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BALLAD OF ACHMED PASHA
He thought him wise, — Achmed Pasha,—And he merrily laughed —"ha! ha! ha! ha!"
Achmed Pasha was a doughty man, The ruler of every class and clan Where sparkling Barada rippled and ran, —Barada, called by the Greeks of old Chrysorrhoas, the stream of gold. And he swore one night on the steps that led To the tomb of Saladin — valiant dead! — "By the Prophet's beard," was the oath he made, "Ere the closing day of the Ramadan Shall the cursèd Christian dogs be flayed!"
Then through the streets from gate to gate Crept, like a venomous snake, the word; And when the ears of the rabble heard, There was sound of the sharpening scimitar Under the sun and under the star; Arab, Turkoman, Druse and Kurd, How they looked alert and laughed elate A hungry laugh, — "ha! ha! ha! ha! —" Oh, a wily man was Achmed Pasha!