I'm quite respectable,-neither Ghoul nor Jinn;
And, if I were, I'd find me better grub
Than tucks your Christian ribs; come, follow me;
I do the bidding of the loveliest maid
In Bagdad's gardens blooming:-she requests
Your company to tea, her taste no doubt
Is something strange,-but-""
666 'Oh, if that's the case,
You might have told me so before,' said I :
"Lead on, old gentleman.
Through groves and bower'd gardens, long arcades,
Darkened with swimming mist, where fragrance hung
Unstirred, the livelong night, and then again
Emerged upon an open terrace-range
Beside the river. Brightly danced the moon
On the deep waters by the marble arch,
As rapidly we cross'd. Through cloisters long,
And sounding galleries, with gleaming flights
Of never-ending stairs, half-seen, half-hid,
Branching on either hand, we kept our way.
At length we stopped. The Genie waved his hand,
And inward yawned enormous folding-doors,
That barred an inner vestibule; within,
Stretch'd on the marble pavement, slumbered guards,
Solemnly snoring, while, through pictured glass
Rain'd the clear moonlight on their burnish'd mail.
'I say, old gentleman, remember now,
No humbug-honour bright?'
"Pray, hold your tongue,' Answered my guide, and look out where you step; It's death to tread on a Believer's nose.'
"Before an inner door again we stayed,
Grated with golden bars: the Genie turned,
And whispering spoke :- Within this chamber lies
The Caliph's peerless daughter: I have done
Her bidding, and must leave you. Enter in!
Allah be with you!"
"Fare thee well,' said I, 'I'm grateful!' So my guide the door unlocked, And then, with swarthy palm outstretch'd, replied,— 'I'd thank your honour for a drop of beer.
Pray think on a poor devil,-'tisn't much
For a good hour of walking,-drink your health.'
gave a piece of gold, and entered in.
"It was a sumptuous chamber, fitted up
'Regardless of expense;' the moonlight fell
Through stately windows, opening on a grove
Of Eastern fragrance: bower and waterfall
Flung perfume winged with music. There she sat
Fairer than all beside! How should I mark
The jewelled splendour of that rich saloon :
The arras velvet, flower'd thick with gold;
The softened lustre light, the carpets traced
In the rich looms of Persia, folding dark
O'er sofa and luxurious ottoman !
I saw but her, her royal loveliness,
Mingling with winning girlhood, as she smiled,
And bade me sit beside her. Downward rolled
Her soft dark hair beyond the caftan fringe
Of silver velvet. Easternwise her arms
And ankles glanced uncovered. By Saint George!
Love at first sight made easy,-such a girl!
Then, with a smile, And Christian,' she began,
Driving a triple current through my veins,
While my thrill'd heart beat madly, 'canst thou cheer
A lonely maiden ?-really it's too bad
Of my papa, the Caliph-out he goes,
At dusk, to his divan, and here I'm left,
To feed my birds, drink tea, and go to bed!
I'm glad you're come! I saw you in the street,
Riding a chestnut; now we'll have a chat.
Pray make yourself at home! oh-by the bye!
What thought you of your guide? the faithful soul!
Papa declares he drinks!'
My pulses ran champagne!-my very tongue,
Spurr'd into most unwonted fluency,
Caught up my thoughts in short-hand! never yet,
Went such an evening since the world was new;
So like a chime of happy birthday bells
Flitted those rapturous moments! Who would pause, For rounds of starch'd and varnish'd compliment,
And solemn introduction framed? not we!
For, like two lonely rivers launch'd afar,
On distant mountain-tops, that wander on,
Through broad champaign and forest, till at length,
Whirl'd in the foam of some great estuar,
They mix their loving torrents, so our souls
Touch'd, fired, and mingled !—nor did she disdain
To crown her easy conquest: now she sang,
Wreathing a closer thrall; and then again
Call'd up the wondrous tales of eld that fill
Yon land with deep enchantment, of the seal
Of devil-bottling Solomon,-the strife
Of earth-sprung Genii,-and of Peri bowers,
Twined under summer skies.
"Then I, in turn,
Full flush'd with love's hot rivalry began:
Spoke of my country,-of the golden prime
Of royal Arthur and his table-knights:
Of laurels reap'd in field and tournament;
Discoursed of London,-and of Regent-street;
Myself its lion-lounger;-then digress'd
On many a rich adventure-mostly lies-
On travels, land and sea: with much beside,
Needless to mention here. So sped the night;
Naught cross'd our rapture, and we heard without
The Caliph, half-seas with his evening cheer,
Tumble upstairs to bed.
We couldn't part. Tell me again,' said she,
About your English beauties;-is it true
They don't wear trousers? Are they really fair-
Fair as myself for instance? tell me all !
I'm sure a man as handsome and gallant
As you must know their ways: pray let me hear!'
"Fool that I was! oh, curse my vanity!
How many a tale I told,-how much untrue
Of my resistless charms! Too late, alas!
I loathe my lying folly; yet I thought
In vanity to please: that she would smile
To hear me tell how I, the conqueror,
Bow'd at her feet, as overcome at last
By beauty yet more beautiful,—her name
Link'd with perfection, link'd with constancy!
Such was my thought.
