1. Defenders of the glory, where is steadfast peace?
And where are the firm covenants and pacts?

2. Promises, like the delusions of hopes beyond them,
And vows, like scattered flying dust.

3. The sword has long inflicted torment while still sheathed,
And it fell upon the terrified while still stripped bare.

4. You claimed and we believed, you spoke and lies denied you,
Your actions initiated while we were disciplined.

5. As if violence is a playground, as if havoc is a passion,
As if spilt blood is a refreshing drink.

6. As if the groans of the dying are, in your ears,
Echoing songs that keep repeating.

7. As if Eve’s children are driven, multitudes of them,
To war’s fierce furnace, driven ostriches.

8. As if God’s Book is nonsense, as if you
Are lords over people, obeyed and worshipped.

9. You have filled the horizons of the earth with a fire, so
In constant fear, peopled only with the outstretched.

10. In Egypt, a tremor; the India, a calamity;
In China, darkness; and in Syria, an appointment.

11. If the atmosphere has been ennobled with the sword,
Then the abyss of the ocean rages in awe.

12. You refused, so there is no refuge to be found on earth
For anyone fleeing, or a way to ascend to a star.

13. Guarantors of peace, do not erase the world
And do not slaughter its civilization as it is born!

14. You have trifled with the hopes of nations, so they have grown
To hate the life they once loved and praised.

15. If the wretched are noisy in their misery,
The tormented people were not served death more bitter.

16. The earth sprouted its children, and havoc at its peak
Consumes souls and reaps them.

17. And the spring of money is dry, so provision is scarce,
And one seeking sustenance exerts himself to exhaustion.

18. The business of countries fails and comes to an end,
And the civilization of nations passes away.

19. The events of today and yesterday and their impact
And what they foretell before tomorrow is born!

20. The little girls wishing they had been
Hidden from what they witness and see.

21. As if the stars of fortune in days of ill fate
As if the world is embers and darkness from havoc,

22. Hell, heated for the disobedient and kindled.
As if the tormented were pelted with calamities

23. Molten iron and solid lead from it.
Events that history has never witnessed before

24. Are relayed, or precedents recounted.
If what people saw before was jest,

25. Then this contains no jest or spouting.
The devils of war are preparing devices

26. Measuring their numbers, then assembling troops.
They have invented ingenious weapons and supplies -

27. Before their like, minds are dumbfounded and extinguished.
Armies are confused by their devastation

28. While death there desires, lingers, and settles.
Havoc springs from them, so generations are not peaceful

29. If you make their lifespans rebel.
With its decrees the prey surrenders to its judge

30. If you make their lifespans rebel.
It brings together its implements while in chaos

31. And assembles its flock while dispersed.
No soul has met its like of terror

32. Nor eye seen it nor hand clasped.
Wars whose burdens the ages stoop under

33. Though it is massive-shouldered and powerful.
To it are driven those who have children, and for them

34. Is nought but orphanhood, then a needy successor.
They take refuge from the horror of separation with eyes

35. Flooded with sorrow - lonely and unaccompanied.
With pent-up torment a horrified lament bursts forth

36. Frightening the supplicant and arresting endurance.
If an eye thirsts for sleep, anguished grief keeps it awake

37. Rising and sitting back down.
And if tenderaffection begins to smolder in it,

38. Then blazing agony persists unabated.
Their tears from the torment of separation converge

39. Two naked blades, and a third still sheathed.
And havoc of sword and war is not heeded

40. As is havoc of tears and separation gather.
It went to havoc while the soul was distraught with sorrow

41. Infatuated but the heart scorching and extinguished.
When the walls and banners of the army came into view

42. The troops approached and moved away.
It remembered in Berlin a home and sanctuary

43. While from Berlin home and sanctuary have departed.
And there remains only war, its projectiles

44. Raining down, the earth quaking because of them.
Fires erupted on all sides from every launcher

45. As blood congealed between their confines.
The spirits there took flight, a chaos

46. That God’s Azrael collects as God observes.
Projectiles fill the sky, pouring destruction,

47. From a terrifying fate, a skilled sharpshooter.
When it afflicts fortresses, their heights crumble

48. And the solid is shaken at its foundations.
If another denies its destruction, then from destruction

49. Comes to it what cannot be denied.
If it storms them, entreaty does not benefit them

50. Even if its victim bows to the ground in prostration.
It tries means of escape - perhaps it

51. Will be saved if it quickly takes flight.
It wishes it could nestle into a dove

52. And hide beneath its wings a singing nightingale.
But the horizons are ruled by a soaring eagle

53. Circling the lairs of prey, on the hunt.
It swoops down on it with misfortunes even if

54. It could ascend by means of the heavens and knot them.
While another, when havoc loses its way

55. And dark night befalls it, confused and cold
Lights up for it the darkness of the unknown

56. Exposing from afar, guiding its path, leading the way.
When regiments weaponless are exposed

57. What they concealed armored is uncovered.
And if another resists the chaos in assembly

58. Phantoms of chaos approach, threatening harm.
It warns in its burning agony while thrown into confusion

59. And is roused in its distress while disconcerted.
From safe comfortable sleep it longs to have nested

60. In a guarded precious egg, a place to rest its head.
And its victim yearns for a sip of security

61. Even if the tips of its ribs are the watering hole.
Brussels, guardian of Namur, stand firm

62. For even if no ally, glory and tribute belong to the steadfast!
Withstand, like the titans do in war, and be patient

63. Even if siege tightens your sides, severe and complex.
Do not deny, when iron hunger assails

64. A provision like gifts or even better quality.
For that is the bride-price of conquest, and valour's courtship

65. And that is its jewellery, pure metal conferred.
The lionized cities have never boasted a trinket,

66. Even if its necklaces are pearls and topaz.
None who was honorable has seen what you have achieved

67. And none who was righteous has seen your equal.
All the people of the world pass as does

68. Its vanities; only the reputable survive immortalized.
Take history’s scrolls white and inscribe upon them

69. From glory what I recite and dictate to you!
You have exemplified for Namur steadfast preservation

70. As if destiny keeps vigil plotting its intricate schemes.
Greetings to Namur while frustrated victory

71. Plots against it and the enraged army nurses resentment.
It called but was ignored, then it shouted but she turned away,

72. So it became enraged and began to threaten forcefully.
She was not alarmed by what it intended and sought

73. Nor afraid of what confronted her and promised her.
It bombarded her while destiny’s arrows take frightened flight

74. But she settles unafraid and does not waver.