 | Brother Fabian's Manuscript |  |
208
SAFI.
Safi knelt by the spring with her wonted pitcher at even,
Safi, slender of limb and small as the deer of the Desert,
Safi, daughter of Am, White Rose of the Desert Oasis.
Safi espied far away in the yellow mist of the Desert
Shimmering into a shape, how One rode, thirstily hasting
Tall on a camel aloft to the welcome Fountain of Blessing.
Taller he rode than men, though wayworn, wearily stooping,
Nigher and nigher amain as Safi hid from his presence
Trembling under the palm, as he dropped from his camel to drink there.
Still she stood in the sun, that among the stems of the palm-trees
Westering flooded with flame the sands and the blessed Oasis.
Still she stood while he drank, stood still as a hyacinth gathered,
Dreading almost to breathe lest the eye of the Stranger espy her.
Still she stood while they drank, that strange tall man and his camel,
Drank and drank yet again of the bubbling Fountain of Blessing,
Leaping alive from the rock, the life of the palms of the valley.
Safi, slender of limb and small as the deer of the Desert,
Safi, daughter of Am, White Rose of the Desert Oasis.
Safi espied far away in the yellow mist of the Desert
Shimmering into a shape, how One rode, thirstily hasting
Tall on a camel aloft to the welcome Fountain of Blessing.
Taller he rode than men, though wayworn, wearily stooping,
Nigher and nigher amain as Safi hid from his presence
Trembling under the palm, as he dropped from his camel to drink there.
Still she stood in the sun, that among the stems of the palm-trees
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Still she stood while he drank, stood still as a hyacinth gathered,
Dreading almost to breathe lest the eye of the Stranger espy her.
Still she stood while they drank, that strange tall man and his camel,
Drank and drank yet again of the bubbling Fountain of Blessing,
Leaping alive from the rock, the life of the palms of the valley.
“Praise be to Allah!” he cried, “and thou, O Spring of the Desert,
“Blessed be thou among springs evermore!” and straight from his finger
Loosing an emerald ring, a talisman flashing with cipher,
Dropped it into the fount:“Be this the thanks of the Pilgrim!
“So never more, O Spring, shall thy waters fail to the stranger,
“So never more shall drought or the sudden rains defile thee!
“Blessed be thou as the streams of Hiddekel, blessed for ever!”
“Blessed be thou among springs evermore!” and straight from his finger
Loosing an emerald ring, a talisman flashing with cipher,
Dropped it into the fount:“Be this the thanks of the Pilgrim!
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“So never more shall drought or the sudden rains defile thee!
“Blessed be thou as the streams of Hiddekel, blessed for ever!”
Safi heard where she stood in her hiding under the palmtree,
Safi saw as she turned how her shadow fell from her hiding
Full on the tell-tale sward to the dusty foot of the Stranger.
“Beautiful art thou, O shadow!” he murmured, “beautiful also
“She who under the palm hath heard the prayer of the Stranger!—
“Beautiful, slender of limb, lithe, light as the lissom acacia,
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful!
“Such an one would I wed,—will wed, by Allah, if only
“Stately she be as the palm,—bride meet for a Son of the Giants,
“Be she as tall as my ear, she shall wed the Son of the Giants!”
Safi saw as she turned how her shadow fell from her hiding
Full on the tell-tale sward to the dusty foot of the Stranger.
“Beautiful art thou, O shadow!” he murmured, “beautiful also
“She who under the palm hath heard the prayer of the Stranger!—
“Beautiful, slender of limb, lithe, light as the lissom acacia,
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful!
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“Stately she be as the palm,—bride meet for a Son of the Giants,
“Be she as tall as my ear, she shall wed the Son of the Giants!”
Safi heard where she stood in her hiding under the palm-tree,
Safi blushed from her foot to the folds of her maidenly turban,
Safi's blood beat fast with sudden joy and amazement,
Safi's love as a rose to the sunshine opens its petals,
Blossomed glowing and sweet to the sunny word of the Stranger:—
Safi blanched from her foot to the folds of her maidenly turban,
Safi's blood stood still with sudden fear and amazement,
Safi's love, as a rose that feels the simoom of the Desert,
Drooped in her tremulous heart at the parching word of the Stranger,
Tingling hot in her ear,—“if stately, tall as a palm-tree.”
Safi blushed from her foot to the folds of her maidenly turban,
Safi's blood beat fast with sudden joy and amazement,
Safi's love as a rose to the sunshine opens its petals,
Blossomed glowing and sweet to the sunny word of the Stranger:—
Safi blanched from her foot to the folds of her maidenly turban,
Safi's blood stood still with sudden fear and amazement,
Safi's love, as a rose that feels the simoom of the Desert,
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Tingling hot in her ear,—“if stately, tall as a palm-tree.”
