Gilbert and Sullivan Archive

The Rose of Persia
Song No. 2

When Islam first arose
BBC Magazine CD
CD
1
Track
3
MIDI Icon MIDI File 17K, 2 min. 46 seconds.

SONG. — ABDALLAH and CHORUS of WIVES.

When Islam first arose,
A tower upon a rock,
Beneath her haughty battlements
Were ranged around the jealous tents
Of swift-encircling foes!
Then all her gates did Islam lock,
As every Muslim knows;
And through those gates of Right and Wrong
No traitor comes or goes!
No traitor comes or goes!

The gate of right and wrong.
For Islam's gates are strong against a friend or foe;
Her gates of Right and Wrong none passeth to and fro;
For foes are they without and friends are they within;
The postern-gate's the Gate of Doubt, that
leads to the Camp of Sin,
the Camp of Sin!

Whoever opens wide
The postern-gate of Doubt,
Doth prove to Islam's garrison
That in their very midst is one
Who loves the other side!
His heart is with her foes without,
And Islam, in her pride,
Dost send him from her battlements,
The road that traitors ride!
The road that traitors ride!
For Islam's gates are strong against a friend or foe;
Her gates of Right and Wrong none passeth to and fro;

Abdallah Chorus
Foes are they without, For Foes are they
without
And Friends
are they within, And Friends are they
within,
The postern gate's The postern gate's
The Gate The Gate of Doubt,
of Doubt that leads to the
that Camp
of
leads to the Camp of Sin! Sin! the Camp of Sin!
the Gate of
Doubt, that leads leads to the Camp
to the Camp, of Sin!
the Camp of Sin! the Camp of Sin!
the Camp
the Camp of of
Sin! Sin!

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Page updated 9 January 2000