When mirth sits smiling in thine eyes,
Who but admires their sprightly ray?
But when thro' pity's flood they gleam,
Who but must love their soften'd beam?

_Ebn Alrumi_.

[19] Ebn Alrumi is reckoned by the Arabian writers as one of the most
excellent of all their poets. He was by birth a Syrian, and passed
the greatest part of his time at Emessa, where he died A.H. 283.


ON A VALETUDINARIAN

So careful is Isa, and anxious to last,
So afraid of himself is he grown,
He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast,
And he's trying to breathe thro' but one.

_Ebn Alrumi_.


ON A MISER

"Hang her, a thoughtless, wasteful fool,
She scatters corn where'er she goes"--
Quoth Hassan, angry at his mule,
That dropt a dinner to the crows.

_Ebn Alrumi_.