1. The swords gleam bright, the lances tower high,
War bares her fangs, the lion roars his cry.

2. The lion now the fort and refuge lacks,
Naught will avail but spears of iron and axes.

3. Rome spends her all though grudging gifts she bring,
Is Death now kinder to the offering?

4. The troops from him, the messengers that run
Across the Gulf, the missives that have gone!

5. God has a sword that longs its worth to prove,
A State that envies its pride and fame enough!

6. A lover, scornful of the horseman's blows,
Who fain would save the highborn from their foes!

7. I smell the smoke of battle, or ere long
The forts will yield smoking surrender, wronged.

8. His longing and the lances couched to hand
For fight, not bright eyes, make the squadron stand.

9. As 'twere the roar of floods in wild commotion,
The neighing of the steed, the waving ocean!

10. He came, he showed them of his judgment proof
Like naked sword unsheathed to smite reproof!

11. The peaks contested have his strong ascent,
The heights steep-scarped are to his might low bent!

12. Suffice thee now thy long shirt's flowing folds,
If still the long shirt o'er thy corpse enfolds!

13. His charger tramps the rocks with thundering din,
And their defiles are darkened by his train.

14. He holds Khurshīn of the mountain coast in view,
And horses plunge and banners wave anew,

15. Into that fortress leads his steed the van,
And hoists his standards, sword in hand, the man.

16. Blood is the torrent there, or flaming fire,
Alike the red blood and the red torch dire!

17. Samandū saw the evil she had done,
No strength in her his progress to have shunned!

18. An undeflowered maid Islam ne'er profaned,
No Muslim's noble sword her wreath has stained!

19. Dauntless the lion thrusts him in the strife,
The dauntless lion drives on welcoming life.

20. But for thy battle had the Cross ne'er bowed,
Nor mosque resounded with the Faith's loud crowd!

21. The scabbards split before the Axes' shine
And the pale stars obscured by swords resign!

22. Your sword has blest that land with might, and pride,
Your falchion's flash each ling'ring cloud defied!

23. Till Sāmiri's breast drank deep the bloody dew,
And every upright knight his vigour knew!

24. With all that great reserve of Men you passed,
Lances ere gathered, and when gathered, massed!

25. A surging sea - the squadrons galloping on,
As seas that surge by wild winds driven and torn!

26. Until on Tarsus you exulting gazed,
As the bright rainbow o'er it gleaming blazed!

27. And found you generous, no weak miser hand,
Though on you wasting showers might vainly fall!

28. Till when those hills their laughter showed, and joy,
And o'er their pastures smile replacing coy,

29. You with the trenchant blade unto them led
Till the shy flocks the smiles accusing fled!

30. The sea supplied a draught in your despite
From hand that recked not save of named delight!

31. And Syria, did she find one refuge spot,
Had fled your falch'ion's all-discovering shot!

32. They came to you, till toil was overpast,
And fear grew calm and rest was reached at last!

33. Who blamed you justly, justice did declare,
And blame was found the least of treasures there!

34. You are the clouds that lightnings quickening sheathe,
Shall the dread thunder spare one spot beneath?

35. To your allies with trust you still incline,
And fail no hope of theirs, however mean!

36. You bend to hear their praise - no thought can move,
No word can hurt you in your calm of love!

37. The Soul salutes you both, sweet gales that bring,
All fragrant from your happy meeting, Spring!

38. These shattered hosts suffice now for your fame,
Though frail the shattered yet majestic name!

39. The Days gone by you blessed, that race of old,
And days that are, you bless a hundredfold!