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 THE JAMES D. PHaAN 
 CELTIC COLLECTION 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Arcinive 
 
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 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/doomofmacdiarmidOOwiddrich 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 AN ORIENTAL LEGEND OF THE GAEL. 
 
THE 
 
 DOOM OF MACDIARMID; 
 
 II fm^m Tt^iit[i tfi % «;•''■■"'•'•'' 
 
 JOHN WIDDUP, A.B, T.C.D., L.E.C.S.L 
 II 
 
 g^nl^or of an dtssag on ||l^2sifal iistronomij. 
 
 — j-5£^^?2r*^f^fc9^iiC>5— 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 R. D. WEBB & SON, PRINTERS, 74, ABBEY STREET. 
 
 1874 
 
:« 
 
 nni. 
 
 
 PHEUN 
 
LORD LIEUTENANT GENERAL AND GENERAL GOVERNOR OP IRELAND, 
 
 THE FOLLOWING LEGEND, BY HIS GRACIOUS PERMISSION, 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 
 
 BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 810315 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 Page 12, line 8, for poinard read poniard. 
 94, „ 12,7'or Allah's read Ullah's. 
 94, „ 25, /or destestedreao? detested. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 In the reign of Shah Hussein, who has been 
 described as one of the most bigoted sovereigns 
 that ever ruled over Persia, although of an indolent 
 and rather mild disposition, the various provinces 
 of that country experienced greater miseries than 
 under the most cruel depotism. 
 
 Mirvais, an Afghan nobleman, who had resided 
 for some time at the court of Isfahan, determined 
 to render his native land independent, and for this 
 purpose invited the principal Persian governors 
 thereof to a banquet at Candahar ; where in the 
 midst of the revels they were assassinated by a 
 number of youths disguised in female apparel. 
 
 The facility whereby Mirvais subsequently dis- 
 persed the royal troops from Afghanistan, and 
 became chief of that province, induced him to raise 
 his ambitious views even to the throne of Persia. 
 He was however prevented by death from accom- 
 plishing his design. 
 
 Mir Maghmud, his son and successor, of equal 
 ambition, though of inferior talent, intent on the 
 
VUl PREFACE. 
 
 same scheme, collected a large number of the dis- 
 contented inhabitants throughout the kingdom, par- 
 ticularly tribes of Tartars and natives of the Kerman 
 mountains — friends of his father — and with these 
 combined forces marched at once towards Isfahan. 
 
 In the vicinity of the city he was met by the 
 king's army hastily assembled, over which he gained 
 a signal and unexpected victory- — he himself being 
 about to take flight previous to the conclusion of the 
 engagement. 
 
 The legend commences with a brief description 
 of the battle. Gulnabad was situate in the imme- 
 diate neighbourhood of Isfahan. 
 
 It cannot escape the reader's observation that the 
 antient terms, particularly the proper names in the 
 Persian language, which have been transmitted to 
 us, bear so close a resemblance to the names indi- 
 cating the same objects in the Irish vernacular, as 
 to produce a confident belief that the language of 
 both countries must have been once identical. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO I. 
 
 GuLNABAD, thy fields are bright, 
 
 Yet 'tis not with the orient beam ; 
 Yon sudden glow of crimson light 
 
 Is not of Heaven's sethereal stream. 
 Yon dense and darkly moving cloud, 
 
 Whose rolling columns float afar. 
 Is not the pure aerial shroud 
 
 Was wont to greet the morning star. 
 Why bursts that dread tremendous sound 
 
 Eending thy still and peaceful vale ? 
 Why wave the hostile banners round 
 
 The dawn-lit hill and lovely dale ? 
 Sure frantic Discord might be sent 
 
 To rule a less endeared domain. 
 Where rugged mountains ocean rent 
 
 Eepel the boisterous hurricane ; 
 There storm-nursed on the billow's foam, 
 
 While wind and wave contending rise, 
 
 1 
 
."". S 8;.,' f^ *'*'b**^1 TAB DOOM OF MAC Dli^RMID. 
 
 Proud she'd enjoy her peaceless home 
 Exulting as the daylight dies. 
 
 To turmoil doomed in scene so meet, 
 Be Discord with her horrors sad, 
 
 Far from the groves and gardens sweet 
 Of thy fair vale, dear Gulnabad. 
 
 The passing zephyr's gentle breath 
 Wafts off the lingering smoke of death. 
 The thunder for a moment still 
 No longer echoes from the hill ; 
 AVhile blushing from the East a flood 
 Of brightness robes the scene of blood. 
 O'er verdant plain and blooming bower. 
 That welcomed oft the morning hour, 
 Smiling in perfume, as to pay 
 Its sweetness to the new-born day, 
 Foul havoc and revenge arise 
 To desecrate a paradise. 
 
 The Persian, host on host arrayed, 
 In battle panoply displayed, 
 Eaise the loud shout to Allah's name. 
 Each rank exhorting, chiefs of fame, 
 Eostam, Abdallah, Merdan fly 
 With prayers to conquer or to die. 
 As undulating in the sheen 
 Flaunted his banner gold and green, 
 The noble Rostam raised his sword, 
 The good, the gallant Georgian lord. 
 
CANTO I. 
 
 " On, on to victory," he cried, 
 " Iberia's sons, Iberia's pride : 
 Before you cowers the deadly foe, 
 
 Who fraudfuUy your sires betrayed. 
 Let the base blood of Mirvais flow, 
 
 Till treason in the dust be laid. 
 Let Persia, from each province see 
 
 Iberia rushing to the war. 
 Spare not one rebel Abdolee, 
 
 Eevenge the loss of Candahar." 
 
 While reining back his fiery steed. 
 The Arab chief Abdallah heard. 
 
 The valiant Georgian forward speed. 
 And grievously in heart deterred, 
 
 Lest Eostam might a conquest claim, 
 
 And cast a stigma on his name, 
 
 He orders forth the dense array 
 
 Of Arab's light-armed cavalry ; 
 
 Who hail the summons with a cheer. 
 
 And brandish high the glittering spear. 
 
 Like gushing torrents they unite 
 
 With Georgia's powerful band their might ; 
 
 Spear, scimitar, and axe, and targe 
 
 Clash as they thundered to the charge. 
 
 Then echoed hill and dale around, 
 Kesponsive to the awful sound ; 
 As if the earth's broad base were riven, 
 And once again to chaos given. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Such boundless uproar wildly rose, 
 As fierce encountering columns close ; 
 Twould seem to start the mouldering dead 
 Where Rostam and Abdallah led. 
 
 The troops of Candahar survey'd 
 
 Impending ruin undismayed. 
 
 Maghmud, their haughty prince, implored 
 
 Brave Ullah, Kerman's warlike lord. 
 
 To join with force increased the band, 
 
 He loved to govern and command. 
 
 He quickly of the central van, 
 
 Insurgents from Mazanderan, 
 
 A squadron led, then eastward turned. 
 
 To join his troop whom vengeance burned. 
 
 Firm and resolved the heroes stood. 
 From Kerman's land of hill and flood ; 
 They little deemed whose power they swell, 
 If war upon their tyrants fell. 
 They recked not where destruction's dart 
 Might aim, so 'twould but reach the heart 
 Of him whose execrated sway 
 Had swept their altar's fire away. 
 
 " Great source of light, eternal fire ! 
 Revered alike by son and sire," 
 Ullah exclaimed, " though fate should doom 
 Our future to the silent tomb. 
 
CANTO I. 
 
 Within our hearts diffuse the flame 
 Our fathers felt for Iran's name ; 
 Who conquering an eternal fame, 
 Joy'd even in pangs of death to see 
 Her altar pure, her temple free/' 
 
 Mir Maghmud saw, with proud delight, 
 
 Ullah condensing to the fight — 
 
 His vaward wing, prepared to meet 
 
 The threatening storm's impending weight. 
 
 He then despatched a mandate brief 
 
 That Oman, the bold Tartar chief. 
 
 Should let the cannons' roaring breath 
 
 Ply instantly the work of death ; 
 
 Then from the right with sword and spear, 
 
 Assail the Persian cannoneer. 
 
 As the cataracts raging roar, 
 When from the rocks their torrents pour. 
 As the deep surges heave below. 
 That boiling, meet them as they flow ; 
 So on the left of Maghmud's line 
 
 The Georgian and the Arab fell. 
 Whom Kerman's spearmen, at a sign. 
 
 Like granite rocks the waves, repel. 
 
 The sanguined stream o'erflows the field 
 Of victims slain, who scorned to yield. 
 No recreant thought of flight or fear. 
 Though bayonet, arquebus and spear 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 More surely weave the veil of death, 
 Than the sirocco's poisoning breath. 
 Hark ! through the clamor of the fray 
 Great Eostam bursts his dreadful way. 
 Many a pale and quivering corse 
 Lay crushed beneath the Georgian horse, 
 On, on unchecked, uncurbed they ran. 
 The line they break, and through the van, 
 With hoof immersed in hostile gore 
 Dark death in crimsoned torrents pour. 
 
 As the red lightning cleaves the rock. 
 
 As the terrific earthquake's shock, 
 
 The harbingers of death now fly 
 
 From carronade and musketry. 
 
 Ere Merdan could the charge refrain 
 
 Of Persia's life guards, on the plain 
 
 A thousand pale and prostrate lay, 
 
 Struck from the hostile battery. 
 
 Yet still with ardor unallayed, 
 
 He urged each chief to join and aid 
 
 His severed wing with strength combined, 
 
 And each his separate charge assigned. 
 
 With these the stern desire arose 
 
 To rush amidst their Tartar foes — 
 
 With vengeance deep, with kindling ire 
 
 Their hearts are fraught, their soals are fire. 
 
 Such latent force, ere bursting loud. 
 Concentrates the electric cloud ; 
 
CANTO I. 
 
 Though calm in its incipient birth, 
 And still and silent as the earth, 
 When shaded with the pall of night, 
 Ere morn unveils her brow of light : 
 Yet soon resounding, peal on peal 
 Its awe inspiring course reveal ; 
 Descending from its orbit high. 
 Huge blackened masses prostrate lie 
 Of art and nature, tree and tower. 
 Blighted and rent proclaim its power. 
 
 Amazed was Maghmud to behold 
 Persians in armour chased with gold, 
 Keform their ranks, present a line 
 Unbroken, at their leader's sign. 
 The veterans of his army fly 
 
 Eager to combat at his call. 
 And rushing with him fearlessly 
 
 On Merdan and his column fall. 
 O'er the wide field, the deal'ning sound 
 
 Of their fell conflict thrilled the air ; 
 Their shouts the very brave astound. 
 
 And strike the timid with despair. 
 
 The Persian with redoubled rage 
 
 The onset to repel aspires. 
 From Merdan's arm though stiflf with age 
 
 The bravest of the foe retires. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Yet still in multitudes untold, 
 
 They come, projecting spear on spear, 
 
 In hopes of spoil, determined, bold. 
 To grace in death a gory bier. 
 
 Wearied, faint, with wounds oppressed 
 
 Merdan now combats ; at his side 
 The brave, the flower of Persia rest. 
 
 Who prompt for king and country died. 
 Beset, his hauberk pierced and riven 
 
 With Afghan spears, when to his aid, 
 There came, like Peri sent from heaven, 
 
 A youth in Georgian garb arrayed ; 
 Who, fatal as the lava stream. 
 
 Advanced to meet the rebel foe, 
 When from the mountain's towering flame. 
 
 Its desolating torrents flow. 
 The hands that Merdan's bosom sought, 
 
 Fall reeking to the blood stained dust ; 
 Maghmud, appalled, no longer fought. 
 
 But cursed the prophet as unjust : 
 His veterans too avoid the fray, 
 
 Achmed the Georgian marks their flight, 
 And as the eagle seeks his prey, 
 
 He follows with avenging might. 
 
 Merdan is rescued ; but while late 
 Young Achmed the pursuit detained, 
 
 Inscrutable ! astounding fate ! 
 Oman the royal battery gained. 
 
CANTO I. 
 
 And thence its booming thunders aimed 
 
 On the astonished Persian host, 
 Who pause, no more with ardour flamed. 
 Exclaiming yet with souls untamed, 
 " Have arms from hell our battle crossed 1 
 Or treason dark our triumph lost ^ " 
 
 The Arab first deserts the field, 
 All but the Georgian squadron yield. 
 Yet ere the chief Abdallah fled, 
 Eostam was numbered with the dead. 
 Who faintly uttered to his band, 
 " I perish by a traitor's hand." 
 
 No more was heard. The desperate strife 
 His troop maintained, till ebbing life 
 Flowed in warm currents from each heart. 
 That scorned from its chief to part, 
 Though his last mortal pang was o'er, 
 His voice could now inspire no more. 
 
 The turmoil of the battle's done. 
 
 The victor's shouts now die away. 
 The toil is o'er, the triumph won. 
 
 And ceased the carnage of the fray. 
 The mellowed sombre tints of eve 
 Around the scene their mantle weave, 
 Silence uninterrupted, deep 
 And solemn seems alone to weep 
 
10 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Above the dead, who blithely gave 
 Their life blood to bedew their grave. 
 
 What lonely warrior lingers now "? 
 
 Seen dimly by night's dusky brow 
 
 On yonder mound, where pallid lie 
 
 The -embers of mortality. 
 
 The pensive, yet impressive air, 
 
 The mournful look of calm despair 
 
 Portray the flow of passions tide 
 
 His soul overwhelmed. He seemed to chide 
 
 The tardy moon, whose feeble light 
 
 No object yet revealed to sight. 
 
 Faltering tones arrest his ear, 
 
 That plaintive flow from sorrow near ; 
 
 He paused to list ; but all was still, 
 
 Save the light zephyr on the hill ; 
 
 The watchword, he had heard that morn 
 
 Throughout the tents of Persia borne. 
 
 He uttered loud, when lo ! there came 
 
 In sounds distinctly heard his name. 
 
 ** Give aid, brave Achmed, Georgia's pride, 
 
 If thine the friendly voice I hear ; 
 
 Behold where wounding breast and side, 
 
 Glanced the sharp point of Ullah's spear. 
 
 Keach from beside yon fallen steed, 
 
 The ample turban there youll find ; 
 
 Haste, lest I exhausted bleed, 
 
 'Tis round yon Arab's temple twined." 
 
CANTO I. 11 
 
 With speed advancing, Achmed found 
 The chieftain Herman prostrate thrown ; 
 The turban o'er his wound he bound, 
 Where the rude weapon bared the bone. 
 His pain he soothed, and then with hope, 
 The veteran cheered, whom oft he knew 
 Exultingly with danger cope. 
 And in her direst haunts pursue. 
 
 Eapidly he sought a car, 
 
 To bear him from the field afar. 
 
 And straight conveyed him, lorn and sad, 
 
 To thy domed halls, sweet Gulnabad. 
 
 " Herman, I fondly deemed,'' he said, 
 
 " Where thou wert prostrate with the dead, 
 
 Our prince still living might be found 
 
 Extended on yon ghastly mound ; 
 
 But profitless, alas ! and vain. 
 
 It were to seek our chief again ; 
 
 The gallant Eostam ne'er could bide 
 
 A beam of heaven's own light, 
 That saw amidst the purple tide 
 Of Persia's battle, scattered wide. 
 
 Her sons' dishonored flight." 
 
 " Too true," said Herman, *' but his fate 
 To no opponent's arm was due, 
 The treacherous Arab's deadly hate 
 Our generous leader slew. 
 
12 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 While charging the proud rebel's host, 
 The battle to retrieve ere lost, 
 Abdallah struck him with his spear 
 Through the left side — then pale with fear 
 The dastard viewed and quit the field ; 
 But had I not been forced to yield 
 To fainting swoon, from loss of blood, 
 With this good poinard Fd have sped, 
 To meet the caitiff ere he fled. 
 And stab him where he stood/' 
 
 Deep anguish clouded Achmed's brow 
 And thrilled each fibre of his heart. 
 " This deed of horror, Herman, now 
 We'll briefly to the king impart ; 
 He will not spare the traitor's life, 
 Who in the tumult of the strife, 
 With his accm^sed hand. 
 By foulest murder has o'erthrown 
 The noblest pillar of the throne, 
 The guardian of his land. 
 
 " In sooth thou little knowest the court, 
 
 By evil agents swayed, 
 Our gentle monarch is their sport. 
 
 To Arab wiles betrayed. 
 Eostam, 'tis true, he dearly loved, 
 And chiefly by his counsel moved. 
 When from his mountain home our prince, 
 
 Summoned, to court would come ; 
 
CANTO 1. 13 
 
 But now 'tis just to fear that since 
 
 His melancholy doom 
 Abdallah will more power assume, 
 Whose deep dyed guilt, should we presume 
 With truth and courage to arraign. 
 Our utmost efforts would be vain. 
 Though pure the Christian, how his tale 
 Against an Emir would avail. 
 Who thrice sojourned at Mecca's shrine ; 
 Whom priest and people deem divine. 
 Thou mayest surmise, I but foresee 
 From present grief more misery. 
 
