Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile By H. D. Rawnsley |
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| XX. |
| XXI. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
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| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. | LII A PAPYRUS HUNT |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
| LVII. |
| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXII. |
| LXIV. |
 | Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile |  |
107
LII A PAPYRUS HUNT
With keen but uncommunicative eyes
Muhammad sits cross-legged upon the floor;
Forth from his breast he brings the scarab store,
Asks many questions, gives but few replies.
Then, since he finds me true, he deigns arise,
With paper lantern swinging, goes before,
Plies the huge key, and softly opens door,
And leads me through his home's intricacies.
Muhammad sits cross-legged upon the floor;
Forth from his breast he brings the scarab store,
Asks many questions, gives but few replies.
Then, since he finds me true, he deigns arise,
With paper lantern swinging, goes before,
Plies the huge key, and softly opens door,
And leads me through his home's intricacies.
Then listening long if there be any sound,
While the dark Nubian keeps good watch below,
His eyes like coals of fire begin to glow,
His fingers loose what carefully was bound
Swathed in fine linen, coarsely wrapped around
With some old goat-hair cloak to shun all show,
And thence with reverence, tenderly and slow,
He dares unwind what hands in secret wound.
While the dark Nubian keeps good watch below,
His eyes like coals of fire begin to glow,
His fingers loose what carefully was bound
Swathed in fine linen, coarsely wrapped around
With some old goat-hair cloak to shun all show,
And thence with reverence, tenderly and slow,
He dares unwind what hands in secret wound.
108
And while Muhammad whistles with drawn breath,
The black Osiride figure, a good son,
Gave for the resting of a priest of On,
Gleams grim and black; then a swift hand beneath
Passes, and from its casket's hollow sheath
There comes a brown papyrus packet, none
Have opened since the scribe wrote clear thereon,
With charcoal paint, the date of Ani's death.
The black Osiride figure, a good son,
Gave for the resting of a priest of On,
Gleams grim and black; then a swift hand beneath
Passes, and from its casket's hollow sheath
There comes a brown papyrus packet, none
Have opened since the scribe wrote clear thereon,
With charcoal paint, the date of Ani's death.
Then does Muhammad tremble; he can hear
Far steps; returning, answers ‘all is well!’
For who such ‘Chapters of the Dead’ will sell
The chain, the lash, and prison walls must fear.
‘A hundred pounds? say, lord, it is not dear?
Fifty? Nay, ten !—nay, the endorsement spell!
This treasure of great Ramses' day can tell!—
Take it, but swear me blameless'—and I swear.
Far steps; returning, answers ‘all is well!’
For who such ‘Chapters of the Dead’ will sell
The chain, the lash, and prison walls must fear.
‘A hundred pounds? say, lord, it is not dear?
Fifty? Nay, ten !—nay, the endorsement spell!
This treasure of great Ramses' day can tell!—
Take it, but swear me blameless'—and I swear.
| Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile | |