Slumber may desert my bed,
    Tis not slumber’s charms I seek—­
  ’Tis the robe of beauty spread
    O’er my Selim’s rosy cheek.

TO A LADY WEEPING[19]

  When I beheld thy blue eyes shine
    Thro’ the bright drop that pity drew,
  I saw beneath those tears of thine
    A blue-ey’d violet bath’d in dew.

  The violet ever scents the gale,
    Its hues adorn the fairest wreath,
  But sweetest thro’ a dewy veil
    Its colors glow, its odors breathe.

  And thus thy charms in brightness rise—­
    When wit and pleasure round thee play,
  When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes,
    Who but admires their sprightly ray? 
  But when thro’ pity’s flood they gleam,
    Who but must love their soften’d beam?

Ebn Alrumi.

[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most
     excellent of all their poets.  He was by birth a Syrian, and passed
     the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283.

ON A VALETUDINARIAN

  So careful is Isa, and anxious to last,
    So afraid of himself is he grown,
  He swears thro’ two nostrils the breath goes too fast,
    And he’s trying to breathe thro’ but one.

Ebn Alrumi.

ON A MISER

  “Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool,
    She scatters corn where’er she goes”—­
  Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule,
    That dropt a dinner to the crows.

Ebn Alrumi.

TO CASSIM OBIO ALLAH[20]

  Poor Cassim! thou art doom’d to mourn
      By destiny’s decree;
  Whatever happens it must turn
      To misery for thee.

  Two sons hadst thou, the one thy pride,
      The other was thy pest;
  Ah, why did cruel death decide
      To snatch away the best?

  No wonder thou shouldst droop with woe,
      Of such a child bereft;
  But now thy tears must doubly flow,
      For, ah! the other’s left.

Aly Ben Ahmed Ben Mansour.

[20] Aly Ben Ahmed distinguished himself in prose as well as poetry,
     and an historical work of considerable reputation, of which he was
     the author, is still extant.  But he principally excelled in satire,
     and so fond was he of indulging this dangerous talent that no one
     escaped his lash; if he could only bring out a sarcasm, it was
     matter of indifference to him whether an enemy or a brother smarted
     under its severity.  He died at Bagdad A.H. 302.

A FRIEND’S BIRTHDAY[21]

  When born, in tears we saw thee drown’d,
  While thine assembled friends around,
    With smiles their joy confest;
  So live, that at thy parting hour,
  They may the flood of sorrow pour,
    And thou in smiles be drest!