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LVI, 10-37. THE CHAPTER OF THE INEVITABLE.
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[10] And the foremost foremost 1! These are they who are brought nigh, In gardens of pleasure ! A crowd of those of yore, And a few of those of the latter day! [15] And gold-weft couches, reclining on them face
to face. Around them shall go eternal youths, with goblets
and ewers and a cup of flowing wine; no headache shall they feel therefrom, nor shall their wits
be dimmed ! [20] And fruits such as they deem the best; And flesh of fowl as they desire ; And bright and large-eyed maids like hidden pearls; A reward for that which they have done ! They shall hear no folly there and no sin; [25] Only the speech, 'Peace, Peace !' And the fellows of the right—what right lucky
fellows ! Amid thornless lote trees. And tal'ha trees with piles of fruit; And outspread shade, [30] And water out-poured; And fruit in abundance, neither failing nor for
bidden; And beds upraised ! Verily, we have produced them a production. [35] And made them virgins, darlings of equal age
(with their spouses) for the fellows of the right!
? I.e. the foremost in professing the faith on earth shall be the foremost then.
? The mimosa gummifera is generally so called in Arabia ; but the banana is said to be meant in this passage.
3 The celestial damsels.
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