 " Yet nought should thy desire retard 
 Our king against such foes to guard ; 
 Haste to the court, the meidan gain,* 
 Let no ulterior duty bar 
 Thy speed to Hussein, though in vain, 
 You may plead at the Chilminar.^ 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO II. 
 
 The dome and the spire are radiant with day, 
 
 O'er Isfahan's people in prayer, 
 The grove and the terrace no longer are gay 
 
 With the smile of the young and the fair. 
 The voice and the lyre of the minstrel are mute. 
 
 No procession in triumph appears, 
 With melody heard from the sweet warbHng lute, 
 
 But there's war-wrought affliction and tears. 
 
 An alcove of the palace, raised 
 On pure white marble pillars, blazed 
 With gorgeous beauty. Mirrors threw 
 A thousand rays of crimson hue 
 With gold and purple tints combined, 
 From lattices with roses twined. 
 Which silken folds within adorn 
 To simulate the blush of mom. 
 
16 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Prone on a couch a maiden lay, 
 As seen by tlie rich dawn-like ray ; 
 Her sable tresses unconfined 
 Bedecked the couch where she reclined ; 
 A small white hand, beneath her head, 
 Scarce veiled the copious tears she shed ; 
 The ottoman her arm upheld. 
 Whose snowy velvet nought excelled 
 In purity of tinge, the limb 
 Eounded and tapering ; but how dim 
 All other objects loomed to sight, 
 When as her form she raised, 
 Her darkling eyes of heavenly light 
 Around in sadness gazed. 
 
 What roving zephyr rustling waves 
 The pepul boughs, the roses leaves '? ^ 
 Tis not the breeze, for in their shade, 
 Achmed approached and mournful said, 
 " Mindah, be comforted, the king 
 Alone omnipotent, can bring 
 Again the happiness that late 
 Our hopes enjoyed, ere Rostam's fate 
 Plunged into misery the land. 
 How gladly with his Georgian band. 
 He would have all from ruin saved. 
 Had not his life been foully reaved." 
 
 In mourning terms of sweetest tone 
 Mindah exclaimed. Oh ! Heaven alone ! 
 
CANTO II. 17 
 
 Rostam fallen ! my guardian sire 1 
 Oh ! would that in the blazing pyre, 
 From which in childhood I was freed 
 By him who loved each noble deed, 
 And lived by saintly virtues blessed, 
 I destined were in peace to rest, 
 With those to whom existence owed 
 Its parentage ; the awful load 
 Of misery that now impends 
 er princesses, bereft of friends, 
 Had ne'er been known ; the silent tomb 
 Had saved me from an orphan's doom." 
 
 " Grieve not unhopingly, dear maid ; 
 
 One earthly guardian lost. 
 Kind heaven preserving to thine aid 
 
 Of friends a countless host ; 
 The veterans of our mountain horde, 
 
 Inured to war's wild scene, 
 Will joyfully their lives afford 
 
 To guard their favorite queen." 
 
 " Old Herman, dauntless chief, yet lives, 
 Whose wisdom sure protection gives ; 
 Him you have seen so oft alone 
 Admire with awe thy diamond zone. 
 Raising mysteriously his eyes, 
 As if to inspiration given. 
 Regarding thee with mute surprise 
 As angel sent from heaven ; 
 
18 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Whose mission the All-wise above, 
 In pity to the human race, 
 Conceded, and that like the dove, 
 You came a messenger of peace." 
 
 ," No more, dear Achmed, let no dream 
 
 Or vain delusion e'er inspire 
 Thy soul with fancies which may seem 
 
 Meet to the aged. Devouring fire. 
 Amid war's desolating strife, 
 
 Consumed our native palace walls, 
 , Each friend beloved, each parent's life 
 
 Was doomed amidst their halls ; 
 When rescued from the burning pile, 
 
 In infancy, no thought remained 
 To memory, save a mother's smile 
 Of placid love — endearing wile — 
 
 That o'er my spirit blessings rained. 
 
 " This girdle, on whose front is traced 
 
 The cross with signs which few can read. 
 From Herman's mind all thought effaced. 
 
 Save one, the emblem of our creed. 
 To him imbued in Christian lore 
 
 An orphan borne from distant lands, 
 With sign so blessed could ne'er adore 
 
 In temples raised by pagan hands. 
 I know not how my thoughts unfold 
 
 When lights upon our altar burn — 
 
CANTO II. 19 
 
 " Some wonted mystic rites of old 
 
 That make my childhood's days return ; 
 
 Visions appear, as if yon sun^ 
 
 Stored sacred beams to light our fanes, 
 
 And the celestial flame, thence won, 
 Absolved in air all mortal stains. 
 
 *' Lo ! now, yon mosque, whose portals wide 
 Pour forth the ever surging tide 
 Of rushing fanatics — some ban 
 Of Eblis sure or Ahriman, 
 'Twould seem had made their souls recede 
 From Christian rite, or holy deed ; 
 Or faith arrayed in sacred love 
 Insj^iring them to soar above 
 Each mundane impulse — passion, hate — 
 They madly deem the will of fate. 
 
 " Then why predict, that one whose path 
 Is aye beset with mortal toil. 
 Could mar war's desolating wrath. 
 Or turn the victor from the spoil. 
 
 *' Oh no ! to flee remote from scenes 
 
 Where death makes havoc of our friends, 
 And courtesy all smiling feigns 
 
 A friendship that misfortune ends ; 
 To Georgia's vales and Tiflis' towers, 
 
 Where life's smooth current calmly played. 
 Where bloom the ever grateful bowers 
 
 'Mid mountains gloriously arrayed, 
 
20 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Eeflecting every brilliant hue 
 
 Of waking dawn, or tranquil eve ; 
 Whose streams so beautifully blue 
 
 Would oft the stranger's eye deceive, 
 Who in simplicity ne'er thought 
 
 Such waters could on earth be found, 
 But deemed them part of yon pure vault, 
 
 Till wakened to their cascade's sound — 
 Thither to flee, though but to mourn 
 The loss that saddens our retm^n 
 May yet console, however late. 
 The friends that grieve for Rostam's fate." 
 
 Mindah," cried Achmed, smiling, " How 
 Couldst thou ignore the soldier's vow '? 
 His plighted honour, glory, fame, 
 Hope to eternalise his name, 
 All to his standard firmly bind 
 His duty, as by heaven assigned ; 
 Till victory her banner wave 
 
 Before his all delighted eyes ; 
 Or in his kindred dust — the grave — 
 
 Wept by his country, calm he lies. 
 
 But this rude scene, replete with fear. 
 Beseems thee not ; to linger here. 
 Where deeds of ruthless vengeance bring 
 Abhorred rebellion on our king, 
 
CANTO II. 21 
 
 Were yielding to the vulture's aim 
 The dove once rescued from the flame. 
 Herman, who in his lord's defence 
 
 Was wounded in the battle fray, 
 With strength regained, will guide thee hence, 
 
 And guard thee on thy homeward way. 
 
 "I see assembling the divan 
 
 Briefly to ponder measures meet, 
 Or summon aid from Erivan, 
 
 Or, shame ! mayhap, with rebels treat. 
 I go, though impotent to wield 
 
 The fickle, unreflecting crowd. 
 At least our sovereign to shield 
 
 From traitor, reckless, false, and proud." 
 
 Helmet in hand, he waved adieu 
 With look so kind, benign, and true, 
 As all her feelings to inspire 
 
 With hope of future peace ; 
 His courage tried her thoughts admire, 
 
 Her anxious terrors cease. 
 
 A youthful maiden, to her call 
 
 Advanced with quiet, mournful pace. 
 
 She was of stature slight, not tall. 
 Though exquisite in form and face. 
 
 Her dark blue eye expressive told 
 Of buoyant youth repressed by care ; 
 
22 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Circassian born, her locks of gold 
 
 Shaded a front divinely fair, 
 Her voice from heart of stone or steel 
 
 Fond tears of ecstacy would win, 
 And all her witching soul reveal 
 
 Eesponsive to her mandoline — 
 Whenever thus with kindling eye 
 She'd breathe a favourite melody. 
 
 " Oh ! haste to the vale, where the bright flowers are bloom- 
 ing, 
 
 And diamond-like dew drops their beauty adorn ; 
 AU grief with the shadow of darkness entombing, 
 
 While the groves wake so sweetly in song to the morn. 
 
 " Sure death is not sleep ! Oh ! no ! no ! 'tis the waking 
 From life's turbid dream, and a long night of pain ; 
 
 'Tis the day newly born of eternal hght breaking. 
 That ne'er shall know shadow nor darkness again. 
 
 " 'Tis the flio-ht to a resjion of bliss never-ending, 
 
 Where brighter than diamonds new flowers ever bloom ; 
 
 Where the sweet notes of rapture from angels attending 
 Arise with a triumph of joy o'er the tomb. 
 
 " Then weep not as dead, whom the angels are greeting 
 With hymns of delight to the bourn of the just ; 
 
 ShaU we mourn ! while hope, smiling, e'er points to the 
 meeting 
 Kind death will reveal when our embers are dust." 
 
 " Flora, thy sweet, consoling strain 
 Eevives my soul to hope again, 
 Thouo^h calling forth new tears. 
 
CANTO II. 23 
 
 My gentle friend, whence came that charm 
 So soothe, so potent to disarm 
 D espondency of fears 
 
 " To thee, on life's broad ocean cast, 
 The sport of every wayward blast, 
 
 Unsullied by the storm, 
 I know the children of thy soil. 
 E'er prone to peril and to toil, 
 
 Are fraught with feelings warm. 
 
 " Whene'er to lute and song they list, 
 'Tis vain the impulse to resist 
 
 That would their thoughts inspire ; 
 When sings the bard of battle won, 
 Or warlike deed on tyrants done. 
 
 Their very souls are fire. 
 
 '^ But where couldst thou, an exile long, 
 Attain that magic power of song, 
 
 Undisciplined by art 1 
 To wake, compose, excite, or calm — 
 In the rent bosom pouring balm. 
 
 To heal the wounded heart." 
 
 " Lady," said Flora, " Heaven above 
 Alone bestows the gift you love, 
 
 As once to Jesse's line 
 The high, immortal power it gave ; 
 But ne'er to tyrant yet, nor slave 
 
 Assigned the art divine. 
 
24 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 " When torn, in early childhoocVs years 
 From those I loved, with shrieks and tears, 
 
 Far from my native land, 
 The dastard Turk, with vengeance foul, 
 Exposed me captive at Stamboul, 
 In open mart to stand. 
 
 " Slave had I been, but pilgrim came 
 From Scotia's isle of hallowed fame — ^ 
 
 Whom childhood's tears detain ; 
 He tenders gold, his guide commands 
 To snatch me from their caitiff hands, 
 
 And loose the galling chain. 
 
 ** My liberator's happy home 
 
 A charmed asylum gave. 
 O'er many a pleasant land we roam, 
 
 And traverse many a wave. 
 Blessed with that art beyond his race, 
 
 Deemed by ungifted men a dream : 
 In song, his eyes, his aged face 
 
 With saintly joy would beam. 
 
 " But when he told of that loved isle. 
 His gallant sons defending died. 
 
 With whom heart-rending grief, the while. 
 Entombed their mother side by side ; 
 
 You'd say no earthly harp could raise 
 Notes of that pure, exalted tone. 
 
CANTO II. 25 
 
 Commingled with adoring praise 
 To that mysterious power alone ; 
 
 Who from our deepest pangs can draw 
 Our happiness divine, extreme, 
 
 Uninfluenced by mortal law, 
 
 Beyond all human thought supreme. 
 
 " His plaintive lay impressed my mind 
 With strange sensation, sad, yet kind ; 
 His native legends, sweet and wild. 
 He loved to teach his favoured child — 
 For such he held me, and esteemed 
 As blest the Providence that seemed 
 To doom me to the Moslem's rage, 
 Yet gave a solace to his age — 
 Consoling him for those he lost. 
 What gave him resignation most. 
 And calmed the anguish of his heart. 
 Were songs untaught, I learned apart. 
 Oft would the simple hymn you praise 
 His very soul to transport raise. 
 
 " Impelled by ardent hope, we seek 
 
 Beloved Circassia, there to end 
 Our varied wandering. But to speak 
 
 Of horrors, they would only tend 
 To sadden thee* ; friends, kindred, gone. 
 
 Our native vale a desert wild, 
 Of thousands there remained not one 
 
 To mourn the lot of the exiled. 
 
26 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 War, plague, or famine's torturing death 
 A thorough desolation wrought : 
 
 The passing breeze with gentler breath. 
 When we in vain the homestead sought, 
 Their requiem wailed, I fondly thought. 
 
 " My kind protector bade me turn 
 
 While weeping, from the valley's side. 
 Where plundering Moslems spoil and burn 
 
 Whoe'er could peaceably abide 1 
 Exclaiming, with a prayer sublime, 
 
 ' Oh, for some earthly region free ; 
 Some undiscovered, happy clime, 
 
 Exempt from mortal misery. 
 Unhallowed yet by human crime !' 
 
 O'er rugged mountains thence we haste 
 In scenes more tranquil to sojourn, 
 
 Kemote from home's destructive waste — 
 Ah 1 vain desires all earthly born ! 
 
 " Tiflis received a weary pair 
 
 Of pilgrims in her friendly towers ; 
 To which good Herman's anxious care 
 
 Would fain have strewn our path with flowers. 
 For he had known my guardian long 
 In distant lands far famed for song. 
 The blooming isles of Greece were said 
 To Ve had the aged and feeble led 
 All ardent to admire their lore, 
 In conference, from shore to shore. 
 
CANTO II. 27 
 
 Even blithesome youth, when parting day 
 Had chased the fervent hours away, 
 Would oft desert the joyous dance 
 And yet the pleasing eve enhance, 
 Illum'd by Dian's silver beam, 
 Hearkening to the sage's theme ; 
 That pictured empires, states of old 
 In ancient records rarely told — 
 Ke tracing generations past, 
 'Ere war provoked the trumpet's blast ; 
 'Ere Delos from the waters sprung, 
 The Muse inspired, or Homer sung, 
 
 " But now the bard's last grief was o'er. 
 Doomed to adorn the earth no more. 
 Aware his pilgrimage was done. 
 Meekly his brow with radiance shone. 
 Those once endeared to him on earth — 
 Stems of his race, of regal birth, 
 He said, now beckoned him to come. 
 And share their bright eternal home. 
 To Herman charges he assigned 
 Of jewels — wealth, an ample store. 
 And the poor orphan he resigned 
 To faith so tried and proved before. 
 
 " I need not say how well the trust 
 
 In that distinguished chief was placed. 
 Whose wisdom, provident and just 
 The bitterness of woe effaced ; 
 
28 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 '' For of all favours he could give 
 
 Or bounteous providence could send, 
 What can compete with this — to live 
 Thy cherished, loved, devoted friend?" 
 
 " Dear as my life," fair Mindah cried 
 
 And clasped her in her arms the while, 
 
 " Friends, orphans, as fond sisters tried 
 
 Well live though fate may frown or smile/' 
 
 Lingering o'er such kind embrace 
 
 Angels might gaze with rapture ever ; 
 
 Tears, soothing grief, bedewed each face. 
 With smiles of promise ne'er to sever. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO III. 
 
 The war, discursive, sweeps the plain 
 
 And dyes the blushing Zenderud, 
 That murmuring wafted off the stain. 
 
 As loath to witness human blood. 
 The shepherd's cot in ruin falls, 
 
 A prey to all-consuming fire ; 
 The peasant sought the city's walls 
 
 Driven by the foe, with fell desire, 
 That famine might the work of death 
 
 With lighter toil of war achieve, 
 And plague her pestilential breath 
 
 Condensed evolve, and life bereave. 
 What fearful shrieks the dead deplore 1 
 
 What groans of rage and vengeance mad, 
 Blent with the gun's alternate roar. 
 
 Boom through the vale of Gulnabad ! 
 
 An Arab band secured a site 
 
 By walls defended, whence they fight 
 
30 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Discharging darts of fatal power 
 Densely as drops the thunder shower. 
 Twice repulsed was the hostile line 
 That boldly dared the barrier mine. 
 When swift, amid the darts elanced, 
 Kerman's highland troops advanced — 
 Then scaled the wall the mountaineer, 
 To charge the band with sword and spear. 
 
 Where was the Arab force could stand 
 Against the might of UUah's hand % 
 Three stalwart brothers of the race 
 At once his powerful weapon face. 
 Dashing their pliant spears aside, 
 From one he draws the purple tide 
 Out gushing from his wounded throat ; 
 Before another billows float 
 Crimsoned deep to his closing eyes, 
 As with cleft brow he prostrate lies. 
 The third, a youth, disdained to flee 
 The unequal strife, resolved to be 
 Victor, or in his visioned heaven 
 Wrapt in the joys to martyrs given. 
 His sword breaks short, while that still red 
 With kindred streams his life blood shed. 
 
 " Base oflfspring of the vandal band," 
 
 Ullah exclaimed, with glance of scorn, 
 
 " Who robbed us of the beauteous land 
 
 Where erst our glorious sires were born ; 
 
CANTO III. • 31 
 
 When Asia bowed beneath their sway, 
 And nations their dominion sought, 
 Which bounteous as the solar ray, 
 Gave liberty to life and thought. 
 All potent Ormusd doomed our sires 
 — 'Wont to depress the world's proud lords 
 Who desecrate his hallowed fires — 
 
 To yield to such contemptuous hordes.'' 
 
