In the race-course of valour May Allah bless the noble courser! His chest is of steel, and his flanks of iron: He loves naught but rapine, glory, and the combat; He cherishes his master and his family, And when he gallops, he puts the thunder to shame. He passes, look at him: he is already out of sight; Women, grudge him not the milk of our she-camels. What has become of the time when I used to bestride a swimmer, With black eye, wide nostrils, Clean limbs, and a faithful heart! It was a sparrow-hawk for carnage, And life was nothing worth to me When the bridle was out of my hands. I was then young; I went in search of danger, I mocked at the ill-omened ravens; The distant always seemed to me close at hand, And my tent overflowed with plunder. In summer, when sleep has restored strength to my body, When the eye of light has dispersed the shades of night, And when the heat bites everything, even into stone, The song of the turtle-dove fills me with soft desire. In the boughs of the palm-tree shaken by the slightest breeze, On the leaf that sighs and bewails itself, She is consumed with passion. By my head! she rekindles in my breast the fire of bygone days. They said to me: Ah! thou art still longing for them who dye their eyelids with black? And I answered: No, in my eyes Nothing at present is equal to my horse of pure blood. With him, I bear myself proudly; I hunt and increase my riches; With him, I enter the strife and protect the poor and the orphan; With him, I chastise insult and daunt my rivals; His neigh is like the roar of a lion in the mountains; It is an eagle hovering in the air. Away with you, fond memories of this world! The most potent has never carried off more than a winding-sheet. I am known by my air-drinker, at night and in the fight; I am known by my sabre, the shock of battle, the pen and the paper; I am sharper than a spear, and endure hunger like a wolf. No matter: to-day I court solitude: In solitude is happiness: age has taught me that. Never again shall men behold me seeking a horse, or the love of women, or the court of an Emir. * * * * * REMARKS BY THE EMIR ABD-EL-KADER.