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As for Schirene 'Not for her, oh! surely not for her? 'No, they were merciful. She is a Caliph's daughter. 'Tis not forgotten. The axe would close her life. Her fair neck would give slight trouble to the headsman's art. But for thy sister, but for Miriam, she is a witch, a Jewish witch! They would have burnt her alive!
The conduct of Scherirah was not too curiously criticised; a commission was appointed to enquire into the mysterious affair; and Alroy retired to the bath to refresh himself after the fatigues of the victory which he could not consider a triumph. As he reposed upon his couch, melancholy and exhausted, Schirene was announced. The Princess threw herself upon his neck and covered him with embraces.
'Schirene! Schirene! here in this solitude I pour to thee the passion long stored up: the passion of my life, no common life, a life full of deep feeling and creative thought. O beautiful! O more than beautiful! for thou to me art as a dream unbroken: why art thou not mine? why lose a moment in our glorious lives, and balk our destiny of half its bliss? 'Fool, fool, hast thou forgotten?
I'll watch thee sleeping, and I'll tend thee wounded, and when thou goest forth to combat I'll gird thy sabre round thy martial side, and whisper triumph with victorious kisses. 'My own Schirene, there's victory in thine eyes. We'll beat them, girl. 'Abidan, doubly false Abidan! would he were doubly hanged!
Schirene sang an Arab air to the band, who joined in joyous chorus. It was late ere they sought repose; and they retired to their rest, sanguine and contented. A few hours afterwards, at the break of dawn, Alroy was roused from his slumbers by a rude pressure on his breast. He started; a ferocious soldier was kneeling over him; he would have spurned him; he found his hand manacled.
One evening, as they returned from the Oasis, Alroy guiding the camel that bore Schirene, and ever and anon looking up in her inspiring face, her sanguine spirit would have indulged in a delightful future. 'Thus shall we pass the desert, sweet, said Schirene. 'Can this be toil? 'There is no toil with love, replied Alroy. 'And we were made for love, and not for empire, rejoined Schirene.
'Tell me again, my own Schirene, indeed didst cry? 'Indeed I did, my soul! 'I would those tears were in some crystal vase, I'd give a province for the costly urn. She threw her arms around his neck and covered his face with kisses. Sunset sounded from the minarets. They arose and wandered together in the surrounding paradise.
Then came the band of the serail, consisting of three hundred dwarfs, hideous indeed to behold, but the most complete musicians in the world. The steeds of Solomon, in number one hundred, each with a natural star upon its front, uncaparisoned, and led only by a bridle of diamonds. The household of Alroy and Schirene.
Must that white bosom bleed? and must those delicate limbs be hacked and handled by these bloody butchers? Is that justice? They lie, the traitors, when they call thee false to our God. Thou art thyself a god, and I could worship thee! See those beauteous lips; they move. Hark to the music! 'Schirene, Schirene! 'There wanted but that word to summon back my senses.
Honain, you say, in favour? 'Very high. He'll make good terms for us. 'This is strange news. 'Very, but true. 'Well! you are welcome! Share our fare; 'tis rough, and somewhat scanty; but we have feasted, and may feast again. Fled into Egypt, eh? 'Ay! Sir. 'Schirene, shouldst like to see the Nile? 'I have heard of crocodiles.
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