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The great ships of the line；
They were carried away as a smoke；
Or sank like lead in the brine。
O Lord！ before thy path
They vanished and ceased to be；
When thou didst walk in wrath
With thine horses through the sea！
THE LEAP OF ROUSHAN BEG
Mounted on Kyrat strong and fleet；
His chestnut steed with four white feet；
Roushan Beg； called Kurroglou；
Son of the road and bandit chief；
Seeking refuge and relief；
Up the mountain pathway flew。
Such was Kyrat's wondrous speed；
Never yet could any steed
Reach the dust…cloud in his course。
More than maiden； more than wife；
More than gold and next to life
Roushan the Robber loved his horse。
In the land that lies beyond
Erzeroum and Trebizond；
Garden…girt his fortress stood；
Plundered khan； or caravan
Journeying north from Koordistan；
Gave him wealth and wine and food。
Seven hundred and fourscore
Men at arms his livery wore；
Did his bidding night and day。
Now； through regions all unknown；
He was wandering； lost； alone；
Seeking without guide his way。
Suddenly the pathway ends；
Sheer the precipice descends；
Loud the torrent roars unseen；
Thirty feet from side to side
Yawns the chasm； on air must ride
He who crosses this ravine。
Following close in his pursuit；
At the precipice's foot；
Reyhan the Arab of Orfah
Halted with his hundred men；
Shouting upward from the glen；
〃La Illah illa Allah！〃
Gently Roushan Beg caressed
Kyrat's forehead； neck； and breast；
Kissed him upon both his eyes；
Sang to him in his wild way；
As upon the topmost spray
Sings a bird before it flies。
〃O my Kyrat； O my steed；
Round and slender as a reed；
Carry me this peril through！
Satin housings shall be thine；
Shoes of gold； O Kyrat mine；
O thou soul of Kurroglou！
〃Soft thy skin as silken skein；
Soft as woman's hair thy mane；
Tender are thine eyes and true；
All thy hoofs like ivory shine；
Polished bright； O； life of mine；
Leap； and rescue Kurroglou！〃
Kyrat； then； the strong and fleet；
Drew together his four white feet；
Paused a moment on the verge；
Measured with his eye the space；
And into the air's embrace
Leaped as leaps the ocean surge。
As the ocean surge o'er sand
Bears a swimmer safe to land；
Kyrat safe his rider bore；
Rattling down the deep abyss
Fragments of the precipice
Rolled like pebbles on a shore。
Roushan's tasselled cap of red
Trembled not upon his head；
Careless sat he and upright；
Neither hand nor bridle shook；
Nor his head he turned to look；
As he galloped out of sight。
Flash of harness in the air；
Seen a moment like the glare
Of a sword drawn from its sheath；
Thus the phantom horseman passed；
And the shadow that he cast
Leaped the cataract underneath。
Reyhan the Arab held his breath
While this vision of life and death
Passed above him。 〃Allahu！〃
Cried he。 〃In all Koordistan
Lives there not so brave a man
As this Robber Kurroglou！〃
HAROUN AL RASCHID
One day； Haroun Al Raschid read
A book wherein the poet said：
〃Where are the kings； and where the rest
Of those who once the world possessed？
〃They're gone with all their pomp and show；
They're gone the way that thou shalt go。
〃O thou who choosest for thy share
The world； and what the world calls fair；
〃Take all that it can give or lend；
But know that death is at the end！〃
Haroun Al Raschid bowed his head：
Tears fell upon the page he read。
KING TRISANKU
Viswamitra the Magician；
By his spells and incantations；
Up to Indra's realms elysian
Raised Trisanku； king of nations。
Indra and the gods offended
Hurled him downward； and descending
In the air he hung suspended；
With these equal powers contending。
Thus by aspirations lifted；
By misgivings downward driven；
Human hearts are tossed and drifted
Midway between earth and heaven。
A WRAITH IN THE MIST
〃Sir； I should build me a fortification； if I
came to live here。〃 BOSWELL'S Johnson。
On the green little isle of Inchkenneth；
Who is it that walks by the shore；
So gay with his Highland blue bonnet；
So brave with his targe and claymore？
His form is the form of a giant；
But his face wears an aspect of pain；
Can this be the Laird of Inchkenneth？
Can this be Sir Allan McLean？
Ah； no！ It is only the Rambler；
The Idler； who lives in Bolt Court；
And who says； were he Laird of Inchkenneth；
He would wall himself round with a fort。
THE THREE KINGS
Three Kings came riding from far away；
Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar；
Three Wise Men out of the East were they；
And they travelled by night and they slept by day；
For their guide was a beautiful； wonderful star。
The star was so beautiful； large； and clear；
That all the other stars of the sky
Became a white mist in the atmosphere；
And by this they knew that the coming was near
Of the Prince foretold in the prophecy。
Three caskets they bore on their saddle…bows；
Three caskets of gold with golden keys；
Their robes were of crimson silk with rows
Of bells and pomegranates and furbelows；
Their turbans like blossoming almond…trees。
And so the Three Kings rode into the West；
Through the dusk of night； over hill and dell；
And sometimes they nodded with beard on breast
And sometimes talked； as they paused to rest；
With the people they met at some wayside well。
〃Of the child that is born；〃 said Baltasar；
〃Good people； I pray you； tell us the news；
For we in the East have seen his star；
And have ridden fast； and have ridden far；
To find and worship the King of the Jews。〃
And the people answered； 〃You ask in vain；
We know of no king but Herod the Great！〃
They thought the Wise Men were men insane；
As they spurred their horses across the plain；
Like riders in haste； and who cannot wait。
And when they came to Jerusalem；
Herod the Great； who had heard this thing；
Sent for the Wise Men and questioned them；
And said； 〃Go down unto Bethlehem；
And bring me tidings of this new king。〃
So they rode away； and the star stood still；
The only one in the gray of morn
Yes； it stopped； it stood still of its own free will；
Right over Bethlehem on the hill；
The city of David where Christ was born。
And the Three Kings rode through the gate and the guard；
Through the silent street； till their horses turned
And neighed as they entered the great inn…yard；
But the windows were closed； and the doors were barred；
And only a light in the stable burned。
And cradled there in the scented hay；
In the air made sweet by the breath of kine；
The little child in the manger lay；
The child； that would be king one day
Of a kingdom not human but divine。
His mot