Often, where clear-stemmed platans guard The outlet, did I turn away
The boat-head down a broad canal From the main river sluiced, where all The sloping of the moonlit sward Was damask-work, and deep inlay Of braided blooms unmown, which crept Adown to where the waters slept. A goodly place, a goodly time, For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
A motion from the river won Ridged the smooth level, bearing on My shallop through the star-strown calm, Until another night in night
I entered, from the clearer light, Imbowered vaults of pillared palm, Imprisoning sweets, which, as they clomb Heavenward, were stayed beneath the dome Of hollow boughs.- A goodly time, For it was in the golden prime
Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Still onward; and the clear canal Is rounded to as clear a lake. From the green rivage many a fall Of diamond rillets musical, Through little crystal arches low Down from the central fountain's flow Fallen silver-chiming, seemed to shake The sparkling flints beneath the prow. A goodly place, a goodly time, For it was in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Above through many a bowery turn A walk with vary-colored shells Wandered engrained. On either side All round about the fragrant marge From fluted vase, and brazen urn, In order, eastern flowers large, Some dropping low their crimson bells Half-closed, and others studded wide With disks and tiars, fed the time With odor in the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Far off, and where the lemon-grove In closest coverture upsprung, The living airs of middle night Died round the bulbul as he sung; Not he: but something which possessed The darkness of the world, delight, Life, anguish, death, immortal love, Ceasing not, mingled, unrepressed, Apart from place, withholding time, But flattering the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Black the garden-bowers and grots Slumbered: the solemn palms were ranged Above, unwooed of summer wind:
A sudden splendor from behind
Flushed all the leaves with rich gold-green, And, flowing rapidly between
Their interspaces, counterchanged
The level lake with diamond-plots
Of dark and bright. A lovely time, For it was in the golden prime
Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Dark-blue the deep sphere overhead, Distinct with vivid stars inlaid,
Grew darker from that under-flame: So, leaping lightly from the boat, With silver anchor left afloat, In marvel whence that glory came Upon me, as in sleep I sank
In cool soft turf upon the bank, Entranced with that place and time, So worthy of the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Thence through the garden I was drawn,— A realm of pleasance, many a mound, And many a shadow-chequered lawn Full of the city's stilly sound,
And deep myrrh-thickets blowing round The stately cedar, tamarisks,
Thick rosaries of scented thorn,
Tall orient shrubs, and obelisks
Graven with emblems of the time, In honor of the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
With dazéd vision unawares From the long alley's lattice shade Emerged, I came upon the great Pavilion of the Caliphat.
Right to the carven cedarn doors, Flung inward over spangled floors, Broad-based flights of marble stairs Ran up with golden balustrade, After the fashion of the time And humor of the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
The fourscore windows all alight As with the quintessence of flame, A million tapers flaring bright From twisted silvers looked to shame The hollow-vaulted dark, and streamed Upon the mooned domes aloof
In inmost Bagdat, till there seemed Hundreds of crescents on the roof
Of night new risen, that marvellous time, To celebrate the golden prime
Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Then stole I up, and trancedly Gazed on the Persian girl alone, Serene with argent-lidded eyes, Amorous, and lashes like to rays Of darkness, and a brow of pearl Tressed with redolent ebony, In many a dark delicious curl, Flowing beneath her rose-hued zone; The sweetest lady of the time, Well worthy of the golden prime Of good Haroun Alraschid.
Six columns, three on either side, Pure silver, underpropt a rich
Throne of the massive ore, from which Down-drooped, in many a floating fold, Engarlanded and diapered
With inwrought flowers, a cloth of gold. Thereon, his deep eye laughter-stirred With merriment of kingly pride,
Sole star of all that place and time, I saw him-in his golden prime,
THE GOOD HAROUN ALRASCHID!
THOU who stealest fire, From the fountains of the past, To glorify the present; oh, haste, Visit my low desire!
Strengthen me, enlighten me! I faint in this obscurity, Thou dewy dawn of memory.
Come not as thou camest of late, Flinging the gloom of yesternight
On the white day; but robed in softened light Of orient state.
Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, Even as a maid, whose stately brow The dew-impearled winds of dawn have kissed, When she, as thou,
Stays on her floating locks the lovely freight Of overflowing blooms, and earliest shoots Of orient green, giving safe pledge of fruits, Which in wintertide shall star
The black earth with brilliance rare.
Whilome thou camest with the morning mist, And with the evening cloud,
Showering thy gleaned wealth into my open breast, (Those peerless flowers which in the rudest wind Never grow sere,
When rooted in the garden of the mind, Because they are the earliest of the year.) Nor was the night thy shroud.
In sweet dreams softer than unbroken rest Thou leddest by the hand thy infant Hope. The eddying of her garments caught from thee
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