Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 115 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 115: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Content This is a text page (page 89) from what appears to be a poetic narrative titled "Salaman and Absal." The passage describes a figure called "the Shah" gazing into a magical mirror where he beholds two lovers in a distant paradise. Moved by compassion upon witnessing their happiness, the Shah hesitates in his intention to strike them down, ultimately pausing to allow them opportunity for repentance. The page includes Greek text in a footnote and an explanatory note about a pebble-in-cup signal, suggesting this is verse—possibly a translation of classical or Eastern literature—rather than typical penny dreadful sensationalism.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ee 1 SALAMAN AND ABSAL. 89 k Reflecting in its mystic compass all Within the sev’n-fold volume of the World Involv’d; and, looking in that Mirror’s face, The Suan beheld the face of his Desire. Beheld those Lovers, like that earliest pair Of Lovers, in this other Paradise So far from human eyes in the mid sea, And yet within the magic glass so near As with a finger one might touch them, isled. Tue Swag beheld them ; and compassion touch’d His eyes and anger died upon his lips ; And arm’d with Righteous Judgment as he was, Yet, seeing those two Lovers with one lip Drinking that cup of Happiness and Tears’ In which Farewell had never yet been flung,” He paused for their Repentance to recall The lifted arm that was to shatter all. The Lords of Wrath have perish’d by the blow Themselves had aim’d at others long ago. Draw not in haste the sword, which Fate, may be, Will sheathe, hereafter to be drawn on Thee. 1 Kparijoa paxpdy ndorvig cai daxptwv Kipva@rrec tkémivov dxptc é¢ péiOnry. 2 A pebble flung into a Cup being a signal for a company to break up. COmicbhooksS.cOme: as