“An empire can be conquered from the saddle,
but it cannot be ruled from the saddle.”
— Yeliu Chutsai.
“Others may live between stone walls,
but not I.”
— Temujin the Chinggis-Khan.
(tune: Ghost Riders in the Sky)
A wise man, Yeliu Chutsai, the advisor to our Khan,
Has told us that an empire can’t be ruled the way it’s won:
“You conquer it on horseback, swift and ruthless as the sword;
But rule it from the cities.” This he tells the Mongol Horde!
Do-ora Tengri-de, anda-nar, chilugetai unu!
You cannot tame a Mongol who was raised with sky for roof,
Was cradled in a saddlebag to beat of horse’s hoof,
And all his life has ridden free and fast and far and wide,
His sword and bow and kinfolk as companions at his side!
Do-ora Tengri-de, anda-nar, chilugetai unu!
To see my sons go walking down paved streets between stone walls,
Go meekly, slowly, quietly, to live in crowded stalls;
To put a yoke around their necks and those of all their young,
And let them all be “civilised” — I’d rather drown in dung!
Do-ora Tengri-de, anda-nar, chilugetai unu!
But loyalty is paramount: a Mongol must obey
The Khan in every order — who would dare to tell him nay?
Though victory turns bitter for a free man who’s penned in,
I go to live in cities (pfah!)... together with my kin!
Do-ora Tengri-de, anda-nar, chilugetai unu!
( Ride freely, my brothers, under the clear blue sky! )
_________________________
© 1979 C. M. Joserlin, “Raven”
No comments:
Post a Comment