And nobody will repay thee. Come, to-morrow,-
To-day, this even,-only scare not now
I brought thine earldom back; my wisdom sounded
The craft of Merlin; and the grateful Gawain
(For he was grateful then) sware by his sword,
This ring his sponsor,-to reward my pains
With whatsoe'er I ask'd. I ask it now,
Before the king-my hire, my righteous hire
Such as a knight must pay.
Gawain.
Ask and receive!
I own my oath, and though my colder blood
Thrills to its fountain at thy gaze, and nature
Forebodes of something monstrous in thy soul,
Which I may shrink to answer-I have sworn;
And bid me tame the brindled pard, or keep
Mine unarm'd vigil in a dragon's den,—
Be the king witness, and this table round,
I will perform thy bidding; speak and obtain.
Gwendolen. Give me thyself,-be thou mine husband,
What! scared already,-hast thou sworn in vain?
Am I so monstrous ?-Oh, I feel I am!
Yet have I saved thy friend.
Govern my treasure,—prank thee in my jewels;
All, all is thine!-for me, I mount my steed
And ramble forth to-night, an errant warrior,
To see thy face no more.—
Gwendolen.
Is this a marriage ?-thus did Gawain swear,
To mock me with himself,-to leave me thus,
His lawful partner, to the scoffs of men,
And the constructions of a peevish world,
Weak and defenceless, childless, husbandless ?
Oh, my good lord,—shall it be said this face
Has robb'd my country of its bravest knight?
And shall the Saxon, and the ruthless Dane,
Triumphant in your absence, thank the foulness
Of Gawain's countess for their victory!
Far be such curse from me! If I am loathed,
Beyond endurance loathed,-command me hence,
And I forsake your roof;-I know my duty;
And your poor wife, from forth her wilderness,
Shall bless and pray for Gawain.
For I have sworn to shield thee; rest thee here,
And ev'n in absence shall mine eye behold
Thy comforts and thy safety; weep not, dame,
I am thy guardian, and will well discharge
A guardian's office. Friendship may be ours,
Thy form forbids not that. What-weeping still!
I will not leave thee;-with a brother's zeal
For thy past service done I will watch over thee.
Be of good courage,-come, one kiss of peace
To seal our bargain.-Hateful! horrible!
And dost thou cling around me, cursed fiend,
To drag me to perdition! Out, aroint!
For in God's name I charge thee set me free,
And by this holy sign!
A SERIO-COMIC ORIENTAL ROMANCE.
A Court-yard before FADLALLAH's House.
Fadlallah. Good neighbour, be quiet!—my word is a
I have said that my daughter shall wed the Bashaw !
Selim. But, neighbour, your promise!
With him must I break it to keep it with you?
But I promised him since!
Selim. You promised me first!
And what saith the Koran ? "Speak truth to thy prince!"
Selim. You swore by the Prophet!
In abundance of words is abundance of care!
And again saith the Koran, in Surah the third,
"Confine not thy neighbour too close to his word!
Selim. Would you yield to this monster your Fatima's
Why, he eats every night for his supper a wife!
Fadlallah. Mere libellous nonsense! I tell thee, Selim, I know nothing less like a monster than him!
Ayesha. Oh, father! but think on his whiskers of blue! Fadlallah. I tell you, the man is as rich as a Jew!
I wish I could find such a husband for you!
Selim. Allow me, at least, to take leave of the maid! Fadlallah. You may do as you please-I shall not be
No daughter of mine has a spirit so mean,
To prefer her kab-kabs to a gilt palankeen;
To trudge to the baths with no soul in her train,
And wrapp'd in a shawl from the wind and the rain,
When she might, if she pleased, on an elephant ride,
With trumpets before her and troops by her side,
And sweep through the streets like a lady of honour,
Dwarfs, negroes, and eunuchs attendant upon her.
Selim!-I once loved you. Be but a good boy,
I'll speak to the Bashaw to give you employ.
But my daughter's affianced!
[Exeunt FADLALLAH and AYESHA.
Fatima. I am but the slave of my father, you know.
I must do as he wills, or with you, my Selim,
A cottage were more than a palace with him!
But, alas, 'tis in vain! and, since love is denied,
I must fold my pale form in the mantle of pride,—
Must loll on my couch with an indolent mien,
Of a heart-chilling harem the heart-broken queen,
And trifle the time while my tyrant reposes,
With diamonds, and arrack, and attar of roses!
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