



Produced by Larry B. Harrison and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
produced from images generously made available by The
Internet Archive)









                      POEMS FROM EASTERN SOURCES:
                         THE STEADFAST PRINCE;
                           AND OTHER POEMS.

                                  BY
                       RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH.

                                LONDON:
                      EDWARD MOXON, DOVER STREET.
                              MDCCCXLII.




                                LONDON:
              BRADBURY AND EVANS, PRINTERS, WHITEFRIARS.




CONTENTS.


POEMS FROM EASTERN SOURCES.

                                                    PAGE

ALEXANDER AT THE GATES OF PARADISE.—A LEGEND
  FROM THE TALMUD                                      3

CHIDHER’S WELL                                        11

THE BANISHED KINGS                                    14

THE BALLADS OF HAROUN AL RASCHID:
      I.—THE SPILT PEARLS                             20
     II.—THE BARMECIDES                               24
    III.—THE FESTIVAL                                 35

THE EASTERN NARCISSUS                                 41

THE SEASONS:
      I.—WINTER                                       43
     II.—SPRING                                       46
    III.—SUMMER                                       49
     IV.—AUTUMN                                       52

MOSES AND JETHRO                                      55

PROVERBS, TURKISH AND PERSIAN                         60

“THE GOOD THAT ONE MAN FLINGS ASIDE”                  64

LOVE                                                  67

THE FALCON                                            69

LIFE THROUGH DEATH:

      I.—“A PAGAN KING TORMENTED FIERCELY ALL”        71

     II.—“A DEW-DROP FALLING ON THE WILD SEA
              WAVE”                                   73

    III.—“THE SEED MUST DIE, BEFORE THE CORN
              APPEARS”                                74

THE WORLD                                             75

THE MONK AND SINNER                                   78

“WHAT, THOU ASKEST, IS THE HEAVEN, AND THE
  ROUND EARTH AND THE SEA”                            81

THE SUPPLIANT                                         84

THE PANTHEIST; OR, THE ORIGIN OF EVIL                 87

GHAZEL                                                90

THE RIGHTEOUS OF THE WORLD                            91

MAXIMS                                                94

THE FALCON’S REWARD                                   96

THE CONVERSION OF ABRAHAM                            101

SONNET                                               103

THE DEAD DOG                                         104

“FAIR VESSEL HAST THOU SEEN WITH HONEY FILLED”       106

FRAGMENTS:
      I.—THE CERTAINTY OF FAITH                      108
     II.—MAN’S TWOFOLD NATURE                        109
    III.—SCIENCE AND LOVE                            110
     IV.—“THE BUSINESS OF THE WORLD IS CHILD’S
              PLAY MERE”                             111
      V.—“SAGE, THAT WOULD’ST MAKER OF THINE OWN
              GOD BE”                                112
     VI.—“MAN, THE CAGED BIRD THAT OWNED AN
              HIGHER NEST”                           113

NOTES TO THE POEMS FROM EASTERN SOURCES              115


THE STEADFAST PRINCE:
    PART I.                                          125
    PART II.                                         152

ORPHEUS AND THE SIRENS                               173

ST. CHRYSOSTOM                                       184

THE OIL OF MERCY                                     185

THE TREE OF LIFE.—FROM THE GERMAN OF RÜCKERT         192

THE TREE OF LIFE.—FROM AN OLD LATIN POEM             195

PARADISE.—FROM THE GERMAN OF RÜCKERT                 199

THE LOREY LEY.—FROM THE GERMAN OF HEINE              203

“OH THOU OF DARK FOREBODINGS DREAR”                  205

THE PRODIGAL                                         206

THE CORREGAN.—A BALLAD OF BRITTANY                   208

SONNET                                               214

SONNET                                               215

SONNET                                               216

THE ETRURIAN KING                                    217

THE FAMINE                                           219

THE PRIZE OF SONG                                    231

NOTES                                                235




ERRATA.


Page 39, line 9, for _one_ read _our_.

— 191, — 11, dele comma.

— 215, — 2, for _light_ read _slight_.




POEMS
FROM
EASTERN SOURCES.




NOTE.


The following Poems bear somewhat a vague title, because
such only would describe the nature of Poems which have been
derived in very different degrees from the sources thus indicated.
Some are mere translations; others have been modelled anew,
and only such portions used of the originals as were adapted to
my purpose: of others it is only the imagery and thought which
are Eastern, and these have been put together in new combinations;
while of others it is the story, and nothing more, which has been
borrowed, it may be from some prose source. On this subject,
however, more information will be given in the Notes.




ALEXANDER AT THE GATES OF PARADISE.

A Legend from the Talmud.


Fierce was the glare of Cashmere’s middle day,
When Alexander for Hydaspes bent,
Through trackless wilds urged his impetuous way

Yet in that vast and sandy continent
A little vale he found, so calm, so sweet,
He there awhile to tarry was content.

A crystal stream was murmuring at his feet,
Whereof the Monarch, when his meal was done,
Took a long draught, to slake his fever heat.

Again he drank, and yet again, as one
Who would have drained that river crystalline
Of all its waves, and left it dry anon:

For in his veins, ofttimes a-fire with wine,
And in his bosom, throne of sleepless pride,
The while he drank, went circling peace divine.

It seemed as though all evil passions died
Within him, slaked was every fire accurst;
So that in rapturous joy aloud he cried:

“Oh! might I find where these pure waters first
Shoot sparkling from their living fountain-head,
Oh! there to quench my spirit’s inmost thirst.

“Sure, if we followed where these waters led,
We should at last some fairer region gain
Than yet has quaked beneath our iron tread,—

“Some land that should in very truth contain
Whate’er we dream of beautiful and bright,
And idly dreaming of, pursue in vain;

“That land must stoop beneath our conquering might.
Companions dear, this toil remains alone,
To win that region of unmatched delight.

“Oh faithful in a thousand labours known,
One toil remains, the noblest and the last;
Let us arise—and make that land