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A Serenade to His Sleeping Mistress, by Ali Ben Abd Algany, of Cordova
A Serenade to His Sleeping Mistress, by Ali Ben Abd Algany, of Cordova
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A Serenade to His Sleeping Mistress, by Ali Ben Abd Algany, of Cordova

A SERENADE

TO HIS SLEEPING MISTRESS.
BY ALI BEN ABD ALGANY, OF CORDOVA.

SURE Harut's * potent spells were breathed
Upon that magic sword, thine eye;
For if it wounds us thus while sheathed,
When drawn ’tis vain its edge to fly.

How canst thou doom me, cruel fair,
Plunged in the hell † of scorn, to groan?
No idol e’er this heart could share
This heart has worshipped thee alone.

Footnotes
  1. 146

    146:* A wicked angel, who is permitted to tempt mankind by teaching them magic: see the legend respecting him in Sale's Korān.

  2. 146

    146:† The poet here alludes to the punishments denounced in the Koran against those who worship a plurality of gods: "their couch shall be in hell, and over them shall be coverings of fire." Sur. 2.

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