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and is divided into two parts by this square, the entrance into which is through high-arched gates, of graceful architecture, faced with blue-glazed tiles. After entering, you see, on all sides, a double-storied row of arched cloisters, faced with different-coloured marbles; and the square itself is paved with large slabs of marble and sandstone, which on close inspection prove to be tombstones. The privilege of being allowed to be buried in this sacred. enclosure is only granted to those of high rank, who can afford to pay heavily. From the square, leading into smaller squares, are five arched gateways, such as are on the Kheeaba : one leads into a mosque, and is covered with blue tiles; another leads into the square of the tomb of Imam Raza, and is covered with coppergilt tiles. The dome of the tomb and the minarets on each side are all beautifully gilt, and shine in the far distance, glittering in the sun. In the centre of the Sahn is a small temple, with a reservoir for water, for the ablutions of the faithful. The square round the tomb itself is a sanctuary, to which malefactors flee and find a safe refuge; a few houses of Moollahs also are in it, and a few shops for the sale of various small beads and memorials of this Holy of Holies of the Sheahs." All is in such beautiful proportion, and so profusely decorated, that few buildings can compare with it. Meshed was sacked by the Uzbegs16 in 1587; but the great Shah Abbas rebuilt it in 1595, and they say that these buildings are as they were first built.

SPELL AND GIVE THE MEANING

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reg'ulate, to make larger or smaller. aide-de-camp, a military officer who carries the orders of the general.

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POWER OF IMAGINATION.

THE poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling,

Doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven; And, as imagination bodies forth

The forms of things unknown, the poet's pen

Turns them to shapes, and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.

KAILYAL IS BORNE TO INDRA'S PARADISE.

SOUTHEY.

Robert Southey was the son of a linen-draper of Bristol. He was born in 1774, and was educated at Westminster School and Oxford. In after-life he became the best-read man of his day, and wrote a great many books. His prose is perfect. His poems show a strong imagination and wonderful skill in the construction of the verse. He died in 1843.

Lo! at Ereenia's1 voice

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A Ship of Heaven comes sailing down the skies.

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Where wouldst thou bear her ?" cries

The ancient Sire of Gods.

"Straight to the Swerga, to my bower of bliss,"
The Glendoveer 3 replies,

"To Indra's own abodes."

Then, in the Ship of Heaven, Ereenia laid
The waking, wondering Maid;

The Ship of Heaven, instinct with thought,' displayed
Its living sail, and glides along the sky.

On either side, in wavy tide,

The clouds of morn along its path divide;
The Winds who swept in wild career on high,
Before its presence check their charmed force;
The Winds, that, loitering, lagged along their course,
Around the living Bark enamoured play,
Swell underneath the sail, and sing before its way.
That Bark, in shape, was like the furrowed shell
Wherein the Sea-nymphs to their parent king,"
On festal day, their duteous offerings bring.
Its hue? ... Go watch the last green light
Ere Evening yields the western sky to Night;
Or fix upon the Sun thy strenuous sight
Till thou hast reached its orb of chrysolite.

The sail, from end to end displayed,
Bent, like a rainbow, o'er the Maid;

An Angel's head, with visual eye, Through trackless space, directs its chosen way; Nor aid of wing, nor foot, nor fire, Requires, to voyage o'er the obedient sky: Smooth as the swan, when not a breeze at even Disturbs the surface of the silver streams, Through air and sunshine sails the Ship of Heaven.

Recumbent there the Maiden glides along
On her aërial way,

How swift she feels not, though the swiftest wind
Had flagged in flight behind.

Motionless as a sleeping babe she lay,
And all serene in mind,

Feeling no fear; for that ethereal air
With such new life and joyance filled her heart,
Fear could not enter there;

For sure she deemed her mortal part was o'er,
And she was sailing to the heavenly shore;
And that angelic form, who moved beside,
Was some good spirit sent to be her guide.

Daughter of Earth! therein thou deemst aright;
And never yet did form more beautiful,
In dreams of night, descending from on high,
Bless the religious Virgin's gifted sight,
Nor, like a vision of delight,

Rise on the raptured Poet's inward eye.
Of human form divine was he,

The immortal Youth of Heaven, who floated by,
Even such as that divinest form shall be
In those blest stages of our onward race
When no infirmity,

Low thought, nor base desire, nor wasting care
Deface the semblance of our heavenly Sire."

The wings of Eagle or of Cherubim
Had seemed unworthy him :

Angelic power and dignity and grace Were in his glorious pennons; from the neck Down to the ankle reached their swelling web,

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Richer than robes of Tyrian dye,1o that deck
Imperial majesty;

Their colour like the winter's moonless sky
When all the stars of midnight's canopy
Shine forth; or like the azure deep at noon,
Reflecting back to heaven a brighter blue.

Such was their tint when closed, but when outspread
The permeating light

Shed through their substance thin a varying hue;
Now bright as when the Rose,

Beauteous as fragrant, gives to scent and sight
A like delight; now like the juice that flows
From Douro's generous vine,"

Or ruby, when with deepest red it glows;
Or as the morning clouds refulgent shine,
When, at forthcoming of the Lord of Day,
The Orient, like a shrine,

Kindles as it receives the rising ray,
And heralding his way,

Proclaims the presence of the power divine.
Thus glorious were the wings

Of that celestial Spirit, as he went
Disporting through his native element.
Nor these alone

The gorgeous beauties that they gave to view:
Through the broad membrane branched a pliant bone,
Spreading like fibres from their parent stem;
Its veins like interwoven silver shone,

Or as the chaster hue

Of pearls that grace some Sultan's diadem. Now with slow stroke and strong, behold him smite The buoyant air, and now in gentler flight. On motionless wing expanded, shoot along.

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