There's an o'erhanging castle in which there flows a main, And there within that castle a fish its home hath ta'en; The fish within its mouth doth hold a shining gem, Which wastes the fish as long as it therein doth remain. This puzzle to the poets is offered by Murad; Let him reply who office or place desires to gain. —_Sultan Murad IV._ MUNAJAT Allah! Lord who liv'st for aye! O Sole! O King of Glory's Bay! Monarch who ne'er shalt pass away! show thou to us thy bounties fair. In early morning shall our cry, our wail, mount to thy Throne on high: "Error and sin our wont," we sigh: show thou to us thy bounties fair. If cometh not from thee thy grace, evil shall all our works deface; O Lord of Being and of Space! show thou to us thy bounties fair. Creator of security! to thy Beloved greetings be! These fair words are in sincerity: show thou to us thy bounties fair Iqbali sinnèd hath indeed, yet unto him thy grace concede; Eternal, Answerer in need! show thou to us thy bounties fair. —_Sultan Mustafa II._ (1695-1703). TURKISH POETESSES A GAZEL BY ZEYNEB Cast off thy veil, and heaven and earth in dazzling light array! As radiant Paradise, this poor demented world display! Move thou thy lips, make play the ripples light of Kevser's pool! Let loose thy scented locks, and odors sweet through earth convey! A musky warrant by thy down was traced, and zephyr charged: "Speed, with this scent subdue the realms of China and Cathay!" O heart! should not thy portion be the Water bright of Life, A thousand times mayst thou pursue Iskender's darksome way. O Zeyneb, woman's love of earthly show leave thou behind; Go manly forth, with single heart, forsake adornment gay! A GAZEL BY MIHRI Once from sleep I oped my eyes, I raised my head, when full in sight There before me stood a moon-faced beauty, lovely, shining, bright. Thought I: "In th' ascendant's now my star, or I my fate have reached, For within my chamber sure is risen Jupiter this night." Radiance from his beauty streaming saw I, though to outward view (While himself a Moslem) he in garb of infidel is dight. Though I oped my eyes or closed them, still the form was ever there; Thus I fancied to myself: "A fairy this or angel bright?" Till the Resurrection ne'er shall Mihri gain the Stream of Life; Yet in Night's deep gloom Iskender gleamed before her wond'ring sight. A GAZEL BY MIHRI