Another husband and another child
Might sooth affliction; but, my parents dead,
A brother’s loss could never be repaired.
A story of analogous character told by an oriental to Miss Rogers, is related in her book Domestic Life in Palestine, as follows:—
When Ibrahim Pasha, the son of Mahomet Ali, ruled in Palestine, he sent men into all the towns and villages to gather together a large army. Then a certain woman of Serfurich sought Ibrahim Pasha at Akka, and came into his presence bowing herself before him, and said: “O my lord, look with pity on thy servant, and hear my prayer. A little while ago there were three men in my house, my husband, my brother, and my eldest son. But now behold, they have been carried away to serve in your army, and I am left with my little ones without a protector. I pray you grant liberty to one of these men, that he may remain at home.” And Ibrahim had pity on her and said: “O woman, do you ask for your husband, for your son, or for your brother?” And she said: “Oh, my lord, give me my brother.” And he answered: “How is this, O woman, do you prefer a brother to a husband or a son?” The woman, who was renowned for her wit and readiness of speech, replied in a blank verse impromptu:—
“If it be God’s will that my husband perish in your service,
I am still a woman, and God may lead me to another husband:
If on the battle-field my first-born son should fall,
I have still my younger ones, who will in God’s time be like unto him.
But oh! my lord, if my only brother should be slain,