Potiphar's Wife and Other Poems/The Sultan's Ring
THE SULTAN'S RING
(From the Persian.)
A neck-exalting Lord, a Median King,
Heard one in rags, sore-troubled, say this thing
Under the palace-arch—haggard and faint,
Rocking upon the Carpet of Complaint:
"Oh, Sultan! to the door of God goest thou
As I to thine: therefore accomplish now
Mercy towards me, as thou for mercy prayest:
'Make glad my heart!' to Allah so thou sayest,
Therefore, from Sorrow's darkness bring forth mine!"
Now, on that Sultan's thumb a stone did shine,
Pigeon-blood ruby, such a gem the Shroff
Faltered in telling what would weigh enough
In gold tomâns to price it. In the night
It glowed as day had dropped spark of rose-light
From th' afternoon: and in the Day it seemed
As though a red imprisoned sunbeam gleamed.
The Sultan drew this wonder from his thumb,
While, at his stirrup-iron, grim and dumb,
The Aghas watched, stroking their beards. He drew
The ruby off, and quotha: "It was new
Upon our lips that prayer! God may delay
To hear us if we turn our hearts away
When others ask. Go, sell this ring, and buy
Oil of Content for Sore of Misery!"
Better a king's hand lacking royal seal
Than King's ear guilty of unheard appeal!