This fetter'd world from every bond and stain,
And bring its primal glories back again!

Low as young Azım knelt, that motley crowd Of all earth's nations sunk the knee and bow'd, With shouts of " ALLA!" echoing long and loud; While high in air, above the Prophet's head, Hundreds of banners, to the sunbeam spread, Waved, like the wings of the white birds that fan The flying throne of star-taught SOLIMAN!

Then thus he spoke ;-" Stranger, though new the

66

"" frame

Thy soul inhabits now, I've track'd its flame

L

-

"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,

* The transmigration of souls was one of his doctrines :— See D'HERBELOT.

"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 Heaven, except the Proud One, knelt:* "Such the refined Intelligence that glow'd

"In Moussa's frame ;-and, thence descending, flow'd

66

Through many a Prophet's breast;—in Issa † shone, "And in MOHAMMED burn'd; till, hastening on,

66

(As a bright river that, from fall to fall

"In many a maze descending, bright through all, "Finds some fair region where, each labyrinth pass'd, "In one full lake of light it rests at last!) "That Holy Spirit, settling calm and free "From lapse or shadow, centers all in me!"

Again, throughout th' assembly at these words,
Thousands of voices rung; the warriors' swords
Were pointed up to heaven; a sudden wind
In th' open banners play'd, and from behind
Those Persian hangings, that but ill could screen
The Haram's lovelines, white hands were seen

"And when we said unto the angels, Worship Adam, they all worshipped him except Eblis (Lucifer), who refused."-The Koran, chap. ii.

+ Jesus.

Waving embroider'd scarves, whose motion gave
A perfume forth ;-like those the Houris wave
When beckoning to their bowers th' Immortal Brave.

"But these," pursued the Chief, "are truths

sublime,

"That claim a holier mood and calmer time "Than earth allows us now ;-this sword must first "The darkling prison-house of Mankind burst, "Ere Peace can visit them, or Truth let in "Her wakening day-light on a world of sin! "But then, celestial warriors, then, when all "Earth's shrines and thrones before our banner fall; "When the glad Slave shall at these feet lay down "His broken chain, the tyrant Lord his crown, "The Priest his book, the Conqueror his wreath, "And from the lips of Truth one mighty breath “Shall, like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze “That whole dark pile of human mockeries ;"Then shall the reign of Mind commence on earth, "And starting fresh, as from a second birth, "Man, in the sunshine of the world's new spring, "Shall walk transparent, like some holy thing!

"Then, too, your Prophet from his angel brow “Shall cast the Veil, that hides its splendours now, "And gladden'd Earth shall, through her wide expanse, "Bask in the glories of this countenance !

"For thee, young warrior, welcome!-thou hast yet "Some tasks to learn, some frailties to forget, "Ere the white war-plume o'er thy brow can wave ;· "But, once my own, mine all till in the grave!" The Pomp is at an end,—the crowds are gone— Each ear and heart still haunted by the tone

Of that deep voice, which thrill'd like ALLA's own!
The Young all dazzled by the plumes and lances,
The glittering throne, and Haram's half-caught glances,
The Old deep pondering on the promised reign
Of peace and truth; and all the female train
Ready to risk their eyes, could they but gaze
A moment on that brow's miraculous blaze!

But there was one among the chosen maids Who blush'd behind the gallery's silken shades, One, to whose soul the pageant of to-day

Has been like death;-you saw her pale dismay,

Ye wondering sisterhood, and heard the burst
Of exclamation from her lips, when first
She saw that youth, too well, too dearly known,
Silently kneeling at the Prophet's throne. ·

Ah ZELICA! there was a time, when bliss Shone o'er thy heart from every look of his ; When but to see him, hear him, breathe the air In which he dwelt, was thy soul's fondest prayer! When round him hung such a perpetual spell, Whate'er he did, none ever did so well. Too happy days! when, if he touch'd a flower Or gem of thine, 'twas sacred from that hour; When thou didst study him till every tone And gesture and dear look became thy own,Thy voice like his, the changes of his face In thine reflected with still lovelier grace, Like echo, sending back sweet music, fraught With twice th' aërial sweetness it had brought! Yet now he comes-brighter than even he

E'er beam'd before, but ah! not bright for thee; No-dread, unlook'd for, like a visitant

From th' other world, he comes as if to haunt