University of Virginia Library

Speed onward—day withdraws its light,
The shadows lengthen into night:
The woods a gloomier horror breathe,
And vapours spread th' envenom'd wreath.
Lo! where yon ruin'd cities rest,
Like clouds upon the mountain's crest,
There, in his den, 'mid rocky cells,
Hereditary Murder dwells.
Speed! ere down those pathless steeps
The Arab of Italia sweeps.
That spring of limb, that breadth of mould,
A Mercury and Mars infold.
Round the robber chieftain blaze
Stones that beam back the solar rays,
Love-tokens that gay brides have worn,
And rings that dow'red dames adorn—
A carbine, slung at either side,
Clangs from his girdle's plated pride,
And o'er his rich-embroider'd vest,
A cross and poniard guard his breast.
Speed, ere beneath th' impatient steel
Th' assassin's grasp thy blood congeal,
O'er life and death the balance hold,
Slow-bartering limb by limb for gold.
Ah! if the promis'd ransom fail,
Deem not that mercy will avail.
Reft, like the eagle's living prey,
From earth, and all her race away,
Where never whisper of thy woe
Shall reach the stranger world below,
Akin to human-kind no more,
Dead art thou, ere existence o'er,
Ere the last stab thy torture end,
And blood-hounds on thy corse contend.

Speed, traveller! speed! adown yon steeps
The Arab of Italia sweeps.