" quoth she,",
        "\"Left I my will and all my liberty,",
        "And took your clothing: wherefore I you pray,",
        "Do your pleasance, I will your lust obey.",
        "",
        "\"And, certes, if I hadde prescience",
        "Your will to know, ere ye your lust me told,",
        "I would it do withoute negligence:",
        "But, now I know your lust, and what ye wo'ld,",
        "All your pleasance firm and stable I hold;",
        "For, wist I that my death might do you ease,",
        "Right gladly would I dien you to please.",
        "",
        "\"Death may not make no comparisoun",
        "Unto your love.\" And when this marquis say",
        "The constance of his wife,  he cast adown",
        "His eyen two, and wonder'd how she may",
        "In patience suffer all this array;",
        "And forth he went with dreary countenance;",
        "But to his heart it was full great pleasance.",
        "",
        "This ugly sergeant, in the same wise",
        "That he her daughter caught, right so hath he",
        "(Or worse, if men can any worse devise,)",
        "Y-hent her son, that full was of beauty:",
        "And ever-in-one so patient was she,",
        "That she no cheere made of heaviness,",
        "But kiss'd her son, and after gan him bless.",
        "",
        "Save this she prayed him, if that he might,",
        "Her little son he would in earthe grave,",
        "His tender limbes, delicate to sight,",
        "From fowles and from beastes for to save.",
        "But she none answer of him mighte have;",
        "He went his way, as him nothing ne raught,",
        "But to Bologna tenderly it brought.",
        "",
        "The marquis wonder'd ever longer more",
        "Upon her patience; and, if that he",
        "Not hadde soothly knowen therebefore",
        "That perfectly her children loved she,",
        "He would have ween'd that of some subtilty,",
        "And of malice, or for cruel corage,",
        "She hadde suffer'd this with sad visage.",
        "",
        "But well he knew, that, next himself, certain",
        "She lov'd her children best in every wise.",
        "But now of women would I aske fain,",
        "If these assayes mighte not suffice?",
        "What could a sturdy husband more devise",
        "To prove her wifehood and her steadfastness,",
        "And he continuing ev'r in sturdiness?",
        "",
        "But there be folk of such condition,",
        "That, when they have a certain purpose take,",
        "Thiey cannot stint of their intention,",
        "But, right as they were bound unto a stake,",
        "They will not of their firste purpose slake:",
        "Right so this marquis fully hath purpos'd",
        "To tempt his wife, as he was first dispos'd.",
        "",
        "He waited, if by word or countenance",
        "That she to him was changed of corage:",
        "But never could he finde variance,",
        "She was aye one in heart and in visage,",
        "And aye the farther that she was in age,",
        "The more true (if that it were possible)",
        "She was to him in love, and more penible.",
        "",
        "For which it seemed thus, that of them two",
        "There was but one will; for, as Walter lest,",
        "The same pleasance was her lust also;",
        "And, God be thanked, all fell for the best.",
        "She shewed well, for no worldly unrest,",
        "A wife as of herself no thinge should",
        "Will, in effect, but as her husbaud would.",
        "",
        "The sland'r of Walter wondrous wide sprad,",
        "That of a cruel heart he wickedly,",
        "For he a poore woman wedded had,",
        "Had murder'd both his children privily:",
        "Such murmur was among them commonly.",
        "No wonder is: for to the people's ear",
        "There came no word, but that they murder'd were.",
        "",
        "For which, whereas his people therebefore",
        "Had lov'd him well, the sland'r of his diffame",
        "Made them that they him hated therefore.",
        "To be a murd'rer is a hateful name.",
        "But natheless, for earnest or for game,",
        "He of his cruel purpose would not stent;",
        "To tempt his wife was set all his intent.",
        "",
        "When that his daughter twelve year was of age,",
        "He to the Court of Rome, in subtle wise",
        "Informed of his will, sent his message,",
        "Commanding him such bulles to devise",
        "As to his cruel purpose may suffice,",
        "How that the Pope, for his people's rest,",
        "Bade him to wed another, if him lest.",
        "",
        "I say he bade they shoulde counterfeit",
        "The Pope's bulles, making mention",
        "That he had leave his firste wife to lete,",
        "To stinte rancour and dissension",
        "Betwixt his people and him: thus spake the bull,",
        "The which they have published at full.",
        "",
        "The rude people, as no wonder is,",
        "Weened full well that it had been right so:",
        "But, when these tidings came to Griseldis.",
        "I deeme that her heart was full of woe;",
        "But she, alike sad for evermo',",
        "Disposed was, this humble creature,",
        "Th' adversity of fortune all t' endure;",
        "",
        "Abiding ever his lust and his pleasance,",
        "To whom that she was given, heart and all,",
        "As to her very worldly suffisance.",
        "But, shortly if this story tell I shall,",
        "The marquis written hath in special",
        "A letter, in which he shewed his intent,",
        "And secretly it to Bologna sent.",
        "",
        "To th' earl of Panico, which hadde tho",
        "Wedded his sister, pray'd he specially",
        "To bringe home again his children two",
        "In honourable estate all openly:",
        "But one thing he him prayed utterly,",
        "That he to no wight, though men would inquere,",
        "Shoulde not tell whose children that they were,",
        "",
        "But say, the maiden should y-wedded be",
        "Unto the marquis of Saluce anon.",
        "And as this earl was prayed, so did he,",
        "For, at day set, he on his way is gone",
        "Toward Saluce, and lorde's many a one",
        "In rich array, this maiden for to guide, --",
        "Her younge brother riding her beside.",
        "",
        "Arrayed was toward her marriage",
        "This freshe maiden, full of gemmes clear;",
        "Her brother, which that seven year was of age,",
        "Arrayed eke full fresh in his mannere:",
        "And thus, in great nobless, and with glad cheer,",
        "Toward Saluces shaping their journey,",
        "From day to day they rode upon their way.",
        "",
        "Pars Quinta.",
        "",
        "Among all this, after his wick' usage,",
        "The marquis, yet his wife to tempte more",
        "To the uttermost proof of her corage,",
        "Fully to have experience and lore",
        "If that she were as steadfast as before,",
        "He on a day, in open audience,",
        "Full boisterously said her this sentence:",
        "",
        "\"Certes, Griseld', I had enough pleasance",
        "To have you to my wife, for your goodness,",
        "And for your truth, and for your obeisance,",
        "Not for your lineage, nor for your richess;",
        "But now know I, in very soothfastness,",
        "That in great lordship, if I well advise,",
        "There is great servitude in sundry wise.",
        "",
        "\"I may not do as every ploughman may:",
        "My people me constraineth for to take",
        "Another wife, and cryeth day by day;",
        "And eke the Pope, rancour for to slake,",
        "Consenteth it, that dare I undertake:",
        "And truely, thus much I will you say,",
        "My newe wife is coming by the way.",
        "",
        "\"Be strong of heart, and void anon her place;",
        "And thilke dower that ye brought to me,",
        "Take it again, I grant it of my grace.",
        "Returne to your father's house,\" quoth he;",
        "\"No man may always have prosperity;",
        "With even heart I rede you to endure",
        "The stroke of fortune or of aventure.\"",
        "",
        "And she again answer'd in patience:",
        "\"My Lord,\" quoth she, \"I know, and knew alway,",
        "How that betwixte your magnificence",
        "And my povert' no wight nor can nor may",
        "Make comparison, it is no nay;",
        "I held me never digne in no mannere",
        "To be your wife, nor yet your chamberere.",
        "",
        "\"And in this house, where ye me lady made,",
        "(The highe God take I for my witness,",
        "And all so wisly he my soule glade),",
        "I never held me lady nor mistress,",
        "But humble servant to your worthiness,",
        "And ever shall, while that my life may dure,",
        "Aboven every worldly creature.",
        "",
        "\"That ye so long, of your benignity,",
        "Have holden me in honour and nobley,",
        "Where as I was not worthy for to be,",
        "That thank I God and you, to whom I pray",
        "Foryield it you; there is no more to say:",
        "Unto my father gladly will I wend,",
        "And with him dwell, unto my lifes end,",
        "",
        "\"Where I was foster'd as a child full small,",
        "Till I be dead my life there will I lead,",
        "A widow clean in body, heart, and all.",
        "For since I gave to you my maidenhead,",
        "And am your true wife, it is no dread,",
        "God shielde such a lordes wife to take",
        "Another man to husband or to make.",
        "",
        "\"And of your newe wife, God of his grace",
        "So grant you weal and all prosperity:",
        "For I will gladly yield to her my place,",
        "In which that I was blissful wont to be.",
        "For since it liketh you, my Lord,\" quoth she,",
        "\"That whilom weren all mine hearte's rest,",
        "That I shall go, I will go when you lest.",
        "",
        "\"But whereas ye me proffer such dowaire",
        "As I first brought, it is well in my mind,",
        "It was my wretched clothes, nothing fair,",
        "The which to me were hard now for to find.",
        "O goode God! how gentle and how kind",
        "Ye seemed by your speech and your visage,",
        "The day that maked was our marriage!",
        "",
        "\"But sooth is said, -- algate I find it true,",
        "For in effect it proved is on me, --",
        "Love is not old as when that it is new.",
        "But certes, Lord, for no adversity,",
        "To dien in this case, it shall not be",
        "That e'er in word or work I shall repent",
        "That I you gave mine heart in whole intent.",
        "",
        "\"My Lord, ye know that in my father's place",
        "Ye did me strip out of my poore weed,",
        "And richely ye clad me of your grace;",
        "To you brought I nought elles, out of dread,",
        "But faith, and nakedness, and maidenhead;",
        "And here again your clothing I restore,",
        "And eke your wedding ring for evermore.",
        "",
        "\"The remnant of your jewels ready be",
        "Within your chamber, I dare safely sayn:",
        "Naked out of my father's house,\" quoth she,",
        "\"I came, and naked I must turn again.",
        "All your pleasance would I follow fain:",
        "But yet I hope it be not your intent",
        "That smockless I out of your palace went.",
        "",
        "\"Ye could not do so dishonest a thing,",
        "That thilke womb, in which your children lay,",
        "Shoulde before the people, in my walking,",
        "Be seen all bare: and therefore I you pray,",
        "Let me not like a worm go by the way:",
        "Remember you, mine owen Lord so dear,",
        "I was your wife, though I unworthy were.",
        "",
        "\"Wherefore, in guerdon of my maidenhead,",
        "Which that I brought and not again I bear,",
        "As vouchesafe to give me to my meed",
        "But such a smock as I was wont to wear,",
        "That I therewith may wrie the womb of her",
        "That was your wife: and here I take my leave",
        "Of you, mine owen Lord, lest I you grieve.\"",
        "",
        "\"The smock,\" quoth he, \"that thou hast on thy back,",
        "Let it be still, and bear it forth with thee.\"",
        "But well unnethes thilke word he spake,",
        "But went his way for ruth and for pity.",
        "Before the folk herselfe stripped she,",
        "And in her smock, with foot and head all bare,",
        "Toward her father's house forth is she fare.",
        "",
        "The folk her follow'd weeping on her way,",
        "And fortune aye they cursed as they gon:",
        "But she from weeping kept her eyen drey,",
        "Nor in this time worde spake she none.",
        "Her father, that this tiding heard anon,",
        "Cursed the day and time, that nature",
        "Shope him to be a living creature.",
        "",
        "For, out of doubt, this olde poore man",
        "Was ever in suspect of her marriage:",
        "For ever deem'd he, since it first began,",
        "That when the lord fulfill'd had his corage,",
        "He woulde think it were a disparage",
        "To his estate, so low for to alight,",
        "And voide her as soon as e'er he might.",
        "",
        "Against his daughter hastily went he",
        "(For he by noise of folk knew her coming),",
        "And with her olde coat, as it might be,",
        "He cover'd her, full sorrowfully weeping:",
        "But on her body might he it not bring,",
        "For rude was the cloth, and more of age",
        "By dayes fele than at her marriage.",
        "",
        "Thus with her father for a certain space",
        "Dwelled this flow'r of wifely patience,",
        "That neither by her words nor by her face,",
        "Before the folk nor eke in their absence,",
        "Ne shewed she that her was done offence,",
        "Nor of her high estate no remembrance",
        "Ne hadde she, as by her countenance.",
        "",
        "No wonder is, for in her great estate",
        "Her ghost was ever in plein humility;",
        "No tender mouth, no hearte delicate,",
        "No pomp, and no semblant of royalty;",
        "But full of patient benignity,",
        "Discreet and prideless, aye honourable,",
        "And to her husband ever meek and stable.",
        "",
        "Men speak of Job, and most for his humbless,",
        "As clerkes, when them list, can well indite,",
        "Namely of men; but, as in soothfastness,",
        "Though clerkes praise women but a lite,",
        "There can no man in humbless him acquite",
        "As women can, nor can be half so true",
