 | The Poetical Works of John Scott |  |
ZERAD;
OR, THE ABSENT LOVER:
AN ARABIAN ECLOGUE.
THE learned and ingenious Mr. Jones, in his elegant and judicious Essay on the Poetry of Eastern Nations, speaking of the Arabians, has the following passage: “It sometimes happens,” says he, “that the young men of one tribe are in love with the damsels of another; and, as the tents are frequently removed on a sudden, the lovers are often separated in the progress of the courtship. Hence, almost all the Arabic poems open in this manner: The author bewails the sudden departure of his mistress, Hinda, Maia, Zeineb, or Azza, and describes her beauty; comparing her to a wanton fawn that plays among the aromatic shrubs. His friends endeavour to comfort him; but he refuses consolation; he declares his resolution of visiting his beloved, though the way to her tribe lie through a dreadful wilderness, or even through a den of lions.”—The Author of the following Eclogue was struck with this outline, and has attempted to fill it up. An apology for expatiating on the pleasing subjects of Love and Beauty, when nothing is said to offend the ear of Chastity, he supposes needless. If any, however, there be, who question the utility of at all describing those subjects; such may remember, that there is an Eastern Poem, generally esteemed sacred, which abounds with the most ardent expressions of the one, and luxuriant pictures of the other.
From Zenan's pastures sought Negiran's plain.
With them Semira left her favourite shades,
The loveliest nymph of Yemen's sportive maids!
Her parting hand her fair companions prest;
A transient sorrow touch'd each tender breast;
As some thin cloud across the morning ray
Casts one short moment's gloom, and glides away:
Their cares, their sports, they hasted soon to tend,
And lost in them the memory of their friend.
A wealthy Emir from Katara's shore;
A warrior he, the bravest of his race;
A bard high-honoured in his native place;
Age oft learn'd knowledge from his tuneful tongue,
And listening Beauty languish'd while he sung.
What time the tribes in camp contiguous lay,
Oft with the Fair-one he was wont to stray;
There oft for her fresh fruits and flow'rs he sought,
And oft her flocks to chrystal fountains brought.
And sable tents in many a rank were seen ;
While Evening's steps the setting Sun pursued,
And the still fields her balmy tears bedew'd;
The pensive Lover, there reclin'd apart,
Indulg'd the sorrows of his anxious heart.
The crimson sash confin'd his azure vest;
His hand the sounding arabeb sustain'd;
And thus his voice in melody complain'd—
Soft as the night-bird's amorous music flows,
In Zibet's gardens, when she woos the rose :
‘Gilds thy proud tribe with mild, benignant rays!
‘Sweet flow'r of Azem's vale, whose matchless bloom
‘O'er thy fam'd house spreads exquisite perfume!
‘Blithe fawn of Kosa, at the break of dawn,
‘Midst groves of cassia, sporting on the lawn!
‘Thee from my presence thus abruptly flown?
‘Ere the shrill trump to march the signal gave,
‘And banners high in air began to wave;
‘Ere the tall camel felt his wonted load,
‘And herds and flocks slow mov'd along the road;
‘Ere slow behind them march'd the warrior train,
‘And the struck tents left vacant all the plain;
‘Could no fond plea obtain a longer stay?
‘Would no kind hand th' intelligence convey?
‘Ah, hapless me! to Aden's port I stray'd,
‘Sought gold and gems, but lost my lovely maid!
‘Azor the wise, and Soliman the gay—
‘One cries, “Let Reason hold her sober reign,
“Nor Love's light trifles give thy bosom pain!
“For thee kind Science all her lore displays,
“And Fame awaits thee with the wreath of praise.”
“She's fair, indeed, but other maids are fair:
“Negima's eyes with dazzling lustre shine,
“And her black tresses curl like Zebid's vine;
“On Hinda's brow Kushemon's lily blows,
“And on her cheek unfolds Nishapor's rose!
“With them, the tale, the song, the dance shall please,
“When Mirth's free banquet fills the bow'r of ease.”
‘Ah cease, said I; of love he little knows,
‘Who with sage counsel hopes to cure its woes!
