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Jami - SALÁMÁN AND ABSÁL – from 02 The Story

One Night THE SHAH of Yúnan, as his wont,
Consider’d of his Power, and told his State,
How great it was, and how about him sat
The Robe of Honour of Prosperity;
Then found he nothing wanted to his Heart,
Unless a Son, who his Dominion
And Glory might inherit after him.
And then he turn’d him to THE SHAH, and said;
“Oh Thou, whose Wisdom is the Rule of Kings —
“(Glory to God who gave it!) — answer me;
“Is any Blessing better than a Son?
“Man’s prime Desire; by which his Name and He
“Shall live beyond Himself; by whom his Eyes
“Shine living, and his Dust with Roses blows;
“A Foot for Thee to stand on, he shall be
“A Hand to stop thy Falling; in his Youth
“Thou shalt be Young, and in his Strength be Strong;
“Sharp shall he be in Battle as a Sword,
“A Cloud of Arrows on the Enemy’s Head;
“His Voice shall cheer his Friends to Plight,
“And turn the Foeman’s Glory into Flight.”
Thus much of a Good Son, whose whole­some Growth
Approves the Root he grew from; but for one
Kneaded of Evil — Well, could one undo
His Generation, and as early pull
Him and his Vices from the String of Time.
Like Noah’s, puff’d with Ignorance and Pride,
Who felt the Stab of “HE IS NONE OF THINE!”
And perish’d in the Deluge. And be­cause
All are not Good, be slow to pray for One,
Whom having you may have to pray to lose.