A mask that leaves but one eye free, She rov'd, with beating heart, around, And waited, trembling, for the minute, The board was spread with fruits and wine; 9 "The golden grapes of Casbin."— Description of Persia. 1 "The fruits exported from Caubul are apples, pears, pomegranates, &c."- Elphinstone. 2" We sat down under a tree, listened to the birds, and talked with the son of our Mehmaundar about our country and Caubul, of which he gave an enchanting account: that city and its 100,000 gardens, &c."- Id. 3 "The Mangusteen, the most delicate fruit in the world; the pride of the Malay Islands.”— Marsden. Prunes of BOKARA, and sweet nuts From the far groves of SAMARCAND, And BASRA dates, and apricots, 4 Seed of the Sun, from IRAN's land; In baskets of pure santal-wood, Whence oft the lucky diver brings 4 "A delicious kind of apricot, called by the Persians tokm-ekshems, signifying sun's seed."-Descript. of Persia. 5 "Sweetmeats in a crystal cup, consisting of rose-leaves in conserve, with lemon or Visna cherry, orange flowers, &c."- Russell. 6 " Antelopes cropping the fresh berries of Erac." -The Moallakat, Poem of Tarafa. 7 Mauri-ga-Sima, an island near Formosa, supposed to have been sunk in the sea for the crimes of its inhabitants. The vessels which the fishermen and divers bring up from it are sold at an immense price in China and Japan. - - v. Kempfer. Wines too, of every clime and hue, Around their liquid lustre threw ; 8 Amber Rosolli, - the bright dew From vineyards of the Green-Sea gushing; As if that jewel, large and rare, And amply SELIM quaffs of each, His inward heart, — shedding around A genial deluge, as they run, That soon shall leave no spot undrown'd, 9 8 Persian Tales. 9 The white wire of Kishma, "The King of Zeilan is said to have the very finest ruby that was ever seen. Kublai-Khan sent and offered the value of a city for it, but the King answered he would not give it for the treasure of the world.” — Marco Polo. He little knew how well the boy Can float upon a goblet's streams, Lighting them with his smile of joy ; As bards have seen him, in their dreams, Down the blue GANGES laughing glide Upon a rosy lotus wreath, 2 Catching new lustre from the tide That with his image shone beneath. But what are cups, without the aid And see a lovely Georgian maid,. With all the bloom, the freshen'd glow When warm they rise from TEFLIS' brooks; ' Full, floating, dark-oh he, who knows To guard him from such eyes as those! 3 2 The Indians feign that Cupid was first seen floating down the Ganges on the Nymphæa Nelumbo. -v. Pennant. 3 Teflis is celebrated for its natural warm baths. —v. Ebn Haukal. We linger in pleasures that never are gone; Like the waves of the summer, as one dies away, Another as sweet and as shining comes on. And the Love that is o'er, in expiring, gives birth Here maidens are sighing, and fragrant their sigh 4 "The Indian Syrinda or guitar."— Symes. 6 5" Delightful are the flowers of the Amra trees on the mountain-tops, while the murmuring bees pursue their voluptuous toil." -Song of Jayadeva. 6 "The Nisan or drops of spring rain, which they believe to produce pearls if they fali into sneils."— Richardson. |