LXIV. 'Mid many things most new to ear and eye But peace abhorreth artificial joys, And pleasure, leagued with pomp, the zest of both destroys. LXV. Fierce are Albania's children, yet they lack Than they in doubtful time of troublous need: LXVI. Childe Harold saw them in their chieftain's tower That saddening hour when bad men hotlier press : In aught that tries the heart how few withstand the proof! LXVII. It chanced that adverse winds once drove his bark Full on the coast of Suli's shaggy shore, At length they ventured forth, though doubting sore Might once again renew their ancient butcher-work, LXVIII. Vain fear! the Suliotes stretch'd the welcome hand, And piled the hearth, and wrung their garments damp, Doth lesson happier men, and shames at least the bad. LXIX. It came to pass, that when he did address In war well season'd, and with labours tann'd, And from his further bank Etolia's wolds éspied. And LXX. Where lone Utraikey forms its circling cove, weary waves retire to gleam at rest, How brown the foliage of the green hill's grove, Nodding at midnight o'er the calm bay's breast, As winds come lightly whispering from the west! Kissing, not ruffling, the blue deep's serene.— Here Harold was received a welcome guest, Nor did he pass unmoved the gentle scene, For many a joy could he from night's soft presence glean. LXXI. 28 On the smooth shore the night-fires brightly blazed, With gaping wonderment had stared aghast ; For ere night's midmost, stillest hour was past, The native revels of the troop began : Each Palikar 29 his sabre from him cast, And bounding hand in hand, man link'd to man, Yelling their uncouth dirge, long danced the kirtled clan. LXXII. Childe Harold at a little distance stood And view'd, but not displeased, the revelrie, Nor hated harmless mirth, however rude : In sooth, it was no vulgar sight to see Their barbarous, yet their not indecent, glee, And, as the flames along their faces gleam'd, Their gestures nimble, dark eyes flashing free, The long wild locks that to their girdles stream'd, While thus in concert they this lay half sung, half scream'd: 1. * Tambourgi! Tambourgi!* thy 'larum afar 2. Oh! who is more brave than a dark Suliote, In his snowy camese and his shaggy capote? To the wolf and the vulture he leaves his wild flock, And descends to the plain like the stream from the rock,` Shall the sons of Chimari, who never forgive Let those guns so unerring such vengeance forego! 4. Macedonia sends forth her invincible race; For a time they abandon the cave and the chase: 5. Then the pirates of Parga that dwell by the waves, * Drummer. 30 6. I ask not the pleasures that riches supply, My sabre shall win what the feeble must buy; 7. I love the fair face of the maid in her youth, 8. Remember the moment when Previsa fell, 32 9. I talk not of mercy, I talk not of fear; He neither must know who would serve the visier : Since the days of our prophet the crescent ne'er saw 10. Dark Muchtar his son to the Danube is sped, Let the yellow-hair'd* Giaours † view his horse-tail § with dread; 11. Selictar! ++ unsheathe then our chief's scimitar : * Yellow is the epithet given to the Russians. § Horse-tails are the insignia of a pacha. LXXIII. 33 great! Fair Greece! sad relic of departed worth! Leap from Eurotas' banks, and call thee from the tomb! LXXIV. Spirit of freedom! when on Phyle's brow Thou sat'st with Thrasybulus and his train, Couldst thou forebode the dismal hour which now Dims the green beauties of thine Attic plain? Not thirty tyrants now enforce the chain, Trembling beneath the scourge of Turkish hand, LXXV. In all, save form alone, how changed! and who Or tear their name defiled from slavery's mournful page. Who would be free themselves must strike the blow? By their right arms the conquest must be wrought? Will Gaul or Muscovite redress ye? No! True, they may lay your proud despoilers low, But not for you will freedom's altars flame. Shades of the Helots! triumph o'er your foe! Greece! change thy lords, thy state is still the same; Thy glorious day is o'er, but not thine years of shame. |