Chinese and Arabian Literature - E. Wilson - The Search For Mecca

82 SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY
'Tis not that flattery's glozing tongue
Hath basely fram'd an idle song,
But truth that breath'd the tale.
Thine eyes unaided ne'er could trace
Each opening charm, each varied grace,
That round thy person plays
Some must remain conceal'd from thee,
For Selim's watchful eye to see,
For Selim's tongue to praise.
One polish'd mirror can declare
That eye so bright, that face so fair.
That cheek which shames the rose
But how thy mantle waves behind,
How float thy tresses on the wind,
Another only shows.
AN EPIGRAM"
Whoever has recourse to thee
Can hope for health no more.
He's launched into perdition's sea,
A sea without a shore.
Where'er admission thou canst gain.
Where'er thy phiz can pierce,
At once the Doctor they retain,
The mourners and the hearse.
;
;
George.
ON A LITTLE MAN WITH A VERY LARGE BEARD
How can thy chin that burden bear?
Is it all gravity to shock ?
Is it to make the people stare ?
And be thyself a laughing stock?
'" Written to Abou Alchair Selamu, an Egyptian physician. The author was
a physician of Antioch.