CANTO THE SECOND V |
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CANTO THE SECONDV
Late, late to-night will Dian cheer
The swain, and chase the boatman`s fear;
Till then — no beacon on the cliff
May shape the course of struggling skiff;
The scatter`d lights that skirt the bay,
All, one by one, have died away;
The only lamp of this lone hour
Is glimmering in Zuleika`s tower.
Yes! there is light in that lone chamber,
And o`er her silken Ottoman
Are thrown the fragrant beads of amber,
O`er which her fairy fingers ran;
Near these, with emerald rays beset,
(How could she thus that gem forget?)
Her mother`s sainted amulet,
Whereon engraved the Koorsee text,
Could smooth this life, and win the next;
And by her Comboloio lies
A Koran of illumined dyes;
And many a bright emblazon`d rhyme
By Persian scribes redeem`d from time;
And o`er those scrolls, not oft so mute,
Reclines her now neglected lute;
And round her lamp of fretted gold
Bloom flowers in urns of China`s mould;
The richest work of Iran`s loom,
And Sheeraz` tribute of perfume;
All that can eye or sense delight
Are gather`d in that gorgeous room:
But yet it hath an air of gloom.
She, of this Peri cell the sprite,
What doth she hence, and on so rude a night?
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