Page:Lalla Rookh - Moore - 1817.djvu/36



'Twas from a brilliant banquet where the sound Of poesy and music breathed around, Together picturing to her mind and ear The glories of that heaven, her destined sphere, Where all was pure, where every stain that lay Upon the spirit's light should pass away, And realizing more than youthful love E'er wisht or dreamed, she should for ever rove Thro' fields of fragrance by her AZIM'S side, His own blest, purified, eternal bride!-- T was from a scene, a witching trance like this, He hurried her away, yet breathing bliss, To the dim charnel-house;--thro' all its steams Of damp and death led only by those gleams Which foul Corruption lights, as with design To show the gay and proud she too can shine-- And passing on thro' upright ranks of Dead Which to the maiden, doubly crazed by dread, Seemed, thro' the bluish death-light round them cast, To move their lips in mutterings as she past-- There in that awful place, when each had quaft And pledged in silence such a fearful draught,