New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-08
IN IDYL or DELHI.

From Macmillan's Magazine.
over my grave let the green grass grow Sn,a.
1t was he prayer OF an Emperor > oriuS
Uttered three hundred year, ago: .
Thu, She pleaded before she dled. >,
:. over my grave let the green LASS grow!'
sick TO death in the hushed harcem
Akbar's favoritc chili-Wlf, lay.
. Kismet = murmur'd thc chiel IIakcem,
Striking hi, beard. She will die today.
Allah is great, and His will supreme"
Close by the lattice. open wide.
FIR goldcn-canopied couch was set'
Under the balcony flowed the tde -.
OF Iumna's river, whose waters Hot'
Lappng the palaces marble slds
And as she lay her n.tlesS eye
Fell Trough the easements carven frame.
ON slender mnartS glit'ring hlgh' ~ oeon.
on mosques wi h their clcSccnis all ahaines
And domes that dazzled beneath the Sky.
The Emperor sat on hi, throne Of Stae.
silent, terrible, feared by al. c.,ot,
Waiting here TO obey the call
OF tina dread Monarch who VIII not waiS'
suddenly came from inner room
4 trembling messenger, aslen-hueu'
Fearing 10 ut rr the tale OF DOOM
Emperor mighty, and Just, ana good'
Say thy slave but oh! deign tn comS'
Through the zcnana's guarded door
Passed he Emperor, drawing MS breah,
Thrice he paused on the marble floor
ON the ante room OF h place Of Death:
" illah :" he cried, But Thou trcst me sorei"
Then he entered. Down to the ground
flowed chief Eunuch ard chief llakeem,
Womenfolk gathered their wells aruund,
slave Junk back. In he hushcd hareem
Never whisper never sound
There on the great gold.canopicd bed
Nkhar', cnildlcs, child wife lay.
slowly he came and he bowed his head.
And his bosom hcavcd. and lie turned away:
Alaho Akbar!"-was all lie SAID.
At the first sound Of hi, voice she woke.
Lo! the Emperor standing by
lilo .,,rar IHr 81
The light came hack 70 her s'less eve:
She caught hi, hand In her own ard spoke
.Oh. my lover and oh, my lord
oh my husband. and o. my King
Pass m, Kai.eri hind. your word.
Gran me-. beloved. hi, ltilc thing
Bury me under the green grass sward
Daughter / Of a RaJpoot race,
saved from death by a fortune rara
Favor | found In NY lrec'~ face.
Chosen was thy couch to snare:
All, my sorrOw and my desraccl
sterile. barren. unfrui full clay.
That I am, whom hc Gods have cursed
Under the green grass every day
Wives are laid, who have borne ana nurSso
sons To nv slaves | am less than they.
Raise no monument TO nv woe.
Hide my shame, my 0fhicilon screen.
Let not the after age, know o.
Nine Is the tomb Of a cmldies' Queen'
over my grave let the green grass grow"
rbrec great centuries Gun have set
Dusi i the Emperor. dust hi bride.
Earth Of the common earth Anu YET
Tier humility and his pride
Each have RICH c0us ending met.
For inndrl feet have dchct his shrine
Whose pile j. reared near the marble TaJ'
over he gl1rv of Timour', lne
R.Esfernc troops Of the British RAJ
Have Stabbed their horses and tossed their wiael
But near Dclhi-thc sacred care
~ n Prizes hood pious ard proud and great
Carved in mari 10. beyond compare
'FNqnistc wonderful. delica'c.
stud led with precious stones and rare
stands a shrine. From a she'll of snow
springs. and has sprung from the wears OF yore,
Grass nf the icd. ON tn tomb below
Craven this leGend-nothlnG more:
cover my grave let The green grass grow
IIERBERT COMPTON.