ভূমিকা

📌Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Bird Parliament Bird Parliament Once on a time from all the Circles seven1 Between the stedfast Earth and rolling Heaven THE BIRDS, of all Note, Plumage, and Degree, That float in Air, and roost upon the Tree; And they that from the Waters snatch their Meat, And they that scour the Desert with long Feet; Birds of all Natures, known or not to Man, Flock'd from all Quarters into full Divan, On no less solemn business than to find Or choose, a Sultan Khalif of their kind,10 For whom, if never theirs, or lost, they pined.

The Snake had his, 'twas said; and so the Beast His Lion-lord: and Man had his, at least: And that the Birds, who nearest were the Skies, And went apparell'd in its Angel Dyes.

Should be without-under no better Law Than that which lost all other in the Maw- Disperst without a Bond of Union-nay, Or meeting to make each the other's Prey- This was the Grievance-this the solemn Thing20 On which the scatter'd Commonwealth of Wing, From all the four Winds, flying like to Cloud That met and blacken'd Heav'n, and Thunder-loud With Sound of whirring Wings and Beaks that clash'd Down like a Torrent on the Desert dash'd: Till by Degrees, the Hubbub and Pell-mell Into some Order and Precedence fell, And, Proclamation made of Silence, each In special Accent, but in general Speech That all should understand, as seem'd him best,30 The Congregation of all Wings addrest.

And first, with Heart so full as from his Eyes Ran weeping, up rose Tajidar the Wise; The mystic Mark upon whose Bosom show'd That He alone of all the Birds THE ROAD Had travell'd: and the Crown upon his Head Had reach'd the Goal; and He stood forth and said: 'O Birds, by what Authority divine I speak you know by His authentic Sign, And Name, emblazon'd on my Breast and Bill:40 Whose Counsel I assist at, and fulfil: At His Behest I measured as he plann'd The Spaces of the Air and Sea and Land; I gauged the secret sources of the Springs From Cloud to Fish: the Shadow of my Wings Dream'd over sleeping Deluge: piloted The Blast that bore Sulayman's Throne: and led The Cloud of Birds that canopied his Head; Whose Word I brought to Balkis: and I shared The Counsel that with Asaf he prepared.50 And now you want a Khalif: and I know Him, and his whereabout, and How to go: And go alone I could, and plead your cause Alone for all: but, by the eternal laws, Yourselves by Toil and Travel of your own Must for your old Delinquency atone.

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