Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 68 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 68: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is a page of running prose (page 42) from what appears to be a biographical narrative titled "Notice of Jámi's Life." The text describes Jámi's spiritual withdrawal and training as a Sufi, his reluctance to teach publicly until late in life, and his subsequent fame as a poet. The passage includes a lengthy quotation in which Jámi reflects on his poetic reputation, claiming his verse has been celebrated by Persian and Indian poets and that kings and lords have sought his favor. The text is framed by decorative floral ornaments in the corners 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.
sfc A939 NOTICE OF JAMI’S LIFE. eee —— —s —? By-and-by he withdrew, by due course of Stfi Instruction, into Solitude so long and profound, that on his return to Men he had almost lost the Power of Converse with them. At last, when duly taught, and duly authorized to teach as Sufi Doctor, he yet would not take upon himself so to do, though solicited by those who had seen such a Vision of him as had drawn himself to Herat; and not till the Evening of his Life was he to be seen taking that place by the Mosque which his departed Master had been used to occupy before. Meanwhile he had become Poet, which no doubt winged his Reputation and Doctrine far and wide through a People so susceptible of poetic impulse. ‘‘A Thousand times,” he says, “‘ I have repented of such Employment; but I could no more shirk it than one can shirk what the Pen of Fate has written on his Forehead’—“ As Poet I have resounded through the World; Heaven filled itself with my Song, and the Bride of Time adorned her Ears and Neck with the Pearls of my Verse, whose coming Caravan the Persian Hafiz and Saadi came forth gladly to salute, and the Indian Khosri and Hasan hailed as a Wonder of the World.” ‘The Kings of India and Rim greet me by Letter: the Lords of Irak and Tabriz load’ me with Gifts; and what Pez CORnNICLOO S.' CO)