ABSTRACT

Now in a little while, when all the troops Were satiate of wealth, a sudden impulse Came on Sikandar, and he greatly longed To journey to the Kaaba. So at dawn The drum-roll rose,1 the air grew like the eye Of chanticleer, while all the mass of spears, And silken pennons, formed a canopy Of yellow, red, and violet.2 Sikandar Departed with his diadem and treasures c. 13 n To look upon the house of Ibrahim, Who bare no little toil to build that shrine, Which God hath named Baitu'l Harám, and there Thou hast His perfect Way who calleth it, By reason of its purity, His house, And thither summoneth His worshippers, Though needing not the world, or any place, Or food, enjoyment, rest, or blandishment ; But still, since place had being, that hath been A place of worship-God's memorial. Sikandar then drew near to Kádisí, World-conquering up to Jahram of Pars.