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THE CORSAIR.

Canto II.

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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 feells, 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. 950
Ambition's dreams expiring, love's regret,
Endangered glory, life itself beset;

The joy untasted, the comtempt 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 remem-
bered not

960

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

Barcs with its buried woes, till Pride awake,

To snatch the mirror from the soul

--

and break.

Pride can veil, and Courage brave it all,

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Each hath some fear, and he who least betrays, The only hypocrite deserving praise:

970

Not the loud recreant wretch who boats and flies; But he who looks on death and silent dies.

So steeled by pondering o'er his far career,
He halfway meets him should he menace near!

XI.

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

980

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

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gazed;

But soon he found

or feigned

-or dreamed

relief,

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And smiled in self-derision of his grief, “And now come torture when it willor may, "More need of rest to nerve me for the day!" 990 This said, with languor 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-

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an outlaw on the deep

Destroying-saving-prisoned-and asleep! 1000

XII.

He slept in calmest sceming - for his breathi
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 carthly form with heavenly face! 1ts 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, 1010 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

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That shines like snow, and falls on earth as mute→ Through guards and dunnest night how came it

there?

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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, 1020
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.

XIII.

She gazed in wonder, "Can he calmly sleep, 1030 "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

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He raised his head and dazzled with the light,

His eyed seemed dubious if it saw aright: He moved his hand-the grating of his chain 1040 Too harshly told him that he lived again. "What is that form? if not a shape of air, "Methinks, my jailor's face shows wond'rous fair!"

"Pirate! thou know'st me not

but I am one,

"Grateful for deeds thou hast too rarely done;

"Look on me

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and remember her, thy hand

"Snatched from the flames, aud thy more fearful

band.

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