The Corsair's Tale summary. Romantic hero in J. Byron's poem "The Corsair". Victory and defeat
Song one
Pirates are feasting on the island. Their kingdom is “above the foamy, endless wave.” Their joy is a storm, a fight. They do not know fear, they are bored with death, because among pirates death is quick, “souls instantly break ties with us,” as the pirate song says. The leader of the pirates is Conrad.
He is stingy in speech - he only knows the order,
The hand is strong, the eye is sharp and keen;
He doesn't give their feasts any fun.
Conrad behaves like a righteous man - he abstains from luxurious food, “the enemy of the sensual - he is harsh and simple.” Conrad enjoys unquestioned authority among the pirates; not a single person dares not only to challenge the orders of the Corsair, but also to disturb him without a good reason.
In the distance, pirates notice a ship. It soon becomes clear that this is their pirate brig flying a blood-red flag. Those who arrived brought joyful news. The Corsair's longtime spy, the Greek, writes that an excellent opportunity has arisen to rob the Turkish Pasha's fleet. After reading the Greek's message, Conrad decides to immediately set off. He orders his weapons to be checked and prepared for battle. No one dares argue with the Leader.
He is secretly separated from everyone,
His sigh and laughter are a wonder,
And the name "Conrad" turns into chalk
The tan of anyone who is fierce and brave.
Lord of souls, most skillful strategist,
He, terrifying, delights those
He who is terrible - those who praise him...
The brilliance of skill - luck - success -
And, domineering, he is strong in the lack of will of all.
He dictates - and the feats of their hands
Everyone around him honors him as one of his merits.
Conrad was not always a merciless pirate. In the past lies the reason for his current anger at the whole world.
He was wise, but the world considered him stupid
And he spoiled it with his training;
I was too proud to drag out my life, humbled,
And too strong to fall into the mud before the strong...
Inspiring fear, slandered from a young age,
I became a friend to Anger, but not to Humility...
He had hatred - but for those hearts
Where is hatred mixed with servility?
Him, standing far away from everyone,
And friendship and contempt bypassed:
Marveling at him, they feared his deeds,
But no one dared to humiliate him.
However, Conrad is subject to one sincere passion - Love. Conrad happily and mutually loves Medora, does not pay attention to the beautiful captives, of which there are many on the island of pirates. Now, before a dangerous campaign, Conrad is going to say goodbye to his beloved and goes to her castle. Approaching Medora's room, Conrad hears the sounds of a sad song. The girl sings about her love for him, about love that knows no rest, because lovers must constantly part, and Medora lives in eternal fear for Conrad’s life. Medora dreams of the day when “peace will lead us into a peaceful home.” Medora wonders why her gentle lover is so cruel to people. Conrad announces to Medora that he “must go on a short journey again.” Medora is upset, she invites Conrad to at least share with her the festive meal that she was preparing, hoping that he will come to her. But Conrad can't stay. He hears the cannon signal: it’s time to move. Conrad leaves, “touching his forehead with a kiss.” Left alone, Medora gives free rein to tears.
Conrad returns to the ship. “A true leader would sooner die suddenly than lose his honor because of a woman’s torment.” He again becomes a decisive commander, gives orders, orders that his comrades wait for them back for the victory feast in three days. Conrad unfolds the nautical charts, checking them, looks through the telescope, and notices the Turkish galley fleet. He is unperturbed; he calmly calls on his comrades to begin the massacre.
Song two
“I organized a feast in honor of Seyid Pasha’s future victories.” He intends to defeat the pirates and capture sea robbers, and then divide the rich booty among his people. A lot of Muslims gathered under the banner of Seid. A dervish, a fugitive from a pirate ship, is brought to Seyid Pasha. This is Conrad in disguise. Seid Pasha begins to interrogate him. But the dervish seems to be stalling for time. “I am a worthless spy: my eyes were fixed only on escape,” he declares. According to the dervish, the pirates are stupid and careless: after all, the guards overslept - the dervish’s flight, which means the pasha’s “invincible fleet” will also oversleep. Seyid Pasha orders to feed the dervish, but he does not eat anything, explaining that this is his vow, that if he begins to taste the joys of life, the Prophet will “block his path to Mecca.” However, from the outside it seems that “for those who were condemned to fasting and labor for so long, he behaved strangely.” At this moment, the pirates attack the Turks, take them by surprise and put them to flight. Conrad sheds his dervish robes and appears as “a horseman rushing through the smoke,” “like Afrit, the demon of evil.” Conrad fights heroically, the Pasha himself retreats, forgetting about his harem. Conrad forbids offending women: “We were born to kill and perish, but we must always spare the gentle sex!” Conrad himself takes away the decoration of the pasha's harem, Gulnar. Seyid Pasha sees that there are few pirates. He is ashamed that such a small detachment managed to break his will, and he gives the order to attack. There are many more Muslims, and soon the pirate detachment is almost completely killed, only a few manage to escape. Conrad is captured.
Gulnar is hidden by Conrad in a safe place. She wonders why “the robber, covered in blood, seemed more tender to her than Seid in love.” She understands that Seid was saving only himself, and the unknown pirate took care of weak women first. Seyid Pasha decides to execute Konrad with a painful execution - impale him and imprison him until the morning. Conrad is “defeated, alone, but the will managed to breathe courage into his chest.” Shackled, the prisoner behaves with dignity.
At night, Gulnar makes her way to Conrad. She thanks him for saving her. It is not in her power to save the life of the noble pirate, but she promises, with the help of female charms, to influence Seid Pasha and delay the execution for at least a day. Conrad tells Gulnar about his Medora, about their mutual love, that he is not afraid of death, but is afraid of causing grief to his beloved. He asks Gulnar if she loves Seyid Pasha. Ta answers negatively: “He will come, he will go - I don’t need him anyway, he is close, but not in the heart, but on the outside... And I am a slave, I am afraid of a different fate, which is worse than slavery - to become his wife.” Before leaving, Gulnar clings to Conrad's shackles, cries, her tears, like diamonds, remain on the iron of the chains.
The pirates, who miraculously survived, come to Medora and tell the girl that Conrad is in captivity. Medora takes the blow with restraint, without tears or screams.
There was in her, meek, this grace -
Tolerate, soften, hope and wait.
Having learned the details of Conrad's captivity, Medora collapses. Conrad's friends rush to take care of her, and then tell Anselmo, who remained on the island in Conrad's place, about what happened. Anselmo decides to go rescue Conrad from captivity, and if he is already killed, to avenge him.
