Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

bushy jungle, where, in more than one place, the awful signal of the bamboo staff*, with the white flag at its top, reminded the traveller that, in that very spot, the tiger had made some human creature his victim. It was, therefore, with much pleasure that they arrived at sunset in a safe and lovely glen, and encamped under one of those holy trees, whose smooth columns and spreading roofs seem to destine them for natural temples of religion. Beneath this spacious shade, some pious hands had erected a row of pillars ornamented with the most beautiful porcelain †, which now supplied the use

"It is usual to place a small white triangular flag, fixed to a bamboo staff of ten or twelve feet long, at the place where a tiger has destroyed a man. It is common for the passengers also to throw each a stone or brick near the spot, so that in the course of a little time a pile equal to a good waggon-load is collected. The sight of these flags and piles of stones imparts a certain melancholy, not perhaps altogether void of apprehension."- Oriental Field Sports, vol. ii.

"The Ficus Indica is called the Pagod Tree and Tree of Councils; the first, from the idols placed under its shade; the second, because meetings were held under its cool branches. In some places it is believed to be the haunt of spectres, as the ancient spreading oaks of Wales have been of fairies; in others are erected beneath the shade pillars of stone, or posts, elegantly carved, and ornamented with the most beautiful porcelain to supply the use of mirrors."- Pennant.

of mirrors to the young maidens, as they adjusted their hair in descending from the palankeens. Here, while, as usual, the Princess sat listening anxiously, with FADLADEEN in one of his loftiest moods of criticism by her side, the young Poet, leaning against a branch of the tree, thus continued his story:

[blocks in formation]

THE morn hath risen clear and calm,
And o'er the Green Sea palely shines,
Revealing BAHREIN's† groves of palm,

And lighting KISHMA's† amber vines.
Fresh smell the shores of ARABY,
While breezes from the Indian sea
Blow round SELAMA's‡ sainted cape,

And curl the shining flood beneath, —
Whose waves are rich with many a grape,
And cocoa-nut and flowery wreath,
Which pious seamen, as they pass'd,

Had tow'rd that holy headland cast

*The Persian Gulf.- -"To dive for pearls in the Green Sea, or Persian Gulf.”—Sir W. Jones.

† Islands in the Gulf.

Or Selemeh, the genuine name of the headland at the entrance of the Gulf, commonly called Cape Musseldom. "The Indians, when they pass the promontory, throw cocoa-nuts, fruits, or flowers, into the sea, to secure a propitious voyage.” — Morier.

Oblations to the Genii there

For gentle skies and breezes fair!
The nightingale now bends her flight
From the high trees, where all the night

She sung so sweet, with none to listen;
And hides her from the morning star

Where thickets of pomegranate glisten

In the clear dawn,- bespangled o'er

With dew, whose night-drops would not stain

The best and brightest scimitar†

That ever youthful Sultan wore

On the first morning of his reign.

And see

--

-the Sun himself!-on wings

Of glory up the East he springs.

Angel of Light! who from the time

Those heavens began their march sublime,

"The nightingale sings from the pomegranate groves in the day-time, and from the loftiest trees at night."— Russel's Aleppo.

In speaking of the climate of Shiraz, Francklin says, “The dew is of such a pure nature, that if the brightest scimitar should be exposed to it all night, it would not receive the least rust."

Hath first of all the starry choir

Trod in his Maker's steps of fire!

Where are the days, thou wondrous sphere,

When IRAN, like a sun-flower, turn'd

To meet that eye where'er it burn'd?
When, from the banks of BENDEMEER

To the nut-groves of SAMARCAND,
Thy temples flam'd o'er all the land?
Where are they? ask the shades of them

Who, on CADESSIA'S bloody plains,

Saw fierce invaders pluck the gem

From IRAN's broken diadem,

And bind her ancient faith in chains:

Ask the poor exile, cast alone

On foreign shores, unlov'd, unknown,
Beyond the Caspian's Iron Gates, †

Or on the snowy Mossian mountains,

* The place where the Persians were finally defeated by the Arabs, and their ancient monarchy destroyed.

† Derbend. - "Les Tures appellent cette ville Demir Capi, Porte de Fer; ce sont les Caspiæ Portæ des anciens."-D'Herbelot.

« ForrigeFortsæt »