VII. But first, ere came the rallying host to blows, And rank to rank, and hand to hand oppose, 860 Gulnare and all her Haram handmaids freed, Safe in the dome of one who held their creed, By Conrad's mandate safely were bestowed, And dried those tears for life and fame that flowed: And when that dark-eyed lady, young Gulnare, Recalled those thoughts late wandering in despair, Much did she marvel o'er the courtesy That smoothed his accents, softened in his eye-- 'Twas strange--_that_ robber thus with gore bedewed, Seemed gentler then than Seyd in fondest mood. 870 The Pacha wooed as if he deemed the slave _Must_ seem delighted with the heart he gave; The Corsair vowed protection, soothed 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; If but to thank for, what my fear forgot, The life--my loving Lord remembered not!" VIII. And him she saw, where thickest carnage spread, But gathered breathing from the happier dead; 880 Far from his band, and battling with a host That deem right dearly won the field he lost, Felled--bleeding--baffled of the death he sought, And snatched to expiate all the ills he wrought; Preserved to linger and to live in vain, While Vengeance pondered o'er new plans of pain, And stanched the blood she saves to shed again-- But drop by drop, for Seyd's unglutted eye Would doom him ever dying--ne'er to die! Can this be he? triumphant late she saw, 890 When his red hand's wild gesture waved, a law! 'Tis he indeed--disarmed but undeprest, His sole regret the life he still possest; His wounds too slight, though taken with that will, Which would have kissed the hand that then could kill. Oh were there none, of all the many given, To send his soul--he scarcely asked to Heaven?[219] Must he alone of all retain his breath, Who more than all had striven and struck for death? He deeply felt--what mortal hearts must feel, 900 When thus reversed on faithless Fortune's wheel, For crimes committed, and the victor's threat Of lingering tortures to repay the debt-- He deeply, darkly felt; but evil Pride That led to perpetrate--now serves to hide. Still in his stern and self-collected mien A conqueror's more than captive's air is seen, Though faint with wasting toil and stiffening wound, But few that saw--so calmly gazed around: Though the far shouting of the distant crowd, 910 Their tremors o'er, rose insolently loud, The better warriors who beheld him near, Insulted not the foe who taught them fear; And the grim guards that to his durance led,