Nights;
and Balzac never turned to them in vain when his prodigious imagination
needed a spur. " Shahrazad's Tales" preserve their charm for us in even
greater measure than The Pilgrim's Progress, or Gulliver's Travels; for,
although the mature mind finds in them an accurate, and detailed
picture of the Moslem World, yet they retain a romantic interest
altogether without parallel.—" He that hearkens Eastward hears
" Bright music from the world where shadows are ; Where shadows are not shadows."
Algernon Charles Swinburne.
Tennyson has told, in graceful verse, about his " Recollections of the Arabian Nights."
" On
many a sheeny summer morn, Adown the Tigris I was borne. By Bagdat's
shrines of fretted gold, Its high-walled gardens, green, and old ; True
Mussulman I was, and sworn; For it was in the golden prime Of good
Haroun Alraschid.
"
Six columns, three on either side, Pure silver, underpropt a rich
Throne of the massive ore, from which Down droop'd in many a floating
fold, Engarlanded, and diaper'd With inwrought flowers, a cloth-of
gold: Thereon—his deep eye laughter-stirred With merriment of kingly
pride,—
Sole star of all that place, and time,
I saw him in his golden prime, The Good Haroun Alraschid ! "
