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54 Yet 'gainst his nature—for through that short life,

Few thoughts had he to spare from gloom and strife.

XIV.

"Corsair! thy doom is named—but I have power

"To soothe the Pacha in his weaker hour.

"Thee would I spare—nay more—would save thee now,

"But this—time—hope—nor even thy strength allow;

"But all I can, I will: at least delay

"The sentence that remits thee scarce a day.

"More now were ruin—even thyself were loth

"The vain attempt should bring but doom to both."

"Yes!—loth indeed:—my soul is nerved to all,

"Or fall'n too low to fear a further fall:

"Tempt not thyself with peril—me with hope,

"Of flight from foes with whom I could not cope;

"Unfit to vanquish—shall I meanly fly,

"The one of all my band that would not die?—

"Yet there is one—to whom my memory clings,

"Till to these eyes her own wild softness springs.