Sol 6.1

  1. Peace upon your fortress and the flag,

    and may your assembly be protected among the nations.

  2. Peace upon that meeting-place,

    peace upon that thronged gathering.

  3. And glory to your day in existence,

    welcoming hope and progress.

  4. In it, time atones for sins,

    and restores what was denied of your rights.

  5. With this portico and this splendor,

    your ranks have united and come together.

  6. Delegations circle it, raising cries,

    as pilgrims circle that sanctuary.

  7. For Ramesses never gloried in its like

    in majesty, nor did Iram approach it.

  8. Are conquests of kingdoms what you attained

    on your day, or the fulfillment of pledges?

  9. The fidelity of one seeking assurance, revealing

    to you the secrets he had concealed.

  10. The Turks indeed admired what you said,

    and non-Arabs esteemed what you do.

  11. And telegrams flew with its news,

    outstripping the steady rains with glad tidings.

  12. Convictions everlasting in the hearts,

    on which you stood as firmly as the pyramid.

  13. And whoever instituted this struggle realized

    that dignity lies in the outcome.

  14. And to your purpose now bears witness

    the one who doubted your purpose and accused you.

  15. And this devious adversary of yours

    put on courtesy after harm, and showed restraint.

  16. He turned away with his goal, frowning,

    and returned to it beguiling, then smiled.

  17. For a fixed term, or until the culmination

    of his designs, does he bind you by what he pledged?

  18. And will the horizon clear, or be buffeted

    by a storm after this breeze?

  19. Had he known the outcome of the dispute

    over right, it would have been settled long ago.

  20. You have what he has, and he bears what

    you bear; he gives you the choice if he apportions.

  21. And it would not be said: one side erred;

    nor would it be said: one side acted unjustly.

  22. This bliss will be lost to Egypt

    unless every house is a stronghold.

  23. And I am not at ease or reassured

    by the prepared one who has not slept.

  24. He readied the outposts on both routes,

    and whoever controls both routes can storm in.

  25. And will the wolf abandon his habits,

    even if the wolf wears the garb of sheep,

  26. and spare what is delicious and desired,

    though he did not refrain from crumbling bones?

  27. And can the solid rocks be seized

    by the fangs of one weighed down by surfeit?

  28. And a schemer spreads alarm with that

    which another used for aggression, then was defeated.

  29. And what he said is no proof,

    for people have grown accustomed to this tune.

  30. And the haughtiness of the pampered may be feigned

    by one whose breast holds burning grief and pain.

  31. Does he claim your kingdom as his own,

    when the terror of Resurrection lies in his claim?

  32. And can he seize people's necks,

    he who has collided with the mettle of souls?

  33. Fortresses have not acted against the raider

    as your defiance and lofty pride have.

  34. For you, whatever preparations you desire

    tomorrow; for him, what he intended and resolved.

  35. Your unity is equipment enough for you,

    and your patience is refuge enough for you.

  36. But for your stands in the country,

    time would have overwhelmed it along with what it overwhelmed.

  37. And if the sea had what is in you

    of zeal for right, it would blaze.

  38. And if the towering mountain bore

    what you bear for Egypt, it would collapse.

  39. Indeed, I behold what lies in the unseen

    for you, and seek what has never been sought.

  40. And he who spoke frankly to the people yesterday

    saw his chance today and seized it.

  41. You have a king and a minister who are

    the guarantee of your dignified future.

  42. This one has advised as you wished,

    and that one has ruled as you wished.

  43. And the protected land has yielded its keys

    to the just, free man in the charge he received.

  44. He took them with patient conviction,

    not with despair, nor with weariness.

  45. And how beautiful is pardon from one with power,

    when a spiteful man has sated his rancor and taken revenge.

  46. Its tyrant will leave the land,

    and one noble in character will remain there.

  47. And no power belongs to any but the reformers,

    and no dominion except to those of high resolve.

  48. I hastened to the nation's festival,

    with the pangs of wasting illness and sickness in me.

  49. And I am only the companion who

    kept his covenants and the oath,

  50. brought noble character to his endeavors,

    and came with inspiration in the verse he composed.

  51. He goes forth at evening and morning with decisive speech,

    chaste of tongue, pure of pen.

Sol 6.1