574. ANNUAL REGISTER, isu. 



Proclaim his state drgen'rate : pliant still 

 And crouching for his gain ; whether in vest 

 Of flowing purple, and with orange zone. 

 And saffron sandal, and a coif of fur. 

 He apes the Archon's state, or pressing on 

 And elbowing the crowd, with slipper'd feet, 

 And cap of scarlet dye, curl'd locks, and dress 

 For speed succinct, he ranges the bazar. 

 And earns the paltry recompense of toil. 



Where then shall we the father's genius seek ? 

 Shame to the sons, amidst the song and dance. 

 And midnight revelry ; these have outlived 

 The bold but transient features, these survive 

 The glow of fancy and the strength of thought. 

 The feast is spread, and the recumbent guests. 

 Inclining o'er their tripods, quaff the wines 

 Of Zea or of Samos ; mirth goes round. 

 The laugh, the jest, dispel their gloomy thoughts. 

 And yield a momentary happiness. 

 The strain begins — the mandoline awaked 

 By rudest touch, preludes the measure wild. 

 Whilst the responsive song, by none refused. 

 Successive passes round the applauding guests, 

 Phrosyne's mournful dirge, or thy soft air, 

 O beauteous Haidee ! the tambour beats — 

 And Athens' daughters, starting at the sound. 

 In loosely cinctured robes of crimson hue, 

 W'ith ringlets darkly shadowing their breasts. 

 Throw back their snowy necks upon the air, 

 And wave their rosy-finger'd hands and lead. 

 The sprightly chorus, or the mazy round 

 Which Theseus first beheld, when he return'd 

 Victor from Crete, by Delian virgins twiu'd. 



Regardless of these sounds of revelr3', 

 Silent and dull, and meas'ring every step. 

 With solemn air, the Moslem stalks along; 

 His look, his gait, his habit, all proclaim 

 The supercilious despot of the land. 

 The muslin turban coil'd around his head 

 In spiral folds, shades his wan cheek ; his brow 

 Low'rs gloomily upon his half-raised eye ; 

 And from his arch'd nose, and lip with smile 

 Contemptuous curl'd, his shaggy beard descends. 

 The tawdry splendor of his garb declares 

 His Eastern origin ; a silken vest 

 Of varied colours loosely veils his limbs, 