        "As women be, but it be fall of new.",
        "",
        "Pars Sexta",
        "",
        "From Bologn' is the earl of Panic' come,",
        "Of which the fame up sprang to more and less;",
        "And to the people's eares all and some",
        "Was know'n eke, that a newe marchioness",
        "He with him brought, in such pomp and richess",
        "That never was there seen with manne's eye",
        "So noble array in all West Lombardy.",
        "",
        "The marquis, which that shope and knew all this,",
        "Ere that the earl was come, sent his message",
        "For thilke poore sely Griseldis;",
        "And she, with humble heart and glad visage,",
        "Nor with no swelling thought in her corage,",
        "Came at his hest, and on her knees her set,",
        "And rev'rently and wisely she him gret.",
        "",
        "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, \"my will is utterly,",
        "This maiden, that shall wedded be to me,",
        "Received be to-morrow as royally",
        "As it possible is in my house to be;",
        "And eke that every wight in his degree",
        "Have his estate in sitting and service,",
        "And in high pleasance, as I can devise.",
        "",
        "\"I have no women sufficient, certain,",
        "The chambers to array in ordinance",
        "After my lust; and therefore would I fain",
        "That thine were all such manner governance:",
        "Thou knowest eke of old all my pleasance;",
        "Though thine array be bad, and ill besey,",
        "Do thou thy devoir at the leaste way.\"",
        "",
        "\"Not only, Lord, that I am glad,\" quoth she,",
        "\"To do your lust, but I desire also",
        "You for to serve and please in my degree,",
        "Withoute fainting, and shall evermo':",
        "Nor ever for no weal, nor for no woe,",
        "Ne shall the ghost within mine hearte stent",
        "To love you best with all my true intent.\"",
        "",
        "And with that word she gan the house to dight,",
        "And tables for to set, and beds to make,",
        "And pained her to do all that she might,",
        "Praying the chambereres for Godde's sake",
        "To hasten them, and faste sweep and shake,",
        "And she the most serviceable of all",
        "Hath ev'ry chamber arrayed, and his hall.",
        "",
        "Aboute undern gan the earl alight,",
        "That with him brought these noble children tway;",
        "For which the people ran to see the sight",
        "Of their array, so richely besey;",
        "And then at erst amonges them they say,",
        "That Walter was no fool, though that him lest",
        "To change his wife; for it was for the best.",
        "",
        "For she is fairer, as they deemen all,",
        "Than is Griseld', and more tender of age,",
        "And fairer fruit between them shoulde fall,",
        "And more pleasant, for her high lineage:",
        "Her brother eke so fair was of visage,",
        "That them to see the people hath caught pleasance,",
        "Commending now the marquis' governance.",
        "",
        "\"O stormy people, unsad and ev'r untrue,",
        "And undiscreet, and changing as a vane,",
        "Delighting ev'r in rumour that is new,",
        "For like the moon so waxe ye and wane:",
        "Aye full of clapping, dear enough a jane,",
        "Your doom is false, your constance evil preveth,",
        "A full great fool is he that you believeth.\"",
        "",
        "Thus saide the sad folk in that city,",
        "When that the people gazed up and down;",
        "For they were glad, right for the novelty,",
        "To have a newe lady of their town.",
        "No more of this now make I mentioun,",
        "But to Griseld' again I will me dress,",
        "And tell her constancy and business.",
        "",
        "Full busy was Griseld' in ev'ry thing",
        "That to the feaste was appertinent;",
        "Right nought was she abash'd of her clothing,",
        "Though it were rude, and somedeal eke to-rent;",
        "But with glad cheer unto the gate she went",
        "With other folk, to greet the marchioness,",
        "And after that did forth her business.",
        "",
        "With so glad cheer his guestes she receiv'd",
        "And so conningly each in his degree,",
        "That no defaulte no man apperceiv'd,",
        "But aye they wonder'd what she mighte be",
        "That in so poor array was for to see,",
        "And coude such honour and reverence;",
        "And worthily they praise her prudence.",
        "",
        "In all this meane while she not stent",
        "This maid, and eke her brother, to commend",
        "With all her heart in full benign intent,",
        "So well, that no man could her praise amend:",
        "But at the last, when that these lordes wend",
        "To sitte down to meat, he gan to call",
        "Griseld', as she was busy in the hall.",
        "",
        "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, as it were in his play,",
        "\"How liketh thee my wife, and her beauty?\"",
        "\"Right well, my Lord,\" quoth she, \"for, in good fay,",
        "A fairer saw I never none than she:",
        "I pray to God give you prosperity;",
        "And so I hope, that he will to you send",
        "Pleasance enough unto your lives end.",
        "",
        "\"One thing beseech I you, and warn also,",
        "That ye not pricke with no tormenting",
        "This tender maiden, as ye have done mo:",
        "For she is foster'd in her nourishing",
        "More tenderly, and, to my supposing,",
        "She mighte not adversity endure",
        "As could a poore foster'd creature.\"",
        "",
        "And when this Walter saw her patience,",
        "Her gladde cheer, and no malice at all,",
        "And he so often had her done offence,",
        "And she aye sad and constant as a wall,",
        "Continuing ev'r her innocence o'er all,",
        "The sturdy marquis gan his hearte dress",
        "To rue upon her wifely steadfastness.",
        "",
        "\"This is enough, Griselda mine,\" quoth he,",
        "\"Be now no more aghast, nor evil paid,",
        "I have thy faith and thy benignity",
        "As well as ever woman was, assay'd,",
        "In great estate and poorely array'd:",
        "Now know I, deare wife, thy steadfastness;\"",
        "And her in arms he took, and gan to kiss.",
        "",
        "And she for wonder took of it no keep;",
        "She hearde not what thing he to her said:",
        "She far'd as she had start out of a sleep,",
        "Till she out of her mazedness abraid.",
        "\"Griseld',\" quoth he, \"by God that for us died,",
        "Thou art my wife, none other I have,",
        "Nor ever had, as God my soule save.",
        "",
        "\"This is thy daughter, which thou hast suppos'd",
        "To be my wife; that other faithfully",
        "Shall be mine heir, as I have aye dispos'd;",
        "Thou bare them of thy body truely:",
        "At Bologna kept I them privily:",
        "Take them again, for now may'st thou not say",
        "That thou hast lorn none of thy children tway.",
        "",
        "\"And folk, that otherwise have said of me,",
        "I warn them well, that I have done this deed",
        "For no malice, nor for no cruelty,",
        "But to assay in thee thy womanhead:",
        "And not to slay my children (God forbid),",
        "But for to keep them privily and still,",
        "Till I thy purpose knew, and all thy will.\"",
        "",
        "When she this heard, in swoon adown she falleth",
        "For piteous joy; and after her swooning,",
        "She both her younge children to her calleth,",
        "And in her armes piteously weeping",
        "Embraced them, and tenderly kissing,",
        "Full like a mother, with her salte tears",
        "She bathed both their visage and their hairs.",
        "",
        "O, what a piteous thing it was to see",
        "Her swooning, and her humble voice to hear!",
        "\"Grand mercy, Lord, God thank it you,\" quoth she,",
        "That ye have saved me my children dear;",
        "Now reck I never to be dead right here;",
        "Since I stand in your love, and in your grace,",
        "No force of death, nor when my spirit pace.",
        "",
        "\"O tender, O dear, O young children mine,",
        "Your woeful mother weened steadfastly",
        "That cruel houndes, or some foul vermine,",
        "Had eaten you; but God of his mercy,",
        "And your benigne father tenderly",
        "Have done you keep:\" and in that same stound",
        "All suddenly she swapt down to the ground.",
        "",
        "And in her swoon so sadly holdeth she",
        "Her children two, when she gan them embrace,",
        "That with great sleight and great difficulty",
        "The children from her arm they can arace,",
        "O! many a tear on many a piteous face",
        "Down ran of them that stoode her beside,",
        "Unneth' aboute her might they abide.",
        "",
        "Walter her gladdeth, and her sorrow slaketh:",
        "She riseth up abashed from her trance,",
        "And every wight her joy and feaste maketh,",
        "Till she hath caught again her countenance.",
        "Walter her doth so faithfully pleasance,",
        "That it was dainty for to see the cheer",
        "Betwixt them two, since they be met in fere.",
        "",
        "The ladies, when that they their time sey,",
        "Have taken her, and into chamber gone,",
        "And stripped her out of her rude array,",
        "And in a cloth of gold that brightly shone,",
        "And with a crown of many a riche stone",
        "Upon her head, they into hall her brought:",
        "And there she was honoured as her ought.",
        "",
        "Thus had this piteous day a blissful end;",
        "For every man and woman did his might",
        "This day in mirth and revel to dispend,",
        "Till on the welkin shone the starres bright:",
        "For more solemn in every mannes sight",
        "This feaste was, and greater of costage,",
        "Than was the revel of her marriage.",
        "",
        "Full many a year in high prosperity",
        "Lived these two in concord and in rest;",
        "And richely his daughter married he",
        "Unto a lord, one of the worthiest",
        "Of all Itale; and then in peace and rest",
        "His wife's father in his court he kept,",
        "Till that the soul out of his body crept.",
        "",
        "His son succeeded in his heritage,",
        "In rest and peace, after his father's day:",
        "And fortunate was eke in marriage,",
        "All he put not his wife in great assay:",
        "This world is not so strong, it is no nay,",
        "As it hath been in olde times yore;",
        "And hearken what this author saith, therefore;",
        "",
        "This story is said,  not for that wives should",
        "Follow Griselda in humility,",
        "For it were importable though they would;",
        "But for that every wight in his degree",
        "Shoulde be constant in adversity,",
        "As was Griselda; therefore Petrarch writeth",
        "This story, which with high style he inditeth.",
        "",
        "For, since a woman was so patient",
        "Unto a mortal man, well more we ought",
        "Receiven all in gree that God us sent.",
        "For great skill is he proved that he wrought:",
        "But he tempteth no man that he hath bought,",
        "As saith Saint James, if ye his 'pistle read;",
        "He proveth folk all day, it is no dread.",
        "",
        "And suffereth us, for our exercise,",
        "With sharpe scourges of adversity",
        "Full often to be beat in sundry wise;",
        "Not for to know our will, for certes he,",
        "Ere we were born, knew all our frailty;",
        "And for our best is all his governance;",
        "Let us then live in virtuous sufferance.",
        "",
        "But one word, lordings, hearken, ere I go:",
        "It were full hard to finde now-a-days",
        "In all a town Griseldas three or two:",
        "For, if that they were put to such assays,",
        "The gold of them hath now so bad allays",
        "With brass, that though the coin be fair at eye,",
        "It woulde rather break in two than ply.",
        "",
        "For which here, for the Wife's love of Bath, --",
        "Whose life and all her sex may God maintain",
        "In high mast'ry, and elles were it scath, --",
        "I will, with lusty hearte fresh and green,",
        "Say you a song to gladden you, I ween:",
        "And let us stint of earnestful mattere.",
        "Hearken my song, that saith in this mannere.",
        "",
        "L'Envoy of Chaucer.",
        "",
        "\"Griseld' is dead, and eke her patience,",
        "And both at once are buried in Itale:",
        "For which I cry in open audience,",
        "No wedded man so hardy be t' assail",
        "His wife's patience, in trust to find",
        "Griselda's, for in certain he shall fail.",
        "",
        "\"O noble wives, full of high prudence,",
        "Let no humility your tongues nail:",
        "Nor let no clerk have cause or diligence",
        "To write of you a story of such marvail,",
        "As of Griselda patient and kind,",
        "Lest Chichevache you swallow in her entrail.",
        "",
        "\"Follow Echo, that holdeth no silence,",
        "But ever answereth at the countertail;",
        "Be not bedaffed for your innocence,",
        "But sharply take on you the governail;",
        "Imprinte well this lesson in your mind,",
        "For common profit, since it may avail.",
        "",
        "\"Ye archiwives, stand aye at defence,",
        "Since ye be strong as is a great camail,",
        "Nor suffer not that men do you offence.",
        "And slender wives, feeble in battail,",
        "Be eager as a tiger yond in Ind;",
        "Aye clapping as a mill, I you counsail.",
        "",
        "\"Nor dread them not, nor do them reverence;",
        "For though thine husband armed be in mail,",
        "The arrows of thy crabbed eloquence",
        "Shall pierce his breast, and eke his aventail;",
        "In jealousy I rede eke thou him bind,",
        "And thou shalt make him couch as doth a quail.",
        "",
        "\"If thou be fair, where folk be in presence",
        "Shew thou thy visage and thine apparail:",
        "If thou be foul, be free of thy dispence;",
        "To get thee friendes aye do thy travail:",
        "Be aye of cheer as light as leaf on lind,",
        "And let him care, and weep, and wring, and wail.\""
      ],
      "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Clerk's Tale."
