For them, it [the shelter] is good;
and a good place of returning [from this world].
and a good place of returning [from this world].
Warner - World's Best Literature - v12 - Gre to Hen
In
terror of shipwreck he turned back before he had fairly started on
his voyage, and sent to the generous literary patron a poem or pan-
egyric instead of presenting himself. He apologized for his absence
## p. 6794 (#174) ###########################################
6794
HAFIZ
on the ground of dread of the dangers of the deep; and his expressed
preference for the quiet life and charming beauties of Shiraz does
not seem to have displeased the liberal-minded potentate.
A pretty story is also told, regarding one of Hafiz's odes that be-
came known to the Scythian conqueror Timur Lang (Tamerlane).
This was the ghazal beginning —
"Agar an Turk i Shirāzi ba-dast ārad dil i mā-rā,”
which is below translated in the lines opening with-
"If that beauty of Shiraz would take my heart in hand. »
In this sonnet the passionate poet offers to give the cities of Samar-
kand and Bokhara for "the dark mole" on his favorite's cheek.
When the great Tamerlane subdued Farsistan, he is said to have sum-
moned Hafiz to his presence and to have sternly rebuked him for this
lavish recklessness in giving away cities that were not a poet's to
bestow. The brilliancy of the minstrel's wit was equal to the occa-
sion kissing the ground at the conqueror's feet, he replied, "Sultān
of the world, it is through such generosity that I am come to this dis-
astrous [or joyous] day. " It is needless to add the happy result, and
one wishes that the truth of the story were less uncertain. Like Pin-
dar and other famous poets, stories are also not wanting as to how
Hafiz received the gift of song; fanciful as they may be, they all show
the esteem in which he was held, not in Persia alone, but abroad.
Hafiz was married, if we rightly interpret the pathetic lines that
lament a home left desolate by the departure of a being for whom
his soul breathed the Divine awe. (See below. ) His own death oc-
curred about 1389. It is said that the Moslem priests at first declined
to perform the last solemn rites over his body, as exceptions were
taken to the orthodoxy of some of his poetical compositions.
determined to decide the matter by lot. A number of verses chosen
at random from Hafiz's own poems were tossed into an urn, and a
child was appointed to draw one out. The verse read:-
-――――
"From the bier of Hafiz keep not back thy foot,
For though he be immersed in sin, he goeth to Paradise. »
The body was at once accorded proper burial, and his grave in a
fair shaded garden near Shīrāz, with its beautifully inscribed alabas-
ter slab, still forms a living monument, if one were needed besides
the lovely odes that we have of this passionate poet.
Hafiz was a prolific writer; the manuscript and printed editions of
his works comprise more than five hundred ghazals or odes. A
ghazal-ode, or perhaps rather sonnet-is a poem not exceeding six-
teen or seventeen couplets. The last two words of the first couplet
## p. 6795 (#175) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6795
rhyme together, and with these also rhymes the second line of every
couplet in the poem; all the odd lines are entirely independent of
rhyme. The signature of the poet, as a rule, is woven into the last
verse of the ghazal. Parallels for signatures thus inserted are not far
to seek in the Greek anthology or in English, or even in Anglo-Saxon
poetry. A series of ghazals, moreover, when gathered into a collec-
tion, is called a dīvān. The poems or odes in a dīvān are regularly
arranged, alphabetically, according to the initial letter of the Persian
word with which the poem begins. A parallel might be imagined if
our hymn-books were arranged according to the table of first lines.
Hafiz also wrote quatrains and a number of other short poetical com-
positions. So popular was his dīvān that it came to be consulted as
an oracle, by opening the book and putting the finger on any chance
verse.
As to the poetic merit of Hafiz's work, there is no question: his
title to fame is acknowledged. As to the interpretation of his poems,
however, there is much question and debate whether they are to be
taken in a literal or in a spiritual sense. Some readers see in his
praises of love and of wine, of musky tresses and slender cypress
forms, merely the passion of an Ovid or an Anacreon. Other admirers
of Hafiz, however, and especially his Oriental worshipers, read spirit-
ual thoughts of Divine love, of the soul and God, behind the physi-
cal imagery. Wine is the spirit, it is not the juice of the grape; and
the draught from the tavern is but quaffing the cup of self-oblivion.
There is undoubted truth in this interpretation, which is in accord-
ance with the mystic doctrines of Sufi-ism. The idea is Oriental, and
the analogous interpretation of the Song of Solomon is familiar. In
the Occident, moreover, mediæval poets employed similar physical
images for religious awe and adoration; parallels even of English
poets in the seventeenth century, like the Fletchers, Donne, and
Crashaw, might be cited. But, as in the latter instances also, there
can be little doubt that numerous odes of Hafiz, perhaps those of his
earlier youth, hardly allow of anything but a material and passionate
interpretation. In any case, the grace, charm, beauty, and delicate
feeling is never absent in Hafiz's poetry.
The most complete edition of Hafiz in translation is the English
prose rendering by H. Wilberforce Clarke: The Dīvān i Hafiz, Trans-
lated' (3 vols. , London, 1891). It also contains extensive biographical,
bibliographical, and critical matter, and should certainly be consulted.
Selections from Hafiz have been translated into many languages.
Sir William Jones, who was himself a poet, made Hafiz familiar in
English as early as 1795. Among other names might be mentioned
H. Bicknell, 'Selections from Hafiz' (London, 1875); and S. Robinson,
'Persian Poetry for English Readers' (privately printed, Glasgow,
## p. 6796 (#176) ###########################################
6796
HAFIZ
1883). Robinson's work has evidently been drawn upon by J. H.
McCarthy: 'Ghazels from the Divan of Hafiz' (London and New
York, 1893). The best German translation (complete) is by V. von
Rosenzweig (3 vols. , 1856-64).
A. P. Williams Jackson
SELECTED GHAZALS OR ODES
F THAT beauty of Shiraz would take my heart in hand, I would
give for her dark mole Samarkand and Bokhara.
Boy, bring me the wine that remaineth; for in Paradise thou wilt
not see the banks of the water of Roknabad, nor the
rose bower of our Mosella.
Alas! those saucy lovely ones, those charming disturbers of our city,
bear away patience from my heart as Turkomans their
repast of plunder!
Yet the beauty of our maidens is independent of our imperfect love!
To a lovely face what need is there of paint or dyes, of
mole or down?
Speak to me of the musician and of wine, and search less into the
secrets of futurity; for no one in his wisdom ever hath
discovered, or ever will discover, that mystery.
I can understand how the beauty of Joseph, which added new lustre
to the day, withdrew Zulaikha from the veil of her mod-
esty.
Thou hast spoken evil of me, and I am contented - God forgive thee!
Thou hast spoken well; for even a bitter word is beseem-
ing, when it cometh from a ruby sugar-dropping lip.
Give ear, O my soul, to good counsel; for better than their own souls
love youths of a happy disposition the admonition of the
aged wise.
Thou hast composed thy ghazal; thou hast strung thy pearls: come
and sing it sweetly, O Hafiz! for Heaven hath shed upon
thy poetry the harmony of the Pleiades.
THE HEART is the veil behind which is hidden His love; His eye is
the mirror-holder which reflecteth His countenance.
I, who would not bow my head to both worlds, submit my neck to
the burthen of His mercies.
## p. 6797 (#177) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6797
Thou enjoyest the tuba-tree, I the image of my beloved one! Every
one's thoughts are fashioned to the measure of his aims.
What should I be within that Holy Place, in which the morning breeze
is the veil-holder who guardeth the sanctuary of His honor!
If I have soiled the skirts of my raiment, what is the damage which
I can do? The universe is the pledge for His purity!
Mejnun is long departed; now it is our turn: to each one is allowed
a five-days' sojourning!
The kingdom of love and the wealth of enjoyment - all that I pos-
sess is bestowed by the hand of His destination.
If we have offered for a ransom ourselves and our hearts, why need
we fear? The goal towards which we strive is the pur-
pose of His salvation.
Never cease to make His image the object of thine eye, for its cell
is the peculiar chamber of His privacy.
Every new rose which adorneth the meadow is a mark of the color
and perfume of His benevolence.
Look not on his external poverty, for the bosom of Hafiz is a rich
treasury in the exuberance of His benevolence!
IS THERE aught sweeter than the delights of the garden and compan-
ionship of the spring? But where is the Cup-bearer ?
Say, what is the cause of his lingering?
Every pleasant moment that cometh to your hand, score up as an
invaluable prize! Let no one hesitate, for who knoweth
the conclusion of the matter?
The tie of life is but a hair! Use thine intelligence; be thyself thine
own comrade in sorrow, and what then is the sorrow
which Fate can deal thee?
The meaning of the Fountain of Life and the Gardens of Irem —
what is it but the enjoyment of a running stream and a
delicious wine?
The temperate man and the intemperate are both of one tribe: what
choice is there between them, that we should surrender
our souls to dubious reasonings?
What reveal the silent heavens of that which is behind the veil? O
litigant, why dispute with the keeper of the Veil?
If to him who is bound up in error or sin there is no room for warn-
ing or amendment, what meaning is there in the words
"Canceling, and the mercy of the Forgiving One"?
The devotee longs for draughts from the river Kuther, and Hafiz
from a goblet of wine. Between these, the will of the
Creator - what would that be?
## p. 6798 (#178) ###########################################
6798
HAFIZ
IN THE hour of dawn the bird of the garden thus spoke to a freshly
blown rose: "Be less disdainful, for in this garden hath
bloomed many a one like thee. "
The rose smiled, and said, "We have never grieved at hearing the
truth; but no lover would speak so harshly to his be-
loved! "
To all eternity, the odor of love will never reach the brain of that
man who hath never swept with his brow the dust from
the sill of the wine-house.
Dost thou desire to drink the ruby-tinted wine from that gold-
begemmed goblet, how many a pearl must thou first
pierce with the point of thine eyelashes!
Yesterday, when in the Rose Garden of Irem the morning breeze
with its gentle breath began to disturb the hair of the
spikenard,
I exclaimed, "O throne of Jemshid, where is thy magic world-
reflecting mirror? " and it replied, "Alas! that that watch-
ful Fortune should be slumbering! "
The words of love are not those that come to the tongue: O Cup-
bearer, cut short this asking and answering.
The tears of Hafiz have cast patience and wisdom into the sea: how
could it be otherwise? The burning pangs of love how
could he conceal?