 With frantic grief Abdallah saw 
 
 The bravest of his followers slain. 
 Like deer beneath the tiger's paw, 
 
 The remnant scattered o'er the plain, 
 A numerous host, his anxious fears 
 
 Collect them briefly to his aid, 
 'Till compassed by a grove of spears 
 
 He pointed to the foe and said : 
 " Sons of the faith will not the sight 
 
 Of Guebre cursed inflame your ire ? 
 Shall yonder sun's auspicious light 
 
 Behold you flee the slaves of fire ? 
 'Tis not the Afghan you oppose^ 
 
 Imbued with our unsullied faith. 
 But Allah's dire, inveterate foes. 
 
 Foredoomed to Eblis and to death. 
 Who in the contest falls shall wear 
 
 Immortal laurels : angels wings 
 His soul to paradise shaU bear, 
 
 While the seraphic minstrel sings. 
 An Houri of celestial charms 
 Shall smiling fold him in her arms." 
 
32 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 His vain prediction could impart 
 
 No pleasure so intensely deep, 
 As tliat which lightened Ullah's heart. 
 
 With joy even his associates weep : 
 For now before them stand arrayed 
 
 The race abhorred, the hated foes, 
 Who on their homes and altars preyed. 
 
 The long felt cause of all their woes. 
 With close set teeth, with lips compressed. 
 
 From whence escaped no hostile word ; 
 Each glance their leader's eye addressed, 
 
 Each hand more tightly grasped the sword. 
 
 Speedier than the antelope 
 
 When the wild hunter's darts pursue, 
 While plunging down the mountain slope, 
 
 O'er blooming heather bright with dew ; 
 More swiftly than the eagles fly 
 
 To glad with reeking prey their young. 
 Who in their eyrie perched on high 
 
 Greet them with cries, the rocks among : 
 Firm and determined rushed the race 
 Of Kerman's warriors to efface 
 
 The memory of years. 
 The signal scarce had Ullah given, 
 Their charge was like the bolt of heaven 
 
 Against the Arab spears. 
 
 Dread was the shock, the Moslems reel. 
 And shudder as the rapid steel 
 
CANTO III. 33 
 
 Sweeps down their serried line ; 
 But confidence in numbers, shame, 
 The all exciting prophet's name, 
 Their rude desponding souls inflame, 
 
 As sparks the deadly mine. 
 Their leader turned with fraudful art 
 His caftan s broidered folds to part ; 
 
 Whence secretly he drew 
 A casket, with dark essence filled 
 Of concentrated poison stilled. 
 
 His weapon to imbue. 
 
 A guard gigantic, stout of heart. 
 He armed with this envenomed dart. 
 
 And stern injunction gave. 
 When fiercely raged the combat round, 
 He should the Sultan Guebre wound,^ 
 
 And other contests waive ; 
 That Mithra's progeny were charmed,^ 
 By spells and incantations armed 
 
 Against assault profane ; 
 But when opposed by weapon given 
 From sainted Emir, chosen of heaven, 
 
 All magic rites were vain. 
 
 Ullah contending in the van, 
 
 His gallant followers, man to man. 
 
 Were bathed in hostile blood — 
 Unconscious, saw with vague surprise 
 A huge-framed Arab fix his eyes 
 
 On him where'er he stood. 
 
34 THE DOOM OF MAO DIARMTD. 
 
 Instinctively his thouglits incline, 
 To cleave the monster to the spine, 
 
 Who seemed the fight to shun. 
 When, as the turmoil densely pressed, 
 The dart was pointed at his breast. * 
 
 To shield him numbers run. 
 But UUah's blade with powerful sweep, 
 Made the empoisoned weapon leap 
 
 Full fifty cubits high, 
 Whence sheer descending to the earth. 
 It scarred a youth of noble birth. 
 
 The flower of Araby — 
 Selim, their leader's son, whose arm 
 Few yet could ween, encountered harm, 
 
 Curbing his bouoding horse ; 
 Till torturing spasm seized the limb — 
 The face convulsed, the eye waxed dim. 
 
 He fell a blackened corse. 
 
 Aghast they view the honored dead, 
 Who blithely daring at their head. 
 
 Their deep affections won. 
 Soldiers whose hearts the sire scarce moved 
 By hope or fear, yet dearly loved 
 
 Abdallah's only son. 
 
 Stunned at the sight, to Isfahan, 
 Confused and horror-struck they ran — 
 A few resisting turned ; 
 
• CANTO III. 35 
 
 But strewed the pathway with their slain, 
 And gasping, wounded, mad with pain, 
 Whom thirst and anger burned. 
 
 Eejoiced they ken the city's spires, 
 Ere Kerman's ardent band retires. 
 
 Sore wearied with the chase. 
 For envoys from Mir Maghmud pressed. 
 With message to their chief addressed, 
 
 His movement to retrace. 
 That on his Afghan columns driven. 
 Sudden as thunderbolt from Heaven, 
 
 Eushed from an ambuscade, 
 A party dauntless in the field. 
 To whom his boldest veterans yield, 
 
 Entreating UUah's aid. 
 
 Screened in a copse beside the stream. 
 
 That flows by Gulnabad, 
 Impervious to the noontide beam, 
 
 Keclined a warrior sad. 
 'Twas Achmed, while a chosen group 
 
 Around him lay concealed 
 Of swiftest steeds, his gallant troop, 
 
 Within the foliage veiled. 
 Apart the heir of Persia's throne, 
 
 Of conquering Abbas sprung. 
 With Herman communed thus alone, 
 
 The listless guards among : 
 
36 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 *' What hope in Isfahan to remain '? 
 
 Where frantic priests all power control, 
 And treason sanctity can feign, 
 Abhorrent to the patriot's soul. 
 
 " The generous Achmed, whom my sire, 
 
 By fanatic Abdallah led. 
 Aye subjects to the hostile fire, 
 
 Too little recks the carnage dread. 
 Had not thy prudence timely seen 
 
 The covert of this friendly shade. 
 Dear Herman, Persia's prince had been 
 
 A victim to the rebel's blade. 
 But why intently to yon hill. 
 
 So distant thy regards direct 1 
 Oh ! never doubt great Allah will 
 
 Our wayward destiny protect." 
 
 " Thaemas, my prince," Herman replied, 
 ^ '' Kind Providence will e'er diffuse 
 Its choicest blessings, and abide 
 
 With those who best its bounties use. 
 Force, intellect, and sense were given 
 
 For action, energy and toil ; 
 Who misapply these gifts of Heaven, 
 
 Their future lives of peace despoil . 
 Thy firm resolve to join our band 
 
 Engaged in desperate deeds I praise, 
 But higher duty calls, the land 
 
 Thou must to war's prompt summons raise. 
 
CANTO III. 37 
 
 Through the exterior Afghan line, 
 
 That now encompasses our force, 
 Brave Achmed will, at eve's decline, 
 
 Direct thee with the Georgian horse. 
 But see that cloud-like vapour rise 
 
 Above the summit of yon mound. 
 Some smouldering cot in ruin lies, 
 
 The fiends advance — list to the sound ! " 
 
 Alert, with more attentive ear. 
 
 Whence rose the distant smoke, they hear, 
 
 Though scarce perceptible at first. 
 
 At intervals the warlike burst 
 
 Of sounds, that with a deafning roar, 
 
 The gale full soon distinctly bore. 
 
 Then on the upland crest are seen 
 
 The Afghan multitude. I ween 
 
 No gallant soldier versed in war, 
 
 Viewing their armed array afar. 
 
 In fancy's flight, would e'er assign 
 
 The downfall of a princely line, 
 
 The race of Abbas, Persia's lords, 
 
 To such rude, despicable hordes. 
 
 So thought at least each Georgian free 
 
 As their advancing foes they see, 
 
 In scattered masses now descend. 
 
 No order keep, nor ranks attend ; 
 
 No vanguard mark their destined course — 
 
 Horse mixed with foot, and foot with horse. 
 
38 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Herman observed — made fully known 
 His plans to Aclimed, then alone 
 Privily to Gulnabad retired, 
 Whose strong defence new hope inspired. 
 Meantime, within the copse's range, 
 The prince and Achmed arms excharge; 
 That Thsemas safely might, disguised, 
 Proceed as Herman had advised. 
 
 In Maghmud's army were enrolled 
 Some troops of Tartars, brave and bold, 
 Who, when on distant wars retained, 
 Their patient camels daily trained ^ 
 To bear huge guns, and promptly kneel 
 At signal, word, or touch of steel. 
 With necks decumbent to the ground, 
 Till from their burthened backs a round 
 Of this rude ordnance was discharged ; 
 Nor were the gentle brutes enlarged. 
 Till day, departing in the west, 
 Proclaimed the grateful hour of rest. 
 
 With vaunting clamour, on they come. 
 Shrill sounds the trumpet, rolls the drum. 
 In hopes of many a glittering prize 
 Their shouts ascended to the skies. 
 While Maghmud from the van withdraws. 
 Commanding an immediate pause. 
 
 In Gulnabad no cry is heard. 
 No sign of soldier armed appeared, 
 Yet still suspicion rose ; 
 
CANTO III. 39 
 
 Her walls a force migtit safely screen, 
 Most formidable though unseen, 
 Of stern, determined foes. 
 
 The camels to the front were brought, 
 When from the cannon's iron throat, 
 
 A volley dense was fired. 
 Some roofs were shattered ; columns tall 
 And spires were seen in dust to fall. 
 
 Ere the report expired. 
 Then rigid silence seemed to reign. 
 As in a desolate domain — 
 
 The Afghan chiefs rejoice ; 
 For barbarous soldiers ever bent 
 To crowd with useless spoil the tent. 
 
 Heed not a leader's voice. 
 
 They enter, emulous in toil, 
 The splendid palaces to spoil. 
 
 That Gulnabad adorn ; 
 Till court-yard, alley, terrace, street. 
 With i-uffian hordes were half replete. 
 
 By thirst of plunder borne. 
 
 Then rose a cry of dread surprise. 
 As, dazzling their bewildered eyes, 
 Volley on volley quickly flies. 
 
 From latticed tower and hall. 
 Vainly they call on Allah's name. 
 Stones seem to gape and vomit flame. 
 Whence shot and darts as deadly came, 
 
 Their boldest veterans fall. 
 
40 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Confused and terrified they fly, 
 Anxious to seek for covert nigli, 
 While, heaps on heaps, their bravest die. 
 
 Entreating aid in vain. 
 A marble passage, arched and wrought 
 With texts of Koran, numbers sought — 
 Some for its shelter madly fought. 
 
 While bullets poured like rain. 
 
 Herman, who in a mosque had staid. 
 To which the marbled archway led. 
 Now, smiling, to his soldiers said, 
 
 " Heaven prospers our design." 
 A train beneath the archway ended. 
 From the guarded mosque extended. 
 Here with lighted brand he wended 
 
 And fired a secret mine. 
 
 Astounding was the loud uproar. 
 While columns with their bases soar. 
 And mangled members drenched in gore, 
 
 Like rockets poised in air. 
 Horrified, appalled, amazed, 
 Deep stupor on the Afghans seized. 
 They thought the flames of Eblis blazed, 
 
 In light and thunder there. 
 
 Kecoiling with instinctive fear, 
 Impeding obstacles they clear, 
 And curse the spoil, no longer dear. 
 That tempted their desire. 
 
CANTO III. 41 
 
 Retreating from the fatal walls, 
 Obedient to their leader's calls, 
 Many a victim prostrate falls 
 Beneath the scattering fire. 
 
 The Afghan chiefs to Maghmud camB, 
 Conjuring him, by Mirvais' fame. 
 To. cross in force the ruddy stream, 
 
 And seize a neighbouring brae 
 Commanding Gulnabad, and crown 
 With guns the summit, thence pour down 
 Their fire on the devoted town, 
 
 And its defenders slay. 
 The thought converts despair to joy. 
 Ever most eager to destroy, 
 He bade his soldiers rafts employ 
 
 To cross the swollen flood ; 
 For high and broad the waters rose. 
 Sudden, from late dissolving snows 
 On distant mountains, whence it flows, 
 
 The beauteous Zenderud. 
 
 The pioneers, with lusty call 
 Apply the axe, assistants haul, 
 Trees of an hundred ages fall. 
 
 Loud crashing, to the ground. 
 The camels, from the guns untied. 
 They gently to the margin guide ; 
 The horsemen through the torrent ride ; 
 
 The beaten waves resound. 
 
42 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 Achmed perceived with anxious heart 
 
 The thundering of the blasted mine : 
 The Afghans, terrified, de^^art 
 
 And to the stream their force incline. 
 He then addresses Persia's heir : 
 
 "Most noble prince, now haste with those 
 Two Georgian chiefs, who'll safely bear 
 
 Thee far beyond thy ruthless foes ; 
 Advance securely through the glade. 
 Veiled by the trees' protecting shade. 
 But on the unincumbered plain, 
 Ply well the spur, and loose the rein. 
 Pass not the river till a mound, 
 
 A ford adjoining, meets your view — 
 By foes this morn 'twas guarded round, 
 
 Now safe the path you may pursue ; 
 No Afghan outposts tarry there, 
 
 The scouts who have remarked it tell ; 
 Eeturn with speed ; till conquest fair 
 
 Shall Persia liberate — farewell." 
 
 With sad regret the prince departs. 
 Veiling the friendly tear that starts. 
 
 For Achmed he admired ; 
 Whose fate must hazard all, he knew, 
 Who ne'er with forces weak nor few. 
 
 From threat'ning foe retired. 
 
 Mir Maghmud's cavalry attain 
 A wide-spread field, a beauteous plain 
 That stretched from hill to grove. 
 
CANTO III. 48 
 
 The hill they sought with so much zeal, 
 The grove where Achmed's troops conceal 
 Their presence for the prince's weal, 
 Whose friendship gained their love. 
 
 Impatiently the Moslem horse 
 Direct their unimpeded course 
 
 To seize the rising ground ; 
 To wait for infantry they scorn, 
 Who failed to pass the stream till borne 
 
 On rafts together bound. 
 Fervent in rivalry they fly 
 Eager to gain its summit high, 
 
 When numbers disappeared ; 
 Deep pits had caved its sloping side, 
 By boughs and light earth covered wide. 
 That sharpened stakes completely hide. 
 
 Where man and horse are speared. 
 
 Then came a storm with brilliant sheen 
 From breastwork, hitherto unseen, 
 
 Of grape-shot and Greek fire. 
 The horseman, with a languid moan. 
 The horse, with wild unearthly groan. 
 
 In torturing pangs expire. 
 The remnant, in dismay, recede 
 To where the infantry, with speed. 
 
 Now raft the current o'er, 
 And joining prudently each flank 
 Of troops now landed on the bank, 
 
 Assail the hill once more. 
 
44 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Oh ! who can Achmed's followers blame, 
 When brightly burned the battle flame, 
 And war's deep sounds in thunder came. 
 
 For one indignant thought 1 
 That prudence more than just retained 
 Their leader brave, when might be gained 
 A glorious field ; they scarce refrained 
 
 Their passion, overwrought. 
 
 But now with joy their hearts expand, 
 As Achmed calmly gave command 
 That each should by his courser stand. 
 
 Armed and prepared to ride ; 
 That, from the grove once cleared away. 
 No warrior from his rank should stray. 
 But in the hottest of the fray 
 
 His signal well abide. 
 
 As with grave energy he spoke, 
 The gale dispelled the battle smoke, 
 
 "When on the hill is seen — 
 Although no hand appeared to move — 
 Kising the well-fought field above, 
 
 A banner gold and green. 
 
 Achmed, with quiet, meaning smile, 
 Upvaultcd on his steed the while — 
 
 A gift the prince bestowed ; 
 Then to his soldiers passed the sign 
 To mount, advance, and form their line, 
 
 When through the copse they rode. 
 
CANTO III. 45 
 
 As from the grove the band emerged, 
 Downward the brunt of battle verged, 
 
 And centred in the plain. 
 The Afghans standing not the flash 
 Of ordnance, while the kuzzlebash ^ 
 Oft on their lines resistless dash, 
 
 And then retire again. 
 
 Twice foiled, they would have fled, but most 
 Expected aid from Maghmud's host. 
 
 When landed from the stream. 
 Why pause the host of Candahar 1 
 Come they alert from realms afar 
 
 On battle field to dream '? 
 They linger on the banks amazed. 
 Struck with terror, as they gazed. 
 For brightly in the sunlight blazed. 
 
 The Georgian sword and spear. 
 Trebly their awe augmented, since 
 They deemed they saw proud Persia's prince 
 Lead as to make their warriors wince, 
 
 And pale with abject fear. 
 
 Like lambent fire in their veins 
 
 A wild impulsive ardor reigns 
 
 Through Achmed's force, that nought restrains. 
 
 Their very souls enlarge. 
 As on Mir Maghmud's heartless crowd. 
 Elate they hear, distinct and loud, 
 Their leader's order calm and proud, 
 
 " Quick time, advance and charge." 
 
