That the bags contain’d within them Silver only, silver thomans, Some two hundred thousand of them;-- Bitterly then laugh’d the poet. Laughing bitterly, the money He divided in three equal Portions, and a third part gave he To the two black messengers, Each a third, to be his guerdon For the message, and the third part Gave he to the man who waited On his bath, as drinking-money. Then his pilgrim staff he straightway Grasp’d, and left at once the city, And before the gate the dust he From his very shoes rejected. 2. “Had he been, like other men, “Heedless of his words once spoken, “And his promise merely broken, “I had not been angry then. “Suffer _this_? I never will! “His deceit my heart amazes, “Both his double-meaning phrases, “And his silence, falser still. “He was noble, fair to see, “Proud his gestures were, and stately; “Other men excell’d he greatly, “Every inch a king was he. “Firelike did his glance once meet me, “As the sun in yonder heaven “He, truth’s haughty image even-- “And he yet hath deign’d to cheat me.” 3. Shah Mahomet full well has dined, And his soul to be merry is fully inclined. In the garden at twilight, on purple seat He sits by the fountain. Its splashing sounds sweet, With looks respectful his servants stand: His fav’rite Ansari’s amongst the band. From marble vases a fiery gush Of luxuriant flowers appears to rush. Like Odalisques with graceful arms Stand fanning themselves the slender palms. The cypresses stand with branches unfurl’d, As if dreaming of heaven, forgetting the world. But sudden to strains of the lute ere long Is heard a gentle mysterious song. The Shah sprang up, as if sorely perplex’d: “Who wrote of this song the charming text?” Ansari, from whom he sought to know it, Replied: “’Tis the work of Ferdusi the poet.” “Ferdusi!”--exclaim’d the prince in dismay,-- “Where is he? How fares the poet, O say!” “Ansari gave answer: “In poverty great “He has lived full long in a mournful state “At Thus, the native town of the bard, “Where he in his garden works full hard.” Shah Mahomet paused, and presently said: “Ansari, a thought has come in my head. “To my stables make haste, and with hands unthrifty “Take a hundred mules, and camels fifty. “And lade them all with every treasure “That fills the heart of a mortal with pleasure, “With splendid articles, rich and rare, “With costly dresses and furniture fair “Of sandal wood and ivory white, “With gold and silver tissues dight; “With precious-handled goblets and pots, “And leopard-skins, all cover’d with spots, “With carpets and shawls and the richest brocade “That in my kingdom has ever been made.