I. 30
“The way was open, I beheld
“No barrier to my steps.
“But round these bowers the Arm of God
“Had drawn a mighty chain,
“A barrier that no human force might break.
“Twice I essay’d to pass.
“With that the voice was heard,
“O, Aswad, be content, and bless the Lord!
“No barrier to my steps.
“But round these bowers the Arm of God
“Had drawn a mighty chain,
“A barrier that no human force might break.
“Twice I essay’d to pass.
“With that the voice was heard,
“O, Aswad, be content, and bless the Lord!
“One righteous deed hath sav’d
“Thy soul from utter death.
“O Aswad, sinful man!
“When by long penitence
“Thou feel’st thy soul prepar’d,
“Breathe up the wish to die,
“And Azrael comes, obedient to the prayer.”
“A miserable man
“From Earth and Heaven shut out,
“I heard the dreadful voice.
“I look’d around my prison place,
“The bodies of the dead were there,
“Where’er I look’d they lay.
“They moulder’d, moulder’d here,..
“Thy soul from utter death.
“O Aswad, sinful man!
“When by long penitence
“Thou feel’st thy soul prepar’d,
“Breathe up the wish to die,
“And Azrael comes, obedient to the prayer.”
“A miserable man
“From Earth and Heaven shut out,
“I heard the dreadful voice.
“I look’d around my prison place,
“The bodies of the dead were there,
“Where’er I look’d they lay.
“They moulder’d, moulder’d here,..
