Iii

THE TIGER-LILY.

A sultan proud and tawny At elegant ease he stands, With his bare throat brown and scrawny, And his indolent, leaf-like hands.

And the eunuch tulips that listen In their gaudy turbans so, With their scimetar leaves that glisten, Are guards of his seraglio;

Where sultana roses musky, Voluptuous in houri charms, With their bold breasts deep and dusky, Impatiently wait his arms.

Tall, beautiful, sad, and slender, His Greek-girl dancing slaves, For the white-limbed lilies tender His royal hand he waves.

While he watches them, softly smiling, His favorite rose that hour With a butterfly gallant is wiling In her attar-scented bower.