Gulnar tries to soften the pasha, persuade him, convince him that if he does not execute Conrad, he will only win. He will find out where the pirates' countless treasures are and take possession of them. But Pasha is adamant. He is not interested in treasures: “His hour of torment is incomparable with wealth! The Corsair is in chains, and I have power over him.” Pasha agrees to postpone the execution for a day, but only so that he will have more time to come up with a more sophisticated execution. He humiliates Gulnar, suspecting that she stands up for the captured pirate for a reason (he saw Conrad carrying Gulnar in his arms from the battlefield):
Hey, two-faced woman! Hear:
He is not the only one mortal. And the only word is -
And you...
Gulnar understands that she is just a thing in the hands of her master, that Seyid Pasha does not love her. But she herself now knows what love is, and for the sake of her beloved she will stop at nothing. At midnight, having bribed the guard, she comes to the Corsair, persuades him to kill the pasha (for which she brings him a knife) and escape together. Conrad again refuses - his weapon is a sword, not a knife, he is not used to attacking from around the corner at night. In addition, Conrad understands that, in principle, he deserved to be executed because he sinned a lot. Conrad calls on Gulnar to be happy, to leave him, and not to darken her life with murder. Gulnar calls the pasha the source of evil, a damned tyrant, and explains that her well-being in the pasha’s palace is illusory: “The old man’s lust saves my life, when he gets tired of women’s charms, the sea will accept the bag with me as a gift.” The girl does not want to live without Conrad, so she decides to kill the hated pasha herself. If she fails to do this, then in the morning she will die along with Conrad on the scaffold. Gulnar leaves. Conrad notices that the door to his dungeon is not locked. Picking up the shackles so as not to ring, Conrad walks through the night palace. He sees Gulnar and hopes that she did not decide to kill. The girl turns around, and the Corsair sees “on her forehead - one unwashed, forgotten stain - a bloody trail, familiar from a young age - the mark of murder, a trace of crime.” Conrad had seen many murders in his life, but none of them touched his soul as much as this one. It seems to him that “a trail of blood, a criminal stream, has washed away the beauty from the dark women’s cheeks.” Gulnar announces to Conrad that a ship is waiting for him, that she has gathered a detachment of loyal people ready to ensure the safety of her and her beloved. Through a secret passage, Gulnar takes Conrad to the seashore. While swimming, Gulnar notices that “his empty, icy gaze is like a sentence.” Gulnar cries, insists that God will not forgive her, but Conrad must forgive, because she committed a crime for his sake, thereby abandoning both a calm earthly life and heavenly paradise. But Conrad does not blame her, he rather reproaches himself. A ship flying a blood-red flag is sailing towards them. This is Anselmo and his comrades rushing to the rescue of their leader. Having lamented a little that the operation to free him failed (because Konrad had already been freed by Gulnar), everyone happily set off on their way back. If Gulnar had told about how she saved the Corsair, the pirates would have chosen her as queen, but she is silent. Conrad is full of “hostility to deeds, sympathy to tears.” He knows that Heaven will punish Gulnar, but he himself feels sorry for the girl. Conrad hugs his savior and kisses her. He knows that even Medora, “whose soul is pure, would forgive the paired lips - here Weakness stole a kiss, here Love gave away her breath.”
The ship approaches the island. Conrad is surprised: he sees no light in Medora's window. He goes up to every room and sees that his beloved is dead. Conrad understands that this is heaven's punishment for his sins. The only creature he loved in the world is now separated from him forever. Medora, of course, will go to heaven, but Conrad, who sinned a lot, will not go to heaven. The corsair is shocked. He cannot say a word, he just sobs alone.
In the morning, Anselmo enters Medora's room. Ho The leader disappeared. They searched for him, but did not find him on the entire island. Since then there has been no news about Conrad, no one knew whether he was alive or “buried with grief.” A monument was erected to Medora, but not to Conrad (since he may be alive). His glory lives on for centuries.
He was one virtue -
And endowed with a thousand vices...
Full of picturesque contrasts, the coloring of “The Giaour” also distinguishes Byron’s next work in the “eastern” cycle - the more extensive poem “The Corsair”, written in heroic couplets. In a short prose introduction to the poem, dedicated to the author’s fellow writer and like-minded person, Thomas Moore, the author warns against what is, in his opinion, a characteristic vice of modern criticism - the wrongful identification of the main characters, which has haunted him since the days of Childe Harold - be it Giaour or someone else the other is with the creator of the works. At the same time, the epigraph to the new poem - a line from Tasso's "Jerusalem Liberated" - emphasizes the internal duality of the hero as the most important emotional leitmotif of the narrative. The action of “Corsair” takes place in the south of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the port of Koroni and the Pirate Island, lost in the vastness of the Mediterranean. The time of action is not precisely indicated, but it is easy to conclude that the reader is facing the same era of the enslavement of Greece by the Ottoman Empire, which entered a phase of crisis. The figurative speech means characterizing the characters and what is happening are close to those familiar from “Gyaur”, however, the new poem is more compact in composition, its plot is more detailed (especially with regard to the adventurous “background”), and the development of events and their sequence - more orderly. The first song opens with a passionate speech, depicting the romance of the pirate lot, filled with risk and anxiety. Bonded by a sense of military camaraderie, the filibusters idolize their fearless chieftain, Conrad. And now the fast brig, under the pirate flag that terrified the entire area, brought encouraging news: the Greek gunner reported that in the coming days a raid on the city and the palace of the Turkish governor Seid could be carried out. Accustomed to the oddities of the commander’s character, the pirates become timid when they find him immersed in deep thought. Several stanzas follow with a detailed description of Conrad (“Mysterious and forever alone, / It seemed that he could not smile”), inspiring admiration for heroism and fear - the unpredictable impulsiveness of someone who had withdrawn into himself, who had lost faith in illusions (“He is among people the most difficult of schools - / The Path disappointment - passed") - in a word, bearing the most typical features of a romantic rebel-individualist, whose heart is warmed by one indomitable passion - love for Medora. Conrad's beloved reciprocates his feelings; and one of the most heartfelt pages in the poem is Medora’s love song and the scene of the heroes’ farewell before the campaign. Left alone, she finds no place for herself, as always worried about his life, and he on the deck of the brig gives out instructions to the crew, fully prepared to carry out a daring attack - and win. The second song takes us to the banquet hall in Seid's palace. The Turks, for their part, have long been planning to finally clear the sea surroundings of pirates and are dividing up the rich booty in advance. The pasha's attention is attracted