Be patient: for free-born men to bear is the fairest thing, And refuge against Time's wrong or help from his hurt is none; And if it availed man aught to bow him to fluttering Fear, Or if he could ward off hurt by humbling himself to Ill, To bear with a valiant front the full brunt of every stroke And onset of Fate were still the fairest and best of things. But how much the more, when none outruns by a span his Doom, And refuge from God's decree nor was nor will ever be, And sooth, if the changing Days have wrought us--their wonted way-- A lot mixed of weal and woe, yet one thing they could not do: They have not made soft or weak the stock of our sturdy spear; They have not abased our hearts to doing of deeds of shame. We offer to bear their weight, a handful of noble souls: Though laden beyond all weight of man, they uplift the load. So shield we with Patience fair our souls from the stroke of Shame; Our honors are whole and sound, though others be lean enow. ABU SAKHR On a lost love. From the 'Hamásah': Translation of C.J. Lyall By him who brings weeping and laughter who deals Death and Life as He wills-- she left me to envy the wild deer that graze twain and twain without fear! Oh, love of her, heighten my heart's pain, and strengthen the pang every night; oh, comfort that days bring, forgetting --the last of all days be thy tryst! I marveled how swiftly the time sped between us, the moment we met; but when that brief moment was ended how wearily dragged he his feet! AN ADDRESS TO THE BELOVED By Abu l-'Ata of Sind. From the 'Hamásah': Translation of C.J. Lyall 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! A FORAY By Ja'far ibn 'Ulbah. From the 'Hamásah': Translation of C.J. Lyall