CANTO THE SECOND XVI |
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CANTO THE SECONDXVI
"Within thy father`s house are foes;
Not all who break his bread are true:
To these should I my birth disclose,
His days, his very hours, were few:
They only want a heart to lead,
A hand to point them to the deed.
But Haroun only knows — or knew —
This tale, whose close is almost nigh:
He in Abdallah`s palace grew,
And held that post in his Serai
Which holds he here — he saw him die:
But what could single slavery do?
Avenge his lord? alas! too late;
Or save his son from such a fate?
He chose the last, and when elate
With foes subdued, or friends betray`d,
Proud Giaffir in high triumph sate,
He led me helpless to his gate,
And not in vain it seems essay`d
To save the life for which he pray`d.
The knowledge of my birth secured
From all and each, but most from me;
Thus Giaffir`s safety was insured.
Removed he too from Roumelie
To this our Asiatic side,
Far from our seat by Danube`s tide,
With none but Haroun, who retains
Such knowledge — and that Nubian feels
A tyrant`s secrets are but chains,
From which the captive gladly steals,
And this and more to me reveals:
Such still to guilt just Allah sends —
Slaves, tools, accomplices — no friends!
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