Penny Dreadfuls, 1900 · page 94 of 142
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the Salaman and Absal of Jami — page 94: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page 68: Running Prose from "Salaman and Absal" This page contains running prose poetry describing Salaman's prowess in athletic competition. The text describes how Salaman, despite his youth, wounded every opponent and shone brilliantly; after the Lord of Heaven rode into the blue field, Salaman mounted a fiery horse and joined a troop of young princes for a game involving a golden ball on the Maidan (a field). Though all competed equally, Salaman consistently won the prize, shouting "Ha!" to drive the ball home. The passage concludes with Salaman then turning his talents to archery, learning from master craftsmen. Two footnotes reference Persian etymology and an appendix.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
68 SALAMAN AND ABSAL. That rode high in a hundred thousand hearts. For, when SaLAmMAn was but half-lance high, Lance-like he struck a wound in every one, And shook down splendour round him like a Sun. Soon as the Lord of Heav’n had sprung his horse Over horizon into the blue field, SaLAMAN kindled with the wine of sleep, Mounted a barb of fire for the Maidan; He and a troop of Princes—Kings in blood, Kings in the kingdom-troubling tribe of beauty, All young in years and courage,' bat in hand Gallop’d a-field, toss’d down the golden ball And chased, so many crescent Moons a full ;? And, all alike intent upon the Game, SaLAmAn still would carry from them all The prize, and shouting ‘‘Hal!” drive home the ball. | This done, SALAMAN bent him as a bow To Archery—from Masters of the craft 1 The same Persian Word signifying Youth and Courage. 2 See Appendix. COMmicloooks.' CO)