Sam poeta napisał o wyborze formy wierszowej we wstępie do pierwszego wydania poematu: I have written in blank verse because there never was a poem in rhyme that grew not tedious in a thousand lines. Na ten fakt zwrócił uwagę William Bradley, autor monografii o wczesnej twórczości Landora.
I sing the fates of Gebir. He had dwelt Among those mountain-caverns which retain His labours yet, vast halls and flowing wells, Nor have forgotten their old master’s name Though severed from his people here, incensed By meditating on primeval wrongs, He blew his battle-horn, at which uprose Whole nations; here, ten thousand of most might He called aloud, and soon Charoba saw His dark helm hover o’er the land of Nile, What should the virgin do? should royal knees Bend suppliant, or defenceless hands engage Men of gigantic force, gigantic arms?
Początkowo utwór przeszedł bez echa. Ukazał się jako anonimowa broszura. Jednym z pierwszych nabywców książki Landora był Robert Southey, jeden z "Poetów jezior".