7 Those lanterns, countless as the winged lights Nay, smiles to think that, though entoil'd, beset, "Oh! for a sweep of that dark Angel's wing, "To darkness in a moment, that I might 66 People Hell's chambers with yon host to-night! "But come what may, let who will grasp the throne, "Caliph or Prophet, Man alike shall groan; 7 Carreri mentions the fire-flies in India during the rainy season. -v. his Travels. 8 Sennacherib, called by the orientals King of Moussal.—D'Herbelot. "Let who will torture him, Priest -Caliph-King— "Alike this loathsome world of his shall ring "With victims' shrieks and howlings of the slave,— "Sounds, that shall glad me ev'n within my grave !" Thus to himself-but to the scanty train Still left around him, a far different strain: "Glorious defenders of the sacred Crown "I bear from Heav'n, whose light nor blood shall drown "Nor shadow of earth eclipse;-before whose gems "The paly pomp of this world's diadems, "The crown of GERASHID, the pillar'd throne "Of PARVIZ, and the heron crest that shone, ' "Fade like the stars when morn is in the skies: 9 Chosroes. For the description of his Throne or Palace, v. Gibbon and D'Herbelot. 1 "The crown of Gerashid is cloudy and tarnished before the heron tuft of thy turban." — From one of the elegies or songs inpraise of Ali, written in characters of gold round the gallery of Abbas's tomb.- v. Chardin. 2 The beauty of Ali's eyes was so remarkable, that whenever the Persians would describe any thing as very lovely, they say it is Ayn Hali, or the Eyes of Ali. Chardin. "Warriors, rejoice— the port, to which we've pass'd "O'er destiny's dark wave, beams out at last! 66 Victory's our own 'tis written in that Book "Upon whose leaves none but the angels look, "That ISLAM's sceptre shall beneath the power "Of her great foe fall broken in that hour, "When the moon's mighty orb, before all eyes, "From NEKSHEB's Holy Well portentously shall rise! "Now turn and see!" They turn'd, and, as he spoke, A sudden splendour all around them broke, As autumn suns shed round them when they set! A murmur broke "Miraculous! divine!" 3 "Ilamusa pendant deux mois le peuple de la ville de Nekhscheb en faisant sortir toutes les nuits du fonds d'un puits un corps lumineux semblable à la Lune, qui portoit sa lumière jusqu'à la distance de plusieurs milles." - D'Herbelot. Hence he was called Sazendéh mah, or the Moon-maker. The Gheber bow'd, thinking his idol Star Shone out to bless the breaking of his chain! "To victory!" is at once the cry of all } The watchmen of the camp, who, in their rounds, Of the small drum with which they count the night, " 5 4 The Shechinah, called Sakînat in the Koran. - v. Sale's Note, chap. ii. 5 The parts of the night are made known as well by instruments of music, as by the rounds of the watchmen with cries and small drums. v. Burder's Oriental Customs, vol. i. p. 119. Now sink beneath an unexpected arm, And in a death-groan give their last alarm. 6 "Nor blunt your blades with massacre so mean; "There rests the CALIPH -speed — one lucky lance 66 May now achieve mankind's deliverance !" Desperate the die- such as they only cast, Who venture for a world, and stake their last. But Fate's no longer with him-blade for blade Springs up to meet them through the glimmering shade, Pour to the spot, like bees of Kauzeroon? The mighty camp swarms out in all its strength, Is seen glittering at times, like the white sail 6 The Serrapurda, high screens of red cloth, stiffened with cane, used to inclose a considerable space round the royal tents. on the Bahardanush. Notes 7 "From the groves of orange trees at Kauzeroon the bees cull a celebrated honey." · Morier's Travels. |