Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 5.djvu/665

CANTO III.] Then gazed upon the pair, as in his den

A lion looks upon his cubs again;

And then relapsed into his sullen guise,

As heedless of his further destinies.

X.

But brief their time for good or evil thought;

The billows round the promontory brought

The plash of hostile oars.—Alas! who made

That sound a dread? All around them seemed arrayed

Against them, save the bride of Toobonai:

She, as she caught the first glimpse o'er the bay

Of the armed boats, which hurried to complete

The remnant's ruin with their flying feet,

Beckoned the natives round her to their prows,

Embarked their guests and launched their light canoes;

In one placed Christian and his comrades twain—

But she and Torquil must not part again.

She fixed him in her own.—Away! away!

They cleared the breakers, dart along the bay,

And towards a group of islets, such as bear

The sea-bird's nest and seal's surf-hollowed lair,

They skim the blue tops of the billows; fast

They flew, and fast their fierce pursuers chased.

They gain upon them—now they lose again,—

Again make way and menace o'er the main;

And now the two canoes in chase divide,

And follow different courses o'er the tide,

To baffle the pursuit.—Away! away!

As Life is on each paddle's flight to-day,

And more than Life or lives to Neuha: Love

Freights the frail bark and urges to the cove;

And now the refuge and the foe are nigh—

Yet, yet a moment! Fly, thou light ark, fly!