Note 514 — Chapter XXIII · PUBLIC RECITATIONS OF ROMANCES—Continued.

When the narrator introduces poetry, he generally desires his readers and hearers to bless the Prophet. Frequently he merely says, “Bless ye the Apostle:” and often, “Bless ye him for [the visit to] whose tomb burdens are bound:” i.e. “Bless ye him whose tomb is an object of pilgrimage:” for, though the pilgrimage ordained by the Kur-án is that to the temple of Mekkeh and Mount ’Arafát, yet the Prophet’s tomb is also an object of pious pilgrimage.—I translate the poetry from this tale verse for verse, imitating the system pursued with regard to rhyme in the originals.