ve return'd to Memory,
And broke in Passion from his Lips, The Sage
Under whose waxing Will Existence rose
Responsive, and, relaxing, waned again,
Raising a Fantom Image of Absal
Set it awhile before Salaman's Eyes,
Till, having sow'd the Seed of Quiet there,
It went again down to Annihilation.
But ever, for the Sum of his Discourse,
The Sage would tell of a Celestial Love;
"Zuhrah," he said, "the Lustre of the Stars--
'Fore whom the Beauty of the Brightest wanes;
Who were she to reveal her perfect Beauty,
The Sun and Moon would craze; Zuhrah," he said,
"The Sweetness of the Banquet--none in Song
Like Her--her Harp filling the Ear of Heaven,
That Dervish-dances at her Harmony."
Salaman listen'd, and inclin'd--again
Repeated, Inclination ever grew;
Until The Sage beholding in his Soul
The Spirit quicken, so effectually
With Zuhrah wrought, that she reveal'd herself
In her pure Beauty to Salaman's Soul,
And washing Absal's Image from his Breast,
There reign'd instead. Celestial Beauty seen,
He left the Earthly; and, once come to know
Eternal Love, he let the Mortal go.

XXVII.

The Crown of Empire how supreme a Lot!
The Throne of the Sultan how high!--But not
For All--None but the Heaven-ward Foot may dare
To mount--The Head that touches Heaven to wear!--

When the Belov'd of Royal Augury
Was rescued from the Bondage of Absal,
Then he arose, and shaking off the Dust
Of that lost Travel, girded up his Heart,
And look'd with undefiled Robe to Heaven.
Then was His Head worthy to wear the Crown,
His Foot to mount the Throne. And then The Shah
Summon'd the Chiefs of Cities and of States,
Summon'd the Absolute Ones who wore the Ring,
And such a Banquet order'd as is not
For Sovereign Assemblement the like
In the Folding of the Records of the World.
No armed Host, nor Captain of a Host,
From all the Quarters of the World, but there;
Of whom not one but to Salaman did
Obeisance, and lifted up his Neck
To yoke it under his Supremacy.
Then The Shah crown'd him with the Golden Crown,
And set the Golden Throne beneath his Feet.
And over all the Heads of the Assembly,
And in the Ears of all of them, his Jewels
With the Diamond of Wisdom cut and said:--

XXVIII.

"My Son, the Kingdom of The Wo