XIV.

She watched his features till she could not bear Their freezing aspect and averted air; And that strange fierceness foreign to her eye Fell quenched in tears, too late to shed or dry.[if] She knelt beside him and his hand she pressed, "Thou may'st forgive though Allah's self detest; But for that deed of darkness what wert thou? Reproach me--but not yet--Oh! spare me _now!_ I am not what I seem--this fearful night 1640 My brain bewildered--do not madden quite! If I had never loved--though less my guilt-- Thou hadst not lived to--hate me--if thou wilt."