by a mysterious dervish in rags, who appears from nowhere at the feast. He says that he was captured by infidels and managed to escape from his captors, but he flatly refuses to taste the luxurious dishes, citing the vow made to the prophet. Suspecting him as a spy, Seid orders to seize him, and then the stranger instantly transforms: under the humble guise of a wanderer was hiding a warrior in armor and with a sword that strikes on the spot. The hall and the approaches to it are instantly filled with Conrad’s comrades; a furious battle begins: “The palace is on fire, the minaret is burning.” Having crushed the resistance of the Turks, the merciless pirate, however, shows genuine chivalry when the flames that engulfed the palace spread to the female half. He forbids his brothers in arms to resort to violence against the Pasha’s slaves and he himself carries the most beautiful of them, the black-eyed Gulnar, out of the fire in his arms. Meanwhile, Seid, who escaped from the pirate blade in the confusion of the battle, organizes his numerous Guards in a counterattack, and Konrad has to entrust Gulnar and her friends in misfortune to the care of a simple Turkish house, and he himself has to enter into an unequal confrontation. Around him, one after another, his slain comrades fall; He, having cut down countless enemies, is captured barely alive. Having decided to subject Conrad to torture and a terrible execution, the bloodthirsty Seid orders him to be placed in a cramped dungeon. The hero is not afraid of future trials; in the face of death, only one thought worries him: “How will Medora meet the news, the evil news?” He falls asleep on a stone bed, and when he wakes up, he discovers the black-eyed Gulnar secretly sneaking into the prison in his prison, completely captivated by his courage and nobility. Promising to persuade the pasha to delay the impending execution, she offers to help the corsair escape. He hesitates: running cowardly from the enemy is not in his habits. But Medora... After listening to his passionate confession, Gulnar sighs: “Alas! Love is only given to the free!” The third song opens with the author's poetic declaration of love for Greece (“Beautiful city of Athens! Whoever saw your wondrous sunset / will come back...”), followed by a picture of the Pirate Island, where Conrad is waiting in vain for Medora. A boat with the remnants of his detachment approaches the shore, bringing terrible news: their leader is wounded and captured, the filibusters unanimously decide to rescue Conrad from captivity at any cost. Meanwhile, Gulnar’s persuasion to delay the painful execution of “Gyaur” has an unexpected effect on Seid: he suspects that his beloved slave is not indifferent to the captive and is plotting treason. Showering the girl with threats, he kicks her out of her chambers. Three days later, Gulnar once again enters the dungeon where Conrad is languishing. Insulted by the tyrant, she offers the prisoner freedom and revenge: he must stab the pasha in the silence of the night. The pirate recoils; follows the woman’s excited confession: “Don’t call revenge on a despot a crime! / Your despicable enemy must fall in blood! / Did you flinch? Yes, I want to become different: / Pushed away, insulted - I take revenge! / I am undeservedly accused: / Although I was a slave, I was faithful!” “A sword - but not a secret knife!” - this is Conrad's counter-argument. Gulnar disappears to appear at dawn: she herself took revenge on the tyrant and bribed the guards; a boat and a boatman are waiting for them at the coast to take them to the treasured island. The hero is confused: there is an irreconcilable conflict in his soul. By the will of circumstances, he owes his life to a woman in love with him, and he himself still loves Medora. Gulnar is also depressed: in Conrad’s silence she reads condemnation of the atrocity she has committed. Only a fleeting hug and a friendly kiss from the prisoner she saved brings her to her senses. On the island, the pirates joyfully welcome their leader who has returned to them. But the price set by providence for the hero’s miraculous deliverance is incredible: in the castle tower only one window does not light up - Medora’s window. Tormented by a terrible premonition, he climbs the stairs... Medora is dead. Conrad's grief is inescapable. In solitude, he mourns his girlfriend, and then disappears without a trace: “A series of days passes, / There is no Conrad, he disappeared forever, / And not a single hint announced, / Where he suffered, where he buried the flour! / He was mourned only by his own gang; / His girlfriend was received by the mausoleum... / He will live in the traditions of families / With one love, with a thousand atrocities.” The ending of “The Corsair,” like “The Giaour,” leaves the reader alone with the feeling of an incompletely solved mystery surrounding the entire existence of the protagonist.
Act I
Scene 1
Kidnapping of Medora
Eastern Market Square. The beautiful slaves assigned for sale sit waiting for buyers, and Turks, Greeks, and Armenians crowd here, inspecting the goods brought from all over the world.
Corsairs led by Conrad appear in the square. He was attracted to the market, apparently, by a secret plan he had conceived to see a certain charming stranger.
Medora, a pupil of the market owner Isaac Lanquedem, appears on the balcony of her teacher's house. Seeing Conrad, she quickly makes a selam* from the flowers she has on hand and throws it to Conrad. Having read the selam, he is delighted to be convinced that the beautiful Medora loves him.
Isaac and Medora appear in the square. While Isaac examines the slaves, Medora and Conrad exchange passionate and meaningful glances.
A wealthy buyer, Seyid Pasha, appears on the square with his retinue. Merchants surround him, showing various slaves, but the pasha does not like any of them. Seid Pasha notices Medora. He decides to buy her at any cost, but Isaac refuses to sell his pupil to him, slavishly explaining to the pasha that she is not for sale, and offering a couple of other slaves in return.
Pasha still insists on buying Medora. His offers are so profitable and tempting that Isaac, tempted, agrees to the deal. Pasha gives the order to deliver the new slave he bought to the harem and leaves, threatening Isaac with punishment if Medora is not immediately delivered to his harem. Conrad calms Medora, promising that the corsairs will kidnap her.
At a sign from Conrad, the corsairs begin a merry dance with the slaves, in which Medora takes an active part, to the great pleasure of all those present. But suddenly, at the signal given by Conrad, the corsairs kidnap the slaves who were dancing with them, along with Medora. Isaac runs after Medora and wants to take her away from the corsairs; then Conrad orders them to take the very frightened Isaac with them.
Scene 2
Conspirators
Corsairs' home. The corsairs with rich booty and captured slaves return to their refuge, and Isaac, trembling with fear, is brought there. Medora, saddened by the fate of her companions, asks Conrad to free them, and he gives in. Birbanto and the other pirates protest, claiming that they too have a right to women, and rebel against their leader. Conrad, repelling the blow aimed at him, makes Birbanto bow before him; then he calms the frightened Medora, and, carefully guarding her, goes with her into the tent.
Isaac, taking advantage of the general turmoil, decides to quietly run away. However, Birbanto and the remaining corsairs, noticing this, mock him, and, having taken all his money, offer to participate in a conspiracy to take Medora back. Taking a flower from the bouquet, Birbanto sprays it with sleeping pills from the bottle, then gives it to Isaac and orders him to offer it to Conrad.