THE Fast is over, the Festival is come, and hearts are lifted up, and
the wine is sparkling in the wine-house, and wine we
must drink!
The turn of the heavy dealer in abstinence is past, the season of joy
is arrived, and of joyous revelers!
Why should reproach be heaped upon him, who like me quaffeth
wine? This is neither sin nor fault in the jovial lover!
The drinker of wine, in whom is no false show and no dissimulation,
is better than he who is a trader in semblances.
We are neither dissembling revelers, nor the comrades of hypocrites:
He who is the knower of all secrets knoweth this.
We discharge all our Divine obligations and do evil to no man; and
whatever we are told is not right, we say not that it is
right.
What mattereth it, that thou and I should quaff a few goblets of wine?
Wine is the blood of the vine; it is not thy blood!
This is not a fault which throweth all into confusion; and were it a
fault, where is the man to be found who is free from
faults?
## p. 6799 (#179) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6799
Hafiz, leave thou the "How" and the "Wherefore," and drink for a
moment thy wine: His wisdom hath withholden from us
what is the force of the words "How" and "WHEREFORE. ”
HAIL, Shiraz! incomparable site! O Lord, preserve it from every
disaster!
God forbid a hundred times that our Roknabād be dimmed, to which
the life of Khizar hath given its brightness!
For between Jafferabad and Mosella cometh his north wind perfumed
with amber.
Oh come to Shīrāz, and the overflow of the Holy Spirit implore for it
from the man who is the possessor of all perfection!
Let no one boast here the sugar-candy of Egypt, for our sweet ones
have no reason for the blush of shame.
O morning breeze, what news bringest thou of that tipsy lovely one?
What information canst thou give me of her condition?
Awaken me not from my dream, O God, that I may sweeten my soli-
tude with that fair vision!
Yea, if that sweet one should desire me to pour out my blood, yield
it up, my heart, as freely as mother's milk!
Wherefore, O Hafiz, if thou wouldst be terrified by the thought of
separation, wast thou not grateful for the days of her
presence?
O LORD, that smiling rose which thou gavest me in charge, I return
to thy charge, to preserve her from the envious eye of
her meadow.
Although she be removed a hundred stages from the village of faith-
fulness, far be the mischiefs of the revolutions of the
moon from her soul and body!
Whithersoever she goeth, the heart of her friend shall be the com-
panion of her journey; the kindness of the benevolent the
shield of her soul and body!
If, morning wind, thou passest by the bounds of Sulima's station,
I shall look that thou carry a salutation from me to
Sulima.
Scatter thy musky fragrance gently upon those black tresses: they
are the abode of dear hearts,- do not disturb them!
Say to her, "My heart preserveth its vow of fidelity to the mole and
down of thy cheek;" therefore hold sacred those amber-
plaited ringlets.
## p. 6800 (#180) ###########################################
6800
HAFIZ
In the place where they drink to the memory of her lip, base would
be the intoxicated one who should remain conscious of
himself!
Merchandise and money expect not to gain at the door of the wine-
house. Whoever partaketh of this beverage will cast his
pack into the sea.
Whoever is in dread of the restlessness of anxiety, not genuine is his
love: either be her foot upon my head, or be my lip upon
her mouth!
The poetry of Hafiz is the primary couplet of wisdom: praise be on
her soul-attracting and grace-inspiring breath!
I HAVE made a compact with the mistress of my soul, that so long as
I have a soul within my body I will hold as mine own
soul the well-wishers of her village.
In the privacy of my breast I see light from that taper of Chighil;
splendor to mine eye and brightness to my heart from
that moon of Khoten.
Since in accordance with my wishes and yearnings I have gained the
privacy of my breast, why need I care for the slander of
evil-speakers in the midst of the crowd?
If a hundred armies of lovely ones should be lying in ambush to
assault my heart, I have, by the mercy and to the praise
of Heaven, an idol which will shatter armies to pieces.
Would to Heaven, my rival, that this night thou wouldest close thine
eye for a while, that I might whisper a hundred words
to her silent ruby lips!
No inclination have I for tulip, or white rose, or the leaf of the nar-
cissus, so long as by Heaven's grace I walk proudly in
the rose garden of her favor.
O mine ancient wise one, lay not thy prohibition on the wine-house;
for abandoning the wine-cup, I should break a pledge to
mine own heart.
My beverage is easy of digestion, and my love is beautiful as a pict-
ure; no one hath a love-such a love as I have!
I have a Cypress in my dwelling, under the shade of whose tall
stature I can dispense with the cypress of the grove, and
the box-tree of the meadow.
I can boast that the seal of her ruby lip is potent as was that of
Solomon: in possession of the Great Name, why should I
dread the Evil One!
After long abstinence, Hafiz is become a notorious reveler; but why
grieve, so long as there is in the world an Emin-ad-Din
Hassan!
## p. 6801 (#181) ###########################################
HĀFIZ
6801
SPRING is come again, and the joy-exciting and vow-breaking rose;
in the delight of gazing on the cheek of the rose, tear up
the root of sorrow from thy heart!
The soft east wind is arrived; the rosebud in its passion hath burst
forth and torn its own garment.
Learn, O my heart, the way of sincerity from the clear water; in
uprightness seek freedom from the cypress of the meadow.
The bride of the rosebud, with her jewels and sweet smile, hath stolen
away with her black eye my heart and my religion.
The warbling of the enamored nightingale, and the piping of the
bird of the thousand notes, come to enjoy the meeting
with the rose from her house of mourning [i. e. , her pod].
See how the gentle breeze hath entwined with his hand the ringlets
of the rose! Look how the plaited locks of the hyacinth
bend over the face of the jessamine!
The story of the revolving sphere seek to learn from the cup, O
Hafiz! as the voice of the minstrel and the judgment of
the wise advise thee!
THE bird of my heart is a sacred bird, whose nest is the throne of
God: sick of its cage of the body, it is satiated with the
things of the world.
If once the bird of the spirit wingeth its flight from this pit of mire,
it findeth its resting-place once more only at the door of
that palace;
And when the bird of my heart flieth upward, its place is the sidrah-
tree; for know that our falcon reposeth only on the pin-
nacle of the Throne.
The shadow of good fortune falleth upon the world, whenever our
bird spreadeth its pinions and feathers over the earth.
In both worlds its station is only in the loftiest sphere; its body is
from the quarry, but its soul is confined to no dwelling.
Only the highest heaven is the secret bower of our bird; its drinking-
place is in the rose arbors of the Garden of Paradise.
O Hafiz, thou perplexed one, when thou breathest a word about
Unity, inscribe Unity with thy reed on the page of man
and spirit!
IF AT the voice of the turtle-dove and the nightingale thou wilt not
quaff wine, how can I cure thee, save by the last remedy-
burning?
When the Rose hath cast her veil, and the bird is reciting his "Hu,
Hu! " put not the cup from thy hand! What meaneth
thine "Oh! Oh! »
XII-426
## p. 6802 (#182) ###########################################
6802
HAFIZ
Whilst the Water of Life is in thy hand, die not of thirst! "Water
giveth life to all things. "
Lay up treasures for thyself from the hues and odors of springtide,
for follow quickly on its heels the autumn and the winter.
Fate bestoweth no gift which it taketh not back: ask not aught of
sordid humanity; the trifle it bestoweth is a nothing.
The grandeur of sovereignty and power, how should it be stable?
Of the throne of Jem, and the diadem of Kai, what is
left save a fable?
Whoso heapeth up riches to be the heritage of the mean is an
infidel: so say the minstrel and the cupbearer; such is
the decree of the cymbal and the fife!
It is written on the portico of the mansion of Paradise: "Woe to him
who hath purchased the smiles of the world! »
Generosity is departed! I fold up my words "Where is the wine ? >
? »
that I may give «< May the soul of Hatim Tai dwell in
bliss for ever! "
The miser will never breathe the fragrance of heaven! Come, Hafiz!
take the cup and practice liberality, and I will be thy
surety!
Translation of S. Robinson.
THREE GHAZALS OR ODES
FR
ROM the garden of union with thee, [even] the gardens of Rizvān
[Paradise] gain lustre of joy;
From the torment of separation from thee, [even] hell's flame
hath torment.
In the beauty of thy cheek and stature, shelter have taken
Paradise, and the tuba [tree].
For them, it [the shelter] is good;
and a good place of returning [from this world].
All night, [even] as my eye [seeth, so] the stream of Paradise
Seeth in sleep the image of thy intoxicated eye [of mercy].
In every season, Spring giveth description of thy beauty;
In every book, Paradise maketh mention of thy grace.
This heart consumed, and my soul attained not to the heart's desire;
If it had attained to its desire, it would not have poured forth blood
[of grief].
Oh, many the salt-rights of thy lip and mouth,
Which they have against rent livers and roast hearts.
## p. 6803 (#183) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6803
Think not that in thy circle [only] lovers are intoxicated [with love
for thee]:
Of the state of zahids distraught [with love] no news hast thou.
By the circle of thy [ruddy] lip [in thy face, resplendent as the sun],
I knew that the jewel [lustre] of the ruby
Was produced by the sun, world-illuminating.
Open the veil. This modesty how long wilt thou practice?
With this veil, what hast thou bound save modesty?
The rose beheld thy face, and fell into the fire [of love],
Perceived thy fragrance, and through shame, became [soft and fra-
grant like] rose-water.
In love for thy face, Hafiz is immersed in the sea of calamity.
Behold he dieth! Come once! Help!
Hafiz! that life should pass in folly, permit not:
Strive; and understand the value of dear life.
[WHEN] the rose is in the bosom, wine in the hand, and the beloved
to my desire,—
On such a day, the world's Sultan is my slave.
Say, Into this assembly bring ye no candle for to-night.
In our assembly the moon of the Friend's face is full.
In our order [of profligates] the wine-cup is lawful; but
O Cypress, rose of body! without thy face [presence], unlawful.
In our assembly [of lovers], mix not 'itr [perfume]; for our soul
Every moment receiveth perfume from the fragrance of the tip of
thy tress.
My ear is all [intent] on the voice of the reed and the melody of
the harp [the instruction of the Mūrshid];
My eye is all [intent] on thy ruby lip, and on the circulation of the
cup [the manifestations of glories of God in the night
season].
Say ye naught of the sweetness of candy and sugar [the delights of
the world];
For my desire is for thy sweet lip [the sweet stream of Divine grace,
the source of endless delight].
