34 



rivers of milk, and brooks of honey; he well knew how such allure- 

 ments would work upon the imagination of his Arabian converts. 

 Often on the burning plains of Darah did this affecting soliloquy 

 of Hassan the camel-driver occur to my memory, which I most 

 feelingly introduced in a letter written on the spot. 



" Ah ! little thought I of the blasting wind, 



" The thirst, or pinching hunger, that I find ! 



" Bethink thee, Hassan, where shall thirst assuage, 



" When fails this cruse, its unrelenting rage? 



" Here, where no springs in murmurs break away, 



" Or moss-crown'd fountains mitigate the day; 



" In vain I hope the green delight to know 



" Which plains more blest, or verdant vales bestow: 



" Here rocks alone, and tasteless sands are found, 



" And faint and sickly winds for ever howl around ! 



Collins's Oriental Eclogues. 



