is notable for its expressions of rapture of the soul on entering heaven. The Fire-worshipers is a tale of love and tragedy based on the conquest of Persia by the Mohammedans. Matthew Arnold has rendered into English an episode of the Sháhnáma, which forms an admired poem, entitled Sohrab and Rustum. John G. Saxe is the author of a number of short poems based on legends of Persia and Arabia. These have generally a true Oriental sententiousness, and are happily expressed. The German poet Goethe wrote, in the early years of this century (in 1814-1819), the West-Eastern Divan, a volume of twelve small books, or Namas, of short poems in the Persian style, which Oriental scholars greatly admire for its fidelity to the spirit of Eastern poetry. Heinrich Heine says of this singular poetic cycle: "Sometimes the reader may imagine himself indolently stretched upon a carpet of Persian softness, luxuriously smoking the yellow tobacco of Turkistan, through a long tube of jessamine and amber, while a black slave fans him with a fan of peacock's feathers, and a little boy presents to him a cup of genuine Mocha." Leigh Hunt, English essayist and poet of the first half of the present century, was the author of a number of short poems of the Orient which have been much admired. PARADISE AND THE PERI. (From "Lalla Rookh.") BY THOMAS MOORE. ONE morn a Peri at the gate Of Life within, like music flowing, Through the half-open portal glowing, "How happy!" exclaim'd this child of air, 'Mid flowers that never shall fade or fall; Though mine are the gardens of earth and sea, And the stars themselves have flowers for me, One blossom of heaven outblooms them all! Though sunny the Lake of cool Cashmere, With its plane-tree isle reflected clear, And sweetly the founts of that valley fall: Though bright are the waters of Sing-su-hay, And the golden floods that thitherward stray, Yet-oh, 'tis only the blest can say How the waters of heaven outshine them all! "Go, wing thy flight from star to star, From world to luminous world, as far As the universe spreads its flaming wall; Take all the pleasures of all the spheres, And multiply each through endless years, One minute of heaven is worth them all!" The glorious Angel, who was keeping From Eden's fountain, when it lies "Nymph of a fair, but erring line!" The Gift that is most dear to Heaven! Go, seek it, and redeem thy sin; "Tis sweet to let the pardon'd in!" Rapidly as comets run To th' embraces of the Sun: Fleeter than the starry brands, But whither shall the Spirit go To find this gift for Heaven?—" I know I know where the Isles of Perfume are; While thus she mused, her pinions fann'd The air of that sweet Indian land, But crimson now her rivers ran With human blood; the smell of death Came reeking from their spicy bowers, And man, the sacrifice of man, Mingled his taint with every breath Lie scatter'd in his ruinous path. Of many a young and loved Sultana; Downward the Peri turns her gaze, All crimson with his country's blood, False flew the shaft, though pointed well; Yet mark'd the Peri where he lay, Of morning light, she caught the last- "Be this," she cried, as she wing'd her flight, It would not stain the purest rill That sparkles among the bowers of bliss! From the heart that bleeds and breaks in her cause!" "Sweet," said the Angel, as she gave The gift into his radiant hand, Of Eden moves not-holier far Than ev'n this drop the boon must be, That opes the Gates of Heaven for thee!" And hail the newborn Giant's smile! |