From the time when the treasure of grief for thee was dweller in
my ruined heart,
The corner of the tavern is ever my abode.
## p. 6804 (#184) ###########################################
6804
HAFIZ
Of shame why speakest thou? For from shame is my name [renown];
Of name [renown] why askest thou? For from name [renown] is my
shame.
Wine-drinker, distraught of head, profligate, and glance-player, I am:
In this city, who is that one who is not like this?
To the Muhtasib, utter not my crime; for he also
Is ever like me in desire of the drinkers of wine.
Hafiz! sit not a moment without wine and the beloved. [Siyām! *
'Tis the season of the rose, and of the jessamine, and of the 'Id of
WITHOUT the beloved's face, the rose
Without wine, spring-
The border of the sward and the air of the garden
Without the [beloved of] tulip cheek-
With the beloved, sugar of lip, rose of body,
[To be] without kiss and embrace -
―
Every picture that reason's hand depicteth,
Save the picture of the [living beauteous] idol
The dancing of the cypress, and the rapture of the rose,
Without the song of the hazār
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
Hafiz! the soul is [but] a despicable coin;
For scattering [on the true beloved] it-
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
-
is not pleasant.
The garden and the rose and wine, [all] is pleasant; but
Without the beloved's society,—
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
THAT friend by whom our house the [happy] dwelling of the
Pari-
Head to foot, free from defect, a Pari-
Acceptable to the [All] Wise of mine [is] that moon. For his,
With beauty of manner, the way of one endowed with vision
[My] heart said, "In hope of her, in this city I will sojourn:"
Helpless, it knew not that its friend a traveler —
Out from my grasp the malignant star plucked her:
Yes: what can I do? The calamity of the revolution of the
moon it-
*A day of rejoicing following the fast of Ramazān.
―――
was,
was.
was.
was.
was.
## p. 6805 (#185) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6805
Not only from my heart's mystery fell the screen;
Since the sky [time] was, screen-rending its habit.
Sweet was the marge of the water, and the rose and the ver-
dure. But
Alas, that moving treasure a wayfarer-
Happy were those times which passed with the friend;
All without result and without knowledge the rest—
The bulbul [the true lover] slew himself through jealousy of
this, that to the rose [the true beloved]
At morning-time [the last breath of life], with the morning
breeze [the angel of death], splendor [of heavenly
messages]-
O heart! establish an excuse. For thou art a beggar; and here,
In the kingdom of beauty, the head of a crowned one-
O
was.
was.
was.
was.
was.
Every treasure of happiness that God gave to Hāfiz,
From the auspiciousness of the evening prayer and of the morning
supplication-
was.
Translations of Lieut. -Col. H. Wilberforce Clarke.
THREE GHAZALS OR ODES
CUPBEARER! bring the joy of youth; bring cup after cup of red
wine.
Bring medicine for the disease of love; bring wine, which is
the balm of old and young.
Do not grieve for the revolution of time, that it wheeled thus and not
thus. Touch the lute in peace.
Wisdom is very wearisome; bring for its neck the noose of wine.
When the rose goes, say "Go gladly," and drink wine, red like the
rose.
If the moan of the turtle does not remain, what matter? Bring music
in the jug of wine.
The sun is wine and the moon the cup. Pour the sun into the
moon.
To drink wine is either good or bad: drink, if it be bad or if it be
good.
Her face cannot be seen except in a dream; bring then the medicine
of sleep.
Give cup after cup to Hafiz; pour, whether it be sin or sar
sanctity.
## p. 6806 (#186) ###########################################
6806
HAFIZ
THE east wind at the dawn of day brought a perfume from the
tresses of my beloved, which immediately cast my foolish
heart into fresh agitation.
I imagined that I had uprooted that flower from the garden of my
heart, for every blossom which sprang up from its suffer-
ing bore only the fruits of pain.
From fear of the attacks of her love, I set my heart free with bloody
strife; my heart dropped gouts of blood which marked
my footsteps.
I beheld from her terrace how the glory of the moon veiled itself in
confusion, before the face of that dazzling sun.
At the voice of the singer and the cupbearer, I go to the door in
and out of season; for the messenger cometh with trouble
from a weary road.
Any gift of my beloved I take as a courteous and kind, whether it
be Mohammedan, Christian, or Jewish.
Heaven protect her eyebrows from harm! for though they brought
me to despair, yet with a gracious greeting they have
given consolation to the sick heart.
Joy to the time and the hour when I freed myself from the snare of
her braided tresses, and gained a victory which even my
foe admitted!
From envy of the tresses of my beloved, the breeze lavished all the
musk which she had carried from Tartary.
I was amazed when I discovered last night cup and jug beside Hafiz;
but I said no word, for he used them in Sufi manner.
YESTERDAY morning I chanced to drink a cup or two, and from the
lip of the cupbearer wine had fallen into my heart.
From the joy of intoxication I was longing to call back the beloved
of my youth; but divorce had befallen.
I dreamed that I might kiss those divine eyes.
I had lost strength
and patience on account of her arched eyebrow.
O Saki! give the cup frequently, because, in the journey on the
path, where is the lover who has not fallen into hypo-
crisy ?
O interpreter of dreams! give good tidings, because last night the
sun seemed to be my ally in the joy of the morning
sleep.
At the hour when Hafiz was writing this troubled verse, the bird of
his heart had fallen into the snare of love.
Translations of Justin Huntly McCarthy.
## p. 6807 (#187) ###########################################
6807
RICHARD HAKLUYT
(1552? -1616)
ICHARD HAKLUYT has himself told how, when he was one of
Queen Elizabeth's scholars at Westminster, he was inspired
to the study of cosmography by a visit to the chamber of a
kinsman, a gentleman of the Inner Temple in London. He saw there
all manner of books on geography, and resolved thereupon to make
their acquaintance. And while studying for holy orders at Oxford,
and afterward in France, as chaplain to Sir Edward Stafford, both
reading and observation gave him knowledge of English slothfulness
in maritime discovery and enterprise.
Before Hakluyt was sent as ambassador's chaplain to Paris, how-
ever, he had published his first work, 'Divers Voyages touching the
Discoverie of America, and the Islands adjacent unto the same, made
first of all by our Englishmen, and afterwards by the Frenchmen
and Britons: And certaine notes of advertisements for observations,
necessarie for such as shall hereafter make the like attempt, With two
mappes annexed hereunto, for the plainer understanding of the whole
matter. Imprinted at London for Thomas Woodcocke, dwelling in
Paules Church-yard, at the Signe of the Blacke Beare,' 1582. The
book, which appeared when he was thirty (he was born about 1552),
was dedicated "To the right worshipfull and most vertuous Gentle-
man, master Phillip Sidney Esquire"; and in the address to his patron,
Hakluyt complains of England's failure to possess herself of lands
rightly hers.
This was to preface a plea for the establishment of a lectureship
to advance the art of navigation; -" for which cause I have dealt
with the right worshipfull Sir Frances Drake, that, seeing God hath
blessed him so wonderfully, he would do this honour to himselfe and
benefite to his countrey, to be at the coste to erecte such a lecture. "
But his efforts proved futile.
The most memorable fruit of Hakluyt's life in Paris was 'A par-
ticuler discourse concerning the greate necessitie and manifolde com-
modyties that are like to growe to this Realme of Englande by the
Westerne discoueries lately attempted, written in the yere 1584, by
Richarde Hackluyt of Oxforde, at the requeste and direction of the
righte wershipfull Mr. Walter Rayhly, nowe Knight, before the com-
ynge home of his twoo barkes,' a part of which notable paper is
## p. 6808 (#188) ###########################################
6808
RICHARD HAKLUYT
given at the end of this article. The energy, zeal, vigor, and con-
viction the piece displays bear out the claims of Robertson, who in
his History of America' asserts that it is the Elizabethan preacher
"to whom England is more indebted for its American possessions
than to any man of that age. " Hakluyt's faith and earnestness were
so eager that he even had a thought of personal hazard, as a second
letter to Walsingham bears evidence.
) (
During a visit to England in 1584 he had presented his 'Particuler
discourse concerning Westerne discoueries, along with one in Latin
upon Aristotle's 'Politicks,» to his royal mistress, who in recogni-
tion of his pains and loyalty had given him a prebend at Bristol. In
May 1585 he brought in person, before the chapter of the cathedral
at Bristol, the Queen's order for the preferment. Upon this and like.
ecclesiastical stipends he lived and did his work,-"the most versed
man in that skill" (cosmography), says Hacket, "that England bred. ”
While in Paris Hakluyt translated and published in 1587 Laudon-
nière's 'Histoire Notable de la Florida,' under the title 'A notable
historie containing foure voyages made by certayne French Captaynes
into Florida. ' At the same time and in the same year he was pre-
paring and publishing 'De Orbe Novo Petri Martyris Anglerii Decades
octo illustratæ, labore et industria Richardi Hackluyti. ' In this work
is the copper-plate map upon which the name of Virginia is for the
first time set down. In 1588 Hakluyt returned to England, and in
the following year published a solitary volume, the precursor of his
magnum opus, The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and
Discoveries of the English Nation,' which appeared in London in
three folio volumes between 1598 and 1600.
"In a word," says Thomas Fuller in his (Worthies,' "many of such useful
tracts of sea adventure, which before were scattered as several ships, Mr.
Hackluyt hath embodied into a fleet, divided into three squadrons, so many
several volumes: a work of great honor to England; it being possible that
many ports and islands in America which, being bare and barren, bear only
a bare name for the present, may prove rich places for the future. And then
these voyages will be produced and pleaded, as good evidence of their belong-
ing to England, as first discovered and denominated by Englishmen. »
The work is invaluable: a storehouse of the facts of life, the habits
of thinking and doing, of the discoveries abroad of the Englishmen.
of the high seas in Elizabeth's day. The salt air of the northern
seas blows over Hakluyt's pages, as well as the hot simoom and baf-
fling winds. We run aground with the castaways, adventure in bar-
gaining with natives, and in company with the mariners lament the
casting overboard, to save our good bark, of three tons of spice. The
men of that day were seekers after a golden fleece, the Argonauts of
## p. 6809 (#189) ###########################################
RICHARD HAKLUYT
6809
the modern world, and their rough-hewn stories are untellable save
in their hardy vernacular. Some of them were traders, with now and
then the excitement of a skirmish or a freebooting expedition—a salt
to harden the too tender flesh of easy commerce. All were self-
gainers and all soldiers of fortune, and by the simplest facts the fore-
runners of the seventeenth-century buccaneers, and every sort of excess
and turpitude that name connotes.
