CANTO THE SECOND XVII |
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CANTO THE SECONDXVII
"All this, Zuleika, harshly sounds;
But harsher still my tale must be:
Howe`er my tongue thy softness wounds,
Yet I must prove all truth to thee.
I saw thee start this garb to see,
Yet is it one I oft have worn,
And long must wear: this Galiongée,
To whom thy plighted vow is sworn,
Is leader of those pirate hordes,
Whose laws and lives are on their swords;
To hear whose desolating tale
Would make thy waning cheek more pale:
Those arms thou see`st my band have brought,
The hands that wield are not remote;
This cup too for the rugged knaves
Is fill`d — once quaff`d, they ne`er repine:
Our Prophet might forgive the slaves;
They`re only infidels in wine!
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