TWAS 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, Calm and sweet the moonlight rose; Ev'n a captive spirit tasted Half oblivion of his woes. Then 'twas from an Emir's palace Came an Eastern lady bright; 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 Hear no sound of Sabbath bell?" -- "'Twas on Transylvania's Bannat, When the Crescent shone afar, Like a pale disastrous planet O'er the purple tide of war -- "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 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?" -- "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 Thrice she wept, and bade adieu! "Fly we then, while none discover! Tyrant barks, in vain ye ride!" Soon at Rhodes the British lover Clasped his blooming Eastern bride. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MAID'S TRAGEDY by FRANCIS BEAUMONT THE ECCENTRIC by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN AN EPITAPH ON SIR JOHN PROWDE, LIEUTENANT TO CHARLES MORGAN by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) LETTER TO A POET by DOROTHY RANDOLPH BYARD PHI BETA KAPPA POEM; HARVARD, 1914 by BLISS CARMAN WHEN ZEPHRYS BLOW by SAMUEL TRAVERS CLOVER |