"Jaffàr, the Barmecide, the good Vizier, The poor man’s hope, the friend without a peer, Jaffàr was dead, slain by a doom unjust; And guilty Hàroun, sullen with mistrust Of what the good and e’en the bad might say, Ordained that no man living from that day Should dare to speak his name on pain of death. All Araby and Persia held their breath.All but the brave Mondeer. He, proud to show How far for love a grateful soul could go, And facing death for very scorn and grief (For his great heart wanted a great relief), Stood forth in Bagdad, daily, in the square Where once had stood a happy house; and there Harangued the tremblers at the scymitar On all they owed to the divine Jaffàr.“Bring me this man,” the caliph cried. The man Was brought,—was gazed upon. The mutes began To bind his arms. “Welcome, brave cords!” cried he; “From bonds far worse Jaffàr delivered me; From wants, from shames, from loveless household fears; Made a man’s eyes friends with delicious tears; Restored me,—loved me,—put me on a par With his great self. How can I pay Jaffàr?”Hàroun, who felt that on a soul like this The mightiest vengeance could but fall amiss, Now deigned to smile, as one great lord of fate Might smile upon another half as great. He said, “Let worth grow frenzied, if it will; The caliph’s judgment shall be master still. Go; and since gifts thus move thee, take this gem, The richest in the Tartar’s diadem, And hold the giver as thou deemest fit.”“Gifts!” cried the friend. He took; and holding it High towards the heavens, as though to meet his star, Exclaimed, “This, too, I owe to thee, Jaffàr!”"
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Original Language: English
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Stories in Verse (1855), p. 234
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Baghdad
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Baghdad
(Arabic: بَغْدَاد, Baghdād) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris river. In 762 AD, Baghdad was chosen as the capital of the , and became its most notable major development project. Within a short time, the city evolved into a significant cultural, commerci
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