Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 116 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 116: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Analysis This is a prose page from running narrative text, numbered 90, titled "SALÁMÁN AND ABSÁL." The visible text is a poetic passage describing tragic events involving characters named Farhád, Shírín, and Khusrau—apparently a tale of jealousy, poisoning, and violent retribution. A footnote below explains an alternate version of Farhád's story, claiming he attempted to cut through a mountain to win Shírín, only to be deceived into believing she was dead, whereupon he threw himself from a rock. The page notes that a sculpture at Beysitún was traditionally attributed to Farhád.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
® 90 SALAMAN AND ABSAL. F'aruAp, who the shapeless mountain Into human likeness moulded, Under Suirin’s eyes as slavish Potters’ earth himself became. Then the secret fire of jealous Frenzy, catching and devouring Kar Kuusrau, broke into flame. With that ancient Hag of Darkness Plotting, at the midnight Banquet FARHAD’s golden cup he poison’d, And in SHiRin’s eyes alone Reign’d—But Fate that Fate revenges, Arms SHIRUYEH with the dagger That at once from Suirin tore, And hurl’d him lifeless from his throne. >» =< 1 One story is that Khusrau had promised that if Farhad cut through a Mountain, and brought a Stream through, Shirin should be his. Farhad was on the point of achieving his work, when Khusrau sent an old Woman (here, perhaps, purposely confounded with Fate) to tell him Shirin was dead ; whereon Farhad threw himself headlong from the Rock. The Sculpture , at Beysitin (or Besitiéin), where Rawlinson has deciphered } Darius and Xerxes, was traditionally called Farhad’s, OG <te (C(O) aml OOO) KS CONN O