TAMAM SHUD. NOTES. (Stanza II.) The «_False Dawn_»; _Subhi kazib_, a transient Light on the Horizon about an hour before the _Subhi sadik_, or True Dawn; a well-known Phenomenon in the East. (IV.) New Year. Beginning with the Vernal Equinox, it must be remembered; and (howsoever the old Solar Year is practically superseded by the clumsy _Lunar_ Year that dates from the Mohammedan Hegira) still commemorated by a Festival that is said to have been appointed by the very Jamshyd whom Omar so often talks of, and whose yearly Calendar he helped to rectify. «The sudden approach and rapid advance of the Spring,» says Mr. Binning,[13] «are very striking. Before the Snow is well off the Ground, the Trees burst into Blossom, and the Flowers start forth from the Soil. At _Now Rooz_ [_their_ New Year's Day] the Snow was lying in patches on the Hills and in the shaded Valleys, while the Fruit-trees in the Gardens were budding beautifully, and green Plants and Flowers springing up on the Plains on every side-- ‹And on old Hyems' Chin and icy Crown An odorous Chaplet of sweet Summer buds Is, as in mockery, set›-- Among the Plants newly appeared I recognised some old Acquaintances I had not seen for many a Year: among these, two varieties of the Thistle--a coarse species of Daisy like the ‹Horse-gowan›--red and white Clover--the Dock--the blue Corn-flower--and that vulgar Herb the Dandelion rearing its yellow crest on the Banks of the Water-courses.» The Nightingale was not yet heard, for the Rose was not yet blown; but an almost identical Blackbird and Wood-pecker helped to make up something of a North-country Spring. «The White Hand of Moses.» Exodus iv. 6; where Moses draws forth his Hand--not, according to the Persians, «_leprous as Snow,_» --but _white_, as our May-blossom in Spring perhaps. According to them also the Healing Power of Jesus resided in His Breath. (V.) Iram, planted by King Shaddad, and now sunk somewhere in the Sands of Arabia. Jamshyd's Seven-ring'd Cup was typical of the 7 Heavens, 7 Planets, 7 Seas, etc., and was a _Divining Cup_. (VI.) _Pehlevi_, the old Heroic _Sanskrit_ of Persia. Hafiz also speaks of the Nightingale's _Pehlevi_, which did not change with the People's. I am not sure if the fourth line refers to the Red Rose looking sickly, or to the Yellow Rose that ought to be Red; Red, White, and Yellow Roses all common in Persia. I think that Southey in his «Common-Place Book,» quotes from some Spanish author about the Rose being White till 10 o'clock; «_Rosa Perfecta_» at 2; and «_perfecta incarnada_» at 5. (X.) Rustum, the «Hercules» of Persia, and Zal his Father, whose exploits are among the most celebrated in the Shahnama. Hatim Tai, a well-known type of Oriental generosity. (XIII.) A Drum--beaten outside a Palace. (XIV.) That is, the Rose's Golden Centre.