322 FLOllA DOMESTICA. 



And hands more rude than wintry sky 



May wring it from the stem — in vain — 



To-morrow sees it bloom again ! 

 The stalk some spirit gently rears, 

 And waters with celestial tears ; 



For well may maids of Helle deem 

 That this can be no earthly flower. 

 Which mocks the tempest's withering hoxrr. 

 And buds unsheltered by a bower ; 

 Nor droops though spring refuse her shower. 



Nor wooes the summer beam : 

 To it the livelong night there sings 

 A bird unseen, but not remote : 

 Invisible his airy wings. 

 But soft as harp that Houri strings 



His long entrancing note." 



Bride of Abydos. 



There is in this poem another passage on the same 



subject; a passage which instantly brings before our eyes 



that lovely design by Stothard, of the kneeling Zuleika: 



" She saw in curious order set 



The fairest flowers of eastern land — 

 He loved them once ; may touch them yet. 

 If offered by Zuleika's hand. 



" The childish thought was hardly breathed 

 Before the rose was plucked and wreathed ; 

 The next fond moment saw her seat 

 Her fairy form at Selim's feet : 



This rose to calm my brother's fears 

 A message from the Bulbul * bears ; 

 It says to-night he will prolong 

 For Selim's ear his sweetest song ; 

 And though his note is somewhat sad. 

 He'll try for once a strain more glad. 

 With some faint hope his altered lay 

 May sing these gloomy thoughts away." 



Some suppose that Syria takes its name from Suri, a 

 beautiful species of Rose, for which that country has been 

 always famous "f. 



* The nightingale. + See notes to Lalla Rookh. 



