The Works of Lord Byron Volume VI Part 41

XXIX.

Now pillowed cheek to cheek, in loving sleep, Haidee and Juan their siesta took, A gentle slumber, but it was not deep, For ever and anon a something shook Juan, and shuddering o'er his frame would creep; And Haidee's sweet lips murmured like a brook A wordless music, and her face so fair Stirred with her dream, as rose-leaves with the air.[do]

x.x.x.

Or as the stirring of a deep clear stream Within an Alpine hollow, when the wind Walks o'er it, was she shaken by the dream, The mystical Usurper of the mind-- O'erpowering us to be whate'er may seem Good to the soul which we no more can bind; Strange state of being! (for 't is still to be) Senseless to feel, and with sealed eyes to see.[dp]

x.x.xI.

She dreamed of being alone on the sea-sh.o.r.e, Chained to a rock; she knew not how, but stir She could not from the spot, and the loud roar Grew, and each wave rose roughly, threatening her; And o'er her upper lip they seemed to pour, Until she sobbed for breath, and soon they were Foaming o'er her lone head, so fierce and high-- Each broke to drown her, yet she could not die.

x.x.xII.

Anon--she was released, and then she strayed O'er the sharp s.h.i.+ngles with her bleeding feet, And stumbled almost every step she made: And something rolled before her in a sheet, Which she must still pursue howe'er afraid: 'T was white and indistinct, nor stopped to meet Her glance nor grasp, for still she gazed and grasped, And ran, but it escaped her as she clasped.

x.x.xIII.

The dream changed:--in a cave[240] she stood, its walls Were hung with marble icicles; the work Of ages on its water-fretted halls, Where waves might wash, and seals might breed and lurk; Her hair was dripping, and the very b.a.l.l.s Of her black eyes seemed turned to tears, and mirk The sharp rocks looked below each drop they caught, Which froze to marble as it fell,--she thought.[dq]

x.x.xIV.

And wet, and cold, and lifeless at her feet, Pale as the foam that frothed on his dead brow, Which she essayed in vain to clear, (how sweet Were once her cares, how idle seemed they now!) Lay Juan, nor could aught renew the beat Of his quenched heart: and the sea dirges low Rang in her sad ears like a Mermaid's song, And that brief dream appeared a life too long.

x.x.xV.

And gazing on the dead, she thought his face Faded, or altered into something new-- Like to her Father's features, till each trace More like and like to Lambro's aspect grew-- With all his keen worn look and Grecian grace; And starting, she awoke, and what to view?

Oh! Powers of Heaven! what dark eye meets she there?

'T is--'t is her Father's--fixed upon the pair!

x.x.xVI.

Then shrieking, she arose, and shrieking fell, With joy and sorrow, hope and fear, to see Him whom she deemed a habitant where dwell The ocean-buried, risen from death, to be Perchance the death of one she loved too well: Dear as her father had been to Haidee, It was a moment of that awful kind-- I have seen such--but must not call to mind.

x.x.xVII.

Up Juan sprang to Haidee's bitter shriek, And caught her falling, and from off the wall s.n.a.t.c.hed down his sabre, in hot haste to wreak Vengeance on him who was the cause of all: Then Lambro, who till now forbore to speak, Smiled scornfully, and said, "Within my call, A thousand scimitars await the word; Put up, young man, put up your silly sword."

x.x.xVIII.

And Haidee clung around him; "Juan, 't is-- 'T is Lambro--'t is my father! Kneel with me-- He will forgive us--yes--it must be--yes.

Oh! dearest father, in this agony Of pleasure and of pain--even while I kiss Thy garment's hem with transport, can it be That doubt should mingle with my filial joy?

Deal with me as thou wilt, but spare this boy."

x.x.xIX.

High and inscrutable the old man stood, Calm in his voice, and calm within his eye-- Not always signs with him of calmest mood: He looked upon her, but gave no reply; Then turned to Juan, in whose cheek the blood Oft came and went, as there resolved to die; In arms, at least, he stood, in act to spring On the first foe whom Lambro's call might bring.

XL.

"Young man, your sword;" so Lambro once more said: Juan replied, "Not while this arm is free."

The old man's cheek grew pale, but not with dread, And drawing from his belt a pistol he Replied, "Your blood be then on your own head."

Then looked close at the flint, as if to see 'T was fresh--for he had lately used the lock-- And next proceeded quietly to c.o.c.k.

XLI.

It has a strange quick jar upon the ear, That c.o.c.king of a pistol, when you know A moment more will bring the sight to bear Upon your person, twelve yards off, or so; A gentlemanly distance, not too near, If you have got a former friend for foe; But after being fired at once or twice, The ear becomes more Irish, and less nice.

XLII.

Lambro presented, and one instant more Had stopped this Canto, and Don Juan's breath, When Haidee threw herself her boy before; Stern as her sire: "On me," she cried, "let Death Descend--the fault is mine; this fatal sh.o.r.e He found--but sought not. I have pledged my faith; I love him--I will die with him: I knew Your nature's firmness--know your daughter's too."

XLIII.

A minute past, and she had been all tears, And tenderness, and infancy; but now She stood as one who championed human fears-- Pale, statue-like, and stern, she wooed the blow; And tall beyond her s.e.x, and their compeers, She drew up to her height, as if to show A fairer mark; and with a fixed eye scanned Her Father's face--but never stopped his hand.

XLIV.

He gazed on her, and she on him; 't was strange How like they looked! the expression was the same; Serenely savage, with a little change In the large dark eye's mutual--darted flame; For she, too, was as one who could avenge, If cause should be--a Lioness, though tame.

Her Father's blood before her Father's face Boiled up, and proved her truly of his race.

XLV.

I said they were alike, their features and Their stature, differing but in s.e.x and years; Even to the delicacy of their hand[241]

There was resemblance, such as true blood wears; And now to see them, thus divided, stand In fixed ferocity, when joyous tears And sweet sensations should have welcomed both, Shows what the pa.s.sions are in their full growth.

XLVI.

The father paused a moment, then withdrew His weapon, and replaced it; but stood still, And looking on her, as to look her through, "Not _I_," he said, "have sought this stranger's ill; Not _I_ have made this desolation: few Would bear such outrage, and forbear to kill; But I must do my duty--how thou hast Done thine, the present vouches for the past.[dr]

XLVII.

"Let him disarm; or, by my father's head, His own shall roll before you like a ball!"

He raised his whistle, as the word he said, And blew; another answered to the call, And rus.h.i.+ng in disorderly, though led, And armed from boot to turban, one and all, Some twenty of his train came, rank on rank; He gave the word,--"Arrest or slay the Frank."

XLVIII.

Then, with a sudden movement, he withdrew His daughter; while compressed within his clasp, Twixt her and Juan interposed the crew; In vain she struggled in her father's grasp-- His arms were like a serpent's coil: then flew Upon their prey, as darts an angry asp, The file of pirates--save the foremost, who Had fallen, with his right shoulder half cut through.

XLIX.

The second had his cheek laid open; but The third, a wary, cool old sworder, took The blows upon his cutla.s.s, and then put His own well in; so well, ere you could look, His man was floored, and helpless at his foot, With the blood running like a little brook From two smart sabre gashes, deep and red-- One on the arm, the other on the head.

L.

And then they bound him where he fell, and bore Juan from the apartment: with a sign Old Lambro bade them take him to the sh.o.r.e, Where lay some s.h.i.+ps which were to sail at nine.[ds]

They laid him in a boat, and plied the oar Until they reached some galliots, placed in line; On board of one of these, and under hatches, They stowed him, with strict orders to the watches.

LI.