After Hakluyt had completed his great work he edited a transla-
tion from the Portuguese, The Discoveries of the World' (1601), and
in 1609 published his own translation of De Soto's discoveries in
Florida. In this work, called 'Virginia Richly Valued,' he endeavored
to promote the interests of the infant settlement. Certain of his
manuscripts fell after his death into the hands of Samuel Purchas,
and were by him edited and included in his 'Pilgrimes' (1625-26).
"He paid his last debt to nature," says Antony à Wood, "23 Nov.
in sixteen hundred and sixteen, and was buried in the abbey church
of Westminster, dedicated to S. Peter, on the 26th of the same
month. "
The 'Particuler Discourse' was first printed from a contemporary
manuscript by Dr. Woods of Bowdoin College and Mr. Charles Dean of
Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1877. Dr. Woods had trace of the paper
while searching in England for historical documents in behalf of the
Historical Society of Maine. The copy from which he made his tran-
script was doubtless one of the four which Hakluyt prepared at the
time he presented this 'Discourse' to Queen Elizabeth. Its object
was evidently to gain Elizabeth's support for Raleigh's adventure,
which he had undertaken under a patent granted him in March 1584.
The paper is most curious and valuable, and from the point of view
of to-day seems to a degree prophetic. Besides proving that Hakluyt
had sagacity, penetrative insight, and an imagination that could seize
upon and construct in practical affairs, it is typical of the English
attitude through all centuries. A moral impulse is in Anglo-Saxon
blood. In whatever it undertakes, morality, or an admixture of moral-
ity and religion, is its potential incentive. The English, in all such
works as Hakluyt deals with, have started out with religion or a
moral question and ended with commerce.
Hakluyt's 'Principal Navigations and Voyages' were republished
in 1809-1812. 'The Voyages of the English Nation to America' were
edited by Mr. Edmund Goldsmid in 1889. The 'Particuler Discourse ›
appears in these latter volumes as well as in the publications of the
Maine Historical Society.
## p. 6810 (#190) ###########################################
6810
RICHARD HAKLUYT
EXPECTATIONS OF AMERICA
A PARTICULER
DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE GREATE NECESSITIE
AND
MANIFOLDE COMMODYTIES THAT ARE LIKE ΤΟ GROWE ΤΟ THIS
REALME OF ENGLANDE BY THE WESTERNE DISCOUERIES LATELY
ATTEMPTED, WRITTEN IN THE YERE 1584, BY RICHARDE HACKLUYT
OF OXFORDE, AT THE REQUESTE AND DIRECTION OF THE RIGHTE
WERSHIPFULL MR. WALTER RAYHLY, NOWE KNIGHT, BEFORE THE
COMYNGE HOME OF HIS TWOO BARKES.
Copyrighted by the Maine Historical Society and reprinted by its permission
EINGE that the people of that parte of America from
S
30. de-
grees in Florida northewarde unto 63. degrees (which ys yet
in no Christian princes actuall possession) are idolaters; and
that those which Stephen Gomes broughte from the coaste of
NORUMBEGA in the yere 1524. worshipped the sonne, the moone,
and the starres, and used other idolatrie,
it remayneth
to be thoroughly weyed and considered by what meanes and by
whome this moste godly and Christian work may be perfourmed
of inlarginge the glorious gospell of Christe.
Nowe the
Kinges and Queenes of England have the name of Defendours of
the Faithe. By which title I thinke they are not onely chardged
to mayneteyne and patronize the faithe of Christe, but also to
inlarge and advaunce the same. Neither oughte this to be their
laste worke, but rather the principall and chefe of all others,
accordinge to the commaundemente of our Saviour, Christe,
Mathewe 6, Ffirste seeke the kingdome of God and the right-
eousnes thereof, and all other thinges shalbe mynistred unto you.
Nowe the meanes to sende suche as shall labour effectually in
this busines ys, by plantinge one or twoo colonies of our nation
upon that fyrme, where they shall remaine in safetie, and firste
learne the language of the people nere adjoyninge (the gifte of
tongues being nowe taken awaye) and by little and little ac-
quainte themselves with their manner, and so with discretion and
myldenes distill into their purged myndes the swete and lively
liquor of the gospel.
Now therefore I truste the time
ys at hande when by her Majesties forwardnes in this enter-
prise, not only this objection and such like shalbe aunswered by
our frutefull labor in Godds harvest among the infidells, but also
many inconveniences and strifes amongest ourselves at home,
in matters of ceremonies, shalbe ended. For those of the cler-
gye which by reason of idlenes here at home are nowe alwayes
·
## p. 6811 (#191) ###########################################
RICHARD HAKLUYT
6811
coyninge of newe opynions, havinge by this voyadge to set them-
selves on worke in reducinge the savages to the chefe principles
of our faith, will become lesse contentious, and be contented with
the truthe in relligion alreadie established by authoritie.
So they
that shall beare the name of Christians shall shewe themselves
worthye of their vocation.
The nexte thinge ys that nowe I declare unto you the comod-
ities of this newe westerne discoverie, and what marchandize
are there to be had, and from thence to be expected; wherein
firste you are to have regarde unto the scituation of the places
which are left for us to be possessed. The contries therefore of
AMERICA whereunto we have just title, as beinge firste discovered
by Sebastian Gabote, at the coste of that prudente prince Kinge
Henry the Seaventh, from Florida northewarde to 67. degrees
(and not yet in any Chrestian princes actuall possession), beinge
aunswerable in clymate to Barbary, Egipt, Siria, Persia, Turky,
Greece, all the islandes of the Levant sea, Italie, Spaine, Portin-
gale, Fraunce, Flaunders, Highe Almayne, Denmarke, Estland,
Poland, and Muscovye, may presently or within a shorte space.
afforde unto us, for little or nothinge, and with moche more
safetie, eyther all or a greate parte of the comodities which the
aforesaid contries do yelde us at a very dere hande and with
manifolde daungers.
Firste, therefore, to begyn at the southe from 30. degrees, and
to quote unto you the leafe and page of the printed voyadges of
those which personally have with diligence searched and viewed
these contries. John Ribault writeth thus, in the first leafe of
his discourse, extant in printe bothe in Frenche and Englishe:
Wee entred (saithe he) and viewed the contrie, which is the
fairest, frutefullest, and pleasauntest of all the worlde, abound-
inge in honye, waxe, venison, wild fowle, fforestes, woodds of all
sorts, palme trees, cipresses, cedars, bayes, the highest and great-
est, with also the fairest vines in all the worlde, with grapes
accordinge, which naturally withoute arte or mans helpe or trym-
mynge will growe to toppes of oakes and other trees that be of
wonderfull greatness and heighte. And the sighte of the faire
meadowes is a pleasure not able to be expressed with tongue,
full of herons, curlues, bitters, mallardes, egriphts, woodcocks,
and all other kinde of small birdes, with hartes, hinds, bucks,
wild swyne, and all other kynd of wilde beastes, as wee perceaved
well bothe by their footinge there, and also afterwardes in other'
## p. 6812 (#192) ###########################################
6812
RICHARD HAKLUYT
places by their crye and roaringe in the nighte. Also there be
conies and hares, silkewormes in marvelous nomber, a great deale
fairer and better than be our silkewormes. Againe, in the sixte
leafe and seconde page: They shewed unto us by signes that they
had in the lande golde and silver and copper, whereof wee have
broughte some home. Also leade like unto ours, which wee
shewed them. Also turqueses and greate aboundance of perles,
which as they declared unto us they tooke oute of oysters,
whereof there is taken ever alonge the rivers side and amongest
the reedes and in the marishes, in so marvelous aboundaunce as
it is scante credible. And wee have perceaved that there be
as many and as greate perles founde there as in any contrie in
the worlde. In the seaventh leafe it followeth thus: The scitua-
tion is under 30. degrees, a good clymate, healthfull, and of
goodd temperature, marvelous pleasaunt, the people goodd and of
a gentle and amyable nature, which willingly will obey, yea be
contented to serve those that shall with gentlenes and humanitie
goe aboute to allure them, as yt is necessarie for those that be
sente thither hereafter so to doe. In the eighth leafe: It is a
place wonderfull fertile and of strong scituation, the grounde
fatt, so that it is like that it would bringe forthe wheate and all
other corne twise a yere.
Verarsana, fallinge in the latitude of 34. degrees, describeth
the scituation and commodities in this manner: Beyonde this we
sawe the open contrie risinge in heighte above the sandie shoare,
with many faire feeldes and plaines full of mightie greate wooddes,
some very thicke and some very thynne, replenished with divers
sortes of trees, and pleasaunt and delectable to beholde as ys
possible to ymagine. And youre Majestie may not thinke that
these are like the wooddes of Hyrcinia, or the wilde desertes of
Tartaria, and the northerne coastes, full of fruteles trees; but
full of palme, date-trees, bayes, and highe cypresses, and many
other sortes of trees to us unknowen in Europe, which yelde
moste swete savours farr from the shoare; neyther doe wee
thincke that they, partakinge of the easte worlde rounde aboute
them, are altogether voyde of drugs and spicerye, and other
riches of golde, seinge the colour of the lande dothe altogether
argue yt. And the lande is full of many beastes, as redd dere,
fallowe dere, and hares, and likewise of lakes and pooles of
freshe water, with greate plentie of fowles convenient for all
pleasaunt game. This lande is in latitude 34. degrees with goodd
## p. 6813 (#193) ###########################################
RICHARD HAKLUYT
6813
and holesome ayre, temperate betwene hote and colde; no vehe-
ment windes doe blowe in these regions, &c. Againe, in the
fourthe leafe as it is in Englishe, speakinge of the nexte contrie,
he saithe: Wee sawe in this contrie many vines growinge nat-
urally, which springinge upp tooke holde of the trees as they
doe in Lombardye, which, if by husbandmen they were dressed in
goodd order, withoute all doubte they woulde yelde excellent
wynes; for havinge oftentymes seene the frute thereof dryed,
which was swete and pleasaunte and not differinge from oures,
wee thinke they doe esteme of the same, because that in every
place where they growe they take away the under braunches
growinge rounde aboute, that the frute thereof may ripen the
better. Wee founde also roses, violetts, lyllies, and many sortes
of herbes and swete and odoriferous flowers. And after, in the
sixte leafe, he saithe: Wee were oftentimes within the lande
V.
terror of shipwreck he turned back before he had fairly started on
his voyage, and sent to the generous literary patron a poem or pan-
egyric instead of presenting himself. He apologized for his absence
## p. 6794 (#174) ###########################################
6794
HAFIZ
on the ground of dread of the dangers of the deep; and his expressed
preference for the quiet life and charming beauties of Shiraz does
not seem to have displeased the liberal-minded potentate.
