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BERKELEYLIBRAP-V IUNIVERSm OF .CALIFORNIA


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^_-^)^\!}U^^^-

THE Seven Poems,,SUSPENDED IN

IHE TEMPLE AT MECCA.TRANSLATED .FROM THE ARABIC

BYCAPT. F.IE. JOHNSON, Royal Artillery,WITH AN INTRODUCTION,

BY.

3HAIKH FAIZULLABHAI, B.A.,Fellow of the University of Bombay,

'y. , Uead Master, Anjuman-i- Islam Schools,Author of " The Moslem Present,"

All Rights reserved.>Je:o

Bombay:PRINTED AT THE

EDUCATION SOCIETY'S STEAM PRESS, BYCULLA.18D3.

Price Rupees Seven Annas Eight.


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X


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PJPREFACE. A^

The accompanying translation is intended to benothing more than an aid to the student, and for thisreason it has been made as literal as possible. Notesand explanations have been added in ail cases wherethe sense is obscure, and it is hoped that by their aidbeginners even will experience little or no diificulty inreading the original.

All different readings, and different interpretationswhich have good authority and have come to hand,have been included in the notes. Lines which havebeen found in some copies and not in others aremarked with asterisks for the sake of distinction.

My best thanks are due to Shaik FaizuUahbhai,Esq., B.A., of Bombay, a really first-class Arabicscholar, for the trouble he took in revising the proofsheets. During revision he considerably enlarged thenotes, &c., so as to bring the work within the graspof all.

F. B. J.Kirkee^ 29 tk January/ 1893.


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INTRODUCTION.AMONfGSTtlio aucieut nations, as History shows, there are few

who have so large a treasure of sublime poetry and so abun-dant a stock of useful literature to boast of, as the old nation ofArabia. The Arabs have always beep remarkable for thegreat pride they have taken in the excellence of their language,the perfection of their literature, the sublimity of their poetry,the purity of their race, and the integrity of their moral charac-ter. Pure justice, free from bias or prejudice, fully admitsthat they have reason to feel this pride, and accords them avery high place among the civilized aud literary nations of theancient world. These facts are well borne out by evidencederived from the history of the progress of literature, especiallydurino- the 4th, 5th and Cth centuries of the Christian era.During the period alluded to, the literary genius was almost

entirely monopolised by the Aryans, represented then by theIndians and the Persians in the East, and by the Romans in theWest. The Indian literature was, however, confined only to alimited number of Shastris and Brahmins, and was inaccessibleto the other castes, or the numerically much stronger public.The Persians had long cultivated and enriched their literaturewith a good deal of learning, borrowed from the Greeks audthe Indians. Among the Semi'tics, the Syrians possessed aHebrew literature of a superior character, which was not, how-ever, cultivated to a very vast extent, and was confined only toa few Rabbis. These literatews, moreover, had risen to theirgreatest height and were now only hanging on the verge ofdecline, and were more or less giving way to the Romans, who,at the time we speak of, held their own against all the nations ofthe world, both in the political as well as in the literary realm.


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Vi INTIlODUCnoX.

Their literary supremacy was, however, the result of a lougworking of the schools, established by Cicero, Virgil, and Livy,on the lines of the learning they had inherited from that defunctGrecian world which had long given way to the sway of thetriumphant Roman arms. The Roman Poeti-y, Oratory andRhetoric were merely offshoots engrafted ou those of Homer,Demonsthenes and Aristotle. Much credit is certainly due tothe Romans for the great improvement they made on theteachings of their mother- school, which elevated them to a highpitch of literary fame, and placed them at the top of the categoryof the civilized and refined nations of the time. But theirachievements, though very noble and excellent in themselves,were merely parasitic, and had little originality to boast of.About this time we find a new nation rushing upon the scene,

and steadily progressing with long strides to the front of theliterary world, neither by means of any learning, borrowedfrom other nations, nor by any set examples to guide them,but solely by dint of the growth of their own natural faculties.This was the Arabian nation, which, living obscurely in asolitary peninsula, was cut off from the chief seats of learningand debarred by its own seclusion from all the advantages ofa close contact with the civilized nations of the dav, whoregarded it merely as a degraded and barbarous nation. Not-withstanding its starting with such local and social disadvan-tages, this nation, which was destined by God to rise to agreat importance later on, and to succeed the Romans inpresiding over the destinies of a great part of the world, bravelystemming the tide ofadverse circumstances, deserves all pi'aisefor the high state of culture, civilization and advancementwhich its people attained by means of self-development ofthose superior literary faculties with which it had pleased Godto endow them.

