My former love restore to me.

Reply not! thee I do not blame,

Thy beauties have bewitched Giray,

Blinded his heart to love and fame,

Then yield him up to me, I pray,

Or by contempt, repulse, or grief,

Turn from thy love th'ungenerous chief!

Swear by thy faith, for what though mine

Conform now to the Koran's laws,

Acknowledged here within the harem,

Princess, my mother's faith was thine,

By that faith swear to give to Zarem

Giray unaltered, as he was!

But listen! the sad prey to scorn

If I must live, Princess, have care,

A dagger still doth Zarem wear,--

I near the Caucasus was born!"

She spake, then sudden disappeared,

And left the Princess in dismay,

Who scarce knew what or why she feared;

Such words of passion till that day

She ne'er had heard. Alas! was she

To be the ruthless chieftain's prey?

Vain was all hope his grasp to flee.

Oh! God, that in some dungeon's gloom

Remote, forgotten, she had lain,

Or that it were her blessed doom

To 'scape dishonour, life, and pain!

How would Maria with delight

This world of wretchedness resign;

Vanished of youth her visions bright,

Abandoned she to fates malign!

Sinless she to the world was given,