‘Go, bid in air Yamama's lightnings stay,
‘Or Perath's lion quit his trembling prey:
‘Kind Science' lore with Beauty best we share,
‘And Beauty's hands Fame's fairest wreaths prepare.
‘I praise Negima's lovely hair and eyes;
‘Nor Hinda's lily, nor her rose despise:
‘Than the gay pebbles of Kalafa's stream.—
‘Tread thy soft steps by Sada's jasmine grove?
‘Dost thou thy flocks on Ocah's mountain keep?
‘Do Ared's olives whisper o'er thy sleep?—
‘Ah, no!—the maid, perhaps, remote from these,
‘Some hostile troop, in ambush laid, may seize:
‘Too lovely captive! she, in triumph borne,
‘The proud Pacha's throng'd haram shall adorn.
‘Vain fear! around her march her valiant friends;
‘Brave Omar's hand the bow of Ishmael bends;
‘Strong Hassan's arm Kaaba's spear can wield,
‘And rear on high El-makin's ponderous shield!
‘Ah, shame to me! shall Sloth's dishonouring chain
‘From love, from glory, Zerad here detain,
‘And my eyes, weeping, match th' Argavan's red ?
‘Haste, bring my steed, supreme in strength and grace,
‘First in the fight, and fleetest in the chace;
‘His sire renown'd on Gebel's hills was bred,
‘His beauteous dam in Derar's pastures fed:
‘Bring my strong lance that, ne'er impell'd in vain,
‘Pierc'd the fierce tyger on Hegasa's plain.
‘Across the Desart I her steps pursue;
‘Toil at my side, and Danger in my view!
‘There Thirst, fell dæmon! haunts the sultry air,
‘And his wild eye-balls roll with horrid glare;
‘Sweeps his red wing, and whirls the burning sand;
‘As winds the weary caravan along,
‘The fiery storm involves the hapless throng.
‘I go, I go, nor Toil nor Danger heed;
‘The faithful lover Safety's hand shall lead.
‘The heart that fosters Virtue's generous flames,
‘Our Holy Prophet's sure protection claims.
‘By Shedad's hand the paradise was plac'd)
‘Each shady tree of varied foliage shows,
‘And every flower and every fruit bestows;
‘There sing sweet birds of every gaudy plume;
‘There soft-eyed Houries tread th' enamell'd green—
‘Once, and no more, the happy seat was seen;
‘As his stray'd camel midst the wild he sought,
‘Chance to the spot the wandering Esar brought;
‘A blissful Irem, 'midst the Desart drear,
Semira's tent my love-sick sight shall chear.
‘What myrrh with fragrance Sala's valley fills?
‘'Tis she, who left so late her favourite shades,
‘The loveliest nymph of Yemen's sportive maids!
‘Look from thy tent, the curtains fair unfold,
‘Give to my view thy veil of silk and gold;
‘O lift that veil! thy radiant eyes display—
‘Those radiant eyes shall light me on my way!
‘On Hejar's wild rocks from the Persian main,
‘Thus the Moon rising lights the wilder'd swain.
‘Like songs of pilgrims distant heard by night!
‘I come, I come!’—He spoke, and seiz'd the rein,
And his fleet courser spurn'd the sandy plain.
Arabebbah, an Arabian and Moorish instrument of music. Vide Shaw's Travels, and Russell's History of Aleppo.
D' Herbelot informs us, that Saffron Faces, and Argavan Eyes, are expressions commonly used in the East, to describe passionate lovers, whose melancholy appears in their countenances, and whose eyes become red with weeping. The Argavan is supposed to be the Arbor Judæ; whose blossoms are of a bright purple. Vide Harmer's Commentary on Solomon's Song, page 162.
“Mahommed, in his Alcoran, in the Chapter of the Morning, mentions a garden, called Irem, which is no less celebrated by the Asiatic poets, than that of the Hesperides by the Greeks. It was planted, as the Commentators say, by a king, named Shedad; and was once seen by an Arabian, who wandered far into the Desart, in search of a lost camel.” Jones's Essay on the Poetry of Eastern Nations.
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