. St. Nicholas [serial]. ledAs he wandered through the field Seeking bark and roots and foliageThat would some assistance yield. Ask the bat that broods in ruins,Ask the lizard tribe that crawls Through the creep-holes and the cran-niesIn the Charred and blackened walls. Pshaw ! said he. There s nothin<growing On the land or in the seaThat can give a mortal power Such as he requires of me. Yet I m not above my servants,Save in riches and in name; When it comes to plain endurance,They and I are much the same. Now for twenty years or betterI have run a dangerous race; And by hook and crook an
. St. Nicholas [serial]. ledAs he wandered through the field Seeking bark and roots and foliageThat would some assistance yield. Ask the bat that broods in ruins,Ask the lizard tribe that crawls Through the creep-holes and the cran-niesIn the Charred and blackened walls. Pshaw ! said he. There s nothin<growing On the land or in the seaThat can give a mortal power Such as he requires of me. Yet I m not above my servants,Save in riches and in name; When it comes to plain endurance,They and I are much the same. Now for twenty years or betterI have run a dangerous race; And by hook and crook and cunningBarely kept my head in place. If I fall in lake or river, Soon, in spite of rank and show,Down beneath the yielding waters Like the meanest slave I go. But the sheik is growing bolder,More exacting every hour; And, to cap the climax, fairlySeeks a superhuman power! ABD-EL-GHOO THE TYRANT. 491 Shall I serve the tyrant longer ? Still obey his beck and nod ?Strive against the laws of nature To exalt a sinful clod ?. No! I 11 mix a potent compoundThat with sleep shall soothe his brain Days and nights he 11 lie unconsciousEre he lifts his lids again. To the sheik he brought the mixtureThat would scarce a thimble fill, Saying, Drink, O royal master!And be what your Highness will. But the tyrant, now suspiciousLest the sage had some design, Bade him first to taste the compoundYielding powers so divine. Said Al-Hazzin, bowing lowly : That most gladly would I do;But I must remind your HighnessThere is not enough for two. If but one can be exalted To a superhuman sphere,Sooth, your Highness is the person, Not your humble servant here. Then the sheik received the goblet,For no longer would he press One to share with him the powerThat he only should possess. Scarce he drank the subtle potion Ere his head began to the servants in amazement: You have fixed the nabob now ! But Al-Hazzin said : Be patient; T is in keeping with the he wakens from his slumber He will
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Keywords: ., bookauthordodgemar, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1873
