George Meredith

Name: The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk
Author: George Meredith

The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

Summary

“The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk”, published in 1909, is a work by George Meredith. It explores elements such as Shibli Bagarag, hawk and the City of Oolb.

Quotes from The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (George Meredith)

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ The hawk flew, and soared, and alighted on the topmost of the towers of Oolb. So when it returned he said, 'O bird! rare bird! my counsellor! it is an indication, this alighting on the highest tower, that thou advisest me to go straight to the palace of the King?'
The hawk flapped its wings and winked both eyes; so Shibli Bagarag took forth the phial from his breast, remembering the virtues of the waters of the Well of Paravid, and touched his lips with them, that he might be endowed with flowing speech before the King of Oolb. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ There was a berth in the ship set apart for Shibli Bagarag, and one for the captain. Shibli Bagarag, when he entered his berth, beheld at the head of his couch a hawk; its eyes red as rubies, its beak sharp as the curve of a scimitar. So he called out to the captain, and the captain came to him; but when he saw the hawk, he plucked his turban from his head, and dashed it at the hawk, and afterward ran to it, trying to catch it; and the hawk flitted from corner to corner of the berth, he after it with open arms. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ Then said Shibli Bagarag, 'For this I praise Noorna bin Noorka, daughter of Feshnavat, Vizier of the King that ruleth in the city of Shagpat! She saw me, that I was marked for greatness. Wullahy, the eagle knoweth me from afar, and proclaimeth me; the antelope of the hills scenteth the coming of one not as other men, and telleth his tidings ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ Shibli Bagarag thought, 'There's scarce a doubt but that one of those sails will set for Oolb shortly. Wullahy! if I knew which, I'd board her and win a berth in her.' Presently he thought, 'I'll go to the public fountain and question it with the speech-winning waters.' Thereupon he passed down the streets of the city and came to an open space, where stood the fountain, and sprinkled it with Paravid; and the fountain spake, saying, 'Where men are, question not dumb things.'
Cried he, 'Faileth Paravid in its power? ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ We of the City of Oolb take our fashions from them of the City of Shagpat, and it is but yesterday that I bastinadoed a barber that strayed among us.'
Shibli Bagarag sighed when he heard the King, and thought to himself, 'How unfortunate is the race of barbers, once honourable and in esteem! Surely it will not be otherwise till Shagpat is shaved!' And the King called out to him for the cause of his sighing ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ Then dropped he a drop of the waters of the phial on a spike of lavender, and there was a voice said to him in reply to what he questioned, 'The path of the shadows of the sun.'
The shadows of the sun were thrown forward across the same waste of sand, and he turned and pursued his way, resting at noon beneath a date-tree, and refreshing himself at a clear spring beside it. Surely he was joyful as he went, and elated with high prospects, singing:
Sun and moon with their bright fingers
Point the hero's path ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Meredith, The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (1909)

“ Then the other said:
'Know that I am captain of yonder vessel, that stands farthest out from the harbour with her sails slackened; and she is laden with figs and fruits which I exchange for silks, spices, and other merchandise, with the people of Oolb. Now, what says the poet?—
"Delay in thine undertaking
Is disaster of thy own making";
and he says also:
"Greatness is solely for them that succeed ”

George Meredith

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Quotes from The Shaving of Shagpat — The Talking Hawk (George Meredith)

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