{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/saab/saab21.htm","path":"isl/saab/saab21.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/saab/saab21.htm","text":"Salaman and Absal, by Jami, tr. Edward Fitzgerald, [1904]\nSix days Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n on the Camel rode,\n And then Remembrance of foregone Reproach\n Abode not by him; and upon the Seventh\n He halted on the Seashore, and beheld\n An Ocean boundless as the Heaven above,\n That, reaching its Circumference from K\u00e1f\n To K\u00e1f, down to the Back of Gau and Mani\n Descended, and its Stars were Creatures\u2019 Eyes.\n The Face of it was as it were a Range\n Of moving Mountains; or as endless Hosts\n Of Camels trooping from all Quarters up,\n Furious, with the Foam upon their Lips.\n In it innumerable glittering Fish\n Like Jewels polish-sharp, to the sharp Eye\n But for an Instant visible, glancing through\n As Silver Scissors slice a blue Brocade;\n Though were the Dragon from its Hollow roused,\n The Dragon of the Stars would stare Aghast.\n Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n eyed the Sea, and cast about\n To cross it\u2014and forthwith upon the Shore\n Devis\u2019d a Shallop like a Crescent Moon,\n Wherein that Sun and Moon in happy Hour\n Enter\u2019d as into some Celestial Sign;\n That, figured like a Bow, but Arrow-like\n In Flight, was feather\u2019d with a little Sail,\n And, pitcht upon the Water like a Duck,\n So with her Bosom sped to her Desire.\nWhen they had sail\u2019d their Vessel for a Moon,\n And marr\u2019d their Beauty with the wind o\u2019 th\u2019 Sea,\n Suddenly in mid Sea reveal\u2019d itself\n An Isle, beyond Description beautiful;\n An Isle that all was Garden; not a Bird\n Of Note or Plume in all the World but there;\n There as in Bridal Retinue array\u2019d\n The Pheasant in his Crown, the Dove in her Collar;\n And those who tuned their Bills among the Trees\n That Arm in Arm from Fingers paralyz\u2019d\n With any Breath of Air Fruit moist and dry\n Down scatter\u2019d in Profusion to their Feet,\n Where Fountains of Sweet Water ran, and round\n Sunshine and Shadow chequer-chased the Ground.\n Here Iram Garden seem\u2019d in Secresy\n Blowing the Rosebud of its Revelation;\n Or Paradise, forgetful of the Day\n Of Audit, lifted from her Face the Veil.\nSal\u00e1m\u00e1n saw the Isle, and thought no more\n Of Further\u2014there with Abs\u00e1l, he sat down,\n Abs\u00e1l and He together side by side\n Rejoicing like the Lily and the Rose,\n Together like the Body and the Soul.\n Under its Trees in one another's Arms\n They slept\u2014they drank its Fountains hand in hand\u2014\nSought Sugar with the Parrot\u2014or in Sport\n Paraded with the Peacock\u2014raced the Partridge\n Or fell a-talking with the Nightingale.\n There was the Rose without a Thorn, and there\n The Treasure and no Serpent to beware\u2014\n What sweeter than your Mistress at your side\n In such a Solitude, and none to Chide!","title":"Salaman and Absal: Sal\u00e1m\u00e1n and Abs\u00e1l: XIX","type":"page"}