There, where the Garden of Irem lies, When into this world of Strife and Death The blossoms are shaken by Allah's breath. THE BIRTH OF THE HORSE. FROM THE ARABIC. THE South Wind blows from Paradise A wind of fire and force; And yet his proudest merit is That he begat the Horse. When Allah's breath created first The noble Arab steed,— The conqueror of all his race In courage and in speed,— To the South Wind He spake: From thee The pride of all the Faithful, he The terror of their foes: Rider and Horse shall comrades be In battle and repose. Then to the perfect Horse He spake : Fortune to thee I bring; Fortune, as long as rolls the Earth, Without a pinion winged thou art, Men shall bestride thee who have made Their fame, their service, mine; And, when they pray upon their way, Their prayers shall count as thine. The worship which thy master speaks Thou sharest silently; By mutual fate he rises up, Or falls to Earth with thee. THE WISDOM OF ALI. AN ARAB LEGEND. THE Prophet once, sitting in calm debate, And yet to none, in speech or phrase, the same, Now, when the first his bold demand did make, These were the words which Ali straightway spake : "Wisdom is the inheritance of those Whom Allah favors; riches, of his foes." Unto the second he said: " Thyself must be Guard to thy wealth; but Wisdom guardeth thee." : Unto the third "By Wisdom wealth is won; But riches purchased wisdom yet for none." Unto the fourth: "Thy goods the thief may take ; But into Wisdom's house he cannot break." Unto the fifth: "Thy goods decrease the more Unto the sixth: "Wealth tempts to evil ways; Unto the seventh: "Divide thy wealth, each part Unto the eighth: "Wealth cannot keep itself; |