Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 106 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 106: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose from what appears to be a poetic narrative work titled "Salaman and Absal" (page 80). The text presents two speakers—first "The Shah" delivering a cautionary tale in verse about a branch and root that died together, then "The Sage" beginning an elaborate philosophical address praising human creation as the "ultimate Accomplishment of Man" and warning against letting "rebel passion" corrupt the divine character inscribed in humanity. A footnote references the Quranic "Word of Creation." The page contains decorative borders and ornamental flourishes typical of Victorian book design.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
# - ad 80 SALAMAN AND ABSAL. _ a LL ——— — “ Wretch !—There was a branch that waxing “ Wanton o'er the root he drank from, “ At a draught the living water “ Drain'd wherewith himself to crown; “ Died the root—and with him died | “The branch—and barren was brought down !”’ Tne SHA ceased counsel, and THE Sace began. “ O last new vintage of the Vine of Life ‘ Planted in Paradise; Oh Master-stroke, ‘¢ And all-concluding flourish of the Pen ‘Kun ra yAKtn ;! Thyself prime Archetype, ‘“ And ultimate Accomplishment of Man! “The Almighty hand, that out of common earth ‘Thy mortal outward to the perfect form ‘Of Beauty moulded, in the fleeting dust ‘ Inscrib’d Himsetr, and in thy bosom set ‘¢ A mirror to reflect HimsruF in Thee. ‘“ Let not that dust by rebel passion blown ‘ Obliterate that character: nor let “Br! anp 17 18’’—The famous Word of Creation stolen from Genesis by the Kuran. COnnic ooo 4(CO)