A pretty story is also told, regarding one of Hafiz's odes that be-
came known to the Scythian conqueror Timur Lang (Tamerlane).
This was the ghazal beginning —
"Agar an Turk i Shirāzi ba-dast ārad dil i mā-rā,”
which is below translated in the lines opening with-
"If that beauty of Shiraz would take my heart in hand. »
In this sonnet the passionate poet offers to give the cities of Samar-
kand and Bokhara for "the dark mole" on his favorite's cheek.
When the great Tamerlane subdued Farsistan, he is said to have sum-
moned Hafiz to his presence and to have sternly rebuked him for this
lavish recklessness in giving away cities that were not a poet's to
bestow. The brilliancy of the minstrel's wit was equal to the occa-
sion kissing the ground at the conqueror's feet, he replied, "Sultān
of the world, it is through such generosity that I am come to this dis-
astrous [or joyous] day. " It is needless to add the happy result, and
one wishes that the truth of the story were less uncertain. Like Pin-
dar and other famous poets, stories are also not wanting as to how
Hafiz received the gift of song; fanciful as they may be, they all show
the esteem in which he was held, not in Persia alone, but abroad.
Hafiz was married, if we rightly interpret the pathetic lines that
lament a home left desolate by the departure of a being for whom
his soul breathed the Divine awe. (See below. ) His own death oc-
curred about 1389. It is said that the Moslem priests at first declined
to perform the last solemn rites over his body, as exceptions were
taken to the orthodoxy of some of his poetical compositions.
determined to decide the matter by lot. A number of verses chosen
at random from Hafiz's own poems were tossed into an urn, and a
child was appointed to draw one out. The verse read:-
-――――
"From the bier of Hafiz keep not back thy foot,
For though he be immersed in sin, he goeth to Paradise. »
The body was at once accorded proper burial, and his grave in a
fair shaded garden near Shīrāz, with its beautifully inscribed alabas-
ter slab, still forms a living monument, if one were needed besides
the lovely odes that we have of this passionate poet.
Hafiz was a prolific writer; the manuscript and printed editions of
his works comprise more than five hundred ghazals or odes. A
ghazal-ode, or perhaps rather sonnet-is a poem not exceeding six-
teen or seventeen couplets. The last two words of the first couplet
## p. 6795 (#175) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6795
rhyme together, and with these also rhymes the second line of every
couplet in the poem; all the odd lines are entirely independent of
rhyme. The signature of the poet, as a rule, is woven into the last
verse of the ghazal. Parallels for signatures thus inserted are not far
to seek in the Greek anthology or in English, or even in Anglo-Saxon
poetry. A series of ghazals, moreover, when gathered into a collec-
tion, is called a dīvān. The poems or odes in a dīvān are regularly
arranged, alphabetically, according to the initial letter of the Persian
word with which the poem begins. A parallel might be imagined if
our hymn-books were arranged according to the table of first lines.
Hafiz also wrote quatrains and a number of other short poetical com-
positions. So popular was his dīvān that it came to be consulted as
an oracle, by opening the book and putting the finger on any chance
verse.
As to the poetic merit of Hafiz's work, there is no question: his
title to fame is acknowledged. As to the interpretation of his poems,
however, there is much question and debate whether they are to be
taken in a literal or in a spiritual sense. Some readers see in his
praises of love and of wine, of musky tresses and slender cypress
forms, merely the passion of an Ovid or an Anacreon. Other admirers
of Hafiz, however, and especially his Oriental worshipers, read spirit-
ual thoughts of Divine love, of the soul and God, behind the physi-
cal imagery. Wine is the spirit, it is not the juice of the grape; and
the draught from the tavern is but quaffing the cup of self-oblivion.
There is undoubted truth in this interpretation, which is in accord-
ance with the mystic doctrines of Sufi-ism. The idea is Oriental, and
the analogous interpretation of the Song of Solomon is familiar. In
the Occident, moreover, mediæval poets employed similar physical
images for religious awe and adoration; parallels even of English
poets in the seventeenth century, like the Fletchers, Donne, and
Crashaw, might be cited. But, as in the latter instances also, there
can be little doubt that numerous odes of Hafiz, perhaps those of his
earlier youth, hardly allow of anything but a material and passionate
interpretation. In any case, the grace, charm, beauty, and delicate
feeling is never absent in Hafiz's poetry.
The most complete edition of Hafiz in translation is the English
prose rendering by H. Wilberforce Clarke: The Dīvān i Hafiz, Trans-
lated' (3 vols. , London, 1891). It also contains extensive biographical,
bibliographical, and critical matter, and should certainly be consulted.
Selections from Hafiz have been translated into many languages.
Sir William Jones, who was himself a poet, made Hafiz familiar in
English as early as 1795. Among other names might be mentioned
H. Bicknell, 'Selections from Hafiz' (London, 1875); and S. Robinson,
'Persian Poetry for English Readers' (privately printed, Glasgow,
## p. 6796 (#176) ###########################################
6796
HAFIZ
1883). Robinson's work has evidently been drawn upon by J. H.
McCarthy: 'Ghazels from the Divan of Hafiz' (London and New
York, 1893). The best German translation (complete) is by V. von
Rosenzweig (3 vols. , 1856-64).
A. P. Williams Jackson
SELECTED GHAZALS OR ODES
F THAT beauty of Shiraz would take my heart in hand, I would
give for her dark mole Samarkand and Bokhara.
Boy, bring me the wine that remaineth; for in Paradise thou wilt
not see the banks of the water of Roknabad, nor the
rose bower of our Mosella.
Alas! those saucy lovely ones, those charming disturbers of our city,
bear away patience from my heart as Turkomans their
repast of plunder!
Yet the beauty of our maidens is independent of our imperfect love!
To a lovely face what need is there of paint or dyes, of
mole or down?
Speak to me of the musician and of wine, and search less into the
secrets of futurity; for no one in his wisdom ever hath
discovered, or ever will discover, that mystery.
I can understand how the beauty of Joseph, which added new lustre
to the day, withdrew Zulaikha from the veil of her mod-
esty.
Thou hast spoken evil of me, and I am contented - God forgive thee!
Thou hast spoken well; for even a bitter word is beseem-
ing, when it cometh from a ruby sugar-dropping lip.
Give ear, O my soul, to good counsel; for better than their own souls
love youths of a happy disposition the admonition of the
aged wise.
Thou hast composed thy ghazal; thou hast strung thy pearls: come
and sing it sweetly, O Hafiz! for Heaven hath shed upon
thy poetry the harmony of the Pleiades.
THE HEART is the veil behind which is hidden His love; His eye is
the mirror-holder which reflecteth His countenance.
I, who would not bow my head to both worlds, submit my neck to
the burthen of His mercies.
## p. 6797 (#177) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6797
Thou enjoyest the tuba-tree, I the image of my beloved one! Every
one's thoughts are fashioned to the measure of his aims.
What should I be within that Holy Place, in which the morning breeze
is the veil-holder who guardeth the sanctuary of His honor!
If I have soiled the skirts of my raiment, what is the damage which
I can do? The universe is the pledge for His purity!
Mejnun is long departed; now it is our turn: to each one is allowed
a five-days' sojourning!
The kingdom of love and the wealth of enjoyment - all that I pos-
sess is bestowed by the hand of His destination.
If we have offered for a ransom ourselves and our hearts, why need
we fear? The goal towards which we strive is the pur-
pose of His salvation.
Never cease to make His image the object of thine eye, for its cell
is the peculiar chamber of His privacy.
Every new rose which adorneth the meadow is a mark of the color
and perfume of His benevolence.
Look not on his external poverty, for the bosom of Hafiz is a rich
treasury in the exuberance of His benevolence!
IS THERE aught sweeter than the delights of the garden and compan-
ionship of the spring? But where is the Cup-bearer ?
Say, what is the cause of his lingering?
Every pleasant moment that cometh to your hand, score up as an
invaluable prize! Let no one hesitate, for who knoweth
the conclusion of the matter?
The tie of life is but a hair! Use thine intelligence; be thyself thine
own comrade in sorrow, and what then is the sorrow
which Fate can deal thee?
The meaning of the Fountain of Life and the Gardens of Irem —
what is it but the enjoyment of a running stream and a
delicious wine?
The temperate man and the intemperate are both of one tribe: what
choice is there between them, that we should surrender
our souls to dubious reasonings?
What reveal the silent heavens of that which is behind the veil? O
litigant, why dispute with the keeper of the Veil?
If to him who is bound up in error or sin there is no room for warn-
ing or amendment, what meaning is there in the words
"Canceling, and the mercy of the Forgiving One"?
The devotee longs for draughts from the river Kuther, and Hafiz
from a goblet of wine. Between these, the will of the
Creator - what would that be?
## p. 6798 (#178) ###########################################
6798
HAFIZ
IN THE hour of dawn the bird of the garden thus spoke to a freshly
blown rose: "Be less disdainful, for in this garden hath
bloomed many a one like thee. "
The rose smiled, and said, "We have never grieved at hearing the
truth; but no lover would speak so harshly to his be-
loved! "
To all eternity, the odor of love will never reach the brain of that
man who hath never swept with his brow the dust from
the sill of the wine-house.
Dost thou desire to drink the ruby-tinted wine from that gold-
begemmed goblet, how many a pearl must thou first
pierce with the point of thine eyelashes!
Yesterday, when in the Rose Garden of Irem the morning breeze
with its gentle breath began to disturb the hair of the
spikenard,
I exclaimed, "O throne of Jemshid, where is thy magic world-
reflecting mirror? " and it replied, "Alas! that that watch-
ful Fortune should be slumbering! "
The words of love are not those that come to the tongue: O Cup-
bearer, cut short this asking and answering.
The tears of Hafiz have cast patience and wisdom into the sea: how
could it be otherwise? The burning pangs of love how
could he conceal?
THE Fast is over, the Festival is come, and hearts are lifted up, and
the wine is sparkling in the wine-house, and wine we
must drink!
