LX.

Just at this season Ramazani's fast

Through the long day its penance did maintain :
But when the lingering twilight hour was past,
Revel and feast assumed the rule again:

Now all was bustle, and the menial train
Prepared and spread the plenteous board within;
The vacant gallery now seemed made in vain,
But from the chambers came the mingling din,
As page, and slaye anon, were passing out and in.

LXI.

Here woman's voice is never heard: apart,
And scarce permitted, guarded, veiled, to move,
She yields to one her person and her heart,
Tamed to her cage, nor feels a wish to rove :
For, not unhappy in her master's love,

And joyful in a mother's gentlest cares,

Blest cares! all other feelings far above!

Herself more sweetly rears the babe she bears,

Who never quits the breast, no meaner passion shares,

LXII.

In marble-paved pavilion, where a spring
Of living water from the centre rose,
Whose bubbling did a genial freshness fling,
And soft voluptuous couches breathed repose,

ALI reclined, a man of war and woes;

Yet in his lineaments ye cannot trace,

While Gentleness her milder radiance throws

Along that aged venerable face,

The deeds that lurk beneath, and stain him with disgrace.

LXIII.

It is not that yon hoary lengthening beard
Ill suits the passions which belong to youth;
Love conquers age-so Hafiz hath averred,
So sings the Teian, and he sings in so oth
But crimes that scorn the tender voice of truth, HR
Beseeming all men ill, but most the man

In years, have marked him with a tyger's tooth;
Blood follows blood, and, through their mortal span,
In bloodier acts conclude, those who with blood began,

LXIV,

'Mid many things most new to ear and eye
The pilgrim rested here his weary feet,
And gazed around on Moslem luxury,
Till quickly wearied with that spacious seat

Of Wealth and Wantonness, the choice retreat

Of sated Grandeur from the city's noise:

And were it humbler it in sooth were sweet;

But Peace abhorreth artificial joys,

And Pleasure, leagued with Pomp, the zest of both destroys.

LXV.

Fierce are Albania's children, yet they the lack
Not virtues were those virtues more mature.
Where is the foe that ever saw their back?
Who can so well the toil of war endure?

Their native fastnesses not more secure

Than they in doubtful time of troublous need:

Their wrath how deadly! but their friendship sure,

When Gratitude or Valour bids them bleed, Unshaken rushing on, where'er their chief may lead.

LXVI.

Childe Harold saw them in their chieftain's tower

Thronging to war in splendour and success;

And after viewed them, when, within their power,
Himself awhile the victim of distress;

That saddening hour when bad men hotlier press:
But these did shelter him beneath their roof,

When less barbarians would have cheered him less,

And fellow-countrymen have stood aloof

27

In aught that tries the heart, how few withstand the proof!

LXVII.

It clianced that adverse winds once drove his bark

Full on the coast of Suli's shaggy shore,
When all around was desolate and dark;
To land was perilous, to sojourn more;

Yet for awhile the mariners forbore,

Dubious to trust where treachery might lurk :

At length they ventured forth, though doubting sore That those who loathe alike the Frank and Truk Might once again renew, their ancient butcher-work.

LXVIII.

Vain fear! the Suliotes stretched the welcome hand,
Led them o'er rocks and past the dangerous swamp,
Kinder than polisheh slaves though not so bland,
And piled the hearth, and wrung their garments damp,
And filled the bowl, and trimmed the cheerful lamp,
And spread their fare; though homely, all they had :
Such conduct bears Philanthropy's rare stamp-

To rest the weary and to soothe the sad,

Doth lesson happier men, and shames at least the bad.

It came to pass,

LXIX.

that when he did address

Himself to quit at length this mountain-land,
Combined marauders half-way barred egress,
And wasted far and near with glaive and brand;
And threfore did he take a trusty band

To traverse Acarnania's forest wide,

In war well seasoned, and with labours tanned,
Till he did greet white Achelous' tide,

And from his further bank, Ætolia's wolds espied.

LXX.

Where lone Utraikey forms its circling cove,
And weary waves retire to gleam at rest,
How brown the foliage of the green hill's grove
Nodding at midnight o'er the calm bay's breast,
As winds come lightly whispering from the west,
Kissing, not ruffling, the blue deep's serene.→→
Here Harold was received a welcome guest,

Nor did he pass unmoved the gentle scene,

For many a joy could he, from Night's soft presence glean,

LXXI.

On the smooth shore the night-fires brightly blazed,

The feast was done, the red wine circling fast, 28

And he that unawares had there ygazed

With gaping wonderment had stared aghast;

For ere night's midmost, stillest hour was past

The native revels of the troop began;

Each Palikar 29 his sabre from him cast,

And bounding hand in hand, man linked to man,

Yelling their uncouth dirge, long danced the kirtled clart,

LXXII.

Childe Harold at a little distance stood

And viewed, but not displeased, the revelrie,

Nor hated harmless mirth, however rude:

In sooth, it was no vulgar sight to see