“I, what am I?—but a rose, little Rose of the Desert Oasis!”
Tall he strode where she stood in her hiding under the palm-tree,
Shamefast, eyeing the spring, little Rose of the Desert Oasis.
“Peace, O maiden, be with thee!” and “Peace,” she answered, “and blessing!”
“Who, then, art thou, and whence, O maiden, Rose of the Desert?”
“Safi, daughter of Am, men call me, O Son of the Giants!”
Shamefast, eyeing the spring, little Rose of the Desert Oasis.
“Peace, O maiden, be with thee!” and “Peace,” she answered, “and blessing!”
“Who, then, art thou, and whence, O maiden, Rose of the Desert?”
“Safi, daughter of Am, men call me, O Son of the Giants!”
“Safi, daughter of Am, thou art lithe as the lissom acacia;
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful,
“Would thou wert tall as the shadow that pointed thee out in thy hiding,
“Stately and tall as a palm,—bride meet for a Son of the Giants!
“Peace be with thee, my child!”—and straightway turned he and left her!
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful,
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“Stately and tall as a palm,—bride meet for a Son of the Giants!
“Peace be with thee, my child!”—and straightway turned he and left her!
Safi stood by the spring and wept there,—desolate Safi!
Never Safi had loved till she loved that Son of the Giants:—
Never Safi had loved till she loved and lost him together!
Weeping she stood by the Spring:“O Spring, he hath blest thee for ever!
“Me hath he cursed though I love, though I love him only and ever!”
Then in the Spring she beheld an unwonted trouble of waters
Bubble and boil as she gazed, and a Voice spake out of the fountain:
“Peace be upon thee, O daughter of Am, little Rose of the Desert!
“Safi, thee have I loved since first with thy pitcher at even
“Hither thou camest, and oft have I prayed for a mate for my Safi,
“Oft have I prayed for my Safi a mate of the Sons of the Giants!
“Lo, he hath left me a pledge, thou saw'st, of grateful remembrance,
“Take thou, Safi, his ring—I am paid by gratitude only;
“Mine are the gems of the Deep, and the secret ores of the Desert,
“Mine is the diamond's frost and the costly blaze of the ruby,
“Mine is the Pilgrim's prayer,—be thine the pledge of his blessing!
“Take it,—lo, where it lies!—He loves whoe'er may possess it!
“Take it, and sprinkle anon thy head seven times with my water!
“Ask me no more, but trust!—and peace be upon thee and blessing!”
Never Safi had loved till she loved that Son of the Giants:—
Never Safi had loved till she loved and lost him together!
Weeping she stood by the Spring:“O Spring, he hath blest thee for ever!
“Me hath he cursed though I love, though I love him only and ever!”
Then in the Spring she beheld an unwonted trouble of waters
Bubble and boil as she gazed, and a Voice spake out of the fountain:
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“Safi, thee have I loved since first with thy pitcher at even
“Hither thou camest, and oft have I prayed for a mate for my Safi,
“Oft have I prayed for my Safi a mate of the Sons of the Giants!
“Lo, he hath left me a pledge, thou saw'st, of grateful remembrance,
“Take thou, Safi, his ring—I am paid by gratitude only;
“Mine are the gems of the Deep, and the secret ores of the Desert,
“Mine is the diamond's frost and the costly blaze of the ruby,
“Mine is the Pilgrim's prayer,—be thine the pledge of his blessing!
“Take it,—lo, where it lies!—He loves whoe'er may possess it!
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“Ask me no more, but trust!—and peace be upon thee and blessing!”
Safi knelt by the Spring:“Allah bless thee, Fountain of Blessing!”
Safi slipped on her thumb the talisman flashing with cipher:
Safi sprinkled her head seven times with the water of blessing:
Safi slept by the spring the sleep of holy enchantment.
Safi slipped on her thumb the talisman flashing with cipher:
Safi sprinkled her head seven times with the water of blessing:
Safi slept by the spring the sleep of holy enchantment.
“Where is Safi, my rose,—my Safi, light of my household?
“Never to linger so long she wont by the fountain at even:
“Why doth she linger so long, my Safi, Rose of the Desert?”
Thus mused Am the Sheikh, as he marked a Stranger approaching,
Stranger and camel that paced by the path that leads from the fountain;
“Peace be with thee, O Stranger!” and “Peace,” he answered, “and blessing;”
“Enter thy servant's dwelling, and rest thyself and thy camel!”
“Peace to thy house,” he answered, “O Sheikh, and the blessing of Allah!”
Thus they entered and sat. The bubbling cloud of the hookah
Gratefully fragrant spread with the grateful fragrance of berries.
Mutely they rested awhile, till the old man spoke to the Stranger:
“Saw'st thou a damsel, O Stranger, by yonder wells with a pitcher?”
