He Waited Till Within Her Tower Her Taper Signalled Him The Hour. He Was A Prince Both Fair And Brave. What Hope That He Would Love Her Slave! He Of The Persian Dynasty; And She A Queen Of Araby! No Peri Singing To A Star Upon The Sea Were Lovelier.... I Helped Her Drop The Silken Rope. He Clomb, Aflame With Love And Hope. I Drew The Dagger From My Gown And Cut The Ladder, Leaning Down. Oh, Wild His Face, And Wild The Fall: Her Cry Was Wilder Than Them All. I Heard Her Cry; I Heard Him Moan; And Stood As Merciless As Stone. The Eunuchs Came: Fierce Scimitars Stirred In The Torch-Lit Corridors. She Spoke Like One Who Speaks In Sleep, And Bade Me Strike Or She Would Leap. I Bade Her Leap: The Time Was Short: And Kept The Dagger For My Heart. She Leapt.... I Put Their Blades Aside, And Smiling In Their Faces Died.