Secret History of the English Occupation of Egypt Part 29

I have a thing to say. But how to say it?

As in the days of Moses in the land, G.o.d sent a man of prayer before his people To speak to Pharaoh, and to loose his hand.

Injustice, that hard step-mother of heroes, Had taught him justice. Him the sight of pain Moved into anger, and the voice of weeping Made his eyes weep as for a comrade slain.

A soldier in the bands of his proud masters It was his lot to serve. But of his soul None owned allegiance save the Lord of Armies.

No worship from his G.o.d's might him cajole.

Strict was his service. In the law of Heaven He comfort took and patient under wrong.

And all men loved him for his heart unquailing, And for the words of pity on his tongue.

Knowledge had come to him in the night-watches, And strength with fasting, eloquence with prayer.

He stood a Judge from G.o.d before the strangers, The one just man among his people there.

Strongly he spoke: "Now, Heaven be our witness!

Egypt this day has risen from her sleep.

She has put off her mourning and her silence.

It was no law of G.o.d that she should weep.

"It was no law of G.o.d nor of the Nations That in this land, alone of the fair Earth, The hand that sowed should reap not of its labour, The heart that grieved should profit not of mirth.

"How have we suffered at the hands of strangers, Binding their sheaves, and harvesting their wrath!

Our service has been bitter, and our wages Hunger and pain and nakedness and drouth.

"Which of them pitied us? Of all our princes, Was there one Sultan listened to our cry?

Their palaces we built, their tombs, their temples.

What did they build but tombs for Liberty?

"To live in ignorance, to die by service; To pay our tribute and our stripes receive: This was the ransom of our toil in Eden, This, and our one sad liberty--to grieve.

"We have had enough of strangers and of princes Nursed on our knees and lords within our house.

The bread which they have eaten was our children's, For them the feasting and the shame for us.

"The shadow of their palaces, fair dwellings Built with our blood and kneaded with our tears, Darkens the land with darkness of Gehennem, The l.u.s.t, the crime, the infamy of years.

"Did ye not hear it? From those m.u.f.fled windows A sound of women rises and of mirth.

These are our daughters--ay our sons--in prison, Captives to shame with those who rule the Earth.

"The silent river by those gardens lapping To-night receives its burden of new dead, A man of age sent home with his lord's wages, Stones to his feet, a grave-cloth to his head.

"Walls infamous in beauty, gardens fragrant With rose and citron and the scent of blood.

G.o.d shall blot out the memory of all laughter, Rather than leave you standing where you stood.

"We have had enough of princes and of strangers, Slaves that were Sultans, eunuchs that were kings, The shame of Sodom is on all their faces.

The curse of Cain pursues them, and it clings.

"Is there no virtue? See the pale Greek smiling.

Virtue for him is as a tale of old.

Which be his G.o.ds? The cent. per cent. in silver.

His G.o.d of G.o.ds? The world's creator, Gold.

"The Turk that plunders and the Frank that panders, These are our lords who ply with l.u.s.t and fraud.

The brothel and the winepress and the dancers Are gifts unneeded in the lands of G.o.d.

"We need them not. We heed them not. Our faces Are turned to a new Kebla, a new truth, Proclaimed by the one G.o.d of all the nations To save His people and renew their youth.

"A truth which is of knowledge and of reason; Which teaches men to mourn no more and live; Which tells them of things good as well as evil, And gives what Liberty alone can give,

"The counsel to be strong, the will to conquer, The love of all things just and kind and wise, Freedom for slaves, fair rights for all as brothers, The triumph of things true, the scorn of lies.

"Oh men, who are my brethren, my soul's kindred!

That which our fathers dreamed of as a dream, The sun of peace and justice, has arisen And G.o.d shall work in you His perfect scheme.

"The rulers of your Earth shall cease deceiving, The men of usury shall fly your land.

Your princes shall be numbered with your servants, And peace shall guide the sword in your right hand.

"You shall become a nation with the nations.

Lift up your voices, for the night is past.

Stretch forth your hands. The hands of the free peoples Have beckoned you--the youngest and the last.

"And in the brotherhood of Man reposing, Joined to their hopes and nursed in their new day, The anguish of the years shall be forgotten And G.o.d, with these, shall wipe your tears away."

IV

I have a thing to say. But how to say it?

How shall I tell the mystery of guile-- The fraud that fought--the treason that disbanded-- The gold that slew the children of the Nile?

The ways of violence are hard to reckon, And men of right grow feeble in their will, And Virtue of her sons has been forsaken, And men of peace have turned aside to kill.

How shall I speak of them, the priests of Baal, The men who sowed the wind for their ill ends?

The reapers of the whirlwind in that harvest Were all my countrymen, were some my friends.

Friends, countrymen and lovers of fair freedom-- Souls to whom still my soul laments and cries.

I would not tell the shame of your false dealings, Save for the blood which clamours to the skies.

A curse on Statecraft, not on you my Country!

The men you slew were not more foully slain Than was your honour at their hands you trusted.

They died, you conquered,--both alike in vain.

Crime finds accomplices, and Murder weapons.

The ways of Statesmen are an easy road.

All swords are theirs, the n.o.blest with the neediest.

And those who serve them best are men of good.

What need to blush, to trifle with dissembling?

A score of honest tongues anon shall swear.

Blood flows. The Senate's self shall spread its mantle In the world's face, nor own a Caesar there.