    },
    {
      "author": "George Gordon, Lord Byron",
      "line_count": "1880",
      "lines": [
        "CANTO THE FIRST.",
        "",
        "\"----nessun maggior dolore,",
        "Che ricordarsi del tempo felice",
        "Nella miseria,----\"",
        "                         Dante, _Inferno_, v. 121.",
        "",
        "\"O'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea,",
        "Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free,",
        "Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam,",
        "Survey our empire, and behold our home!",
        "These are our realms, no limits to their sway--",
        "Our flag the sceptre all who meet obey.",
        "Ours the wild life in tumult still to range",
        "From toil to rest, and joy in every change.",
        "Oh, who can tell? not thou, luxurious slave!",
        "Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving wave;",
        "Not thou, vain lord of Wantonness and Ease!",
        "Whom Slumber soothes not--Pleasure cannot please--",
        "Oh, who can tell, save he whose heart hath tried,",
        "And danced in triumph o'er the waters wide,",
        "The exulting sense--the pulse's maddening play,",
        "That thrills the wanderer of that trackless way?",
        "That for itself can woo the approaching fight,",
        "And turn what some deem danger to delight;",
        "That seeks what cravens shun with more than zeal,",
        "And where the feebler faint can only feel--",
        "Feel--to the rising bosom's inmost core,",
        "Its hope awaken and its spirit soar?",
        "No dread of Death--if with us die our foes--",
        "Save that it seems even duller than repose;",
        "Come when it will--we snatch the life of Life--",
        "When lost--what recks it by disease or strife?",
        "Let him who crawls, enamoured of decay,",
        "Cling to his couch, and sicken years away;",
        "Heave his thick breath, and shake his palsied head;",
        "Ours the fresh turf, and not the feverish bed,--",
        "While gasp by gasp he falters forth his soul,",
        "Ours with one pang--one bound--escapes control.",
        "His corse may boast its urn and narrow cave,",
        "And they who loathed his life may gild his grave:",
        "Ours are the tears, though few, sincerely shed,",
        "When Ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead.",
        "For us, even banquets fond regret supply",
        "In the red cup that crowns our memory;",
        "And the brief epitaph in Danger's day,",
        "When those who win at length divide the prey,",
        "And cry, Remembrance saddening o'er each brow,",
        "How had the brave who fell exulted _now_!\"",
        "",
        "Such were the notes that from the Pirate's isle",
        "Around the kindling watch-fire rang the while:",
        "Such were the sounds that thrilled the rocks along,",
        "And unto ears as rugged seemed a song!",
        "In scattered groups upon the golden sand,",
        "They game--carouse--converse--or whet the brand;",
        "Select the arms--to each his blade assign,",
        "And careless eye the blood that dims its shine;",
        "Repair the boat, replace the helm or oar,",
        "While others straggling muse along the shore;",
        "For the wild bird the busy springes set,",
        "Or spread beneath the sun the dripping net:",
        "Gaze where some distant sail a speck supplies,",
        "With all the thirsting eye of Enterprise;",
        "Tell o'er the tales of many a night of toil,",
        "And marvel where they next shall seize a spoil:",
        "No matter where--their chief's allotment this;",
        "Theirs to believe no prey nor plan amiss.",
        "But who that Chief? his name on every shore",
        "Is famed and feared--they ask and know no more",
        "With these he mingles not but to command;",
        "Few are his words, but keen his eye and hand.",
        "Ne'er seasons he with mirth their jovial mess,",
        "But they forgive his silence for success.",
        "Ne'er for his lip the purpling cup they fill,",
        "That goblet passes him untasted still--",
        "And for his fare--the rudest of his crew",
        "Would that, in turn, have passed untasted too;",
        "Earth's coarsest bread, the garden's homeliest roots,",
        "And scarce the summer luxury of fruits,",
        "His short repast in humbleness supply",
        "With all a hermit's board would scarce deny.",
        "But while he shuns the grosser joys of sense,",
        "His mind seems nourished by that abstinence.",
        "\"Steer to that shore!\"--they sail. \"Do this!\"--'tis done:",
        "\"Now form and follow me!\"--the spoil is won.",
        "Thus prompt his accents and his actions still,",
        "And all obey and few inquire his will;",
        "To such, brief answer and contemptuous eye",
        "Convey reproof, nor further deign reply.",
        "",
        "\"A sail!--a sail!\"--a promised prize to Hope!",
        "Her nation--flag--how speaks the telescope?",
        "No prize, alas! but yet a welcome sail:",
        "The blood-red signal glitters in the gale.",
        "Yes--she is ours--a home-returning bark--",
        "Blow fair, thou breeze!--she anchors ere the dark.",
        "Already doubled is the cape--our bay",
        "Receives that prow which proudly spurns the spray.",
        "How gloriously her gallant course she goes!",
        "Her white wings flying--never from her foes--",
        "She walks the waters like a thing of Life!",
        "And seems to dare the elements to strife.",
        "Who would not brave the battle-fire, the wreck,",
        "To move the monarch of her peopled deck!",
        "",
        "Hoarse o'er her side the rustling cable rings:",
        "The sails are furled; and anchoring round she swings;",
        "And gathering loiterers on the land discern",
        "Her boat descending from the latticed stern.",
        "'Tis manned--the oars keep concert to the strand,",
        "Till grates her keel upon the shallow sand.",
        "Hail to the welcome shout!--the friendly speech!",
        "When hand grasps hand uniting on the beach;",
        "The smile, the question, and the quick reply,",
        "And the Heart's promise of festivity!",
        "",
        "The tidings spread, and gathering grows the crowd:",
        "The hum of voices, and the laughter loud,",
        "And Woman's gentler anxious tone is heard--",
        "Friends'--husbands'--lovers' names in each dear word:",
        "\"Oh! are they safe? we ask not of success--",
        "But shall we see them? will their accents bless?",
        "From where the battle roars, the billows chafe,",
        "They doubtless boldly did--but who are safe?",
        "Here let them haste to gladden and surprise,",
        "And kiss the doubt from these delighted eyes!\"",
        "",
        "\"Where is our Chief? for him we bear report--",
        "And doubt that joy--which hails our coming--short;",
        "Yet thus sincere--'tis cheering, though so brief;",
        "But, Juan! instant guide us to our Chief:",
        "Our greeting paid, we'll feast on our return,",
        "And all shall hear what each may wish to learn.\"",
        "Ascending slowly by the rock-hewn way,",
        "To where his watch-tower beetles o'er the bay,",
        "By bushy brake, the wild flowers blossoming,",
        "And freshness breathing from each silver spring,",
        "Whose scattered streams from granite basins burst,",
        "Leap into life, and sparkling woo your thirst;",
        "From crag to cliff they mount--Near yonder cave,",
        "What lonely straggler looks along the wave?",
        "In pensive posture leaning on the brand,",
        "Not oft a resting-staff to that red hand?",
        "\"'Tis he--'tis Conrad--here--as wont--alone;",
        "On--Juan!--on--and make our purpose known.",
        "The bark he views--and tell him we would greet",
        "His ear with tidings he must quickly meet:",
        "We dare not yet approach--thou know'st his mood,",
        "When strange or uninvited steps intrude.\"",
        "",
        "Him Juan sought, and told of their intent;--",
        "He spake not, but a sign expressed assent,",
        "These Juan calls--they come--to their salute",
        "He bends him slightly, but his lips are mute.",
        "\"These letters, Chief, are from the Greek--the spy,",
        "Who still proclaims our spoil or peril nigh:",
        "Whate'er his tidings, we can well report,",
        "Much that\"--\"Peace, peace!\"--he cuts their prating short.",
        "Wondering they turn, abashed, while each to each",
        "Conjecture whispers in his muttering speech:",
        "They watch his glance with many a stealing look,",
        "To gather how that eye the tidings took;",
        "But, this as if he guessed, with head aside,",
        "Perchance from some emotion, doubt, or pride,",
        "He read the scroll--\"My tablets, Juan, hark--",
        "Where is Gonsalvo?\"",
        "",
        " \"In the anchored bark.\"",
        "\"There let him stay--to him this order bear--",
        "Back to your duty--for my course prepare:",
        "Myself this enterprise to-night will share.\"",
        "\"To-night, Lord Conrad?\"",
        "     \"Aye! at set of sun:",
        "The breeze will freshen when the day is done.",
        "My corslet--cloak--one hour and we are gone.",
        "Sling on thy bugle--see that free from rust",
        "My carbine-lock springs worthy of my trust;",
        "Be the edge sharpened of my boarding-brand,",
        "And give its guard more room to fit my hand.",
        "This let the Armourer with speed dispose;",
        "Last time, it more fatigued my arm than foes;",
        "Mark that the signal-gun be duly fired,",
        "To tell us when the hour of stay's expired.\"",
        "",
        "They make obeisance, and retire in haste,",
        "Too soon to seek again the watery waste:",
        "Yet they repine not--so that Conrad guides;",
        "And who dare question aught that he decides?",
        "That man of loneliness and mystery,",
        "Scarce seen to smile, and seldom heard to sigh;",
        "Whose name appals the fiercest of his crew,",
        "And tints each swarthy cheek with sallower hue;",
        "Still sways their souls with that commanding art",
        "That dazzles, leads, yet chills the vulgar heart.",
        "What is that spell, that thus his lawless train",
        "Confess and envy--yet oppose in vain?",
        "What should it be, that thus their faith can bind?",
        "The power of Thought--the magic of the Mind!",
        "Linked with success, assumed and kept with skill,",
        "That moulds another's weakness to its will;",
        "Wields with their hands, but, still to these unknown,",
        "Makes even their mightiest deeds appear his own.",
        "Such hath it been--shall be--beneath the Sun",
        "The many still must labour for the one!",
        "'Tis Nature's doom--but let the wretch who toils,",
        "Accuse not--hate not--_him_ who wears the spoils.",
        "Oh! if he knew the weight of splendid chains,",
        "How light the balance of his humbler pains!",
        "",
        "Unlike the heroes of each ancient race,",
        "Demons in act, but Gods at least in face,",
        "In Conrad's form seems little to admire,",
        "Though his dark eyebrow shades a glance of fire:",
        "Robust but not Herculean--to the sight",
        "No giant frame sets forth his common height;",
        "Yet, in the whole, who paused to look again,",
        "Saw more than marks the crowd of vulgar men;",
        "They gaze and marvel how--and still confess",
        "That thus it is, but why they cannot guess.",
        "Sun-burnt his cheek, his forehead high and pale",
        "The sable curls in wild profusion veil;",
        "And oft perforce his rising lip reveals",
        "The haughtier thought it curbs, but scarce conceals.",
        "Though smooth his voice, and calm his general mien,",
        "Still seems there something he would not have seen:",
        "His features' deepening lines and varying hue",
        "At times attracted, yet perplexed the view,",
        "As if within that murkiness of mind",
        "Worked feelings fearful, and yet undefined;",
        "Such might it be--that none could truly tell--",
        "Too close inquiry his stern glance would quell.",
        "There breathe but few whose aspect might defy",
        "The full encounter of his searching eye;",
        "He had the skill, when Cunning's gaze would seek",
        "To probe his heart and watch his changing cheek,",
        "At once the observer's purpose to espy,",
        "And on himself roll back his scrutiny,",
        "Lest he to Conrad rather should betray",
        "Some secret thought, than drag that Chief's to day.",
        "There was a laughing Devil in his sneer,",
        "That raised emotions both of rage and fear;",
        "And where his frown of hatred darkly fell,",
        "Hope withering fled--and Mercy sighed farewell!",
        "",
        "Slight are the outward signs of evil thought,",
        "Within--within--'twas there the spirit wrought!",
        "Love shows all changes--Hate, Ambition, Guile,",
        "Betray no further than the bitter smile;",
        "The lip's least curl, the lightest paleness thrown",
        "Along the governed aspect, speak alone",
        "Of deeper passions; and to judge their mien,",
        "He, who would see, must be himself unseen.",
        "Then--with the hurried tread, the upward eye,",
        "The clenchéd hand, the pause of agony,",
        "That listens, starting, lest the step too near",
        "Approach intrusive on that mood of fear:",
        "Then--with each feature working from the heart,",
        "With feelings, loosed to strengthen--not depart,",
        "That rise--convulse--contend--that freeze or glow,",
        "Flush in the cheek, or damp upon the brow;",
        "Then--Stranger! if thou canst, and tremblest not,",
        "Behold his soul--the rest that soothes his lot!",
        "Mark how that lone and blighted bosom sears",
        "The scathing thought of execrated years!",
        "Behold--but who hath seen, or e'er shall see,",
        "Man as himself--the secret spirit free?",
        "",
        "Yet was not Conrad thus by Nature sent",
        "To lead the guilty--Guilt's worse instrument--",
        "His soul was changed, before his deeds had driven",
        "Him forth to war with Man and forfeit Heaven.",
        "Warped by the world in Disappointment's school,",
        "In words too wise--in conduct _there_ a fool;",
        "Too firm to yield, and far too proud to stoop,",
        "Doomed by his very virtues for a dupe,",
        "He cursed those virtues as the cause of ill,",
        "And not the traitors who betrayed him still;",
        "Nor deemed that gifts bestowed on better men",
        "Had left him joy, and means to give again.",
        "Feared--shunned--belied--ere Youth had lost her force,",
        "He hated Man too much to feel remorse,",
        "And thought the voice of Wrath a sacred call,",
        "To pay the injuries of some on all.",
        "He knew himself a villain--but he deemed",
        "The rest no better than the thing he seemed;",
        "And scorned the best as hypocrites who hid",
        "Those deeds the bolder spirit plainly did.",
        "He knew himself detested, but he knew",
        "The hearts that loathed him, crouched and dreaded too.",
        "Lone, wild, and strange, he stood alike exempt",
        "From all affection and from all contempt:",
        "His name could sadden, and his acts surprise;",
        "But they that feared him dared not to despise:",
        "Man spurns the worm, but pauses ere he wake",
        "The slumbering venom of the folded snake:",
        "The first may turn, but not avenge the blow;",
        "The last expires, but leaves no living foe;",
        "Fast to the doomed offender's form it clings,",
        "And he may crush--not conquer--still it stings!",
        "",
        "None are all evil--quickening round his heart,",
        "One softer feeling would not yet depart;",
        "Oft could he sneer at others as beguiled",
        "By passions worthy of a fool or child;",
        "Yet 'gainst that passion vainly still he strove,",
        "And even in him it asks the name of Love!",
        "Yes, it was love--unchangeable--unchanged,",
        "Felt but for one from whom he never ranged;",
        "Though fairest captives daily met his eye,",
        "He shunned, nor sought, but coldly passed them by;",
        "Though many a beauty drooped in prisoned bower,",
        "None ever soothed his most unguarded hour,",
        "Yes--it was Love--if thoughts of tenderness,",
