In vain he puts forth all his strength To free him from the horrid cleft; Those limbs so free are bound at length, For of all power he's bereft. Eternal life is in his hand To live on thus dread Fate's command, His doom is sealed, he cannot die, But lingers through eternity. Zuleika waits the coming morn With heaving breast and watchful eye. She scans the plain at early dawn But nought of her lover can descry. No tidings through the livelong day No footsteps tread that haunted way; Day after day, yet no return; His fate she now herself will learn. Then mounting at the break of day Her milk-white palfrey, leaves her home Behind her, and away! away! Upon her lover's tracks to roam. The noontide sun's fierce glowing ray Checks not her palfrey's onward way; She goads him on, nor slacks his speed Till pants for thirst her jaded steed. No water near his thirst to slake Beneath that glowing sultry sky. Her maiden fears now 'gin to wake, as were some threatening danger nigh. Her palfrey rears and ere a groan Escapes her, a stout arm is thrown Around her. As she calls aloud The Genii stands half-fiend, half-cloud. Then whisking her high up in air, The fiend in voice of thunder cried, "Behold thy lover in his lair; Thou'st torn for ever from his side. Nought can avert his destiny, For ever through eternity Within yon cleft he must abide. I claim thee now to be my bride." "Oh, Allah!" cried she, "hear my prayer: Help me this Genii to defy. If Selim's bride I may be ne'er, Take back my soul and let me die!" Her prayer is heard; her gentle soul Now wanders towards a higher goal, And in those realms of endless light The angels greet a sister sprite. Then Selim, gazing high in air, Beholds his loved one, hears her pray. He cries aloud in wild despair, The Genii clasps a thing of clay; Relaxing then his giant force, To Earth he hurls her lily corse. Now lie for ever side by side Th' undying chief and his dead bride. Zuleika's palfrey wanders home, Alas! without its gentle freight. El Amin hath set out to roam For tidings of his daughter's fate. Ne'er more to see her was his lot; The Genii guards that haunted spot, And close where his Zuleika lay, The chieftain lingers to this day. * * * * * Scarce had the last word of the song died in the echo, than unbounded applause once more shook the old panelled walls of the "Headless Lady." After which Mr. Oldstone, rising and seizing the young poet by the hand, poured forth so warm an eulogium on his poetical talent as to make that young gentleman blush up to the roots of his hair.