THE VEILED PROPHET OF KHORASSAN.* IN that delightful Province of the Sun, Were ev'n the gleams miraculously shed O'er MOUSSA's I cheek when down the mount ho trod, All glowing from the presence of his God! On either side, with ready hearts and hands, His chosen guard of bold Believers stands; Young fire-eyed disputants, who deem their swords, On points of faith, more eloquent than words; And such their zeal, there's not a youth with brand Uplifted there, but, at the Chief's command, Would make his own devoted heart its sheath, And bless the lips that doom'd so dear a death! In hatred to the Caliph's hue of night, § Their vesture, helms and all, is snowy white; * Khorassan signifies, in the old Persian language, Province, or Region of the Sun.-Sir W. Jones. One of the royal cities of Khorassan. ↑ Moses. Black was the colour adopted by the Caliphs of the House of Abbas, in their garments, turbans, and stand. ards. Their weapons various-some equipp'd, for speed, With javelins of the light Kathaian reed; Or bows of buffalo horn and shining quivers Between the porphyry pillars, that uphold What impious tongue, ye blushing saints, would dare Pichula, used anciently for arrows by the Persians. + The burning fountains of Brahma near Chittogong, esteemed as holy.-Turner. All, all are there;-each Land its flower hath given, To form that fair young Nursery for Heaven! But why this pageant now? this arm'd array? What triumph crowds the rich Divan to-day With turban'd heads, of every hue and race, Bowing before that veil'd and awful face, Like tulip-beds, of different shape and dyes, Bending beneath th' invisible West-wind's sighs! What new-made mystery now, for Faith to sign, And blood to seal, as genuine and divine, What dazzling mimickry of God's own power Hath the bold Prophet plann'd to grace this hour? Not such the pageant now, though not less proud; Yon warrior youth, advancing from the crowd, With silver bow, with belt of broider'd crape, And fur-bound bonnet of Bucharian shape, So fiercely beautiful in form and eye, Like war's wild planet in a summer sky; That youth to-day,-a proselyte, worth hordes Of cooler spirits and less practis'd swords,Is come to join, all bravery and belief, The creed and standard of the heav'n-sent Chief. Though few his years, the West already knows Nor feel those god-like breathings in the air, In the war of the Caliph Mahadi against the Empress Irene, for an account of which v. Gibbon, vol. x. Not he, that youthful warrior,-no, too well Full of those dreams of good that, vainly grand, Haunt the young heart;-proud views of humankind, Of men to Gods exalted and refin'd; False views, like that horizon's fair deceit, Where earth and heav'n but seem, alas, to meet !- In virtue's cause ;-never was soul inspir'd Low as young AZIM knelt, that motley crowd "Thy soul inhabits now, I've track'd its flame "For many an age, in every chance and change "Of that Existence, through whose varied range,"As through a torch-race, where, from hand to hand "The flying youths transmit their shining brand, "From frame to frame the unextinguish'd soul 'Rapidly passes, till it reach the goal! "Nor think 'tis only the gross Spirits, warm'd "With duskier fire and for earth's medium form'd, "That run this course;-Beings, the most divine, "Thus deign through dark mortality to shine. "Such was the Essence that in ADAM dwelt, "To which all Heav'n, except the Proud One knelt:† "Such the refin'd Intelligence that glow'd "In Moussa's frame,-and, thence descending, flow'd "Through many a Prophet's breast;-in ISSA shone, "And in MOHAMMED burn'd; till, hastening on, "(As a bright river that, from fall to fall "In many a maze descending, bright through all, "Finds some fair region where, each labyrinth past, "In one full lake of light it rests at last!) "That Holy Spirit, settling calm and free "From lapse or shadow, centres all in me !" Again, throughout th' assembly at these words, Thousands of voices rung: the warriors' swords Were pointed up to heav'n; a sudden wind In th' open banners play'd, and from behind Those Persian hangings, that but ill could screen The Haram's loveliness, white hands were seen Waving embroider'd scarves, whose motion gave A perfume forth;-like those the Houris wave When beck'ning to their bowers th' immortal Brave. The transmigration of souls was one of his doctrines, v. D' Herbelot. + And when we said unto the angels, worship Adam, they all worshipped him except Eblis (Lucifer,) who refused.-The Koran, Chap. ii. |