To Rabbi Samuel ha-Nagid

The chosen of crowns
For the chosen of crowned,
And the song of songs
For the prince of princes!
Set thou a watchman;
What he seeth let him tell:
He will see the chariot
Of Samuel the Prince;
And timbrels and dances
Ranged round about him;
For every neck a chain
And on every hand a bracelet;
He goeth out in his thousands,
And so may he ever be—
To rescue the martyrs,
To loose the bound.
Thou art fairer
Than the sons of men—
So art thou worthy
To be their prince.
Thy shadow is a canopy
Over all their glory,
Their peace is in thy peace,
And of thine honour is their honour;
In thy shadow they live
Among a nation that enslaveth them,
Like lilies abiding
In the midst of thorns.
He is a chariot for his people
And he their horseman,
And a tree of life and healing,
Bringing forth new fruit every month,
By the rivers of righteousness
Spreading out his roots.
Happy are his servants,
And happy are his men;
He ruleth yet with God
And is faithful among His saints.
And his works are brought to remembrance
To teach uprightness.
The hearts of the proud ones of Shinar
Cry out to behold him,
And the councillors of Egypt
Yearn after his mouth;
For his thoughts
In God's secret counsel are shining,
When a man inquireth
Of the word of God.
He is a refuge and a strength
To those trembling and astounded
In dens of young lions,
On mountains of leopards.
Unto the uttermost part of the earth,
Take wing,’ O my songs!
Babylon.
Publish tidings in Spain
To my brethren and my sons,
That I minister
Unto Samuel, the chief of my princes,
And Samuel doth minister
Before the face of the Lord;
And I had not believed to see
That which mine eyes have beheld—
A tongue of healing for bodies,
And life for the flesh.