History & Politics

To Relieve Bagdad

by Muradî (Sultan Murad IV) d. 1640

Translated by E. J. W. Gibb (1882) · From Ottoman Poems (1882)

History & Politics

To relieve Bagdad, O Hâfiz, man of tried might, is there none?
Aid from us thou seek'st, then with thee host of fame bright, is there none?

"I'm the Queen the foe who'll checkmate," thus it was that thou didst say;
Room for action now against him with the brave Knight, is there none?

Though we know thou hast no rival in vain-glorious, empty boasts,
Yet to take dread vengeance on thee, say, a Judge right, is there none?

Whilst thou layest claim to manhood, whence this cowardice of thine?
Thou art frightened, yet beside thee fearing no fight, is there none?

Heedless of thy duty thou, the Râfizis have ta'en Bagdad;
Shall not God thy foe be? Day of Reckoning, sure, right, is there none?

They have wrecked Ebû-Hanifa's city through thy lack of care;
O in thee of Islam's and the Prophet's zeal, light, is there none?

God, who favoured us, whilst yet we knew not, with the Sultanate,
Shall again accord Bagdad, decreed of God's might, is there none?

Thou hast brought on Islam's army direful ruin with thy bribes;
Have we not heard how thou say'st: "Word of this foul blight, is there none?"

With the aid of God, fell vengeance on the enemy to take.
By me skilled and aged vezir, pious, zeal-dight, is there none?

Now shall I appoint commander a vezir of high emprize,
Will not Khizar and the Prophet aid him? guide right, is there none?

Is it that thou dost the whole world void and empty now conceive?
Of the Seven Climes, Murâdî, King of high might, is there none?

✦ ✦ ✦

Gazel. In Reply to the Preceding.

MLA

Muradî (Sultan Murad IV). “To Relieve Bagdad.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/sultan-murad-iv/0/.

Chicago

Muradî (Sultan Murad IV). “To Relieve Bagdad.” Translated by E. J. W. Gibb. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/sultan-murad-iv/0/.

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