Conrad appears and gives the order to serve dinner. While the corsairs are having dinner, Medora dances for Conrad, who swears his eternal love to her.
Gradually the corsairs disperse, with only Birbanto and a few of his followers watching Conrad and Medora. At this time, Isaac appears with a young slave; pointing at Medora, he orders her to give her a flower. Medora presses the flower to her chest and gives it to Conrad, adding that the flowers will explain all her love for him. Conrad lovingly presses the flower to his lips, but the intoxicating smell instantly plunges him into a deep sleep and, despite his incredible efforts to free himself from the effects of the drug, he falls asleep. Birbanto gives the sign to the conspirators to begin action.
Medora is startled by Conrad's sudden sleep. The corsairs appear and surround her with threats. Trying to defend herself, Medora wounds Birbanto's hand and tries to escape, but, having lost consciousness, falls into the arms of her captors.
Having sent the conspirators away, Birbanto is ready to deal with Conrad, but at that moment he wakes up. Having learned that Medora has been kidnapped, Conrad and the corsairs set off in pursuit.
Act II
Scene 3
Captivity of a corsair
Palace of Seyid Pasha. Bored odalisques start different games. Zulma demands that the odalisques be respectful to her, but Gulnara and her friends mock the arrogant sultana.
Seid Pasha appears. The odalisques must bow before their master, but the rebellious Gulnara mocks him too. Seid Pasha, carried away by her youth and beauty, throws her a scarf, but Gulnara throws the scarf to her friends, and finally the scarf, passing from hand to hand, reaches the old black woman, who, taking it, begins to pursue the pasha with her caresses. Pasha can barely contain his anger.
To please the pasha, the keeper of the harem brings three odalisques forward.
Zulma tries to attract the attention of the pasha, but at that moment he is informed about the arrival of a slave seller.
Seeing Isaac bringing Medora, the pasha is delighted. Medora begs the Pasha to give her freedom, but seeing that he remains implacable, she complains about the cruel treatment of her teacher; Seid orders the eunuch to escort the Jew out of the palace. Gulnara approaches Medora and expresses her sympathy, taking an ardent part in it. Pasha offers Medora various jewelry, but she resolutely refuses them, to the great joy of Gulnara and the displeasure of Pasha.
The leader of the dervishes appears and asks for an overnight stay. Pasha allows the caravan to stay in the garden. Amused by the embarrassment of the dervishes at the sight of young seductive slaves, he promises to introduce them to all the delights of the harem and orders them to start dancing.
Among the dancing beauties, Conrad (he is disguised as the leader of the dervishes) recognizes his beloved.
At the end of the celebration, Seid orders Medora to be taken to the inner chambers of the palace. The corsairs, having thrown off their dervish clothes, threaten the pasha with daggers; Conrad hugs Medora again.
The corsairs are keen on plundering the Pasha's palace. Gulnara runs in, pursued by Birbanto, she rushes to Medora and asks for her protection. Conrad stands up for Gulnara, but Medora, looking closely at Birbanto, recognizes him as her kidnapper and informs Conrad about his treacherous act. Birbanto, laughing, refutes her accusations; to confirm her words, Medora points to Conrad the wound on Birbanto’s hand that she inflicted. Conrad is ready to shoot the traitor, but Medora and Gulnara hold him back, and Birbanto runs away with threats.
Tired from weakness and anxiety, Medora is ready to faint, but with the help of Gulnara and Conrad, she comes to her senses and, at their request, wants to follow them, when suddenly the Pasha’s guard bursts into the hall. The corsairs are defeated, Conrad is disarmed and sentenced to death. Pasha is triumphant.
Act III
Scene 4
Pasha's wedding
Chambers in the palace. Pasha orders preparations for the celebration of his marriage to Medora. Medora indignantly rejects his proposal. Conrad, chained in chains, is led to execution. Medora, seeing the terrible situation her lover is in, begs Seid to spare him. Pasha promises to pardon Conrad on the condition that she voluntarily agrees to belong to him, Pasha. Medora does not know what to decide, and in despair accepts the pasha’s condition.
Left alone with Medora, Conrad rushes to her, and she announces to him the conditions under which Seid Pasha agreed to pardon him. The corsair rejects this shameful condition, and they decide to die together. Gulnara, who was watching them, offers them her plan; The lovers agree to it and thank her heartily.
Pasha returns. Medora announces that she agrees to carry out his will. Pasha is delighted - he gives the order to immediately release Conrad and prepare everything for the wedding ceremony.
The wedding procession is approaching, the bride is covered with a veil. After the marriage ceremony is completed, the pasha gives the odalisque his hand and puts a wedding ring on her finger. Dancing odalisques crown the wedding celebration.
Left alone with the pasha, Medora tries to seduce him with her dances, but it is clear from everything that she is looking forward to the desired hour of liberation. She expresses horror at the sight of the pistol in Seid’s belt and asks him to quickly remove it. Pasha takes out the gun and hands it to Medora. But her fear only grows at the sight of the dagger in the Pasha’s belt; To finally calm her down, Seid takes out the daggers and gives them to her, then wants to hug her tenderly, but she eludes him. Seid falls at her feet, begs her to love him and gives her a handkerchief. She, as if jokingly, ties his hands with them, and he, pleased, laughs at her prank. Midnight strikes and Conrad appears. Pasha is horrified to see Medora giving the dagger to Conrad. He wants to call for help, but Medora aims a pistol at him and threatens to kill him at the slightest cry. Seid, in horror, does not dare to utter a word, and Medora and Conrad quickly disappear.
Pasha is trying to free himself. Gulnara runs in and unties his hands in feigned horror. Pasha summons the guards and orders them to pursue the fugitives. Three cannon shots herald the departure of the corsair ship. Seid is furious: his beloved wife has been kidnapped. “I am your wife,” says Gulnara, “here is your ring!”
Seid is in a daze.
Scene 5
Storm and shipwreck
Sea. A clear and quiet night on the deck of a ship. Corsairs celebrate liberation. One unfortunate Birbanto, chained, does not take part in the fun. Medora sees his pitiful situation and asks Conrad to forgive Birbanto, who joins her requests. After some hesitation, Conrad forgives Birbanto, and he rejoices and asks permission to bring a barrel of wine and treat his comrades.
The weather changes quickly and a storm begins. Taking advantage of the turmoil on the ship, Birbanto again outrages the corsairs, but Conrad throws him over the side of the ship. The storm intensifies: thunder rumbles, lightning flashes, the sea rages. A crash is heard and the ship crashes against a rock.
