ABSTRACT

Now when the letter Came to Shangul he raised his head in pride O’er Saturn’s orbit and made choice of Gipsies, C. 1586 As bidden by the Sháh who, when they came, Accorded them an audience and gave each An ox and ass, for he proposed to make The Gipsies husbandmen, while his officials Gave them a thousand asses’ loads of wheat, That they might have the ox and ass for work, Employ the wheat as seed for raising crops, And should besides make music for the poor, And render them the service free of cost. The Gipsies went and ate the wheat and oxen, Then at a year’s end came with pallid cheeks. The Sháh said : “ Was it not your task to plough, To sow, and reap ? Your asses yet remain, So load them up, prepare your harps, and stretch The silken chords.”