The sea-birds, with portentous screech, And where was stern AL HASSAN then? I "The Easterns used to set out on their longer voyages with music." Harmer. 2 "The Gate of Tears, the straits or passage into the Red Sea, commonly called Babelmandel. It received this name from the old Arabians, on account of the danger of the navigation, and the nùmber of shipwrecks by which it was distinguished; which induced them to consider as dead, and to wear mourning for all who had the boldness to hazard the passage through it into the Ethiopic ocean. - Richardson. From blood-shed and devotion spare No-close within, in changeful fits Upon the coming night of blood, With that keen, second-scent of death, By which the vulture snuffs his food 3 In the still warm and living breath! While o'er the wave his weeping daughter Is wafted from these scenes of slaughter, As a young bird of BABYLON,+ Let loose to tell of victory won, Flies home, with wing, ah! not unstain'd And does the long-left home she seeks groves, 3 "I have been told that whensoever an animal falls down dead, one or more vultures, unseen before, instantly appear.". Pennant. "They fasten some writing to the wings of a Bagdat, or BabyTravels of certain Englishmen. lonian pigeon." Once more to see her dear gazelles And the gay, gleaming fishes count, Shooting around their jasper fount.' — To tell her ruby rosary In her own sweet acacia bower. Can these delights, that wait her now, no sunshine on her brow? Call up And o'er the wide, tempestuous wave, 5 "The Empress of Jehan-Guire used to divert herself with feeding tame fish in her canals, some of which were many years afterwards known by fillets of gold, which she caused to be put round them." Harris. Blood, blood, in steaming tides shall run, "Where art thou, glorious stranger! thou, "So lov'd, so lost, where art thou now? "Foe Gheber infidel whate'er "Th' unhallow'd name thou'rt doom'd to bear, "Still glorious still to this fond heart "Dear as its blood, whate'er thou art! "Yes. ALLA, dreadful ALLA! yes "If there be wrong, be crime in this, "Let the black waves, that round us roll, "Whelm me this instant, ere my soul, "Before its earthly idol fall, "Nor worship ev'n Thyself above him. — "For oh! so wildly do I love him, "Thy Paradise itself were dim "And joyless, if not shar'd with him!" Her hands were clasp'd — her eyes upturn'd, And, though her lip, fond raver! burn'd Yet was there light around her brow, A holiness in those dark eyes, Which show'd though wandering earthward now, Her spirit's home was in the skies. Yes for a spirit, pure as hers, Is always pure, ev'n while it errs; So wholly had her mind forgot But hark! that war-whoop on the deck- Merciful heav'n! what can it be? |