The wind gradually subsides, and the agitated sea calms down again. The moon appears and its silvery light illuminates two figures: these are Medora and Conrad, who miraculously escaped death. They reach a rock, climb onto it and thank God for their salvation.
Selam* is a bouquet in which each flower has a special meaning. The language of flowers and communication using the “flower code” was very popular in Europe at the end of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Option 1
Full of picturesque contrasts, the coloring of “The Giaour” also distinguishes Byron’s next work in the “eastern” cycle - the more extensive poem “The Corsair”, written in heroic couplets. In a short prose introduction to the poem, dedicated to the author’s fellow writer and like-minded person, Thomas Moore, the author warns against what is, in his opinion, a characteristic vice of modern criticism - the wrongful identification of the main characters, which has haunted him since the days of Childe Harold - be it Giaour or someone else the other is with the creator of the works. At the same time, the epigraph to the new poem - a line from Tasso's "Jerusalem Liberated" - emphasizes the internal duality of the hero as the most important emotional leitmotif of the narrative.
The action of “Corsair” takes place in the south of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the port of Koroni and the Pirate Island, lost in the vastness of the Mediterranean. The time of action is not precisely indicated, but it is easy to conclude that the reader is facing the same era of the enslavement of Greece by the Ottoman Empire, which entered a phase of crisis. The figurative speech means characterizing the characters and what is happening are close to those familiar from “Gyaur”, however, the new poem is more compact in composition, its plot is more detailed (especially with regard to the adventurous “background”), and the development of events and their sequence - more orderly.
The first song opens with a passionate speech, depicting the romance of the pirate lot, filled with risk and anxiety. Bonded by a sense of military camaraderie, the filibusters idolize their fearless chieftain, Conrad. And now the fast brig, under the pirate flag that terrified the entire area, brought encouraging news: the Greek gunner reported that in the coming days a raid on the city and the palace of the Turkish governor Seid could be carried out. Accustomed to the oddities of the commander’s character, the pirates become timid when they find him immersed in deep thought. Several stanzas follow with a detailed description of Conrad (“Mysterious and forever alone, / It seemed that he could not smile”), inspiring admiration for heroism and fear - the unpredictable impulsiveness of someone who had withdrawn into himself, who had lost faith in illusions (“He is among people the most difficult of schools - / The Path disappointment - passed") - in a word, bearing the most typical features of a romantic rebel-individualist, whose heart is warmed by one indomitable passion - love for Medora. Conrad's beloved reciprocates his feelings; and one of the most heartfelt pages in the poem is Medora’s love song and the scene of the heroes’ farewell before the campaign. Left alone, she finds no place for herself, as always worried about his life, and he on the deck of the brig gives out instructions to the crew, fully prepared to carry out a daring attack - and win. The second song takes us to the banquet hall in Seid's palace. The Turks, for their part, have long been planning to finally clear the sea surroundings of pirates and are dividing up the rich booty in advance. The pasha's attention is attracted by a mysterious dervish in rags, who appears from nowhere at the feast. He says that he was captured by infidels and managed to escape from his captors, but he flatly refuses to taste the luxurious dishes, citing the vow made to the prophet. Suspecting him as a spy, Seid orders to seize him, and then the stranger instantly transforms: under the humble guise of a wanderer was hiding a warrior in armor and with a sword that strikes on the spot. The hall and the approaches to it are instantly filled with Conrad’s comrades; a furious battle begins: “The palace is on fire, the minaret is burning.” Having crushed the resistance of the Turks, the merciless pirate, however, shows genuine chivalry when the flames that engulfed the palace spread to the female half. He forbids his brothers in arms to resort to violence against the Pasha’s slaves and he himself carries the most beautiful of them, the black-eyed Gulnar, out of the fire in his arms. Meanwhile, Seid, who escaped from the pirate blade in the confusion of the battle, organizes his numerous Guards in a counterattack, and Konrad has to entrust Gulnar and her friends in misfortune to the care of a simple Turkish house, and he himself has to enter into an unequal confrontation. Around him, one after another, his slain comrades fall; He, having cut down countless enemies, is captured barely alive. Having decided to subject Conrad to torture and a terrible execution, the bloodthirsty Seid orders him to be placed in a cramped dungeon. The hero is not afraid of future trials; in the face of death, only one thought worries him: “How will Medora meet the news, the evil news?” He falls asleep on a stone bed, and when he wakes up, he discovers the black-eyed Gulnar secretly sneaking into the prison in his prison, completely captivated by his courage and nobility. Promising to persuade the pasha to delay the impending execution, she offers to help the corsair escape. He hesitates: running cowardly from the enemy is not in his habits. But Medora... After listening to his passionate confession, Gulnar sighs: “Alas! Love is only given to the free!” The third song opens with the author's poetic declaration of love for Greece (“Beautiful city of Athens! Whoever saw your wondrous sunset / will come back...”), followed by a picture of the Pirate Island, where Conrad is waiting in vain for Medora. A boat with the remnants of his detachment approaches the shore, bringing terrible news: their leader is wounded and captured, the filibusters unanimously decide to rescue Conrad from captivity at any cost. Meanwhile, Gulnar’s persuasion to delay the painful execution of “Gyaur” has an unexpected effect on Seid: he suspects that his beloved slave is not indifferent to the captive and is plotting treason. Showering the girl with threats, he kicks her out of her chambers. Three days later, Gulnar once again enters the dungeon where Conrad is languishing. Insulted by the tyrant, she offers the prisoner freedom and revenge: he must stab the pasha in the silence of the night. The pirate recoils; follows the woman’s excited confession: “Don’t call revenge on a despot a crime! / Your despicable enemy must fall in blood! / Did you flinch? Yes, I want to become different: / Pushed away, insulted - I take revenge! / I am undeservedly accused: / Although I was a slave, I was faithful!” “A sword - but not a secret knife!” - this is Conrad's counter-argument. Gulnar disappears to appear at dawn: she herself took revenge on the tyrant and bribed the guards; a boat and a boatman are waiting for them at the coast to take them to the treasured island. The hero is confused: there is an irreconcilable conflict in his soul. By the will of circumstances, he owes his life to a woman in love with him, and he himself still loves Medora. Gulnar is also depressed: in Conrad’s silence she reads condemnation of the atrocity she has committed. Only a fleeting hug and a friendly kiss from the prisoner she saved brings her to her senses. On the island, the pirates joyfully welcome their leader who has returned to them. But the price set by providence for the hero’s miraculous deliverance is incredible: in the castle tower only one window does not light up - Medora’s window. Tormented by a terrible premonition, he climbs the stairs... Medora is dead. Conrad's grief is inescapable. In solitude, he mourns his girlfriend, and then disappears without a trace: “A series of days passes, / There is no Conrad, he disappeared forever, / And not a single hint announced, / Where he suffered, where he buried the flour! / He was mourned only by his own gang; / His girlfriend was received by the mausoleum... / He will live in the traditions of families / With one love, with a thousand atrocities.” The ending of “The Corsair,” like “The Giaour,” leaves the reader alone with the feeling of an incompletely solved mystery surrounding the entire existence of the protagonist.
