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[380] But evil breaks the strongest gyves,
And jins like him have charmed lives.
One beaker of the juice of grape
May call him up in living shape.
When the red wine of Badakshan
Sparkles for thee, beware, O Khan!
With water quench the fire within,
And drown each day thy devilkin! “
Thenceforth the great Khan shunned the cup
As Shitan's own, though offered up,
With laughing eyes and jewelled hands,
By Yarkand's maids and Samarcand's.
And, in the lofty vestibule
Of the medress of Kaush Kodul,
The students of the holy law
A golden-lettered tablet saw,
With these words, by a cunning hand,
Graved on it at the Khan's command:
“In Allah's name, to him who hath
A devil, Khan el Hamed saith,
Wisely our Prophet cursed the vine:
The fiend that loves the breath of wine
Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1888-89.
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