III.

All praise to the First Sultan, MAHMOOD THE GHAZNAVIDE! His fame be like the firmament, As moveless and as wide! MAHMOOD, who saw before him Pagoda'd Bramah fall-- Twelve times he swept the orient earth From Bagdad to Bengal; Twelve times amid their Steppes of ice He smote each Golden Horde[7]-- Round the South's sultry isles twelve times His ships resistless pour'd; MAHMOOD--his tomb in Ghazna For many an age shall show The mighty mace with which he laid DU'S hideous idol low. True soldier of the Prophet! From Somnauth's gorgeous shrine He tore the gates of sandal-wood, The carven gates divine; He hung them vow'd, in Ghazna, To Allah's blest renown-- Trophies of endless sway they tower, For unto earth's remotest hour What boastful man may hope the power Again to take them down?