IN a land that the sand overlays—the ways to her gates are untrod— | |
| A multitude ended their days whose fates were made splendid by God, | |
| Till they grew drunk and were smitten with madness and went to their fall, | |
| And of these is a story written: but Allah Alone knoweth all! | |
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| When the wine stirred in their heart their bosoms dilated, | 5 |
| They rose to suppose themselves kings over all things created— | |
| To decree a new earth at a birth without labour or sorrow— | |
| To declare: “We prepare it to-day and inherit to-morrow.” | |
| They chose themselves prophets and priests of minute understanding, | |
| Men swift to see done, and outrun, their extremest commanding— | 10 |
| Of the tribe which describe with a jibe the perversions of Justice— | |
| Panders avowed to the crowd whatsoever its lust is. | |
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| Swiftly these pulled down the walls that their fathers had made them— | |
| The impregnable ramparts of old, they razed and relaid them | |
| As playgrounds of pleasure and leisure with limitless entries, | 15 |
| And havens of rest for the wastrels where once walked the sentries; | |
| And because there was need of more pay for the shouters and marchers, | |
| They disbanded in face of their foemen their yeomen and archers. | |
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| They replied to their well-wishers’ fears—to their enemies’ laughter, | |
| Saying: “Peace! We have fashioned a God Which shall save us hereafter. | 20 |
| We ascribe all dominion to man in his factions conferring, | |
| And have given to numbers the Name of the Wisdom unerring.” | |
| They said: “Who has hate in his soul? Who has envied his neighbour? | |
| Let him arise and control both that man and his labour.” | |
| They said: “Who is eaten by sloth? Whose unthrift has destroyed him? | 25 |
| He shall levy a tribute from all because none have employed him.” | |
| They said: “Who hath toiled, who hath striven, and gathered possession? | |
| Let him be spoiled. He hath given full proof of transgression.” | |
| They said: “Who is irked by the Law? Though we may not remove it, | |
| If he lend us his aid in this raid, we will set him above it!” | 30 |
| So the robber did judgment again upon such as displeased him, | |
| The slayer, too, boasted his slain, and the judges released him. | |
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| As for their kinsmen far off, on the skirts of the nation, | |
| They harried all earth to make sure none escaped reprobation, | |
| They awakened unrest for a jest in their newly-won borders, | 35 |
| And jeered at the blood of their brethren betrayed by their orders. | |
| They instructed the ruled to rebel, their rulers to aid them; | |
| And, since such as obeyed them not fell, their Viceroys obeyed them. | |
| When the riotous set them at naught they said: “Praise the upheaval! | |
| For the show and the word and the thought of Dominion is evil!” | 40 |
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| They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defiled them | |
| The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them. | |
| They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever | |
| The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strength which are Faith and Endeavour. | |
| They nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision | 45 |
| All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision: | |
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| And it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven, | |
| And the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given…. * * * * * | |
| When they were fullest of wine and most flagrant in error, | |
| Out of the sea rose a sign—out of Heaven a terror. | 50 |
| Then they saw, then they heard, then they knew—for none troubled to hide it, | |
| An host had prepared their destruction, but still they denied it. | |
| They denied what they dared not abide if it came to the trial, | |
| But the Sword that was forged while they lied did not heed their denial. | |
| It drove home, and no time was allowed to the crowd that was driven. | 55 |
| The preposterous-minded were cowed—they thought time would be given. | |
| There was no need of a steed nor a lance to pursue them; | |
| It was decreed their own deed, and not chance, should undo them. | |
| The tares they had laughingly sown were ripe to the reaping. | |
| The trust they had leagued to disown was removed from their keeping. | 60 |
| The eaters of other men’s bread, the exempted from hardship, | |
| The excusers of impotence fled, abdicating their wardship, | |
| For the hate they had taught through the State brought the State no defender, | |
| And it passed from the roll of the Nations in headlong surrender! | |
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