46 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 As prone the golden harvest lithe 
 Beneath the urgent reaper's scythe, 
 So falls of Maghmud's force a tithe 
 
 Beneath the Georgian sword ; 
 While thousands to the river hie, 
 And back the rafts more quickly ply. 
 All for the safe enjoyments sigh 
 
 Their native vales afford. 
 Some plunged into the turbid wave 
 Hoping their dastard lives to save. 
 A few, resisting, vainly brave, 
 
 A death more noble found. 
 Fear urged them downward to the stream. 
 Above them spears and sabres gleam, 
 Who durst not bide the glancing beam 
 
 Are in the torrent drowned. 
 
 Amid the surging waters rushed 
 
 The Georgian horsemen, heated, flushed ; 
 
 Wounds from their glimmering weapons gushed 
 
 In rills of hostile gore. 
 The stream they would have passed, and fought 
 The crowded foe who safety sought, 
 In further flight by panic wrought, 
 
 But Achmed cried " No more ! " 
 
 He had marked, when issuing from the wood. 
 How doubtful still the contest stood. 
 Where Herman's Persian force, 
 
CANTO III. 47 
 
 Descending from the hill, had made 
 
 Assaults repeated and essayed 
 
 To conquer numbers, well arrayed, 
 
 Of infantry and horse. 
 He bade his gallant troop retire 
 From the red stream ; their martial fire 
 
 Is but excited more, 
 As bounding on the plain-they see 
 The dubious scale of victory. 
 Now wavering, verge more partially 
 
 The rebel standard o'er. 
 
 Impressed with far superior might 
 The Afghans struggled in the fight. 
 
 Supposing aid at hand ; 
 The sounds, that from the stream they hear. 
 Bespoke they thought Mir-Maghmud near, 
 
 With hosts at his command. 
 
 Who can describe their feU despair 
 At Achmed thundering on their rear. 
 Loath, though of gentle heart, to spare 
 
 A rebels forfeit blood ? 
 Less prone to pity, rushed his men 
 Like lions famished from their den 
 To raze the careful shepherd's pen, 
 
 In mountain, moor, or wood. 
 
 Confounded and bereft of aid, 
 The rebel wings no more delayed 
 To fight, where numbers lowly laid 
 Betokened their defeat. 
 
48 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 With battered armour, wearied steed, 
 "Wounds ttiat at every motion bleed, 
 No more of battle's toil they heed, 
 But, foiled again, retreat. 
 
 Then might be seen from hill to stream. 
 By the mild evening sun's red beam. 
 
 The relics of the fight — 
 The sloping hill with dead bestrewed — 
 An Afghan party here pursued, 
 For none the combat fierce renewed. 
 
 But wished the coming night. 
 Some to the grove for safety fled. 
 Whose deepening shade a covert spread — 
 
 Some further haunts explore. 
 Vast numbers to the river pressed, 
 By thirst, fatigue, and heat distressed, 
 And in its cooling waves immersed. 
 
 Plunge deep, to rise no more. 
 
 At length night's sable wings o'ershield 
 
 The fugitive, and dim the field ; 
 
 While stars, unnumbered, beam from heaven. 
 
 To orbs more grateful kindly given. 
 
 Faint was their light, reflected here 
 
 From shattered helm and broken spear. 
 
 As if their pure beams paled to read 
 
 Man's frantic ire and ruthless deed ; 
 
 They called the breeze of night between 
 
 To cloud the page, obscure the scene. 
 
CANTO III. 49 
 
 The night wind came, but brought no cloud 
 To wrap the fallen in peaceful shroud ; 
 But sighing gently as it rose, 
 Allured the world to calm repose ; 
 And then in solemn stillness shed 
 Its dewy tear-drops o'er the dead. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO IV. 
 
 Shiraz in splendour once outvied * 
 
 All cities of the East ; 
 Her domes of porphyry rose in pride, 
 
 Her halls for kings to feast. 
 How gloriously her temple soared 
 
 With light exalted spire, 
 Where consecrated priest had stored 
 
 The bright perpetual fire. 
 Eose-perfumed was the ambient air ; 
 
 Cool streams from mountain snow 
 Basked in the brilliant sunbeams there, 
 
 And soothed their ardent glow. 
 Well might her shrines superb, her towers. 
 
 Columns ornate in gold. 
 Her terraced gardens, groves and bowers. 
 Her luscious fruit, her peerless flowers 
 
 Elysian charms unfold. 
 
52 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 Heaven exiled Peris, poets siDg, 
 A liome on earth could ne'er abide, 
 
 Till bounteous Summer, budding Spring, 
 
 In pity to the wandering, 
 
 Shiraz fair stream on either side, 
 
 With roses culled from Eden clad — 
 
 The winsome banks of Kocknabad.^ 
 
 Ill-omened hour ! the spoiler came 
 With force destructive, 'till her name 
 
 Alone survived the blight ; 
 The rude Arabian, tribe and horde, 
 Vulture-like on her people poured. 
 
 And conquered in the fight. 
 
 Though fanatic and frenzied zeal 
 Their faith to speed, by force of steel. 
 
 The hostile cause sustained ; 
 No treason foul, nor impious fraud^ 
 Their sanguinary deeds outlawed. 
 
 Nor reckless courage stained. 
 
 Not so when Persia owned their sway. 
 
 And luxury engendered pride. 
 Intestine war, remorseless fray, 
 
 And treachery their faith belied. 
 The chieftain by his sovereign raised 
 
 To wealth, distinction, power, and fame, 
 His envied dignities erased. 
 
 Exulting in a traitor's name. 
 
CANTO IV. 53 
 
 Isfahan, deep thy people felt* 
 
 Treason's abhorred, infernal art ; 
 While prostrate in their shrines they knelt, 
 
 No ruth assailed Abdallah's heart. 
 By bribes and hopes of future power, 
 
 Mir Maghmud sought his impious aid ; 
 He yields, and in one fatal hour. 
 
 His country's sacred cause betrayed. 
 
 Implore not on the traitor's head 
 lU fate or malediction dread, 
 
 Man's imprecations fail. 
 But heaven's high will, mysterious seeming, 
 The patriot and the just redeeming. 
 
 Annihilates his weal, 
 Corrodes his heart with sickening throes. 
 His bosom robs of bland repose. 
 
 And wrecks his tortured brain ; 
 Converts his thoughts to black despair, 
 Kepelling hope, implanting care 
 
 And agonizing pain ; 
 Kemoving all that held him dear. 
 With all he loved and cherished here, 
 
 Commuting friend to foe ; 
 And raising to his ga?e when late, 
 And prostrate fallen, his future fate — 
 
 Eternity of woe. 
 
 In mourning groups the mosque they leave, 
 And anxious hurry to receive 
 
54 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 Wild tidings, that obscurely told 
 How Achmed and his Georgians bold 
 Encountering — at the Zenderud — 
 Eepulsed Mir Maghmud o'er the flood ; 
 That Persia's princely heir secure 
 
 Had passed unharmed the hostile lines, 
 And hastened levies to ensure 
 
 Destruction to the foe's designs. 
 A ray of hope its influence shed, 
 
 That Isfahan might yet be saved, 
 Though plague could count her thousands dead. 
 
 And all relief from famine craved. 
 
 Along the shady meidan moved 
 
 Mindah and Flora arm in arm ; 
 Eight dearly were they prized and loved. 
 
 Their deeds difiused so sweet a charm. 
 They sought the wounded and infirm. 
 
 Daily their bounteous gifts to share, 
 Eegardless from infecting germ 
 
 Of pestilence their lives to spare. 
 Mindah was pleased that fame had spread 
 Her envied wreaths o'er Achmed's head ; 
 Flora, resigned to sorrow, sighed 
 That human hearts to heaven allied 
 Should their high destiny degrade. 
 By baneful war's unhallowed aid. 
 Both saddened as the fruits they see — 
 Grief, death, disease and misery. 
 
CANTO IV. 55 
 
 A mother frantic, pale and wild, 
 
 With famine on her cheek impressed, 
 Besought them to restore her child, 
 
 She held half lifeless to her breast. 
 She said her husband late had gone, 
 
 When ordered, to the battle field ; 
 But wounded, faint, returned alone. 
 
 Wanting the aid she could not yield. 
 To her unhappy home they hie. 
 
 With means restorative prepared. 
 Where still and death-like seemed to lie 
 
 A soldier of Abdallah's guard. 
 
 Some drops of renovating power 
 
 And virtue to his lips applied 
 By Flora's hand, his sense restore. 
 
 Though tremors in his limbs abide. 
 With nutrient balm and Shiraz wine 
 
 Mindah the wife and babe revives : 
 They deemed that Allah's hand divine 
 
 Had angels brought to guard their lives. 
 
 The soldier starts, as from a trance. 
 At Mindah's kind enquiring glance. 
 And with augmented shuddering cries, 
 " Lady, avert those awful eyes, 
 Whose mild though superhuman light 
 Eecalls the terrors of the fight, 
 
56 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 When raging on our front and wing 
 
 Kuslied Kerman's bands. Their Guebre king, 
 
 Embayed, I sought to wound ; 
 The lightnings from his eyes that part. 
 Like thine, though fierce, enerved my heart 
 
 In fear and horror bound. 
 His glance and sword avert the blow, 
 The dart, I'm wont to surely throw, 
 
 Another victim found, 
 Selim the brave, our army's pride — 
 Whom racked in torture I'd have died 
 
 With joy to shield from harm — 
 Fell prostrate, an unseemly corse ; 
 I wot not by the weapon's force 
 
 But Guebre's magic charm. 
 
 *' Abandoned since to want and grief, 
 Eeduced to hope an exit brief 
 
 By death from famine's sting ; 
 'Till by your kind auspicious care 
 Allah is pleased our lives to spare, 
 
 And soothing comfort bring." 
 
 Colchian mines were rich in ore, 
 Oman's sea pure pearls bore ; 
 Full argosies, at every breeze, 
 Ploughed deep the purple Indian seas 
 
 Designed for Persia's court. 
 O'er mountain oft and waste of sand. 
 Would caravan through Samarcand 
 
 To Isfahan resort : 
 
CANTO IV. 57 
 
 There shone the brillant coral stem, 
 The diamond bright, the sparkling gem, 
 
 At many a regal fete ; 
 When peace her myrtle wreathed above. 
 Proclaiming harmony and love, 
 
 With happiness replete. 
 But all the treasures earth could give 
 
 In orient splendor dight. 
 Where pride and foul ambition live 
 
 Conduce not to delight ; 
 Could not in gentle Mindah's heart 
 A solace to her grief impart. 
 
 Far dearer than all these 
 The signs of gratitude that teem 
 For life restored, in eyes that beam. 
 Oh ! joy unuttered to redeem 
 
 War's doleful miseries. 
 
 With tender interest they explore 
 The unsought dwellings of the poor. 
 What recent sufferers diseased 
 Famine and plague combining seized. 
 'Twas woe to see the number vast, 
 On their rough couches helpless cast — 
 Wounded, hungered, fevered, raving. 
 Last adieus to kindred waving ; 
 Yet even the dying smiled to see 
 The votaries of charity. 
 In gentlest tone, their wants enquire, 
 Palliate their torturing pain. 
 
58 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 With cool sherbet assuage the fire, 
 
 That fiercely burned the anguished brain. 
 
 Well was the lore the pilgrim bard 
 
 On his adopted child bestowed. 
 From Flora's prescience and regard 
 
 To threatened danger blessings flowed. 
 Kefined in culinary art, 
 
 The choicest beverage she elects ; 
 With kindness acts the nurse's part — 
 
 With prayer implores, with smile directs. 
 
 Wounded, by weight of age oppressed, 
 
 Great Merdan lay devoid of rest. 
 
 Infirmity and pain combine 
 
 To herald death's approaching sign. 
 
 With bosom tranquil, thoughts sedate, 
 
 Kesigned like mart3rr to his fate, 
 
 He bade his treasured gold be brought 
 
 And the devoted sisters sought 
 
 To utilize the plenteous store, 
 
 Eelieving want, disease and sorrow. 
 His days of toil on earth were o'er. 
 
 While loomed in darkning doubt his morrow. 
 
 Flora entreated he'd allow 
 
 Her nursing care to tend his age. 
 
 Appease the thirst and cool the brow, 
 The wounds with anod}mes assuage. 
 
 " No, beauteous maid !" the veteran cried, 
 With languid voice, *' Thy noble aim 
 
CANTO IV. 59 
 
 Could not, with all that art supplied 
 Eestore this frail exhausted frame. 
 
 But sing to me ; thy voice will charm, 
 And by its melody recall 
 
 The days of youth, when passion warm — 
 For warlike fame enraptures all." 
 
 Kesigned, in melancholy mood 
 
 Flora the vocal art essayed. 
 Grieved that his thoughts should ne'er allude 
 
 To heaven's benign, all-powerful aid. 
 
 " The land was invaded, the bard took the sword, 
 And flew to the shrine where her people adored. 
 There crowded with ardor the bold and the brave. 
 Their homes and their altars, their freedom to save. 
 He points to the valley, the field, and the grove, 
 The scene of their childhood, their toil, and their love ; 
 To the grave of their sires they were wont to revere. 
 And implored them to enter the battle with prayer. 
 
 " With cheerful comphance they march to the field — 
 The minstrel their leader, but Heaven was their shield. 
 The sound of the war song enhanced their dehght. 
 As with transport they charge in the storm of the fight. 
 They thought not of laurels, they recked not of Hves, 
 Defending their country, their homesteads and wives. 
 At the foeman's proud hosts would the timid despair, 
 'Till remembering, they breathed m mute fervor a prayer. 
 
 " Outnumbered and wearied, yet fearlessly all 
 Were contending when thunder clouds suddenly fall ; 
 While blasts from the northward incessantly blow, 
 With lightning and hail in the face of the foe. 
 
60 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 " Eesistance is conquered, the battle is o'er ; 
 The free shall regard an invader no more. 
 From the victors with heads to the lightning laid bare 
 Amid trumpets resounding, ascended the prayer." 
 
 Memory lights the veteran's eye, 
 
 To ecstacy his spirit rose, 
 And murmuring prayer and victory, 
 
 Dissolved in placid calm repose. 
 
 ***** 
 
 A wailing sound of sorrow came 
 
 The city's pallid crowds among. 
 Fanned by the voice of erring fame, 
 
 Or from designing treason sprung, 
 That Ullah, joined with Maghmud's host, 
 
 Fair Gulnabad had stormed and burned. 
 Rumour detailed that all was lost, 
 
 Their prince impeded had returned. 
 
 Advancing with portentous speed, 
 
 Was seen his fiery, coal-black steed. 
 
 His arms shone brightly from afar, 
 
 As swift he sought the Chilminar. 
 
 Yet much they marveled, as he rode, 
 
 How gallantly his barb he strode. 
 
 That flying like the sea-bird home. 
 
 Curved the proud neck, bestarred with foam. 
 
 The palace won, the gates unfold 
 
 To yield him prompt admittance there : 
 None born on earth, 'twas thought, so bold 
 
 E'er entered thus, but Persia's heir. 
 
CANTO IV. 6 1 
 
 m Hf m * 
 
 Eeclining in her bower of ease, 
 Forced by fatigue from toil to cease, 
 Mindab her wealth computed o'er. 
 Her gems and gold — a bounteous store, 
 That all might be diffused at need, 
 The famished multitude to feed ; 
 Grieving to contemplate how small 
 The aid, distributed to all ; 
 Her cheek, alternate pale and red. 
 The holier light her dark eyes shed, 
 Invincible resolve declare. 
 Their misery she felt bound to share. 
 
 Issuing from a trellised grove. 
 
 Voices her reverie refrain. 
 That praised her deeds, but interwove 
 
 Sad fears of peril and of pain. 
 Advancing forth with anxious air, 
 
 Lo 1 Achmed, prince-like, still disguised, 
 With Flora, from her daily care 
 
 Of duties, so beloved and prized. 
 
 " Welcome, dear Achmed," Mindah cried, 
 
 " But why that jewelled turban wear 1 
 Couldst thou, who on the cross relied. 
 
 Thy faith for empires here forswear 1 
 Can that gold crescent be the meed 
 
 Our dear loved chieftain's valour bought ? 
 Sad emblem of the moslem creed ; 
 
 I tremble at the impious thought. 
 
62 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Abandon the unholy sign, 
 
 The Christian soldier should forego, 
 That suffering in the truth divine, 
 
 Hope may embalm our tears of woe." 
 
 " Believe not that the outward dress 
 Can indicate the soul's impress. 
 No, Mindah, star of all that's good, 
 'Twas donned to save the prince's blood. 
 Who in the Georgian's plain attire, 
 By prudent Herman's sage desire. 
 Is now amassing friends afar, 
 To stem the sanguined tide of war ; 
 Needless their tardy help, I trust. 
 For Maghmud's bravest in the dust 
 We hope to prostrate, e'er yon sun 
 Another day's bright period run. 
 
