There lay they now, on earth's fair shrine, God's two most beauteous thoughts divine.--When this He saw, He cried:--'Tis Good!!!
And scarce could move from where He stood.
No wonder, that our joy's complete While eye and eye responsive meet, When this blest thought of rapture moves us--That we're with Him who truly loves us, And if He cries:--Good, let it be!
'Tis so for both, it seems to me.
Thou'rt clasp'd within these arms of mine, Dearest of all God's thoughts divine!
1815.
XI.PARIS NAME.
BOOK OF THE PARSEES.
THE BEQUEST OF THE ANCIENT PERSIAN FAITH.
BRETHREN, what bequest to you should come From the lowly poor man, going home, Whom ye younger ones with patience tended, Whose last days ye honour'd and defended?
When we oft have seen the monarch ride, Gold upon him, gold on ev'ry side;Jewels on him, on his courtiers all, Thickly strewed as hailstones when they fall,Have ye e'er known envy at the sight?
And not felt your gaze become more bright, When the sun was, on the wings of morning, Darnawend's unnumber'd peaks adorning,As he, bow-like, rose? How each eye dwelt On the glorious scene! I felt, I felt, Thousand times, as life's days fleeted by, Borne with him, the coming one, on high.
God upon His throne then to proclaim, Him, the life-fount's mighty Lord, to name, Worthily to prize that glorious sight, And to wander on beneath His light.
When the fiery orb was all defined, There I stood, as though in darkness, blind, Beat my breast, my quicken'd members threw On the earth, brow-foremost, at the view.
Let this holy, great bequest reward Brotherly good-will and kind regard:
SOLEMN DUTY'S DAILY observation.--More than this, it needs no revelation.
If its gentle hands a new-born one Move, then straightway turn it tow'rd the sun,--Soul and body dip in bath of fire!
Then each morning's favour 'twill acquire.
To the living one, commit the dead, O'er the beast let earth and dust be spread, And, so far as may extend your might, What ye deem impure, conceal from sight.
Till your plains to graceful purity, That the sun with joy your labours see;When ye plant, your trees in rows contrive, For he makes the Regular to thrive.
E'en the floods that through the channel rush Must not fail in fulness or in gush;And as Senderud, from mountain high, Rises pure, in pureness must it die.
Not to weaken water's gentle fall, Carefully cleanse out the channels all;Salamander, snake, and rush, and reed,--All destroy,--each monster and each weed.
If thus pure ye earth and water keep, Through the air the sun will gladly peep, Where he, worthily enshrined in space, Worketh life, to life gives holy grace.
Ye, by toil on toil so sorely tried, Comfort take, the All is purified;And now man, as priest, may boldly dare From the stone God's image to prepare.
When the flame burns joyously and bright, Limbs are supple, radiant is the night;On the hearth when fire with ardour glows, Ripe the sap of plants and creatures grows.
Dragging wood, with rapture be it done, 'Tis the seed of many an earthly sun;Plucking Pambeh, gladly may ye say:--This, as wick, the Holy will convey.
If ye meekly, in each burning lamp, See the nobler light's resplendent stamp, Ne'er will Fate prevent you, void of feeling, At God's throne at morningtide from kneeling.
This is Being's mighty signet, then, God's pure glass to angels and to men;Each word lisped the Highest's praise to sound, Ring in ring, united there is found.
From the shore of Senderud ascendeth, Up to Darnawend its pinions bendeth, As He dawns, with joy to greet His light, You with endless blessings to requite.
1819.
XII.CHULD NAME.
BOOK OF PARADISE.
THE PRIVILEGED MEN.
AFTER THE BATTLE OF BADE, BENEATH THE CANOPY OF HEAVEN.
[This battle was fought in the second year of the Hegira (A.A.
623), between the followers of Mahomet, who numbered three hundred and thirteen, possessing two horses and seventy camels, and the 'idolaters,' or Meccans, whose forces amounted to nine hundred and fifty, including two hundred cavalry.The victory remained with Mahomet, who lost fourteen men, while seventy of the enemy were slain.A great accession of strength ensued in consequence to the Prophet, who pretended that miracles were wrought in his behalf in the battle, God having sent angels to fight on his side, and having also made his army to appear larger to the enemy than it really was.--See the Koran, chapter viii., and ABULFEDA'S Life of Mahomet.]
MAHOMET (Speaks).
LET the foeman sorrow o'er his dead,Ne'er will they return again to light;O'er our brethren let no tear be shed,For they dwell above yon spheres so bright.
All the seven planets open throwAll their metal doors with mighty shock, And the forms of those we loved belowAt the gates of Eden boldly knock.
There they find, with bliss ne'er dream'd before,Glories that my flight first show'd to eye, When the wondrous steed my person boreIn one second through the realms on high.
Wisdom's trees, in cypress-order growing,High uphold the golden apples sweet;Trees of life, their spreading shadows throwing,Shade each blossoming plant, each flow'ry seat.
Now a balmy zephyr from the EastBrings the heavenly maidens to thy view;With the eye thou now dost taste the feast,Soon the sight pervades thee through and through.
There they stand, to ask thee thy career:
Mighty plans? or dangerous bloody rout?
Thou'rt a hero, know they,--for Thourt here,What a hero?--This they'll fathom out.
By thy wounds soon clearly this is shown,Wounds that write thy fame's undying story;Wounds the true believer mark alone,When have perish'd joy and earthly glory.
To chiosks and arbors thou art brought,Fill'd with checkered marble columns bright;To the noble grape-juice, solace-fraught,They the guest with kindly sips invite.
Youth! Thou'rt welcome more than e'er was youthAll alike are radiant and serene;When thou tak'st one to thine heart with truth,Of thy band she'll be the friend and queen.
