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Majesties saying that they appreciate his expressions of
loyalty to Their Majesties as expressed in his poem which
they have read.
Yours sincerely,
Lady-in-Waiting. (Sd.) I. CARR BRUCE.
This Ode was Nizamat Jung's first poetical
expression of personal loyalty to the King. He
had had the honour of meeting him and showing
him over the Victoria Memorial Orphanage when
he had come out to India as Prince of Wales
in 1906. The remembrance of the Prince's
courtesy on that occasion may have imparted
a warmth to his feelings in certain lines.
Sir Nizamat Jung's Islamic Poems of which
I brought out a few in 1935, are a subject by
themselves. The Spirit of Light, a favourite of
mine, has been used by me as a prelude to that
series, though it does not belong to it. It is an
invocation and carries an inspiring message of
serene high hope—truly Islamic.
Spirit of light, from starry mansions straying,
Whose flight is o'er this world of woe and strife ;
On, on thy course, to mortal hearts conveying
God's meaning of the mystery of life.
On, on thy course, wide-scattering from each pinion
Sparks that shall leave behind a trail of fire,
To guide mankind from passion's dire dominion
To purer heavens of the soul's desire ;
To cheer them, toil-worn weary and benighted,
With heaven-born hope pure as the Dawn's first ray ;
To gladden them in Sorrow's gloom affrighted,
With thy sure promise of Eternal Day !