To mortal man, save him alone Who wooed and won her from her sire. Her love in secret long hath grown, And much she fears her parents' ire; She knows her father sets his face Against her lover's impious race, But still, her troth is plighted now. "Or him or Death," thus ran her vow. CANTO THE SECOND. Zuleika's beauty from her birth Had been such as might well entice The saints above to visit Earth From Mahommed's gay Paradise; Her raven tresses shamed the night, Her step so proud and yet so light, 'Twould seem as though she trod the air, Like Peri; nor was she less less fair. An eye that mocked the wild gazelle, A voice, although untrained by art, Sweet as a strain of Israfel, The strings of whose melodious heart A lyre are, with tones so sweet That angels listen at his feet, And the stars sink to the ground When those living chords resound. That cheek that paled the rose in hue Grows pallid, and her bosom heaves; Those lips, like rosebuds in the dew Enclosing pearls within their leaves, Are trembling, and her fairy form, Like lily bending to the storm, Quivers as an aspen grove, With sore misgivings of her love. The Caliph was a man of might; Zuleika was his only child, He scarce could bear her from his sight, Nor was he of a temper mild; And woe to him, the caitiff Giaour Who fell in dread El Amin's power. Zuleika sighs, what fears appal Her soul, lest this should him befall. The maiden slumbered scarce that night, Or she slumbered but to dream, Such dreams as bravest souls affright; Then waking with a start or scream, She soon forsook her fitful sleep, O'er Selim's likely fate to weep, Till the morning star's dim ray Now heralds the approach of day. The morning shed a ghastly light, Appearing to Zuleika's eye Full ominous. The clouds in sight Like streaks of blood across the sky, While gazing on the distance drear, Hark! what footsteps greet her ear? She spies afar at fullest speed Her lover on his Arab steed. CANTO THE THIRD. One bound, and he is by her side; She greets him with a sorrowing eye. "What ails thee now, my love, my bride, And wherefore dost thou deeply sigh? There is a shade upon thy brow That I have never seen till now. Shake off these moods, dispel all fear. Is't not enough that I am here?" Zuleika heaved a heavy sigh. "Oh, Selim, if thou still art mine, Take me, and this instant fly Unto thy home across the brine; For if there's danger hovering nigh With thee, and not alone, I'd die. Set off at once, nor more delay; See how yon orb leads on the day."