Page:A lover's tale (Tennyson, 1879).djvu/90

86 'There is a custom in the Orient, friends— I read of it in Persia—when a man Will honour those who feast with him, he brings And shows them whatsoever he accounts Of all his treasures the most beautiful, Gold, jewels, arms, whatever it may be. This custom&mdash;'

Pausing here a moment, all The guests broke in upon him with meeting hands And cries about the banquet—'Beautiful! Who could desire more beauty at a feast?'

The lover answer'd, 'There is more than one Here sitting who desires it. Laud me not Before my time, but hear me to the close. This custom steps yet further when the guest Is loved and honour'd to the uttermost.