Charles Godfrey Leland
The brave deserve the lovely - every woman may be won.Collection: Bravery
The Lord of Learning who upraised mankind from being silent brutes to singing men.Collection: Learning
To Paradise, the Arabs say, Satan could never find the way Until the peacock led him in.Collection: Paradise
Up rose the wild old winter-king, And shook his beard of snow; "I hear the first young hard-bell ring, 'Tis time for me to go! Northward o'er the icy rocks, Northward o'er the sea, My daughter comes with sunny locks: This land's too warm for me!Collection: Daughter
Sweet music! sacred tongue of God.Collection: Music
But, as old Swedish legends say, Of all the birds upon that day, The swallow felt the deepest grief, And longed to give her Lord relief, And chirped when any near would come. Hugswala swala swal honom! Meaning, as they who tell it deem, Oh, cool, oh, cool and comfort Him!Collection: Grief
Among the flowers no perfume is like mine; That which is best in me comes from within. So those in this world who would rise and shine Should seek internal excellence to win. And though 'tis true that falsehood and despair Meet in my name, yet bear it still in mind That where they meet they perish. All is fair When they are gone and nought remains behind.Collection: Flower
When in God thou believest, near God thou wilt certainly be.Collection: Belief
Thought is the measure of life.Collection: Thoughts On Life
Jas in the Arab language is despair, And Min the darkest meaning of a lie. Thus cried the Jessamine among the flowers, How justly doth a lie Draw on its head despair! Among the fragrant spirits of the bowers The boldest and the strongest still was I. Although so fair, Therefore from Heaven A stronger perfume unto me was given Than any blossom of the summer hours.Collection: Summer