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"In the wretched huts
standing in the shadow of poverty and oppression, they beat at their
bosoms, soliciting thy mercy; watch us, Oh Liberty, and have mercy on
us. In the pathways and in the houses miserable youth calls thee; in
the churches and the mosques, the forgotten Book turns to thee; in the
courts and in the palaces the neglected Law appeals to thee. Have
mercy on us, Oh Liberty, and save us. In our narrow streets the
merchant sells his days in order to make tribute to the exploiting
thieves of the West, and none would give him advice. In the barren
fields the fellah tills the soil and sows the seeds of his heart and
nourishes them with his tears, but he reaps naught except thorns, and
none would teach him the true path. In our arid plains the Bedouin
roams barefoot and hungry, but none would have mercy upon him; speak,
Oh Liberty, and teach us! Our sick lambs are grazing upon the
grassless prairie, our calves are gnawing on the roots of the trees,
and our horses are feeding on dry plants. Come, Oh Liberty, and help
us. We have been living in darkness since the beginning, and like
prisoners they take us from one prison to another, while time
ridicules our plight. When will dawn come? Until when shall we bear
the scorn of the ages? Many a stone have we been dragging, and many a
yoke has been placed upon our necks. Until when shall we bear this
human outrage? The Egyptian slavery, the Babylon exile, the tyranny of
Persia, the despotism of the Romans, and the greed of Europe . . . all
these things have we suffered. Where are we going now, and when shall
we reach the sublime end of the rough roadway? From the clutches of
Pharaoh to the paws of Nebuchadnezzar, to the iron hands of Alexander,
to the swords of Herod, to the talons of Nero, and the sharp teeth of
Demon . . . into whose hands are we now to fall, and when will Death
come and take us, so we may rest at last?
"With the strength of our arms we
lifted the columns of the temple, and upon our backs we carried the
mortar to build the great walls and the impregnable pyramids for the
sake of glory. Until when shall we continue building such magnificent
palaces and living in wretched huts? Until when shall we continue
filling the bins of the rich with provisions, while sustaining weak
life on dry morsels? Until when shall we continue weaving silk and
wool for our lords and masters while we wear naught except tattered
swaddles?
"Through their wickedness we were
divided amongst ourselves; and the better to keep their thrones and be
at ease, they armed the Druze to fight the Arab, and stirred up the
Shiite to attack the Sunnite, and encouraged the Kurdish to butcher
the Bedouin, and cheered the Mohammedan to dispute with the Christian.
Until when shall a brother continue killing his own brother upon his
mother's bosom? Until when shall the Cross be kept apart from the
Crescent before the eyes of God? Oh Liberty, hear us, and speak in
behalf of but one individual, for a great fire is started with a small
spark. Oh Liberty, awaken but one heart with the rustling of thy
wings, for from one cloud alone comes the lightning which illuminates
the pits of the valleys and the tops of the mountains. Disperse with
thy power these black clouds and descend like thunder and destroy the
thrones that were built upon the bones and skulls of our
ancestors."
"Hear us, Oh Liberty;
Bring mercy, Oh Daughter of Athens; Rescue us, Oh Sister of Rome;
Advise us, Oh Companion of Moses; Help us, Oh Beloved of Mohammed ;
Teach us, Oh Bride of Jesus; Strengthen our hearts so we may live; Or
harden our enemies so we may perish And live in peace eternally."
As Khalil was pouring forth his sentiment
before heaven, the villagers were gazing at him in reverence, and
their love was springing forth in unison with the song of his voice
until they felt that he became part of their hearts. After a short
silence, Khalil brought his eyes upon the multitude and quietly said,
"Night has brought us to the house of Sheik Abbas in order to
realize the daylight; oppressionn has arrested us before the cold
Space, so we may understand one another and gather like chicks under
the wings of the Eternal Spirit. Now let us go to our homes and sleep
until we meet again tomorrow."
Having thus spoken, he walked away,
following Rachel and Miriam to their poor hovel. The throng departed
and each went to his home, contemplating what he had seen and heard
this memorable night. They felt that a burning torch of a new spirit
had scoured their inner selves and led them into the right path. In an
hour all the lamps were extinguished and Silence engulfed the whole
village while Slumber carried the fellahin's souls into the world of
strong dreams; but Sheik Abbas found no sleep all night, as he watched
the phantoms of darkness and the horrible ghosts of his crimes in
procession.
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