The turn of the heavy dealer in abstinence is past, the season of joy
is arrived, and of joyous revelers!
Why should reproach be heaped upon him, who like me quaffeth
wine? This is neither sin nor fault in the jovial lover!
The drinker of wine, in whom is no false show and no dissimulation,
is better than he who is a trader in semblances.
We are neither dissembling revelers, nor the comrades of hypocrites:
He who is the knower of all secrets knoweth this.
We discharge all our Divine obligations and do evil to no man; and
whatever we are told is not right, we say not that it is
right.
What mattereth it, that thou and I should quaff a few goblets of wine?
Wine is the blood of the vine; it is not thy blood!
This is not a fault which throweth all into confusion; and were it a
fault, where is the man to be found who is free from
faults?
## p. 6799 (#179) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6799
Hafiz, leave thou the "How" and the "Wherefore," and drink for a
moment thy wine: His wisdom hath withholden from us
what is the force of the words "How" and "WHEREFORE. ”
HAIL, Shiraz! incomparable site! O Lord, preserve it from every
disaster!
God forbid a hundred times that our Roknabād be dimmed, to which
the life of Khizar hath given its brightness!
For between Jafferabad and Mosella cometh his north wind perfumed
with amber.
Oh come to Shīrāz, and the overflow of the Holy Spirit implore for it
from the man who is the possessor of all perfection!
Let no one boast here the sugar-candy of Egypt, for our sweet ones
have no reason for the blush of shame.
O morning breeze, what news bringest thou of that tipsy lovely one?
What information canst thou give me of her condition?
Awaken me not from my dream, O God, that I may sweeten my soli-
tude with that fair vision!
Yea, if that sweet one should desire me to pour out my blood, yield
it up, my heart, as freely as mother's milk!
Wherefore, O Hafiz, if thou wouldst be terrified by the thought of
separation, wast thou not grateful for the days of her
presence?
O LORD, that smiling rose which thou gavest me in charge, I return
to thy charge, to preserve her from the envious eye of
her meadow.
Although she be removed a hundred stages from the village of faith-
fulness, far be the mischiefs of the revolutions of the
moon from her soul and body!
Whithersoever she goeth, the heart of her friend shall be the com-
panion of her journey; the kindness of the benevolent the
shield of her soul and body!
If, morning wind, thou passest by the bounds of Sulima's station,
I shall look that thou carry a salutation from me to
Sulima.
Scatter thy musky fragrance gently upon those black tresses: they
are the abode of dear hearts,- do not disturb them!
Say to her, "My heart preserveth its vow of fidelity to the mole and
down of thy cheek;" therefore hold sacred those amber-
plaited ringlets.
## p. 6800 (#180) ###########################################
6800
HAFIZ
In the place where they drink to the memory of her lip, base would
be the intoxicated one who should remain conscious of
himself!
Merchandise and money expect not to gain at the door of the wine-
house. Whoever partaketh of this beverage will cast his
pack into the sea.
Whoever is in dread of the restlessness of anxiety, not genuine is his
love: either be her foot upon my head, or be my lip upon
her mouth!
The poetry of Hafiz is the primary couplet of wisdom: praise be on
her soul-attracting and grace-inspiring breath!
I HAVE made a compact with the mistress of my soul, that so long as
I have a soul within my body I will hold as mine own
soul the well-wishers of her village.
In the privacy of my breast I see light from that taper of Chighil;
splendor to mine eye and brightness to my heart from
that moon of Khoten.
Since in accordance with my wishes and yearnings I have gained the
privacy of my breast, why need I care for the slander of
evil-speakers in the midst of the crowd?
If a hundred armies of lovely ones should be lying in ambush to
assault my heart, I have, by the mercy and to the praise
of Heaven, an idol which will shatter armies to pieces.
Would to Heaven, my rival, that this night thou wouldest close thine
eye for a while, that I might whisper a hundred words
to her silent ruby lips!
No inclination have I for tulip, or white rose, or the leaf of the nar-
cissus, so long as by Heaven's grace I walk proudly in
the rose garden of her favor.
O mine ancient wise one, lay not thy prohibition on the wine-house;
for abandoning the wine-cup, I should break a pledge to
mine own heart.
My beverage is easy of digestion, and my love is beautiful as a pict-
ure; no one hath a love-such a love as I have!
I have a Cypress in my dwelling, under the shade of whose tall
stature I can dispense with the cypress of the grove, and
the box-tree of the meadow.
I can boast that the seal of her ruby lip is potent as was that of
Solomon: in possession of the Great Name, why should I
dread the Evil One!
After long abstinence, Hafiz is become a notorious reveler; but why
grieve, so long as there is in the world an Emin-ad-Din
Hassan!
## p. 6801 (#181) ###########################################
HĀFIZ
6801
SPRING is come again, and the joy-exciting and vow-breaking rose;
in the delight of gazing on the cheek of the rose, tear up
the root of sorrow from thy heart!
The soft east wind is arrived; the rosebud in its passion hath burst
forth and torn its own garment.
Learn, O my heart, the way of sincerity from the clear water; in
uprightness seek freedom from the cypress of the meadow.
The bride of the rosebud, with her jewels and sweet smile, hath stolen
away with her black eye my heart and my religion.
The warbling of the enamored nightingale, and the piping of the
bird of the thousand notes, come to enjoy the meeting
with the rose from her house of mourning [i. e. , her pod].
See how the gentle breeze hath entwined with his hand the ringlets
of the rose! Look how the plaited locks of the hyacinth
bend over the face of the jessamine!
The story of the revolving sphere seek to learn from the cup, O
Hafiz! as the voice of the minstrel and the judgment of
the wise advise thee!
THE bird of my heart is a sacred bird, whose nest is the throne of
God: sick of its cage of the body, it is satiated with the
things of the world.
If once the bird of the spirit wingeth its flight from this pit of mire,
it findeth its resting-place once more only at the door of
that palace;
And when the bird of my heart flieth upward, its place is the sidrah-
tree; for know that our falcon reposeth only on the pin-
nacle of the Throne.
The shadow of good fortune falleth upon the world, whenever our
bird spreadeth its pinions and feathers over the earth.
In both worlds its station is only in the loftiest sphere; its body is
from the quarry, but its soul is confined to no dwelling.
Only the highest heaven is the secret bower of our bird; its drinking-
place is in the rose arbors of the Garden of Paradise.
O Hafiz, thou perplexed one, when thou breathest a word about
Unity, inscribe Unity with thy reed on the page of man
and spirit!
IF AT the voice of the turtle-dove and the nightingale thou wilt not
quaff wine, how can I cure thee, save by the last remedy-
burning?
When the Rose hath cast her veil, and the bird is reciting his "Hu,
Hu! " put not the cup from thy hand! What meaneth
thine "Oh! Oh! »
XII-426
## p. 6802 (#182) ###########################################
6802
HAFIZ
Whilst the Water of Life is in thy hand, die not of thirst! "Water
giveth life to all things. "
Lay up treasures for thyself from the hues and odors of springtide,
for follow quickly on its heels the autumn and the winter.
Fate bestoweth no gift which it taketh not back: ask not aught of
sordid humanity; the trifle it bestoweth is a nothing.
The grandeur of sovereignty and power, how should it be stable?
Of the throne of Jem, and the diadem of Kai, what is
left save a fable?
Whoso heapeth up riches to be the heritage of the mean is an
infidel: so say the minstrel and the cupbearer; such is
the decree of the cymbal and the fife!
It is written on the portico of the mansion of Paradise: "Woe to him
who hath purchased the smiles of the world! »
Generosity is departed! I fold up my words "Where is the wine ? >
? »
that I may give «< May the soul of Hatim Tai dwell in
bliss for ever! "
The miser will never breathe the fragrance of heaven! Come, Hafiz!
take the cup and practice liberality, and I will be thy
surety!
Translation of S. Robinson.
THREE GHAZALS OR ODES
FR
ROM the garden of union with thee, [even] the gardens of Rizvān
[Paradise] gain lustre of joy;
From the torment of separation from thee, [even] hell's flame
hath torment.
In the beauty of thy cheek and stature, shelter have taken
Paradise, and the tuba [tree].
For them, it [the shelter] is good;
and a good place of returning [from this world].
All night, [even] as my eye [seeth, so] the stream of Paradise
Seeth in sleep the image of thy intoxicated eye [of mercy].
In every season, Spring giveth description of thy beauty;
In every book, Paradise maketh mention of thy grace.
This heart consumed, and my soul attained not to the heart's desire;
If it had attained to its desire, it would not have poured forth blood
[of grief].
Oh, many the salt-rights of thy lip and mouth,
Which they have against rent livers and roast hearts.
## p. 6803 (#183) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6803
Think not that in thy circle [only] lovers are intoxicated [with love
for thee]:
Of the state of zahids distraught [with love] no news hast thou.
By the circle of thy [ruddy] lip [in thy face, resplendent as the sun],
I knew that the jewel [lustre] of the ruby
Was produced by the sun, world-illuminating.
Open the veil. This modesty how long wilt thou practice?
With this veil, what hast thou bound save modesty?
The rose beheld thy face, and fell into the fire [of love],
Perceived thy fragrance, and through shame, became [soft and fra-
grant like] rose-water.
In love for thy face, Hafiz is immersed in the sea of calamity.
Behold he dieth! Come once! Help!
Hafiz! that life should pass in folly, permit not:
Strive; and understand the value of dear life.
[WHEN] the rose is in the bosom, wine in the hand, and the beloved
to my desire,—
On such a day, the world's Sultan is my slave.
Say, Into this assembly bring ye no candle for to-night.
In our assembly the moon of the Friend's face is full.
In our order [of profligates] the wine-cup is lawful; but
O Cypress, rose of body! without thy face [presence], unlawful.
In our assembly [of lovers], mix not 'itr [perfume]; for our soul
Every moment receiveth perfume from the fragrance of the tip of
thy tress.
My ear is all [intent] on the voice of the reed and the melody of
the harp [the instruction of the Mūrshid];
My eye is all [intent] on thy ruby lip, and on the circulation of the
cup [the manifestations of glories of God in the night
season].
Say ye naught of the sweetness of candy and sugar [the delights of
the world];
For my desire is for thy sweet lip [the sweet stream of Divine grace,
the source of endless delight].
From the time when the treasure of grief for thee was dweller in
my ruined heart,
The corner of the tavern is ever my abode.
