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 |
 |
|
R.
|
 | In My Lady's Praise |  |
45
R.
[Rubies, with Pearls! That's Nature's jewellery!]
Rubies, with Pearls! That's Nature's jewellery!
Look in your mirror when you speak my name,
And while you say it you may plainly see
Those charming reasons why I write the same;
Look in your mirror when you speak my name,
And while you say it you may plainly see
Those charming reasons why I write the same;
Pearl-rows which gleam through rose-leaf lips of grace—
Ah, no!—I will not weave such worn-out posies;
I had a higher fancy for this place
Than rhymes which jingle “rubies, pearls, and roses.”
Ah, no!—I will not weave such worn-out posies;
I had a higher fancy for this place
Than rhymes which jingle “rubies, pearls, and roses.”
For these are Mânikas—stones true and good,
Which my spell brings from Burmah's steaming grove.
Such have the colour of the drop of blood
Shed on the white neck of a wounded dove.
Which my spell brings from Burmah's steaming grove.
Such have the colour of the drop of blood
Shed on the white neck of a wounded dove.
Of such was carved the magic vial filled
With water from the “Fount of Youth” that wells
Behind the “Sea of Darkness;” water spilled
By Sultan Suleiman. Ben Ali tells
With water from the “Fount of Youth” that wells
Behind the “Sea of Darkness;” water spilled
By Sultan Suleiman. Ben Ali tells
46
This legend, done in Persian, from the Book
“Lights of Canopus”—how the Hebrew Khan
Sate on the cloud-roofed mountain-tops which look
This way on Ind, that way to Khorasan.
“Lights of Canopus”—how the Hebrew Khan
Sate on the cloud-roofed mountain-tops which look
This way on Ind, that way to Khorasan.
Angels and Djins and Peris round the king
Paid homage, mixed with man and beast and bird,
For on his finger was the Sapphire-ring
Graved with the name of God, which whoso heard,
Paid homage, mixed with man and beast and bird,
For on his finger was the Sapphire-ring
Graved with the name of God, which whoso heard,
Hearing, obeyed. Wherefore the Eagles flew
Against the sun, to shade him; she-bears brought
Wild honey; snakes their jewels; flowers upgrew
To make a footstool for his feet. Outraught
Against the sun, to shade him; she-bears brought
Wild honey; snakes their jewels; flowers upgrew
To make a footstool for his feet. Outraught
Over the Earth his sceptre none withstood
In lands, or seas, or nether-worlds, or sky
Where—like to glassy fish in glassy flood,
Blue in blue hyaline—the Spirits lie
In lands, or seas, or nether-worlds, or sky
Where—like to glassy fish in glassy flood,
Blue in blue hyaline—the Spirits lie
Unviewed, but living: and, this thing was seen;
There drifted from the Pass a darksome cloud
Which, gliding nigh—the mountain-crests between,—
Took vast and filmy form, at first a shroud
There drifted from the Pass a darksome cloud
Which, gliding nigh—the mountain-crests between,—
Took vast and filmy form, at first a shroud
47
That seemed to wrap some phantom-head; but, soon
A shape of grace whose light and colour gleamed
From gold of setting sun, pearl of new moon,
With wings of waving sapphire, hair which streamed
A shape of grace whose light and colour gleamed
From gold of setting sun, pearl of new moon,
With wings of waving sapphire, hair which streamed
Curled jacinth on the breeze; garments of amber
Draped vaguely from an azure girdle-band;
Great breasts of rounded rose, veils that enchamber
A half-spied awful countenance; a hand
Draped vaguely from an azure girdle-band;
Great breasts of rounded rose, veils that enchamber
A half-spied awful countenance; a hand
Slow-issuing from the shade, holding a cup
Cut from the sunset's ruby,—light compressed
To solid splendour—“Drink this liquor up!”
A voice cried:“drink, dread King! The high behest
Cut from the sunset's ruby,—light compressed
To solid splendour—“Drink this liquor up!”
A voice cried:“drink, dread King! The high behest
Of Him Whose Name is on thy Signet-Stone
Wills I bring water from the Well of Life;
Of all men, Suleiman! to thee alone
God proffers this! a draught with power so rife
Wills I bring water from the Well of Life;
Of all men, Suleiman! to thee alone
God proffers this! a draught with power so rife
That, quaffing it, thy flesh and blood shall take
Even as an Angel's, comely, changeless youth;
Days without end, delights of sense to make
Immortal years seem few; insight of Truth
Even as an Angel's, comely, changeless youth;
Days without end, delights of sense to make
Immortal years seem few; insight of Truth
48
Such as thy Soul hath craved for. Drink or spill!