        "Tried in temptation, strengthened by distress,",
        "Unmoved by absence, firm in every clime,",
        "And yet--Oh more than all!--untired by Time;",
        "Which nor defeated hope, nor baffled wile,",
        "Could render sullen were She near to smile,",
        "Nor rage could fire, nor sickness fret to vent",
        "On her one murmur of his discontent;",
        "Which still would meet with joy, with calmness part,",
        "Lest that his look of grief should reach her heart;",
        "Which nought removed, nor menaced to remove--",
        "If there be Love in mortals--this was Love!",
        "He was a villain--aye, reproaches shower",
        "On him--but not the Passion, nor its power,",
        "Which only proved--all other virtues gone--",
        "Not Guilt itself could quench this loveliest one!",
        "",
        "He paused a moment--till his hastening men",
        "Passed the first winding downward to the glen.",
        "\"Strange tidings!--many a peril have I passed,",
        "Nor know I why this next appears the last!",
        "Yet so my heart forebodes, but must not fear,",
        "Nor shall my followers find me falter here.",
        "'Tis rash to meet--but surer death to wait",
        "Till here they hunt us to undoubted fate;",
        "And, if my plan but hold, and Fortune smile,",
        "We'll furnish mourners for our funeral pile.",
        "Aye, let them slumber--peaceful be their dreams!",
        "Morn ne'er awoke them with such brilliant beams",
        "As kindle high to-night (but blow, thou breeze!)",
        "To warm these slow avengers of the seas.",
        "Now to Medora--Oh! my sinking heart,",
        "Long may her own be lighter than thou art!",
        "Yet was I brave--mean boast where all are brave!",
        "Ev'n insects sting for aught they seek to save.",
        "This common courage which with brutes we share,",
        "That owes its deadliest efforts to Despair,",
        "Small merit claims--but 'twas my nobler hope",
        "To teach my few with numbers still to cope;",
        "Long have I led them--not to vainly bleed:",
        "No medium now--we perish or succeed!",
        "So let it be--it irks not me to die;",
        "But thus to urge them whence they cannot fly.",
        "My lot hath long had little of my care,",
        "But chafes my pride thus baffled in the snare:",
        "Is this my skill? my craft? to set at last",
        "Hope, Power and Life upon a single cast?",
        "Oh, Fate!--accuse thy folly--not thy fate;",
        "She may redeem thee still--nor yet too late.\"",
        "",
        "Thus with himself communion held he, till",
        "He reached the summit of his tower-crowned hill:",
        "There at the portal paused--for wild and soft",
        "He heard those accents never heard too oft!",
        "Through the high lattice far yet sweet they rung,",
        "And these the notes his Bird of Beauty sung:",
        "",
        "\"Deep in my soul that tender secret dwells,",
        "  Lonely and lost to light for evermore,",
        "Save when to thine my heart responsive swells,",
        "  Then trembles into silence as before.",
        "",
        "\"There, in its centre, a sepulchral lamp",
        "  Burns the slow flame, eternal--but unseen;",
        "Which not the darkness of Despair can damp,",
        "  Though vain its ray as it had never been.",
        "",
        "\"Remember me--Oh! pass not thou my grave",
        "  Without one thought whose relics there recline:",
        "The only pang my bosom dare not brave",
        "  Must be to find forgetfulness in thine.",
        "",
        "\"My fondest--faintest--latest accents hear--",
        "  Grief for the dead not Virtue can reprove;",
        "Then give me all I ever asked--a tear,",
        "  The first--last--sole reward of so much love!\"",
        "",
        "He passed the portal, crossed the corridor,",
        "And reached the chamber as the strain gave o'er:",
        "\"My own Medora! sure thy song is sad--\"",
        "",
        "\"In Conrad's absence would'st thou have it glad?",
        "Without thine ear to listen to my lay,",
        "Still must my song my thoughts, my soul betray:",
        "Still must each accent to my bosom suit,",
        "My heart unhushed--although my lips were mute!",
        "Oh! many a night on this lone couch reclined,",
        "My dreaming fear with storms hath winged the wind,",
        "And deemed the breath that faintly fanned thy sail",
        "The murmuring prelude of the ruder gale;",
        "Though soft--it seemed the low prophetic dirge,",
        "That mourned thee floating on the savage surge:",
        "Still would I rise to rouse the beacon fire,",
        "Lest spies less true should let the blaze expire;",
        "And many a restless hour outwatched each star,",
        "And morning came--and still thou wert afar.",
        "Oh! how the chill blast on my bosom blew,",
        "And day broke dreary on my troubled view,",
        "And still I gazed and gazed--and not a prow",
        "Was granted to my tears--my truth--my vow!",
        "At length--'twas noon--I hailed and blest the mast",
        "That met my sight--it neared--Alas! it passed!",
        "Another came--Oh God! 'twas thine at last!",
        "Would that those days were over! wilt thou ne'er,",
        "My Conrad! learn the joys of peace to share?",
        "Sure thou hast more than wealth, and many a home",
        "As bright as this invites us not to roam:",
        "Thou know'st it is not peril that I fear,",
        "I only tremble when thou art not here;",
        "Then not for mine, but that far dearer life,",
        "Which flies from love and languishes for strife--",
        "How strange that heart, to me so tender still,",
        "Should war with Nature and its better will!\"",
        "",
        "\"Yea, strange indeed--that heart hath long been changed;",
        "Worm-like 'twas trampled--adder-like avenged--",
        "Without one hope on earth beyond thy love,",
        "And scarce a glimpse of mercy from above.",
        "Yet the same feeling which thou dost condemn,",
        "My very love to thee is hate to them,",
        "So closely mingling here, that disentwined,",
        "I cease to love thee when I love Mankind:",
        "Yet dread not this--the proof of all the past",
        "Assures the future that my love will last;",
        "But--Oh, Medora! nerve thy gentler heart;",
        "This hour again--but not for long--we part.\"",
        "",
        "\"This hour we part!--my heart foreboded this:",
        "Thus ever fade my fairy dreams of bliss.",
        "This hour--it cannot be--this hour away!",
        "Yon bark hath hardly anchored in the bay:",
        "Her consort still is absent, and her crew",
        "Have need of rest before they toil anew;",
        "My Love! thou mock'st my weakness; and wouldst steel",
        "My breast before the time when it must feel;",
        "But trifle now no more with my distress,",
        "Such mirth hath less of play than bitterness.",
        "Be silent, Conrad!--dearest! come and share",
        "The feast these hands delighted to prepare;",
        "Light toil! to cull and dress thy frugal fare!",
        "See, I have plucked the fruit that promised best,",
        "And where not sure, perplexed, but pleased, I guessed",
        "At such as seemed the fairest; thrice the hill",
        "My steps have wound to try the coolest rill;",
        "Yes! thy Sherbet to-night will sweetly flow,",
        "See how it sparkles in its vase of snow!",
        "The grapes' gay juice thy bosom never cheers;",
        "Thou more than Moslem when the cup appears:",
        "Think not I mean to chide--for I rejoice",
        "What others deem a penance is thy choice.",
        "But come, the board is spread; our silver lamp",
        "Is trimmed, and heeds not the Sirocco's damp:",
        "Then shall my handmaids while the time along,",
        "And join with me the dance, or wake the song;",
        "Or my guitar, which still thou lov'st to hear,",
        "Shall soothe or lull--or, should it vex thine ear,",
        "We'll turn the tale, by Ariosto told,",
        "Of fair Olympia loved and left of old.",
        "Why, thou wert worse than he who broke his vow",
        "To that lost damsel, should thou leave me _now_--",
        "Or even that traitor chief--I've seen thee smile,",
        "When the clear sky showed Ariadne's Isle,",
        "Which I have pointed from these cliffs the while:",
        "And thus half sportive--half in fear--I said,",
        "Lest Time should raise that doubt to more than dread,",
        "Thus Conrad, too, will quit me for the main:",
        "And he deceived me--for--he came again!\"",
        "",
        "\"Again, again--and oft again--my Love!",
        "If there be life below, and hope above,",
        "He will return--but now, the moments bring",
        "The time of parting with redoubled wing:",
        "The why, the where--what boots it now to tell?",
        "Since all must end in that wild word--Farewell!",
        "Yet would I fain--did time allow--disclose--",
        "Fear not--these are no formidable foes!",
        "And here shall watch a more than wonted guard,",
        "For sudden siege and long defence prepared:",
        "Nor be thou lonely, though thy Lord's away,",
        "Our matrons and thy handmaids with thee stay;",
        "And this thy comfort--that, when next we meet,",
        "Security shall make repose more sweet.",
        "List!--'tis the bugle!\"--Juan shrilly blew--",
        "\"One kiss--one more--another--Oh! Adieu!\"",
        "She rose--she sprung--she clung to his embrace,",
        "Till his heart heaved beneath her hidden face:",
        "He dared not raise to his that deep-blue eye,",
        "Which downcast drooped in tearless agony.",
        "Her long fair hair lay floating o'er his arms,",
        "In all the wildness of dishevelled charms;",
        "Scarce beat that bosom where his image dwelt",
        "So full--_that_ feeling seem'd almost unfelt!",
        "Hark--peals the thunder of the signal-gun!",
        "It told 'twas sunset, and he cursed that sun.",
        "Again--again--that form he madly pressed,",
        "Which mutely clasped, imploringly caressed!",
        "And tottering to the couch his bride he bore,",
        "One moment gazed--as if to gaze no more;",
        "Felt that for him Earth held but her alone,",
        "Kissed her cold forehead--turned--is Conrad gone?",
        "",
        "\"And is he gone?\"--on sudden solitude",
        "How oft that fearful question will intrude!",
        "\"'Twas but an instant past, and here he stood!",
        "And now\"--without the portal's porch she rushed,",
        "And then at length her tears in freedom gushed;",
        "Big, bright, and fast, unknown to her they fell;",
        "But still her lips refused to send--\"Farewell!\"",
        "For in that word--that fatal word--howe'er",
        "We promise--hope--believe--there breathes Despair.",
        "O'er every feature of that still, pale face,",
        "Had Sorrow fixed what Time can ne'er erase:",
        "The tender blue of that large loving eye",
        "Grew frozen with its gaze on vacancy,",
        "Till--Oh, how far!--it caught a glimpse of him,",
        "And then it flowed, and phrensied seemed to swim",
        "Through those long, dark, and glistening lashes dewed",
        "With drops of sadness oft to be renewed.",
        "\"He's gone!\"--against her heart that hand is driven,",
        "Convulsed and quick--then gently raised to Heaven:",
        "She looked and saw the heaving of the main:",
        "The white sail set--she dared not look again;",
        "But turned with sickening soul within the gate--",
        "\"It is no dream--and I am desolate!\"",
        "",
        "From crag to crag descending, swiftly sped",
        "Stern Conrad down, nor once he turned his head;",
        "But shrunk whene'er the windings of his way",
        "Forced on his eye what he would not survey,",
        "His lone, but lovely dwelling on the steep,",
        "That hailed him first when homeward from the deep:",
        "And she--the dim and melancholy Star,",
        "Whose ray of Beauty reached him from afar,",
        "On her he must not gaze, he must not think--",
        "There he might rest--but on Destruction's brink:",
        "Yet once almost he stopped--and nearly gave",
        "His fate to chance, his projects to the wave:",
        "But no--it must not be--a worthy chief",
        "May melt, but not betray to Woman's grief.",
        "He sees his bark, he notes how fair the wind,",
        "And sternly gathers all his might of mind:",
        "Again he hurries on--and as he hears",
        "The clang of tumult vibrate on his ears,",
        "The busy sounds, the bustle of the shore,",
        "The shout, the signal, and the dashing oar;",
        "As marks his eye the seaboy on the mast,",
        "The anchors rise, the sails unfurling fast,",
        "The waving kerchiefs of the crowd that urge",
        "That mute Adieu to those who stem the surge;",
        "And more than all, his blood-red flag aloft,",
        "He marvelled how his heart could seem so soft.",
        "Fire in his glance, and wildness in his breast,",
        "He feels of all his former self possest;",
        "He bounds--he flies--until his footsteps reach",
        "The verge where ends the cliff, begins the beach,",
        "There checks his speed; but pauses less to breathe",
        "The breezy freshness of the deep beneath,",
        "Than there his wonted statelier step renew;",
        "Nor rush, disturbed by haste, to vulgar view:",
        "For well had Conrad learned to curb the crowd,",
        "By arts that veil, and oft preserve the proud;",
        "His was the lofty port, the distant mien,",
        "That seems to shun the sight--and awes if seen:",
        "The solemn aspect, and the high-born eye,",
        "That checks low mirth, but lacks not courtesy;",
        "All these he wielded to command assent:",
        "But where he wished to win, so well unbent,",
        "That Kindness cancelled fear in those who heard,",
        "And others' gifts showed mean beside his word,",
        "When echoed to the heart as from his own",
        "His deep yet tender melody of tone:",
        "But such was foreign to his wonted mood,",
        "He cared not what he softened, but subdued;",
        "The evil passions of his youth had made",
        "Him value less who loved--than what obeyed.",
        "",
        "Around him mustering ranged his ready guard.",
        "Before him Juan stands--\"Are all prepared?\"",
        "\"They are--nay more--embarked: the latest boat",
        "Waits but my chief----\"",
        "   \"My sword, and my capote.\"",
        "Soon firmly girded on, and lightly slung,",
        "His belt and cloak were o'er his shoulders flung:",
        "\"Call Pedro here!\" He comes--and Conrad bends,",
        "With all the courtesy he deigned his friends;",
        "\"Receive these tablets, and peruse with care,",
        "Words of high trust and truth are graven there;",
        "Double the guard, and when Anselmo's bark",
        "Arrives, let him alike these orders mark:",
        "In three days (serve the breeze) the sun shall shine",
        "On our return--till then all peace be thine!\"",
        "This said, his brother Pirate's hand he wrung,",
        "Then to his boat with haughty gesture sprung.",
        "Flashed the dipt oars, and sparkling with the stroke,",
        "Around the waves' phosphoric brightness broke;",
        "They gain the vessel--on the deck he stands,--",
        "Shrieks the shrill whistle, ply the busy hands--",
        "He marks how well the ship her helm obeys,",
        "How gallant all her crew, and deigns to praise.",
        "His eyes of pride to young Gonsalvo turn--",
        "Why doth he start, and inly seem to mourn?",
        "Alas! those eyes beheld his rocky tower,",
        "And live a moment o'er the parting hour;",
        "She--his Medora--did she mark the prow?",
        "Ah! never loved he half so much as now!",
        "But much must yet be done ere dawn of day--",
        "Again he mans himself and turns away;",
        "Down to the cabin with Gonsalvo bends,",
        "And there unfolds his plan--his means, and ends;",
        "Before them burns the lamp, and spreads the chart,",
        "And all that speaks and aids the naval art;",
        "They to the midnight watch protract debate;",
        "To anxious eyes what hour is ever late?",
        "Meantime, the steady breeze serenely blew,",
        "And fast and falcon-like the vessel flew;",
        "Passed the high headlands of each clustering isle,",
        "To gain their port--long--long ere morning smile:",
