The Sword Dham
" How shall we honor the man who creates? "
Asked the Bedouin-chief, the poet Antar; —
" Who unto the truth flings open our gates,
Or fashions new thoughts from the light of a star;
Or forges with craft of his finger and brain
Some marvelous weapon we copy in vain;
Or chants to the winds a wild song that shall wander forever undying?
" See! His reward is in envies and hates;
In lips that deny, or in stabs that may kill. "
" Nay, " said the smith; " for there 's one here who waits
Humbly to serve you with unmeasured skill,
Sure that no utmost devotion can fail,
Offered to you , nor unfriended assail
The heart of the hero and poet Antar, whose fame is undying! "
" Speak, " said the chief. Then the smith: " O Antar,
It is I who would serve you! I know, by the soul
Of the poet within you, no envy can bar
The stream of your gratitude, — once let it roll.
Listen. The lightning, your camel that slew,
I caught, and wrought in this sword-blade for you; —
Sword that no foe shall encounter unhurt, or depart from undying. "
Burst from the eyes of Antar a swift rain, —
Gratitude's glittering drops, — as he threw
One shining arm round the smith, like a chain.
Closer the man to his bosom he drew;
Thankful, caressing, with " Great is my debt. "
" Yea, " said the smith, and his eyelids were wet:
" I knew the sword Dham would unite me with you in an honor undying. "
" So? " asked the chief, as his thumb-point at will
Silently over the sword's edge played.
— " Ay! " said the smith, " but there 's one thing, still:
Who is the smiter, shall smite with this blade? "
Jealous, their eyes met; and fury awoke.
" I am the smiter! " Antar cried. One stroke
Rolled the smith's head from his neck, and gave him remembrance undying.
" Seek now who may, no search will avail:
No man the mate of this weapon shall own! "
Yet, in his triumph, the chieftain made wail:
" Slain is the craftsman, the one friend alone
Able to honor the man who creates.
I slew him — I , who am poet! O fates;
Grant that the envious blade slaying artists shall make them undying! "
Asked the Bedouin-chief, the poet Antar; —
" Who unto the truth flings open our gates,
Or fashions new thoughts from the light of a star;
Or forges with craft of his finger and brain
Some marvelous weapon we copy in vain;
Or chants to the winds a wild song that shall wander forever undying?
" See! His reward is in envies and hates;
In lips that deny, or in stabs that may kill. "
" Nay, " said the smith; " for there 's one here who waits
Humbly to serve you with unmeasured skill,
Sure that no utmost devotion can fail,
Offered to you , nor unfriended assail
The heart of the hero and poet Antar, whose fame is undying! "
" Speak, " said the chief. Then the smith: " O Antar,
It is I who would serve you! I know, by the soul
Of the poet within you, no envy can bar
The stream of your gratitude, — once let it roll.
Listen. The lightning, your camel that slew,
I caught, and wrought in this sword-blade for you; —
Sword that no foe shall encounter unhurt, or depart from undying. "
Burst from the eyes of Antar a swift rain, —
Gratitude's glittering drops, — as he threw
One shining arm round the smith, like a chain.
Closer the man to his bosom he drew;
Thankful, caressing, with " Great is my debt. "
" Yea, " said the smith, and his eyelids were wet:
" I knew the sword Dham would unite me with you in an honor undying. "
" So? " asked the chief, as his thumb-point at will
Silently over the sword's edge played.
— " Ay! " said the smith, " but there 's one thing, still:
Who is the smiter, shall smite with this blade? "
Jealous, their eyes met; and fury awoke.
" I am the smiter! " Antar cried. One stroke
Rolled the smith's head from his neck, and gave him remembrance undying.
" Seek now who may, no search will avail:
No man the mate of this weapon shall own! "
Yet, in his triumph, the chieftain made wail:
" Slain is the craftsman, the one friend alone
Able to honor the man who creates.
I slew him — I , who am poet! O fates;
Grant that the envious blade slaying artists shall make them undying! "
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.