1. The swordsman drew his blade, now interred,
Haunted only by savage beasts and hyenas,

2. This sword and this patience brought no rest
Until this faith was exalted.

3. Once Spain was a sunset realm so you vanquished it
With the sword, and the glowing East shone bright.

4. But foxes have made it their lair once more,
Yesterday it was but a fox's den.

5. Martyrs' skulls have rained upon it,
Signs of their blood a necklace and adornment.

6. Before it was a desert of blood,
A wasteland, now it is a fountain.

7. A sea of corpses tossing, its flotsam
Only ribs and spine-bones of ships.

8. A gifted king met them, graced with glory,
A ringing sword, and the blessed right hand victorious.

9. A king who glows with noble deeds whenever
He appears with grace and majesty.

10.
He led armies with the wisdom of an experienced heir

11. Whose glance his keen eye caught while still a babe.
His resolution firmed, and indeed

12. The spear point strengthens when it softens.
You see the noble strengthen when he shows weakness

13. And the ignoble weaken when he shows weakness.
He led Death and armies till daybreak

14. And Arqash remains his, a fearful lion.

15. You left Arqash while its name still rang
A silent boulder overflowing with springs.

16. If a town could manage pilgrimage one day
It would circle your door as pilgrims circle the Kaaba.

17. Your door met him roaring, then it bent,
And its roar returned as a moan.

18. It met persevering, steadfast heroes from you
Who wasted the flanks of unbelief while fattened.

19. When it saw your banners it fled in terror
While the blaze of unbelief burns hot upon it.

20. It fled without being wronged, but does a man wrong
Who drives off rescue and leaves the serpent behind?

21. You brought calamitous defeats upon Breslau
That made the age of faith laugh though saddened.

22. You struck them with a blow that shatters kidneys
At which a man quails though at rest.

23. A blow like the pangs of childbirth, and beneath it
A stab as if the plague itself speared them.

24. A might that disperses ranks, and beneath it
A view that confuses minds, grave and wise.

25. Your swordsman bared his chest, and it shows
A heart filled from deliverance and triumph.

26. Experience imprisoned the excesses of his youth
For experience is the prison of minds.

27. As night fell you turned away, and yearning
For you keeps constant vigil, tender and pining.

28. He arranged an ambush and waited for his moment
While his hidden ambush lay in wait for him.

29. Oh day of deeds - none like it ever loosed
The fetters of time, though days may be vile.

30. If this opening were doubtful then hearts
Would doubt it - how not, when it is certain?

31. You seized the gate, baffled, short of refuge
While the refuge of misguidance is bitter springs.

32. Yearning pierced his heart so his heart
Was stabbed without a knight's spear-thrust.

33. He hoped for Rome's lands but destiny denied him,
Deaf to salvation, free and stubborn.

34. Alas, he did not know that had you sheltered
In China, China would not be far from you!

35. He attained not what Pharaoh attained
Nor Haman in this world, nor Korah.

36. Rather he was like Dahhak in his tyranny
Over both worlds while you are Feridun.