Baqi, the beauty of the King, the heart's delight, behold! The mirror of the work of God, the Lord of Eight, behold! The dear old man hath passed away from th' Egypt sad, the world; The youthful Prince, alert and fair as Joseph bright, behold! The Sun hath risen, and the Dawning gray hath touched its bourne; The lovely face of yon Khusrev, whose soul is light, behold! This chase now to the grave hath sent the Behram of the Age; Go, at his threshold serve, King Erdeshir aright, behold! The blast of Fate to all the winds hath blown Suleiman's throne; Sultan Selim Khan on Iskender's couch of might, behold! The Tiger of the mount of war to rest in sleep hath gone; The Lion who doth now keep watch on glory's height, behold! The Peacock fair of Eden's mead hath soared to Heaven's parterre; The luster of the _huma_ of high, happy flight, behold! Eternal may the glory of the heaven-high Khusrev dwell! Blessings be on the Monarch's soul and spirit—and farewell!
"_We roam the waters far and wide, And bring confusion to our enemies; Revenge and hatred is our motto._" TURKISH SEA SONG OF SIDI.
(INTRODUCTION BY PROFESSOR ARMINIUS VAMBERY)
The book of the Turkish Admiral Sidi Ali Reis, entitled "_Mirat ul Memalik_" (the Mirror of Countries), is in many ways interesting. In the first place, on account of the personality of the author, in whom we see a man of many varied accomplishments; a genuine type of the Islamitic culture of his time, and a representative of that class of official and military dignitaries to whose influence it is chiefly due that the Ottoman Empire, extending over three continents, attained to that eminent height of culture which it occupied during the reign of Suleiman the Great. Sidi Ali is the descendant of an illustrious family connected with the arsenal at Galata, in whom love for the sea seems to have been hereditary, and hence, as the Turkish publisher points out in his preface, Sidi Ali, being thoroughly acquainted with the nautical science of his day, excels as author on maritime subjects.
As a man of general culture, he was in harmony with the prevailing notions of his time, as mathematician, astronomer, and geographer; and also as poet, theologian, and in all branches of general literature; sometimes wielding his pen in writing lyrical or occasional verses, at other times entering into keen controversial disputes upon certain Koran theses or burning schismatic questions.