Low as young AZIM knelt, that motley crowd Of all earth’s nations sunk the knee and bow’d, With shouts of “ALLA!” echoing long and loud; While high in air, above the Prophet’s head, Hundreds of banners, to the sunbeam spread, Wav’d, like the wings of the white birds that fan The flying throne of star-taught SOLIMAN.[40] Then thus he spoke:—“Stranger, though new the frame “Thy soul inhabits now, I’ve track’d its flame “For many an age,[41] in every chance and change “Of that existence, through whose varied range,— “As through a torch-race, where, from hand to hand, “The flying youths transmit their shining brand,— “From frame to frame the unextinguish’d soul “Rapidly passes, till it reach the goal! “Nor think ’tis only the gross Spirits, warm’d “With duskier fire and for earth’s medium form’d, “That run this course;—Beings, the most divine, “Thus deign through dark mortality to shine. “Such was the Essence that in ADAM dwelt, “To which all Heaven, except the Proud One, knelt:[42] “Such the refin’d Intelligence that glow’d “In MOUSSA’S[43] frame,—and, thence descending, flow’d “Through many a Prophet’s breast;[44]—in ISSA[45] shone, “And in MOHAMMED burn’d; till, hastening on, “(As a bright river that, from fall to fall “In many a maze descending, bright through all, “Finds some fair region where, each labyrinth past, “In one full lake of light it rests at last!) “That Holy Spirit, settling calm and free “From lapse or shadow, centres all in me!” Again, throughout the’ assembly, at these words, Thousands of voices rung: the warriors’ swords Were pointed up to heaven; a sudden wind In the’ open banners played, and from behind Those Persian hangings, that but ill could screen The Haram’s loveliness, white hands were seen Waving embroider’d scarves, whose motion gave A perfume forth;—like those the Houris wave When beck’ning to their bowers the’ immortal Brave.