Select Poetry.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 72, 18 May 1868, Page 119

Select Poetry.

• OMAR AND THE PERSIAN. ' victor stood beside the spoil, , An .i, b y the Srtnnlng dead. The land is ours, the foe is ours, .Now reßt,mymen,” hesaid. But while he spoke there , came a baud Of foot-sore, panting men; • "The latest prisoner, my lord, We took him in the glen, And left behind dead hostages That we would come again.” The victor spoke, ” Thou, Persian dog t ; * _ Haatc <wt m< > r o lives than thine; • That was thy will, and thou shouldst die Pull thnce. If I had mine. D °a£ k 5°T th -y f ate, thy just reward?” The Persian bent his head, * I know both Bides of victory, And only grieve,” he said, “ Because there will be none to fight Gainst thee, when I am dead. 4 * No Persian faints at sight of Death, We know his face too well, He waits for us on mountain side, In town, or shelter’d dell, And yet I crave a cup of wine. Thy first and latest boon, I’of I have gone three days athirst, _And fear lest I may swoon, Or even wrong mine enemy, By dying now, too soon.” The cup was brought, but ere he drank, The Persian shudder’d white, Om&r replied, “ What fearest thou? The wine is clear and bright; We are no poisoners, not we, Nor traitors to a guest, No dart behind, nor dart within, Bhall pierce thy gallant breast; Till.thou hast drained the'draught, 0 foe, Thou dost in safety rest.” The Persian smiled, with parched lips, Upon the foemen round, Then poured the precious liquid out, Untasted, on the ground. *' Till that is drunk, T live,” said he, ” And while I live. I fight ; So. see you to your victory, , For’tis undone this night: ' Omar, the worthy, battle fair Is hut thy god-like right.” i Upsprang a wrathfoTarmy then, — Omar restrained them all, Upon no battle-field had rung More clear his martial call, The dead men’s hair beside his feet As by a breeze was stirr’d. The farthest henchman in the comp . The noble mandate heard; “ Hold! if there be a sacred thing, It is the warrior’s word.” S.A.D.L