 " Already, winged by fear they fled 
 
 Beyond the reach of Georgian spears ; 
 But rallied by the gallant head 
 
 Of Kerman's hardy mountaineers, 
 They readvance in force complete. 
 
 And burning with indignant shame, 
 A glorious chance in fight to meet 
 
 Those Guebres of distinguished fame. 
 Meantime I haste with speed to bring, 
 
 At Herman's need, a powerful train 
 Of ordnance, granted by the king. 
 
 Ere Gulnabad be stormed again. 
 
CANTO IV. 63 
 
 " But whj that melancholy sigh ? 
 
 Those sounds of sorrow rend thy heart, 
 The widow's shriek, the orphan's cry — 
 
 Dear Mindah thou shouldst hence depart, 
 With escort suited to overcome 
 
 The foe's most threatening powers ; 
 Full soon we'll follow, victors home. 
 
 To Tiflis' friendly towers." 
 
 " No Achmed, save with thee to fly 
 All ties of duty power deny. 
 While thou our country's cause defend, 
 'Tis mine to act the soldier's friend, 
 What aid shall Georgia's wounded find 
 If Kostam's heir that charge resigned 1 
 When friends from kindred separate. 
 By famine's pangs consigned to fate. 
 And hecatombs of victims rise. 
 To deadly plague a sacrifice ; 
 We hope the grief to palliate 
 
 Of ills we cannot all remove ; 
 Flora, my sister, known too late, 
 
 Joins in the task with ardent love. 
 While her more learned art attains 
 
 Abatement of the dire disease, 
 I go where raging famine reigns. 
 
 Rejoiced to make the monster cease. 
 Such foes are worthy of our zeal, 
 
 Whom arms of steel could ne'er subdue ; 
 
64 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Deluded man the trutli should feel 
 And war like ours alone pursue. 
 
 " But Achmed, should thine ardour bring, 
 
 Or incident of battle urge 
 Thine arm against the Guebre king, 
 
 The wretched Moslem's dreaded scourge ; 
 Eemember in the wars of old. 
 
 When Eostam, captive in the strife, 
 Was brought to Cloghan's mountain hold 
 
 He gave him liberty and life. 
 With grateful kindness then prevent 
 
 His doom from any Georgian sword, 
 Who mournfully with us lament 
 
 Their good, their venerated lord. 
 
 " When roars the battle thou may est see 
 
 Some unarmed suppliant pity crave ; 
 Spare life in memory of me. 
 
 Heaven loves the bountiful and brave. 
 And shouldst thou yet unharmed return, 
 
 To find thine own betrothed no more 
 Do not, dear Achmed, deeply mourn. 
 
 Nor vain, fond hopes on earth deplore. *' 
 
 Her diamond girdle she withdrew 
 
 With strange and mystic symbol traced, 
 
 A pearly tear bedimmed her view. 
 
 While on his breast the cross she placed. 
 
 She said 'twas thought to have the power. 
 By saints of old, and prophets given. 
 
CANTO rv. 65 
 
 To shield the good in danger's hour, 
 
 Or raise the wandering thought to Heaven, 
 
 She begged her Achmed ne'er to part 
 The gift her childhood loved to save; 
 
 But aye preserve it near his heart, 
 
 When wildflowers blossomed on her grave. 
 
 So mild and sweet, though sad her tone, 
 Inspired a feeling pure and lone, 
 Partaking less of mundane love 
 Than that of angels throned above. 
 
 Achmed, a while entranced in sense, 
 Stood mute in statue-like suspense. 
 His brow revealed an inward pain, 
 As feeling utterance strove to gain. 
 " Mindah, sole treasure of my heart, 
 
 Pure light of Georgia's smiling home, 
 Bid not thy soldier hence depart. 
 
 With awe foreboding ills to come. 
 
 " A panoply of justice shields 
 
 The warrior faithful to his trust. 
 To whom the fierce invader yields. 
 
 Or dies resisting in the dust. 
 As sacred as the ruby tide 
 
 That heaves thy pulse, that warms thy breast. 
 Shall Kerman's king in safety bide. 
 
 Should we the gallant chief arrest. 
 
 5 
 
C6 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 " But thou thy toil, sweet princess, spare, 
 
 Howe'er so hallowed, 'tis not well 
 To frequent haunts infected, where 
 
 Dire misery and contagion dwell. 
 Oh ! cease thy fond solicitude 
 
 To tend the wretched day by day. 
 But hark ! the trumpet's sound, though rude, 
 
 To duty calls, I must away." 
 
 A look of parting anguish flew 
 From tearful eyes. A faint adieu 
 Breathed from the purest hearts that e'er 
 At incensed altar offered prayer. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO V. 
 
 Changed are Mir Maghmud's bold designs. 
 
 Taugtit by repulse, lie closed his lines 
 
 Nearer the city, to restrain 
 
 All ingress from the fertile plain ; 
 
 And forming camps defensive, tried 
 
 The issue of the war to bide, 
 
 'Till dearth called forth her people's cries. 
 
 And Isfahan fell his glorious prize. 
 
 Pacing his solitary tent, 
 
 The varied fortune of his race 
 Struck Ullah's heart, in anguish bent ; 
 
 Dejection marked the warrior's face. 
 Convinced as taught, when earth-born men 
 
 Sprung forth from dust at Heaven's command, 
 That Mithra's line more sacred then. 
 
 Were formed express by Ormusd's hand, 
 To govern with exalted sway 
 
 Empires and kingdoms of the earth ; 
 
68 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Alas ! their tlirones have passed away 
 To recreants of ignoble birth ; 
 
 And, bitter thought ! to raze his home 
 'Mid solitudes remote and wild, 
 
 Where freedom dwelt, foes dared to come 
 And murder parent, wife, and child. 
 
 To boundless grief succeeds a thirst 
 
 For vengeance on the ruthless powers 
 Of Arab plunderers, who durst 
 
 Fire his unguarded native towers ; 
 But chiefly on the bigot king 
 
 Of Abbas' proud, detested blood, 
 From whose vile sway such evils spring. 
 
 Like torrents from a mountain flood. 
 
 While luridly the watchfire blazed 
 The awning of his tent was raised. 
 A stranger entered, humbly clad, 
 Dervise-like, robed in raiment sad. 
 But when emerging from the shade, 
 The rays upon his features played, 
 Kind Herman's aspect they reveal — 
 Keplete with thought, resolved though pale. 
 
 The Guebre UUah gazed with dread. 
 
 As on a spirit from the dead ; 
 
 Yet more his awe and wonder grew, 
 
 When Herman the dark robe displaced. 
 And from beneath the folds withdrew 
 
 A scroll with mystic symbols traced. 
 
CANTO V. 69 
 
 " Speak ! speak I cried UUah, hast thou come 
 Commissioned from a higher sphere, 
 Or hast thou 'scaped the sanguined doom 
 
 When sought in battle at my spear 1 
 The sacred symbols of a race, 
 
 Now fall n, thou bearest, whence com'st thou, 
 
 [sayr- 
 " I come a messenger of peace. 
 List patient, noble prince, I pray ; 
 When Cloughan where ye reigned as lords 
 Was fired by vagrant Arab hordes ; 
 Eostam, intent on friendship's calls, 
 Was journejring to your highland halls ; 
 Descrying from a distant mound 
 The fearful blaze, the startling sound, 
 He rushed to save, should aught remain 
 As yet unscathed, though small his train. 
 
 " Thy people shuddered when he came 
 Attempting to subdue the flame ; 
 'Avaunt 1 'tis sacrilege,' they cry. 
 Then instant horror-stricken fly. 
 Boding disaster on his head 
 Who dared to combat fire so dread,^ 
 That from their hallowed shrine was spread. 
 
 " Foiled in the elemental strife. 
 He ventured all to rescue life. 
 A palace near the shrine was raised. 
 Whose roof with red efiulgence blazed ; 
 
70 THE DOOM OF MAO DIARMID. 
 
 While from a lattice, where the heat 
 
 Had caused her trembling to retreat, 
 
 A babe, whose bloom three Summers warmed, 
 
 Appeared to cling, he saw alarmed. 
 
 And through the smouldering portal flew — 
 
 The chamber gained, the babe withdrew. 
 
 Yet while he leaves the tottering walls, 
 
 The roof a smoking ruin falls. 
 
 " The Georgian suite admire the child. 
 Whose charms, angelic, pure and mild. 
 Seemed through her tearful eyes to beam 
 That witnessed the devouring flame ; 
 In which she deemed her all involved. 
 And every tie on earth dissolved. 
 A jewelled zone her person graced 
 
 With the same characters inwrought. 
 That on this scroll are clearly traced, 
 
 A bard from foreign kingdoms brought.'' 
 
 With desperate efibrt on his part 
 To still the beating of his heart 
 UUah exclaimed, '' Pray Georgian tell 
 What destiny that babe befell ; 
 Soon blighted in her tender bloom. 
 Hath fate consigned her to the tomb ? " 
 
 m 
 
 " Grief nearly closed her infant years ; 
 At Tiflis long she wept and mourned. 
 Till soothing time assuaged her tears. 
 When florid health to youth returned. 
 
CANTO V. 71 
 
 Her feature, manner, form, and grace, 
 Proclaim her kin to Ullah's race ; 
 Such queen-like dignity enhanced 
 Her native charms, as years advanced. 
 
 " Once tidings strange to Georgia came. 
 
 That Kerman's chief at Candahar, 
 When Cloughan's walls were wrapt in flame, 
 
 Was pondering private schemes of war — 
 That, versed in subtle, foul, intrigue, 
 
 Mirvais by fraud designed to bring 
 Kerman's brave warriors in a league 
 
 With traitors to oppose the king. 
 Through agents whom the just would spurn, 
 
 He had suborned Arab tribes, 
 Men outlawed, thy retreat to burn. 
 
 Bound secretly by oaths and bribes. 
 
 " Attachment to the child impelled 
 Our prince, although his heart rebelled. 
 To send even to the traitor's den. 
 So frequented by hostile men, 
 A special envoy to enquire 
 If Ullah knew of Mindah's sire. 
 Or if the orphan's friends survived. 
 Alas ! the mission ne'er arrived. 
 The faithful envoy's corse was found. 
 
 His garments stiff* with gore congealed ; 
 Murdered, he fell on Afghan ground — 
 
 A vaunting priest the truth revealed. 
 
72 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 As if the crime, by Heaven abhorred, 
 Were grateful to his Moslem lord. 
 
 " Dear as an heir and daughter loved, 
 The orphan, since that fatal day- 
 Worthy of Eostam's kingdom proved ; 
 And now fair Georgia owns her sway." 
 
 With rapture thrilled, though gushing tears 
 
 Bedewed stern Ullah's manly face, 
 '* Pardon," he cried, " our frantic fears, 
 
 Great Ormusd, guardian of our race. 
 One blossom to adorn the stem 
 
 Thou hast preserved in UUah's line — 
 One pure, one solitary gem. 
 
 My Mindah ! daughter ! all that's mine." 
 
 " You owe " quoth Herman humbly, " yet 
 Of gratitude a deeper debt. 
 To Him whose providential care 
 Would even in flames thy kindred spare. 
 
 " Long, long ere Greece her conquests spread, 
 And steel-armed hosts to Persia led, 
 "V\rho in thine ancient annals versed,^ 
 Knows not what glory in the west 
 Adorned a branch of Mithra's race, 
 Eenowned in war, beloved in peace 1 
 That line extinct thy nation deems, 
 But destiny's mysterious ways 
 
CANTO V. 73 
 
 Educed a scion thence that seems 
 Worthy of Iran's proudest days." 
 
 Awful, incredulous surprise 
 Beamed from the Guebre's wondering eyes, 
 And marked the pausing, faltering sound 
 Demanding in a voice profound, 
 " What knowest thou of that branch renowned T 
 
 " List, chief of Kerman, you shall hear 
 The fortune of the noblest seer 
 That e'er adorned thy kingly line, 
 Whose lineage you may best define. 
 
 " Some twenty Summers past there came, 
 
 AVhere exiled princes oft resort, 
 Diarmid, a wanderer known to fame, 
 
 To Tiflis' hospitable court. 
 A dignity, a princely mien, 
 
 Profound, even superhuman lore 
 Proved what vicissitudes he'd seen. 
 
 And treasured in his memory bore. 
 That skill in harmony divine,^ 
 
 Eevealed to ancient Greece alone. 
 To him did Providence assign, 
 
 Though else to all the world unknown. 
 His sons their country's cause maintained. 
 
 And armed for freedom, martyrs died ; 
 Save one, a tender youth remained 
 
 His consolation and his pride. 
 
74 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 It grieved the anxious parent's heart, 
 The youth should yield his soul to arms, 
 
 So alien to the gentle art 
 
 Of song, inspiring heavenly charms." 
 
 " That boy's devotion Td admire," 
 Quoth UUah," if the martial fire 
 Thus kindling in a youthful soul 
 Could e'er his future path control. 
 When helpless nations wronged complain, 
 And bold usurping tyrants reign. 
 Arms should delight the brave and free 
 More than the sweetest minstrelsy. 
 Oh ! the hard fate that aye denied 
 The blessing of a son," he sighed — 
 Yet with desponding, anxious heed. 
 Urged Herman pausing, to proceed. 
 
 " In foreign wars, as Eostam knew, 
 
 Georgia might future glory gain ; 
 He sought the youth, so brave, so true. 
 
 On battle field in arms to train. 
 Inured to misery by the past. 
 
 Like ore in furnaces refined, 
 Diarmid his cherished, dearest, last 
 
 And sole surviving boy resigned : 
 Then to his wanderings turned alone. 
 
 And yet not solitary seemed. 
 The creatures that his mind had grown 
 
 Consoled, and half his pangs redeemed. 
 
CANTO V. 75 
 
 " Again we met, where Ilion's site 
 
 Small record of the fame displays 
 Of kings and heroes fall n in fight, 
 
 Still living in the poet's lays. 
 O'er the enchanting shores and isles 
 
 I travelled, by the wanderer led. 
 Where nature in profusion smiles. 
 
 And Homer toiled in vain for bread. 
 The land that once Cambyses gained. 
 
 By conquering arms and seas of gore. 
 His deep research so long detained — 
 
 We parted as to meet no more. 
 
 " Twelve years elapsed, the son had grown 
 A warlike chief at Tiflis court. 
 As Achmed or Mac Diarmid known. 
 In tournament or princely sport. 
 
 " One Summer's eve, so mild and calm. 
 When slept the breeze replete with balm ; 
 The odour from the wild flowers' breath 
 Pervaded mountain, field, and grove, 
 Entrancing sense ; 'twould lighten death. 
 
 Luring our hope to joys above. 
 While musing in a vale, apart 
 From Tiflis' gaily crowded mart, 
 A message of strange import said 
 An aged friend, believed as dead. 
 To rest his wearied limbs had come 
 Beneath our humble, friendly dome. 
 
76 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 " There Diarmid lay, but nought repined 
 His strength exhausted, for his mind ! 
 If human thought e'er soared sublime 
 Through boundless space, or endless time, 
 Worthy of provident regard, 
 'Twas that of the immortal bard. 
 
 " Methought the care divine was proved, 
 Ere death his peaceful soul removed; 
 For watching o'er his couch there seemed 
 A maid, whose eyes ecstatic beamed 
 With fond attention, filial love. 
 Hallowed as that of saints above ; 
 Of noble birth, Circassian born. 
 
 Chains had her infant limbs defiled ; 
 AVhen Diarmid in her life's young morn 
 
 Adopted her a favourite child. 
 And Flora well his bounty paid 
 
 By acts of tenderness and care; 
 His home a heaven on earth she made. 
 
 And charmed his thoughts to linger there. 
 
 " The bard lamented oft his son 
 On warlike expedition gone. 
 And hoped that, casting arms aside, 
 He'd win fair Flora for his bride. 
 Her voice the wild desire might tame 
 Of transitory human fame ; 
 For much he feared an early tomb 
 By fate of war was Achmed's doom. 
 
CANTO V. 11 
 
 " Among the various gifts bequeathed 
 
 His son and the Circassian maid, 
 This scroll was found, with signs inwreathed, 
 
 "Within a jewelled casket laid. 
 Now mark, brave UUah, Kerman's lord. 
 
 Those symbols I before thee place 
 Comprise a name by all adored, 
 
 And designate an ancient race ; 
 That once o'er Iran ruled supreme, 
 
 The pride and glory of the land, 
 Endowed with peace a happy realm. 
 
 And thrones subdued to her command. 
 Descended from that regal line 
 
 Is Achmed, noble Diarmid's son, 
 And if we trust to mystic sign 
 
 Achmed's and Mindah's race are one. 
 The diamond zone that decked her breast, 
 
 Wlien young and rescued from the fire, 
 Contains those characters impressed, 
 
 Which mark the race of Achmed's sire." 
 
