The following is the dream that heralded the birth of Zartusht, or Zoroaster, the great prophet and teacher of the Persians: -

'She dreamed she wondering marked in heaven's clear skies A cloud like to an eagle's pinion rise.

So thick a gloom its gathering shadow spread,

The sun is veiled, the day grows dark and dread;

And from that cloud no rain, but strange to tell .

Lions and tigers, wolves and dragons fell;

The crocodile and panther of the waste,

All that is horrible, misshapen, vast:

The writhing serpent, and the bird obscene,

All things detested that the eye has seen,

Or fancy feigned, and still with gathering storm

Fast falls each savage shape and grisly form.

Sudden from forth that phantom train appears

One who than all a ghastlier semblance wears.

On Daghdu rushing, in her tender side

The direful monster tore an opening wide,

And thence the infant Zartusht in his grasp

Dragged forth to light - death seemed in every gasp.

But on their prey, ere yet those jaws could close,

Loud threatening shouts as those of men arose,

And in that hour of seeming misery,

While hapless Daghdu strove for aid to cry -

"Wail not," her infant said," for not from these

Shall harm approach me or destruction seize,

God is my guardian and protection. He

From every evil thing shall keep me free;

Then dread not, though you view assembled here

These monsters grim, and loathsome forms of fear."

Cheered with these words the mother calms her care,

When, lo! a hill descends from upper air,

And from its side beams forth refulgent light,

Dispels the clouds and breaks the gloom of night.

Then comes a hurrying blast, before whose breath

Fast fly those grim aspects and shapes of death.

When nearer came that holy light, was seen

An angel form - a youth of heavenly mien.

Fair as the morn, a shepherd youth he seems,

And Jamshid's lustrous glory round him beams.

In his right hand he holds a dazzling wand;

Hell shrinks aghast before his vengeful brand -

His left supports the oracles of heaven -

The written word for man's instruction given.

These when they see, back quail the demon crew,

And, hid in air, are lost to human view.

Three shapes alone of all the monster train -

A wolf, a lion, and a pard remain.

The youth, advancing, in their savage gaze

Hears his bright wand, and darts its dazzling blaze;

Vainly before his steps the fiends retire,

And wrapt in fierce consuming flames expire.

The infant Zartusht, rescued from the tomb,

Again is sheltered in his mother's womb,

Her wound is healed by mercy from above,

And hell's fierce rage is foiled by heavenly love.

To Daghdu then the heavenly stripling said -

"Arise, nor let thy heart grow faint with dread;

Comfort thee, for from thee a child shall spring

On whom shall rest the favour of heaven's King;

The world beholds the glad event with joy

And future ages hail the promised boy.

A prophet of the truth, his pen shall trace

To a lost world the mysteries of grace.

Glad earth rejoices at his coming feet,

The wolf and lamb in peace and union meet;

Then let no anxious care thy breast alarm,

Whom God protects is safe from every harm."

Thus spake the youth, and vanished from her sight,

And with him fled the vision of the night.

Daghdu is left alone, and busy thought

Recalls the dream with strange forebodings fraught.

A neighbouring sage there was, well skilled to read The circling stars, and tell the fates decreed. Nor of less worth, to him fair Daghdu speaks Her fears, and pity and instruction seeks, And asks what destiny prepares? and how The sure event of future years to know? Said then the man of age - "But few, I ween, Such dream, such marvels of the night have seen. First be thy infant born, ere I relate To thy glad ear the oracles of fate. All that thy heart desires thy child shall give; Through him to distant lands thy name shall live; His glory shall o'ershadow earth; his foes Shall quail before him, and in vain oppose. Go then, and when three days are past, return And the bright tidings of the future learn." He said, and Daghdu seeks her home. Her breast Is filled with care; nor food nor needful rest She takes till fail three suns, and the fourth day Casts o'er the earth its joy inspiring ray. Again the seer she seeks; glad smiled the sage, And rising thoughts his labouring mind engage. With quadrant viewing then, he marks with care What signs and changes in the sun appear. And next the stars observing, he discerns The horoscope, and slow surveys by turns Bahrain and Nahid, Tir and Kaiwan old, Each planet circling in its path of gold. He sees the moment of conjunction bright With fortunes fair and joy's unfading light, And thus he speaks - "I view a destiny Of hope sublime, and wondrous augury; Know that thy son, great, virtuous, and wise, High o'er his sires in glory's path shall rise."