“Father,” he said, “by the spring did I leave one fair as the morning,
“Beautiful, slender of limb, and lithe as the lissom acacia:
“Is she thy daughter, O Sheikh? Thrice blessed art thou, O father!
“Were she but tall as fair, she were bride for a Son of the Giants!”
“Peace from Allah be on thee, my son!” Then again they were silent,
Silent till holy sleep sealed fast the eyes of the Stranger.
“Peace be upon thee, my son! I go to seek for my Safi.”
“Never to linger so long she wont by the fountain at even:
“Why doth she linger so long, my Safi, Rose of the Desert?”
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Stranger and camel that paced by the path that leads from the fountain;
“Peace be with thee, O Stranger!” and “Peace,” he answered, “and blessing;”
“Enter thy servant's dwelling, and rest thyself and thy camel!”
“Peace to thy house,” he answered, “O Sheikh, and the blessing of Allah!”
Thus they entered and sat. The bubbling cloud of the hookah
Gratefully fragrant spread with the grateful fragrance of berries.
Mutely they rested awhile, till the old man spoke to the Stranger:
“Saw'st thou a damsel, O Stranger, by yonder wells with a pitcher?”
“Father,” he said, “by the spring did I leave one fair as the morning,
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“Is she thy daughter, O Sheikh? Thrice blessed art thou, O father!
“Were she but tall as fair, she were bride for a Son of the Giants!”
“Peace from Allah be on thee, my son!” Then again they were silent,
Silent till holy sleep sealed fast the eyes of the Stranger.
“Peace be upon thee, my son! I go to seek for my Safi.”
Safi he found by the well,—his Safi, Rose of the Desert,
Safi, Rose of the Desert, but Safi, tall as a palm tree:—
Safi, no more, as of old, little Rose of the Desert Oasis,
Safi asleep by the well, but grown by a cubit in sleeping.
“Allah be praised, O my child!—my child, His hand is upon thee!
“Beautiful ever thou wert, and lithe as the slender acacia,
“Stately and tall as a palm art thou now,—a bride for the Giants!”
Safi woke from her sleep, the sleep of blessed enchantment,
Safi's eyes as she woke met those of her sire's amazement,
Safi's heart stood still, and the life-blood failed within her.
“Is it a dream?—Allah's will be done. Never dreamed I aforetime
“Dream such as this,—so sweet, so strange!—Nay! Allah forgive me!
“Peace be upon thee, my father!—so strange I forgot to salute thee!”
Safi, Rose of the Desert, but Safi, tall as a palm tree:—
Safi, no more, as of old, little Rose of the Desert Oasis,
Safi asleep by the well, but grown by a cubit in sleeping.
“Allah be praised, O my child!—my child, His hand is upon thee!
“Beautiful ever thou wert, and lithe as the slender acacia,
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Safi woke from her sleep, the sleep of blessed enchantment,
Safi's eyes as she woke met those of her sire's amazement,
Safi's heart stood still, and the life-blood failed within her.
“Is it a dream?—Allah's will be done. Never dreamed I aforetime
“Dream such as this,—so sweet, so strange!—Nay! Allah forgive me!
“Peace be upon thee, my father!—so strange I forgot to salute thee!”
Kneeling, she
kissed his hand. “What is this? What ails thee, my father?
“How is thy shadow grown less! thyself so dwindled before me!—
“Sorcery is it?—Behold, I stoop, yet still thou art smaller!
“Even thy mookleh's crown scarce reaches up to my eyebrow,
“Mine, whom thou wont to call little Rose of the Desert Oasis!
“Am I awake?—Is it thou?—I dreamed of the Sons of the Giants,
“Lo, I awake, and thyself dost seem a child of the Pigmies!
“Praised be Allah!—Ah when will He deign restore thee thy stature?”
“Daughter,” said Am the Sheikh, “my Safi's father hath changed not.
“I have not dwindled a hair, thyself hast grown by a cubit!
“Allah hath wrought this change, though as yet its meaning I know not!”
Safi was mute, for she felt in her heart her destiny certain.
“How is thy shadow grown less! thyself so dwindled before me!—
“Sorcery is it?—Behold, I stoop, yet still thou art smaller!
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“Mine, whom thou wont to call little Rose of the Desert Oasis!
“Am I awake?—Is it thou?—I dreamed of the Sons of the Giants,
“Lo, I awake, and thyself dost seem a child of the Pigmies!
“Praised be Allah!—Ah when will He deign restore thee thy stature?”
“Daughter,” said Am the Sheikh, “my Safi's father hath changed not.
“I have not dwindled a hair, thyself hast grown by a cubit!
“Allah hath wrought this change, though as yet its meaning I know not!”
