THE GOLDEN THRESHOLD(22)

    （Presented at the Ramzan Durbar）

    Deign¹, Prince, my tribute to receive, This lyric² offering to your name, Who round your jewelled scepter bind³ The lilies of a poet's fame； Beneath whose sway concordant dwell The peoples whom your laws embrace, In brotherhood⁴ of diverse creeds⁵, And harmony of diverse race：

    The votaries⁶ of the Prophet's faith, Of whom you are the crown and chief And they, who bear on Vedic brows Their mystic symbols of belief；

    And they, who worshipping the sun, Fled o'er the old Iranian sea； And they, who bow to Him who trod The midnight waves of Galilee.

    Sweet, sumptuous⁷ fables⁸ of Baghdad The splendours of your court recall, The torches of a Thousand Nights Blaze through a single festival； And Saki-singers down the streets, Pour for us, in a stream divine, From goblets⁹ of your love-ghazals The rapture¹⁰ of your Sufi wine.

    Prince, where your radiant cities smile, Grim hills their sombre vigils keep, Your ancient forests hoard¹¹ and hold The legends of their centuried sleep； Your birds of peace white-pinioned float O'er ruined fort and storied plain, Your faithful stewards¹² sleepless¹³ guard The harvests of your gold and grain.

    God give you joy, God give you grace To shield the truth and smite¹⁴ the wrong, To honour Virtue¹⁵, Valour, Worth. To cherish faith and foster song. So may the lustre¹⁶ of your days Outshine the deeds Firdusi sung, Your name within a nation's prayer, Your music on a nation's tongue.