Poems | ||
THE BREAKER OF IDOLS.
Mahmoud, the great Mahomedan conqueror of India, reached, in his career of victory, Somnát, of which the gates have since become familiar to us—a temple of peculiar sanctity in the southern extremity of Guzerát. Having overcome all resistance, he entered the temple. ‘Facing the entrance was Somnát—an idol five yards high, of which two were buried in the ground. Mahmoud instantly ordered the image to be destroyed; when the Bramins of the temple threw themselves before him, and offered an enormous ransom if he would spare their deity. . . . . Mahmoud, after a moment's pause, declared that he would rather be remembered as the breaker than the seller of idols, and struck the image with his mace. His example was instantaneously followed, and the image, which was hollow, burst with the blows, and poured forth a quantity of diamonds and other jewels which amply repaid Mahmoud for the sacrifice of the ransom.’—Elphinstone, History of India, vol. i. p, 554. There is a later poem on the same subject by Lowell, Under the Willows, p. 135.
Lo! a thousand monstrous idols Mahmoud's zeal has overturned.
‘God is one; ye shall no other with the peerless One compare:’
Of the Brahmins, idol-tending—which they held the most divine.
With this hugest idol's ruin all his work to consummate.
Came with ransom and with homage the resistless one to greet.
Purchase of their idol's safety, this their dearest will he spare.
Should that single image suffer, and accept the proffered gold.
Trafficking in hideous idols, with a service false and vain;
Stand, and see the thing ye sued for, by this hand to ruin hurled.’
Reeled the abominable image, broken, bursten, to and fro;
More than all that proffered ransom, more than all a hundred fold.
In thy heart's profanëd temple, make this faithful deed thine own.
They have pleasures, gifts and treasures, to enrich thee at command.
From their wreck and from their ruin first will thy true riches flow.
And then back again receiving, know it in its endless worth.
Poems | ||