POETRY. 713 



They seize, they drag him to the Rajah's feet. 

 What doom will now be his, — what vengeance meet 



Will he, who knows no mercy, now require ? 

 The obsequious guards around, with blood-hound eye, 

 Look for the word in slow-consuming fire. 

 By piece-meal death, to make the wretch expire, 

 Or hoist his living carcase hook'd on high, 

 To feed the fowls and insects of the sky ; 

 Or if ought worse inventive cruelty 

 To that remorseless heart of royalty 

 Might prompt, accursed instruments they stand 

 To work the wicked will with wicked hand. 

 Far other thoughts were in the multitude ; 

 Pity, and human feelings held them still ; 

 And stifled sighs and groans supprest were there, 

 And many a secret curse and inward prayer 

 Call'd on the insulted Gods to save mankind. 

 Expecting some new crime, in fear they stood. 

 Some horror which would make the natural blood 

 Start with cold shudderings, thrill the sinking heart, 

 Whiten the lip, and make the abhorrent eye 

 Roll back and close, prest iu for agony. 



How then fared he for whom the mighty crowd 

 Suffer'd in spirit thus, — how then fared he? 

 A ghastly smile was on his lip, his eye 

 Glared with a ghastly hope, as he drew nigh, 

 And cried aloud. Yes, Rajah ! it is I ! 



And wilt thou kill me now ? 

 The countenance of the almighty Man 

 Fell when he knew Laudurlad, and his brow 

 Was clouded with despite, as one asham'd. 

 That wretch again ! indignant he exclaim'd, 

 And smote his forehead, and stood silently 

 Awhile in wrath : then, with ferocious smile, 

 And eyes which seem'd to darken his dark cheek. 



Let him go free ! he cried ; he hath his curse, 

 And vengeance upon him can wreak no worse — 

 But ye who did not stop him— tremble ye ! 



He bade the archers pile their weapons there : 

 No manly courage fiU'd the slavish band, 

 No sweet'ning vengeance rous'd a brave despair. 

 He call'd his horsemen then, and gave command 

 To hem the ofiFenders in, and hew them down. 

 Ten thousand scimitars at once uprear'd, 

 Flash up, like waters sparkling to the sun ; 

 A second time the fatal brands appear'd 