        "And soon the night-glass through the narrow bay",
        "Discovers where the Pacha's galleys lay.",
        "Count they each sail, and mark how there supine",
        "The lights in vain o'er heedless Moslem shine.",
        "Secure, unnoted, Conrad's prow passed by,",
        "And anchored where his ambush meant to lie;",
        "Screened from espial by the jutting cape,",
        "That rears on high its rude fantastic shape.",
        "Then rose his band to duty--not from sleep--",
        "Equipped for deeds alike on land or deep;",
        "While leaned their Leader o'er the fretting flood,",
        "And calmly talked--and yet he talked of blood!",
        "",
        "CANTO THE SECOND.",
        "",
        "          \"Conosceste i dubbiosi desiri?\"",
        "Dante, _Inferno_, v, 120.",
        "",
        "In Coron's bay floats many a galley light,",
        "Through Coron's lattices the lamps are bright,",
        "For Seyd, the Pacha, makes a feast to-night:",
        "A feast for promised triumph yet to come,",
        "When he shall drag the fettered Rovers home;",
        "This hath he sworn by Allah and his sword,",
        "And faithful to his firman and his word,",
        "His summoned prows collect along the coast,",
        "And great the gathering crews, and loud the boast;",
        "Already shared the captives and the prize,",
        "Though far the distant foe they thus despise;",
        "'Tis but to sail--no doubt to-morrow's Sun",
        "Will see the Pirates bound--their haven won!",
        "Meantime the watch may slumber, if they will,",
        "Nor only wake to war, but dreaming kill.",
        "Though all, who can, disperse on shore and seek",
        "To flesh their glowing valour on the Greek;",
        "How well such deed becomes the turbaned brave--",
        "To bare the sabre's edge before a slave!",
        "Infest his dwelling--but forbear to slay,",
        "Their arms are strong, yet merciful to-day,",
        "And do not deign to smite because they may!",
        "Unless some gay caprice suggests the blow,",
        "To keep in practice for the coming foe.",
        "Revel and rout the evening hours beguile,",
        "And they who wish to wear a head must smile;",
        "For Moslem mouths produce their choicest cheer,",
        "And hoard their curses, till the coast is clear.",
        "",
        "High in his hall reclines the turbaned Seyd;",
        "Around--the bearded chiefs he came to lead.",
        "Removed the banquet, and the last pilaff--",
        "Forbidden draughts, 'tis said, he dared to quaff,",
        "Though to the rest the sober berry's juice",
        "The slaves bear round for rigid Moslems' use;",
        "The long chibouque's dissolving cloud supply,",
        "While dance the Almas to wild minstrelsy.",
        "The rising morn will view the chiefs embark;",
        "But waves are somewhat treacherous in the dark:",
        "And revellers may more securely sleep",
        "On silken couch than o'er the rugged deep:",
        "Feast there who can--nor combat till they must,",
        "And less to conquest than to Korans trust;",
        "And yet the numbers crowded in his host",
        "Might warrant more than even the Pacha's boast.",
        "",
        "With cautious reverence from the outer gate",
        "Slow stalks the slave, whose office there to wait,",
        "Bows his bent head--his hand salutes the floor,",
        "Ere yet his tongue the trusted tidings bore:",
        "\"A captive Dervise, from the Pirate's nest",
        "Escaped, is here--himself would tell the rest.\"",
        "He took the sign from Seyd's assenting eye,",
        "And led the holy man in silence nigh.",
        "His arms were folded on his dark-green vest,",
        "His step was feeble, and his look deprest;",
        "Yet worn he seemed of hardship more than years,",
        "And pale his cheek with penance, not from fears.",
        "Vowed to his God--his sable locks he wore,",
        "And these his lofty cap rose proudly o'er:",
        "Around his form his loose long robe was thrown,",
        "And wrapt a breast bestowed on heaven alone;",
        "Submissive, yet with self-possession manned,",
        "He calmly met the curious eyes that scanned;",
        "And question of his coming fain would seek,",
        "Before the Pacha's will allowed to speak.",
        "",
        "\"Whence com'st thou, Dervise?\"",
        "           \"From the Outlaw's den",
        "A fugitive--\"",
        "               \"Thy capture where and when?\"",
        "\"From Scalanova's port to Scio's isle,",
        "The Saick was bound; but Allah did not smile",
        "Upon our course--the Moslem merchant's gains",
        "The Rovers won; our limbs have worn their chains.",
        "I had no death to fear, nor wealth to boast,",
        "Beyond the wandering freedom which I lost;",
        "At length a fisher's humble boat by night",
        "Afforded hope, and offered chance of flight;",
        "I seized the hour, and find my safety here--",
        "With thee--most mighty Pacha! who can fear?\"",
        "",
        "\"How speed the outlaws? stand they well prepared,",
        "Their plundered wealth, and robber's rock, to guard?",
        "Dream they of this our preparation, doomed",
        "To view with fire their scorpion nest consumed?\"",
        "",
        "\"Pacha! the fettered captive's mourning eye,",
        "That weeps for flight, but ill can play the spy;",
        "I only heard the reckless waters roar,",
        "Those waves that would not bear me from the shore;",
        "I only marked the glorious Sun and sky,",
        "Too bright--too blue--for my captivity;",
        "And felt that all which Freedom's bosom cheers",
        "Must break my chain before it dried my tears.",
        "This mayst thou judge, at least, from my escape,",
        "They little deem of aught in Peril's shape;",
        "Else vainly had I prayed or sought the Chance",
        "That leads me here--if eyed with vigilance:",
        "The careless guard that did not see me fly,",
        "May watch as idly when thy power is nigh.",
        "Pacha! my limbs are faint--and nature craves",
        "Food for my hunger, rest from tossing waves:",
        "Permit my absence--peace be with thee! Peace",
        "With all around!--now grant repose--release.\"",
        "",
        "\"Stay, Dervise! I have more to question--stay,",
        "I do command thee--sit--dost hear?--obey!",
        "More I must ask, and food the slaves shall bring;",
        "Thou shall not pine where all are banqueting:",
        "The supper done--prepare thee to reply,",
        "Clearly and full--I love not mystery.\"",
        "'Twere vain to guess what shook the pious man,",
        "Who looked not lovingly on that Divan;",
        "Nor showed high relish for the banquet prest,",
        "And less respect for every fellow guest.",
        "Twas but a moment's peevish hectic passed",
        "Along his cheek, and tranquillised as fast:",
        "He sate him down in silence, and his look",
        "Resumed the calmness which before forsook:",
        "The feast was ushered in--but sumptuous fare",
        "He shunned as if some poison mingled there.",
        "For one so long condemned to toil and fast,",
        "Methinks he strangely spares the rich repast.",
        "\"What ails thee, Dervise? eat--dost thou suppose",
        "This feast a Christian's? or my friends thy foes?",
        "Why dost thou shun the salt? that sacred pledge,",
        "Which, once partaken, blunts the sabre's edge,",
        "Makes even contending tribes in peace unite,",
        "And hated hosts seem brethren to the sight!\"",
        "",
        "\"Salt seasons dainties--and my food is still",
        "The humblest root, my drink the simplest rill;",
        "And my stern vow and Order's laws oppose",
        "To break or mingle bread with friends or foes;",
        "It may seem strange--if there be aught to dread",
        "That peril rests upon my single head;",
        "But for thy sway--nay more--thy Sultan's throne,",
        "I taste nor bread nor banquet--save alone;",
        "Infringed our Order's rule, the Prophet's rage",
        "To Mecca's dome might bar my pilgrimage.\"",
        "",
        "\"Well--as thou wilt--ascetic as thou art--",
        "One question answer; then in peace depart.",
        "How many?--Ha! it cannot sure be day?",
        "What Star--what Sun is bursting on the bay?",
        "It shines a lake of fire!--away--away!",
        "Ho! treachery! my guards! my scimitar!",
        "The galleys feed the flames--and I afar!",
        "Accurséd Dervise!--these thy tidings--thou",
        "Some villain spy--seize--cleave him--slay him now!\"",
        "",
        "Up rose the Dervise with that burst of light,",
        "Nor less his change of form appalled the sight:",
        "Up rose that Dervise--not in saintly garb,",
        "But like a warrior bounding on his barb,",
        "Dashed his high cap, and tore his robe away--",
        "Shone his mailed breast, and flashed his sabre's ray!",
        "His close but glittering casque, and sable plume,",
        "More glittering eye, and black brow's sabler gloom,",
        "Glared on the Moslems' eyes some Afrit Sprite,",
        "Whose demon death-blow left no hope for fight.",
        "The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow",
        "Of flames on high, and torches from below;",
        "The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell--",
        "For swords began to clash, and shouts to swell--",
        "Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of Hell!",
        "Distracted, to and fro, the flying slaves",
        "Behold but bloody shore and fiery waves;",
        "Nought heeded they the Pacha's angry cry,",
        "_They_ seize that Dervise!--seize on Zatanai!",
        "He saw their terror--checked the first despair",
        "That urged him but to stand and perish there,",
        "Since far too early and too well obeyed,",
        "The flame was kindled ere the signal made;",
        "He saw their terror--from his baldric drew",
        "His bugle--brief the blast--but shrilly blew;",
        "'Tis answered--\"Well ye speed, my gallant crew!",
        "Why did I doubt their quickness of career?",
        "And deem design had left me single here?\"",
        "Sweeps his long arm--that sabre's whirling sway",
        "Sheds fast atonement for its first delay;",
        "Completes his fury, what their fear begun,",
        "And makes the many basely quail to one.",
        "The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread,",
        "And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head:",
        "Even Seyd, convulsed, o'erwhelmed, with rage, surprise,",
        "Retreats before him, though he still defies.",
        "No craven he--and yet he dreads the blow,",
        "So much Confusion magnifies his foe!",
        "His blazing galleys still distract his sight,",
        "He tore his beard, and foaming fled the fight;",
        "For now the pirates passed the Haram gate,",
        "And burst within--and it were death to wait;",
        "Where wild Amazement shrieking--kneeling--throws",
        "The sword aside--in vain--the blood o'erflows!",
        "The Corsairs pouring, haste to where within",
        "Invited Conrad's bugle, and the din",
        "Of groaning victims, and wild cries for life,",
        "Proclaimed how well he did the work of strife.",
        "They shout to find him grim and lonely there,",
        "A glutted tiger mangling in his lair!",
        "But short their greeting, shorter his reply--",
        "\"'Tis well--but Seyd escapes--and he must die--",
        "Much hath been done--but more remains to do--",
        "Their galleys blaze--why not their city too?\"",
        "",
        "Quick at the word they seized him each a torch,",
        "And fire the dome from minaret to porch.",
        "A stern delight was fixed in Conrad's eye,",
        "But sudden sunk--for on his ear the cry",
        "Of women struck, and like a deadly knell",
        "Knocked at that heart unmoved by Battle's yell.",
        "\"Oh! burst the Haram--wrong not on your lives",
        "One female form--remember--_we_ have wives.",
        "On them such outrage Vengeance will repay;",
        "Man is our foe, and such 'tis ours to slay:",
        "But still we spared--must spare the weaker prey.",
        "Oh! I forgot--but Heaven will not forgive",
        "If at my word the helpless cease to live;",
        "Follow who will--I go--we yet have time",
        "Our souls to lighten of at least a crime.\"",
        "He climbs the crackling stair--he bursts the door,",
        "Nor feels his feet glow scorching with the floor;",
        "His breath choked gasping with the volumed smoke,",
        "But still from room to room his way he broke.",
        "They search--they find--they save: with lusty arms",
        "Each bears a prize of unregarded charms;",
        "Calm their loud fears; sustain their sinking frames",
        "With all the care defenceless Beauty claims:",
        "So well could Conrad tame their fiercest mood,",
        "And check the very hands with gore imbrued.",
        "But who is she? whom Conrad's arms convey,",
        "From reeking pile and combat's wreck, away--",
        "Who but the love of him he dooms to bleed?",
        "The Haram queen--but still the slave of Seyd!",
        "",
        "Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare,",
        "Few words to reassure the trembling Fair;",
        "For in that pause Compassion snatched from War,",
        "The foe before retiring, fast and far,",
        "With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued,",
        "First slowlier fled--then rallied--then withstood.",
        "This Seyd perceives, then first perceives how few,",
        "Compared with his, the Corsair's roving crew,",
        "And blushes o'er his error, as he eyes",
        "The ruin wrought by Panic and Surprise.",
        "Alla il Alla! Vengeance swells the cry--",
        "Shame mounts to rage that must atone or die!",
        "And flame for flame and blood for blood must tell.",
        "The tide of triumph ebbs that flowed too well--",
        "When Wrath returns to renovated strife,",
        "And those who fought for conquest strike for life.",
        "Conrad beheld the danger--he beheld",
        "His followers faint by freshening foes repelled:",
        "\"One effort--one--to break the circling host!\"",
        "They form--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,",
        "Hemmed in--cut off--cleft down and trampled o'er;",
        "But each strikes singly--silently--and home,",
        "And sinks outwearied rather than o'ercome--",
        "His last faint quittance rendering with his breath,",
        "Till the blade glimmers in the grasp of Death!",
        "",
        "But first, ere came the rallying host to blows,",
        "And rank to rank, and hand to hand oppose,",
        "Gulnare and all her Haram handmaids freed,",
        "Safe in the dome of one who held their creed,",
        "By Conrad's mandate safely were bestowed,",
        "And dried those tears for life and fame that flowed:",
        "And when that dark-eyed lady, young Gulnare,",
        "Recalled those thoughts late wandering in despair,",
        "Much did she marvel o'er the courtesy",
        "That smoothed his accents, softened in his eye--",
        "'Twas strange--_that_ robber thus with gore bedewed,",
        "Seemed gentler then than Seyd in fondest mood.",
        "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--nay, worse for female--vain:",
        "Yet much I long to view that Chief again;",
        "If but to thank for, what my fear forgot,",
        "The life--my loving Lord remembered not!\"",
        "",
        "And him she saw, where thickest carnage spread,",
        "But gathered breathing from the happier dead;",
        "Far from his band, and battling with a host",
        "That deem right dearly won the field he lost,",
        "Felled--bleeding--baffled of the death he sought,",
        "And snatched to expiate all the ills he wrought;",
        "Preserved to linger and to live in vain,",
        "While Vengeance pondered o'er new plans of pain,",
        "And stanched the blood she saves to shed again--",
        "But drop by drop, for Seyd's unglutted eye",
        "Would doom him ever dying--ne'er to die!",
        "Can this be he? triumphant late she saw,",
        "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,",
        "To send his soul--he scarcely asked to Heaven?",
        "Must he alone of all retain his breath,",
        "Who more than all had striven 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,",
        "Though faint with wasting toil and stiffening wound,",
