George Gordon Byron

“ I.
"O'er the glad waters of the dark blue sea,
"Our thoughts as boundless, and our souls as free,
"Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam,
"Survey our empire and behold our home!
"These are our realms, no limits to their sway—
"Our flag the sceptre all who meet obey.
"Ours the wild life in tumult still to range
"From toil to rest, and joy in every change.
"Oh, who can tell? not thou, luxurious slave!
"Whose soul would sicken o'er the heaving wave;⁠10
"Not thou, vain lord of wantonness and ease! ”

“ Uprose keen Conrad from his silent trance,
A long, long absent gladness in his glance;
" 'Tis mine—my blood-red flag—again—again—
"I am not all deserted on the main!"⁠1660
They own the signal, answer to the hail.
Hoist out the boat at once, and slacken sail.
" 'Tis Conrad!—Conrad!" shouting from the deck,
Command nor duty could their transport check!
With light alacrity and gaze of pride.
They view him mount once more his vessel's side;
A smile relaxing in each rugged face,
Their arms can scarce forbear a rough embrace. ”

“ Leap into life, and sparkling woo your thirst;
From crag to cliff they mount—Near yonder cave,
What lonely straggler looks along the wave?⁠130
In pensive posture leaning on the brand,
Not oft a resting-staff to that red hand?
"'Tis he—'tis Conrad—here—as wont—alone,
"On—Juan! on—and make our purpose known.
"The bark he views—and tell him we would greet
"His ear with tidings he must quickly meet:
"We dare not yet approach—thou know'st his mood,
"When strange or uninvited steps intrude." ”

“ Lest he to Conrad rather should betray
Some secret thought—than drag that chief's to day.
There was a laughing Devil in his sneer,
That raised emotions both of rage and fear;
And where his frown of hatred darkly fell,
Hope withering fled—and Mercy sighed farewell!
X.
Slight are the outward signs of evil thought,
Within—within—'twas there the spirit wrought!⁠230
Love shows all changes—Hate, Ambition, Guile,
Betray no further than the bitter smile ”

“ Such were the thoughts that outlaw must sustain,
And govern pangs surpassing mortal pain:
And those sustain'd he—boots it well or ill?
Since not to sink beneath, is something still!⁠1410
VII.
The first day pass'd—he saw not her—Gulnare—
The second—third—and still she came not there;
But what her words avouch'd, her charms had done,
Or else he had not seen another sun.
The fourth day roll'd along—and with the night
Came storm and darkness in their mingling might:
Oh! how he listen'd to the rushing deep,
That ne'er till now so broke upon his sleep ”

“ She pressed his fettered fingers to her heart,⁠1140
And bowed her head, and turned her to depart,
And noiseless as a lovely dream is gone.
And was she here? and is he now alone?
What gem hath dropped and sparkles o'er his chain?
The tear most sacred—shed for others' pain—
That starts at once—bright—pure—from Pity's mine,
Already polish'd by the hand divine!
Oh! too convincing—dangerously dear—
In woman's eye the unanswerable tear! ”

“ Yet changed since last within that cell she came,
More pale her cheek—more tremulous her frame:
On him she cast her dark and hurried eye,
Which spoke before her accents—"thou must die!—
"Yes, thou must die—there is but one resource,
"The last—the worst—if torture were not worse."
"Lady! I look to none—my lips proclaim⁠1449
"What last proclaim'd they—Conrad still the same:
"Why should'st thou seek an outlaw's life to spare,
"And change the sentence I deserve to bear?
"Well have I earn'd—nor here alone—the meed
"Of Seyd's revenge, by many a lawless deed." ”

“ His bugle—brief the blast—but shrilly blew;
'Tis answered—"Well ye speed, my gallant crew!
"Why did I doubt their quickness of career?
"And deem design had left me single here?"
Sweeps his long arm—that sabre's whirling sway
Sheds fast atonement for its first delay;
Completes his fury, what their fear begun,
And makes the many basely quail to one.
The cloven turbans o'er the chamber spread,
And scarce an arm dare rise to guard its head:⁠780
Even Seyd, convuls'd, o'erwhelm'd, with rage, surprise,
Retreats before him, though he still defies. ”

“ To lips where Love had lavish'd all his breath,
To lips—whose broken sighs such fragrance fling,⁠1720
As he had fann'd them freshly with his wing!
XVIII.
They gain by twilight's hour their lonely isle.
To them the very rocks appear to smile,
The haven hums with many a cheering sound. ”

