| |
| ’T WAS the hour when rites unholy | |
| Called each Paynim voice to prayer, | |
| And the star that faded slowly | |
| Left to dews the freshened air. | |
| |
| Day her sultry fires had wasted, | 5 |
| Calm and sweet the moonlight rose; | |
| Even a captive’s spirit tasted | |
| Half oblivion of his woes. | |
| |
| Then ’t was from an Emir’s palace | |
| Came an Eastern lady bright; | 10 |
| She, in spite of tyrants jealous, | |
| Saw and loved an English knight. | |
| |
| “Tell me, captive, why in anguish | |
| Foes have dragged thee here to dwell, | |
| Where poor Christians as they languish | 15 |
| Hear no sound of Sabbath bell?” | |
| |
| “’T was on Transylvania’s Bannat | |
| When the crescent shone afar, | |
| Like a pale disastrous planet | |
| O’er the purple tide of war. | 20 |
| |
| “In that day of desolation, | |
| Lady, I was captive made: | |
| Bleeding for my Christian nation | |
| By the walls of high Belgrade.” | |
| |
| “Captive! could the brightest jewel | 25 |
| From my turban set thee free?” | |
| “Lady, no! the gift were cruel, | |
| Ransomed, yet if reft of thee. | |
| |
| “Say, fair princess! would it grieve thee | |
| Christian climes should we behold?” | 30 |
| “Nay, bold knight! I would not leave thee | |
| Were thy ransom paid in gold!” | |
| |
| Now in heaven’s blue expansion | |
| Rose the midnight star to view, | |
| When to quit her father’s mansion, | 35 |
| Thrice she wept and bade adieu! | |
| |
| “Fly we then, while none discover; | |
| Tyrant barks, in vain we ride!” | |
| Soon at Rhodes the British lover | |
| Clasped his blooming Eastern bride. | 40 |
| |