Have here this Vessel with its dancing draught;
My errand is performed! Judge how ye will,
Suleiman and the Counsellors!” A waft
Have here this Vessel with its dancing draught;
My errand is performed! Judge how ye will,
Suleiman and the Counsellors!” A waft
Of sighing wind scattered the waning shape;
In the King's grasp the Ruby Vial shone;
Far down the Pass—from splintered cape to cape—
Faded the breaking cloud-flecks, one by one.
In the King's grasp the Ruby Vial shone;
Far down the Pass—from splintered cape to cape—
Faded the breaking cloud-flecks, one by one.
But, when the strange Voice ceased, Suleiman mused:—
“Yea! good it were to drink this gift of God;
Good to repair my days and nights misused,
Treading with wiser steps life's ways retrod:
“Yea! good it were to drink this gift of God;
Good to repair my days and nights misused,
Treading with wiser steps life's ways retrod:
Good to win back the fiery speed of youth
In veins which slacken; good to ever guard
My kingdom; to strip bare beautiful Truth
With eyes undimmed, heart's hot desire unmarred,
In veins which slacken; good to ever guard
My kingdom; to strip bare beautiful Truth
With eyes undimmed, heart's hot desire unmarred,
Wholly possessing her, naked and pure;
Myself ever renewed, joyous, and strong;
Good, too, it were to have my years endure,
That God's fair Temple,—which I fashion long—
Myself ever renewed, joyous, and strong;
Good, too, it were to have my years endure,
That God's fair Temple,—which I fashion long—
49
May grow to perfect glory; and my wars
Close in sure peace,—I seeing, age by age,
My people prosper under wider stars,
In larger lands; till, on the great last page
Close in sure peace,—I seeing, age by age,
My people prosper under wider stars,
In larger lands; till, on the great last page
Of this World's Book Suleiman's name shall shine!
Yea! I will drink! Yet, ye who gather near,
Djins! Angels! Beasts and Fowls, Servants of mine!
How counsel ye your King? Fain would I hear.”
Yea! I will drink! Yet, ye who gather near,
Djins! Angels! Beasts and Fowls, Servants of mine!
How counsel ye your King? Fain would I hear.”
With loud acclaim, “Drink, happy King!” said they;
And one with dark plumes folded, evil-eyed,
Sakhrah the Dev—who, later, stole away
Suleiman's signet-ring—low bending, cried:
And one with dark plumes folded, evil-eyed,
Sakhrah the Dev—who, later, stole away
Suleiman's signet-ring—low bending, cried:
“Drink, Lord of Lords! the gold of youth is bright,
And dull the silver of slow-creeping eld;
And dear are wealth and power; and soft the night
By dawn of lovely ladies' eyes dispelled!”
And dull the silver of slow-creeping eld;
And dear are wealth and power; and soft the night
By dawn of lovely ladies' eyes dispelled!”
And Shîr the Djin spake:—knowing magic best—
“Drink, Friend of God! the Earth's weal rests on thee
As sleeps an infant on a nursing breast;
It were not well thy Throne should vacant be!”
“Drink, Friend of God! the Earth's weal rests on thee
As sleeps an infant on a nursing breast;
It were not well thy Throne should vacant be!”
50
And Amberîn the Peri, gliding close
With flutter of white plumes, said, “Drink, my King!
The joys of men and Devs in thee repose
As gems are held in cirque of golden ring!”
With flutter of white plumes, said, “Drink, my King!
The joys of men and Devs in thee repose
As gems are held in cirque of golden ring!”
Assad the Lion answered for the beasts,
Laying his shagged mane at the Monarch's feet,
“Drink, Master of all forests! Thy brave feasts
Have known no wine like this, subtle and sweet!”
Laying his shagged mane at the Monarch's feet,
“Drink, Master of all forests! Thy brave feasts
Have known no wine like this, subtle and sweet!”
And Sag, the Seal, moist from the Indian main,
Drooped his black fins, and bellowed: “Sovereign, drink!
The Water-creatures and the Fish are fain
That thou shouldst live for ever!” From the brink
Drooped his black fins, and bellowed: “Sovereign, drink!
The Water-creatures and the Fish are fain
That thou shouldst live for ever!” From the brink
Of Baikal flew the Locust, chirping: “Khan!
Drink! for all things which burrow, creep, and buzz,
Trust thee to help them, helping beast and man:
And Who doth raise the dead from one bone, Luz,
Drink! for all things which burrow, creep, and buzz,
Trust thee to help them, helping beast and man:
And Who doth raise the dead from one bone, Luz,
“Gives thee at one draught Angelhood!” Spake last
Hud-hud, the Lapwing, piping: “I have seen
The glory of Queen Balkis now o'erpassed;
Drink, Lord! for never such a gift hath been!”