 UUah intent the scroll surveys * 
 Suspended in a lambent blaze. 
 And when ignited from the flame. 
 Immersed it in a limpid stream ; 
 Whence raising it upon his spear. 
 The symbols still more bright appear ; 
 With others hitherto unseen. 
 Shining above, below, between, 
 Signs of a lano;uao;e lost or dead. 
 In joy subdued he calmly read : 
 
78 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 " Sacred to the glorious line 
 Descended from a source divine, 
 By Ormusd, in their natal hour/ 
 Crowned with Iran's sovereign power ; 
 To rule in peace the land for ever, 
 'Till kindred ties be rent away, 
 'Till impious pride their concord sever, 
 
 'Till time expii-e, or Mithra's ray 
 Their feud on battle field discover ; 
 Angels on high were heard to say 
 ' Childeen of Amita,^ 
 Hallowed m unity. 
 Despot or demon shall conquer you never.'" 
 
 Herman approached with solemn awe. 
 
 And thus the mountain chief addressed : 
 " Now canst thou break the sacred law 
 
 By which your royal sires were blessed. 
 With war on Achmed and your child. 
 
 Betrothed by Eostam's prudent zeal, 
 And leagued with rebels rude and wild 
 
 A peaceful monarch's throne assail 1" 
 
 " Cease, noble Georgian, prythee cease, 
 To laud a tyrant's love of peace. 
 Whose realm is crimsoned with a flood 
 Of innocent and loyal blood ; 
 By whom our faith sublime, adored. 
 Is persecuted, cursed, abhorred. 
 And the grand agent we revere. 
 That beams in beauty from each sphere. 
 
CANTO V. 79 
 
 Adorning now the veil of night, 
 That robes the sun in heaven-born light, 
 And missioned by the will divine 
 New orbs to form, new heavens define. 
 Eternal toils through boundless space. 
 Our God's illumined dwelling place. 
 That fire, with which our altars glow, ^ 
 Is deemed our idol ! Fiends, they know 
 'Tis there, in memory to recall 
 His kind benevolence o'er all. 
 
 " Let Achmed, of descent so true, 
 
 Eesign the cause he now defends. 
 My long lost Mindah, found anew, 
 
 Will then withdraw her Georgian friends : 
 So shall the tyrant's race be done. 
 
 Just vengeance her due tribute gain, 
 And Achmed, welcomed as a son. 
 
 In victory o'er Iran reign." 
 
 " AU powerful passions sense beguile," 
 Said Herman with a languid smile ; 
 
 " 'Twere easier turn the ocean's stream 
 Than Achmed from the paths of fame ; 
 Pledged to uphold in deed and word. 
 In truth unstained, his sovereign lord. 
 Nor would a Georgian troop retire 
 Content, though urged by our desire. 
 But let thy gallant band recede. 
 And Mpghmud, in his hour of need. 
 
80 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Will shun the war, rebellion cease, 
 When millions may repose in peace." 
 
 " What ! from yon city's spoil retire ! 
 
 Revenge on the usurper's head ! 
 No ! by the altar's sacred fire 
 
 And shades of our immortal dead ! 
 Too long we've suffered by the hand, 
 
 And perjured faith of Abbas' race, 
 Unhonored in our fatherland — 
 
 The mountain rude our dwelling place. 
 The hallowed earth whence heaven evolves ^ 
 
 Its awful ministering agent, flame. 
 Our march to victory dissolves 
 
 From fealty to an impious claim. 
 Too long the misery of years, 
 
 The agony of hope deferred. 
 For justice cried, revenge appears. 
 
 Our ardent prayer at length is heard." 
 
 " By Christian law for reasons hidden, 
 Eevenge," sighed Herman " is forbidden. 
 And when presumptuous man essays 
 His irate madness thus to please ; 
 Misfortune oft to meet him flies, 
 And make his life the sacrifice. 
 Improvident you'll lead your host 
 Of mountain serfs, the rebel's boast, 
 Mayhap encountering in the strife 
 
 Your daughter's faithful Georgian band, 
 On her you value more than life. 
 
 Wreaking revenge with blood-stained hand. 
 
CANTO V. 81 
 
 ' Farewell, unhappy prince, thine oath, 
 
 Pledged on the consecrated fire, 
 May seal the destiny of both. 
 
 Wrought by an unrelenting sire." 
 
 Foreboding sorrow, Herman sought 
 The cool breeze of the midnight air, 
 
 Leaving the chief oppressed in thought, 
 A prey to heart-consuming care. 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 CANTO YI. 
 
 Eartli rolled in aether, bared her breast 
 From the dark pall that robed the west, 
 Eevealing Iran's realm to view. 
 Bathed in the budding rose's hue. 
 Soft, dewy smiles her blush adorn ; 
 Eesponsive to the star of morn, 
 The glorious sun, whose glances steal, 
 As though he'd donned a ruby veil, 
 To mitigate their ardent birth. 
 In fond solicitude to earth. 
 
 Thus lovers, whose affections start 
 
 To sudden being, ere the heart 
 
 The vital current can retain 
 
 From whelming bosom, brow and brain. 
 
 While passion doubts — enraptured slave — 
 
 Of greater bliss beyond the grave. 
 
 6» 
 
84 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 KoU on fair orbs through light and shade, 
 By will divine your paths are made, 
 Yours is the doom to lovers sweet,^ 
 When parted long, again to meet. 
 
 Ere brightened into day the dawn. 
 
 Had Achmed the wide camp surveyed, 
 Where Maghmud's troops, securely drawn, 
 
 In expectation pleased delayed. 
 Not so, by wasting famine pressed 
 
 Sadly declined the city's crowd ; 
 While Arab warriors slothful rest. 
 
 And treason 's muttered low and loud. 
 Their griefs the aged monarch move 
 
 To lead his faithful followers all. 
 In arms his country's cause to prove. 
 
 And perish ere his people fall. 
 Abdallah, eager, pressed his stay 
 
 The mutinous complaints to still ; 
 That he himself would lead the way 
 
 To conquest — such was Allah's will. 
 
 Would ye the battle-field behold, 
 Where knights, arrayed in steel and gold, 
 Their banners to the breeze unfold, 
 
 In warlike pride elate ? 
 Then see on yonder brilliant plain, 
 Debouched from Gulnabad a train 
 Of ordnance, pouring grape like rain, 
 
 Charged with the rebel's fate. 
 
CANTO VI. 85 
 
 Those columns through the vapour's gloom, 
 Whose turbaned warriors darkly loom, 
 Where loud the guns resounding boom. 
 
 The central van compose. 
 Remote the dusky squadrons seem 
 Of Arabs on the left extreme ; 
 The right, where flashing sabres gleam, 
 
 The gallant Georgians close. 
 
 Fear, to ambition oft allied, 
 Induced Mir Maghmud late to bide 
 In tents enclosed with trenches wide. 
 
 By narrow Causeways spanned ; 
 There, as from camp his troops recede, 
 Now lingering, now with flurried speed. 
 Numbers assailed from batteries bleed 
 
 By Persian foresight planned. 
 StiU as the Afghans, side by side. 
 With quickening pace, their van supplied, 
 Their leftward columns scared divide 
 
 Overcome by panic dread ; 
 For on their front in force advance. 
 Whose former deeds their dread enhance, 
 Iberia's horse with sword and lance 
 
 By Achmed nobly led. 
 
 Maghmud in vain exclaimed," A prize. 
 To royal spoil exalt your eyes. 
 May Monkir doom the knave that flies ^ 
 To death in livid flame.'' 
 
86 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Among the cHeftains thus addressed 
 One with his ardent followers pressed, 
 When piercing through his guarded breast 
 
 A Georgian weapon came. 
 Eecoiling with instinctive fear, 
 Mutely they gaze, alarmed to hear 
 The conqueror's triumphant cheer ; 
 
 Mir Maghmud turned dismayed ; 
 "WHien, as his columns wavering swerve, 
 The Tartar horse, his chos'n reserve. 
 Advancing with unshaken nerve. 
 
 The onset firmly stayed. 
 
 For courage, strength, and stature famed, 
 Their Hetman, Oman Oglou named, 
 Chiding, his compatriots blamed, 
 Who shunned the Georgian chief. 
 " On, dastards, on ! a guerdon's there, 
 Of arms that none but princes wear, 
 A steed well worth a province fair, 
 
 For one encounter brief." 
 With rapid and augmented force 
 They plunge, the plain beneath their course 
 With arms resounds and clang of horse 
 Conjoined in deadly strife. 
 " Beware Mac Diarmid, caution take 
 To deeds of instant danger wake ; 
 They fight not now for conquest's sake, 
 They combat for thy life." 
 
CANTO VI. 87 
 
 A Georgian lord thus anxious cried, 
 In warning tone at Achmed^s side, 
 Then pressed his powerful roan to ride 
 
 Against the Tartar's spear. 
 His lance at Oglou's bosom aimed, 
 By force diverged, his charger maimed, 
 The rider gaunt with rage inflamed, 
 
 Unsheathed a falchion sheer, 
 And in the noble Georgian's crest. 
 So deep the weighty steel impressed. 
 He could not thence the weapon wrest. 
 
 Till broke the tempered blade. 
 Though grieved to death was Achmed's heart, 
 No moistening sign his eyes impart. 
 Whence flashing fire appeared to start, 
 
 As one wild bound he made. 
 His black horse spurred, beneath him flew 
 More swiftly than the light sea-mew. 
 Yet Oglou met him armed anew, 
 
 With massive spear and sword. 
 The ponderous spear was whirled aside 
 By Achmed's lance, which, opening wide 
 The Hetman's breast, a purple tide 
 
 The earth profusely gored. 
 As some tall, tapering round tower, grown * 
 By age more firm, though fiercely blown 
 Through winter's storms, at length o'erthrown 
 
 By lightning from its base. 
 Cemented falls, yet still entire, 
 Though blighted by the scathing fire; 
 
88 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Thus Oglou falls, while frantic ire 
 
 Convulsed his ghastly face. 
 The tumult swelled the corse around 
 The Tartars scorning to yield ground 
 Stung by revenge and grief profound, 
 
 Though numbers slaughtered fell ; 
 The dastard with despairing groan, 
 The listless with a languid moan, 
 In silence still — the brave alone 
 
 No sign of suffering tell. 
 
 Meantime the cannon's deafning roar 
 Is heard the central battle o'er, 
 
 Where vapours dense and grey. 
 Embroidered as with fleece of snow. 
 Charged with the lurid lightning's glow, 
 
 Obscure the doubtful day. 
 
 Where combats now the squadron rare, 
 So pleased the tide of war to bear. 
 
 By Kerman's chieftain led ? 
 As high in air the vapour floats. 
 Yon glittering spear-armed band denotes 
 
 Mir Maghmud's bulwark dread. 
 Arranged in close-formed, hollow square. 
 Why gaze they still inactive there 
 
 On yon opposing force 1 
 Though well recruited, sure they know 
 Their late contemned, disheartened foe, 
 
 The Jight-armed Arab horse. 
 
CANTO VI. 89 
 
 Yet chafed the gallant mountaineer, 
 Indignant in the ranks to hear 
 
 No signal of advance ; 
 While frequent the artillery's boom, 
 That wafts the brave an early doom, 
 
 Clouds his appalling glance. 
 
 Prone to assault expectant foes, 
 Twas marvelled why the Arab chose 
 
 His matchless steeds to rein. 
 The loyal, unsuspecting deemed, 
 A liegeman true it wxU beseemed 
 
 A threat ning charge to feign ; 
 While volley after volley flew, 
 And Afghan crowds and Guebres slew 
 
 With sure and deadly aim. 
 But treason foul will oft unnerve 
 The cause the traitor 's bribed to serve, 
 
 While branding guilt and shame. 
 Though now, when frequent peals of fire 
 Made Maghmud s lessening ranks retire, 
 
 And Fortune on her right 
 Bade Persia smile ; and Tartars fly 
 Before the Georgian chivalry. 
 
 Defeated in the fight. 
 Abdallah from the war recedes. 
 Nor taunting shout, nor uproar heeds 
 
 Eetreating from the plain ; 
 Abhorring his accursed designs, 
 No panic seized the royal lines 
 
 Though fraught with conscious pain. 
 
90 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 By renovated ardour led 
 
 The Afghans, while the Arab fled, 
 
 Arrest their slow retreat. 
 Then rush o'er prostrate comrades slain. 
 So vast their numbers yet remain, 
 The conquering foe to meet. 
 
 The field, with cautious eye surveyed, 
 To Herman anxious doubt conveyed. 
 
 As on the Afghans came. 
 The guns, before so happ'ly plied 
 He now with zeal more freely tried 
 
 In one broad sheet of flame. 
 Then, as the dying groans he hears. 
 Ere slow the war-smoke disappears, 
 
 Above the field of blood, 
 One charge, wherewith the foemen reel. 
 He made, contending steel with steel, 
 
 While yet dismayed they stood. 
 Commingled in the tumult dire 
 With scant resistance they retire. 
 While star-like beams the sparkling fire 
 
 From falchion blade and lance ; 
 Again the rebel hosts recede. 
 Their leaders fallen or wounded bleed, 
 When in their deadliest hour of need 
 
 The Guebre troops advance. 
 
 On Herman's left their columns fell, 
 Who deemed their clashing spears the knell 
 Of battle lost, whose waves now swell 
 Like surges of the deep. 
 
CANTO VT. 91 
 
 When winds in storm contending blow, 
 And heave the driven foam like snow, 
 His turbanned warriors, 'gainst the foe 
 
 Like billows sink to sleep : 
 For dearth had stoln their strength away, 
 Their sword arms wearied with the fray, 
 O'ercome with toil since dawning day, 
 
 Yet still a fervour shone 
 To light the glittering, closing eye, 
 Kepel the pain, repress the sigh. 
 And raise the Moslem spirit high 
 
 To joys eternal won. 
 
 Brave Herman ! shall thy fame and life 
 Be immolated in the strife ? 
 
 Sage Nestor of the field ! 
 No ! fame for virtue never dies, 
 Though lost the victory, angels rise 
 To guard the noble, just, and wise. 
 
 With Providence to shield. 
 
 Now turns the torrent, veers the brunt 
 Of horrid war in Persia's front. 
 
 Where late the Afghans fled. 
 The flying reassemble there 
 Bereft of arms, which in despair 
 They cast away, when on the rear 
 
 Impending mortal dread; 
 The Georgian horse with blood-stained swords, 
 From swift pursuit of Tartar hordes. 
 
 Returned with rapid stride. 
 
92 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 Then rose the battle's raging sound, 
 The agonizing shrieks astound, 
 The victors shout the dying round, 
 And o'er the prostrate ride. 
 
 While thus the furious contest stormed, 
 UUah perceiving, quick reformed 
 
 His troops in phalanx squared ; 
 And proud within his stalwart lines 
 To Maghmud and his suite assigns 
 A safe retreat, whom fear inclines 
 
 Or Georgian weapons spared. 
 
 Their pallor, panting, speed evince 
 
 Their terrors, as they shout " The prince T 
 
 For Achmed, still arrayed 
 In princely arms, his van commands. 
 Charging Mir Maghmud's scattered bands, 
 Where'er the rebel horde withstands 
 
 The spear or trenchant blade. 
 
 Ullah remarked with flashing eyes 
 Before the Georgian leader rise 
 
 In havoc heaps of slain ; 
 And fierce with wrath on Abbas' IIdb, 
 Chose of his bravest veterans nine. 
 Who should by preconcerted sign. 
 
 His deadly course restrain. 
 
 From Alpine heights the mountain snow 
 Succumbing fills the vale below 
 With desolation wide; 
 
CANTO VI. 93 
 
 Till, when the sun's dissolving fire 
 Derobes the valley's pure attire, 
 And timid flocks again respire 
 
 To bask in Summer's tide. 
 Thus Achmed o'er the field had gone, 
 Leading his dauntless warriors on, 
 
 Whose waving plumes seemed tost 
 Like drifted snow unsullied, spread 
 Above the dying and the dead, 
 Far as the timid Afghans fled, 
 
 To Kerman's fiery host. 
 
 But, as enticed by deathless fame, 
 And heat of war's inspiring flame, 
 On Ullah's bristling ranks they came, 
 
 Alas ! his faithful band ; 
 As when Burgundia's chieftain bold * 
 His daring chivalry enrolled 
 Against Helvetia's mountain hold — 
 
 Dear freedom's favoured land — 
 Fell numerous o'er the prostrate foes 
 Their weapons doomed to long repose. 
 While higher still the turmoil rose 
 
 The sanguined plain above ; 
 " Again Mac Diarmid lead," they cry, 
 '' We'll follow thee, on thee rely — 
 If lost the day, at least we'll die 
 
 Around the chief we love." 
 
94 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAEMID. 
 
 Again tHey charge the threat ning wood 
 Of spears in which the Guebres stood ; 
 While torrents on each side of blood 
 
 Announce more deadly toil. 
 The reckless, the tremendous course, 
 The impetus of man and horse 
 Overwhelm the van of Ullah's force, 
 
 Who, stunned, at length recoil. 
 Then mingled in confusion wild 
 Spearman and steed in slaughter piled, 
 
 Kound Achmed raged the fight. 
 Whom Allah's chosen braves assail, 
 Till broken are their weapons frail. 
 They turn in stupor, mute and pale, 
 
 To ignominious flight. 
 
