Sol 5.6

  1. A habit bent on slaughter rejects all fear of perils;

    my spear’s quarry is among the kings of the principalities.

  2. We journeyed from mountains—ourselves mountains of valor—

    such is our passion, though fate may not favor us.

  3. On horses whose provisions—and ours—we made

    consist of galloping and bold advance on the day swords cross.

  4. Upon them are men quick to spring, high on their backs,

    seeking death and frequenting destruction’s watering-pool.

  5. I called them by night, and they rose at my summons

    like the rising wave-crests of the tossing sea,

  6. against every formidable champion, made gaunt by blows,

    and every spearhead streaming with the heart’s blood.

  7. Whatever you wished was there: a fierce assailant, unbridled,

    and one locked chest-to-chest with his match, not fencing with swords.

  8. I knew the children of Eve before ever testing them—

    and who, in this age, can you find who truly knows?

  9. His surmises show you what has passed from your sight,

    with firm resolve revealing what the unseen conceals.

  10. A tribe dwelling in debauchery, delighted by

    the plaintive strains of amusements and the din of instruments.

  11. On the day of alarm, you see horror itself in their assaults,

    when they drive their mares headlong into hazards.

  12. Bear this message of mine to the people of Iraq: indeed,

    I count their pride among mankind’s curiosities.

  13. We made camp; they greeted us with abuse and incited

    against us every cur skilled at hamstringing.

  14. Never did they slash jugulars as cruelly as they wronged their guests,

    nor lavish wealth as freely as they offered up their backsides.

  15. After him whose grave now lies in Harran,

    clasped by the hands of tempestuous winds,

  16. their peoples fell, the day he set forth in farewell,

    borne on the bier. What was it they wrapped in the shrouds?

  17. They buried the very soul of bounty and the hand that dealt death,

    the heart’s desire of those whose hopes rested in him, and the fearful one’s refuge.

Sol 5.6