THE STATUES;

OR, THE

STORY OF ZEYNU 'LASNÂM.

CANTO II.

THE STATUES;

OR, THE

STORY OF ZEYNU 'LASNẨM.

CANTO II.

THE dawn now streak'd with light the eastern skies,

Still sleep sat heavy on the monarch's eyes.

But ere the sun his orient glory shed,

The same majestic form before his bed

Appear'd, and in familiar accents said,

Thy faith, thy piety, thy courage shewn,

Have favour won from Him who rules alone.

The power all-seeing in his golden scale

▾ Hath tried, nor has thy weight been found to fail. Freely thy royal state thou couldst resign,

A glorious kingdom therefore shall be thine.

'Return to fair Bassora, and obtain

The guerdon of thy constancy and pain,

· The noblest gifts that can adorn a mortal reign.’
Then slumber fled his couch, and undismay'd,
And trusting still, the king the dream obey'd.
Bassora hails him with triumphant voice,
And all her streets and provinces rejoice,

The faithful regent, eager to restore

To hands so dear her delegated pow'r,
With love maternal strains him to her breast,

Nor deems the day she bore him was so blest.
Much she inquires, and much the king will say

Of toils and dangers which infest the way,
Th' Ægyptian city, and the fertile plains
O'er which the mighty Nile prolific reigns.
Mysterious stream! about whose sacred head
Impenetrable mists and darkness spread,

The search of many an age has laugh'd to scorn:
Whether on earth the wondrous spring be born,