5.
On thee, in whom at once conspire
All charms which heedless hearts can move,
Whom but to see is to admire,
And, oh! forgive the word—to love.
6.
Forgive the word, in one who ne'er
With such a word can more offend;
And since thy heart I cannot share,
Believe me, what I am, thy friend.
7.
And who so cold as look on thee,
Thou lovely wand'rer, and be less?
Nor be, what man should ever be,
The friend of Beauty in distress?
8.
Ah! who would think that form had past
Through Danger's most destructive path,[lower-roman 1]
Had braved the death-winged tempest's blast,
And 'scaped a Tyrant's fiercer wrath?
9.
Lady! when I shall view the walls
Where free Byzantium once arose,
And Stamboul's Oriental halls
The Turkish tyrants now enclose;
Variants
- ↑ Through giant Danger's rugged path.—[MS. M.]
