Seyid Rida spoke in vain. The Wazir's place

So far behind the Queen, her perfect face

But half-divined, as Sight denied to Faith,

A doubt lest love itself should be a wraith

Dazzling but mocking him, these stirred his passion

To sworn defiance, to his last Circassian

And thoughts of many a woman taken by force,

Restive and then submissive as a horse.

And now.... He followed in the wake of vision

Lofty and pure as Elburz snows. Derision