Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 87 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 87: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a page of running prose poetry from what appears to be a narrative work titled "Salámán and Absál" (page 61). The text contains two distinct passages: first, a moral commendation warning against evil sons, using the biblical example of Noah's son to caution against requesting children from Allah; second, a poetic scene depicting a childless man pleading desperately before a saint, begging Allah to grant him a son described as a "fresh young Cypress." The passages blend Islamic religious references with poetic language about parenthood, loss, and divine will. A footnote directs readers to an appendix for further explanation.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SALAMAN AND ABSAL. In commendation of a Son, he said ; “Thus much of a Good Son, whose wholesome growth ‘* Approves the root he grew from. But for one ** Kneaded of Hvil—well, could one revoke ~ ‘* His generation, and as early pull ‘‘ Him and his vices from the string of Time. ‘“* Like Noah’s, puff’d with insolence and pride, ‘* Who, reckless of his Father’s warning call, ‘“‘ Was by the voice of ALLAH from the door “ Of refuge in his Father’s Ark debarr’d, ‘* And perish’d in the Deluge.! And as none “Who long for children may their children choose, ‘“* Beware of teazing Allah for a Son, “Whom having, you may have to pray to lose.” Sick at heart for want of Children, Ran before the Saint a Fellow, Catching at his garment, crying, “* Master, hear and help me! Pray “ That ALLAH from the barren clay “ Raise me up a fresh young Cypress, “ Who my longing eyes may lighten, * And not let me like a vapour 1 See Note in Appendix I. ae Comic DOO S. (C©)