Adam’s Vision.

After these introductory pieces, and a eulogy of the WORD—Speech—beginning,

The Word—the exordium of the Book of Love,

The Word—first fruits of the Garden of Love;

Wisdom has no greatness or efficacy comparable to the Word,

The Earth has no memorial enduring as the Word:—

the Poet enters on the proper subject of his work with a description of Adam’s first awaking to a sense of his existence, and a perception of the world around him. Beholding the long line of his descendants—here the Prophets—there the Saints—Kings and Leaders of the People—each in his destined rank and office—his eye is arrested as he scans the multitude by the surpassing beauty of Joseph; whom the Orientals consider the perfection of the human form and the model of manly grace and elegance.

Then Joseph struck his eye like a radiant moon,—

Moon!—no, a sun in the zenith of his splendour and glory!

The distinguished taper of a select assembly,

A high-flashing torch in a festive gathering.

The loveliness of the lovely in his presence was as nothing,

As stars vanish in the beams of the sun;

The perfection of his beauty and loveliness passed conception,

Exceeded all limits of the powers of thought;

The vesture of Divine power robed his shoulders,

His head bore the crown of royal splendour;

His brow was like the dawn of the morning of felicity,

And his face changed the gloomy night into the day of brightness;

All the Prophets before and after him,

Purified from the darkness of their mortal bodies;

All the holy spirits without failure or diminution,

Waving high their standards, right and left,

Shouted aloud,—“In the name of God,”—and—“There is no God but God.”

And Adam was amazed at that majesty and glory,

And in a tone of astonishment whispered softly,

“God!—from what rose-bed comes this seedling,

And of whose eye is he the bright beauty-spot;

How hath this ray of fortune beamed upon him!

Where hath he found this perfection and honour!”

And a voice answered,—“It is the light of thine eye,

The joy giving-solace of a sorrow-stricken heart;

He is a sapling from the garden of Jacob,

A gazelle from the plains of the Friend of God (Abraham);

The height of his dome shall be more exalted than Saturn’s,

The land of Egypt shall be his royal palace;

The excess of loveliness which shines in his countenance

Will inflame with envy the loveliest in the world:

Thine own countenance is mirrored in his;

Bestow upon him all that thou hast thyself in thy treasure-house!”

Then Adam drew him and pressed him on his breast,

And poured into him the virtue of his own pure heart;

Made him certified of his own affection;

Imprinted on his brow a fatherly kiss;

Blossomed like a rose in the possession of his child,

And invoked blessings upon him as the nightingale on the rose.