THE Veiled Prophet of Khorassan.* IN that delightful Province of the Sun, The first of Persian lands he shines upon, * Khorassan signifies, in the old Persian language, Province, or Region of the Sun.-Sir W. Jones. One of the royal cities of Khorassan. B For, far less luminous, his votaries said, O'er MOUSSA's* cheek, when down the Mount he trod, 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; Their weapons various;-some equipp'd, for speed, Or bows of buffalo horn, and shining quivers • Moses. Black was the colour adopted by the Caliphs of the House of Abbas, in their garments, turbans, and standards. Pichula, used anciently for arrows by the Persians. Like a chenar-tree grove, when winter throws Between the porphyry pillars, that uphold The rich moresque-work of the roof of gold, Aloft the Haram's curtain'd galleries rise, Where, through the silken net-work, glancing eyes, From time to time, like sudden gleams that glow Through autumn clouds, shine o'er the pomp below.What impious tongue, ye blushing saints, would dare To hint that aught but Heav'n hath plac'd you there? Or that the loves of this light world could bind, In their gross chain, your Prophet's soaring mind? No wrongful thought! -commission'd from above To people Eden's bowers with shapes of love, (Creatures so bright, that the same lips and eyes They wear on earth will serve in Paradise;) There to recline among heav'n's native maids, And crown th' Elect with bliss that never fades!Well hath the Prophet-Chief his bidding done; And every beauteous race beneath the sun, From those who kneel at BRAHMA's burning founts,* To the fresh nymphs bounding o'er YEMEN's mounts; From PERSIA's eyes of full and fawn-like ray, To the small, half-shut glances of KATHAY; The burning fountains of Brahma near Chittogong, esteemed as holy.—Turner. |