Option 2
Song one
Our free, restless race reigns over the stormy distance of dark blue waters; Wherever there is wind, wherever there is a wave all around, - Our State, our free home! There are no boundaries anywhere to our possessions, Everyone bowed down before our flag. Our whole life is a seething struggle and the joy of changing fate.
The corsairs who were vacationing on Pirate Island spoke about this and about those killed in battle. Here follows a psychological portrait of Conrad:
They have a leader. He divides the spoils
None of them will be left out.
But who is this leader? They know
That he is glorified and undaunted.
He commands, and the order is dry,
But the hand and eye are unerring.
He does not share a cheerful laugh with them -
He is forgiven for his gloom for success.
He is not happy with the clinking of glasses,
He never took a sip of the cup,
But also simple food
No one would want to try it.
Roots, black bread, a sip of water,
And in summer vegetables or fruits.
Such an unheard of harsh table
It would have suited the hermit sooner.
So he deprives his flesh of worries,
But in abstinence his spirit grows.
And then everyone saw the sail, at first they thought it was an enemy, but it turned out that it was their own ship returning to shore. Everyone joyfully greets the arrivals. Women ask about their husbands and brothers who are on other ships. The captain of the arriving ship asks to be escorted to the leader, there is news.
Then he, Conrad, is thoughtful, as always.
Juan, tell me we've come here!
He sees the brig, let him know immediately,
What urgent news we have!
What should I do? You know yourself what awaits you
Who will interrupt his reverie?
Juan approached Conrad, who made a sign for them to approach him. The new arrivals brought a letter from an old Greek man who was in danger. Conrad read the letter and ordered the tablets to be brought to him, and ordered him to prepare for the campaign.
An hour later the brig went to sea again. The author describes Conrad's appearance:
Acts like a demon
The hero of the legends had a good face;
We won't find beauty in Conrad -
Only his dark gaze burns with fire.
He is strong, although not Hercules, and the stature
He is tall, although he is not a giant.
But the one who looked at him was confused
The consciousness that he is different from everyone else....
The face is weathered, on the white forehead
A black sheaf of thick curls falls,
Arrogant dreams, proud mouth,
While curbing it, it still gives out.
Even though the voice is even and the appearance is calm,
But there is something that he conceals within himself;
Variability of the moving face
Sometimes it attracts, confuses endlessly, And it seems that a game of dull but furious passions is hiding underneath.
He was incomprehensible, and wild, and dumb, Never connected by feeling with anyone. He surprised, he was bold in his actions, But no one dared to despise him.
However, despite all his coldness and contempt for people, he was in love, in love with a woman, and only she yearned for her.
He was a villain, and he could have earned a woeful stream of gloomy reproaches, But the virtue in him was one Stronger than villainy - eternal and tender.
While the squad walked forward, Conrad stopped on the path:
How strange! I have been in fire more than once, but this battle seems to me to be the last. This is how the heart feels!..
He went to say goodbye to his beloved Medora. She persuades Conrad to take a break from eternal battles, he is so rich, and many beautiful houses are offered to them. She is afraid for him, for his life, she wants peace and family happiness:
But out of love he runs to the call of the enemy; And this heart, tender towards me, spends its life in battle and in fire.
To which Conrad replies to his beloved Medora that his heart has changed, that he cannot calm down and spend the rest of his life in peace:
But the anger that you curse is not hidden, There is the same feeling as my love. They are so connected that if I fall in love with the World, I will stop loving you...
Medora persuades him to stay, give the team a rest and spend time with her himself, but he does not want to stay, the road is calling him. Medora is afraid that he will never return again, tells him about this, to which he replies that:
Back - back, always back to you, While he is alive, until he falls in the struggle, He will return - now the hour is near, Separation overtakes us like a bird. Don't ask: why? where are the ways? After all, we will still be cut off by “sorry.” If there was time, I would reveal everything to you myself... Do not be afraid: this enemy is not afraid of us, I am leaving a strong garrison here. He is ready for defense and siege; I'm leaving, but don't be boring: You won't be alone among the wives and virgins. When will we meet again, my friend, Calmness will brighten our leisure time...
With these words he kissed her and left. She was left alone, and was somewhat surprised by the surprise and haste with which he left. She cried and kept looking at the brig leaving the shore.
And Conrad, sailing away, tried not to look towards the castle, he knows that they love him there and are waiting for him, but he needs to hurry, and if he turns around, he can turn back. While still on the shore, he gave the tablets to Juan, they contained instructions for protecting the castle. During the journey, and they left in the evening, he and his assistant Gonzalvo discussed the plan all night. And then, approaching the port, they saw many of the pasha’s galleys, noticed that the Muslim guard had fallen asleep, and quietly lay in ambush “between the high rocks.”
