FIBDAUSI AND MAHMUD OF GHAZNI 247 My sword blood-dropping ? Had'st thou not the sense To shrink from giving man like me offence ? What could impel thee to an act so base ? What, but to earn and prove thy own disgrace ? Why was I sentenced to be trod upon And crushed to death by elephants ? By one Whose power I scorn ! Could'st thou presume that I Would be appalled by thee, whom I defy ? I am the lion, I, inured to blood, And make the impious and the base my food ; And I could grind thy limbs, and spread them far As Nile's dark waters their rich treasures bear. Fear thee ? I fear not man, but God alone, I only bow to His Almighty throne. Inspired by Him my ready numbers flow ; Guarded by Him I dread no earthly foe. Thus in the pride of song I pass my days, Offering to Heaven my gratitude and praise. From every trace of sense and feeling free, When thou art dead, what will become of thee ? If thou shouldst tear me limb from limb, and cast My dust and ashes to the angry blast, Firdausi still would live, since on thy name, Mahmud, I did not rest my hopes of fame In the bright page of my heroic song, But on the God of Heaven, to whom belong Boundless thanksgivings, and on Him whose love Supports the Faithful in the realms above, The mighty Prophet ! none who e'er reposed On Him existence without hope has closed. And thou would'st hurl me underneath the tread Of the wild elephant, till I were dead ! Dead ! by that insult roused, I should become An elephant in power, and seal thy doom Mahmud ! if fear of man hath never awed Thy heart, at least fear thy Creator, God. Full many a warrior of illustrious worth, Full many of humble, of imperial birth,
