Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 5.djvu/667

CANTO IV.] The rest was one bleak precipice, as e'er

Gave mariners a shelter and despair;

A spot to make the saved regret the deck

Which late went down, and envy the lost wreck.

Such was the stern asylum Neuha chose

To shield her lover from his following foes;

But all its secret was not told; she knew

In this a treasure hidden from the view.

III.

Ere the canoes divided, near the spot,

The men that manned what held her Torquil's lot,

By her command removed, to strengthen more

The skiff which wafted Christian from the shore.

This he would have opposed; but with a smile

She pointed calmly to the craggy isle,

And bade him "speed and prosper." She would take

The rest upon herself for Torquil's sake.

They parted with this added aid; afar,

The Proa darted like a shooting star,

And gained on the pursuers, who now steered

Right on the rock which she and Torquil neared.

They pulled; her arm, though delicate, was free

And firm as ever grappled with the sea,

And yielded scarce to Torquil's manlier strength.

The prow now almost lay within its length

Of the crag's steep inexorable face,

With nought but soundless waters for its base;

Within a hundred boats' length was the foe,

And now what refuge but their frail canoe?

This Torquil asked with half upbraiding eye,

Which said—"Has Neuha brought me here to die?

Is this a place of safety, or a grave,

And yon huge rock the tombstone of the wave?"

IV.

They rested on their paddles, and uprose

Neuha, and pointing to the approaching foes,

Cried, "Torquil, follow me, and fearless follow!"

Then plunged at once into the Ocean's hollow.