Sol 6

  1. Release her bonds and loosen her fetters.

    Do you fear her struggle and her fight?

  2. Here come her raids; flee quickly,

    or taste her swords and arrows.

  3. Raid after raid, troop after troop,

    she drives more troops through the spreading blaze.

  4. We are her heroes; we add glory to the first

    men of valor, and we honor the brave.

  5. We charge in earnest, each fierce warrior with a flowing

    coat of mail striding proudly into battle.

  6. We seize the armored horseman in open combat

    when other warriors will resort only to trickery.

  7. We never creep through cover, nor do we

    seek peace while we desire battle.

  8. We have never raised the Book, nor have we

    been like camel drivers concealing men

  9. as the camels plod slowly, carrying to al-Zabba

    death packed within them and punishment.

  10. She hastened to kill her husband, and now she sees

    only husbands falling swiftly.

  11. Lies and deceit beguiled him; he met

    death as a wedding and joined his kin in the dust.

  12. We are a people who regard betrayal and

    treachery as a creeping harm and an incurable disease.

  13. We rally openly to the fierce fight;

    we occupy the hills and climb the mountains.

  14. You will not find us in the bottom of a valley,

    avoiding battle and fearing the ravines.

  15. You see the others hiding in trenches

    in terror, though they have stirred up serpents.

  16. They fill the darkness with dread; when morn-

    ing breaks, they slip away on either side.

  17. Rejoice, Egypt: we are your defending

    protectors; we drive off harm and heal affliction.

  18. We have guarded all that is sacred to the Nile

    and refused to let its honor be violated.

  19. We met the invaders’ forces there

    with forces that only burn more fiercely.

  20. It is our fathers’ inheritance and our children’s treasure;

    we would sacrifice ourselves for it and cannot bear its humiliation.

  21. They claimed it was right that we live humil-

    iated, suffering harm and lamenting calamity.

  22. But right demands that we prevail and shat-

    ter these bonds and shackles.

  23. Did they seize the Nile by force, or did they wish

    to live as dependents upon its people?

  24. They will not gain from it an ignorant ambition

    that confounds the learned and the unlearned.

  25. They have stayed, making trouble, bent

    on oppression for forty long years.

  26. Do the just believe that we were created

    as easy plunder and lawful prey?

  27. They have wronged justice; they have no right to stay.

    Justice demands that they pack their bags.

  28. Evacuate, evacuate, people of the Sax-

    ons! Leave Egypt; depart, depart!

  29. Set out, soldiers, whether lightly equipped—

    with the wind raging behind you—or heavily laden.

  30. Children of the Nile, give aid that protects the Ni-

    le and drives away cares and fears.

  31. Children of the Nile, give a roar that fills the thi-

    cket with sound and frightens the lion.

  32. Children of the Nile, give a gaze that pierces the wa-

    ll and rends curtains and locks.

  33. Children of the Nile, show wisdom that mends the bre-

    ach, and resolve that closes these gaps.

  34. What people, in a plight like ours,

    has won freedom or independence?

  35. This is our banner; know it,

    and you will know truth raised high and glory.

  36. It is a holy light from the heavens,

    pouring out guidance and erasing error.

  37. God’s mercy for Egypt bears it forward,

    and a spirit through it revives hopes.

  38. We receive it with the right hand and behold

    in its radiance Gabriel or Michael.

  39. Lord, prepare a faithful people for Egypt,

    and safeguard her destiny and what lies ahead.

Sol 6