In My Lady's Praise Being Poems, Old and New: Written to the Honour of Fanny, Lady Arnold and Now Collected for her Memory: By Sir Edwin Arnold |
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[Nephrite, herewith! the sea-green China Jade]
Nephrite, herewith! the sea-green China Jade;
A sacred stone! If you would magic try
Carve 1. 8. 1. 1 on a square well-made,
(Its demon-number) in the charactery
A sacred stone! If you would magic try
Carve 1. 8. 1. 1 on a square well-made,
(Its demon-number) in the charactery
Of hieroglyphs—for Egypt knew this well
And named it Nîlion from her ancient river;
In Babylon 'twas dedicate to Bel;
Kings sealed decrees therewith; aye! and, or ever
And named it Nîlion from her ancient river;
In Babylon 'twas dedicate to Bel;
Kings sealed decrees therewith; aye! and, or ever
A Spaniard's eye from Darien surveyed—
Amazed—the blue Pacific's endlessness,
Those feather-cinctured Aztecs worshipped Jade
And graved their Gods upon it! Well!—impress
Amazed—the blue Pacific's endlessness,
Those feather-cinctured Aztecs worshipped Jade
And graved their Gods upon it! Well!—impress
The figures; set it in pure gold, and breathe
Thrice at the dawning on it, thrice at night,
Repeating “Thoth” five hundred times; then wreathe
A red thread round it—afterwards no wight,
Thrice at the dawning on it, thrice at night,
Repeating “Thoth” five hundred times; then wreathe
A red thread round it—afterwards no wight,
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Be he crowned Prince, or Lord, or Common man,
Saith nay to any wish that shall arise!
But you—you smile! knowing how Woman can
Weave stronger spells with jewels of her eyes.
Saith nay to any wish that shall arise!
But you—you smile! knowing how Woman can
Weave stronger spells with jewels of her eyes.
Leave, then, the amulet. Still,—if you take
A bead of grey Jade, cut with Shiva's mark,
'Tis sure—by Hindoo mantras—not one snake
Will dare to cross your pathway in the dark!
A bead of grey Jade, cut with Shiva's mark,
'Tis sure—by Hindoo mantras—not one snake
Will dare to cross your pathway in the dark!
You “will not walk,” say you, “where such be found,”
Eve of a safer Paradise?—Then, see
How daintily the pale green Nephrite-ground
Backs the hot rubies in this jewellery
Eve of a safer Paradise?—Then, see
How daintily the pale green Nephrite-ground
Backs the hot rubies in this jewellery
Of Muslim art! An Amir's dagger-hilt,
Patiently polished for his angry hand!
Note how the damasked waving blade is built
With blood-channels, and all its beauty planned
Patiently polished for his angry hand!
Note how the damasked waving blade is built
With blood-channels, and all its beauty planned
To kill, kill, kill! exquisite devilry
Of arabesques of death, wrought without joint
'Mid two pure rows of seed-pearls, running free
Hither and thither in a slot; keen point
Of arabesques of death, wrought without joint
'Mid two pure rows of seed-pearls, running free
Hither and thither in a slot; keen point
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Like a snake's tooth! Heed the gold script inlaid
All up and down the steel like trickling blood!
Ya Junnat—“Ah, the Garden!”—that is said
To signify one little thrust makes good
All up and down the steel like trickling blood!
Ya Junnat—“Ah, the Garden!”—that is said
To signify one little thrust makes good
The road to Paradise; and see, writ deep
Bi maruf u'llah—“by God's love and fear,
To whomso 'tis appointed I bring sleep
Deeper than poppies!” Yet another here—
Bi maruf u'llah—“by God's love and fear,
To whomso 'tis appointed I bring sleep
Deeper than poppies!” Yet another here—
A lovely masterpiece of mortal spite
Hafted in delicate Avanturine;
Sumptuously set with ruby stars of light
As if a foeman's gore congealed had been
Hafted in delicate Avanturine;
Sumptuously set with ruby stars of light
As if a foeman's gore congealed had been
In drops about the gilded guard: its badge
Al hamdu wa al manat Lillahi
“To God be praise and glory!” meaning rage
To consecrate! And all this gear to see
Al hamdu wa al manat Lillahi
“To God be praise and glory!” meaning rage
To consecrate! And all this gear to see
Of Jade and gems, embellishing mere Hate!
If craftsmen to cold murder lend such grace
What should they do for Love? Ah, Sweetheart, wait!
My slaves shall seek gifts in a gentler place.
If craftsmen to cold murder lend such grace
What should they do for Love? Ah, Sweetheart, wait!
My slaves shall seek gifts in a gentler place.
| In My Lady's Praise | |