Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 54 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 54: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Notes Page from Victorian Literature This is a **notes page** (likely from a poem or literary work), featuring scholarly annotations in small print. The visible text provides historical and geographical context: it explains Eastern astronomical phenomena like the "False Dawn" (*Subhi Kázib*), discusses the Persian New Year (*Naw Rooz*) beginning at the Vernal Equinox, and quotes Mr. Binning's observations about spring's rapid arrival in Persia. The notes describe seasonal flora appearing at New Year—including thistles, clover, dandelions, and corn-flowers—and include a poetic quotation about spring buds adorning winter's landscape. The page uses decorative floral borders typical of Victorian printing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
NOTES. (Stanza II.) The “ False Dawn ;” Subhi Kédzib, a transient Light on the Horizon about an hour before the Subhi sddik, or True Dawn ; a well-known Phenomenon in the Fast. (IV.) New Year. Beginning with the Vernal Equinox, it must be remembered ; and (howsoever the old Solar Year is practically superseded by the clumsy Lunar Year that dates from the Mohammedan Hijra) still commemorated by a Festival that is said to have been appointed by the very Jamshyd whom Omar so often talks of, and whose yearly Calendar he helped to rectify. ‘The sudden approach and rapid advance of the Spring,” says Mr. Binning, “are very striking. Before the Snow is well off the Ground, the Trees burst into Blossom, and the Flowers start from the Soil, At Naw Rooz (their New Year’s Day) the Snow was lying in patches on the Hills and in the shaded Vallies, while the Fruit-trees in the Garden were budding beautifully, and green Plants and Flowers springing upon the Plains on every side— | | ‘ And on old Hyems’ Chin and icy Crown ‘ An odorous Chaplet of sweet Summer buds ‘Is, as in mockery, set-—’ — Among the Plants newly appear’d I recognized some Acquaint- ances I had not seen for many a Year: among these, two varieties of the Thistle ; a coarse species of the Daisy, like the Horse-gowan ; red and white Clover; the Dock; the blue Corn-flower ; and that vulgar Herb the Dandelion rearing its. t kifice 389 Oe Pe COMmMICcoookS.c@ @)