No more his former thoughts, nor feeling For me now cherishes Giray, Scarce his disgust, alas! concealing, He from my presence hastes away. Princess, I know the fault not thine That Giray loves thee, oh! then hear A suppliant wretch, nor spurn her prayer! Throughout the harem none but thou Could rival beauties such as mine Nor make him violate his vow; Yet, Princess! in thy bosom cold The heart to mine left thus forlorn, The love I feel cannot be told, For passion, Princess, was I born. Yield me Giray then; with these tresses Oft have his wandering fingers played, My lips still glow with his caresses, Snatched as he sighed, and swore, and prayed, Oaths broken now so often plighted! Hearts mingled once now disunited! His treason I cannot survive; Thou seest I weep, I bend my knee, Ah! if to pity thou'rt alive,

My former love restore to me. Reply not! thee I do not blame, Thy beauties have bewitched Giray, Blinded his heart to love and fame, Then yield him up to me, I pray, Or by contempt, repulse, or grief, Turn from thy love th'ungenerous chief! Swear by thy faith, for what though mine Conform now to the Koran's laws, Acknowledged here within the harem, Princess, my mother's faith was thine, www.PoemHunter.com The World's Poetry Archive 66 By that faith swear to give to Zarem Giray unaltered, as he was! But listen! the sad prey to scorn If I must live, Princess, have care, A dagger still doth Zarem wear,I near the Caucasus was born!' She spake, then sudden disappeared, And left the Princess in dismay, Who scarce knew what or why she feared; Such words of passion till that day She ne'er had heard. Alas! was she To be the ruthless chieftain's prey? Vain was all hope his grasp to flee.

Oh! God, that in some dungeon's gloom Remote, forgotten, she had lain, Or that it were her blessed doom To 'scape dishonour, life, and pain! How would Maria with delight This world of wretchedness resign; Vanished of youth her visions bright, Abandoned she to fates malign! Sinless she to the world was given, And so remains, thus pure and fair, Her soul is called again to heaven, And angel joys await it there! --------------------------------------Days passed away; Maria slept Peaceful, no cares disturbed her, now,From earth the orphan maid was swept. But who knew when, or where, or how? If prey to grief or pain she fell, If slain or heaven-struck, who can tell? She sleeps; her loss the chieftain grieves, And his neglected harem leaves, Flies from its tranquil precincts far, And with his Tartars takes the field, Fierce rushes mid the din of war,

PoemHunter.com The World's Poetry Archive 67 And brave the foe that does not yield, For mad despair hath nerved his arm, Though in his heart is grief concealed, With passion's hopeless transports warm. His blade he swings aloft in air And wildly brandishes, then low It falls, whilst he with pallid stare Gazes, and tears in torrents flow. His harem by the chief deserted, In foreign lands he warring roved, Long nor in wish nor thought reverted To scene once cherished and beloved. His women to the eunuch's rage Abandoned, pined and sank in age;