As he heard that tiny hum; 

 Turned the lantern light behind him 

 Stricken with amazement dumb. 

 Oh! the young lord's vast confusion 

 As its meaning gave a flicker— 

 Oh! the mild iconoclastic 

 Staring o'er the edge of wicker. 

 Staring—staring—simply staring 

 With his filmy red-rimmed eyes— 

 Down Hasan his father lifted 

 Silent still in strange surmise. 

 Never faster had prince ridden 

 From the place of Persian devils, 

 Where its huge and inky bastions 

 Frowned across the golden levels; 

 Nor before had faster travelled 

 Scion of the equine brood 

 Than that day, that day of portent, 

 Galloped she the silver-shoed. 

 Saw Hasan the meaning clearly 

 Prev. P 13/128 next