Hud-hud, the Lapwing, piping: “I have seen
The glory of Queen Balkis now o'erpassed;
Drink, Lord! for never such a gift hath been!”
51
But glancing sternly round, quoth Suleiman:
“Are all things here? Hath none some other rede?
Lo! ere I drink, and pass to God from Man,
Is every counsel uttered?” “Hast thou need,
“Are all things here? Hath none some other rede?
Lo! ere I drink, and pass to God from Man,
Is every counsel uttered?” “Hast thou need,
“Great King!” the hill-fox barked, “to hear what word
Kûmri will speak? She tarrieth on her nest!
I spied her in the thorns!” “Send forth a bird
To summon her!” quoth he. At such behest
Kûmri will speak? She tarrieth on her nest!
I spied her in the thorns!” “Send forth a bird
To summon her!” quoth he. At such behest
Came Kûmri, flying from her tree; the Dove
Who hath the neck of purple, and the wings
Of silver, and the breast filled full of love:
Heaven's softest creature. Spake she: “King of Kings,
Who hath the neck of purple, and the wings
Of silver, and the breast filled full of love:
Heaven's softest creature. Spake she: “King of Kings,
“Pardon thy handmaid that she stayed to brood
Twin eggs which must not chill! Thy dread command
Passed unto me, and I have left my wood!
What dost thou with the red cup in thy hand?”
Twin eggs which must not chill! Thy dread command
Passed unto me, and I have left my wood!
What dost thou with the red cup in thy hand?”
“I hold from Heaven a draught of life immortal,
The Mâ-ul-Haiyat!” Suleiman replied:
“If I shall quaff, Death's dark and hateful portal
Never can gape for me!” Then, Kûmri sighed:
The Mâ-ul-Haiyat!” Suleiman replied:
“If I shall quaff, Death's dark and hateful portal
Never can gape for me!” Then, Kûmri sighed:
52
“Ah, mighty Lord! how should a little bird,
Which only knows to nest and brood and coo,
Counsel great Suleiman? Yet be this heard;
Hath He, Who gave the water, given, too,
Which only knows to nest and brood and coo,
Counsel great Suleiman? Yet be this heard;
Hath He, Who gave the water, given, too,
“The boon that whosoever holds thy heart,—
Queen, lover, friend, concubine, daughter, son—
May in the magic potion take their part?
For then this guerdon were a precious one!”
Queen, lover, friend, concubine, daughter, son—
May in the magic potion take their part?
For then this guerdon were a precious one!”
“Nay!” the King said, “to me alone the cup!
Not larger, see! than those eggs thou didst leave!
I am commanded—if I will—to sup
Its last bright drop!” Then, moaned the Dove: “I grieve
Not larger, see! than those eggs thou didst leave!
I am commanded—if I will—to sup
Its last bright drop!” Then, moaned the Dove: “I grieve
“They counsel thee to drink; for all will go,
Thy Queens, thy children, ministers, and slaves;
Thy best belov'd will be as last year's snow
On these hot mountains! Thou wilt rule mid graves,
Thy Queens, thy children, ministers, and slaves;
Thy best belov'd will be as last year's snow
On these hot mountains! Thou wilt rule mid graves,
“Dead—thou though livest—with thy dead; and see
Lip after lip, pressed once to thy lip, press
The bitter brim of Fate's black cup; and be
Sad in thy splendour, with such loneliness
Lip after lip, pressed once to thy lip, press
The bitter brim of Fate's black cup; and be
Sad in thy splendour, with such loneliness
53
“As deserts know not, nor the lifeless main:
Thy Earth around thee will grow old and grey;
Thy Kingdoms pass; thy fields fall wild again,
But thou—too favoured—shalt be young alway
Thy Earth around thee will grow old and grey;
Thy Kingdoms pass; thy fields fall wild again,
But thou—too favoured—shalt be young alway
“With memory only old; yet, that will taste
Death in the dust which blows from every tomb;
Death in the flowers which wave in every waste,
Death in the mid-day light, death in the gloom!
Death in the dust which blows from every tomb;
Death in the flowers which wave in every waste,
Death in the mid-day light, death in the gloom!
“Lord of all Kings! forgive! Love bids me speak!
If her mate cometh not the wild dove dies!
I would not drink hereof, who am so weak,
Lest I might lose by gaining: Love is wise!”
If her mate cometh not the wild dove dies!
I would not drink hereof, who am so weak,
Lest I might lose by gaining: Love is wise!”
Thereon departed Kûmri—flying hard
To find her nest ere the twin eggs should chill:
And Suleiman the King, upon the sward
With eager hand the magic draught did spill.
To find her nest ere the twin eggs should chill:
And Suleiman the King, upon the sward
With eager hand the magic draught did spill.
| In My Lady's Praise | |