Rhymes By William Stewart Rose |
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| III. | SONNET III.
On seeing the Sultan going to the Mosque. |
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97
SONNET III. On seeing the Sultan going to the Mosque.
One Friday morn, the Moslem sabbath, IWhere Bosphorus in broader reach expands,
Stood fast, like eastern slave, with folded hands,
To mark the Sultan to his mosque sweep by.
(So he, the lawful ruler of these lands,
Once visited his church) half hid from eye
By lofty helms and lances lifted high:
Not hemmed by Bostanji or turbaned bands.
Like him, this ancient use must he maintain,
Lest, moved by moody priest or rebel peers,
The restless rabble should disturb his reign;
And much it liked me, looking on those spears,
To think how little is the tyrant's gain,
That in usurping power, partakes its fears.
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