Page:Hellas, a Lyrical Drama - Shelley (1822).djvu/28

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8
HELLAS.
SEMICHORUS 2d.
If Hell should entomb thee,
To Hell shall her high hearts bend.

SEMICHORUS 1st.
If Annihilation—

SEMICHORUS 2d.
Dust let her glories be!
And a name and a nation
Be forgotten, Freedom, with thee!

INDIAN.
His brow grows darker—breathe not—move not!
He starts—he shudders—ye that love not,
With your panting loud and fast,
Have awaken'd him at last.

Mahmud (starting from his sleep.)
Man the Seraglio-guard! make fast the gate.
What! from a cannonade of three short hours?
'Tis false! that breach towards the Bosphorus
Cannot be practicable yet—who stirs?
Stand to the match; that when the foe prevails
One spark may mix in reconciling ruin
The conqueror and the conquered! Heave the tower
Into the gap—wrench off the roof!
(Enter Hassan.)
Ha! what!
The truth of day lightens upon my dream
And I am Mahmud still.