THE Princess, whose heart was sad enough already, could have wished that FERAMORZ had chosen a less melancholy story, as it is only to the happy that tears are a luxury. Her ladies, however, were by no means sorry that love was once more the Poet's theme; for, when he spoke of love, they said, his voice was as sweet as if he had chewed the leaves of that enchanted tree which grows over the tomb of the musician, Tan-Sein. Their road all the morning had lain through a very dreary country;-through valleys covered with a low, 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 the shade, some pious hands had erected pillars ornamented with the most beautiful porcelain, which now supplied the use 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: Revealing Bahrein's groves of palm, And lighting Kishma's* amber vines. While breezes from the Indian sea And curl the shining flood beneath,- For gentle skies and breezes fair! She sung so sweet, with none to listen ; With dew, whose night-drops would not stain 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. + 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. 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." Angel of light! who, from the time Trod in his Maker's steps of fire! Where are the days, thou wondrous sphere, When, from the banks of Bendemeer * 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 Or on the snowy Mossian mountains, Her jasmine bowers and sunny fountains! His own belov'd but blighted sod, That crouches to the conqueror's creed! * The place where the Persians were finally defeated by the Arabs, and their ancient monarchy destroyed. + Derbend.-"Les Turcs appellent cette ville Demir Capi, Porte de Fer; ce sont les Caspiæ Portæ des anciens."-D'Herbelot. Is Iran's pride then gone for ever, Quench'd with the flame in Mithra's caves?- Will stoop to be the Moslem's slaves, And hearts where, slow but deep, the seeds Till, in some treacherous hour of calm, Yes, Emir! he, who scal'd that tower, And, had he reach'd thy slumbering breast, Had taught thee, in a Gheber's power How safe ev'n tyrant heads may rest— Is one of many, brave as he, Who loathe thy haughty race and thee; Snaps but to enter in the heart Of him who rends its links apart,- Ev'n for one bleeding moment free, And die in pangs of liberty! *The Talpot or Talipot tree. "This beautiful palm-tree, which grows in the heart of the forests, may be classed among the loftiest trees, and becomes still higher when on the point of bursting forth from its leafy summit. The sheath which then envelopes the flower is very large, and, when it bursts, makes an explosion like the report of a cannon."-Thunberg. |