OUT OF NAZARETH.

“He shall sleep unscathed of thieves

Who loves Allah and believes.”

Thus heard one who shared the tent,

In the far-off Orient,

Of the Bedouin ben Ahrzz —

Nobler never loved the stars

Through the palm-leaves nigh the dim

Dawn his courser neighed to him!

He said: “Let the sands be swarmed

With such thieves as I, and thou

Shalt at morning rise, unharmed,

Light as eyelash to the brow

Of thy camel, amber-eyed,

Ever munching either side,

Striding still, with nestled knees,

Through the midnight's oases.

“Who can rob thee an thou hast

More than this that thou hast cast

At my feet — this dust of gold?

Simply this and that, all told!

Hast thou not a treasure of

Such a thing as men call love?

“Can the dusky band I lead

Rob thee of thy daily need

Of a whiter soul, or steal

What thy lordly prayers reveal?

Who could be enriched of thee

By such hoard of poverty

As thy niggard hand pretends

To dole me — thy worst of friends?

Therefore shouldst thou pause to bless

One indeed who blesses thee;

Robbing thee, I dispossess

But myself.— Pray thou for me!”

He shall sleep unscathed of thieves

Who loves Allah and believes.