Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 3.djvu/133

And flung luxurious coolness round
The air, and verdure o'er the ground.
'Twas sweet, when cloudless stars were bright,
To view the wave of watery light,
And hear its melody by night.
And oft had Hassan's Childhood played
Around the verge of that cascade;
And oft upon his mother's breast310
That sound had harmonized his rest;
And oft had Hassan's Youth along
Its bank been soothed by Beauty's song;
And softer seemed each melting tone
Of Music mingled with its own.
But ne'er shall Hassan's Age repose
Along the brink at Twilight's close:
The stream that filled that font is fled—
The blood that warmed his heart is shed!^{[lower-roman 1]}
And here no more shall human voice320
Be heard to rage, regret, rejoice.
The last sad note that swelled the gale
Was woman's wildest funeral wail:
That quenched in silence, all is still,
But the lattice that flaps when the wind is shrill:
Though raves the gust, and floods the rain,
No hand shall close its clasp again.
On desert sands 'twere joy to scan
The rudest steps of fellow man,
So here the very voice of Grief330
Might wake an Echo like relief—^{[lower-roman 2]}
At least 'twould say, "All are not gone;

Variants

1. ⁠For thirsty Fox and Jackal gaunt
   ⁠May vainly for its waters pant.—[MS.]
   or, The famished fox the wild dog gaunt
   ⁠May vainly for its waters pant.—[MS.]
2. Might strike an echo ———.—[MS.]