 | Rhymes |  |
44
THE TALISMAN.
A Tale inscribed to Tweedy John Todd, m.d., of
Brighton.
Thou hast read many books, and thou hast trod
Strange land, and on strange sea hast spread thy sail:
But, wide as thou hast ranged or read, dear Todd,
Haply thou hast not heard or read my tale,
Writ by king's hest in characters of gold;
But which my friend James Morier leaves untold.
Strange land, and on strange sea hast spread thy sail:
But, wide as thou hast ranged or read, dear Todd,
Haply thou hast not heard or read my tale,
Writ by king's hest in characters of gold;
But which my friend James Morier leaves untold.
45
‘Though I've been made to eat much dirt by thee,
‘Wishing thy shadow never may be less,’
(To speak like Hajji Baba), as a fee,
This Persian story I to thee address;
Which—and no pithier tells the tell-tale Parrot—
Thou may'st digest with thy Shiraz or Claret.
‘Wishing thy shadow never may be less,’
(To speak like Hajji Baba), as a fee,
This Persian story I to thee address;
Which—and no pithier tells the tell-tale Parrot—
Thou may'st digest with thy Shiraz or Claret.
A youth had done a genie a good turn
At Teflis; and it is the common burden
Of fairy tale, or song that all men carn,
Who serve such masters, some sufficient guerdon:
Hence, in acquittal of the debt he owed,
Mine on the youth a talisman bestowed.
At Teflis; and it is the common burden
Of fairy tale, or song that all men carn,
Who serve such masters, some sufficient guerdon:
Hence, in acquittal of the debt he owed,
Mine on the youth a talisman bestowed.
A talisman hath turned a flying host;
Nay, hath done all that the possessor willed:
This, as its only wonder, showed the ghost
Of any one that any one had killed:
The spirit watching at his door, by whom
The body had been hurried to the tomb.
Nay, hath done all that the possessor willed:
This, as its only wonder, showed the ghost
Of any one that any one had killed:
The spirit watching at his door, by whom
The body had been hurried to the tomb.
46
Rare gift! But neither Omar's man or Ali's man
Curd, Christian, worshipper of fire, or Jew,
Could understand the purpose of this talisman,
Or guess what kind of good it was to do.
For, should you put the question widely, most
Would say ‘they should not like to see a ghost.’
Curd, Christian, worshipper of fire, or Jew,
Could understand the purpose of this talisman,
Or guess what kind of good it was to do.
For, should you put the question widely, most
Would say ‘they should not like to see a ghost.’
This is so true, that those who've had a seasoning,
And seen one, fear to see a ghost again;
A fear which, were it founded upon reasoning,
And not on feeling, I should say was vain.
For if a spirit is the death of me;
Doing his worst, I am no worse than he.
And seen one, fear to see a ghost again;
A fear which, were it founded upon reasoning,
And not on feeling, I should say was vain.
For if a spirit is the death of me;
Doing his worst, I am no worse than he.
Though from such idle terror free, with wonder
His wages, strange and new, the stripling saw;
But, for he thought there might be something under
The cards, and of the giver stood in awe,
He of this necroscope with large profession
Of thanks, and seeming pleasure took possession.
His wages, strange and new, the stripling saw;
But, for he thought there might be something under
The cards, and of the giver stood in awe,
He of this necroscope with large profession
Of thanks, and seeming pleasure took possession.
47
That which may help or harm can no man tell:
(So blind or so short-sighted is our skill!)
A mistress worshipt by the youth, then well,
A short time afterwards was taken ill;
And—as a warning not to choose a fool,
Or knave for leech—the gift might be a rule.
(So blind or so short-sighted is our skill!)
A mistress worshipt by the youth, then well,
A short time afterwards was taken ill;
And—as a warning not to choose a fool,
Or knave for leech—the gift might be a rule.
Armed with his talisman, he sought a doctor,
Seeking—as well may be supposed—the best;
But, having reached his house, before he knocked, or
Rang, took the precious touchstone from his breast:
And lo! a ghastly, ghostly troop of men,
Women and children, thronged their murderer's den!
Seeking—as well may be supposed—the best;
But, having reached his house, before he knocked, or
Rang, took the precious touchstone from his breast:
And lo! a ghastly, ghostly troop of men,
Women and children, thronged their murderer's den!
Again his talisman the lover pursed,
And sought him next in name; and lo! a band,
Though thinner than what swarmed about the first,
Crowded the doctor's door on either hand!
Thus he, in seeking all whose fame was vaunted,
Found one and all in like proportion haunted.
And sought him next in name; and lo! a band,
Though thinner than what swarmed about the first,
Crowded the doctor's door on either hand!
Thus he, in seeking all whose fame was vaunted,
Found one and all in like proportion haunted.
48
And now despairing utterly to find
A mediciner more prompt to cure than kill,
He heard of one who (it was said) combined,
Though young and modest, learning, tact, and skill:
To him he went, resolved to test his lore,
And only found one spirit at his door.
A mediciner more prompt to cure than kill,
He heard of one who (it was said) combined,
Though young and modest, learning, tact, and skill:
To him he went, resolved to test his lore,
And only found one spirit at his door.
Him courteously the learned host saluted,
And asked withal his purpose and his name.
These said—he next subjoined; ‘that hearing bruited
‘His many merits by recording Fame,
‘He came his needful succour to beseech;
‘And told the lady's case:’ to whom the leech:
And asked withal his purpose and his name.
These said—he next subjoined; ‘that hearing bruited
‘His many merits by recording Fame,
‘He came his needful succour to beseech;
‘And told the lady's case:’ to whom the leech:
‘If it be true my merits are recorded
‘By Fame, (he spoke with some degree of pet,)
‘I cannot choose but think them ill rewarded;
‘Since but one patient have I had as yet.’
No more the astounded lover hears; but posts
To his first choice, the man of many ghosts,
‘By Fame, (he spoke with some degree of pet,)
‘I cannot choose but think them ill rewarded;
‘Since but one patient have I had as yet.’
No more the astounded lover hears; but posts
To his first choice, the man of many ghosts,
49
Not as in grave or graceful learning read,
(Though strong in both) I tell this tale to thee,
But, that though lame and blind, and deaf and dead
In law, thou hast not made a ghost of me:
Nay,—though I lack the succour of a staff,
Hast left me life enough to limp and laugh.
(Though strong in both) I tell this tale to thee,
But, that though lame and blind, and deaf and dead
In law, thou hast not made a ghost of me:
Nay,—though I lack the succour of a staff,
Hast left me life enough to limp and laugh.
| Rhymes | |