Safi was mute, for she felt in her heart her destiny certain.
Homeward they wended together, perplexed both sire and daughter;
“Whence, my Safi, is this? this amulet flashing with cipher!
“Speak, for haply therein may the mystery's drift be imprisoned!”
“Allah is great!” said Safi, “I stood by the spring with my pitcher:
“Lo, there rode to the spring on his camel a Son of the Giants,
“Drank and drank yet again of the bubbling Fountain of Blessing;
“Dropped this ring by the brim; lo, I seek him now to return it.”
Doubtfully on paced Am the Sheikh:“Not far shalt thou seek him,
“Even now in my dwelling he sleeps, this Son of the Giants!”
Safi again was mute, for she felt her destiny certain.
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“Speak, for haply therein may the mystery's drift be imprisoned!”
“Allah is great!” said Safi, “I stood by the spring with my pitcher:
“Lo, there rode to the spring on his camel a Son of the Giants,
“Drank and drank yet again of the bubbling Fountain of Blessing;
“Dropped this ring by the brim; lo, I seek him now to return it.”
Doubtfully on paced Am the Sheikh:“Not far shalt thou seek him,
“Even now in my dwelling he sleeps, this Son of the Giants!”
Safi again was mute, for she felt her destiny certain.
Homeward they wended together, both silent, sire and daughter.
Little to Safi—no more little Rose of the Desert Oasis—
Seemed the familiar stones, the palms and slender acacias;
Little the roofs and the gates, and little the home of her fathers,
Little the old dear door, where the Pilgrim stood by the threshold,
Cross-armed, bowed in salute:“Peace, peace be upon ye, and blessing;
“Allah forgive me my sleep! Thy guest was weary and wayworn—
“This thy daughter, O Sheikh? Thrice blessed art thou, O Father!
“Beautiful art thou, O maiden, and lithe as the slender acacia,
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful!
“Stately and tall as the palm, bride meet for the Son of the Giants;
“Tall thou art as my ear; thou shalt wed the Son of the Giants!”
Safi heard where she stood by the little door of her fathers:
Safi's love, as a rose to the sunshine opens its petals,
Blossomed glowing and sweet to the sunny word of the Pilgrim.
Safi held forth a hand with the amulet flashing with cipher:
“Lo, is the talisman thine? O Pilgrim, read me the cipher!”
Humbly the tall man knelt and kissed the hand of the maiden.
“Allah is great! Be the talisman thine! The Fountain of Blessing
“Gave thee the ring for thyself: thyself shall read me the cipher!
“Allah is great, O Sheikh! Wilt give thy daughter in marriage?
“Safi, no more, as of old, little Rose of the Desert Oasis,
“Safi, Rose of the Desert, but Safi, tall as a palm-tree,
“Safi, slender of limb, but Safi, grown by a cubit,—
“Allah hath sealed her Himself, bride meet for a Son of the Giants!”
“Allah is great,” said the Sheikh, “His ways are marvellous ever!
“Allah hath chosen Himself a bridegroom meet for my Safi!
“Be thou the son of my age,—thy household blessed for ever!”
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Seemed the familiar stones, the palms and slender acacias;
Little the roofs and the gates, and little the home of her fathers,
Little the old dear door, where the Pilgrim stood by the threshold,
Cross-armed, bowed in salute:“Peace, peace be upon ye, and blessing;
“Allah forgive me my sleep! Thy guest was weary and wayworn—
“This thy daughter, O Sheikh? Thrice blessed art thou, O Father!
“Beautiful art thou, O maiden, and lithe as the slender acacia,
“Beautiful, mild as the olive, hereafter haply as fruitful!
“Stately and tall as the palm, bride meet for the Son of the Giants;
“Tall thou art as my ear; thou shalt wed the Son of the Giants!”
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Safi's love, as a rose to the sunshine opens its petals,
Blossomed glowing and sweet to the sunny word of the Pilgrim.
Safi held forth a hand with the amulet flashing with cipher:
“Lo, is the talisman thine? O Pilgrim, read me the cipher!”
Humbly the tall man knelt and kissed the hand of the maiden.
“Allah is great! Be the talisman thine! The Fountain of Blessing
“Gave thee the ring for thyself: thyself shall read me the cipher!
“Allah is great, O Sheikh! Wilt give thy daughter in marriage?
“Safi, no more, as of old, little Rose of the Desert Oasis,
“Safi, Rose of the Desert, but Safi, tall as a palm-tree,
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“Allah hath sealed her Himself, bride meet for a Son of the Giants!”
“Allah is great,” said the Sheikh, “His ways are marvellous ever!
“Allah hath chosen Himself a bridegroom meet for my Safi!
“Be thou the son of my age,—thy household blessed for ever!”
| Brother Fabian's Manuscript | |