An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades

FIRST SOJOURN IN DAMASCUS 29
Thy benevolence has made me indeed thy voluntary bondsman,
For to the noble, benevolence is his fetters.
So much so that I have now begun to trace my genealogy to thy friendship,
Though I belong to the noble class by both pedigree and personal achievements.
Dost thou not know that it was because of my close relationship to thee
That from all sides shafts have been hurled at me?
Had it not been for thy sake, my refractory nature would not have been
appeased,
In the face of harsh treatment by others, without effectively applying
the sword.
But because I was afraid for thine own safety from the fires of the enemy,
I played the rdle of one who quenches the flame.