Salmagundi (Huddesford, 1791)/A Morsel for a Mussulman

by J. S.

A MORSEL FOR A MUSSULMAN:

OR

A REVELATION OF THE FUTURE STATE OF
DECEASED FEMALES,

IN REFUTATION OF THE SUPPOSED MAHOMETAN
DOCTRINE, ASSERTING THAT WOMEN HAVE NO SOULS,
AND ARE EXCLUDED FROM PARADISE.

 

———NON ME IMPIA NAMQUE
TARTARA HABENT TRISTESQUE UMBRÆ: SED AMENA———
CONCILIA ELYSIUMQUE COLO.———
TARTARA HABENT TRISTESQUE UMBRÆ: SEVIRG. ÆN. L. 5.

 

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From the blest realms where Paradise displays
Her empyrean splendour's ceaseless blaze,
And bids her groves of vegetable gold
To genial gales immortal blooms unfold;
From nectar'd streams where Houris, heavenly-fair,
Bathe the bright tresses of their odorous hair.
To Zeyneib, loveliest of the passive train
That 'midst the Haram's hated glooms complain,
Alzira's happy Shade appearing, steals
A pause from bliss, and thus her ſtate reveals;

"Say to the tyrant Man, whose pride denies
"Thy sex a Soul, and bars them from the skies,
"That when the date of female worth expires,
"And sickening Nature yields her latest fires,
"When beams no more the lustre of the eye,
"And death o'er beauty hails his victory,
"To life by Fate recall'd, the Sex assume
"Celestial charms, and never-fading bloom;
"In roscate bowers recline, or blissful rove
"Thro' scenes of boundless joy and rapturous love;
"That there, so Heaven ordains, a blooming band
"Of Youths, obsequious to each Fair's command,
"Attentive waits, and, as her fancy wills,
"Each task of duty or of love fulfills.—

"Then to the peremptory Tyrant say,
"Who hopes this lot in Heaven must Here obey,
"Bow to superior worth, to sense refin'd,
"Bless the benignant sway of Womankind,
"Hail the fair Fabrick of an Hand Divine,
"And own the Soul that animates the Shrine.—
"Or, driven for ever from the realms above,
"His Soul in vain shall pant for Heavenly Love."