Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
The Turkish Lady
By Thomas Campbell (17771844)’T
Called each Paynim voice to prayer,
And the star that faded slowly
Left to dews the freshened air.
Calm and sweet the moonlight rose;
Even a captive’s spirit tasted
Half oblivion of his woes.
Came an Eastern lady bright;
She, in spite of tyrants jealous,
Saw and loved an English knight.
Foes have dragged thee here to dwell,
Where poor Christians as they languish
Hear no sound of Sabbath bell?”
When the crescent shone afar,
Like a pale disastrous planet
O’er the purple tide of war.
Lady, I was captive made:
Bleeding for my Christian nation
By the walls of high Belgrade.”
From my turban set thee free?”
“Lady, no! the gift were cruel,
Ransomed, yet if reft of thee.
Christian climes should we behold?”
“Nay, bold knight! I would not leave thee
Were thy ransom paid in gold!”
Rose the midnight star to view,
When to quit her father’s mansion,
Thrice she wept and bade adieu!
Tyrant barks, in vain we ride!”
Soon at Rhodes the British lover
Clasped his blooming Eastern bride.