Now comrades, timely warning take, and landlord fill the bowl;
Jack Tackle, for the tailor's wife, has damn'd his precious soul; Old Nick's a devilish dab, it seems, at snapping up a sailor's, So if you kiss your neighbour's wife, be sure she's not a tailor's.
THE PRINCESS AND THE SLAVE.
WHERE fragrant breezes sigh'd through orange bowers,
And springing fountains cool'd the air with showers,
From pomp retired, and noon-tide's burning ray,
The fair, the royal Nouronihar lay.
cups of roses, newly-cropp'd, were spread
Her lovely limbs beneath, and o'er her head
Imprison'd nightingales attuned their throats,
And lull'd the princess with melodious notes.
Here roll'd a lucid stream its gentle wave
With scarce heard murmur; while a Georgian slave
Placed near the couch with feathers in her hand,
The lady's panting breast in silence fann'd,
And chased the insects, who presumed to seek
Their banquet on the beauty's glowing cheek.
This slave, a mild and simple maid was she,
Of common form, and born of low degree,
Whose only charms were smiles, devoid of art,
Whose only wealth, a gentle feeling heart.
While thus within her secret loved retreat,
Half sleeping, half awake, oppress'd with heat,
The princess slumber'd; near her, shrill, yet faint,
Rose the sad tones of suppliant sorrow's plaint.
She starts, and angry gazes round: when lo!
A wretched female, bent with age and woe,
Drags her unsteady feet the arbour nigh,
While every step is number'd by a sigh.
Meagre and wan her form, her cheek is pale;
Her tatter'd garments scarce her limbs can veil;
Yet still, through want and grief, her air betrays
Grandeur's remains, and gleams of better days.
Soon as to Nouronihar's couch she came,
Low on the ground her weak and trembling frame
Exhausted sank; and then, with gasping breast,
She thus in plaintive tones the fair address'd,
-" If e'er compassion's tear your cheek could stain, "If e'er you languish'd in disease and pain, "If e'er you sympathized with age's groan, "Hear, noble lady, hear a suppliant's moan! "Broken by days of want, and nights of tears,
By sickness wasted, and oppress'd by years,
"Beneath our sacred Mithra's scorching fire
"I sink enfeebled, and with thirst expire.
"Yon stream is near: oh! list a sufferer's cry,
“And reach one draught of water, lest I die !”.
-"What means this bold intrusion?" cried the fair, With peevish tone, and discontented air;
"What daring voice, with wearying plaint, infests
"The sacred grove where Persia's princess rests?
Beggar begone, and let these clamours cease! "This buys at once your absence, and
Thus said the princess, and indignant frown'd,
Then cast her precious bracelet on the ground,
And turn'd again to sleep. With joyless eye
The fainting stranger saw the jewel lie :
When lo! kind Selima (the Georgian's name),
Softly with water from the fountain came;
And while, with gentle grace, she gave the bowl,
Thus sweetly sad her feeling accents stole.
." Humble and poor, I nothing can bestow, Except these tears of pity for your woe:
"'Tis all I have; but yet that all receive
"From one who fain your sorrows would relieve,
"From one who weeps to view such mournful scenes,
"And would give more, but that her hand lacks means.
Drink, mother! drink! the wave is cool and clear,
"But drink in silence, lest the princess hear!"
Scarce are these words pronounced, when, bless'd surprise! The stranger's age-bowed figure swells its size!
No more the stamp of years
Her tatter'd shreds to sparkling robes give place;
Her breath perfumes the air with odours sweet;
Fresh roses spring wherever tread her feet,
And from her eyes, where reign delight and love,
Unusual splendour glitters through the grove!
Her silver wand, her form of heavenly mould,
Her white and shining robes, her wings of gold,
Her port majestic, and superior height,
Announce a daughter of the world of light!
The princess, whom her slave's delighted cries
Compell'd once more to ope her sleep-bound eyes,
With wonder mix'd with awe the scene survey'd,
While thus the Peri cheer'd the captive maid.
"Look up, sweet girl, and cast all fears aside! "I seek my darling son's predestined bride, "And here I find her: here are found alone,
Feelings as kind, as gracious as his own.
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