ROSE-BUSH. 373 



A bird unseen, but not remote: 

 Invisible las airy wings, 

 But soft as harp that Houri strings 

 His long entrancing note." 



BRIDE or ABYDOS. 



There is in this poem another passage on the same sub- 

 ject; 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 ). 



" And if at times a transient breeze 



Break the blue crystal of the seas, 



Or sweep one blossom from the trees, 



How welcome is each gentle air 



That wakes and wafts the odours there ! 



For there the Rose o'er crag or vale, 



Sultana of the Nightingale, 



The maid for whom his melody, 



His thousand songs are heard on high, 



Blooms blushing to her lover's tale : 



* The nightingale. t See Notes to Lalla Rookh. 



