283 



Still, when he went, he with him bore away 

 That fav'rite babe, nor fear'd she far would stray. 

 Arm'd with his club, she now might safely rove 

 Through verdant vale, or weep in shadowy grove ; 

 For soon the dwarfs were used to bear her sight, 

 Knew that dread club, nor dared indulge their spite. 

 Still from afar off looks of rage they cast, 

 -And shrilly squeal'd and clamour'd as she pass'd; 

 But by their flight when near she came, 't was seen. 

 They own'd allegiance, and confess'd their queen. 



XL 



One morn her savage lord, in quest of food, 

 Forsook the* cave, and sought th' adjacent wood; 

 And as her darling boy he with him bore, 

 Irza, unwatch'd, might pace the sounding shore. 

 Listless and slow she moved, and climb'd with pain 

 A tow'ring cliff, which beetled o'er the main. 

 Now three full years had flown, since Irza's eye 

 Had dwelt on human form, and since reply 

 From human tongue had blest her ear. 'Tis true, 

 Throned on a rock, which spread before her view 

 The sea's wide-stretching plains, she once descried 

 A gallant vessel plough the neighbouring tide. 

 By cries to draw it near she long essay'd, 

 And oft a palm- bough waved in sign for aid : 

 But all her cries and all her signs were vain ; 

 On sail'd the bark, nor e'er return'd again ! 



On that same rock she sat, and eyed the wave, 

 And wish'd she there had found her wat'ry grave ! 

 Fain had she sought one then, plunged from the steep. 

 And buried all her suff'rings in the deep ; 

 But faith alike and reason bade her shun 

 That wish, nor break a thread which God had spun. 

 Hark ! — was it fancy ? — hark again ! — the shores 

 Echo the sound of fast approaching oars. 



