1. Blame not fate, nor chide at her decree,
The valiant, when adversity strikes, flee.

2. With patience meet misfortune, God rewards
The steadfast, for in patience lie rewards.

3. What tears can change the blow that fate ordains?
Or turn aside the will of destiny's reigns?

4. Time has decreed, and rules as conqueror still,
We suffered, and prolonged what fate did will.

5. To fight with destiny is to court defeat,
Not weep the gone, though passing bitter-sweet.

6. None lost to us have perished, though they died,
Full many a home, decked once in splendor's pride

7. Lies ruined now, its glories swept aside,
And spacious plains where men at ease would ride,

8. Are folded close in death's tenacious grip,
As fearless they of any insect's nip.

9. At night a tent, at dawn naught but a grave,
Upon their homes the winds of devastation rave,

10. Pursuing ever those that danger braved,
With speed that robes and wrappings stripped and shaved,

11. Trampling the bounds and all defences craved,
Like lightning shafts dispersing lives depraved.

12. We strive, yet time sweeps us aside like waves,
How many ties of love stern fate disgraves!

13. How many friends and lovers now in graves!
How subjects, masters, free and bonded slaves,

14. United once, were parted through its staves!
A flood of woes o'erfloods the vales and knaves,

15. Dark clouds and thunderstay drown reason's caves,
Buffeting us, our wits are lost in waves.

16. Amazement take, that such events amaze,
Setting astir both minds and reason's ways.

17. Though fate may strike, its arrows poised to slay,
Its grip has seized us, drawn us to obey,

18. Our bones it jars, their hardness swept away.
To greet a fate the valiant dread, appalls,

19. They scorn the taste of death's infecting galls,
Now tossed in triumph, now in danger sprawls.

20. When destiny insisted I comply,
Protesting not, I donned mortality.

21. Why did I draw the blade, and knot the cord?
Why saddle up, when fates said nay the word?

22. With high souls, we mortal to the grave.
The lions in the fray, their rage we brave,

23. Honor and faith were torn from their crave.
Horsemen and footmen, not a soul to save,

24. Guarding our bounds, yet no stealth did stave
The call of fate, our hands lost pow'r to wave,

25. Our souls were crushed, bereft of any salve.
No wound could stab, no blow could bruise or carve

26. Headlong we plunged midst the darkest wave,
How many friends and peers died young in age!

27. Rushing pell-mell to join death's pilgrimage.
From them we wait no promised message sage,

28. To them we speak no trust or patronage.
They pay no heed to doors or hermitage,

29. No reply make, whatever we engage.
For fate they wore the helmet and the badge,

30. O branch prolonged, which bloomed beyond death's cage,
When you did wilt, I trusted you to earth,

31. But from your day, I gained so little worth.
I still implore the clouds to water your hearth,

32. Each burial dove still weaves sorrow's girth,
Dragging on the sands robes of deepest dearth,

33. Preserving but the wreckage foulest birth,
Then circles back, bent in grief's ample girth.

34. If you are clad in shrouds that time does swathe,
I count my weeping foolishness and scathe.

35. Make not your wont a discipline of death,
Meet your fate with book of deeds praiseworthy.