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With Persian Saadi in his Gulistan ：
But O that light！ … I slumber'd … Death； the while；
Stole o'er my senses in that lovely isle
So softly that no single silken hair
Awoke that slept … or knew that it was there。
The last spot of Earth's orb I trod upon
* Was a proud temple call'd the Parthenon …
More beauty clung around her column'd wall
員han ev'n thy glowing bosom beats withal；
And when old Time my wing did disenthral
Thence sprang I … as the eagle from his tower；
And years I left behind me in an hour。
What time upon her airy bounds I hung
One half the garden of her globe was flung
Unrolling as a chart unto my view …
Tenantless cities of the desert too ！
Ianthe； beauty crowded on me then；
And half I wish'd to be again of men。〃
〃My Angelo！ and why of them to be ？
A brighter dwelling…place is here for thee …
* It was entire in 1687 … the most elevated spot in Athens。
？Shadowing more beauty in their airy brows
Than have the white breasts of the Queen of Love。 … _Marlowe。_
And greener fields than in yon world above；
And women's loveliness … and passionate love。〃
〃But； list； Ianthe！ when the air so soft
*Fail'd； as my pennon'd spirit leapt aloft；
Perhaps my brain grew dizzy … but the world
I left so late was into chaos hurl'd …
Sprang from her station； on the winds apart；
And roll'd； a flame； the fiery Heaven athwart。
Methought； my sweet one； then I ceased to soar
And fell … not swiftly as I rose before；
But with a downward； tremulous motion thro'
Light； brazen rays； this golden star unto！
Nor long the measure of my falling hours；
For nearest of all stars was thine to ours …
Dread star！ that came； amid a night of mirth；
A red D鎑alion on the timid Earth。
〃We came … and to thy Earth … but not to us
Be given our lady's bidding to discuss：
We came； my love； around； above； below；
Gay fire…fly of the night we come and go；
Nor ask a reason save the angel…nod
_ She_ grants to us； as granted by her God …
But； Angelo； than thine grey Time unfurl'd
Never his fairy wing o'er fairier world ！
Dim was its little disk； and angel eyes
Alone could see the phantom in the skies；
When first Al Aaraaf knew her course to be
Headlong thitherward o'er the starry sea …
But when its glory swell'd upon the sky；
As glowing Beauty's bust beneath man's eye；
* Pennon … for pinion。 … _Milton_。
We paus'd before the heritage of men；
And thy star trembled … as doth Beauty then ！〃
Thus； in discourse； the lovers whiled away
The night that waned and waned and brought no day。
They fell ： for Heaven to them no hope imparts
Who hear not for the beating of their hearts。
~~~ End of Text ~~~
TAMERLANE
KIND solace in a dying hour！
Such； father； is not （now） my theme …
I will not madly deem that power
Of Earth may shrive me of the sin
Unearthly pride hath revell'd in …
I have no time to dote or dream：
You call it hope … that fire of fire！
It is but agony of desire：
If I _can_ hope … Oh God！ I can …
Its fount is holier … more divine …
I would not call thee fool； old man；
But such is not a gift of thine。
Know thou the secret of a spirit
Bow'd from its wild pride into shame。
O！ yearning heart！ I did inherit
Thy withering portion with the fame；
The searing glory which hath shone
Amid the jewels of my throne；
Halo of Hell！ and with a pain
Not Hell shall make me fear again …
O！ craving heart； for the lost flowers
And sunshine of my summer hours！
Th' undying voice of that dead time；
With its interminable chime；
Rings； in the spirit of a spell；
Upon thy emptiness … a knell。
I have not always been as now：
The fever'd diadem on my brow
I claim'd and won usurpingly …
Hath not the same fierce heirdom given
Rome to the Caesar … this to me？
The heritage of a kingly mind；
And a proud spirit which hath striven
Triumphantly with human kind。
On mountain soil I first drew life：
The mists of the Taglay have shed
Nightly their dews upon my head；
And； I believe； the winged strife
And tumult of the headlong air
Have nestled in my very hair。
So late from Heaven … that dew … it fell
（Mid dreams of an unholy night）
Upon me … with the touch of Hell；
While the red flashing of the light
From clouds that hung； like banners； o'er；
Appeared to my half…closing eye
The pageantry of monarchy；
And the deep trumpet…thunder's roar
