1. Injustice hastens not success, but right's delay,
And people reap what notions they obey.

2. He who does good finds good, who evil sows
Sees evil spring from all that he bestows.

3. On us men tyrannized; their tyranny
Rebounded and the One, the Mighty aided me.

4. They banded, but they failed to gain their wish,
God made vain all the pacts that they had wished.

5. Deeming themselves secure till hopes betrayed
And Sa'di's cavalry their ranks dismayed.

6. Scarce were they put to flight ere all the band
Lay slain, each with a naked neck in sand

7. Thrown down beneath our feet, as slaughter-bound
Camels stumble and sprawl upon the ground.

8. Sides of Sidon ran blood as we pressed on,
Ras al-Musayriba's slopes with dead were strewn,

9. To Danith's hill they turned in haste to flee
The lances' points that would not turned be,

10. While down our cavaliers' backs lance-handles slid,
Their points transfixing every prostrate lid.

11. To seek disaster yet again they strove
And death for their rash souls again they wove,

12. Nor were our knights like ones who shun the fray
When seas oppresseth them and jackals bay.

13. They knew not,when the torrent on them burst,
Reserves behind them quenched their battle-thirst.

14. You see the tents adrift, as though they were
Mere scum those floods had carried here and there.

15. The spate bore off their baggage, till confused
Were wares and weapons that together fused.

16. Say to the riders home from Aleppo bound,
On swift ogara, noble, precious, sound:

17. 'We sorrowed not o'er those vast hosts you led;
You did us wrong, we nursed you, like a son

18. His parents tends, yet no Kindi guarded us,
Qahtan observed no bond of fellowship.

19. For Syria you set forth when her knights had gone
And wolves took heart till the lion should return.

20. Greed lured you toward our realm, but evil greed
Is ever found where envy takes the lead.

21. India's white gems anew will deck our arms
When we're arrayed, and squadrons block alarms.'

22. But for the Imam, his reverent fear of God,
Not one had crossed the bridge of your abode.

23. Loyalty forbade our blades to smite,
Else had your coursers fled in headlong flight.

24. When you oppressed, no pointless sword we drew,
Only true lances, well-directed, flew.

25. Some hounds, who shunned the battle, would lament
They had not seen how in the mosque we shent

26. And pierced them, while their souls winged terrified -
You know our knights, since twice they scattering tried

27. Your numbers from their tents, whose mats and pegs
Were all untouched by you, no robe that sags.

28. You three millennia, yet we turned you back,
Though only three - what use, then, your pack?

29. Few are not few when champions lead their charge,
Nor many, many with faint hearts at large.

30. But God chastised men of our stock who strayed
When glory passed, intriguing hopes purveyed.

31. Our clan they sold for paltry gain, and so
Swapped honor for the shame that they brought low.

32. Yet some were true whose steps declined the path
Of ruin, barred their foes, incurred their wrath,

33. Warned us 'gainst Syria, if they passed this way,
And for its loss tried hard our minds to sway.

34. Counsel they gave; we did not spurn their rede,
With us they pacted and fulfilled their pledge.

35. You who return in sorrow from Aleppo,
With disappointment heavy in your hearts,

36. You are not the first whose hopes it disappointed,
Not gaining what you sought when you assaulted.

37. You could not take it save by His decree;
You but corrupted what uncorrupted be.

38. You tied the guide-ropes fast, no cause for wonder
The Caliph knows yet finds he can't act on it.

39. No favors primed us to seek access to him,
But good intent alone was our credentials.

40. God forbid the pure Imam e'er promote
shows of piety in the faithless!

41. Seek not on a towering cliff to find a path,
When others before you climbed and fell beneath.

42. Dizbiri we cast down for his disobedience,
Though sword and prop; dead men, around them vultures.

43. They betrayed the Imam - we were not treacherous,
For feeble faith, not ours, had made them reckless.

44. The conqueror we never disobeyed,
Our sword, our shoulder, helper unafraid.

45. Only we obeyed, gave counsel and no grip
Had Mirda's clan except through the Imam's gift.

46. Had they worshiped gods besides the One, this band
Would not have shunned another god's command.

47. Nay, but jealous men around the Imam sowed
Mistrust, though his affection for us overflowed.

48. They slandered us, that he might praise and thank them,
But God be praised! They missed their mark, the schemers!

49. For we are more useful if cares afflict him,
And find what solves the problems troubling him.

50. Wealth, sons and arms respond when he commands,
No other lord but he our hearts and hands.