Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile By H. D. Rawnsley |
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| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
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| XIV. |
| XV. |
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| XVII. |
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| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
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| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLIII. |
| XLIV. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
| XLVII. |
| XLVIII. |
| XLIX. |
| L. |
| LI. |
| LII. |
| LIII. |
| LIV. |
| LV. |
| LVI. |
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| LVIII. |
| LIX. |
| LX. |
| LXI. |
| LXII. |
| LXII. |
| LXIV. | LXIV THE MAHDI'S MESSAGE |
 | Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile |  |
148
LXIV THE MAHDI'S MESSAGE
MARCH 11, 1884
‘Nothing can be between us but the sword;
The Mahdi's sword above your heads must be,
And on your necks where'er your hosts shall flee
God's iron!’ So fierce Osman's passionate word
Flamed at us; and behind it flashed the horde
Of men who, strong in Allah's one decree,
Rose like a wave of darkness from the sea,
Sank like a wave that on the sand is poured.
The Mahdi's sword above your heads must be,
And on your necks where'er your hosts shall flee
God's iron!’ So fierce Osman's passionate word
Flamed at us; and behind it flashed the horde
Of men who, strong in Allah's one decree,
Rose like a wave of darkness from the sea,
Sank like a wave that on the sand is poured.
Dead faces stare up furious from the dust;
Wild mouths, fixed firm for that last battle-cry,
Seem shouting, ‘Allah! Allah! Allah!’ still,
Fierce men whom Wrong had armed with bravery,
Whose faith in God no bullet-showers could kill.—
Only the Sword between us? Let it rust!
Wild mouths, fixed firm for that last battle-cry,
Seem shouting, ‘Allah! Allah! Allah!’ still,
Fierce men whom Wrong had armed with bravery,
Whose faith in God no bullet-showers could kill.—
Only the Sword between us? Let it rust!
| Idylls and Lyrics of The Nile | |