        "But few that saw--so calmly gazed around:",
        "Though the far shouting of the distant crowd,",
        "Their tremors o'er, rose insolently loud,",
        "The better warriors who beheld him near,",
        "Insulted not the foe who taught them fear;",
        "And the grim guards that to his durance led,",
        "In silence eyed him with a secret dread.",
        "",
        "The Leech was sent--but not in mercy--there,",
        "To note how much the life yet left could bear;",
        "He found enough to load with heaviest chain,",
        "And promise feeling for the wrench of Pain;",
        "To-morrow--yea--to-morrow's evening Sun",
        "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.",
        "\"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.",
        "",
        "'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 elements convulsed, combined",
        "Lie dark and jarring with perturbéd force,",
        "And gnashing with impenitent Remorse--",
        "That juggling fiend, who never spake before,",
        "But cries \"I warned thee!\" when the deed is o'er.",
        "Vain voice! the spirit burning but unbent,",
        "May writhe--rebel--the weak alone repent!",
        "Even in that lonely hour when most it feels,",
        "And, to itself, all--all that self reveals,--",
        "No single passion, and no ruling thought",
        "That leaves the rest, as once, unseen, unsought,",
        "But the wild prospect when the Soul reviews,",
        "_All_ rushing through their thousand avenues--",
        "Ambition's dreams expiring, Love's regret,",
        "Endangered Glory, Life itself beset;",
        "The joy untasted, the contempt or hate",
        "'Gainst those who fain would triumph in our fate;",
        "The hopeless past, the hasting future driven",
        "Too quickly on to guess if Hell or Heaven;",
        "Deeds--thoughts--and words, perhaps remembered not",
        "So keenly till that hour, but ne'er forgot;",
        "Things light or lovely in their acted time,",
        "But now to stern Reflection each a crime;",
        "The withering sense of Evil unrevealed,",
        "Not cankering less because the more concealed;",
        "All, in a word, from which all eyes must start,",
        "That opening sepulchre, the naked heart",
        "Bares with its buried woes--till Pride awake,",
        "To snatch the mirror from the soul, and break.",
        "Aye, Pride can veil, and Courage brave it all--",
        "All--all--before--beyond--the deadliest fall.",
        "Each hath some fear, and he who least betrays,",
        "The only hypocrite deserving praise:",
        "Not the loud recreant wretch who boasts and flies;",
        "But he who looks on Death--and silent dies:",
        "So, steeled by pondering o'er his far career,",
        "He half-way meets Him should He menace near!",
        "",
        "In the high chamber of his highest tower",
        "Sate Conrad, fettered in the Pacha's power.",
        "His palace perished in the flame--this fort",
        "Contained at once his captive and his court.",
        "Not much could Conrad of his sentence blame,",
        "His foe, if vanquished, had but shared the same:--",
        "Alone he sate--in solitude had scanned",
        "His guilty bosom, but that breast he manned:",
        "One thought alone he could not--dared not meet--",
        "\"Oh, how these tidings will Medora greet?\"",
        "Then--only then--his clanking hands he raised,",
        "And strained with rage the chain on which he gazed;",
        "But soon he found, or feigned, or dreamed relief,",
        "And smiled in self-derision of his grief,",
        "\"And now come Torture when it will, or may--",
        "More need of rest to nerve me for the day!\"",
        "This said, with langour to his mat he crept,",
        "And, whatso'er his visions, quickly slept.",
        "",
        "'Twas hardly midnight when that fray begun,",
        "For Conrad's plans matured, at once were done,",
        "And Havoc loathes so much the waste of time,",
        "She scarce had left an uncommitted crime.",
        "One hour beheld him since the tide he stemmed--",
        "Disguised--discovered--conquering--ta'en--condemned--",
        "A Chief on land--an outlaw on the deep--",
        "Destroying--saving--prisoned--and asleep!",
        "",
        "He slept in calmest seeming, for his breath",
        "Was hushed so deep--Ah! happy if in death!",
        "He slept--Who o'er his placid slumber bends?",
        "His foes are gone--and here he hath no friends;",
        "Is it some Seraph sent to grant him grace?",
        "No,'tis an earthly form with heavenly face!",
        "Its white arm raised a lamp--yet gently hid,",
        "Lest the ray flash abruptly on the lid",
        "Of that closed eye, which opens but to pain,",
        "And once unclosed--but once may close again.",
        "That form, with eye so dark, and cheek so fair,",
        "And auburn waves of gemmed and braided hair;",
        "With shape of fairy lightness--naked foot,",
        "That shines like snow, and falls on earth as mute--",
        "Through guards and dunnest night how came it there?",
        "Ah! rather ask what will not Woman dare?",
        "Whom Youth and Pity lead like thee, Gulnare!",
        "She could not sleep--and while the Pacha's rest",
        "In muttering dreams yet saw his pirate-guest,",
        "She left his side--his signet-ring she bore,",
        "Which oft in sport adorned her hand before--",
        "And with it, scarcely questioned, won her way",
        "Through drowsy guards that must that sign obey.",
        "Worn out with toil, and tired with changing blows,",
        "Their eyes had envied Conrad his repose;",
        "And chill and nodding at the turret door,",
        "They stretch their listless limbs, and watch no more;",
        "Just raised their heads to hail the signet-ring,",
        "Nor ask or what or who the sign may bring.",
        "",
        "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 seemed 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 wondrous 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",
        "Snatched 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",
        "Is linked a mirth--it doth not bring relief--",
        "That playfulness of Sorrow ne'er beguiles,",
        "And smiles in bitterness--but still it smiles;",
        "And sometimes with the wisest and the best,",
        "Till even the scaffold echoes with their jest!",
        "Yet not the joy to which it seems akin--",
        "It may deceive all hearts, save that within.",
        "Whate'er it was that flashed on Conrad, now",
        "A laughing wildness half unbent his brow:",
        "And these his accents had a sound of mirth,",
        "As if the last he could enjoy on earth;",
        "Yet 'gainst his nature--for through that short life,",
        "Few thoughts had he to spare from gloom and strife.",
        "",
        "\"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",
        "The vain attempt should bring but doom to both.\"",
        "",
        "\"Yes!--loth indeed:--my soul is nerved to all,",
        "Or fall'n too low to fear a further fall:",
        "Tempt not thyself with peril--me with hope",
        "Of flight from foes with whom I could not cope:",
        "Unfit to vanquish--shall I meanly fly,",
        "The one of all my band that would not die?",
        "Yet there is one--to whom my Memory clings,",
        "Till to these eyes her own wild softness springs.",
        "My sole resources in the path I trod",
        "Were these--my bark--my sword--my love--my God!",
        "The last I left in youth!--He leaves me now--",
        "And Man but works his will to lay me low.",
        "I have no thought to mock his throne with prayer",
        "Wrung from the coward crouching of Despair;",
        "It is enough--I breathe--and I can bear.",
        "My sword is shaken from the worthless hand",
        "That might have better kept so true a brand;",
        "My bark is sunk or captive--but my Love--",
        "For her in sooth my voice would mount above:",
        "Oh! she is all that still to earth can bind--",
        "And this will break a heart so more than kind,",
        "And blight a form--till thine appeared, Gulnare!",
        "Mine eye ne'er asked if others were as fair.\"",
        "",
        "\"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 redeemed 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 favoured 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 checked--nor quickened--calmly cold:",
        "And when resigned, it drops a lifeless weight",
        "From one I never loved enough to hate.",
        "No warmth these lips return by his imprest,",
        "And chilled 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 unmourned--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 endeared 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!\"",
        "",
        "She pressed his fettered fingers to her heart,",
        "And bowed her head, and turned her to depart,",
        "And noiseless as a lovely dream is gone.",
        "And was she here? and is he now alone?",
        "What gem hath dropped and sparkles o'er his chain?",
        "The tear most sacred, shed for others' pain,",
        "That starts at once--bright--pure--from Pity's mine,",
        "Already polished by the hand divine!",
        "Oh! too convincing--dangerously dear--",
        "In Woman's eye the unanswerable tear!",
        "That weapon of her weakness she can wield,",
        "To save, subdue--at once her spear and shield:",
        "Avoid it--Virtue ebbs and Wisdom errs,",
        "Too fondly gazing on that grief of hers!",
        "What lost a world, and bade a hero fly?",
        "The timid tear in Cleopatra's eye.",
        "Yet be the soft Triumvir's fault forgiven;",
        "By this--how many lose not earth--but Heaven!",
        "Consign their souls to Man's eternal foe,",
        "And seal their own to spare some Wanton's woe!",
        "",
        "'Tis Morn--and o'er his altered features play",
        "The beams--without the Hope of yesterday.",
        "What shall he be ere night? perchance a thing",
        "O'er which the raven flaps her funeral wing,",
        "By his closed eye unheeded and unfelt;",
        "While sets that Sun, and dews of Evening melt,",
        "Chill, wet, and misty round each stiffened limb,",
        "Refreshing earth--reviving all but him!",
        "",
        "CANTO THE THIRD.",
        "",
        "        \"Come vedi--ancor non m'abbandona\"",
        " Dante, _Inferno_, v. 105.",
        "",
        "Slow sinks, more lovely ere his race be run,",
        "Along Morea's hills the setting Sun;",
        "Not, as in Northern climes, obscurely bright,",
        "But one unclouded blaze of living light!",
        "O'er the hushed deep the yellow beam he throws,",
        "Gilds the green wave, that trembles as it glows.",
        "On old Ægina's rock, and Idra's isle,",
        "The God of gladness sheds his parting smile;",
        "O'er his own regions lingering, loves to shine,",
        "Though there his altars are no more divine.",
        "Descending fast the mountain shadows kiss",
        "Thy glorious gulf, unconquered Salamis!",
        "Their azure arches through the long expanse",
        "More deeply purpled met his mellowing glance,",
        "And tenderest tints, along their summits driven,",
        "Mark his gay course, and own the hues of Heaven;",
        "Till, darkly shaded from the land and deep,",
        "Behind his Delphian cliff he sinks to sleep.",
        "",
        "On such an eve, his palest beam he cast,",
        "When--Athens! here thy Wisest looked his last.",
        "How watched thy better sons his farewell ray,",
        "That closed their murdered Sage's latest day!",
        "Not yet--not yet--Sol pauses on the hill--",
        "The precious hour of parting lingers still;",
        "But sad his light to agonising eyes,",
        "And dark the mountain's once delightful dyes:",
        "Gloom o'er the lovely land he seemed to pour,",
        "The land, where Phoebus never frowned before:",
        "But ere he sunk below Cithæron's head,",
        "The cup of woe was quaffed--the Spirit fled;",
        "The Soul of him who scorned to fear or fly--",
        "Who lived and died, as none can live or die!",
        "",
        "But lo! from high Hymettus to the plain,",
        "The Queen of night asserts her silent reign.",
        "No murky vapour, herald of the storm,",
        "Hides her fair face, nor girds her glowing form;",
        "With cornice glimmering as the moon-beams play,",
        "There the white column greets her grateful ray,",
        "And bright around with quivering beams beset,",
        "Her emblem sparkles o'er the Minaret:",
        "The groves of olive scattered dark and wide",
        "Where meek Cephisus pours his scanty tide;",
        "The cypress saddening by the sacred Mosque,",
        "The gleaming turret of the gay Kiosk;",
        "And, dun and sombre 'mid the holy calm,",
        "Near Theseus' fane yon solitary palm,",
        "All tinged with varied hues arrest the eye--",
        "And dull were his that passed him heedless by.",
        "",
        "Again the Ægean, heard no more afar,",
        "Lulls his chafed breast from elemental war;",
        "Again his waves in milder tints unfold",
        "Their long array of sapphire and of gold,",
        "Mixed with the shades of many a distant isle,",
        "That frown--where gentler Ocean seems to smile.",
        "",
        "Not now my theme--why turn my thoughts to thee?",
        "Oh! who can look along thy native sea,",
        "Nor dwell upon thy name, whate'er the tale,",
        "So much its magic must o'er all prevail?",
        "Who that beheld that Sun upon thee set,",
        "Fair Athens! could thine evening face forget?",
        "Not he--whose heart nor time nor distance frees,",
        "Spell-bound within the clustering Cyclades!",
        "Nor seems this homage foreign to its strain,",
        "His Corsair's isle was once thine own domain--",
        "Would that with freedom it were thine again!",
        "",
        "The Sun hath sunk--and, darker than the night,",
        "Sinks with its beam upon the beacon height",
        "Medora's heart--the third day's come and gone--",
        "With it he comes not--sends not--faithless one!",
        "The wind was fair though light! and storms were none.",
        "Last eve Anselmo's bark returned, and yet",
        "His only tidings that they had not met!",
        "Though wild, as now, far different were the tale",
        "Had Conrad waited for that single sail.",
        "The night-breeze freshens--she that day had passed",
        "In watching all that Hope proclaimed a mast;",
        "Sadly she sate on high--Impatience bore",
        "At last her footsteps to the midnight shore,",
        "And there she wandered, heedless of the spray",
        "That dashed her garments oft, and warned away:",
        "She saw not, felt not this--nor dared depart,",
        "Nor deemed it cold--her chill was at her heart;",
        "Till grew such certainty from that suspense--",
        "His very Sight had shocked from life or sense!",
        "",
        "It came at last--a sad and shattered boat,",
        "Whose inmates first beheld whom first they sought;",
        "Some bleeding--all most wretched--these the few--",
        "Scarce knew they how escaped--_this_ all they knew.",
        "In silence, darkling, each appeared to wait",
        "His fellow's mournful guess at Conrad's fate:",
        "Something they would have said; but seemed to fear",
        "To trust their accents to Medora's ear.",
        "She saw at once, yet sunk not--trembled not--",
        "Beneath that grief, that loneliness of lot,",
        "Within that meek fair form, were feelings high,",
        "That deemed not till they found their energy.",
        "While yet was Hope they softened, fluttered, wept--",
        "All lost--that Softness died not--but it slept;",
        "And o'er its slumber rose that Strength which said,",
        "\"With nothing left to love, there's nought to dread.\"",
        "'Tis more than Nature's--like the burning might",
        "Delirium gathers from the fever's height.",
        "",
        "\"Silent you stand--nor would I hear you tell",
        "What--speak not--breathe not--for I know it well--",
        "Yet would I ask--almost my lip denies",
        "The--quick your answer--tell me where he lies.\"",
        "",
        "\"Lady! we know not--scarce with life we fled;",
        "But here is one denies that he is dead:",
        "He saw him bound; and bleeding--but alive.\"",
        "",