Came hurriedly upon me； telling
Of human battle； where my voice；
My own voice； silly child！ … was swelling
（O！ how my spirit would rejoice；
And leap within me at the cry）
The battle…cry of Victory！
The rain came down upon my head
Unshelter'd … and the heavy wind
Was giantlike … so thou； my mind！ …
It was but man； I thought； who shed
Laurels upon me： and the rush …
The torrent of the chilly air
Gurgled within my ear the crush
Of empires … with the captive's prayer …
The hum of suiters … and the tone
Of flattery 'round a sovereign's throne。
My passions； from that hapless hour；
Usurp'd a tyranny which men
Have deem'd； since I have reach'd to power；
My innate nature … be it so：
But； father； there liv'd one who； then；
Then … in my boyhood … when their fire
Burn'd with a still intenser glow；
（For passion must； with youth； expire）
E'en _then_ who knew this iron heart
In woman's weakness had a part。
I have no words … alas！ … to tell
The loveliness of loving well！
Nor would I now attempt to trace
The more than beauty of a face
Whose lineaments； upon my mind；
Are shadows on th' unstable wind：
Thus I remember having dwelt
Some page of early lore upon；
With loitering eye； till I have felt
The letters … with their meaning … melt
To fantasies … with none。
O； she was worthy of all love！
Love … as in infancy was mine …
'Twas such as angel minds above
Might envy； her young heart the shrine
On which my ev'ry hope and thought
Were incense … then a goodly gift；
For they were childish … and upright …
Pure as her young example taught：
Why did I leave it； and； adrift；
Trust to the fire within； for light？
We grew in age … and love … together；
Roaming the forest； and the wild；
My breast her shield in wintry weather …
And； when the friendly sunshine smil'd；
And she would mark the opening skies；
_I_ saw no Heaven … but in her eyes。
Young Love's first lesson is the heart：
For 'mid that sunshine； and those smiles；
When； from our little cares apart；
And laughing at her girlish wiles；
I'd throw me on her throbbing breast；
And pour my spirit out in tears …
There was no need to speak the rest …
No need to quiet any fears
Of her … who ask'd no reason why；
But turn'd on me her quiet eye！
Yet _more_ than worthy of the love
My spirit struggled with； and strove；
When； on the mountain peak； alone；
Ambition lent it a new tone …
I had no being … but in thee：
The world； and all it did contain
In the earth … the air … the sea …
Its joy … its little lot of pain
That was new pleasure the ideal；
Dim； vanities of dreams by night …
And dimmer nothings which were real …
（Shadows … and a more shadowy light！）
Parted upon their misty wings；
And； so； confusedly； became
Thine image； and … a name … a name！
Two separate … yet most intimate things。
I was ambitious … have you known
The passion； father？ You have not：
A cottager； I mark'd a throne
Of half the world as all my own；
And murmur'd at such lowly lot …
But； just like any other dream；
Upon the vapour of the dew
My own had past； did not the beam
Of beauty which did while it thro'
The minute … the hour … the day … oppress
My mind with double loveliness。
We walk'd together on the crown
Of a high mountain which look'd down
Afar from its proud natural towers
Of rock and forest； on the hills …
The dwindled hills！ begirt with bowers
And shouting with a thousand rills。
I spoke to her of power and pride；
But mystically … in such guise
That she might deem it nought beside
The moment's converse； in her eyes
I read； perhaps too carelessly …
A mingled feeling with my own …
The flush on her bright cheek； to me
Seem'd to become a queenly throne
Too well that I should let it be
Light in the wilderness alone。
I wrapp'd myself in grandeur then；
And donn'd a visionary crown
Yet it was not that Fantasy
Had thrown her mantle over me …
But that； among the rabble … men；
Lion ambition is chain'd down …
And crouches to a keeper's hand …
Not so in deserts where the grand
The wild … the terrible conspire
With their own breath to fan his fire。
Look 'round thee now on Samarcand！ …
Is not she queen of Earth？ her pride
Above all cities？ in her hand
Their destinies？ in all beside
Of glory which the world hath known
Stands she not nobly and alone？
Falling … her veriest stepping…stone
Shall form the pedestal of a throne …