Lalla Rookn; An Oriental Romane

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1817. Excerpt: ... "Swear that the burning death ye feel within, "Is but the trance, with which heav'n's joys begin; "That this foul visage, foul as e'er disgrac'd "Ev'n monstrous man, is--after God's own taste; "And that--but see!--ere I have half-way said "My greetings through, th' uncourteous souls are fled. "Farewel, sweet spirits! not in vain ye die, "If Eblis loves you half so well as I.--"Ha, my young bride!--'tis well--take thou thy seat;-v-" Nay,come--no shuddering--did'st thou never meet, "The Dead before?--they grac'd our wedding, sweet;, "And these, my guests to-night, have brimm'd so true "Their parting cups that thou shalt pledge one too. "But--how is this?--all empty? all drunk up? "Hot lips have been before thee in the cup, "Young bride,--yet stay--one precious drop remains, "Enough to warm a gentle Priestess' veins; "Here, drink--and should thy lover's conquering arms "Speed hither, ere thy lip lose all its charms, "Give him but half this venom in thy kiss, "And I'll forgive my haughty rival's bliss! "For me--I too must die--but not like these "Vile, rankling things, to fester in the breeze; "To have this brow in ruffian triumph shown, "With all death's grimness added to its own, "And rot to dust beneath the taunting eyes "Of slaves, exclaiming 'There his Godship lies!'--"No--cursed race--since first my soul drew breath, "They've been my dupes, and shall be, ev'n in death. "Thou see'st yon cistern in the shade--'tis fill'd "With burning drugs, for this last hour distill'd;--"There will I plunge me, in that liquid flame--"Fit bath to lave a dying Prophet's frame!--"There perish, all--ere pulse of thine shall fail--"Nor leave one limb to tell mankind the tale. "So shall my votaries, wheresoe'er they rave, "Proclaim that Heav'n took back the Saint it gave; "Th...