Told in the Gate Author:Arlo Bates Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE CITY OF IREM. , wandering through the sun-bleached A v. sands Of Aden, seeking toilsomely the trace Of his strayed camels, came in very truth To that l... more »ost city, hid from eyes of men, Sheddad builded of old ere Allah sent A sea of wrath to overwhelm his pride. Mightiest of all earth nourished was Sheddad, Like Allah's self in strength and wealth and fame; But like the sin of Eblis was his sin. As Eblis, born of fire, refused to bow To clay-born man, though Allah gave command, So in his scorn Sheddad would not bow down Even to Allah, matching human might With His who made it. "All that Allah can," Sheddad had vowed with pride that soared to heaven, " I can no less. Even that Paradise Which He hath built on high my hand on earth Shall far out-build." And at his word there rose Irem, such city as earth had not seen Till then, nor shall again till Judgment Day. Far Allah stood aloof till all was done; But then His lightnings fell, and in a breath Sheddad and all his hosts were and were not. Yet for a sign was Irem left unscorched, Perfect in beauty ; though the eyes of men Seek it in vain. Invisible it stands Amid the wastes of Aden till earth fall. Faithful Kelabah walked in Allah's sight, Careful in all the law, and giving alms To half his substance; but his secret heart Was cankered with the sin of Eblis, — pride Like his who builded Irem to his fall. But Allah, the compassionate, had love Unto Kelabah; and in Aden's sands Led his feet to the gates invisible Of vanished Irem, showing all things plain, That he might see the punishment of pride, And learn how frail is man's best virtuousness. The camels of Kelabah strayed away Into the wastes of Aden, and he went With one poor camel-driver at his side Seeking them there; and as they took their way ...« less