C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Ibrahîm, Son of Kunaif of Nabhan: Patience

Translation of Sir Charles James Lyall

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.