Of thee did I dream, while spears between us were quivering--
and sooth, of our blood full deep had drunken the tawny shafts!
I know not--by Heaven I swear, and here is the word I say!--
this pang, is it love-sickness, or wrought by a spell from thee?
If it be a spell, then grant me grace of thy love-longing--
if other the sickness be, then none is the guilt of thine!
By Ja'far ibn 'Ulbah. From the 'Hamásah': Translation of C.J. Lyall
That even when, under Sábhal's twin peaks, upon us drave
the horsemen, troop upon troop, and the foeman pressed us sore--
They said to us, "Two things lie before you; now must ye choose
the points of the spears couched at ye; or if ye will not, chains!"
We answered them, "Yea this thing may fall to you after the fight,
when men shall be left on ground, and none shall arise again;
But we know not, if we quail before the assault of Death,