
Faghestan Comes Before Iskandar
From D5.10, Nine Sages Return with the Four Wonders. It illustrates D5.10.15–25:
- D5.10.15Faghestan came before the Shah; she boreA crown of black musk through his chamber door.
- D5.10.16Her tresses over glowing cheeks were spread.They veiled, like jowshan, redbud blossoms red.
- D5.10.17A cypress crowned with the round moon ablaze;On such a moon no eye could bear to gaze.
- D5.10.18Her brows were bows above a somber glare;In twisted curls she wound her flowing hair.
- D5.10.19Like Paradise’s two narcissi bright,Her eyes seemed formed of fire in all their light.
- D5.10.20Iskandar gazed upon her stately grace,Her form from head to foot, her hair and face.
- D5.10.21He said: “Behold the Lamp of all the earth!”And inwardly praised Him who gave her birth.
- D5.10.22He praised the Just One, Maker of the skies,Who shaped such form and face before his eyes.
- D5.10.23He called the learned Mobadan well known,From Rum’s great legions to attend the throne.
- D5.10.24The Roman sages sat to see it done,And by their Christian rite the two were one.
- D5.10.25He poured such gold upon her, rich and deep,The Moon could barely walk beneath the heap.
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