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(From The Poet Ferdusi)
Translated by E. A. Bowring
SHAH MAHOMET full well had dined, | |
| And his soul to be merry is fully inclined. | |
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| In the garden at twilight, on purple seat | |
| He sits by the fountain. Its splashing sounds sweet. | |
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| With looks respectful his servants stand: | 5 |
| His favorite Ansari ’s amongst the band. | |
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| From marble vases a fiery gush | |
| Of luxuriant flowers appears to rush. | |
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| Like Odalisques with graceful arms | |
| Stand fanning themselves the slender palms. | 10 |
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| The cypresses stand with branches unfurled, | |
| As if dreaming of heaven, forgetting the world. | |
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| But sudden to strains of the lute erelong | |
| Is heard a gentle mysterious song. | |
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| The Shah sprang up, as if sorely perplexed: | 15 |
| “Who wrote of this song the charming text?” | |
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| Ansari, from whom he sought to know it, | |
| Replied: “’T is the work of Ferdusi the poet.” | |
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| “Ferdusi!” exclaimed the prince in dismay,— | |
| “Where is he? How fares the poet, O, say!” | 20 |
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| Ansari gave answer: “In poverty great | |
| He has lived full long in a mournful state | |
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| “At Thus, the native town of the bard, | |
| Where he in his garden works full hard.” | |
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| Shah Mahomet paused, and presently said: | 25 |
| “Ansari, a thought has come into my head. | |
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| “To my stables make haste, and with hands unthrifty | |
| Take a hundred mules, and camels fifty. | |
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| “And lade them all with every treasure | |
| That fills the heart of a mortal with pleasure, | 30 |
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| “With splendid articles, rich and rare, | |
| With costly dresses and furniture fair | |
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| “Of sandalwood and ivory white, | |
| With gold and silver tissues dight; | |
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| “With precious-handled goblets and pots, | 35 |
| And leopard-skins, all covered with spots, | |
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| “With carpets and shawls and the richest brocade | |
| That in my kingdom has ever been made. | |
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| “And don’t forget to pack with the rest | |
| Some glittering arms, and of housings the best, | 40 |
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| “As well as drinks of every kind | |
| And eatables such as in pots we find, | |
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| “And almond cakes and sweetmeats Egyptian, | |
| And gingerbread of every description, | |
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| “And also add a dozen steeds | 45 |
| As swift as arrows, of Arab breeds, | |
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| “And likewise a dozen slaves, black as coals, | |
| With bodies of steel, and sturdy souls. | |
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| “Ansari, when all these things thou hast got, | |
| Thou must start on thy journey, and linger not. | 50 |
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| “Thou must take them all with my kind regard | |
| To Thus, to Ferdusi, the mighty bard.” | |
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| Ansari fulfilled his lord’s behest, | |
| And loaded the camels and mules with the best | |
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| And costliest presents, the value of which | 55 |
| Was enough to make a whole province quite rich. | |
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| In propria persona he left at last | |
| The palace, when some three days had past, | |
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| And with a general’s banner red | |
| In front of the caravan he sped. | 60 |
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| At the end of a week to Thus came they; | |
| The town at the foot of the mountain lay. | |
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| The caravan the western gate | |
| With shouts and noises entered straight. | |
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| The trumpets sounded, the loud drums beat, | 65 |
| And songs of triumph rang through the street. | |
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| “La Illa Il Allah!” with joyous shout | |
| The camel-drivers were calling out. | |
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| But through the east gate at the farther end | |
| Of Thus, at that moment chanced to wend | 70 |
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| The funeral train so full of gloom, | |
| That the dead Ferdusi bore to his tomb. | |
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