Of ruin'd shrines, busy and bright

In which the Peri's eye could read As they were all alive with light;

Dark tales of many a ruthless deed ; And, yet more splendid, numerous flocks

The ruin'd maid-the shrine profan'dOf pigeons, settling on the rocks,

Oaths broken-and the threshold stain'd With their rich restless wings, that gleam

With blood of guests!—there written, all, Variously in the crimson beam

Black as the damning drops that fall Of the warm west,-as if inlaid

From the denouncing Angel's pen, With brilliants from the mine, or made

Ere mercy weeps them out again!
Of tearless rainbows, such as span

Yet tranquil now that man of crime
Th' unclouded skies of PERISTAN.
And then, the mingling sounds that come,

(As if the balmy evening time

Soften'd his spirit,) look'd and lay,
Of shepherd's ancient reed,' with hum
Of the wild bees of PALESTINE,

Watching the rosy infant's play :

Though still, whene'er his eye by chance Banqueting through the flowery vales ;

Fell on the boy's, its lurid glance And, JORDAN, those sweet banks of thine,

Met that unclouded, joyous gaze, And woods, so full of nightingales !

As torches, that have burnt all night But nought can charm the luckless PERI;

Through some impure and godless rite, Her soul is sad-her wings are weary

Encounter morning's glorious rays. Joyless she sees the sun look down

But hark! the vesper-call to prayer,
On that great Temple, once his own,

As slow the orb of daylight sets,
Whose lonely columns stand sublime,
Flinging their shadows from on high,

Is rising sweetly on the air,

From Syria's thousand minarets !
Like dials, which the wizard, Time,
Had rais'd to count his ages by!

The boy has started from the bed

Of flowers, where he had laid his head, Yet haply there may lie conceal'd

And down upon the fragrant sod Beneath those Chambers of the Sun,

Kneels, with luis forehead to the south, Some amulet of gems anneal'd

Lisping th' eternal name of God In upper fires, some tabret seal'd

From purity's own cherub mouth, With the great name of Solomon,

And looking, while his hands and eyes Which, spell’d by her illumin'd eyes,

Are lifted to the glowing skies, May teach her where, beneath the moon,

Like a stray babe of Paradise, In earth or ocean lies the boon,

Just lighted on that flowery plain, The charm that can restore so soon,

And seeking for its home again! An erring Spirit to the skies !

Oh 'twas a sight—that Heav'n—that ChildCheer'd by this hope she bends her thither ;

A scene, which might have well beguil'd Still laughs the radiant eye of Heaven,

E'en haughty Ellis of a sigh Nor have the golden bowers of Even

For glories lost and peace gone by! In the rich West begun to wither;

And how felt he, the wretched Man, When, o'er the vale of Balbec, winging

Reclining there—while memory ran Slowly, she sees a child at play,

O'er many a year of guilt and strife, Among the rosy wild-flowers singing,

Flew o'er the dark flood of his life, As rosy and as wild as they ;

Nor found one sunny resting-place, Chasing, with eager hands and eyes,

Nor brought him back one branch of grace! The beautiful blue damsel-flies,"

“There was a time,” he said, in mild That futter'd round the jasmine stems,

Heart-humbled tones—“thou blessed child! Like winged flowers or flying gems ;

When young, and haply pure as thou, And, near the boy, who, tir’d with play,

I look'd and pray'd like thee-but now_" Now nestling 'mid the roses lay,

He hung his head-each nobler aim She saw a wearied man dismount

And hope and feeling, which had slept From his hot steed, and on the brink

From boyhood's hour, that instant came Of a small imaret's rustic fount

Fresh o'er him, and he wept—he wept ! Impatient fling him down to drink.

Blest tears of soul-felt penitence! Then swift his haggard brow he turn'd

In whose benign, redeeming flow To the fair child, who fearless sat,

Is felt the first, the only sense
Though never yet hath day-beam burn'd

Of guiltless joy that guilt can know.
Upon a brow more fierce than that,-
Sullenly fierce-a mixture dire,

“There's a drop," said the PERI, “that down from Like thunder-clouds, of gloom and fire !

the moon

Falls through the withering airs of June 1 "The Syrinx, or Pan's pipe, is still a pastoral instru- Upon Egypt's land,' of so healing a power, ment in Syria."-Russel. 2 The Temple of the Sun at Balbec.

So balmy a virtue, that e'en in the hour 3“You behold there a considerable number of a remarkable species of beautiful insects, the elegance of whose ap- 1 The Nucta, or Miraculous Drop, which falls in Egypt, pearance and their attire procured for them the name of precisely on Saint John's day, in June, and is supposed to Damsels."-Sonnini.

have the effect of stopping the plague.

