LXVIII.

Crystal and marble, plate and porcelain,

Had done their work of splendour; Indian mats And Persian carpets, which the heart bled to stain, Over the floors were spread; gazelles and cats, And dwarfs and blacks, and such like things, that gain Their bread as ministers and favourites-(that's To say, by degradation)—mingled there

As plentiful as in a court or fair.

LXIX.

There were no want of lofty mirrors, and
The tables, most of ebony inlaid

With mother of pearl or ivory, stood at hand,
Or were of tortoise-shell or rare woods made,
Fretted with gold or silver :-by command

The greater part of these were ready spread
With viands and sherbets in ice-and wine-
Kept for all comers, at all hours to dine,

LXX.

Of all the dresses I select Haidée's:

She wore two jelicks-one was of pale yellow; Of azure, pink, and white was her chemise

'Neath which her breast heaved like a little billow; With buttons form'd of pearls as large as pease,

All gold and crimson shone her jelick's fellow, And the striped white gauze baracan that bound her, Like fleecy clouds about the moon, flow'd round her.

LXXI.

One large gold bracelet clasp'd each lovely arm,
Lockless-so pliable from the pure gold

That the hand stretch'd and shut it without harm,
The limb which it adorn'd its only mould;
So beautiful-its very shape would charm,
And clinging as if loth to lose its hold,
The purest ore inclosed the whitest skin
That e'er by precious metal was held in. (2)

LXXII.

Around, as princess of her father's land,

(3)

A like gold bar above her instep rolled Announced her rank; twelve rings were on her hand; Her hair was starr'd with gems; her veil's fine fold Below her breast was fasten'd with a band

Of lavish pearls, whose worth could scarce be told; Her orange silk full Turkish trowsers furl'd About the prettiest ancle in the world.

LXXIII.

Her hair's long auburn waves down to her heel
Flow'd like an Alpine torrent which the sun
Dyes with his morning light,—and would conceal
Her person (4) if allow'd at large to run,

And still they seem resentfully to feel

The silken fillet's curb, and sought to shun Their bonds whene'er some Zephyr caught began To offer his young pinion as her fan.

LXXIV.

Round her she made an atmosphere of life,

The very air seem'd lighter from her eyes, They were so soft and beautiful, and rife

With all we can imagine of the skies,
And pure as Psyche ere she grew a wife-

Too pure even for the purest human ties;
Her overpowering presence made you feel
It would not be idolatry to kneel.

LXXV.

Her eyelashes, though dark as night, were tinged
(It is the country's custom), but in vain ;
For those large black eyes were so blackly fringed,
The glossy rebels mock'd the jetty stain,

And in their native beauty stood avenged:

Her nails were touch'd with henna; but again The power of art was turn'd to nothing, for They could not look more rosy than before.

LXXVI.

The henna should be deeply died to make
The skin relieved appear more fairly fair;
She had no need of this, day ne'er will break

On mountain tops more heavenly white than her: The eye might doubt if it were well awake,

She was so like a vision; I might err,

But Shakspeare also says 'tis very silly
"To gild refined gold, or paint the lily.”

LXXVII.

Juan had on a shawl of black and gold,
But a white baracan, and so transparent

The sparkling gems beneath you might behold,
Like small stars through the milky way apparent;
His turban, furl'd in many a graceful fold,

An emerald aigrette with Haidée's hair in't
Surmounted as its clasp-a glowing crescent,
Whose rays shone ever trembling, but incessant.