Page:Landon in Fisher's Drawing Room Scrap Book 1840.pdf/9

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holds a feast to-night— Fill ye the lamps with fragrant light; Burn, in the twilight's dewy time, The mastic, rosemary, and thyme; And scatter round the festal chamber Oils from the rose, the musk, the amber.

And bind ye wreaths to hang the room, The red pomegranate just in bloom, The tulip, with the purple glow, That hides the burning heart below; The crimson rose beside the pale, And the white jasmin, faint and frail.

Fling ye the silken curtains wide, With gold restrained—with scarlet dyed. And let the colours wander o'er The polished walls—the snowy floor. The painted glass has hues to vie With morning's dew or evening's sky.

White are the walls, but o'er them wind Rich patterns curiously designed. The Koran's sentences of light, Where azure, gold, and red unite; And like their mirrors, fountains play To lull and cool the burning day.

See the sherbets be cool with snows, Flavoured with lemon and with rose; High in pearl baskets pile the grape So that no purple bloom escape. Bring ye the sweetmeats, and serve up The coffee in a golden cup.

Call in the music, hours are long Unspeeded by the dance and song. Prepare the fairest slaves, whose eyes Are stars to light our human skies. Gather scents, songs, tales, smiles, and light, The Bey Hamooda feasts to-night.L. E. L.