Note 468
TALE OF NUR AL-DIN AND HIS SON. (continued 2)
The River of Paradise, a lieu commun of poets (Koran, chapt. cviii.): the water is whiter than milk or silver, sweeter than honey, smoother than cream, more odorous than musk; its banks are of chrysolite and it is drunk out of silver cups set around it thick as stars. Two pipes conduct it to the Prophet's Pond which is an exact square, one month's journey in compass. Kausar is spirituous like wine; Salsabil sweet like clarified honey; the Fount of Mildness is like milk and the Fount of Mercy like liquid crystal.
"Thou hast some art the hearts of men to clip; * Close-veiled, far-hidden mystery dark and deep: O thou whose beauties shame the lustrous moon, * Wherewith the saffron Morn fears rivalship! Thy beauty is a shrine shall ne'er decay; * Whose signs shall grow until they all outstrip; [FN#467] Must I be thirst-burnt by that Eden-brow * And die of pine to taste that Kausar-lip?" [FN#468]
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