X.

No word from Selim's bosom broke; One sigh Zuleika's thought bespoke: Still gazed he through the lattice grate, Pale, mute, and mournfully sedate. To him Zuleika's eye was turned, But little from his aspect learned: Equal her grief, yet not the same; Her heart confessed a gentler flame:[fp] 260 But yet that heart, alarmed or weak, She knew not why, forbade to speak. Yet speak she must--but when essay? "How strange he thus should turn away! Not thus we e'er before have met; Not thus shall be our parting yet." Thrice paced she slowly through the room, And watched his eye--it still was fixed: She snatched the urn wherein was mixed The Persian Atar-gul's perfume,[144] 270 And sprinkled all its odours o'er The pictured roof[145] and marble floor: The drops, that through his glittering vest[fq] The playful girl's appeal addressed, Unheeded o'er his bosom flew, As if that breast were marble too. "What, sullen yet? it must not be-- Oh! gentle Selim, this from thee!" She saw in curious order set The fairest flowers of Eastern land-- 280 "He loved them once; may touch them yet, If offered by Zuleika's hand." The childish thought was hardly breathed Before the rose was plucked and wreathed; The next fond moment saw her seat Her fairy form at Selim's feet: "This rose to calm my brother's cares A message from the Bulbul[146] bears; It says to-night he will prolong For Selim's ear his sweetest song; 290 And though his note is somewhat sad, He'll try for once a strain more glad, With some faint hope his altered lay May sing these gloomy thoughts away.