Sol 6

  1. I begin in Your name, O Greatest of Names.

    O You who spread the barren lands across plains and heights,

  2. And raised their seven heavens in perfection,

    You hear the oppressed one's prayer and those of noble people.

  3. From there, set out seeking rest,

    And take with you, young men, whatever provisions you can.

  4. You will reach Abu Mahmoud, finest of the generous men,

    Courteous to his neighbors, a lion who protects them.

  5. When you arrive, make the camels kneel by the tents.

    You will find my people, who delight in visitors.

  6. They will welcome you, sons of the protector of noble women.

    A bey who honors guests and generous people.

  7. Young men, tell me how the mountain fares,

    From Anzha to Buraq and the land of Mutun.

  8. I ask the Lord; the longing shows in my eyes.

    O lord of the two seas, hear my words.

  9. Bring news to gladden the heart, O messengers.

    What happened to our people in the hour of battle?

  10. No news reaches us, and accounts of it are confused.

    Who will tell me and satisfy my longing?

  11. The young man went to answer the bey, O people:

    Hear my words, though my account is long; that is no harm.

  12. Our dwellings and their people are humbled without a foundation.

    A land without counsel becomes desolate.

  13. Since you left, O bey, we have been brought low,

    Under the rule of those whose speech humiliates us.

  14. No, the hearts of brave men did not grow weary,

    Yet we became ashamed to wear our turbans.

  15. I will tell you of Arman and what happened there.

    The gendarme Abdou Effendi advanced; we met him.

  16. May your Lord repay him for his tyranny.

    He and his companions drank the cup of death.

  17. On the day of ruin, even nursing infants seemed to turn gray.

    Saadi called upon the scattered young men.

  18. Like a fierce clash, men on both sides fell wounded.

    May those who struggled amid the stones be shown mercy.

  19. At noon your Lord brought us relief.

    We became like lions of the forest.

  20. Then they halted, and we pressed after them.

    You could hear the ringing of swords like a bell.

  21. They stripped it of stones and supporting beams.

    In the iron's clash, fighting came upon us.

  22. The sons of Suwayda took hold of the hard struggle.

    With help, they gave it its full due.

  23. The battle of Suwayda was a battle of biting and stabbing.

    Fiercer than the wars they tell me of.

  24. The foremost of your men rushed toward the cannon.

    They cut into them like sheep among wolves.

  25. O bey, if you had seen the bared teeth,

    And the volleys of cannon, like the Day of Resurrection.

  26. We spent the night with defeat bearing down on them.

    They lay awake in worry and woke bewildered.

  27. The officers consulted with the field marshal:

    ‘Let us save our lives and leave in peace.’

  28. In the mountain war, O bey, we became sorely burdened.

    From us and from them, some eighty were lost.

  29. We sought relief for hearts full of grief.

    Sound counsel from those fit to give it brings peace.

  30. Then fortune favored us on the day of the assault on Qanawat.

    How many soldiers and pashas we killed,

  31. And how many fine horses we took from the bloodlines:

    By a full count, five hundred bridles.

  32. Shahba took some of us aside in battle.

    We split in two, and God scattered us apart.

  33. We were together, O bey, and God guided us.

    We gained praise, honor, dignity, and courage.

  34. They surrounded us from Homs to al-Jawf to Ma'an.

    The people of the north, our companions, were fair in conduct.

  35. The mountain people were thieves of salt, dark in deed.

    They stole and gave us no answer in return.

  36. Our fortune turned away and misfortune came upon us.

    We dug pits for one another and were worn down.

  37. We are prey to a beast that seems ready to devour us.

    The jackal ate, the dog too, while the owl stood guard.

  38. After this, O bey, the mountain's honor rose in revolt.

    We protect the one who seeks shelter and honor guest and neighbor.

  39. Time turned like a wheel, like the revolving heavens.

    The branches I mentioned failed the noble roots.

  40. These are my words; hear more, O bey.

    We comfort eyes that watch for you every hour.

  41. We weep for you whenever your memory comes.

    O bey, we bear you neither spite nor blame.

Sol 6