d to reach us, nor an Eye to watch--
All Day we whisper'd in each other's Ears,
All Night we slept in one another's Arms--
All seem'd to our Desire, as if the Hand
Of unjust Fortune were for once too short.
Oh would to God that when I lit the Pyre
The Flame had left Thee Living and me Dead,
Not Living worse than Dead, depriv'd of Thee!
Oh were I but with Thee!--at any Cost
Stript of this terrible Self-solitude!
Oh but with Thee Annihilation--lost,
Or in Eternal Intercourse renew'd!"

Slumber-drunk an Arab in the
Desert off his Camel tumbled,
Who the lighter of her Burden
Ran upon her road rejoicing.
When the Arab woke at morning,
Rubb'd his Eyes and look'd about him--
"Oh my Camel! Oh my Camel!"
Quoth he, "Camel of my Soul!--
That Lost with Her I lost might be,
Or found, She might be found with Me!"

XXV.

When in this Plight The Shah Salaman saw,
His Soul was struck with Anguish, and the Vein
Of Life within was strangled--what to do
He knew not. Then he turn'd him to The Sage--
"On Altar of the World, to whom Mankind
Directs the Face of Prayer in Weal or Woe,
Nothing but Wisdom can untie the Knot;
And art not Thou the Wisdom of the World,
The Master-Key of all its Difficulties?
Absal is perisht; and, because of Her,
Salaman dedicates his Life to Sorrow;
I cannot bring back Her, nor comfort Him.
Lo, I have said! My Sorrow is before Thee;
From thy far-reaching Wisdom help Thou Me
Fast in the Hand of Sorrow! Help Thou Me,
For I am very wretched!" Then The Sage--
"Oh Thou that err'st not from the Road of Right,
If but Salaman have not broke my Bond,
Nor lies beyond the Noose of my Firman,
He quickly shall unload his Heart to me,
And I will find a Remedy for all."

XXVI.

Then The Sage counsell'd, and Salaman heard,
And drew the Wisdom down into his Heart;
And, sitting in the Shadow of the Perfect,
His Soul found Quiet under; sweet it seem'd,
Sweeping the Chaff and Litter from his own,
To be the very Dust of Wisdom's Door,
Slave of the Firman of the Lord of Life,
Then The Sage marvell'd at his Towardness,
And wrought in Miracle in his behalf.
He pour'd the Wine of Wisdom in his Cup,
He laid the Dew of Peace upon his lips;
And when Old Lo