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

SELECTIONS FROM ARABIAN POETRY 83
When I behold thy little feet
After thy beard obsequious run,
I always fancy that I meet
Some father followed by his son,
— —
A man like thee scarce e'er appear'd
A beard like thine—where shall we find it?
Surely thou cherishest thy beard
In hopes to hide thyself behind it.
LAMIAT ALAJEM 38
No kind supporting hand I meet,
But Fortitude shall stay my feet;
No borrow'd splendors round me shine,
But Virtue's lustre all is mine;
A Fame unsulHed still I boast,
Obscur'd, conceal'd, but never lost
The same bright orb that led the day
Pours from the West his mellow'd ray.
Zaura, farewell! No more I see
Within thy walls, a home for me;
Deserted, spurn'd, aside I'm toss'd,
As an old sword whose scabbard's lost:
Around thy walls I seek in vain
Some bosom that will soothe my pain
No friend is near to breathe relief.
Or brother to partake my grief.
For many a melancholy day
Thro' desert vales I've wound my way;
The faithful beast, whose back I press,
In groans laments her lord's distress;
Isaac Ben Khalif.
*8 Abou Ismael was a native of Ispa- dition to afford Abou Ismael any prohan.
He devoted himself to the service tection, for, being attacked by his
of the Seljuk Sultans of Persia, and brother Mahmnud. he was defeated, and
enjoyed the confidence of Malec Shah. driven from Mousel, and upon the fall
and his son and grandson, Mohammed of his master the vizir was seized and
and Massoud, by the last of whom he thrown into prison, and at length in the
was raised to the dignity of vizir. Mas- year 515 sentenced to be put to death,
soud, however, was not long in a con-