 Irate, the Sultan Guebre flew 
 
 To chide their fears, their arms renew ; 
 
 Point to their wearied foes, how few 
 
 The combat yet sustained. 
 He leads them on now less alarmed, 
 Eepels the Georgians, 'till disarmed 
 By Achmed's hand, and left unharmed. 
 
 Yet hostile wrath remained; 
 To owe his life, oh 1 dire disgrace ! 
 To one of that destested race, 
 
 Indignantly he cries, 
 " Children of Mithra, mountaineers. 
 Whoe'er yon glorious sun reveres. 
 Enclose the foe with circling spears. 
 
 The knave who falters, dies." 
 
CANTO VI. 95 
 
 As Kerman's sons the stern behest 
 Obeyed in masses densely pressed, 
 Thrice did Iberian courage test 
 
 Their rude disciplined zeal. 
 Woe worth the hour ! fair Georgia's' pride 
 Fell bleeding by Mac Diarmid's side, 
 What vails it that a sanguined tide 
 
 The Guebres loss reveal : 
 For now in denser numbers round 
 They close ; no pause, no rest is found. 
 While thundering swelled the battle's sound 
 
 As Etna's deepening roar ; 
 Achmed at length beneath the showers 
 Of darts is whelmed. 
 
 " Eternal powers 1 I" 
 They shout, " the Chelminar is ours ! ! 
 
 The prince survives no more." 
 
 •Contention dies, as flame recedes 
 
 From the wild prairie's flowers and weeds 
 
 In Mississippi's vale ; 
 For Persia's blighted arms oppose 
 No more a front to hostile foes ; 
 While mourning round the fall'n they close — 
 
 Their hope, their pride, their weal. 
 
 A dread sensation, still, profound. 
 Pervades the late contested ground. 
 The Georgians, plunged in grief. 
 
96 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 All deeply scarred with wounds are seen 
 To weep the loved one of their queen, 
 Whom now they raise their arms between, 
 Their late devoted chief. 
 
 UUah's stern pride, his vengeance all 
 Ceased as he saw the hero fall ; 
 
 Eemorsefully he rushed. 
 And from the head the turban drew. 
 By the warm stream 'twas crimsoned through, 
 
 That from the temple gushed. 
 
 Then flew with woe-impassioned mien 
 Kind Herman to the fatal scene ; 
 
 From Achmed's breast he tore 
 The caftan, robe, and princely dress, 
 Life's effluent current to repress, 
 
 And wandering sense restore. 
 
 Then ope'd the languid, dying eye, 
 Pale as a star in dawning sky. 
 
 To look immoved above ; 
 And dwell on scenes long passed away. 
 When Mindah's smile, or Diarmid's lay, 
 Shed rapture o'er life's early day, 
 
 Keplete with holy love. 
 The passing gale a brighter glow 
 Diff'using o'er his pallid brow 
 
 Keceived the parting sigh. 
 
CANTO VI. 97 
 
 That faintly with a smile expressed 
 The last dear thought that warmed his breast, 
 'Twas " Dulce et decorum est 
 Pro patria mori." 
 
 Ere still in death his limbs repose, 
 The loosened folds of dress disclose 
 
 To UUah's wondering eyes 
 A jewelled girdle, mystic, rare. 
 Which none but Mithra's princes wear. 
 
 With startling awe he cries : 
 " How should a Moslem of the line 
 Of Abbas bear yon sacred sign. 
 Impressed with characters divine 1 " 
 
 Herman in scorn replied : 
 " Stain not the memory of the dead ; 
 Thy rage has but too deeply sped, 
 Eevolving on thine aged head 
 
 The fruit of vengeance tried ; 
 For know, though Kerman's tears like rain 
 May fall, 'tis Diarmid's son youVe slain, 
 
 Flower of thy race I ween. 
 Rostam's adopted heir alone 
 Blessed her betrothed with yon rich zone, 
 
 Well worthy of a queen. 
 
 " In memory of her infant days. 
 That amulet she loved to praise. 
 When life's last hope was o'er. 
 
98 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 On yester e'en a faintness came, 
 She spoke of life's departing flame, 
 Bequeathed the gem — called Achmed's name ; 
 This morn she breathed no more." 
 
 A deadly agonizing pain. 
 Assailing Ullah's heart and brain, 
 
 His sense o'er paralysed. 
 He cast him on the lifeless clay. 
 Conjured Mac Diarmid's soul to stay, 
 And Iran rule with gentle sway. 
 
 But not as Moslem guised. 
 Invoked his daughter to abide 
 An earthly crown — her Achmed's bride. 
 
 As smote with frenzy wild. 
 He reck'd not Hussein came to yield 
 His throne, the people's lives to shield. 
 But prostrate on the gory field, 
 
 Eaved for his long lost child. 
 
 Israfil, soaring in regions of light, ^ 
 
 Wakened the voice of the bhssful above, 
 
 Mingling in melody charms ever bright, 
 Purity radiant, immaculate love. 
 
 Wafted in glory, come warrior of earth. 
 Free from thy mutable prison of clay. 
 
 Heaven, that adorned the land of thy birth. 
 Smiles on her children though exiled away. 
 
 Long have they toiled in the land of the stranger, 
 Eoaming unhouselled, unequalled in name ; 
 
 Peerless in battle, undaunted in danger. 
 Lighting with lustre the annals of fame. 
 
CANTO VI. 99 
 
 Gifted and honoured, the sons of the lyre 
 In sanctity hallowed their own native isle ; 
 
 When sweeter, more holy, in accents of fire 
 Ascended the voice of good Diarmid the while. 
 
 On life's troubled ocean, in sorrow serene. 
 To freedom and country devoted he gave 
 
 A heart whose divine aspiration had been 
 To liberty sacred, though helpless to save. 
 
 Endeared to the throne of the mystical dove 
 Is the child of the faithful, the race of the bard. 
 
 Last hope of aged Diarmid, the mansion of love 
 Opes bright to receive thee, while angels will guard. 
 
 To the smile of thy now sainted Mindah portraying 
 Delight never told of thy welcome is given ; 
 
 In human affliction, no longer arraying 
 
 Those eyes beaming beauty immortal in heaven. 
 
 ;• 
 
THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID, 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO I. 
 
 (1) — Haste to the court, the Meidan gain. 
 
 The Meidan was an extensive avenue leading to the 
 palace, through which, on all solemn occasions, most 
 gorgeous processions were accustomed to pass. It had on 
 each side rows of splendid trees ; and derived its name from 
 the space or quantity of ground it contained, as meid in 
 the ancient language of Persia — which was identical with 
 the Irish — signified quantity, and tan, land : hence comes the 
 term atmeidan, a racecourse or hippodrome ; the prefix at, 
 or ata, serving to designate the term as an open plain. 
 
 (2) — Chilminar. 
 
 This word is probably compounded of cill, a spacious 
 edifice or castle, though more usually applied to a church, 
 min, fine, and the possessive pronoun ar, our, and not as 
 some would have it, of Arabic words signifying forty pillars. 
 See O'Beilly's Irish Dictionary for these components, with 
 Dr. O'Donovan's Supplement. 
 
102 THE DOOM OF MAC DIABMID. 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO II. 
 
 (1) — The pejpid hmoghs, the rose's leaves. 
 
 The pepul is a species of poplar — a favourite tree in 
 Persia. 
 
 (2) — Visions a^ppear, as if yon sun 
 
 Stored sacred teams to light our fanes. 
 
 It was a law and custom of tlie ancient Persians, that at 
 certain periods of the year all ordinary fires should be 
 extinguished, and that none should be rekindled unless from 
 the flame consecrated in their temples. The same custom 
 is recorded to have existed in Ireland in the age of OUam 
 Fodla. At the time of the Summer's solstice, when the sun, 
 or mithra, as the Persians conceived, had attained his 
 greatest exaltation ; when they believed the creative and 
 beneficent power had triumphed over the power of evil, and 
 they beheld what they deemed the result of the victory — 
 the earth adorned in profusion with fruits and flowers, and 
 all creatures rejoicing in the exuberant gifts of a bounteous 
 providence — at this period their joy was expressed by the 
 exhibition of numerous fires, with which every hill and 
 valley of their beautiful and fertile country was illuminated. 
 This custom has been handed down through successive ages, 
 and is still as invariably practised at the same period of 
 the year in the west of Ireland, as when the early followers 
 of Zoroaster first migrated to the Island of Destiny. 
 
 (3) — From Scotia's isle of hallowed fame. 
 
 Scotia was the name by which Ireland was designated 
 and best known for many centuries. It was said to have 
 been derived from Scota — wife of Milesius — whose descen- 
 dants settled in the country. There are many, however, 
 incredulous as to this derivation, although it certainly 
 
NOTES TO CANTO III. 103 
 
 appears as well authenticated as any other historical record 
 of equal antiquity. Moreover it was usual with the in- 
 habitants to give the country the name of some favourite 
 queen, as Fire, Banba, Fodla, etc. 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO III. 
 
 (1) — 'Tis not the Afghan you oppose, 
 Imbued with our unsullied faith. 
 The Arabs and Afghans were of the same sect in religion; 
 both, in common with the Turks, holding in veneration 
 Abubeker, Omar, and Othman as the successors of Mahomet. 
 The Persians, on the other hand, considered Ali as the right- 
 ful successor, and did not participate with the former in 
 the belief that the Koran was a gift communicated directly 
 from heaven. There are many other differences between 
 the two sects which are, however, of less importance. 
 
 (2) — He should the Sultan Guebre wound. 
 Among the Arabs, Sultan Guebre signified king of fire ; 
 this title was given by them to Napoleon Buonaparte, after 
 his splendid victory over the Mameluke cavalry in Egypt. 
 The term sultan is of Persian origin — compounded of suit, 
 the delight, and tan, the land. It was first applied to 
 Mahomed Ghizni, who invaded India, and spoiled it of 
 immense wealth. The word Guebre has a like origin from 
 an ancient term signifying fire, and probably compounded 
 of ga, a ray, and bar, above ; whence General Yallancey 
 derives Gabriel, the angel of fire ; gaba, a smith or worker 
 in fire, etc. Ail these components are identical in Irish. 
 
 (3) — That Mithra's progeny were charmed. 
 Mithra was the name given by the ancient Persians to 
 the sun, which they allegorically personified and revered as 
 a being next to Ormusd in power and benevolence. They 
 
104 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 were frequent observers of the celestial luminaries, and to 
 explain their motions had invented artificial cycles and 
 spheres, which were kept by the Magi in caves, called the 
 caves of Mithra. The Magi possessed more knowledge of 
 philosophy, particularly of astronomy, than the rest of man- 
 kind; in which, however, they permitted no foreigners to be 
 initiated but such as were distinguished for learning and 
 wisdom ; of this number were Pythagoras and Thales. 
 
 They were acquainted with the precession of the equinox* 
 and its period; and in the arts of mining, metallurgy, weav- 
 ing, dyeing, etc. attained a proficiency unknown to Europe 
 for many subsequent ages. According to Mizami they were 
 remarkably celebrated for their skill in music and painting. 
 They delighted to be called children of the sun — Mac Mithra 
 — a name identical with Mac Murrogh, so common amongst 
 their descendants, the ancient Irish. 
 
 (4) — The dart was ^pointed at his breast 
 "The Arabs by constant practise become so expert in 
 throwing the lance, that it is not thought an extraordinary 
 feat to bear off a ring on the point of a javelin." — 
 Bichardson, Dissert. 
 
 (5) — Their patient camels daily trained 
 To hear huge guns. 
 The advantage gained by Mir Maghmud, in his first en- 
 gagement with the king's forces, was entirely due to this 
 novel expedient of having dromedaries thus trained and 
 accoutred ; which, when the Persian cavaby approached, 
 caused such a stampede among the horses, that it was im- 
 possible to bring them to the encounter. 
 
 (6) — while the huzzlebash 
 
 Oft on their lines resistless da^h. 
 The kuzzlebash were favorite troops in the Persian army. 
 The term is probably derived from cusal, courage, and haSy 
 death. — See OBeilly's Irish Dictionary . 
 
[ 105 ] 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO IV. 
 (1) — Shiraz in splendour once outvied. 
 Shiraz is compounded of sior — perpetual or immortal, 
 and the assertive verb is. — See Irish Dictionary. 
 
 (2) — Tlie luinsome hanks of Rocnahad. 
 Eocnabad is probably compounded of rognaithe, chosen, 
 and had, of love. It was celebrated in one of the Ijrrics of 
 Hafiz, the Persian poet; thus translated by Sir Wm. Jones : 
 
 " Boy, let yon liquid ruby flow. 
 
 And bid thy pensive heart be glad; 
 
 Whate'er the frowning zealots say. 
 Tell them their Eden cannot shew 
 
 A stream so clear as Eocnabad, 
 A bower so sweet as MoseUay." 
 
 Mosellay was an oratory; probably compounded of mo, my, 
 and sleacd, devotion or prayer. — See L^ish Dictionary. 
 
 (3) — No treason foul nor impious fraud 
 Their sanguinary deeds outlawed. 
 As an instance of fidelity to their engagements, it is re- 
 lated by Gibbon, that the Arabs, having subdued Persia, 
 brought Harmozan, the satrap of Susa, a prisoner to their 
 caliph, Omar, with the view of having him immediately ex- 
 ecuted, as he had given them the greatest resistance. After 
 a painful conference, the Persian complained of thirst, but 
 manifested some apprehension, lest they should kill him 
 while drinking. " Be of good courage," said the caliph," your 
 life is safe till you have drank this water ; " the satrap ac- 
 cepted the assurance, and instantly dashed the vase contain- 
 ing the water to the ground. Omar would have avenged his 
 disappointment, but his companions represented the enor- 
 mity of a caliph violating his pledge. Harmozan obtained 
 a free pardon, and subsequently, with a view probably to 
 conciliate him, a pension of two thousand pieces of gold. 
 
106 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 (4) — Isfahan deep thy people felt 
 
 Treason's abhorred, infernal art. 
 It was said of Isfahan, that previous to the irruption of 
 the Afghans it contained 250,000 inhabitants ; and that a 
 considerable portion of the commerce of India was, by 
 means of caravans, conveyed to the city, by which it was 
 immensely enriched. At the conclusion of the war its popu- 
 lation scarcely amounted to 30,000 : so that this rebellion 
 was 'as destructive to Persia as the invasion of either Zingis 
 or Tamerlane. 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO V. 
 
 (1) — Who dared to comhat fire so dread 
 
 That from their halloived shrine was spread. 
 The ancient Persians, followers of Zoroaster, considered 
 it a sacrilege to extinguish the consecrated fire, which was 
 kept constantly burning in their temples, no matter how 
 valuable the property that might be consumed by it. — 
 See Hyde de Beligione Fersarum. 
 
 (2) — Who in thine ancient annals versed, 
 Knows not what glory in the west 
 Adorned a branch of Mithra's race. 
 Upwards of one thousand years previous to the Christian 
 era, a colony called the Tuatha de Danaan — children of 
 song — settled in Ireland. In the arts of civilization they 
 were superior to the generality of the people then existing 
 in Europe, which has been satisfactorily proved by the 
 discovery of various relics — as torques, chains, crowns of 
 gold, etc. — in different parts of the country, aU of which 
 are so well known to antiquarians, as indicative of a 
 Persian origin. A circumstance that manifests their early 
 acquaintance with letters is shown by the discovery of 
 their seals, which were of porcelain. About one hundred 
 
NOTES TO CANTO V. 107 
 
 of these have been found in different parts of Ireland, 
 remote from each other, impressed with figurative or ideo- 
 graphic characters, after the manner of the Chinese; 
 whence they have been called " Chinese porcelain seals," 
 although it is most probable that all nations, from China 
 westward to Mexico, commenced their written communi- 
 cations in the same manner. Phonetic signs, it is generally 
 believed, were a subsequent invention. The experience 
 of this people in the art of mining was not clearly ascer- 
 tained until about a century ago; when, in a partially- 
 worked coal mine near Ballycastle, in the county Antrim, 
 implements and expedients for mining were discovered 
 similar to those in modern use, but in such a state of 
 rust and decay, as to show they had not been used for 
 many thousand years. The Tordetani, described by Strabo 
 as having colonized part of the Spanish peninsula, were 
 probably of the same race, as might be inferred from their 
 having their laws, annals, and institutions, transmitted in 
 song for an indefinite number of generations. They are 
 said to have claimed an antiquity of C 000 years. 
 
 (3) — That skill in harmony divine 
 Revealed to ancient Greece alone. 
 While other nations divided the octave into tones and 
 semitones, the bards of Greece went still further — dis- 
 cerning and employing the quarter-tone in their melodies. 
 See Gillies' History of Greece. 
 
 (4) — Ullah inte7it the scroll surveys 
 Suspended in a lambent hlaze. 
 The zones or girdles which the ancient Persian was in 
 the habit of wearing, were made of various constituents, 
 such as silk, wool, camel or goat's hair, leather, or even of 
 asbestos, the last of which must have been the material in 
 the present instance. They were generally, when worn by 
 the higher ranks, adorned with gold, silver, and precious 
 stones, and dyed with various figures and characters by 
 
108 THE DOOM OF MAC DIAKMID. 
 
 some chemical preparation, in the invention and composi- 
 tion of which the ancient artists were not inferior to those 
 of the present day. 
 