“ Fire in his glance, and wildness in his breast,
He feels of all his former self possest;⁠530
He bounds—he flies—until his footsteps reach
The verge where ends the cliff, begins the beach,
There checks his speed; but pauses less to breathe
The breezy freshness of the deep beneath,
Than there his wonted statelier step renew;
Nor rush, disturb'd by haste, to vulgar view:
For well had Conrad learn'd to curb the crowd,
By arts that veil, and oft preserve the proud ”

“ For, through thy long dark lashes low depending,
⁠The soul of melancholy Gentleness
Gleams like a seraph from the sky descending,
⁠Above all pain, yet pitying all distress;
At once such majesty with sweetness blending,
⁠I worship more, but cannot love thee less. ”

“ Their fancy paints the friends that trim the beams.
Oh! what can sanctify the joys of home,
Like Hope's gay glance from Ocean's troubled foam?
XIX.
The lights are high on beacon and from bower,
And midst them Conrad seeks Medora's tower:
He looks in vain—'tis strange—and all remark,
Amid so many, her's alone is dark. ”

“ They make obeisance, and retire in haste,
Too soon to seek again the watery waste:
Yet they repine not—so that Conrad guides,
And who dare question aught that he decides?
That man of loneliness and mystery,
Scarce seen to smile, and seldom heard to sigh—
Whose name appals the fiercest of his crew,
And tints each swarthy cheek with sallower hue ”

“ Oh! o'er the eye death most exerts his might,
And hurls the spirit from her throne of light!
Sinks those blue orbs in that long last eclipse,⁠1780
But spares, as yet, the charm around her lips—
Yet—yet they seem as they forbore to smile.
And wish'd repose—but only for a while;
But the white shroud, and each extended tress,
Long—fair—but spread in utter lifelessness. ”

“ That opening sepulchre—the naked heart⁠960
Bares with its buried woes, till Pride awake,
To snatch the mirror from the soul—and break.
Aye,—Pride can veil, and Courage brave it all—
All—all—before—beyond—the deadliest fall:
Each hath some fear, and he who least betrays,
The only hypocrite deserving praise:
Not the loud recreant wretch who boasts and flies;
But he who looks on death—and silent dies:
So, steeled by pondering o'er his far career,
He half-way meets him should he menace near!⁠970
XI.
In the high chamber of his highest tower
Sate Conrad, fettered in the Pacha's power. ”

“ She knelt beside him and his hand she prest,
"Thou may'st forgive though Alla's self detest;
"But for that deed of darkness what wert thou?
"Reproach me—but not yet—Oh! spare me now!
"I am not what I seem—this fearful night
"My brain bewilder'd—do not madden quite!⁠1640
"If I had never loved—though less my guilt,
"Thou hadst not lived to—hate me—if thou wilt."
XV.
She wrongs his thoughts, they more himself upbraid
Than her, though undesign'd, the wretch he made;
But speechless all, deep, dark, and unexprest,
They bleed within that silent cell—his breast. ”

“ I envy those
"Whose hearts on hearts as faithful can repose,
"Who never feel the void—the wandering thought⁠1100
"That sighs o'er visions—such as mine hath wrought."
"Lady—methought thy love was his, for whom
"This arm redeem’d thee from a fiery tomb."
"My love stern Seyd's! Oh—No—No—not my love—
"Yet much this heart, that strives no more, once strove
"To meet his passion—but it would not be.
"I felt—I feel—love dwells with—with the free. ”

“ The Haram queen—but still the slave of Seyd!
VI.
Brief time had Conrad now to greet Gulnare,9⁠830
Few words to reassure the trembling fair;
For in that pause compassion snatched from war,
The foe before retiring, fast and far,
With wonder saw their footsteps unpursued,
First slowlier fled—then rallied—then withstood.
This Seyd perceives, then first perceives how few,
Compared with his, the Corsair's roving crew,
And blushes o'er his error, as he eyes
The ruin wrought by panic and surprize.
Alla il Alla! Vengeance swells the cry—⁠840
Shame mounts to rage that must atone or die! ”

“ To bare the sabre's edge before a slave!
Infest his dwelling—but forbear to slay,
Their arms are strong, yet merciful to-day,
And do not deign to smite because they may!
Unless some gay caprice suggests the blow,
To keep in practice for the coming foe.
Revel and rout the evening hours beguile,
And they who wish to wear a head must smile;⁠630
For Moslem mouths produce their choicest cheer,
And hoard their curses, till the coast is clear.
II.
High in his hall reclines the turban’d Seyd:
Around—the bearded chiefs he came to lead. ”

