Sol 6.1

  1. O minister of Egypt, repeat it—the truest of speeches—

    and expound your declaration, free in striving and pursuit.

  2. And let the people hear of your aim what they are accustomed

    to hearing of the aims of noble leaders.

  3. You have learned every hidden aspect of their policy,

    and have gained a strong bond with them.

  4. Contending with them exhausted the world's tyrants,

    so you came to them by the path of learning and culture.

  5. You satisfy them after they satisfied you and respected

    all your rights amid the anger that arose.

  6. Through their covenant and your fidelity to them, you seek

    a covenant for the country through fates and ages.

  7. And you left them no troubling suspicions,

    and left them no harmful doubts.

  8. And their share in the valley did not exceed—

    in affection—the share of the Turks and Arabs.

  9. And people are alike in your eyes whenever there is harmony

    among their desires within your pleasant, spacious sanctuary.

  10. And if within it the way is paved for one seeking gain,

    that is no paving of the way for a usurper.

  11. Within it is an airfield for a traveler and a merchant,

    not for the heavily armed, hurling flame upon the earth.

  12. People's interests bind people together,

    before ties of kinship and lineage.

  13. O possessor of virtues, who through them deserves

    all positions of leadership, titles, and ranks,

  14. and giver of the greatest ease to his nation,

    even though he bears all the worry and toil,

  15. and uniter of the people in a party, through which he established

    a tireless, seasoned man's proof of peace,

  16. and sender of the free man, who calls upon every kingdom

    with the outcome and destination he has chosen,

  17. honored wherever his diplomatic mission may be;

    and what honor pleasing you has not been granted?

  18. so every arena of conflict may find reassurance in him,

    and every troubled place may find stability through him.

  19. And nothing other than what you approve is awaited,

    and nothing other than what you hope for is anticipated.

  20. I see the foes of your good work have turned

    to banquets, melodies, and merriment.

  21. Indeed, those who took the wrong stand in serious affairs

    are better suited to a life of diversion and play.

  22. Perhaps, after you proved them false, they have despaired

    of one day coming to you with false blood.

  23. They complained of your exemplary laws, yet never mentioned

    your complaint of resounding disorder and of clamor.

  24. How often they coerced you, yet you refuse to treat them

    otherwise than as brothers and companions.

  25. If you have power over character, reforming it,

    then you have power over terrors and calamities.

Sol 6.1