That crowd about the pilot in the storm. Kings are like stars: they rise and set, they have CHORUS. Worlds on worlds are rolling ever From creation to decay, Like the bubbles on a river, Sparkling, bursting, borne away. But they are still immortal [Exeunt severally. Who, through birth's orient portal And death's dark chasm hurrying to and fro, Clothe their unceasing flight In the brief dust and light Gathered around their chariots as they go : New gods, new laws, receive: Bright or dim are they, as the robes they last A Power from the unknown God, Like a triumphal path he trod The thorns of death and shame. A mortal shape to him Was like the vapour dim Which the orient planet animates with light. Like bloodhounds mild and tame, Nor preyed until their lord had taken flight. Arose, and it shall set: While, blazoned as on heaven's immortal noon, Swift as the radiant shapes of sleep From one whose dreams are paradise Fly, when the fond wretch wakes to weep, The Powers of Earth and Air Fled from the folding-star of Bethlehem : Apollo, Pan, and Love, And even Olympian Jove, Grew weak, for killing Truth had glared on them. Dispeopled of their dreams, Their waters turned to blood, their dew to tears, Enter MAHMUD, HASSAN, DAOOD, and others. Mahmud. More gold? Our ancestors bought gold with victory, And shall I sell it for defeat? Daood. Clamour for pay. Mahmud. The Janizars Go bid them pay themselves With Christian blood! Are there no Grecian virgins No hoary priests after that Patriarch Who bent the curse against his country's heart, Which clove his own at last? Go bid them kill: Blood is the seed of gold. Daood. It has been sown, And yet the harvest to the sicklemen Is as a grain to each. Mahmud. Then take this signet : Unlock the seventh chamber, in which lie The treasures of victorious Solyman, An empire's spoils stored for a day of ruin : O spirit of my sires! is it not come? The prey-birds and the wolves are gorged and sleep; When the orient moon of Islam rolled in triumph [Exit DAOOD. Ruin above, and anarchy below; Hassan. The lamp of our dominion still rides high; Throng, like full clouds at the sirocco's cry, But not, like them, to weep their strength in tears; Samos is drunk with blood;-the Greek has paid If night is mute, yet the returning sun Like sulphurous clouds half-shattered by the storm, Of Ocean, bound upon her island throne Far in the west, sits mourning that her sons, Who frown on freedom, spare a smile for thee. Russia still hovers, as an eagle might Within a cloud near which a kite and crane Hang tangled in inextricable fight, To stoop upon the victor; for she fears Whose friends are not thy friends, whose foes thy foes? Our forts defy assault; ten thousand cannon Swift in wide troops the Tartar chivalry Sweep; the far-flashing of their starry lances Reverberates the dying light of day. We have one God, one king, one hope, one law; But many-headed Insurrection stands Divided in itself, and soon must fall. Mahmud. Proud words, when deeds come short, are seasonable! Look, Hassan, on yon crescent moon emblazoned Upon that shattered flag of fiery cloud Which leads the rear of the departing day, Wan emblem of an empire fading now. See how it trembles in the bloodred air, And, like a mighty lamp whose oil is spent, Shrinks on the horizon's edge; while, from above, Strikes its weak form to death. To stem the torrent of descending time. Of Bucharest ?-that Hassan. Ibrahim's scimitar Drew with its gleam swift victory from heaven, To burn before him in the night of battle- Mahmud. Was ours; but how? Hassan. Ay, the day The light Wallachians, The Arnaut, Servian, and Albanian allies, One half the Grecian army made a bridge Of safe and slow retreat, with Moslem dead; Mahmud. Speak-tremble not Hassan. Islanded By victor myriads, formed in hollow square With rough and steadfast front, and thrice flung back The deluge of our foaming cavalry; Thrice their keen wedge of battle pierced our lines. Our baffled army trembled like one man Before a host, and gave them space; but soon The band, intrenched in mounds of Turkish dead, |