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As yet was weak, penetrate half his scheme.

But when, at length, he uttered "Thou art she!"

All flash'd at once, and, shrieking piteously,

"Oh not for worlds!" she cried-"Great God! to whom

I once knelt innocent, is this my doom?

Are all my dreams, my hopes of heavenly bliss,

My purity, my pride, then come to this,-
To live, the wanton of a fiend! to be
The pander of his guilt-oh infamy!

And sunk, myself, as low as Hell can steep
In its hot flood, drag others down as deep!

Others ?-ha! yes-that youth who came to-day-
Not him I lov'd-not him-oh! do but say,

But swear to me this moment 'tis not he,

And I will serve, dark fiend! will worship even thee

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Beware, young raving thing!-in time beware,
Nor utter what I cannot, must not bear

Ev'n from thy lips. Go try thy lute, thy voice,
The boy must feel their magic-I rejoice

To see those fires, no matter whence they rise,

Once more illuming my fair Priestess' eyes;

And should the youth, whom soon those eyes shall warın

Indeed resemble thy dead lover's form,

So much the happier wilt thou find thy doom,

As one warm lover, full of life and bloom,

Excels ten thousand cold ones in the tomb.

Nay, nay, no frowning, sweet!-those eyes were made

For love, not anger-I must be obeyed."

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Obeyed!-'tis well-yes, I deserve it all

On me, on me Heaven's vengeance cannot fall
Too heavily-but Azim, brave and true
And beautiful-must he be ruined too?
Must he too, glorious as he is, be driven
A renegade like me from love and Heaven?

Like me?-weak wretch, I wrong him—not like me
No-he's all truth and strength and purity!
Fill up your madd'ning hell-cup to the brim,
Its witchery, fiends, will have no charm for him.
Let loose your glowing wantons from their bowers,
He loves, he loves, and can defy their powers!
Wretch as I am, in his heart still I reign
Pure as when first we met, without a stain!
Though ruin'd-lost-my memory, like a charm
Left by the dead, still keeps his soul from harm.
Oh! never let him know how deep the brow
He kiss'd at parting is dishonour'd now-

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Gay, flickering death-lights shone while we were wed,
And, for our guests, a row of goodly dead
(Immortal spirits in their time no doubt),

From reeking shrouds upon the rite look'd out!
That oath thou heardest more lips than thine repeat-
That cup-thou shudderest, lady-was it sweet?
That cup we pledg'd, the charnel's choicest wine,
Hath bound thee-aye-body and soul all mine;
Bound thee by chains that, whether blest or curst
No matter now, not Hell itself shall burst!
Hence, woman, to the Haram, and look gay,
Look wild, look-anything but sad; yet stay-
One moment more-from what this night hath pass'd,
I see thou know'st me, know'st me well at last.
Ha! ha! and so, fond thing, thou thought'st all true,
And that I love mankind!-I do, I do

As victims, love them; as the sea-dog doats
Upon the small, sweet fry that round him floats;
Or, as the Nile-bird loves the slime that gives

That rank and venomous food on which she lives!

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And, now thou see'st my soul's angelic hue, "Tis time these features were uncurtain'd too;This brow, whose light-oh rare celestial light! Hath been reserv'd to bless thy favour'd sight; These dazzling eyes, before whose shrouded might Thou'st seen immortal man kneel down and quakeWould that they were Heaven's lightnings for his sake But turn and look-then wonder, if thou wilt, That I should hate, should take revenge, by guilt, Upon the hand, whose mischief or whose mirth Sent me thus maim'd and monstrous upon earth; And on that race who, though more vile they be Than mowing apes, are demi-gods to me! Here-judge if Hell, with all its power to damn, Can add one curse to the foul thing I am!"

He rais'd his veil-the Maid turn'd slowly round, Look'd at him-shriek'd-and sunk upon the ground

On their arrival, next night, at the place of encampment, they were surprised and delighted to find the groves all round illuminated; some artists of Yamtcheou having been sent on previously for the purpose. On each side of the green alley, which led to the Royal Pavilion, artificial aceneries of bamboo-work were erected, representing arches, minarets, and towers, from which hung thousands of silken lanterns, painted by the most delicate pencils of Canton.

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He raised his veil the Maid turned slowly round Looked at him shrieked and sunk upon the ground. The Veiled Prophet p. 24

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