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And felt the cause his presence ! Sad and slow 

 He rose, resumed his club, and turn'd to go. 

 Reproachful was his look, but still 'twas kind ; 

 He climb'd the rock, but oft he gazed behind ; 

 He reach'd the cave ; one look below he threw ; 

 Plaintive again he moan'd, and with slow steps withdrew. 



She is alone ; she breathes again ! — Fly, fly ! — 

 Ah ! wretched girl, too late ! with frenzied eye, 

 (Scarce gone the master-fiend) his imps she sees, 

 Pour from the rocks, and drop from all the trees 

 With yell, and squeak, and many a horrid sound, 

 And form a living fence to hedge her round : 

 — M Now then," she cried, fi 6 all's over ! — oh ! farewell, 

 Farewell, Rosalvo ! " On her knee she fell, 

 And told her beads with trembling hands. Yet still 

 On came the throng; and soon, with wanton skill 

 (Lured by its coral glow and cross of gold), 

 One snatch'd her chaplet, nor forsook his hold, 

 Though hard she struggled : while more bold, more fierce 

 Another seized her arm, and dared to pierce 

 With his sharp teeth its snow. The pure blood stream'd 

 Fast from the wound, and loud the virgin scream'd ; 

 And strait again was heard that sad strange moan. 

 And instant all the dwarfs again were flown. 



Scarce conscious that she lived, scarce knowing why, 

 Half grieved, half grateful, Irza raised her eye : 

 Still on the rock (not dared he down to spring) 

 Dark and majestic stood the demon-king; 

 Then lowly knelt, and raised his arm to wave 

 An orange bough, and court her to his cave. 

 Lost are her friends ; no help, no hope is nigh ; 

 What can she do, and whither can she fly ? 

 To him already twice her life she owes, 

 And but his presence now restrains her foes. 

 On wings of flame the sun had left the main ; 

 And peeping from the trees, the imps too plain 



T 



