THE BLOWING OF THE BREEZE OF ACCEPTANCE FROM THE DIRECTION OF EGYPT, AND THE PASSING OF ZULEIKHA'S LITTER, LIKE THE LITTER OF THE ROSE, TO EGYPT.

When the wise man returned from Egypt's land
From off Zuleikha's soul to loose the band,
Of the Vazír good news he brought indeed;
With him he filled her, from herself he freed.
Her fortune's rose-bud then began to bloom,
Its flight her destiny's Humá to resume.
In dreams on her affairs the bonds that fell,
Imagination came to loose as well.
Indeed, wherever sorrow is or mirth,
They come from dreams or fancy on the earth.
From dreams and fancy happy he who 's passed,
Out of such whirlpool lightly saved at last.
Her father saw Zuleikha glad again,
And to prepare her trousseau turned his rein.
And for the bridal then did he prepare,
From Roum and Russia, thousands of the fair,
Pistachio-mouthed, and of pomegranate breast,
Cheek and breast garden on rose-garden pressed.
On each ear-lobe a knot of jewels tied,
Encircling musk from ear to ear applied.
As rose-leaf in the morning fresh their face,
Free of dye's shame, and of red paint's disgrace.
Locks as of amber on a tulip hung,
And on each ear a pearl of price was strung.
Thousands of male slaves to excite men's strife,
With charms blood-shedding, robbing men of life.
Jaunty the red caps on their heads aside,
And of their scented hair the knots untied,
Whilst of the locks around their caps each hair
As twisted hyacinths 'neath tulips fair.
With coloured coats on body fitting right,
As tender bud or cane of sugar tight.
Their hair-like waists with jewels hung around,
A hundred hearts to each hair hanging bound.
A thousand well-formed horses, full of grace,
Obedient to the saddle; fierce in pace,
Than chougán-driven ball more swift to pass,
More mild than dew that lies upon the grass.
Upon them if the whip but cast a shade,
Out of time's plain to leap all haste they made.
Like the wild ass that scours the desert plain,
Or water-bird afloat upon the main:
That with the hoof the stony rock would cleave,
Or with the tail in canes a knot would weave;
On hill that passed as light as o'er the plain,
Yet never lost the guidance of the rein.
A thousand camels might that never lack,
Mountain of mountains, hills upon their back;
Not without pillars, standing as a hill,
With wind-swift coursers' speed advancing still.
Like hermits with but little food content,
With lordly patience under burdens bent.
A hundred deserts passed in God's repose,
Whilst eating thorns like spikenard or like rose.
For travel's love without food, without sleep,
In desert bounds to music step that keep.
Upon a hundred camels precious things,
Whilst every load a country's income brings.
Two hundred coverlets of rich brocade,
In Roum and Syria and Egypt made.
Caskets of jewels that reflect the light,
Badakhshan rubies, pearls and sapphires bright.
Two hundred trays of musk from far Tatár,*
With amber pure, and aloes of Kamár.*
With camel-drivers for each stage and place,
Like China's desert was of earth the face.
And for Zuleikha as a bride apart
They made a litter pleasing to the heart.
With aloe carved and sandalwood was made,
The house, and on its planks was gold inlaid.
Like Jamshid's tent its roof with gems was bound,
Like the sun's globe aye shedding gold around.
Without, within, as full as it could hold,
Were drops of pearl and many a nail of gold.
Its hangings all of woven gold brocade,
Of hues enchanting, beauteous form were made.
In that bride's chamber they Zuleikha place
And towards Egypt gently turn her face.
On back of camels swift of foot made fast,
In the spring breeze like rose the litter passed.
Jess'mine in face and scent, of jessamine form,
Thousands of cypress, box, and pine trees swarm;
They started off, as if the early spring
From place to place the plain were traversing,
And to whatever stage that idol came,
There Iram's garden hid its face from shame.
The boys excited, leaping here and there,
And ogling from their litters maidens fair.
Of her own locks each girl a noose had thrown,
And made a boy a captive of her own.
Each boy had of his eye-lash made a dart,
And made an opening in his prisoner's heart.
To charm on one side and caress desire,
On the other longing and a lover's fire.
Thousands of lovers and beloved were by,
Goods everywhere and hundreds there to buy.
After this manner staging day by day,
They towards Egypt took their lengthy way.
Zuleikha happy, pleased with fate indeed,
The road towards Egypt would be passed with speed;
The night of sorrow would be turned to day,
The pain of separation pass away;
Not knowing this, that still the night was black,
From that till morn of many years the track.
Through darksome night and through the daylight clear,
On, on they drove till Egypt's self was near.
A courier quickly forwards thence they sent,
And he before them on his camel went,
That he tow'rds Egypt on his road might go
And Egypt's Vazír might the tidings know,
“Thy fortune, lo! is here before thine eyes;
“If thou wouldst go to welcome it, arise!”