Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/63

And from the towers the merry bell
    Or cittara's softer sounds were ringing.
The passing boatman wondering gazed
    Where streaming o'er the midnight sky
A thousand lamps and torches blazed,
    And bursts of joyous revelry
Came o'er the breeze, from those bright halls
Where, twining their gay coronals,
Mid flowers, and lights, and eye-beams glancing,
    Shining in gold and gems and pearls,
To music's thrilling notes advancing,
    A clustering troop of graceful girls
Displayed before a raptured throng
The witcheries of dance and song.
Oh! not alone in festal hours
Pleasure illumed those lofty towers;
For there domestic happiness
    In all its holy beauty smiled,
And love with innocent caress
    The bright winged sunny day beguiled—