CVII. Better, oh better, cancel from the Scroll Of Universe one luckless Human Soul, Than drop by drop enlarge the Flood that rolls Hoarser with Anguish as the Ages roll. CVIII. Ah Love! could you and I with Fate conspire CIX. But see! The rising Moon of Heav'n again CX. And when Yourself with silver Foot shall pass TAMÁM. NOTES. The "False Dawn;" Subhi Kázib, a transient Light on the Horizon about an hour before the Subhi sadik, or True Dawn; a well-known Phenomenon in the East. 2 New Year. Beginning with the Vernal Equinox, it must be remembered; and (howsoever the old Solar Year is practically superseded by the clumsy Lunar Year that dates from the Mohammedan Hijra) still commemorated by a Festival that is said to have been appointed by the very Jamshyd whom Omar so often talks of, and whose yearly Calendar he helped to rectify. "The sudden approach and rapid advance of the Spring," says Mr Binning, "are very striking. Before the Snow is well off the Ground, the Trees burst into Blossom, and the Flowers start from the Soil. At Naw Rooz (their New Year's Day) the Snow was lying in patches on the Hills and in the shaded Vallies, while the Fruit-trees in the Garden were budding beautifully, and green Plants and Flowers springing upon the Plains on every side 'And on old Hyems' Chin and icy Crown Among the Plants newly appear'd I recognized some old Acquaintances I had not seen for many a Year: among these, two varieties of the Thistle; a coarse species of the Daisy, like the Horse-gowan; red and white Clover; the Dock; the blue Corn-flower; and that vulgar Herb the Dandelion rearing its yellow crest on the Banks of the Watercourses." The Nightingale was not yet heard, for the Rose was not yet blown but an almost identical Blackbird and Woodpecker helped to make up something of a North-country Spring. : 3 Exodus iv. 6; where Moses draws forth his Hand-not, according to the Persians, "leprous as Snow,"—but white, as our May-Blossom in Spring perhaps. According to them also the Healing Power of Jesus resided in his Breath. 4 Iram, planted by King Shaddad, and now sunk somewhere in the Sands of Arabia. Jamshyd's Seven-ring'd Cup was typical of the 7 Heavens, 7 Planets, 7 Seas, &c., and was a Divining Cup. 5 Péhlevi, the old Heroic Sanskrit of Persia. Háfiz also speaks of the Nightingale's Péhlevi, which did not change with the People's. 6 I am not sure if this refers to the Red Rose looking sickly, or the Yellow Rose that ought to be Red; Red, White, and Yellow Roses all common in Persia. I think Southey, in his Common-Place Book, quotes from some Spanish author about a Rose being White till 10 o'clock; "Rosa perfecta" at 2; and "perfecta incarnada" at 5. 7 Rustum, the "Hercules" of Persia, whose exploits are among the most celebrated in the Sháh-náma. Hátim Tai, a well-known Type of Oriental Generosity. 8 A Drum-beaten outside a Palace. 9 That is, the Rose's Golden Centre. 10 Persepolis call'd also Takht'i Jamshyd-THE THRONE OF JAMSHYD," King-Splendid," of the mythical Peeshdádian Dynasty, and supposed (according to the Sháh-náma) to have been founded and built by him. Others refer it to the Work of the Genie King, Ján Ibn Ján-who also built the Pyramids before the time of Adam. : BAHRÁM GÚR-Bahrám of the Wild Ass-a Sassanian Sovereign-had also his Seven Castles (like the King of Bohemia!) each of a different Colour; each with a Royal Mistress within; each of whom tells him a Story, as told in one of the most famous Poems of Persia, written by Amír Khusraw all these Sevens also figuring (according to Eastern Mysticism) the Seven Heavens, and perhaps the Book itself that Eighth, into which the mystical Seven transcend, and within which they revolve. The Ruins of Three of these Towers are yet shown by the Peasantry; as also the Swamp in which Bahrám sunk, like the Master of Ravenswood, while pursuing his Gúr. 11 This Quatrain Mr Binning found, among several of Hafiz and others, inscribed by some stray hand among the ruins of Persepolis. The Ringdove's ancient Péhlevi, Coo, Coo, Coo, signifies also in Persian "Where? Where? Where?" In Attár's "Bird-parliament" she is reproved by the Leader of the Birds for sitting still, and for ever harping on that one note of lamentation for her lost Yusuf. 12 A thousand years to each Planet. 13 Saturn, Lord of the Seventh Heaven. |