IN ARABIA 101

And, as far as they could view,
Diamonds served in place of dew.
Crickets, lizards, adders, birds,
Antelopes in antlered herds,
Buffaloes with opal eyes,

Bees, sweet-heavy at the thighs,

Leopards crouching for the spring,
Eagles of the hissing wing,

 

All, and more than I have told,
Shaped divinely were from gold.

Passing all these marvels by,
Next a forest touched the sky ;
Hand-in-hand the children, mute,
Gazed in wonder at the fruit,
For the branches bent with gems
Fit for finest diadems.