Song two
There are many galleys in Koroni Bay, there is a holiday in the city, Pasha Seid started a feast, and swore that he would bring captured pirates. He believes that since he has numerous troops, “their victory will be easy.” A slave came and said that there was a Muslim monk here who had escaped “from a pirate’s nest” and asked permission to enter. The monk said that the pirates did not expect danger at all, since he managed to escape quite easily. The monk wanted to leave, explaining that “... I am weak and tired from the sea, I need food, I need a sound sleep.” But the pasha did not let him go, he ordered him to sit down with him and eat what was on the table. Monk: Salt seasons delicacies; my food is roots, and my drink is water; And my vow and my law is this: I eat neither among friends nor among enemies. Let it be strange what I say, But I don’t value my head: For your power - no! For the sultan's throne I will not eat, I will not break the law. If he had broken it, the prophet would not have allowed me to find roads to Mezza. Well, good! You are looking for a way to heaven... Just answer me, and then go. How many are there?.. What, is it already day?.. Or the light of a star? What kind of sun rose from the water there? There! There! At the dawn of trouble!.. Betrayal! Where are the guards? O prophet! My entire fleet is burning, but I am far away! Damn dervish!.. Take him to prison!.. So you are a spy! Hold it! Death to him! The dervish rose along with the fire. The change in him was terrible; A dervish stood up - no longer a saint, And a warrior suddenly rushed into battle: He took off his hood, threw his mantle from his shoulders, His armor flashed, his sword flashed brightly, A black feather soared above his helmet, And his gaze lit up darkly and sharply. It was Konrad, he entered the battle, but Pasha still managed to escape. Conrad's fighters came to the call of his horn and began to fire at all the buildings: “Everything is burning: the palace and the minaret...” However, then Conrad heard a piercing female scream: They are in the harem! I will not forgive the guilt of those of you who touch even one: The revenge of fate will fall on our wives. Man is the enemy, let him be defeated, And the gentle sex must be spared. Yes! I forgot! But heaven and hell will not forgive us the death of a defenseless person. Not too late! I call you all to remove at least this sin from our souls. Everyone rushed to save the harem. But who is the one that he is ready to save Among the ruins of smoldering pillars? The love of the soul condemned by him is the beauty of the harem and the pasha's slave! He barely greeted Gulnara and was not generous with kind words. Seid looked at all this gloomily, retreating, and then he saw that the detachments of corsairs were not very large, and “he flared up: this is what fear and surprise caused in his ranks.” And then the Pasha’s troops turned back. Conrad sees that his squad is surrounded, and all their attempts to escape from the encirclement were in vain, there are too many enemies. But before the enemy returned, the harem was taken to the Mohammedan house. Gulnara's only thoughts are about Conrad, the leader of the corsairs. She passionately wants to see him, because he was so kind to her, and Pasha was not kind to such an extent even in moments of love. Conrad was wounded, he was put in prison: “And the gloomy guard, leading him to prison, looked closely at him with horror...” A doctor appeared to see what else he could endure: He found that the chain was not heavy for him. And he promised that the torture would be evil: Tomorrow the sun, sinking into the valley, Will see the execution of impalement, And in the morning, starting a new run, - How a person endures this execution. There is no more terrible or longer torture. Beyond the terrible torment - the tormenting thirst of delirium. Death will not come, fate will not have mercy. Only kites circle around the pillar. "Water! water!" But even a drop of moisture will not wet his mouth: after drinking, he will die. This is Conrad's verdict! Everyone is gone, and he is alone in chains and dust. The lot does not seem strict to Conrad, “he executed Seid in the same way if he could.” His only concern was how Medora would take the news of his execution. However, despite all the events, Conrad fell asleep and slept peacefully. Gulnara snuck into his cell and was surprised by Conrad’s peaceful sleep. She woke up the corsair, told him about her love and hatred for the pasha: “I know: without freedom there is no love, and I am a slave, even though I was chosen by the pasha, even though it seems that I am happy in soul.” She then left, promising him that he would not die tomorrow. Song Three At the beginning of the song there is a lyrical digression about the sea. Medora stands on the shore, waiting for Conrad. But the rowers could not tell her anything: “The sight of Medora tied their lips.” She understood everything, and “without bowing her brow, she accepted the entire burden of grief.” Conrad's corsairs decided to save him or take revenge if he was already dead. At that time, the gloomy Seid was sitting in his harem. Gulnara sat at his feet and persuaded him to forgive Conrad and let him go, and if necessary, he could always take him again. But Seid refused her request and threatened to cut her “fast wings.” But he didn’t know women well, and Gulnara again starts talking about letting the corsair go. Pasha is furious and angry. Conrad has been languishing in prison all this time, waiting for Gulnara, but “a day passes - Gulnara does not come, the second and third - he waits in vain.” Midnight struck, and then Gulnara came, she told him that she had bribed the guards, preparing for a riot. He tells him about his love, hatred for Pasha, thirst for revenge on him. Gulnara herself killed the pasha. “She hit her hands - and both the Moor and the Greek quickly ran, submissive to her. They rush to remove the shackles from him.” Conrad is free. The wind plays, the sails rustle, And Conrad plunges into the past. Suddenly the Cape where he had recently dropped anchor appeared as a black pile of rocks. It's been so short since that night! - Centuries of villainy, horror, longing... But, weary of sadness for our beloved, He raised his gaze - the murderer was in front of him! Gulnara languishes because she sees his disgust, And the hot anger in her eyes fades, And in later tears sheds. He squeezes his fingers tremblingly: “May Allah not forgive me, but you... What would have happened to you if it weren’t for me? And at least now don’t blame me!..” But he didn’t blame her for anything, blaming only himself in everything that happened. And then he sees his brig, a boat was immediately sent for him, and they greet him from the deck, “there is delight and triumph on everyone’s faces.” But the pirates were upset that the leader was returned to them without a fight; they were perplexed that “could a woman really have accomplished such brave deeds?” And Conrad would be forced to take Gulnara with him. Arriving on his island, from afar he tried to see the light in the window of his beloved Medora, but it was not there. And he rushed to her, his torch went out along the way, he did not wait for the next one, he groped in the darkness, “and he entered her... and saw what his heart knew was filled with fear.” He became speechless, fixing his motionless gaze, and no longer trembled as before. This is how we look, fighting sadness and delirium, Afraid to admit that there is no hope! She bloomed with calm beauty, And death left her like that. And cold flowers are placed in cold and tender fingers. She seemed to be sleeping in a feigned sleep, and it would be funny to cry about that. The silk of the eyelashes and the coldness of the eyelids hid that which makes a person pale. Death does not spare the shine of clear eyes, And by the will of death, the mind in them faded away. The sunset of two blue luminaries has come; But the mouth still retained all its charm. A corner is about to tremble with a smile, And only for a moment is it so closed and stern... But the veil, but each of the braids - A row of light and lifeless hair - It used to fly away, so light, And the summer wind tore off the wreaths from them!.. Everything breathes death, the whole appearance is gloomy, She is nothing... Then why is he here? Conrad is overwhelmed with grief, “The sun rises - Conrad’s day is gray! Night comes - it has no edges and measures!” Conrad disappeared, his faithful corsairs looked for him everywhere, then they found a chain from the boat on the shore, and began to look for him at sea on ships, but they never found him.
Year of writing:
1813
Reading time:
Description of the work:
George Byron wrote the story-poem “The Corsair” in just two weeks. The story was well received by readers. Already on the first day, 10,000 books were sold.
There are almost 2000 poems in the story. It is divided into a dedication and three songs. Interestingly, each song has an epigraph taken from the Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri.
The Corsair is one of Byron's most popular works. Below you can find a summary of the poem.
