Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 3.djvu/275

CANTO I.] Then shall my handmaids while the time along,

And join with me the dance, or wake the song;

Or my guitar, which still thou lov'st to hear,

Shall soothe or lull—or, should it vex thine ear,

We'll turn the tale, by Ariosto told,

Of fair Olympia loved and left of old.

Why, thou wert worse than he who broke his vow

To that lost damsel, should thou leave me now—

Or even that traitor chief—I've seen thee smile,

When the clear sky showed Ariadne's Isle,

Which I have pointed from these cliffs the while:

And thus half sportive—half in fear—I said,

Lest Time should raise that doubt to more than dread,

Thus Conrad, too, will quit me for the main:

And he deceived me—for—he came again!"

"Again, again—and oft again—my Love!

If there be life below, and hope above,

He will return—but now, the moments bring

The time of parting with redoubled wing:

The why, the where—what boots it now to tell?

Since all must end in that wild word—Farewell!

Yet would I fain—did time allow—disclose—

Fear not—these are no formidable foes!

And here shall watch a more than wonted guard,

For sudden siege and long defence prepared:

Nor be thou lonely, though thy Lord's away,

Our matrons and thy handmaids with thee stay;

And this thy comfort—that, when next we meet,

Security shall make repose more sweet.

List!—'tis the bugle!"—Juan shrilly blew—

"One kiss—one more—another—Oh! Adieu!"