Strange Stories of their Simple Lives
Do Oriental Maids and Wives
Embroider, so the Dealers tell us,
In Symbols on the Rugs they sell us.

Then read the Record woven thus
By Zillah of the Caucasus,
Deciphered by my Friend, Sardjeenian,
A Most Reliable Armenian.

Among the Hills of Daghestan
That frown upon the Wayside Khan,

Her Father's Hospitable Villa, —
The Fairest of her People, Zillah,

Composed, with skilful Twist and Tug,
An Odjaklik , or Hearthside Rug; —

Enweaving there in those Queer Symbols
That look like Rolling-pins and Thimbles,

Her simple Joys and Hopes and Fears,
The Story of her Maiden Years.

With Entertainment to provide her
A Long-tailed Lambkin played beside her

And cropped the Mead and quaffed the Stream; —
A Cherished Pet with Fleece of Cream

But lately rescued from a Leopard
By Kurdish Kar, the Gentle Shepherd.

Along the Road from Erivan
A Warrior with Yataghan

And other Social Incidentals
Au fait among the Orientals, —

In Cutaway Capote arrayed,
Approached to woo the Mountain Maid.

" My Name, " said he, " Resplendent Zillah,
Is Ali Abdul Hassan Billah!

" I come, perhaps you understand,
To beg that Precious Gift, you Hand.

" Behold! I faint from Sheer Emotion!
Ah, let me prove my Heart's Devotion! —

" Assign me any Awful Task;
I vow to do whate'er you ask! "

The Maiden lisped: " Your Offer's handsome
(I know you're worth a Prince's Ransom);

" I may decide to be your Wife, —
But search me first the Tree of Life

" Which blooms through all the Seasons' Changes
Among our bleak Caucasian Ranges,

" And cull for me the Mystic Pear
That you will find a-growing there.

" But let me warn you, Ardent Stranger,
You'll find the Errand full of Danger!

" For first you needs must bring to Terms
The Three-horned Birds and Hunchbacked Worms

" That lurk among the Giant Boulders
To prey on Indiscreet Beholders.

" Then must you slay a Fiercer yet —
The wild Constricting Dragonette

" That dwells beyond the Andi River.
And last, — oh, how the Mountains quiver

" If he but gives his Tail a Whisk! —
The dread Tri-cornered Basilisk! "

Low bowed the Chief of Haughty Bearing
And galloped to the Northward, swearing

To battle, conquer, seek and find.
(And Kar the Shepherd trudged behind.)

Right gallantly adventured Ali
Through Rugged Pass and Gloomy Valley.

His Sword divided into Thirds
The Hunchbacked Worms and Three-horned Birds.

Against the Serpentine Constrictor
He likewise proved a Noble Victor.

And then he challenged, brave and brisk,
The dread Tri-cornered Basilisk,

Which, pausing not to scrutinate him,
Unlocked its Grisly Jaws, and ate him!

Oh, Fatal Meal! — Upon its Side
The Poisoned Creature writhed, and died!

Now Kar the Shepherd, sadly rueing,
Surveyed the Tragic Scene till, viewing

The Tree of Life unguarded there,
He gathered in the Mystic Pear.

Thus, laden down with Fate's Providings,
The Precious Fruit and Sorry Tidings,

He lifted up his Feet and ran
And told the Belle of Daghestan.

A Maiden who has lost a Lover
Should not too rapidly recover;

Still, Ali, that Unlucky Man,
Left Widows Five in Erivan;

And so the Philosophic Zillah
Resignedly remarked, " Bismillah! "

And since the Foes of Basilisks
Are not the Best Insurance Risks, —

She vowed no more her Hopes to jeopard
And married Kar, the Gentle Shepherd.