Full of picturesque contrasts, the coloring of “The Giaour” is also distinguished by Byron’s next work in the “eastern” cycle - the more extensive poem “The Corsair”, written in heroic couplets. In a short prose introduction to the poem, dedicated to the author’s fellow writer and like-minded person Thomas Moore, the author warns against what is, in his opinion, a characteristic defect of modern criticism - the wrongful identification of the main characters that has haunted him since the time of Childe Harold - be it Giaour or someone else the other is with the creator of the works. At the same time, the epigraph to the new poem - a line from Tasso's "Jerusalem Liberated" - emphasizes the internal duality of the hero as the most important emotional leitmotif of the narrative.
The action of “Corsair” takes place in the south of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the port of Koroni and the Pirate Island, lost in the vastness of the Mediterranean. The time of action is not precisely indicated, but it is easy to conclude that the reader is facing the same era of the enslavement of Greece by the Ottoman Empire, which entered a phase of crisis. The figurative speech means characterizing the characters and what is happening are close to those familiar from “Gyaur”, however, the new poem is more compact in composition, its plot is more detailed (especially with regard to the adventurous “background”), and the development of events and their sequence - more orderly.
The first song opens with a passionate speech, depicting the romance of the pirate lot, filled with risk and anxiety. Bonded by a sense of military camaraderie, the filibusters idolize their fearless chieftain, Conrad. And now the fast brig, under the pirate flag that terrified the entire area, brought encouraging news: the Greek gunner reported that in the coming days a raid on the city and the palace of the Turkish governor Seid could be carried out. Accustomed to the oddities of the commander’s character, the pirates become timid when they find him immersed in deep thought. Several stanzas follow with a detailed description of Conrad (“Mysterious and forever alone, / It seemed that he could not smile”), inspiring admiration for heroism and fear - the unpredictable impulsiveness of someone who had withdrawn into himself, who had lost faith in illusions (“He is among people the most difficult of schools - / The Path disappointment - passed") - in a word, bearing the most typical features of a romantic rebel-individualist, whose heart is warmed by one indomitable passion - love for Medora.
Conrad's beloved reciprocates his feelings; and one of the most heartfelt pages in the poem is Medora’s love song and the scene of the heroes’ farewell before the campaign. Left alone, she finds no place for herself, as always worrying for his life, and he is on the deck of the brig giving instructions to the team, fully prepared to carry out a daring attack - and win.
The second song takes us to the banquet hall in Seid's palace. The Turks, for their part, have long been planning to finally clear the sea surroundings of pirates and are dividing up the rich booty in advance. The pasha's attention is attracted by a mysterious dervish in rags, who appears from nowhere at the feast. He says that he was captured by infidels and managed to escape from his captors, but he flatly refuses to taste the luxurious dishes, citing the vow made to the prophet. Suspecting him as a spy, Seid orders to seize him, and then the stranger instantly transforms: under the humble guise of a wanderer was hiding a warrior in armor and with a sword that strikes on the spot. The hall and the approaches to it are instantly filled with Conrad’s comrades; a furious battle begins: “The palace is on fire, the minaret is burning.”
Having crushed the resistance of the Turks, the merciless pirate, however, shows genuine chivalry when the flames that engulfed the palace spread to the female half. He forbids his brothers in arms to resort to violence against the Pasha’s slaves and he himself carries the most beautiful of them, the black-eyed Gulnar, out of the fire in his arms. Meanwhile, Seid, who escaped from the pirate blade in the confusion of the battle, organizes his numerous guards in a counterattack, and Konrad has to entrust Gulnar and her friends in misfortune to the care of a simple Turkish house, and he himself has to enter into an unequal confrontation. Around him, one after another, his slain comrades fall; he, having cut down countless enemies, is captured barely alive.
Having decided to subject Conrad to torture and a terrible execution, the bloodthirsty Seid orders him to be placed in a cramped dungeon. The hero is not afraid of future trials; in the face of death, only one thought worries him: “How will Medora meet the news, the evil news?” He falls asleep on a stone bed, and when he wakes up, he discovers the black-eyed Gulnar secretly sneaking into the prison in his prison, completely captivated by his courage and nobility. Promising to persuade the pasha to delay the impending execution, she offers to help the corsair escape. He hesitates: running cowardly from the enemy is not in his habits. But Medora... After listening to his passionate confession, Gulnar sighs: “Alas! Love is only given to the free!”
The third song opens with the author's poetic declaration of love for Greece (“Beautiful city of Athens! Whoever saw your wondrous sunset / will come back...”), followed by a picture of the Pirate Island, where Conrad is waiting in vain for Medora. A boat with the remnants of his detachment approaches the shore, bringing terrible news: their leader is wounded and captured, the filibusters unanimously decide to rescue Conrad from captivity at any cost.
Meanwhile, Gulnar’s persuasion to delay the painful execution of “Gyaur” has an unexpected effect on Seid: he suspects that his beloved slave is not indifferent to the captive and is plotting treason. Showering the girl with threats, he kicks her out of her chambers.
Three days later, Gulnar once again enters the dungeon where Conrad is languishing. Insulted by the tyrant, she offers the prisoner freedom and revenge: he must stab the pasha in the silence of the night. The pirate recoils; follows the woman’s excited confession: “Don’t call revenge on a despot a crime! / Your despicable enemy must fall in blood! / Did you flinch? Yes, I want to become different: / Pushed away, insulted - I take revenge! / I am undeservedly accused: / Although I was a slave, I was faithful!”
“A sword - but not a secret knife!” - this is Conrad's counter-argument. Gulnar disappears to appear at dawn: she herself took revenge on the tyrant and bribed the guards; a boat and a boatman are waiting for them at the coast to take them to the treasured island.
The hero is confused: there is an irreconcilable conflict in his soul. By the will of circumstances, he owes his life to the woman in love with him, and he himself still loves Medora. Gulnar is also depressed: in Conrad’s silence she reads condemnation of the atrocity she committed. Only a fleeting hug and a friendly kiss from the prisoner she saved brings her to her senses.
On the island, the pirates joyfully welcome their leader who has returned to them. But the price set by providence for the hero’s miraculous deliverance is incredible: in the castle tower only one window does not light up - Medora’s window. Tormented by a terrible premonition, he climbs the stairs... Medora is dead.
Conrad's grief is inescapable. In solitude, he mourns his girlfriend, and then disappears without a trace: “A series of days passes, / There is no Conrad, he disappeared forever, / And not a single hint announced, / Where he suffered, where he buried the flour! / He was mourned only by his own gang; / His girlfriend was received by the mausoleum... / He will live in the traditions of families / With one love, with a thousand atrocities.” The ending of “The Corsair,” like “The Giaour,” leaves the reader alone with the feeling of an incompletely solved mystery surrounding the entire existence of the protagonist.
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