Mahomet

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834)

(Died June 8, A.D. 632)

UTTER the song, O my soul! the flight and return of Mahomet,

Prophet and priest, who scattered abroad both evil and blessing,

Huge wasteful empires founded and hallowed slow persecution,

Soul-withering, but crushed the blasphemus rites of the Pagan

And idolatrous Christians.—For veiling the Gospel of Jesus,

They, the best corrupting, had made it worse than the vilest.

Wherefore Heaven decreed th’ enthusiast warrior of Mecca,

Choosing good from iniquity rather than evil from goodness.

Loud the tumult in Mecca surrounding the fane of the idol;—

Naked and prostrate the people were laid—the people with mad shouts

Thundering now, and now with saddest ululation

Flew, as over the channel of rock-stone the ruinous river

Shatters its waters abreast, and in mazy uproar bewildered,

Rushes dividuous all—all rushing impetuous onward.