Although the Arabic language was as old as any of thenoble languages of the world, yet its literary fame was kept


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INTKODUCTION. Vll

by Goi\ in store for a later generation. Tlio history of itsliterature, properly speaking, dates only from as early as thebeginning of the 6th century. Yet, within eg short a period oftime, extending indeed over not more than two centuries,the Arabs succeeded in carrying their literature to such anelevated pitch as earned them an immortal name among themost refined nations of the literary world.

Their progress was marvellously rapid in every departmentof literaturepoetry, oratory, rhetoric, politics, history, moraland mental philsophy. The greater part of their early literature,however, consisted of poetry, which was the principal andalmost the only record the ancient Arabs possessed, and it issaid with perfect truth that

'

Poetry is the record of the Arabs'( V-r-*-'' i^hi'^^*'^^ ' ) Poetry was the record of their usages,their customs, their habits, their ways of living, their wars,their virtues, their vices, their domestic affairs, their socialadvancement, their mercantile dealings, their creeds andbeliefs, their sentiments, their moral progress, and in short allthat would interest both a historian and a moralist.

The Arab minds were cast by nature ia poetical moulds ofthe best type, and their speeches even were mostly poetical, orsuch as could readily be converted into rhythmical numbers.They had at that time no rules of grammar or versification toguide them ; and yet their verses were scrupulously accurateand hardly ever went wrong. They had neither any fixedcriterion of rhetoric, nor any cannons of criticism ; yet theiridioms, expressions, images, similes and metaphors . were asaccurate, as clear, as lucid, and as perspicuous as any of thesubsequently established schools of the Post-Islamic times.One of the distinctive features of the primitive literature of theArabs was that it possessed the real and rare beauty of beinga faithful representation of nature, inasmuch as their imageswei-e derived directly from nature, and their composition was


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Vlll INTRODUCTION.

merely a real expression of their real feelings and a truereflection of their mental v/orkiugs. False fame, vainglory,flattery, and empty praise were motives not known to thoseearly A.rabs, who led a simple and innocent life in the lap ofnature, invested with all its concomitant virtues,braverycourage, gallantry, truthfulness, innocent and sincere love,,fidelity, generosity, liberality, charity, hospitality, and ahatred of cruelty and oppression. With the Arabs of thosetimes poetry was a gift of nature, commonly bestowed on allalike, whether old or young, man or woman, rich or poor, highar low, noble or mean, townsman or peasant, who used it asa tangible expression of their emotions, a ready vehicle ofv?hat they thought and felt and a lasting record of their views,made more impressive and more perspicuous by illustrativesimiles, apt images, and suitable metaphors, such as werereadily supplied by natui'al objects and views of daily sight.Thus we see the common topics of their poetry to be domes-

tic life, wai's, heroic deeds, martial triumphs, travels, camels^horses, weapons, chase, love, reminiscences of old associations,hospitality, glory and genealogy of the tribe, panegyrics of noblepersonages and chiefs, records of their patriotic and virtuousdeeds done for the good of their tribes, acknowledgment oftheir obligations, elegies, embodying posthumous recollectionsand commemorations of the virtues of deserving merits in pro-portion to their deserts. Precepts of sociology, political views,philosophical doctrines, maxims and proverbs were not lacking;but they were mere results of a direct observation of the objectsof nature and of a deep contemplation of humanity in itssimplest aspect.Nor were the Arabs unconscious of the high poetical genius

wherewith they were endowed by nature, of the great successof their literature, and of the I'isiug fame and triumph of theirliterary talents. Poetry soon came to be recognised as a noble


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INTRODUCTION. IX

mental production, to be appreciated as a high accomplish-ment, and to be regarded as a qualification for exaltationof rank and esteem in society. Poets came forward to emulateand vie with one another to carry off* the palm. This led tothe establisliment of a department of literary exhibition in thenational fair of 'Okaz, which was held annually in Zil-1-Qa'dah,cue of the four sacred months, in which war was forbidden tobe wao-ed. To it flocked merchants from Hijaz, Nejd andother parts of Arabia. 'OkaT; was the * Olympia of Arabia,*where poets resorted and placed their poetic talents before thepublic for their judgment and award, which were alwaysregat^ded as decisive and final.The Arabic literature attained the zenith just at the time>,

when the faith of Islam made its appearance in Arabia, andthe Koran marked the highest point, to which the Arabiclano-ua


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X INTRODUCTION.flowing diction of that natural poetry^ tbe pathos and the effectof which, hoAvever, they strove to grasp with various but dnbionssuccess. They lay claim to no little credit, indeed, for tliemany improvements they made on the ancient style, diction,ideas and expressions, for the standards they fixed to regulatethe imaginative work of poetry, for the cannons of criticismthey laid down, for the'laws of language they enunciated, andfor the many beautifulfigures they invented. It was, however,mannerism, all in all, a noble imitation, but without the truespirit of real nature.

