'Twas midnight-through the lattice, wreath'd With woodbine, many a perfume breath'd From timid jasmine buds, that keep But, when the sun-light dies away, To every breeze that roams about; When thus NAMOUNA: ""Tis the hour "That scatters spells on herb and flower, "At evening, from their tents of gold "Might bring some Peri from the skies, "Some sprite, whose very soul is made "And who might tell " Cried NOURMAHAL impatiently, "For me, for me," "Oh! twine that wreath for me to-night." Then, rapidly, with foot as light As the young musk-roe's, out she flew 6 And new-blown lilies of the river, That in the Gardens of MALAY Is call'd the Mistress of the Night," 8 6" Hemasagara, or the Sea of Gold, with flowers of the brightest gold colour." Sir W. Jones. 7 "This tree (the Nagacesara) is one of the most delightful on earth, and the delicious odour of its blossoms justly gives them a place in the quiver of Camadeva or the God of Love" — Id. 8" The Malayans style the tube-rose (Polianthes tuberosa) Sandal Malam, or the Mistress of the Night.” Pennant. So like a bride, scented and bright, 9 She comes out when the sun's away. · With fruits of immortality, Down to the basil tuft, that waves And to the humble rosemary, 9 The people of the Batta country in Sumatra (of which Zamara is one of the ancient names)" when not engaged in war, lead an idle, inactive life, passing the day in playing on a kind of flute, crowned with garlands of flowers, among which the globe-amaranthus, a native of the country, mostly prevails." - Marsden. I "The largest and richest sort (of the Jambu or rose-apple) is called Amrita or immortal, and the mythologists of Tibet apply the same word to a celestial tree, bearing ambrosial fruit.”—Sir W. Jones. 2 Sweet basil, called Rayhan in Persia, and generally found in church-yards. Whose sweets so thanklessly are shed And leaves, till they can hold no more With what delight th' Enchantress views And beams of that bless'd hour! - her glance Spoke something, past all mortal pleasures, As, in a kind of holy trance, She hung above those fragrant treasures, And 'twas, indeed, the perfume shed 3" In the Great Desert are found many stalks of lavender and rosemary."-Asiat. Res. Her charmed life for none had e'er Beheld her taste of mortal fare, Nor ever in aught earthly dip, I know where the winged visions dwell I know each herb and flowret's bell, To twine our braid, To-morrow the dreams and flowers will fade. The image of love, that nightly flies To visit the bashful maid, Steals from the jasmine flower, that sighs Its soul, like her, in the shade. |