Page:Swahili tales.djvu/485

Rh :O my friend, let us say as we think,
 * How can a creature like yourself harm you?
 * Strive for your right and put yourself among injuries.

Fear not their arrow nor their shining spears; there are many who strike down, and turn and come back again.


 * Who that fears has been saved by his fear?
 * Or what bold man's life has been shortened?
 * Friend, give up fear, and go not with the fearful.

How many that feared in war have fallen; and those that stood firm have got through safely.


 * Woe to the coward who fears and considers not,
 * Death is not a thing of choice but of necessity to the finite,
 * Woe to the coward, he who fears death gets no honour.

He meets with destitution and confusion and vileness by fearing for his life, and his end comes to remove him.


 * If I see a disgraceful thing, the world disgusts me.
 * My heart is nauseated till it is dark within,
 * And outside the eyelid the tear of vileness drops.

The lion cries with a cry, blowing out a great cry which brings pity home to a man.


 * Na kufa si sunna ni farathi ya iliokadiriwa,
 * Ole wake mwoga aogopaye kufa hapati heshima,

Akuta mpeo na hizaya na unyonge kwa kuogopea roho, na mwisho wake waja kuhama.


 * Nikiona ari, ulimwengu wauichukiza
 * Moyo ukinayi hatta ndani ukawa na kiza
 * Na nje ya kope chozi la unyonge likipita.

Simba hulia kwa kilio, akivumiza kilio kikuu kimtiacho mtu huruma.