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indeed, was not among the weaknesses of FADLA- with tinsel and flying streamers, exhibited the badges DEEN :- he carried the same spirit into matters of of their respective trades through the streets. Such poetry and of religion, and, though little versed in the brilliant displays of life and pageantry among the beauties or sublimities of either, was a perfect master palaces, and domes, and gilded minarets of Lahore, of the art of persecution in both. His zeal, too, was made the city altogether like a place of enchantment; the same in either pursuit; whether the game before -particularly on the day when LALLA Rookh set him was pagans or poetasters,-worshippers of cows, out again upon her journey, when she was accomor writers of epics.

panied to the gate by all the fairest and richest of the They had now arrived at the splendid city of La- nobility, and rode along between ranks of beautiful hore, whose mausoleums and shrines, magnificent boys and girls, who waved plates of gold and silver and numberless, where Death seemed to share equal flowers over their heads? as they went, and then honours with Heaven, would have powerfully affected threw them to be gathered by the populace. the heart and imagination of LALLA Rookh, if feel- For many days after their departure from Lahore ings more of this earth had not taken entire posses- a considerable degree of gloom hung over the whole sion of her already. She was here met by messen- party. LALLA ROOKH, who had intended to make gers despatched from Cashmere, who informed her illness her excuse for not admitting the young minthat the King had arrived in the Valley, and was him- strel, as usual, to the pavilion, soon found that to self superintending the sumptuous preparations that feign indisposition was unnecessary ;-FADLADEEN were making in the Saloons of the Shalimar for her felt the loss of the good road they had hitherto travelreception. The chill she felt on receiving this intel- led, and was very near cursing Jehan-Guire (of blessed ligence,—which to a bride whose heart was free and memory !) for not having continued his delectable light would have brought only images of affection alley of trees, at least as far as the mountains of and pleasure,-convinced her that her peace was gone Cashmere ;—while the ladies, who had nothing now for

ever, and that she was in love, irretrievably in love, to do all day but to be fanned by peacocks' feathers with young FERAMORZ. The veil, which this passion and listen to FADLADEEN, seemed heartily weary of wears at first, had fallen off, and to know that she the life they led, and, in spite of all the Great Chamloved was now as painful, as to love without knowing berlain's criticism, were tasteless enough to wish for it, had been delicious. FERAMORZ too,—what misery the poet again. One evening, as they were proceedwould be his, if the sweet hours of intercourse so ing to their place of rest for the night, the Princess, imprudently allowed them should have stolen into who, for the freer enjoyment of the air, had mounthis heart the same fatal fascination as into hers ;—if, ed her favourite Arabian palfrey, in passing by a small notwithstanding her rank, and the modest homage he grove, heard the notes of a lute from within its leaves, always paid to it, even he should have yielded to the and a voice, which she but too well knew, singing the influence of those long and happy interviews, where following words :music, poetry, the delightful scenes of nature,-all

Tell me not of joys above, tended to bring their hearts close together, and to

If that world can give no bliss, waken by every means that too ready passion, which

Truer, happier than the Love often, like the young of the desert-bird, is warmed

Which enslaves our souls in this ! into life by the eyes alone! She saw but one way to preserve herself from being culpable as well as Tell me not of Houris' eyes ;unhappy; and this, however painful, she was resolved Far from me their dangerous glow to adopt. FERAMORZ must no more be admitted to If those looks that light the skies her presence. To have strayed so far into the dan

Wound like some that burn below. gerous labyrinth was wrong, but to linger in it while

Who that feels what Love is here, the clew was yet in her hand, would be criminal.

All its falsehood-all its painThough the heart she had to offer to the King of

Would, for e'en Elysium's sphere, Bucharia might be cold and broken, it should at least

Risk the fatal dream again? be pure; and she must only try to forget the short vision of happiness she had enjoyed,—like that Ara

Who, that midst a desert's heat bian shepherd, who, in wandering into the wilder

Sees the waters fade away, ness, caught a glimpse of the Gardens of Irim, and Would not rather die than meet then lost them again for ever !2

Streams again as false as they? The arrival of the young Bride at Lahore was cele

The tone of melancholy defiance in which these brated in the most enthusiastic manner. The Rajas words were uttered, went to Lalla Rook's heart, and Omras in her train, who had kept at a certain -and, as she reluctantly rode on, she could not help distance during the journey, and never encamped feeling it as a sad but sweet certainty, that FeramoRZ nearer to the Princess than was strictly necessary for was to the full as enamoured and miserable as herher safeguard, here rode in splendid cavalcade through self. the city, and distributed the most costly presents to The place where they encamped that evening was the crowd. Engines were erected in all the squares, the first delightful spot they had come to since they which cast forth showers of confectionary among left Lahore. On one side of them was a grove full the people; while the artisans, in chariots adorned of small Hindoo temples, and planted with the most

I "The Arabians believe that the ostriches hatch their young by only looking at them.”—P. Vanslebe, Relat. d' 1 Ferishta. Egypte.

