“When Yoribah[40] said she could conquer Dahomey;
When we meet we’ll change their night into day;
Let the rain fall:
The season past, the river dries.
Yoribah and Dahomey!
Can two rams drink from one calabash?
The Yoribahs must have been drunk to say
Dahomey feared them,
They could conquer Dahomey.
2.
“There’s a difference between Gezo and a poor man;
There’s a difference between Gezo and a rich man.
If a rich man owned all,
Gezo would still be king.
All guns are not alike;
Some are long, some short, some thick, some thin.
The Yoribahs must be a drunken nation,
And thus we will dance before them.
3.
“Gezo is king of kings!
While Gezo lives we have nothing to fear.
Under him we are lions, not men.
Power emanates from the king.
4.
“Let all eyes behold the king!
There are not two but one—
One only, Gezo!
All nations have their customs,
But none so brilliant or enlightened,
As those of Dahomey.
People from far countries are here:
Behold all nations, white and black,
Send their ambassadors.
AMAZONS’ CHORUS.
“With these guns in our hands,
And powder in our cartouch-boxes,
What has the king to fear?
When we go to war, let the king dance,
While we bring him prisoners and heads.
GENERAL CHORUS.