The King

Thus Malik gained with no labour the prize
That fell to his fortunate merchandize.
Such joy in the sight of his purchase he found
That scarcely his foot seemed to touch the ground.
With the hope that was in him his heart was gay,
And with double marches he sped on his way.
Ere to the city of Memphis he came.
The story was bruited abroad by fame :
“ Malik returns from his journey this morn
With a slave of the race of the Hebrews born :
A moon in the zenith of beauty, above
All others a king in the realm of love.
In the picture-house of the earth the skies
Have not seen his peer with their thousand eyes.”
The King of Egypt the rumour heard,
And the heart within him was strangely stirred :
“ Is not Egypt the garden of beauty ? Where
Can the eye see roses so bright and fair ?
The roses of heaven would droop from their stem
And hide their shamed heads in the dust before them.”
Then he cried in haste to the Grand Vizier :
“ Go, meet the merchants whose train is near,
Go forth this moon of rare beauty to see,
And lead him straight to my court with thee.”
The noble obeyed ; the merchants he met,
And his eyes on that joy of the soul were set.
At the sight of that beauty his senses fled,
And he fain would bow down in obeisance his head.
But Yusuf raised him as lowly he bent,
And chid the obeisance he might not prevent :
“ Bow down thy head to none living beside
Him who set that head on thy neck,” he cried.
He called for Malik and bade him bring
The beautiful slave to the court of the king.
But Malik answered: “We thought not yet
In the monarch’s palace our feet to set.
We are weary and worn with the length of the way,
And crave of thy kindness some rest and delay.
With wakeful nights and with hunger distressed
We need three days to recruit and rest.
We will wash off the dust, and refreshed after toil,
Will wait on the king without spot and soil.”
The Grand Vizier gave his ready consent,
And again to the king and his duties went.
Of the beauty of Yusuf he spoke but a word,
Yet the king’s jealous heart at the story was stirred.
He gave command, and they picked and chose,
As ye cull from a rosebed each fairest rose,
The most beautiful boys that the land possessed.
In the kingdom of beauty kings over the rest :
With dainty caps bright with glittering gold,
And shawls of brocade round their shoulders to fold :
With a jewelled girdle round each fine waist,
And gay lips sweeter than sugar to taste ;
That when Yusufs owner should spread the tale
Of his marvellous beauty, and bring him for sale,
They to the market should come and display
Their fair forms and features in rival array.
Then were he the sun, their more beauty would dim
His splendour, and chill the demand for him.