2 The fine road made by the Emperor Jehan-Guire from 2 8 e Sale's Koran, note, vol. ii. p. 484.

Agra to Lahore, planted with trees on each side.

a

graceful trees of the East; where the tamarind, the almost speechless horror of the Chamberlain, procassia, and the silken plantains of Ceylon were min- ceeded to say that he knew a melancholy story, congled in rich contrast with the high fan-like foliage of nected with the events of one of those brave struggles the palmyra,—that favourite tree of the luxurious bird of the Fire-worshippers of Persia against their Arab that lights up the chambers of its nest with fire-flies.' masters, which, if the evening was not too far adIn the middle of the lawn, where the pavilion stood, vanced, he should have much pleasure in being there was a tank surrounded by small mangoe-trees, allowed to relate to the Princess. It was impossible on the clear cold waters of which floated multitudes for Lalla Rookh to refuse ;-he had never before of the beautiful red lotus ; while at a distance stood looked half so animated, and when he spoke of the the ruins of a strange and awful-looking tower, which Holy Valley his eyes had sparkled, she thought, like seemed old enough to have been the temple of some the talismanic characters on the scimitar of Solomon. religion no longer known, and which spoke the voice Her consent was therefore readily granted, and while of desolation in the midst of all that bloom and love- FADLADEEN sat in unspeakable dismay, expecting liness. This singular ruin excited the wonder and treason and abomination in every line, the poet thus conjectures of all. LALLA Rookh guessed in vain, began his story of and the all-pretending FADLADEEN, who had never till this journey been beyond the precincts of Delhi,

THE FIRE-WORSHIPPERS. was proceeding most learnédly to show that he knew nothing whatever about the matter, when one of the 'Tis moonlight over Oman's Sea ;' ladies suggested, that perhaps FERAMORZ could Her banks of pearl and palmy isles satisfy their curiosity. They were now approaching Bask in the night-beam beauteously, his native mountains, and this tower might be a relic And her blue waters sleep in smiles. of some of those dark superstitions, which had pre- 'Tis moonlight in Harmozia's? walls, vailed in that country before the light of Islam dawned And through her Emir's porphyry halls, upon it. The Chamberlain, who usually preferred Where, some hours since, was heard the swell his own ignorance to the best knowledge that any one of trumpet and the clash of zel," else could give him, was by no means pleased with Bidding the bright-eyed sun farewell ;this officious reference; and the Princess, too, was The peaceful sun, whom better suits about to interpose a faint word of objection ; but, be

The music of the bulbul's nest, fore either of them could speak, a slave was despatch-Or the light touch of lovers' lutes, ed for FERAMORZ, who, in a very few minutes,

To sing him to his golden rest! appeared before them,--looking so pale and unhappy. All hush’d--there's not a breeze in motion; in Lalla Rooki's eyes, that she already repented The shore is silent as the ocean. of her cruelty in having so long excluded him. If zephyrs come, so light they come, That venerable tower, he told them, was the re

Nor leaf is stirr'd nor wave is driven ;mains of an ancient Fire-Temple, built by those The wind-tower on the Emir’s dome* Ghebers or Persians of the old religion, who, many

Can hardly win a breath from heaven. hundred years since, had fled hither from their Arab E'en he, that tyrant Arab, sleeps conquerors, preferring liberty and their altars in a Calm, while a nation round him weeps ; foreign land to the alternative of apostacy or persecu- While curses load the air he breathes, tion in their own. It was impossible, he added, not And falchions from unnumber'd sheaths to feel interested in the many glorious but unsuccess

Are starting to avenge the shame ful struggles, which had been made by these original His race had brought on Iran'sname. natives of Persia to cast off the yoke of their bigoted Hard, heartless Chief, unmov'd alike conquerors. Like their own Fire in the Burning Mid eyes that weep and swords that strike ;Field at Bakou,” when suppressed in one place, they One of that saintly, murderous brood, had but broken out with fresh flame in another; and,

To carnage and the Koran given, as a native of Cashmere, of that fair and Holy Val- Who think through unbelievers' blood ley, which had in the same manner become the prey

Lies their directest path to heaven: of strangers, and seen her ancient shrines and native One, who will pause and kneel unshod princes swept away before the march of her intolerant In the warm blood his hand hath pour'd, invaders, he felt a sympathy, he owned, with the suf To mutter o'er some text of God ferings of the persecuted Ghebers, which every monu

Engraven on his reeking sword ; 6ment like this before them but tended more powerfully Nay, who can coolly note the line, to awaken.

The letter of those words divine, It was the first time that FERAMORZ had ever ven

To which his blade, with searching art, tured upon so much prose before FADLADEEN, and it Had sunk into its victim's heart! may easily be conceiv

what effect such prose as this 1 The Persian Gulf, sometimes so called, which separates must have produced upon that most orthodox and the shores of Persia and Arabia. most pagan-hating personage. He sat for some mi

present Gombaroon, a town on the Persian side of

the Gulf. nutes aghast, ejaculating only at intervals, “ Bigoted 3 A Moorish instrument of music. conquerors !-sympathy with Fire-worshippers !"- 4" At Gombaroon and other places in Persia, they have while FERAMORz, happy to take advantage of this towers for the purpose of catching the wind, and cooling

the houses."--Le Bruyn.

5"Iran is the true general name of the empire of Persia.” 1 The Baya, or Indian Gross-beak.--Sir W. Jones. -Asiat. Res. Disc. 5. 2 The“ Agar ardens" described by Kempfer, Amenitat.

6 “On the blades of their scimitars some verse from the Ecot.

Koran is usually inscribed."--Russel.

2 The