Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 90 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 90: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains running prose poetry from a work titled "Salámán and Absál" (page 64). The text presents a man's bitter monologue denouncing Woman as foolish and faithless, describing how despite lavishing her with luxuries and affection, she will forget him instantly if he leaves her sight or if a younger lover appears. The passage concludes with a transition to a scene where "Sulayman and Balkis" sit together on a throne sharing secrets. A footnote identifies these figures as Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, suggesting the work draws on Islamic or Eastern literary tradition.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
oS 64 SALAMAN AND ABSAL. — rt —— “ —— ee —-- “From off thy brows—about thy lips a ring, ‘Of which the rope is in a Woman’s hand, “ To lead thyself the road of Nothing down. “For what is She? A foolish, faithless thing— ‘A very Kafir in rapacity ; ‘‘ Robe her in all the rainbow-tinted woof ‘Of Susa, shot with rays of sunny Gold; “Deck her with jewel thick as Night with star; ‘Pamper her appetite with Houri fruit ‘Of Paradise, and fill her jewell’d cup “From the green-mantled Prophet’s Well of Life— ‘“ One little twist of temper—all your cost “Goes all for nothing: and, as for yourself— ‘Look ! On your bosom she may he for years; ‘‘ But, get you gone a moment out of sight, ‘“ And she forgets you—worse, if, as you turn, ‘Her eyes on any younger Lover light.” Once upon the Throne together Telling one another Secrets, Sate SuLAYMAN and Batxis ;} 1 Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, who, it appears, is no worse in one way than Solomon in another, unless in Oriental Kyes. (C(O) A iGbooo <Si (