188 THE LOVER IN THE GARDEN 



"Ah, Darweesh ! " moan'd a King, " vainly I pray 

 For Allah's comfort, kneeling day by day." 

 " Sultan ! " quoth he, " be meek, and hear alway 

 The music of His Mercy without sound." 



" Poet ! " a Queen sigh'd, " why alone to thee 

 Come visions from that world we cannot see 

 Nor great nor rich ? " " I borrow minstrelsy," 

 Smiling he said, "from Songs without a sound." 



Shirin-i-man I dear Lover ! true and sweet, 

 Ask no more if I love, nor kiss my feet ; 

 But hear, with cheek against my bosom's beat, 

 The music of the Song without a sound ! 



EDWIN ARNOLD. 



THE GARDENER 



THE gardener stands in his bower-door 

 With a primrose in his hand, 



And by there came a leal maiden 

 As jimp as a willow wand. 



" O lady, can you fancy me, 



For to be my bride ? 

 Ye'se get a' the flowers in my garden 



To be to you a weed. 



Leal, true ; jimp, slender ; weed, clothing. 



