The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe :: :: University of Virginia Library

“There goes the Vizier and his gaudy train!
While I, poor Hassan, indigent and old,
Must carry water; well, I can't explain
Why one wears rags, another cloth of gold.

II.

“The single diamond that bedecks his sword
Would set me up a gentleman for life;
And now, God bless me! I cannot afford
A pair of scarlet trousers for my wife!

III.

“With half the money that his servants waste
Each day in knick-knacks, it is very clear
My family might live like kings, and taste
Roast kid for dinner fifty times a year.

IV.

“It may be just; I don't affirm 't is not;
Allah is Allah! and knows what is best;
But if, for mine, I had the Vizier's lot,
'T would please me vastly better, I protest!”

V.

So murmured Hassan, vext within himself
To see the Vizier riding proudly by;
When suddenly a little fairy elf
Appeared before him with a twinkling eye.

VI.

“Peace!” said the Fairy; “ere thy speech begun
I knew to what thy present thoughts incline;
Choose any gift thou wilt (but only one),
And, by my kingdom, it shall soon be thine!”

VII.

Poor Hassan, filled with joy, at once began:
“I fain would have”—but paused before the word
Escaped his mouth; or, sooth to say, the man
Had named the jewel on the Vizier's sword!

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VIII.

What next he thought to choose was all the gold
That filled the Calif's coffers; then he thought
Of Bagdad's riches; then the wealth untold
Of all the earth,—so fast his fancy wrought!

IX.

Such various wishes thronged his teeming brain,
He pondered long, until the Fairy's voice
Showed some impatience, and the man was fain
From very fear to hasten in his choice.

X.

But halting still when at the point to tell
His final wish, the Fairy kindly told
(To aid his choosing) of a hidden well
Filled to the brim with jewels and with gold.

XI.

And then she led him to a secret grot,
Where, underneath a stone, the treasure lies,
Removed the slab that sealed the sacred spot,
And showed the riches to his wondering eyes.

XII.

“Take what you will of this exhaustless store;
But, mark you, if you pause to dine or sup,
Your work is finished; you can have no more;
The stone will move and close the coffer up.”

XIII.

Charmed with the sight that met his dazzled gaze,
He stood enrapt; then turned to thank the fay
For so much bounty; but, to his amaze,
The nimble sprite unseen had fled away.

XIV.

Whate'er three ample water-skins could hold
Was soon his own; but this contents him not;
Unnumbered coins of silver and of gold
Invite his spade, and chain him to the spot.

XV.

“Another hour of digging will suffice,”
Quoth Hassan, delving with increasing greed.
“Well, by the Prophet, here is something nice!
Rubies and diamonds! this is wealth indeed!”

XVI.

And so he dug (remembering the hint
The Fairy gave him) till his busy spade
Had piled a mound so vast, the Calif's mint
Could scarce have matched the glittering heap he made.

XVII.

And yet he toils, as greedy as before.
“A little more!” said Hassan, “ere the sun
Sinks in the west,—some fifty shovels more,
And this day's work, a brave one! will be done!”

XVIII.

Poor Hassan! heedless of the fading day,
He wrought at night as he had wrought at noon;
Weary and faint, but impotent to stay
His eager hand beneath the rising moon.

XIX.

“A little more!” the miser said, “and I
Will make an end.” He raised his weary hand
To delve again; then dropt it with a sigh,—
So weak and worn that he could hardly stand.

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XX.

Fatal Ambition! from his golden bed
He tries in vain to reach the giddy height;
The shining heap comes tumbling on his head,
And shuts poor Hassan in eternal night!