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FARRUKHI'S SUCCESS , '43
" Since the meadow hides i*ls face in satin Shot with greens and blifts,
And the mountains wrap their brows in silken veils of seven hues,
Foliage bright as parrots plumage doth the graceful willow wear.
YesterJen the midnight breezes brought the fadings of th,e spring:
Welcome, O ye northern gales, for this glad promise which ye bring!
Up its sleeve the wind, meseemeth, pounded musk hath stored away,
While the garden fills its l-ap with shining dMs, as though for play.
On the branches of syringa necklaces ofpearls we see,
Ruby ear-rings of Badakhshan sparkle on the Judas-tree.
Since the branches of the rose-bush carmine cups and beakers bore
Human-like five-fingered hands reach downwarfib from the sycamore.
Gardens all chameleon-coated, branches with chameleon whorls,
Pearl^lustrous pools around us. clouds above us raining pearls f
On tfw gleaming plain this coat of many colours doth appear
Like a robe of honotfr granted in, the court of our Amir.
'For our Princes Camp of BraMing stirreth in these joyful days
So that all this age of ours in joyful wonder stands agaze.
Green within the green you see, like skies within thefirt/lament; Like afort within a fortress spreads the army tent'on tent.
Every te.it contains a lover resting in his sweethearts arms,
Every patch ofgrass reifealeth to a friend a favourite's charms.
Harps are sounding 'midst the verdure, minstrels sing their lays divine,
Tents resound with clink of glasses as the pages pour the wine.
Kisses, claspings from the lovers j coy reproachesfrom the fair;
Wine-born slumbers for the sleepers, while the minstrels wake the air.
, .Earth *is teeming like the musk-pod with aromas ricn and r&re,
,
Branding-fires, like suns ablaze, are kindled at the spacious gate
Leading to the state-pavilion of our Prince so fortunate.
Leap the flames like gleaming standards draped with yellow-hued brocade,
Hotter than a young man's temper, yellower than gold assayed.
Branding tools like coral branches ruby-tinted glow amain
In ihe fire, as in the ripe pomegranate glows the crimson grain.
Rank on rank of active boys, whose watchful eyes no slumber know ;
Steeds which still await the branding, rank on rank and row on row.
On his horse, the river-forder, roams our genial Prince afar,
* Ready to his hand the lassoo, like a young Isfandiydr. ,
Like the locks ofpretty children see it how it curls and bends,
Yet be sure its hold is stronger than the covenant offriends.
Bu'l-Muzaffar Shah the Jjist, surrounded by a noble band,
King and conqueror of cities, brave defender of the land.
Serpent-coiled in skilful hands freshforms his whirling noose doth take, ,
Like unto the rod of*Moses metamorphosed to a snake.
Whosoever hath bjen captured by that noose and circling line,
On thejace and flank and shoulder ever bears the Royal Sign.
But, thotigh on one side he brands, he giveth also rich rewards,
Leads his'poets with a bridle, binds %is guests as though with cords."
When 'Amid As'ad heard this rhapsody, he was overwhelmed
with amazement, for never had the like of it reached his ears.
I^e pu't aside all his business, mounted Farrukhf on a horse, and
set oi;t*for the Amir, whose presence he entered about sun-down,
saying, " O Sire, I bring thee a poet
the like of whom no one
hat 1
* seen since Daqfqi's face was veiled in the tomb." Then he
related what had passed.
Then tlie 'Amir accorded Farrukhi an audience, and when he
came in he did reverence, and the Amir gave him his hand and