Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 3.djvu/191

The mind within, well skilled to hide
All but unconquerable pride,
His pensive cheek and pondering brow^{[lower-roman 1]} 30
Did more than he was wont avow.

III.
"Let the chamber be cleared."—The train disappeared—
"Now call me the chief of the Haram guard "—
With Giaffir is none but his only son,
And the Nubian awaiting the sire's award.
"Haroun—when all the crowd that wait
Are passed beyond the outer gate,
(Woe to the head whose eye beheld
My child Zuleika's face unveiled!)
Hence, lead my daughter from her tower—^{[lower-roman 2]} 40
Her fate is fixed this very hour;
Yet not to her repeat my thought—
By me alone be duty taught!"

"Pacha! to hear is to obey."—
No more must slave to despot say—
Then to the tower had ta'en his way:
But here young Selim silence brake,
First lowly rendering reverence meet;
And downcast looked, and gently spake,
Still standing at the Pacha's feet: 50
For son of Moslem must expire,
Ere dare to sit before his sire!

1. The changing cheek and knitting brow.—[MS. i.]
2. Hence—bid my daughter hither come
   This hour decides her future doom—
   Yet not to her these words express
   But lead her from the tower's recess.—[MSS. i., ii.]
   
   
   [These lines must have been altered in proof, for all the revises accord with the text.]