Lord Byron

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ With shape of fairy lightness—naked foot,
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. ”

“ 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." ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ The only living thing he could not hate.
Was reft at once—and he deserv'd his fate.
But did not feel it less;—the good explore,
For peace, those realms where guilt can never soar:
The proud—the wayward—who have fixed below
Their joy—and find this earth enough for woe,⁠1800
Lose in that one their all—perchance a mite—
But who in patience parts with all delight?
Full many a stoic eye and aspect stern
Mask hearts where grief hath little left to learn ”

“ 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! ”

“ That rise—convulse—contend—that freeze, or glow,
Flush in the cheek, or damp upon the brow,
Then—Stranger! if thou canst, and tremblest not,
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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ Shone his mail'd breast, and flash'd his sabre's ray!
His close but glittering casque, and sable plume,
More glittering eye, and black brow's sabler gloom,
Glared on the Moslems' eyes some Afrit Sprite,
Whose demon death-blow left no hope for fight.
​The wild confusion, and the swarthy glow
Of flames on high, and torches from below;
The shriek of terror, and the mingling yell—
For swords began to clash, and shouts to swell—⁠760
Flung o'er that spot of earth the air of hell! ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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! ”

“ Such hath it been—shall be—beneath the sun
The many still must labour for the one;⁠190
'Tis Nature's doom—but let the wretch who toils,
Accuse not—hate not—him who wears the spoils. ”

“ "Oh, who can tell, save he whose heart hath tried,
"And danc’d in triumph o'er the waters wide,
"The exulting sense—the pulse's maddening play,
"That thrills the wanderer of that trackless way? ”

“ Than haughty Conrad how they win their way.
With many an asking smile, and wondering stare,
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! ”

“ 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."
"Why should I seek? because—Oh! didst thou not
"Redeem my life from worse than slavery's lot? ”

“ All, save repose or flight—still lingering there
Breathed Conrad's spirit, and forbade despair;
Whate'er his fate—the breasts he form'd and led,
Will save him living, or appease him dead.
Woe to his foes! there yet survive a few,
Whose deeds are daring, as their hearts are true.
​
V.
Within the Haram's secret chamber sate
Stern Seyd, still pondering o'er his Captive's fate;
His thoughts on love and hate alternate dwell,⁠1300
Now with Gulnare, and now in Conrad's cell ”

“ For in that word—that fatal word—howe'er
We promise—hope—believe—there breathes despair. ”

“ 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. ”

“ He left a Corsair's name to other times,
Link'd with one virtue, and a thousand crimes. ”

“ She walks the waters like a thing of life,
And seems to dare the elements to strife—
​Who would not brave the battle-fire—the wreck—
To move the monarch of her peopled deck? ”

“ His fellow's mournful guess at Conrad's fate.
​Something they would have said; but seemed to fear
To trust their accents to Medora's ear.
She saw at once, yet sunk not—trembled not— ⁠1260
Beneath that grief—that loneliness of lot—
Within that meek fair form were feelings high
That deem'd not till they found their energy.
While yet was Hope—they soften'd—flutter'd—wept—
All lost—that softness died not—but it slept—
And o'er its slumber rose that Strength which said,
"With nothing left to love—there's nought to dread."
'Tis more than nature's ”

“ No words suffice the secret soul to show. ”

“ 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! ”

“ Around his form his loose long robe was thrown,
And wrapt a breast bestow'd on heaven alone; ”

“ What should it be, that thus their faith can bind?
The power of Thought—the magic of the Mind! ”

“ 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 ”

“ "Ours are the tears, though few, sincerely shed,
"When Ocean shrouds and sepulchres our dead. ”

“ And when that dark-eyed lady, young Gulnare,
Recall'd those thoughts late wandering in despair,
Much did she marvel o'er the courtesy
That smooth'd his accents—soften'd in his eye.
'Twas strange—that robber thus with gore bedew'd,
Seem'd gentler then than Seyd in fondest mood.
The Pacha wooed as if he deem'd the slave⁠870
Must seem delighted with the heart he gave;
The Corsair vowed protection, sooth'd affright,
As if his homage were a woman's right.
"The wish is wrong—nay worse for female—vain:
"Yet much I long to view that chief again ”

“ In smiles that least befit who wear them most. ”

“ She bears her down majestically near,
Speed on her prow, and terror in her tier; ”

“ But short their greeting, shorter his reply—
" 'Tis well—but Seyd escapes—and he must die.
​"Much hath been done—but more remains to do—
"Their galleys blaze—why not their city too?"⁠800
V.
Quick at the word—they seized him each a torch,
And fire the dome from minaret to porch.
A stern delight was fixed in Conrad's eye,
But sudden sunk—for on his ear the cry
Of women struck, and like a deadly knell
Knocked at that heart unmoved by Battle's yell.
"Oh! burst the Haram—wrong not on your lives
"One female form—remember—we have wives.
"On them such outrage Vengeance will repay ”

“ Methinks he strangely spares the rich repast.
"What ails thee, Dervise? eat—dost thou suppose
"This feast a Christian's? or my friends thy foes?
"Why dost thou shun the salt? that sacred pledge,
"Which, once partaken, blunts the sabre's edge,
"Makes even contending tribes in peace unite,
"And hated hosts seem brethren to the sight!"
"Salt seasons dainties—and my food is still
"The humblest root, my drink the simplest rill;
"And my stern vow and order's6 laws oppose⁠730
"To break or mingle bread with friends or foes ”