He comes with joyous stride, For to the Prophet-City erst Did Jesus on him ride. Half timid next a Wolf doth creep, To whom Mahomet spake "Spoil not the poor man of his sheep, The rich man's thou mayst take." And then the brave and faithful Hound, Who by his master kept, And slept with him the slumbers sound The seven sleepers slept. Abuherrira's Cat, too, here, Purrs round his master blest, For holy must the beast appear The Prophet hath caress'd. 1815. ----- THE SEVEN SLEEPERS. Six among the courtiers favour'd Fly before the Caesar's fury, Who would as a god be worshipp'd, Though in truth no god appearing, For a fly prevents him ever From enjoying food at table. Though with fans his servants scare it, They the fly can never banish. It torments him, stings, and troubles, And the festal board perplexes, Then returning like the herald Of the olden crafty Fly-God. "What!"--the striplings say together-- "Shall a fly a god embarrass? Shall a god drink, eat at table, Like us mortals? No, the Only, Who the sun and moon created, And the glowing stars arch'd o'er us, He is God,--we'll fly!"--The gentle, Lightly shod, and dainty striplings Did a shepherd meet, and hide them, With himself, within a cavern. And the sheep-dog will not leave them,-- Scared away, his foot all-mangled, To his master still he presses, And he joins the hidden party, Joins the favorites of slumber. And the prince, whom they had fled from, Fondly-furious, thinks of vengeance, And, discarding sword and fire, Has them walled-up in the cavern, Walled-up fast with bricks and mortar. But the others slumber ever, And the Angel, their protector, Gives before God's throne this notice "To the right and left alternate Have I ever cared to turn them, That their fair and youthful members Be not by the mould-damp injured; Clefts within the rocks I open'd, That the sun may, rising, setting, Keep their cheeks in youthful freshness." So they lie there, bless'd by Heaven. And, with forepaws sound and scatheless, Sleeps the dog in gentle slumber. Years come round, and years fly onward, And the youths at length awaken, And the wall, which now had moldered, From its very age has fallen. And Jamblika says,--whose beauty Far exceedeth all the others,-- When the fearful shepherd lingers:-- "I will run, and food procure you, Life and piece of gold I'll wager!"-- Ephebus had many a year now Own'd the teaching of the Prophet Jesus (Peace be with the Good One!) And he ran, and at the gateway Were the warders and the others. Yet he to the nearest baker's, Seeking bread, went swiftly onwards.-- "Rogue!" thus cried the baker--"hast thou, Youth, a treasure, then, discover'd? Give me,--for the gold betrays thee,-- Give me half, to keep thy secret!"-- And they quarrel.--To the monarch Comes the matter; and the monarch Fain would halve it, like the baker.