Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — The Leap of Roushan Beg

Mounted on Kyrat strong and fleet, His chestnut steed with four white feet,        &nbsp Roushan Beg, called Kurroglou, Son of the road and bandit chief, Seeking refuge and relief,        &nbsp Up the mountain pathway flew. Such was Kyrat's wondrous speed, Never yet could any steed        &nbsp Reach the dust-cloud in his course. More than maiden, more than wife, More than gold and next to life        &nbsp Roushan the Robber loved his horse. In the land that lies beyond Erzeroum and Trebizond,        &nbsp Garden-girt his fortress stood; Plundered khan, or caravan Journeying north from Koordistan,        &nbsp Gave him wealth and wine and food. Seven hundred and fourscore Men at arms his livery wore,        &nbsp Did his bidding night and day. Now, through regions all unknown, He was wandering, lost, alone,        &nbsp Seeking without guide his way. Suddenly the pathway ends, Sheer the precipice descends,        &nbsp Loud the torrent roars unseen; Thirty feet from side to side Yawns the chasm; on air must ride        &nbsp He who crosses this ravine. Following close in his pursuit, At the precipice's foot,        &nbsp Reyhan the Arab of Orfah Halted with his hundred men, Shouting upward from the glen,        &nbsp "La Illah illa Allah!" Gently Roushan Beg caressed Kyrat's forehead, neck, and breast;        &nbsp Kissed him upon both his eyes; Sang to him in his wild way, As upon the topmost spray        &nbsp Sings a bird before it flies. "O my Kyrat, O my steed, Round and slender as a reed,        &nbsp Carry me this peril through! Satin housings shall be thine, Shoes of gold, O Kyrat mine,        &nbsp O thou soul of Kurroglou! "Soft thy skin as silken skein, Soft as woman's hair thy mane,        &nbsp Tender are thine eyes and true; All thy hoofs like ivory shine, Polished bright; O, life of mine,        &nbsp Leap, and rescue Kurroglou!" Kyrat, then, the strong and fleet, Drew together his four white feet,        &nbsp Paused a moment on the verge, Measured with his eye the space, And into the air's embrace        &nbsp Leaped as leaps the ocean surge. As the ocean surge o'er sand Bears a swimmer safe to land,        &nbsp Kyrat safe his rider bore; Rattling down the deep abyss Fragments of the precipice        &nbsp Rolled like pebbles on a shore. Roushan's tasselled cap of red Trembled not upon his head,        &nbsp Careless sat he and upright; Neither hand nor bridle shook, Nor his head he turned to look,        &nbsp As he galloped out of sight. Flash of harness in the air, Seen a moment like the glare        &nbsp Of a sword drawn from its sheath; Thus the phantom horseman passed, And the shadow that he cast        &nbsp Leaped the cataract underneath. Reyhan the Arab held his breath While this vision of life and death        &nbsp Passed above him. "Allahu!" Cried he. "In all Koordistan Lives there not so brave a man        &nbsp As this Robber Kurroglou!