## p. 6804 (#184) ###########################################
6804
HAFIZ
Of shame why speakest thou? For from shame is my name [renown];
Of name [renown] why askest thou? For from name [renown] is my
shame.
Wine-drinker, distraught of head, profligate, and glance-player, I am:
In this city, who is that one who is not like this?
To the Muhtasib, utter not my crime; for he also
Is ever like me in desire of the drinkers of wine.
Hafiz! sit not a moment without wine and the beloved. [Siyām! *
'Tis the season of the rose, and of the jessamine, and of the 'Id of
WITHOUT the beloved's face, the rose
Without wine, spring-
The border of the sward and the air of the garden
Without the [beloved of] tulip cheek-
With the beloved, sugar of lip, rose of body,
[To be] without kiss and embrace -
―
Every picture that reason's hand depicteth,
Save the picture of the [living beauteous] idol
The dancing of the cypress, and the rapture of the rose,
Without the song of the hazār
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
Hafiz! the soul is [but] a despicable coin;
For scattering [on the true beloved] it-
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
-
is not pleasant.
The garden and the rose and wine, [all] is pleasant; but
Without the beloved's society,—
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
is not pleasant.
THAT friend by whom our house the [happy] dwelling of the
Pari-
Head to foot, free from defect, a Pari-
Acceptable to the [All] Wise of mine [is] that moon. For his,
With beauty of manner, the way of one endowed with vision
[My] heart said, "In hope of her, in this city I will sojourn:"
Helpless, it knew not that its friend a traveler —
Out from my grasp the malignant star plucked her:
Yes: what can I do? The calamity of the revolution of the
moon it-
*A day of rejoicing following the fast of Ramazān.
―――
was,
was.
was.
was.
was.
## p. 6805 (#185) ###########################################
HAFIZ
6805
Not only from my heart's mystery fell the screen;
Since the sky [time] was, screen-rending its habit.
Sweet was the marge of the water, and the rose and the ver-
dure. But
Alas, that moving treasure a wayfarer-
Happy were those times which passed with the friend;
All without result and without knowledge the rest—
The bulbul [the true lover] slew himself through jealousy of
this, that to the rose [the true beloved]
At morning-time [the last breath of life], with the morning
breeze [the angel of death], splendor [of heavenly
messages]-
O heart! establish an excuse. For thou art a beggar; and here,
In the kingdom of beauty, the head of a crowned one-
O
was.
was.
was.
was.
was.
Every treasure of happiness that God gave to Hāfiz,
From the auspiciousness of the evening prayer and of the morning
supplication-
was.
Translations of Lieut. -Col. H. Wilberforce Clarke.
THREE GHAZALS OR ODES
CUPBEARER! bring the joy of youth; bring cup after cup of red
wine.
Bring medicine for the disease of love; bring wine, which is
the balm of old and young.
Do not grieve for the revolution of time, that it wheeled thus and not
thus. Touch the lute in peace.
Wisdom is very wearisome; bring for its neck the noose of wine.
When the rose goes, say "Go gladly," and drink wine, red like the
rose.
If the moan of the turtle does not remain, what matter? Bring music
in the jug of wine.
The sun is wine and the moon the cup. Pour the sun into the
moon.
To drink wine is either good or bad: drink, if it be bad or if it be
good.
Her face cannot be seen except in a dream; bring then the medicine
of sleep.
Give cup after cup to Hafiz; pour, whether it be sin or sar
sanctity.
## p. 6806 (#186) ###########################################
6806
HAFIZ
THE east wind at the dawn of day brought a perfume from the
tresses of my beloved, which immediately cast my foolish
heart into fresh agitation.
I imagined that I had uprooted that flower from the garden of my
heart, for every blossom which sprang up from its suffer-
ing bore only the fruits of pain.
From fear of the attacks of her love, I set my heart free with bloody
strife; my heart dropped gouts of blood which marked
my footsteps.
I beheld from her terrace how the glory of the moon veiled itself in
confusion, before the face of that dazzling sun.
At the voice of the singer and the cupbearer, I go to the door in
and out of season; for the messenger cometh with trouble
from a weary road.
Any gift of my beloved I take as a courteous and kind, whether it
be Mohammedan, Christian, or Jewish.
Heaven protect her eyebrows from harm! for though they brought
me to despair, yet with a gracious greeting they have
given consolation to the sick heart.
Joy to the time and the hour when I freed myself from the snare of
her braided tresses, and gained a victory which even my
foe admitted!
From envy of the tresses of my beloved, the breeze lavished all the
musk which she had carried from Tartary.
I was amazed when I discovered last night cup and jug beside Hafiz;
but I said no word, for he used them in Sufi manner.
YESTERDAY morning I chanced to drink a cup or two, and from the
lip of the cupbearer wine had fallen into my heart.
From the joy of intoxication I was longing to call back the beloved
of my youth; but divorce had befallen.
I dreamed that I might kiss those divine eyes.
I had lost strength
and patience on account of her arched eyebrow.
O Saki! give the cup frequently, because, in the journey on the
path, where is the lover who has not fallen into hypo-
crisy ?
O interpreter of dreams! give good tidings, because last night the
sun seemed to be my ally in the joy of the morning
sleep.
At the hour when Hafiz was writing this troubled verse, the bird of
his heart had fallen into the snare of love.
Translations of Justin Huntly McCarthy.
## p. 6807 (#187) ###########################################
6807
RICHARD HAKLUYT
(1552? -1616)
ICHARD HAKLUYT has himself told how, when he was one of
Queen Elizabeth's scholars at Westminster, he was inspired
to the study of cosmography by a visit to the chamber of a
kinsman, a gentleman of the Inner Temple in London. He saw there
all manner of books on geography, and resolved thereupon to make
their acquaintance. And while studying for holy orders at Oxford,
and afterward in France, as chaplain to Sir Edward Stafford, both
reading and observation gave him knowledge of English slothfulness
in maritime discovery and enterprise.
Before Hakluyt was sent as ambassador's chaplain to Paris, how-
ever, he had published his first work, 'Divers Voyages touching the
Discoverie of America, and the Islands adjacent unto the same, made
first of all by our Englishmen, and afterwards by the Frenchmen
and Britons: And certaine notes of advertisements for observations,
necessarie for such as shall hereafter make the like attempt, With two
mappes annexed hereunto, for the plainer understanding of the whole
matter. Imprinted at London for Thomas Woodcocke, dwelling in
Paules Church-yard, at the Signe of the Blacke Beare,' 1582. The
book, which appeared when he was thirty (he was born about 1552),
was dedicated "To the right worshipfull and most vertuous Gentle-
man, master Phillip Sidney Esquire"; and in the address to his patron,
Hakluyt complains of England's failure to possess herself of lands
rightly hers.
This was to preface a plea for the establishment of a lectureship
to advance the art of navigation; -" for which cause I have dealt
with the right worshipfull Sir Frances Drake, that, seeing God hath
blessed him so wonderfully, he would do this honour to himselfe and
benefite to his countrey, to be at the coste to erecte such a lecture. "
But his efforts proved futile.
The most memorable fruit of Hakluyt's life in Paris was 'A par-
ticuler discourse concerning the greate necessitie and manifolde com-
modyties that are like to growe to this Realme of Englande by the
Westerne discoueries lately attempted, written in the yere 1584, by
Richarde Hackluyt of Oxforde, at the requeste and direction of the
righte wershipfull Mr. Walter Rayhly, nowe Knight, before the com-
ynge home of his twoo barkes,' a part of which notable paper is
## p. 6808 (#188) ###########################################
6808
RICHARD HAKLUYT
given at the end of this article. The energy, zeal, vigor, and con-
viction the piece displays bear out the claims of Robertson, who in
his History of America' asserts that it is the Elizabethan preacher
"to whom England is more indebted for its American possessions
than to any man of that age. " Hakluyt's faith and earnestness were
so eager that he even had a thought of personal hazard, as a second
letter to Walsingham bears evidence.
) (
During a visit to England in 1584 he had presented his 'Particuler
discourse concerning Westerne discoueries, along with one in Latin
upon Aristotle's 'Politicks,» to his royal mistress, who in recogni-
tion of his pains and loyalty had given him a prebend at Bristol. In
May 1585 he brought in person, before the chapter of the cathedral
at Bristol, the Queen's order for the preferment. Upon this and like.
ecclesiastical stipends he lived and did his work,-"the most versed
man in that skill" (cosmography), says Hacket, "that England bred. ”
While in Paris Hakluyt translated and published in 1587 Laudon-
nière's 'Histoire Notable de la Florida,' under the title 'A notable
historie containing foure voyages made by certayne French Captaynes
into Florida. ' At the same time and in the same year he was pre-
paring and publishing 'De Orbe Novo Petri Martyris Anglerii Decades
octo illustratæ, labore et industria Richardi Hackluyti. ' In this work
is the copper-plate map upon which the name of Virginia is for the
first time set down. In 1588 Hakluyt returned to England, and in
the following year published a solitary volume, the precursor of his
magnum opus, The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques, and
Discoveries of the English Nation,' which appeared in London in
three folio volumes between 1598 and 1600.
"In a word," says Thomas Fuller in his (Worthies,' "many of such useful
tracts of sea adventure, which before were scattered as several ships, Mr.
Hackluyt hath embodied into a fleet, divided into three squadrons, so many
several volumes: a work of great honor to England; it being possible that
many ports and islands in America which, being bare and barren, bear only
a bare name for the present, may prove rich places for the future. And then
these voyages will be produced and pleaded, as good evidence of their belong-
ing to England, as first discovered and denominated by Englishmen. »
The work is invaluable: a storehouse of the facts of life, the habits
of thinking and doing, of the discoveries abroad of the Englishmen.
of the high seas in Elizabeth's day. The salt air of the northern
seas blows over Hakluyt's pages, as well as the hot simoom and baf-
fling winds. We run aground with the castaways, adventure in bar-
gaining with natives, and in company with the mariners lament the
casting overboard, to save our good bark, of three tons of spice. The
men of that day were seekers after a golden fleece, the Argonauts of
## p. 6809 (#189) ###########################################
RICHARD HAKLUYT
6809
the modern world, and their rough-hewn stories are untellable save
in their hardy vernacular. Some of them were traders, with now and
then the excitement of a skirmish or a freebooting expedition—a salt
to harden the too tender flesh of easy commerce. All were self-
gainers and all soldiers of fortune, and by the simplest facts the fore-
runners of the seventeenth-century buccaneers, and every sort of excess
and turpitude that name connotes.
