Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Asia: Vols. XXI–XXIII. 1876–79.
The Battle of Sabla
By Jaafer Ben AlbaS
In fancied triumph crowned;
Thou heard’st their frantic females throw
These galling taunts around.
Desponding victims, hear:
These fetters on your hands receive,
Or in your hearts the spear.”
“And lie we at your feet?
And dare you vauntingly decide
The fortune we must meet?
Though now the prospect lowers,
And conquest, peace, and liberty
Shall yield our future hours.”
We rushed o’er Sabla’s sands;
And the red sabre marked our way
Amidst their yielding bands.
We cried, “Our choice is made:
These hands the sabre’s hilt shall clasp,
Your hearts shall have the blade.”