        "She heard no further--'twas in vain to strive--",
        "So throbbed each vein--each thought--till then withstood;",
        "Her own dark soul--these words at once subdued:",
        "She totters--falls--and senseless had the wave",
        "Perchance but snatched her from another grave;",
        "But that with hands though rude, yet weeping eyes,",
        "They yield such aid as Pity's haste supplies:",
        "Dash o'er her deathlike cheek the ocean dew,",
        "Raise, fan, sustain--till life returns anew;",
        "Awake her handmaids, with the matrons leave",
        "That fainting form o'er which they gaze and grieve;",
        "Then seek Anselmo's cavern, to report",
        "The tale too tedious--when the triumph short.",
        "",
        "In that wild council words waxed warm and strange,",
        "With thoughts of ransom, rescue, and revenge;",
        "All, save repose or flight: still lingering there",
        "Breathed Conrad's spirit, and forbade despair;",
        "Whate'er his fate--the breasts he formed and led",
        "Will save him living, or appease him dead.",
        "Woe to his foes! there yet survive a few,",
        "Whose deeds are daring, as their hearts are true.",
        "",
        "Within the Haram's secret chamber sate",
        "Stern Seyd, still pondering o'er his Captive's fate;",
        "His thoughts on love and hate alternate dwell,",
        "Now with Gulnare, and now in Conrad's cell;",
        "Here at his feet the lovely slave reclined",
        "Surveys his brow--would soothe his gloom of mind;",
        "While many an anxious glance her large dark eye",
        "Sends in its idle search for sympathy,",
        "_His_ only bends in seeming o'er his beads,",
        "But inly views his victim as he bleeds.",
        "",
        "\"Pacha! the day is thine; and on thy crest",
        "Sits Triumph--Conrad taken--fall'n the rest!",
        "His doom is fixed--he dies; and well his fate",
        "Was earned--yet much too worthless for thy hate:",
        "Methinks, a short release, for ransom told",
        "With all his treasure, not unwisely sold;",
        "Report speaks largely of his pirate-hoard--",
        "Would that of this my Pacha were the lord!",
        "While baffled, weakened by this fatal fray--",
        "Watched--followed--he were then an easier prey;",
        "But once cut off--the remnant of his band",
        "Embark their wealth, and seek a safer strand.\"",
        "",
        "\"Gulnare!--if for each drop of blood a gem",
        "Where offered rich as Stamboul's diadem;",
        "If for each hair of his a massy mine",
        "Of virgin ore should supplicating shine;",
        "If all our Arab tales divulge or dream",
        "Of wealth were here--that gold should not redeem!",
        "It had not now redeemed a single hour,",
        "But that I know him fettered, in my power;",
        "And, thirsting for revenge, I ponder still",
        "On pangs that longest rack--and latest kill.\"",
        "",
        "\"Nay, Seyd! I seek not to restrain thy rage,",
        "Too justly moved for Mercy to assuage;",
        "My thoughts were only to secure for thee",
        "His riches--thus released, he were not free:",
        "Disabled--shorn of half his might and band,",
        "His capture could but wait thy first command.\"",
        "",
        "\"His capture _could!_--and shall I then resign",
        "One day to him--the wretch already mine?",
        "Release my foe!--at whose remonstrance?--thine!",
        "Fair suitor!--to thy virtuous gratitude,",
        "That thus repays this Giaour's relenting mood,",
        "Which thee and thine alone of all could spare--",
        "No doubt, regardless--if the prize were fair--",
        "My thanks and praise alike are due--now hear!",
        "I have a counsel for thy gentler ear:",
        "I do mistrust thee, Woman! and each word",
        "Of thine stamps truth on all Suspicion heard.",
        "Borne in his arms through fire from yon Serai--",
        "Say, wert thou lingering there with him to fly?",
        "Thou need'st not answer--thy confession speaks,",
        "Already reddening on thy guilty cheeks:",
        "Then--lovely Dame--bethink thee! and beware:",
        "'Tis not _his_ life alone may claim such care!",
        "Another word and--nay--I need no more.",
        "Accursed was the moment when he bore",
        "Thee from the flames, which better far--but no--",
        "I then had mourned thee with a lover's woe--",
        "Now 'tis thy lord that warns--deceitful thing!",
        "Know'st thou that I can clip thy wanton wing?",
        "In words alone I am not wont to chafe:",
        "Look to thyself--nor deem thy falsehood safe!\"",
        "",
        "He rose--and slowly, sternly thence withdrew,",
        "Rage in his eye, and threats in his adieu:",
        "Ah! little recked that Chief of womanhood--",
        "Which frowns ne'er quelled, nor menaces subdued;",
        "And little deemed he what thy heart, Gulnare!",
        "When soft could feel--and when incensed could dare!",
        "His doubts appeared to wrong--nor yet she knew",
        "How deep the root from whence Compassion grew--",
        "She was a slave--from such may captives claim",
        "A fellow-feeling, differing but in name;",
        "Still half unconscious--heedless of his wrath,",
        "Again she ventured on the dangerous path,",
        "Again his rage repelled--until arose",
        "That strife of thought, the source of Woman's woes!",
        "",
        "Meanwhile--long--anxious--weary--still the same",
        "Rolled day and night: his soul could Terror tame--",
        "This fearful interval of doubt and dread,",
        "When every hour might doom him worse than dead;",
        "When every step that echoed by the gate,",
        "Might entering lead where axe and stake await;",
        "When every voice that grated on his ear",
        "Might be the last that he could ever hear;",
        "Could Terror tame--that Spirit stern and high",
        "Had proved unwilling as unfit to die;",
        "'Twas worn--perhaps decayed--yet silent bore",
        "That conflict, deadlier far than all before:",
        "The heat of fight, the hurry of the gale,",
        "Leave scarce one thought inert enough to quail:",
        "But bound and fixed in fettered solitude,",
        "To pine, the prey of every changing mood;",
        "To gaze on thine own heart--and meditate",
        "Irrevocable faults, and coming fate--",
        "Too late the last to shun--the first to mend--",
        "To count the hours that struggle to thine end,",
        "With not a friend to animate and tell",
        "To other ears that Death became thee well;",
        "Around thee foes to forge the ready lie,",
        "And blot Life's latest scene with calumny;",
        "Before thee tortures, which the Soul can dare,",
        "Yet doubts how well the shrinking flesh may bear;",
        "But deeply feels a single cry would shame,",
        "To Valour's praise thy last and dearest claim;",
        "The life thou leav'st below, denied above",
        "By kind monopolists of heavenly love;",
        "And more than doubtful Paradise--thy Heaven",
        "Of earthly hope--thy loved one from thee riven.",
        "Such were the thoughts that outlaw must sustain,",
        "And govern pangs surpassing mortal pain:",
        "And those sustained he--boots it well or ill?",
        "Since not to sink beneath, is something still!",
        "",
        "The first day passed--he saw not her--Gulnare--",
        "The second, third--and still she came not there;",
        "But what her words avouched, her charms had done,",
        "Or else he had not seen another Sun.",
        "The fourth day rolled along, and with the night",
        "Came storm and darkness in their mingling might.",
        "Oh! how he listened to the rushing deep,",
        "That ne'er till now so broke upon his sleep;",
        "And his wild Spirit wilder wishes sent,",
        "Roused by the roar of his own element!",
        "Oft had he ridden on that wingéd wave,",
        "And loved its roughness for the speed it gave;",
        "And now its dashing echoed on his ear,",
        "A long known voice--alas! too vainly near!",
        "Loud sung the wind above; and, doubly loud,",
        "Shook o'er his turret cell the thunder-cloud;",
        "And flashed the lightning by the latticed bar,",
        "To him more genial than the Midnight Star:",
        "Close to the glimmering grate he dragged his chain,",
        "And hoped _that_ peril might not prove in vain.",
        "He rais'd his iron hand to Heaven, and prayed",
        "One pitying flash to mar the form it made:",
        "His steel and impious prayer attract alike--",
        "The storm rolled onward, and disdained to strike;",
        "Its peal waxed fainter--ceased--he felt alone,",
        "As if some faithless friend had spurned his groan!",
        "",
        "The midnight passed, and to the massy door",
        "A light step came--it paused--it moved once more;",
        "Slow turns the grating bolt and sullen key:",
        "'Tis as his heart foreboded--that fair She!",
        "Whate'er her sins, to him a Guardian Saint,",
        "And beauteous still as hermit's hope can paint;",
        "Yet changed since last within that cell she came,",
        "More pale her cheek, more tremulous her frame:",
        "On him she cast her dark and hurried eye,",
        "Which spoke before her accents--\"Thou must die!",
        "Yes, thou must die--there is but one resource,",
        "The last--the worst--if torture were not worse.\"",
        "",
        "\"Lady! I look to none; my lips proclaim",
        "What last proclaimed they--Conrad still the same:",
        "Why should'st thou seek an outlaw's life to spare,",
        "And change the sentence I deserve to bear?",
        "Well have I earned--nor here alone--the meed",
        "Of Seyd's revenge, by many a lawless deed.\"",
        "",
        "\"Why should I seek? because--Oh! did'st thou not",
        "Redeem my life from worse than Slavery's lot?",
        "Why should I seek?--hath Misery made thee blind",
        "To the fond workings of a woman's mind?",
        "And must I say?--albeit my heart rebel",
        "With all that Woman feels, but should not tell--",
        "Because--despite thy crimes--that heart is moved:",
        "It feared thee--thanked thee--pitied--maddened--loved.",
        "Reply not, tell not now thy tale again,",
        "Thou lov'st another--and I love in vain:",
        "Though fond as mine her bosom, form more fair,",
        "I rush through peril which she would not dare.",
        "If that thy heart to hers were truly dear,",
        "Were I thine own--thou wert not lonely here:",
        "An outlaw's spouse--and leave her Lord to roam!",
        "What hath such gentle dame to do with home?",
        "But speak not now--o'er thine and o'er my head",
        "Hangs the keen sabre by a single thread;",
        "If thou hast courage still, and would'st be free,",
        "Receive this poniard--rise and follow me!\"",
        "",
        "\"Aye--in my chains! my steps will gently tread,",
        "With these adornments, o'er such slumbering head!",
        "Thou hast forgot--is this a garb for flight?",
        "Or is that instrument more fit for fight?\"",
        "",
        "\"Misdoubting Corsair! I have gained the guard,",
        "Ripe for revolt, and greedy for reward.",
        "A single word of mine removes that chain:",
        "Without some aid how here could I remain?",
        "Well, since we met, hath sped my busy time,",
        "If in aught evil, for thy sake the crime:",
        "The crime--'tis none to punish those of Seyd.",
        "That hatred tyrant, Conrad--he must bleed!",
        "I see thee shudder, but my soul is changed--",
        "Wronged--spurned--reviled--and it shall be avenged--",
        "Accused of what till now my heart disdained--",
        "Too faithful, though to bitter bondage chained.",
        "Yes, smile!--but he had little cause to sneer,",
        "I was not treacherous then, nor thou too dear:",
        "But he has said it--and the jealous well,--",
        "Those tyrants--teasing--tempting to rebel,--",
        "Deserve the fate their fretting lips foretell.",
        "I never loved--he bought me--somewhat high--",
        "Since with me came a heart he could not buy.",
        "I was a slave unmurmuring; he hath said,",
        "But for his rescue I with thee had fled.",
        "'Twas false thou know'st--but let such Augurs rue,",
        "Their words are omens Insult renders true.",
        "Nor was thy respite granted to my prayer;",
        "This fleeting grace was only to prepare",
        "New torments for thy life, and my despair.",
        "Mine too he threatens; but his dotage still",
        "Would fain reserve me for his lordly will:",
        "When wearier of these fleeting charms and me,",
        "There yawns the sack--and yonder rolls the sea!",
        "What, am I then a toy for dotard's play,",
        "To wear but till the gilding frets away?",
        "I saw thee--loved thee--owe thee all--would save,",
        "If but to show how grateful is a slave.",
        "But had he not thus menaced fame and life,--",
        "And well he keeps his oaths pronounced in strife--",
        "I still had saved thee--but the Pacha spared:",
        "Now I am all thine own--for all prepared:",
        "Thou lov'st me not--nor know'st--or but the worst.",
        "Alas! _this_ love--_that_ hatred--are the first--",
        "Oh! could'st thou prove my truth, thou would'st not start,",
        "Nor fear the fire that lights an Eastern heart;",
        "'Tis now the beacon of thy safety--now",
        "It points within the port a Mainote prow:",
        "But in one chamber, where our path must lead,",
        "There sleeps--he must not wake--the oppressor Seyd!\"",
        "",
        "\"Gulnare--Gulnare--I never felt till now",
        "My abject fortune, withered fame so low:",
        "Seyd is mine enemy; had swept my band",
        "From earth with ruthless but with open hand,",
        "And therefore came I, in my bark of war,",
        "To smite the smiter with the scimitar;",
        "Such is my weapon--not the secret knife;",
        "Who spares a Woman's seeks not Slumber's life.",
        "Thine saved I gladly, Lady--not for this;",
        "Let me not deem that mercy shown amiss.",
        "Now fare thee well--more peace be with thy breast!",
        "Night wears apace, my last of earthly rest!\"",
        "",
        "\"Rest! rest! by sunrise must thy sinews shake,",
        "And thy limbs writhe around the ready stake,",
        "I heard the order--saw--I will not see--",
        "If thou wilt perish, I will fall with thee.",
        "My life--my love--my hatred--all below",
        "Are on this cast--Corsair! 'tis but a blow!",
        "Without it flight were idle--how evade",
        "His sure pursuit?--my wrongs too unrepaid,",
        "My youth disgraced--the long, long wasted years,",
        "One blow shall cancel with our future fears;",
        "But since the dagger suits thee less than brand,",
        "I'll try the firmness of a female hand.",
        "The guards are gained--one moment all were o'er--",
        "Corsair! we meet in safety or no more;",
        "If errs my feeble hand, the morning cloud",
        "Will hover o'er thy scaffold, and my shroud.\"",
        "",
        "She turned, and vanished ere he could reply,",
        "But his glance followed far with eager eye;",
        "And gathering, as he could, the links that bound",
        "His form, to curl their length, and curb their sound,",
        "Since bar and bolt no more his steps preclude,",
        "He, fast as fettered limbs allow, pursued.",
        "'Twas dark and winding, and he knew not where",
        "That passage led; nor lamp nor guard was there:",
        "He sees a dusky glimmering--shall he seek",
        "Or shun that ray so indistinct and weak?",
        "Chance guides his steps--a freshness seems to bear",
        "Full on his brow as if from morning air;",
        "He reached an open gallery--on his eye",
        "Gleamed the last star of night, the clearing sky:",
        "Yet scarcely heeded these--another light",
        "From a lone chamber struck upon his sight.",
        "Towards it he moved; a scarcely closing door",
        "Revealed the ray within, but nothing more.",
        "With hasty step a figure outward passed,",
        "Then paused, and turned--and paused--'tis She at last!",
        "No poniard in that hand, nor sign of ill--",
        "\"Thanks to that softening heart--she could not kill!\"",
        "Again he looked, the wildness of her eye",
        "Starts from the day abrupt and fearfully.",
        "She stopped--threw back her dark far-floating hair,",
