 | Young Arthur |  |
Two moons had wan'd, and the third appear'd,
Since Allan that virgin's voice had heard;
For Hassan, by passion impatient sway'd,
Had strictly guarded the grieving maid;
Resolv'd, since foil'd in his artful course,
To use the power of fraudful force.
But, sudden the Turk was call'd away,
And Bassorah must reach by a stated day;
A merchant had fail'd in his debt, too deep
For Hassan upon design to sleep;
And all for the caravan was prepar'd,
And Allan augmented his master's guard;
Nor must that maiden be left behind,—
For ever mistrustful a tyrant's mind.
And the caravan city and suburb clear'd,
And the desart, the Arab's reign, appear'd;
And Allan he stood 'neath the sultry sky
Of the barren and beautiful Araby.
That maid a Mohaffah conceal'd from view;
And Allan for ever he march'd by its side,
And the camel that bore her his neck up-drew,
As if he the virgin's value knew,
And he seem'd to step with a statelier pride.
And Allan he march'd by the side of the maid,
His mind intent on romantic aim,
And oft the desart his eye survey'd,
And oft he mutter'd that Arab's name.
Four weary days, with hope and fear,
They travers'd the desart, so parch'd and drear,
And Allan was fated to inhale
The sultry Simoom's poisonous gale;
And its blistering power his face display'd,
But the guarded Mohaffah preserv'd the maid.
Four days they went, when an Arab band
Rush'd o'er the desart; the Schaik's command
Prepar'd the battle, and ev'ry ear,
Save Allan's, attends to the voice of fear;
For Allan, whose thoughts took a brighter scope,
From his eye emitted the beam of hope.
They come! they come! and the fight's begun,
And many a deed of death is done;—
Young Allan he stood by that maid confin'd,
But Hassan had fled, for his dastard mind
Impell'd him, while others contested the field,
To the caravan's centre, for shelter and shield.
And now a fierce Arab had Allan approach'd,
His scymitar rear'd, and his blood he had broach'd.
“Irad-Mulech,” cried Allan; that name was a charm
Which soften'd the Arab, arresting his arm;
Said Allan, “Take me and this camel, I guard
To the tent of your chief and your zeal he'll reward.”
The Arab he motion'd, a party obey'd,
He to them gave the charge of the youth and the maid;
And over the desart light hearted they've gone;
To follow be ours; let the battle go on;
To our theme be both Hassan and caravan lost,
To follow the pair who the desart have cross'd.
As sacred as Mecca's green standard his name,
To the tent of the Arab in safety they came;
And Irad the right hand of friendship bestow'd,
Acknowledg'd the proud obligation he ow'd;
And the feast it was spread, and the scene it was gay,
'Twas the feast of rude friendship, and joy's holiday.
Since Allan that virgin's voice had heard;
For Hassan, by passion impatient sway'd,
Had strictly guarded the grieving maid;
Resolv'd, since foil'd in his artful course,
To use the power of fraudful force.
But, sudden the Turk was call'd away,
And Bassorah must reach by a stated day;
A merchant had fail'd in his debt, too deep
For Hassan upon design to sleep;
And all for the caravan was prepar'd,
And Allan augmented his master's guard;
Nor must that maiden be left behind,—
For ever mistrustful a tyrant's mind.
And the caravan city and suburb clear'd,
And the desart, the Arab's reign, appear'd;
188
Of the barren and beautiful Araby.
That maid a Mohaffah conceal'd from view;
And Allan for ever he march'd by its side,
And the camel that bore her his neck up-drew,
As if he the virgin's value knew,
And he seem'd to step with a statelier pride.
And Allan he march'd by the side of the maid,
His mind intent on romantic aim,
And oft the desart his eye survey'd,
And oft he mutter'd that Arab's name.
Four weary days, with hope and fear,
They travers'd the desart, so parch'd and drear,
And Allan was fated to inhale
The sultry Simoom's poisonous gale;
And its blistering power his face display'd,
But the guarded Mohaffah preserv'd the maid.
Four days they went, when an Arab band
Rush'd o'er the desart; the Schaik's command
189
Save Allan's, attends to the voice of fear;
For Allan, whose thoughts took a brighter scope,
From his eye emitted the beam of hope.
They come! they come! and the fight's begun,
And many a deed of death is done;—
Young Allan he stood by that maid confin'd,
But Hassan had fled, for his dastard mind
Impell'd him, while others contested the field,
To the caravan's centre, for shelter and shield.
And now a fierce Arab had Allan approach'd,
His scymitar rear'd, and his blood he had broach'd.
“Irad-Mulech,” cried Allan; that name was a charm
Which soften'd the Arab, arresting his arm;
Said Allan, “Take me and this camel, I guard
To the tent of your chief and your zeal he'll reward.”
The Arab he motion'd, a party obey'd,
He to them gave the charge of the youth and the maid;
And over the desart light hearted they've gone;
To follow be ours; let the battle go on;
To our theme be both Hassan and caravan lost,
To follow the pair who the desart have cross'd.
As sacred as Mecca's green standard his name,
To the tent of the Arab in safety they came;
190
Acknowledg'd the proud obligation he ow'd;
And the feast it was spread, and the scene it was gay,
'Twas the feast of rude friendship, and joy's holiday.
| Young Arthur | |