After Hakluyt had completed his great work he edited a transla-
tion from the Portuguese, The Discoveries of the World' (1601), and
in 1609 published his own translation of De Soto's discoveries in
Florida. In this work, called 'Virginia Richly Valued,' he endeavored
to promote the interests of the infant settlement. Certain of his
manuscripts fell after his death into the hands of Samuel Purchas,
and were by him edited and included in his 'Pilgrimes' (1625-26).
"He paid his last debt to nature," says Antony à Wood, "23 Nov.
in sixteen hundred and sixteen, and was buried in the abbey church
of Westminster, dedicated to S. Peter, on the 26th of the same
month. "
The 'Particuler Discourse' was first printed from a contemporary
manuscript by Dr. Woods of Bowdoin College and Mr. Charles Dean of
Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1877. Dr. Woods had trace of the paper
while searching in England for historical documents in behalf of the
Historical Society of Maine. The copy from which he made his tran-
script was doubtless one of the four which Hakluyt prepared at the
time he presented this 'Discourse' to Queen Elizabeth. Its object
was evidently to gain Elizabeth's support for Raleigh's adventure,
which he had undertaken under a patent granted him in March 1584.
The paper is most curious and valuable, and from the point of view
of to-day seems to a degree prophetic. Besides proving that Hakluyt
had sagacity, penetrative insight, and an imagination that could seize
upon and construct in practical affairs, it is typical of the English
attitude through all centuries. A moral impulse is in Anglo-Saxon
blood. In whatever it undertakes, morality, or an admixture of moral-
ity and religion, is its potential incentive. The English, in all such
works as Hakluyt deals with, have started out with religion or a
moral question and ended with commerce.
Hakluyt's 'Principal Navigations and Voyages' were republished
in 1809-1812. 'The Voyages of the English Nation to America' were
edited by Mr. Edmund Goldsmid in 1889. The 'Particuler Discourse ›
appears in these latter volumes as well as in the publications of the
Maine Historical Society.
## p. 6810 (#190) ###########################################
6810
RICHARD HAKLUYT
EXPECTATIONS OF AMERICA
A PARTICULER
DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE GREATE NECESSITIE
AND
MANIFOLDE COMMODYTIES THAT ARE LIKE ΤΟ GROWE ΤΟ THIS
REALME OF ENGLANDE BY THE WESTERNE DISCOUERIES LATELY
ATTEMPTED, WRITTEN IN THE YERE 1584, BY RICHARDE HACKLUYT
OF OXFORDE, AT THE REQUESTE AND DIRECTION OF THE RIGHTE
WERSHIPFULL MR. WALTER RAYHLY, NOWE KNIGHT, BEFORE THE
COMYNGE HOME OF HIS TWOO BARKES.
Copyrighted by the Maine Historical Society and reprinted by its permission
EINGE that the people of that parte of America from
S
30. de-
grees in Florida northewarde unto 63. degrees (which ys yet
in no Christian princes actuall possession) are idolaters; and
that those which Stephen Gomes broughte from the coaste of
NORUMBEGA in the yere 1524. worshipped the sonne, the moone,
and the starres, and used other idolatrie,
it remayneth
to be thoroughly weyed and considered by what meanes and by
whome this moste godly and Christian work may be perfourmed
of inlarginge the glorious gospell of Christe.
Nowe the
Kinges and Queenes of England have the name of Defendours of
the Faithe. By which title I thinke they are not onely chardged
to mayneteyne and patronize the faithe of Christe, but also to
inlarge and advaunce the same. Neither oughte this to be their
laste worke, but rather the principall and chefe of all others,
accordinge to the commaundemente of our Saviour, Christe,
Mathewe 6, Ffirste seeke the kingdome of God and the right-
eousnes thereof, and all other thinges shalbe mynistred unto you.
Nowe the meanes to sende suche as shall labour effectually in
this busines ys, by plantinge one or twoo colonies of our nation
upon that fyrme, where they shall remaine in safetie, and firste
learne the language of the people nere adjoyninge (the gifte of
tongues being nowe taken awaye) and by little and little ac-
quainte themselves with their manner, and so with discretion and
myldenes distill into their purged myndes the swete and lively
liquor of the gospel.
Now therefore I truste the time
ys at hande when by her Majesties forwardnes in this enter-
prise, not only this objection and such like shalbe aunswered by
our frutefull labor in Godds harvest among the infidells, but also
many inconveniences and strifes amongest ourselves at home,
in matters of ceremonies, shalbe ended. For those of the cler-
gye which by reason of idlenes here at home are nowe alwayes
·
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RICHARD HAKLUYT
6811
coyninge of newe opynions, havinge by this voyadge to set them-
selves on worke in reducinge the savages to the chefe principles
of our faith, will become lesse contentious, and be contented with
the truthe in relligion alreadie established by authoritie.
So they
that shall beare the name of Christians shall shewe themselves
worthye of their vocation.
The nexte thinge ys that nowe I declare unto you the comod-
ities of this newe westerne discoverie, and what marchandize
are there to be had, and from thence to be expected; wherein
firste you are to have regarde unto the scituation of the places
which are left for us to be possessed. The contries therefore of
AMERICA whereunto we have just title, as beinge firste discovered
by Sebastian Gabote, at the coste of that prudente prince Kinge
Henry the Seaventh, from Florida northewarde to 67. degrees
(and not yet in any Chrestian princes actuall possession), beinge
aunswerable in clymate to Barbary, Egipt, Siria, Persia, Turky,
Greece, all the islandes of the Levant sea, Italie, Spaine, Portin-
gale, Fraunce, Flaunders, Highe Almayne, Denmarke, Estland,
Poland, and Muscovye, may presently or within a shorte space.
afforde unto us, for little or nothinge, and with moche more
safetie, eyther all or a greate parte of the comodities which the
aforesaid contries do yelde us at a very dere hande and with
manifolde daungers.
Firste, therefore, to begyn at the southe from 30. degrees, and
to quote unto you the leafe and page of the printed voyadges of
those which personally have with diligence searched and viewed
these contries. John Ribault writeth thus, in the first leafe of
his discourse, extant in printe bothe in Frenche and Englishe:
Wee entred (saithe he) and viewed the contrie, which is the
fairest, frutefullest, and pleasauntest of all the worlde, abound-
inge in honye, waxe, venison, wild fowle, fforestes, woodds of all
sorts, palme trees, cipresses, cedars, bayes, the highest and great-
est, with also the fairest vines in all the worlde, with grapes
accordinge, which naturally withoute arte or mans helpe or trym-
mynge will growe to toppes of oakes and other trees that be of
wonderfull greatness and heighte. And the sighte of the faire
meadowes is a pleasure not able to be expressed with tongue,
full of herons, curlues, bitters, mallardes, egriphts, woodcocks,
and all other kinde of small birdes, with hartes, hinds, bucks,
wild swyne, and all other kynd of wilde beastes, as wee perceaved
well bothe by their footinge there, and also afterwardes in other'
## p. 6812 (#192) ###########################################
6812
RICHARD HAKLUYT
places by their crye and roaringe in the nighte. Also there be
conies and hares, silkewormes in marvelous nomber, a great deale
fairer and better than be our silkewormes. Againe, in the sixte
leafe and seconde page: They shewed unto us by signes that they
had in the lande golde and silver and copper, whereof wee have
broughte some home. Also leade like unto ours, which wee
shewed them. Also turqueses and greate aboundance of perles,
which as they declared unto us they tooke oute of oysters,
whereof there is taken ever alonge the rivers side and amongest
the reedes and in the marishes, in so marvelous aboundaunce as
it is scante credible. And wee have perceaved that there be
as many and as greate perles founde there as in any contrie in
the worlde. In the seaventh leafe it followeth thus: The scitua-
tion is under 30. degrees, a good clymate, healthfull, and of
goodd temperature, marvelous pleasaunt, the people goodd and of
a gentle and amyable nature, which willingly will obey, yea be
contented to serve those that shall with gentlenes and humanitie
goe aboute to allure them, as yt is necessarie for those that be
sente thither hereafter so to doe. In the eighth leafe: It is a
place wonderfull fertile and of strong scituation, the grounde
fatt, so that it is like that it would bringe forthe wheate and all
other corne twise a yere.
Verarsana, fallinge in the latitude of 34. degrees, describeth
the scituation and commodities in this manner: Beyonde this we
sawe the open contrie risinge in heighte above the sandie shoare,
with many faire feeldes and plaines full of mightie greate wooddes,
some very thicke and some very thynne, replenished with divers
sortes of trees, and pleasaunt and delectable to beholde as ys
possible to ymagine. And youre Majestie may not thinke that
these are like the wooddes of Hyrcinia, or the wilde desertes of
Tartaria, and the northerne coastes, full of fruteles trees; but
full of palme, date-trees, bayes, and highe cypresses, and many
other sortes of trees to us unknowen in Europe, which yelde
moste swete savours farr from the shoare; neyther doe wee
thincke that they, partakinge of the easte worlde rounde aboute
them, are altogether voyde of drugs and spicerye, and other
riches of golde, seinge the colour of the lande dothe altogether
argue yt. And the lande is full of many beastes, as redd dere,
fallowe dere, and hares, and likewise of lakes and pooles of
freshe water, with greate plentie of fowles convenient for all
pleasaunt game. This lande is in latitude 34. degrees with goodd
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RICHARD HAKLUYT
6813
and holesome ayre, temperate betwene hote and colde; no vehe-
ment windes doe blowe in these regions, &c. Againe, in the
fourthe leafe as it is in Englishe, speakinge of the nexte contrie,
he saithe: Wee sawe in this contrie many vines growinge nat-
urally, which springinge upp tooke holde of the trees as they
doe in Lombardye, which, if by husbandmen they were dressed in
goodd order, withoute all doubte they woulde yelde excellent
wynes; for havinge oftentymes seene the frute thereof dryed,
which was swete and pleasaunte and not differinge from oures,
wee thinke they doe esteme of the same, because that in every
place where they growe they take away the under braunches
growinge rounde aboute, that the frute thereof may ripen the
better. Wee founde also roses, violetts, lyllies, and many sortes
of herbes and swete and odoriferous flowers. And after, in the
sixte leafe, he saithe: Wee were oftentimes within the lande
V.