“ He raised his head—and dazzled with the light,
His eye seemed dubious if it saw aright:
He moved his hand—the grating of his chain
Too harshly told him that he lived again.
"What is that form? if not a shape of air,
"Methinks, my jailor's face shows wondrous fair!"
"Pirate! thou know'st me not—but I am one,⁠1040
"Grateful for deeds thou hast too rarely done;
"Look on me—and remember her, thy hand
"Snatched from the flames, and thy more fearful band.
"I come through darkness—and I scarce know why—
"Yet not to hurt—I would not see thee die." ”

“ Behold his soul—the rest that soothes his lot!
Mark—how that lone and blighted bosom sears
The scathing thought of execrated years!
Behold—but who hath seen, or e'er shall see,
Man as himself—the secret spirit free?⁠250
XI.
Yet was not Conrad thus by Nature sent
To lead the guilty—guilt's worst instrument—
His soul was changed—before his deeds had driven
Him forth to war with man and forfeit heaven. ”

“ But one unclouded blaze of living light!
O'er the hush'd deep the yellow beam he throws,
Gilds the green wave, that trembles as it glows.
On old Ægina'a rock, and Idra's isle,
The god of gladness sheds his parting smile ”

“ The heart that offered both was true,
And ill deserv'd the fate it found.
2.
These gifts were charm'd by secret spell
Thy truth in absence to divine;
And they have done their duty well,
Alas! they could not teach thee thine. ”

“ Farewell! if ever fondest prayer
⁠For other's weal availed on high,
Mine will not all be lost in air,
⁠But waft thy name beyond the sky,
'Twere vain to speak, to weep, to sigh:
⁠Oh! more than tears of blood can tell,
When wrung from guilt's expiring eye,
⁠Are in that word—Farewell!—Farewell! ”

“ And those who fought for conquest strike for life.
Conrad beheld the danger—he beheld
His followers faint by freshening foes repelled:
"One effort—one—to break the circling host!"
They form—unite—charge—waver—all is lost! ”

“ While Ireland ranks you among the firmest of her patriots—while you stand alone the first of her bards in her estimation, and Britain repeats and ratifies the decree—permit one, whose only regret, since our first acquaintance, has been the years he had lost before it commenced, to add the humble but sincere suffrage of friendship, to the voice of more than one nation. ”

“ The power of Thought—the magic of the Mind!
Linked with success—assumed and kept with skill,
That moulds another's weakness to its will—
Wields with their hands—but still to these unknown,
Makes even their mightiest deeds appear his own. ”

“ They whisper round, and gaze upon Gulnare;⁠1680
And her, at once above—beneath her sex.
Whom blood appall'd not, their regards perplex.
To Conrad turns her faint imploring eye.
She drops her veil, and stands in silence by;
Her arms are meekly folded on that breast.
Which—Conrad safe—to fate resign'd the rest.
Though worse than phrenzy could that bosom fill,
Extreme in love or hate—in good or ill.
The worst of crimes had left her woman still!
XVII.
This Conrad mark'd, and felt—ah! could he less:⁠1690
Hate of that deed—but grief for her distress ”

“ That shines like snow, and falls on earth as mute—⁠1010
Through guards and dunnest night how came it there?
Ah! rather ask what will not woman dare?
Whom youth and pity lead like thee, Gulnare!
She could not sleep—and while the Pacha's rest
In muttering dreams yet saw his pirate-guest,
She left his side—his signet-ring she bore,
Which oft in sport adorn'd her hand before—
And with it, scarcely question'd, won her way
Through drowsy guards that must that sign obey.
Worn out with toil, and tir'd with changing blows,⁠1020
Their eyes had envied Conrad his repose ”

“ With such an aspect by his colours blent,
⁠When from his beauty-breathing pencil born,
(Except that thou hast nothing to repent)
⁠The Magdalen of Guido saw the morn—
Such seem'st thou—but how much more excellent!
⁠With nought Remorse can claim—nor Virtue scorn. ”

“ It has been objected that Conrad's entering disguised as a spy is out of Nature.—Perhaps so. I find something not unlike it in history.
"Anxious to explore with his own eyes the state of the Vandals, Majorian ventured, after disguising the colour of his hair, to visit Carthage in the character of his own ambassador; and Genseric was afterwards mortified by the discovery, that he had entertained and dismissed the Emperor of the Romans. Such an anecdote may be rejected as an improbable fiction; but it is a fiction which would not have been imagined unless in the life of a hero." ”