"Indeed,' she said, 'you seem
Most great in Fortune's favour.-I suppose
My name will now be knotted on your list:
To-morrow, perhaps, the purlieus of Bagdad
Will hear you boast, to some deluded girl,
Of this night's frolic. Well! I hope you'll add,
That the poor heart beneath this muslin beating
Waits your sublime acceptance! Pray observe
That in these cheeks, erst crimson'd at the praise
Of that resistless tongue, now duly stand
Lilies of hopeless love !'
"By Heaven, I swear, Your name shall never pass these lips of mine! Never !'
"Well sworn and purposed!' she replied; "But I must have some pledge,-I really must.'
"Take it!' cried I, 'the dearest, holiest pledge,I ask no duplicate;
Take, take my heart,
Take it and smile!'
With scornful blood.
Her queenly brow grew dark,
I do not want your heart;'
She answer'd gravely; That I can't believe
Is quite your own to give: if all be true
You told me just this moment: I must have
What never yet you gave to mortal fair :
Some still more costly gage; this very night:
Worthy the child of Caliph Alamin !'
"Cursing my reckless tongue, I paused: What else
More costly can I give? and yet it was
Your own before!'
"I shall not need it long,'
Said she, half laughing, 'I MUST HAVE YOUR HEAD!
That's only fair!' With that she clapp'd her hands:
In strode three brawny eunuchs, arm'd and mail'd.
'Pray lead this Christian gentleman down stairs,
With all due honour, and escort him home:
But keep his head for me. Farewell, and thanks
For all your goodness; I shall keep the pledge
You leave me with the greatest confidence!
Stay! take another glass of that sherbet
Before you start; well, if you really wont,
Good night again; good night, and many thanks!
"I could not speak.-Love, Anger, Agony
Choked my thick breath. I could not even strive
To dash them backward.-Like a fiendish dream,
Nursed by prelusive lobsters, seem'd it all!
They dragg'd me off.-Down a steep winding stair
We went-we reach'd a corridor below:
Strength-sense return'd,—I hit out right and left,
And hurl'd them from me; more than maniac force
Nerving my desperate arm: three noses bled.
The rascals, rot 'em! hollo'd murder-ho !'
Through ringing galleries-through cloisters lit
With glimmering lamps I ran. Hope gleam'd afresh,
In the cool breeze of morn, that softly blew
Through a low garden portal. It is gain'd!
One minute more and freedom!
The horrid heart-thrill, as a giant grasp
Clutch'd at my throat! the drunken laughter-peal
That echoed back my shriek, Hoy-master! stop!
Don't cut an old acquaintance! ho-ho-ho!
Why run so fast? Come-come! you surely know
Your best of friends, the Genie.'
"Let me go!'
Do-for Heaven's sake!
The jovial brute, 'ha-ha! but what of that?
You've spent a pleasant evening. Allah knows
I've had another. Lord! your bit of gold
Did wonders at the tavern. Baba's best
Was all my tipple: nothing in Bagdad
"Curses on you! let me go,' I roar'd, 'your lady wants my head-my head! Here! take my purse, but loose me!"
Hiccup'd the wretch, 'you probably have done
Something to need such gentle chastisement!
Come! tell me all about it. Certainly,
I warn'd you to be prudent.
Our Caliph's matchless daughter? Ain't I sure
You love her far too well thus to deny
Her first request-ha-ha! Come, let me hear,
How passed the time since nightfall?'
Bootless my kicks (for I, alas, had changed
Hobnails for velvet slippers), vain my prayers,
Struggle, reproach, and threat,-a dozen blacks
Rush'd in upon me,-bound me hand and foot,
And lugg'd me back; the Genie's drunken laugh
Still ringing in my ears. They led me down,
Torch-lighted to a dungeon, where the block
Stood handy. There, amid vindictive sneers,
They bade me lay my neck; and with much glee
Chopp'd off my head, and left me!
"What! your head?' Gasp'd the shock'd bagman, Well I never!-pooh! It can't be true!'
A vile sensation-dismal, horrible,
And strangely twofold; now, the spark of life
Seem'd in my corse; convulsively I clutch'd
My severed neck, or groped along the ground,
Seeking the head it wore: anon 't would flit
Into that brain, unfilming the fix'd eye
To gaze upon my own, my quivering limbs,
Contorted in slow dying! thus I lay,—
How long, I cannot tell; but, once again
Revolved the door, and in the Genie strode.
"What—what?-poor fellow! shame to serve him so !
Lord! how he winks! Cheer up, my lad, there's not
Much mischief done as yet: I'll put you straight!'
With that he pick'd my head up (drunken fool!
He dropp'd it twice): and, fumbling in his vest,
Drew out a pot of that enchanted salve
Distill'd in Cairo, and long since retail'd
In Christian mart by far-famed HOLLOWAY
(Such is the breadth of British enterprise).
With this he rubb'd my neck; replaced my skull
Full on its bloody socket; slapp'd my back,
And ask'd me how I felt?
"Laugh as you will,
The cure was perfect. Save this crab-like twitch,
Athwart my shoulder, which the clumsy hound
Left through neglect or spite, or some rude joke,
More practical than pleasant, there I stood,
As good a man as ever! Once again,
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