I. 12
“This secret place, be sure!
“Nor for light purpose is the Veil,
“That from the Universe hath long shut out
“These ancient bowers, withdrawn.
“Hear thou my words, O mortal, in thy heart
“Treasure what I shall tell;
“And when amid the world
“Thou shalt emerge again,
“Repeat the warning tale.
“Why have the Fathers suffer’d, but to make
“The Children wisely safe?
“Nor for light purpose is the Veil,
“That from the Universe hath long shut out
“These ancient bowers, withdrawn.
“Hear thou my words, O mortal, in thy heart
“Treasure what I shall tell;
“And when amid the world
“Thou shalt emerge again,
“Repeat the warning tale.
“Why have the Fathers suffer’d, but to make
“The Children wisely safe?
“The Paradise of Irem this,
“And that the palace pile
“Which Shedad built, the King.
“Alas! in the days of my youth
“The hum of the populous world
“Was heard in yon wilderness waste!
“O’er all the winding sands
“The tents of Ad were pitch’d;
“Happy Al-Ahkaf then,
“For many and brave were her sons,
“Her daughters were many and fair.
“And that the palace pile
“Which Shedad built, the King.
“Alas! in the days of my youth
“The hum of the populous world
“Was heard in yon wilderness waste!
“O’er all the winding sands
“The tents of Ad were pitch’d;
“Happy Al-Ahkaf then,
“For many and brave were her sons,
“Her daughters were many and fair.
