In short, the Winter reigns, a king supreme, Throughout the period of the dwindling days, And swift as water hurried his command, And like the wind o’er every country swept. While he himself in sombre dignity Scattered his silver frost on every side, His silver with such lavish hands he spread That house and heather shone with silvery gleams. XLVI KING WINTER DEVASTATES THE ROSE GARDEN IN A SNOWSTORM And then he gave command unto his hosts. “Make ready,” said he, “for a long campaign Let all our army speed to rose garden And fall upon it with the force of fire.” Upon the general a command was laid To overthrow the palace of the Rose. He stood at Winter’s beckoning, a slave, A minion, who attended his command. He was himself of Winter’s temperament, And in the world he bore the name of snow. White was he as the crystal camphor is, And he was as the crystal camphor cold, And he was soft as cotton to the touch, But chilly as the hardest cake of ice. He was the winter’s steadiest adjutant, And he was sent to ravage Gulistan. And straight he set himself upon the way To wage his warfare upon the rose garden. And suddenly as is the hand of fate The snow came down amain with fleecy cloud, And in one night within the rose garden Triumphant reigned in valley and in field. High was it piled above each arching roof, And over all the whitening cloak was spread. It threatened men and horses to ingulf, And like a camphor shower enshrouded all. When Gulistan this sad disaster saw A reign of terror rose in its domain. The snow was seen to dance on every roof, And glitter down like swords and lances bright. And as the snow covered the woodland limbs The winter on the garden settled down, And all his army in their tents encamped, And the whole city at their mercy lay. And Autumn, when of this he was aware, Shuddered and shook like aspen foliage. Though he would fain have entered on a fight, He saw ’twas vain to hope for victory. At last, quite conquered, in retreat he fled And sought his former dwelling and his seat. But Winter still his domination claimed, And sat enthroned as king in Gulistan. He gave command, “Let no one from this time Of bower and garden pleasance question make.” And while he stayed there all the rose garden Should to a heap of ashes be reduced, And he who would be rash enough to dare This edict to decry and disobey, He who should violate this strict command, With anger should be straightly visited. So everyone about that place was sad, And all the place was bound in bitter frost. And everyone who but held out his hand Was stripped and blighted like a withered bough. And by the direful tyranny of cold The happiness of all the folk was changed. And as this destiny befell the glade