See stately palaces arise,
And gilded domes invade the skies.
Say, Muse! what lords inhabit here?
Nor fav'rite eunuch, prince, nor peer?
The poor, the lame, the blind, the sick,
The idio and the lunatic.
He curb'd each river's swelling pride;
O'er the reluctant murm'ring tide
From bank to bank his bridges stride.
A thousand gracious deeds were done,
Bury'd in silence and unknown.
At length, worn out with years and care,
Sha Abbas dy'd; left his young heir
Sha Sefi, unexperienc'd, raw,
By his stern father kept in awe,
To the seraglio's walls confin'd,
Barr'd from the converse of mankind.
Strange jealousy! a certain rule
To breed a tyrant and a fool.
Still Ali was prime minister,
But had not much his master's ear;
Walk'd on unf ithful slipp'ry ground,
Till an occasion could be found
To pick a quarrel; then, no doubt,
As is the mode at court---turn out.
Sha Sefi, amo: g eunuchs bred,
With them convers'd, by them was led;
Beardless, half-men! in whose false breasts
Nor joy, nor love, nor friendship rests.
There spite and pining envy dwell,
And rage as in their native hell;
For, conscious of their own disgrace,
Each excellence they would debase,
And vent their spleen on human race.
This Ali found. Strange senseless lies
And inconsistent calumnies
They buzz into the monarch's ears,
And he believes all that he hears.
"Great Prince," said they, "Ali, your slave--- 200 "Whom we acknowledge wise and brave--
"Yet pardon us---we can't but see
"His boundless pride and vanity:
"His bridges triumph o'er each tide,
"In their own channels taught to glide.
"Each beggar and each lazy drone
"His subject more than yours is grown,
"And for a palace leaves his cell,
"Where Xerxes might be proud to dwell.
"His inns for travellers provide,
"Strangers are listed on his side:
"In his own house how grand the scene!
"Tissues and velvets are too mean,
"Gold, jewels, pearls, unheard expence ! "Suspected, bold, magnificence!
"Whence can this flood of riches flow?
"Examine his accounts, you'll know :
"Your eye on your exchequer cast,
"The secret will come out at last."
Ali next morn (for 'twas his way
To rise before the dawn of day)
Went early to the council-board,
Prostrate on earth, his king ador'd.
The king, with countenance severe,
Look'd sternly on his minister;
"Ali," said he, "I have been told
"Great treasures, both in gems and gold,
"Were left, and trusted to your care;
"'Mong these one gem exceeding rare
"I long to view, which was (they said)
"A present from the Sultan made,
"The finest that the world e'er saw,
"White, large, and fair, without a flaw."
Th' unblemish'd Ali thus reply'd,
"Great Sir! it cannot be deny'd
" 'Tis brilliant, beautiful, and clear,
"The Great Mogul has not its peer.
"Please it your majesty to go
"Into the the treasury below,
"You'll wonder at its piercing ray,
"The sun gives not a nobler day."
Together now they all descend;
Poor Ali had no other friend
But a soul faithful to its trust,
The sure asylum of the just.
In proper classes now are seen
The diamonds bright, the em'ralds green;
Pearls, rubies, sapphires, next appear,
Dispos'd in rows with nicest care.
The king views all with curious eyes,
Applauds with wonder and surprise
Their order and peculiar grace,
Each thing adapted to its place;
The rest with envious leer behold,
And stumble upon bars of gold.
Next, in an amber box, is shown
The noblest jewel of the crown:
"This, Sir," said he, "believe your slave,
"Is the fine gem the Sultan gave;
"Around it darts its beams of light,
"No comet e'er was half so bright."
The king with joy the gem admires,
Well-pleas'd, and half convinc'd, retires.
Ali," said he, "with you I dine;
"Your furniture, I'm told, is fine."
Wise All, for this favour show'd,
Humbly with lowest rev'rence bow'd.
At Ali's house now ev'ry hand
Is busy at their lord's command,
Where at the' appointed hour resort
The king and all his splendid court.
Ali came forth his prince to meet,
And, lowly bowing, kiss'd his feet,
On all his compliments bestows,
Civil alike to friends and foes.
The king, impatient to behold
His furniture and gems and gold,
From room to room the chase pursu'd,
With curious eye each corner view'd,
Ransack'd th' apartments o'er and o'er,
Each closet search'd, unlock'd each door;
But all he found was plain and coarse,
The meanest Persian scarce had worse:
These Ali for convenience bought,
Nor for expensive trifles sought.
One door a prying eunuch spy'd,
With bars and locks well fortify'd,
And now, secure to find the prize,
Shew'd it the king with joyful eyes.
"Ali," said he, "that citadel
"Is strong, and barricadoed well;
"What have you there?" Ali reply'd,
"Oh! Sir, there's edg'd my greatest pride;
"There are the gems I value mɔɔ,
"And all the treasures i can Doast."
All now convinc'd of his disgrace,
Triumph appear'd in ev'ry face.
The monarch doubted now no more;
They keys are brought, unlock'd the door,
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