 (5) — By Ormusd in their natal Jiour, etc. 
 Children of Amita, etc. 
 
 In investigating the ancient religion of the Persians, great 
 misapprehension has occurred by considering Ormusd and 
 Amita as two distinct beings, whereas the latter term is 
 merely an attribute of the former. Ormusd or Oirmid, whom 
 they acknowledged and adored as the creator, signifies wor- 
 ship or adoration. Amita, on the other hand, means eternal 
 or everlasting, being compounded of am, time, and ite or 
 iteac, consuming; that is to say, time-consuming. — See Irish 
 Dictionary. It is not unusual to substitute the attribute for 
 the being understood, particularly in oriental phraseology. 
 Even in our greatest modern poet we find the very same 
 attribute applied in a like sense : 
 
 " Or that the Everlasting had not fixed 
 His canon 'gainst self-slaughter." 
 
 The religion of the ancient Persians differed in no essential 
 particulars from that of the Jews, as may be inferred from 
 a careful study of the first chapter of Ezra, where Cyrus 
 is represented in the beginning of his reign, as using all 
 the available means of his empire to rebuild the temple of 
 Solomon, and restore the sacred vessels of gold and their 
 appurtenances, used in the administration of the divine 
 service. The conquest of Cyrus, however, over the idola- 
 trous kings of Assyria and Babylon, was remarkable, not 
 only for the restoration of the Jews and their temple, but 
 also for the restoration of an empire that existed for many 
 centuries previous to the reign of kings in Mneveh and 
 Assyria. Sir William Jones, whose investigations in 
 oriental history were conducted with such zealous and 
 indefatigable research, was the first to direct attention to 
 
NOTES TO CAXTO V. 109 
 
 this once populous and flourishing empire. According to 
 his description, it extended from the Caucasian mountains 
 to the Himalayas, the river Sind or Indus extended its 
 boundary in the latter direction, whUe the sea of Oman 
 constituted one of its southern limits ; so that it must have 
 comprised the present territories of Persia, Georgia, 
 Afghanistan, Turkestan, etc., together with Asia Minor. 
 When, however, it was torn asunder by contention, 
 chiefly arising from religious dissentions, a considerable 
 number of the inhabitants emigrated to the surrounding 
 countries. The fanaticism of the first body of exiles who 
 colonized India was so intense, that they enacted a law 
 prohibiting their return. 
 
 From the remains of an old work called the Dabistan, 
 which treated of twelve different religious sects, and was 
 said to have been compiled by an ancient Cashmerian 
 named Mobsan Fani, Sir William Jones was enabled, by 
 the aid of a learned Brahmin, to derive the few particulars 
 disclosed to us relative to this, the oldest monarchy on 
 earth ; its flourishing condition under many generations of 
 kings, particularly that of the Mahabadian dynasty ; its 
 partition into Iran and Turan, and the various and com- 
 plicated divisions that occurred, when idolatry, similar 
 to that which degraded the Israelites after the reign of 
 Solomon, exerted its baneful influence in opposition to the 
 monotheistic faith. The chief apostle of this faith in the 
 primeval empire was Zerdusht or Zoroaster, represented 
 by Greek historians as having lived some thousand years 
 before the reign of Darius Hystaspes. He, it was said, 
 compiled the ancient Zendavesta, which was lost when the 
 Arabs overran Persia, destroyed Ctesiphon, and burned its 
 celebrated libraries. 
 
 The followers of Zoroaster had adopted customs and in- 
 stitutions so like those of the Jews, as to create a difficulty 
 in distinguishing any important difference between them. 
 The magi or priests of the former, similar to the tribe of 
 Levi, were supported by tithes of all the produce of the 
 
1 10 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 country; they it was that at the nativity, guided by a 
 star from heaven, came to Bethlehem, bearing gold, frankin- 
 cense and myrrh, to hail with joy the advent of the Ee- 
 deemer ; and, inspired by a Divine visitation, avoided the 
 communication of their knowledge to Herod. In the 
 tabernacles of both a constant fire was kept, replenished 
 by the tribe of Levi with oil in golden lamps, morning 
 and evening, and with incense on a golden altar, which 
 was conveyed along with them during their wanderings in 
 the desert. 
 
 The Magi, with the most precious woods renewed their 
 fire, and bearing it on a silver tripod, accompanied Darius 
 on all his expeditions. What but the most unlimited hope 
 and confidence in the God of Israel, as the guardian of the 
 innocent, would have forced Darius to submit Daniel to 
 the fury of wild beasts — in compliance with an imperative 
 law — while he fasted and prayed for his preservation ? 
 The unavoidable inference issuing from these and other 
 considerations, too numerous to detail, moreover, that it 
 was occasionally called the religion of Abraham by D'Her- 
 belot, Hyde, and other candid authorities, compel us to 
 believe that the religion of the ancient Persians was a 
 pure monotheism, and that its devotees, when impotent to 
 subdue the host of idolaters that rebelled against them, 
 abandoned their native land in considerable numbers, in 
 search of a more desirable abode. It was probably the 
 contest, thus terminating, that laid the foundation of the 
 Greek fable of the war between the Titans and the Gods ; 
 the deities, as understood by its author, being the objects 
 of the Sabian or other idolatrous worship ; the Titans, on 
 the other hand, adhering to the pure and original faith, 
 their name being synonymous with MacMithra, or children 
 of the sun. 
 
 However this may be, there can be no doubt that an 
 enlightened and devotedly religious Persian colony settled 
 in Ireland at this remote period ; whence the antients named 
 the country the Sacred Island ; as Festus Aviensus asserts, 
 
NOTES TO CANTO V. Ill 
 
 Ast hinc duobus in Sacram sic Insulam, 
 
 Dixere prisci, etc, etc. ... 
 
 . . . late genus Hibernorum colit. 
 Thus we have evidence of the sanctity that even the 
 heathen assigned to the land, ages before the advent of 
 Christianity ; and on that glorious and eventful occasion, 
 we find the Magi of Ireland, instead of opposing the doc- 
 trine preached by St. Patrick, embracing it with joy, and 
 becoming the ordained Christian ministers, as of an ex- 
 pected revelation. — See Notes in Beeves' Adamnan. 
 
 To those versed in the Irish vernacular, the proper names 
 in the preceding note will be significant, as it is well known 
 that all such terms were generally compounded of epithets 
 expressive of the attributes of the object indicated : thus, 
 Mahabad is composed of had, love or favour, with the pos- 
 sessive pronoun prefixed ; as to the boundaries of the empire 
 under the dynasty which he founded, Caucasian is pro- 
 bably named from cad, high, and cosaint a defence ; 
 Himalaya, from imiol, a boundary ; Sind, the Indus, from 
 sin, to extend ; and the sea of Oman, its southern limit, was 
 so called from oman, which signifies fear, froth, terror, a 
 name peculiarly assignable to it by those as yet strangers 
 to the art of navigation, except perhaps in the tideless 
 waters of the Mediterranean. The original empire having 
 been divided, the northern portion was styled Turan from 
 tuaig the north, while Iran retained its name, derived 
 from iar the west. The nomenclature of the different 
 provinces of Persia is equally remarkable, e.g., Laristan, 
 which means the middle province, is compounded of Iar, 
 the middle, the assertive verb is, and tan, land; Farsistan, of 
 fars-aing, wide or ample— the latter syllable of the adjective 
 being omitted in composition, for the sake of brevity — is 
 and tan as in the preceding appellation ; Chorasan of 
 caora, grapes, and Erivan of earrai, the spring season of the 
 year ; the word tan, as a component in the two latter pro- 
 vincial names, losing the t for the sake of euphony, a prac- 
 tise almost invariably observed in the language. 
 
112 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 On the road eastward from Babylon, near the western 
 borders of Media, there is observable a remarkable emi- 
 nence, terminating a range of hiUs seventeen hundred feet 
 high, which was considered sacred. It is called Behistan, 
 i.e., the land of wild beasts, hoxn. heist and tan, probably in 
 consequence of its being exempt from other inhabitants. 
 In the surface of this hill, imbedded in the rock with molten 
 lead, are polished stones, at about five hundred feet from 
 its base, on which are inscriptions in the cuneiform 
 character, which were clearly elucidated by Sir Henry 
 Eawlinson, the eminent antiquarian and Sanscrit scholar, 
 whose investigations have thrown such light on the dis- 
 interred ruins of Assyria, Phoenicia, and Chaldea. The 
 following are extracts from the inscriptions at Behistan : — 
 '' I am Darius, the great king, the king of kings. The 
 king, my father, was Hystaspes, of Hystaspes the father 
 was Arsames, of Arsames the father was Arigmanes, of 
 Arigmanes the father was Teispes, of Teispes the father 
 was Achsemenes ; on that account we have been called 
 Achsemenians. From antiquity we have been unsubdued; 
 from antiquity our race have been kings. By the grace of 
 Ormusd I have become king ; Ormusd has given me the 
 empire." 
 
 The names in the foregoing inscription may have been 
 derived from terms common to the ancient Persian and 
 Irish dialects. Thus Hystaspes may have been deduced 
 from is tasc, expressive of fame or renown ; Arsames, from 
 arsac, old ; Arigmanes, from arig, chief ; Teispes, from teisd, 
 esteem ; Acha^menes, from acmuin, wealth or power ; and 
 Darius, from darrioga, a superior to kings. There is reason 
 to believe that it was in the reign of the last-mentioned 
 sovereign, on the occasion of the deliverance of Daniel 
 from his dreadful ordeal, that the Persian judges enacted 
 the celebrated decree, " tco ^aaCkevovTL Uepa-ecov e^eivav 
 iroieiv TO av /BovXrjrac, 
 
 Chosroes, the name by which Cyrus is known in Eastern 
 languages, is compounded of cos, the foot, with ro and is, 
 
NOTES TO CANTO V. 113 
 
 signs of the superlative degree, which taken together sig- 
 nify " most excellent on foot." The Titans were so called 
 from Titan the sun. 
 
 To these may be added the names of other distinguished 
 rulers, whose memory is still revered by the Parsees ; as 
 Cayomers, from caom, kind"; Husang, from usa, just, and ang, 
 great ; and Afrasiab, from an, the, fras, liberal, and db, fa- 
 ther. " The spider has wove his web in the imperial palace; 
 and the owl hath sung her watch-song in the towers of Af- 
 rasiab." 
 
 (6) — That fire with which our altars glow 
 Is deemed our idol ! 
 It is well known that the ancient Persians were accused 
 as idolators and worshippers of fire by their invaders and 
 persecutors. Firdausi, the poet, however, though himself a 
 Moslem, in describing the worship of Cyrus and his pater- 
 nal grandfather, for an entire week before the fire on the 
 altar, alludes to them more candidly in nearly the following 
 terms. 
 
 Oh ! think not they the fire adored. 
 
 Whose beam illumed their tearful eyes. 
 To Ormusd — God supreme and Lord — 
 Alone they poured repentant sighs. 
 
 Seven days before his blazing shrine, 
 Whose flame for ever Heavenward tends, 
 
 To him they prayed — the source divine — 
 On whom eternal life depends. 
 
 (7) — The hallowed earth, whence Heaven evolves, 
 Its awful ministering agent, flame. 
 On the southern shores of the Caspian Sea, petroleum 
 or naphtha has been found in beds, so near the surface that 
 the inhabitants make use of them for lighting their habi- 
 tations, by thrusting reeds or tubes into the earth, through 
 which the vapour passing from beneath, and, being lighted 
 
 8 
 
114 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 above^ affords a very convenient gas-liglit. They also use 
 them for their culinary preparations. Situate in the vicinity 
 of these bituminous beds, recent travellers have discovered 
 foundations aud ruins of magnificent edifices, which, no 
 doubt, at a former very remote period, constituted temples 
 of worship for the disciples of Zoroaster. Similar beds are 
 to be found near Baku, on the western shore, at an incon- 
 siderable distance from the Caspian gates of the Caucasus. 
 
 NOTES TO CANTO VI. 
 
 (1) — Yours is the doom to lovers sweet 
 When farted long again to meet. 
 
 In a hrochure published in the year 1858, I suggested 
 that the earth and other planets formerly must have con- 
 stituted a portion of the sun, and consisted of the same 
 matter sublimated, attenuated, and evolved into the im- 
 mense surrounding space by the extreme intensity of 
 heat ; and subsequently, after an indefinite period, losing 
 their extreme temperature, were condensed into globes ac- 
 cording to a universal law to which all matter is subject. 
 
 The theory therein described has been since in a great 
 measure corroborated by the discovery of Kirchof and Bun- 
 sen of the spectral analysis, and the observations made 
 thereby on the sun, particularly during its eclipse. 
 
 The laws of attraction compel us to believe that they are 
 eventually destined to return to their centre of gTavitation. 
 
 (2) — May Monhir doom the knave that flies 
 To death, etc. 
 
 Monkir and Nakir were the angels of death according to 
 Moslem mythology, and Eblis the name of the arch-fiend 
 himself. 
 
 The ancient Persian and Irish name for Satan was Ahri- 
 man — compounded of ar, slaughter or destruction, and 
 mana, the cause. 
 
NOTES TO CANTO VI. 115 
 
 (3) — As some tall tapering round tower, grown 
 By age niore firm, etc. 
 
 An indisputable proof of the descent of the Irish from 
 the ancient followers of Zoroaster, may be deduced from 
 the round towers, so numerous in many parts of Ireland. 
 
 Although these edifices were, a long time subsequent to 
 their erection, used for belfreys, watch-towers, etc., yet that 
 they were originally designed for such purposes is totally 
 indefensible. These towers were in fact called Torregain — 
 which signifies kindling towers — from tor, a tower, and 
 again, to kindle. 
 
 It has been observed that at a certain period of the year 
 all fires for domestic purposes were required to be extinguish- 
 ed, and none to be rekindled except from the consecrated 
 flame, kept alive by the watchful care of the Magi. These 
 fires were kept burning in some of the towers after the ad- 
 vent of Christianity. It is even recorded that in Kildare, 
 there was one of them in which the fire was not extin- 
 guished until near the close of the twelfth century. The 
 preservation of the consecrated fire, however, was not the 
 sole purpose for which those towers were designed : the 
 Magi considered that the bodies of the dead should be 
 resolved into their primitive elements, before they were 
 consigned to the earth, and consequently had them exposed 
 on the summits of the towers until they were completely 
 desiccated and reduced to a cineritious mass, either by the 
 sun's (Mithra's) heat or by the sacred fire kindled from his 
 beams. The embers of the dead were, after their total or 
 partial incremation, deposited in the earth within the area 
 of the tower. 
 
 Now it is evident that if in these edifices the entrance 
 were to have been made on a level with the ground on 
 which they were constructed, the remains of the dead, 
 accumulating within, would after some time impede all in- 
 gress to these buildings. To obviate this impediment, the 
 entrance was invariably made at a considerable height from 
 
116 THE DOOM OF MAC DIARMID. 
 
 the base, so as to require the use of a ladder to gain admis- 
 sion to them. At Earn Island in Lough Neagh, at Timahoe, 
 and many other places, where these round towers are at 
 present situate, human bones, more or less incinerated, have 
 been found interred within them, together with urns, not 
 inelegantly ornamented, which no doubt formerly contained 
 the ashes of the dead. 
 
 The custom of exposing the bodies of the dead on lofty 
 towers was continued to a much later period under the 
 Persian government ; for in the sixth century, during the 
 long-continued contest between Chosroes ISTushirvan and 
 the emperor Justinian, we find that the Colchians, under 
 their king Gubazes, deserted the former, their prejudices 
 revolting against the law of having the dead bodies of 
 their parents exposed — as they asserted — to the crows and 
 vultures of the air. 
 
 The round towers of Persia were mostly destroyed by the 
 Arabs, who considered them as edifices devoted to the idol- 
 atrous worship of fire, and being chiefly constructed of 
 adobes — bricks burnt in the sun — they were easily dilapi- 
 dated. In the reign of Nadir Kouli Khan, however, a com- 
 mercial gentleman named Hanway counted four of them 
 which he observed in his travels. A recent traveller also 
 describes " two circular stone towers of moderate size and 
 height, with conical roofs, admirably constructed, evidently 
 of quite ancient origin, situate on the open space east of 
 the city of Erzeroum," The inhabitants of the vicinity knew 
 not their use ; but from the description we cannot be at a 
 loss to conjecture for what purpose they were originally 
 designed. 
 
 (4) — As when Burgundia's chieftain hold 
 His daring chivalry enrolled. 
 
 Charles the bold, Duke of Burgundy, led his army, the 
 finest at that time in Europe, to subjugate the Swiss 
 peasantry, but was defeated at the battle of Nancy. The 
 
NOTES TO CANTO VI. 117 
 
 disappointment so preyed on his mind that he became 
 deranged and died soon after. 
 
 (5) — Israfil soaring in regions of light 
 
 Israfil, the angel of music, is compounded oifile, minstrel, 
 with the signs of the emphatic superlative prefixed ; signi- 
 fying thereby the supreme or most exquisite minstrel. — 
 See Irish Dictionary. 
 
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