        "That nearly veiled her face and bosom fair,",
        "As if she late had bent her leaning head",
        "Above some object of her doubt or dread.",
        "They meet--upon her brow--unknown--forgot--",
        "Her hurrying hand had left--'twas but a spot--",
        "Its hue was all he saw, and scarce withstood--",
        "Oh! slight but certain pledge of crime--'tis Blood!",
        "",
        "He had seen battle--he had brooded lone",
        "O'er promised pangs to sentenced Guilt foreshown;",
        "He had been tempted--chastened--and the chain",
        "Yet on his arms might ever there remain:",
        "But ne'er from strife--captivity--remorse--",
        "From all his feelings in their inmost force--",
        "So thrilled, so shuddered every creeping vein,",
        "As now they froze before that purple stain.",
        "That spot of blood, that light but guilty streak,",
        "Had banished all the beauty from her cheek!",
        "Blood he had viewed--could view unmoved--but then",
        "It flowed in combat, or was shed by men!",
        "",
        "\"'Tis done--he nearly waked--but it is done.",
        "Corsair! he perished--thou art dearly won.",
        "All words would now be vain--away--away!",
        "Our bark is tossing--'tis already day.",
        "The few gained over, now are wholly mine,",
        "And these thy yet surviving band shall join:",
        "Anon my voice shall vindicate my hand,",
        "When once our sail forsakes this hated strand.\"",
        "",
        "She clapped her hands, and through the gallery pour,",
        "Equipped for flight, her vassals--Greek and Moor;",
        "Silent but quick they stoop, his chains unbind;",
        "Once more his limbs are free as mountain wind!",
        "But on his heavy heart such sadness sate,",
        "As if they there transferred that iron weight.",
        "No words are uttered--at her sign, a door",
        "Reveals the secret passage to the shore;",
        "The city lies behind--they speed, they reach",
        "The glad waves dancing on the yellow beach;",
        "And Conrad following, at her beck, obeyed,",
        "Nor cared he now if rescued or betrayed;",
        "Resistance were as useless as if Seyd",
        "Yet lived to view the doom his ire decreed.",
        "",
        "Embarked--the sail unfurled--the light breeze blew--",
        "How much had Conrad's memory to review!",
        "Sunk he in contemplation, till the Cape",
        "Where last he anchored reared its giant shape.",
        "Ah!--since that fatal night, though brief the time,",
        "Had swept an age of terror, grief, and crime.",
        "As its far shadow frowned above the mast,",
        "He veiled his face, and sorrowed as he passed;",
        "He thought of all--Gonsalvo and his band,",
        "His fleeting triumph and his failing hand;",
        "He thought on her afar, his lonely bride:",
        "He turned and saw--Gulnare, the Homicide!",
        "",
        "She watched his features till she could not bear",
        "Their freezing aspect and averted air;",
        "And that strange fierceness foreign to her eye",
        "Fell quenched in tears, too late to shed or dry.",
        "She knelt beside him and his hand she pressed,",
        "\"Thou may'st forgive though Allah's self detest;",
        "But for that deed of darkness what wert thou?",
        "Reproach me--but not yet--Oh! spare me _now!_",
        "I am not what I seem--this fearful night",
        "My brain bewildered--do not madden quite!",
        "If I had never loved--though less my guilt--",
        "Thou hadst not lived to--hate me--if thou wilt.\"",
        "",
        "She wrongs his thoughts--they more himself upbraid",
        "Than her--though undesigned--the wretch he made;",
        "But speechless all, deep, dark, and unexprest,",
        "They bleed within that silent cell--his breast.",
        "Still onward, fair the breeze, nor rough the surge,",
        "The blue waves sport around the stern they urge;",
        "Far on the Horizon's verge appears a speck,",
        "A spot--a mast--a sail--an arméd deck!",
        "Their little bark her men of watch descry,",
        "And ampler canvass woos the wind from high;",
        "She bears her down majestically near,",
        "Speed on her prow, and terror in her tier;",
        "A flash is seen--the ball beyond her bow",
        "Booms harmless, hissing to the deep below.",
        "Up rose keen Conrad from his silent trance,",
        "A long, long absent gladness in his glance;",
        "\"'Tis mine--my blood-rag flag! again--again--",
        "I am not all deserted on the main!\"",
        "They own the signal, answer to the hail,",
        "Hoist out the boat at once, and slacken sail.",
        "\"'Tis Conrad! Conrad!\" shouting from the deck,",
        "Command nor Duty could their transport check!",
        "With light alacrity and gaze of Pride,",
        "They view him mount once more his vessel's side;",
        "A smile relaxing in each rugged face,",
        "Their arms can scarce forbear a rough embrace.",
        "He, half forgetting danger and defeat,",
        "Returns their greeting as a Chief may greet,",
        "Wrings with a cordial grasp Anselmo's hand,",
        "And feels he yet can conquer and command!",
        "",
        "These greetings o'er, the feelings that o'erflow,",
        "Yet grieve to win him back without a blow;",
        "They sailed prepared for vengeance--had they known",
        "A woman's hand secured that deed her own,",
        "She were their Queen--less scrupulous are they",
        "Than haughty Conrad how they win their way.",
        "With many an asking smile, and wondering stare,",
        "They whisper round, and gaze upon Gulnare;",
        "And her, at once above--beneath her sex,",
        "Whom blood appalled not, their regards perplex.",
        "To Conrad turns her faint imploring eye,",
        "She drops her veil, and stands in silence by;",
        "Her arms are meekly folded on that breast,",
        "Which--Conrad safe--to Fate resigned the rest.",
        "Though worse than frenzy could that bosom fill,",
        "Extreme in love or hate, in good or ill,",
        "The worst of crimes had left her Woman still!",
        "",
        "This Conrad marked, and felt--ah! could he less?--",
        "Hate of that deed--but grief for her distress;",
        "What she has done no tears can wash away,",
        "And Heaven must punish on its angry day:",
        "But--it was done: he knew, whate'er her guilt,",
        "For him that poniard smote, that blood was spilt;",
        "And he was free!--and she for him had given",
        "Her all on earth, and more than all in heaven!",
        "And now he turned him to that dark-eyed slave",
        "Whose brow was bowed beneath the glance he gave,",
        "Who now seemed changed and humbled, faint and meek,",
        "But varying oft the colour of her cheek",
        "To deeper shades of paleness--all its red",
        "That fearful spot which stained it from the dead!",
        "He took that hand--it trembled--now too late--",
        "So soft in love--so wildly nerved in hate;",
        "He clasped that hand--it trembled--and his own",
        "Had lost its firmness, and his voice its tone.",
        "\"Gulnare!\"--but she replied not--\"dear Gulnare!\"",
        "She raised her eye--her only answer there--",
        "At once she sought and sunk in his embrace:",
        "If he had driven her from that resting-place,",
        "His had been more or less than mortal heart,",
        "But--good or ill--it bade her not depart.",
        "Perchance, but for the bodings of his breast,",
        "His latest virtue then had joined the rest.",
        "Yet even Medora might forgive the kiss",
        "That asked from form so fair no more than this,",
        "The first, the last that Frailty stole from Faith--",
        "To lips where Love had lavished all his breath,",
        "To lips--whose broken sighs such fragrance fling,",
        "As he had fanned them freshly with his wing!",
        "",
        "They gain by twilight's hour their lonely isle.",
        "To them the very rocks appear to smile;",
        "The haven hums with many a cheering sound,",
        "The beacons blaze their wonted stations round,",
        "The boats are darting o'er the curly bay,",
        "And sportive Dolphins bend them through the spray;",
        "Even the hoarse sea-bird's shrill, discordant shriek,",
        "Greets like the welcome of his tuneless beak!",
        "Beneath each lamp that through its lattice gleams,",
        "Their fancy paints the friends that trim the beams.",
        "Oh! what can sanctify the joys of home,",
        "Like Hope's gay glance from Ocean's troubled foam?",
        "",
        "The lights are high on beacon and from bower,",
        "And 'midst them Conrad seeks Medora's tower:",
        "He looks in vain--'tis strange--and all remark,",
        "Amid so many, hers alone is dark.",
        "'Tis strange--of yore its welcome never failed,",
        "Nor now, perchance, extinguished--only veiled.",
        "With the first boat descends he for the shore,",
        "And looks impatient on the lingering oar.",
        "Oh! for a wing beyond the falcon's flight,",
        "To bear him like an arrow to that height!",
        "With the first pause the resting rowers gave,",
        "He waits not--looks not--leaps into the wave,",
        "Strives through the surge, bestrides the beach, and high",
        "Ascends the path familiar to his eye.",
        "",
        "He reached his turret door--he paused--no sound",
        "Broke from within; and all was night around.",
        "He knocked, and loudly--footstep nor reply",
        "Announced that any heard or deemed him nigh:",
        "He knocked, but faintly--for his trembling hand",
        "Refused to aid his heavy heart's demand.",
        "The portal opens--'tis a well known face--",
        "But not the form he panted to embrace.",
        "Its lips are silent--twice his own essayed,",
        "And failed to frame the question they delayed;",
        "He snatched the lamp--its light will answer all--",
        "It quits his grasp, expiring in the fall.",
        "He would not wait for that reviving ray--",
        "As soon could he have lingered there for day;",
        "But, glimmering through the dusky corridor,",
        "Another chequers o'er the shadowed floor;",
        "His steps the chamber gain--his eyes behold",
        "All that his heart believed not--yet foretold!",
        "",
        "He turned not--spoke not--sunk not--fixed his look,",
        "And set the anxious frame that lately shook:",
        "He gazed--how long we gaze despite of pain,",
        "And know, but dare not own, we gaze in vain!",
        "In life itself she was so still and fair,",
        "That Death with gentler aspect withered there;",
        "And the cold flowers her colder hand contained,",
        "In that last grasp as tenderly were strained",
        "As if she scarcely felt, but feigned a sleep--",
        "And made it almost mockery yet to weep:",
        "The long dark lashes fringed her lids of snow,",
        "And veiled--Thought shrinks from all that lurked below--Oh!",
        "o'er the eye Death most exerts his might,",
        "And hurls the Spirit from her throne of light;",
        "Sinks those blue orbs in that long last eclipse,",
        "But spares, as yet, the charm around her lips--",
        "Yet, yet they seem as they forebore to smile,",
        "And wished repose,--but only for a while;",
        "But the white shroud, and each extended tress,",
        "Long, fair--but spread in utter lifelessness,",
        "Which, late the sport of every summer wind,",
        "Escaped the baffled wreath that strove to bind;",
        "These--and the pale pure cheek, became the bier--",
        "But She is nothing--wherefore is he here?",
        "",
        "He asked no question--all were answered now",
        "By the first glance on that still, marble brow.",
        "It was enough--she died--what recked it how?",
        "The love of youth, the hope of better years,",
        "The source of softest wishes, tenderest fears,",
        "The only living thing he could not hate,",
        "Was reft at once--and he deserved his fate,",
        "But did not feel it less;--the Good explore,",
        "For peace, those realms where Guilt can never soar:",
        "The proud, the wayward--who have fixed below",
        "Their joy, and find this earth enough for woe,",
        "Lose in that one their all--perchance a mite--",
        "But who in patience parts with all delight?",
        "Full many a stoic eye and aspect stern",
        "Mask hearts where Grief hath little left to learn;",
        "And many a withering thought lies hid, not lost,",
        "In smiles that least befit who wear them most.",
        "",
        "By those, that deepest feel, is ill exprest",
        "The indistinctness of the suffering breast;",
        "Where thousand thoughts begin to end in one,",
        "Which seeks from all the refuge found in none;",
        "No words suffice the secret soul to show,",
        "For Truth denies all eloquence to Woe.",
        "On Conrad's stricken soul Exhaustion prest,",
        "And Stupor almost lulled it into rest;",
        "So feeble now--his mother's softness crept",
        "To those wild eyes, which like an infant's wept:",
        "It was the very weakness of his brain,",
        "Which thus confessed without relieving pain.",
        "None saw his trickling tears--perchance, if seen,",
        "That useless flood of grief had never been:",
        "Nor long they flowed--he dried them to depart,",
        "In helpless--hopeless--brokenness of heart:",
        "The Sun goes forth, but Conrad's day is dim:",
        "And the night cometh--ne'er to pass from him.",
        "There is no darkness like the cloud of mind,",
        "On Grief's vain eye--the blindest of the blind!",
        "Which may not--dare not see--but turns aside",
        "To blackest shade--nor will endure a guide!",
        "",
        "His heart was formed for softness--warped to wrong,",
        "Betrayed too early, and beguiled too long;",
        "Each feeling pure--as falls the dropping dew",
        "Within the grot--like that had hardened too;",
        "Less clear, perchance, its earthly trials passed,",
        "But sunk, and chilled, and petrified at last.",
        "Yet tempests wear, and lightning cleaves the rock;",
        "If such his heart, so shattered it the shock.",
        "There grew one flower beneath its rugged brow,",
        "Though dark the shade--it sheltered--saved till now.",
        "The thunder came--that bolt hath blasted both,",
        "The Granite's firmness, and the Lily's growth:",
        "The gentle plant hath left no leaf to tell",
        "Its tale, but shrunk and withered where it fell;",
        "And of its cold protector, blacken round",
        "But shivered fragments on the barren ground!",
        "",
        "'Tis morn--to venture on his lonely hour",
        "Few dare; though now Anselmo sought his tower.",
        "He was not there, nor seen along the shore;",
        "Ere night, alarmed, their isle is traversed o'er:",
        "Another morn--another bids them seek,",
        "And shout his name till Echo waxeth weak;",
        "Mount--grotto--cavern--valley searched in vain,",
        "They find on shore a sea-boat's broken chain:",
        "Their hope revives--they follow o'er the main.",
        "'Tis idle all--moons roll on moons away,",
        "And Conrad comes not, came not since that day:",
        "Nor trace nor tidings of his doom declare",
        "Where lives his grief, or perished his despair!",
        "Long mourned his band whom none could mourn beside;",
        "And fair the monument they gave his Bride:",
        "For him they raise not the recording stone--",
        "His death yet dubious, deeds too widely known;",
        "He left a Corsair's name to other times,",
        "Linked with one virtue, and a thousand crimes."
      ],
      "title": "The Corsair.  "
    },
    {
      "author": "Emily Dickinson",
      "line_count": "12",
      "lines": [
        "Whatever it is -- she has tried it --",
        "Awful Father of Love --",
        "Is not Ours the chastising --",
        "Do not chastise the Dove --",
        "",
        "Not for Ourselves, petition --",
        "Nothing is left to pray --",
        "When a subject is finished --",
        "Words are handed away --",
        "",
        "Only lest she be lonely",
        "In thy beautiful House",
        "Give her for her Transgression",
        "License to think of us --"
      ],
      "title": "Whatever it is -- she has tried it --"
    }
  ],
  "success": true
}