Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

"Great is the King! a God upon the Earth!"

"With dark and threatful smile to Houd he turn'd,..

r

Say they aright, O Prophet? is the King

"Great upon earth, a God among mankind ?”

"The Prophet answer'd not,

"Over that infinite multitude

"He roll'd his ominous eyes,

"And tears which could not be supprest gush'd forth.

"Sudden an uproar rose,

"A cry of joy below,

"The Messenger is come!

"Kail from Mecca comes,

"He brings the boon obtain'd!”

"Forth as we went we saw where overhead

"There hung a deep black cloud,

"On which the multitude

"With joyful eyes look'd up,

"And blest the coming rain.

"The Messenger addrest the King

“And told his tale of joy.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

"To Mecca I repair'd,

"By the Red Hillock knelt,

"And call'd on God for rain.

My prayer ascended and was heard;

"Three clouds appear'd in heaven.

One white, and like the flying cloud of noon, "One red, as it had drunk the evening beams, "One black and heavy with its load of rain. "A voice went forth from heaven,

"Chuse, Kail, of the three !"

"I thank'd the gracious Power,

"And chose the black cloud, heavy with its wealth."

66

'Right! right! a thousand tongues exclaim'd, And all was merriment and joy.

"Then stood the Prophet up and cried aloud, " Woe, woe to Irem! woe to Ad!

"DEATH is gone up into her palaces!

"Woe ! woe! a day of guilt and punishment, "A day of desolation!"

"As he spake,

"His large eye roll'd in horror, and so deep "His tone, it seem'd some Spirit from within

"Breath'd thro' his moveless lips the unearthly voice. "All looks were turn'd to him. "O Ad!" he cried, "Dear native land, by ali remembrances

"Of childhood, by all joys of manhood dear; "O Vale of many Waters! morn and night "My age must groan for you, and to the grave "Go down in sorrow. Thou wilt give thy fruits, "But who shall gather them? thy grapes will ripen, "But who shall tread the wine-press? Fly the wrath, "Ye who would live and save your souls alive! "For strong is his right hand that bends the Bow, "The Arrows that he shoots are sharp, "And err not from their aim!"

[graphic]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

"The way was open, I beheld

"No barrier to my steps.

"But round these bowers the Arm of God "Had drawn a mighty chain,

"A barrier that no human force might break. "Twice I essay'd to pass.

"With that the voice was heard,

"O, Aswad, be content, and bless the Lord!

"One righteous deed hath sav'd
"Thy soul from utter death.

"O Aswad, sinful man!

"When by long penitence

"Thou feel'st thy soul prepar'd,

"Breathe up the wish to die,

"And Azrael comes, obedient to the prayer."

"A miserable man

"From Earth and Heaven shut out,

"I heard the dreadful voice.

"I look'd around my prison place,
"The bodies of the dead were there,
"Where'er I look'd they lay.

They moulder'd, moulder'd here,..

« AnteriorContinuar »