The Giaour

The curse sequance from Lord Byron's Demonic poem The Giaour (1813)

     
     
But first on earth, as Vampyre sent,     
Thy corpse shall from its tomb be rent;     
Then ghastly haunt thy native place,     
And suck the blood of all thy race;     
There from thy daughter, sister, wife,     
At midnight drain the stream of life;     
Yet loathe the banquet, which perforce     
Must feed thy livid living corpse,     
Thy victims, ere they yet expire,     
Shall know the demon for their sire;     
As cursing thee, thou cursing them,     
Thy flowers are witherd on the stem.     
But one that for thy crime must fall,     
The youngest, best beloved of all,     
Shall bless thee with a farther's name -     
That word shall wrap thy heart in flame!     
Yet thou must end thy task and mark     
Her cheek's last tinge - her eye's last spark.     
And the last glassy glance must view     
Which freezes o'er its lifeless blue;     
Then with unhallowed hand shall tear     
The tresses of her yellow hair,     
Of which, in life a lock when shorn    
Affection's fondest pledge was worn-     
But now is born away by thee     
Memorial to thine agony!     
Yet with thine own best blood shall drip     
Thy gnashing tooth, and haggard lip;    
Then stalking to thy sullen grave     
Go - and with Ghouls and Afrits rave,     
Till theses in horror shrink away     
From spectre more accursed than they..     


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