The progress of the Arabic literature may best be illustratedby comparing it to a gradual and grand ascent up a lofrymountain, richly clad ia every variety of beautiful verdure,pleasant vegetation, particoloured and fragrant flowers, verdantmeadows, varied treesall of wild growth 3 and rife with coolingavenues, refreshing arbours and stately alcoves, resoundingwith diverse songs of wild birds, whose varieties of notes,colours and hues are objects of deep admiration and devotionto the votaries of nature. The summit was gained only at theappearance of the Koran, which occupied the proud position ofa solitary eminence, beyond the reach of all aspirers, who fellshort of it. A step further, and the declivity gradually led toa spacious plateau, abounding in fine valleys, laid out withbeautiful gardens, charming fiower-beds, gliding rills, welltrimmed alleys, levelled turfs, and picturesque parks, allcornbined in beautiful harmony and resounding with theharmonious melodies of trained birds, while art spared nothing*to make all as perfect as lay in her power.

It was thus at the time when Arabic literature stood at itshighest position, that the celebrated Seven Poems, well knownas the Seven Suspended Poems, made their appearance.They stood at the top of the eminence of Arabic literature,exulting with deserving pride at that enviable position and


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INTRODUCXroN* XI

triumpliing over the evergreen laurels, so nobly won by thesuperior elegance, eloqueucoanii purity of thoir language, theiradmirable images and their vivid descriptions. They wereuniversally admired by the public, who in order to testifytheir appreciation of their real beauties and the recognition ofthe obligation, which the Arabic language in no little measureowed to them, unanimously agreed to immortali/je tlijeir fame bycouferringon them the highest Ivonour they could bestowthatof hanging them inside th.e Ka'ba, the most sacred shrine oftheir worship, as a memorial to posterity, after they wereinscribed in letters of gold on pieces of a fine white cloth ofEgypt, whence they are also called 'the Golden,' oUi.J>JI.

AN OUTLINE OF THE CRARACTEIIISTICFEATURES OF THR POEMS, WITH ANEXPOSITION OF THE POINTS OFSIMILARITY AND DIFFERENCE.

The poems all agree in one important respect. They are allintroduced with touching reminiscences of old associations, oldtimes, the early days of the poets, and the happy days theyspent of old in the pleasant society of the objects of their love.The fifth poem, however, differs a little, and is introduced bythe poet asking his lady-love to give him a cup of good wine,and by his giving a pithy and elegant description ofher beauties.The second poem slightly touches on the latter subject, whilethe sixth poem enters into n^any more details.

All the poems, except the third and the fifih, contain adescription of riding beasts,that of the first being a highbred hoi-se and those of the rest fast-ridin gr and noble she-camels. In the second poem we find a graphic and detaileddescription of the bodily structure of a noble she-camel and inthe rest a vivid pictui-e of her way of travelling.The first, the second and the sixth poems are egotistic : the

first deeply coloured with a kingly spirit and royal virtues; the


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Xii INTRODUCTION.

second with martial valour and extreme individual indepenrdence; while the sixth breathes a spirit of warlike courage,soldierly faithful service and knightly devotion to the ladyof his love.The third poera is eulogistic, describing the virtues and

patriotic services of the chieftain of a tribe. It is, moreover,an ethical poem, heading the category of all poems of that type.The fourth, the ^fth and the seventh poems are patriotic

and breathe thx'oughout a spirited feeling of national ii^deper^-denceand supeinority. The latter two at"e, moreover, antago-nistic and give a vivid picture of two rival champion chiefs,each striving to set off the glories of his own clan against^hose of the rival tribe.

Notwitl:\standing these points of difference, all the sevenpoems in common with all Arabic poems of the class, are dis-tinguished with many prominent and similar features, viz., adeep devotion in love, martial gallantry, national independence,rigorous defence of individual rights, steady promotion of pub-lic weal, rigid observance and free exercise of national virtues.

^iialysis of the Sev^n Poems %vith Critical Uemarhs.PpEJt I,

The poet placing the scene at the ruined abode of his oldfriends and mistress, and giving a short description of hiswoeful plight on his separation from their friends, and of thehigh enaotiqns, rqused at the sight of the ruined abode, takesus through a series of gallant love adventures, followed by alively description of h\s noble horse, a brisk sylvan chase, agreat storm and a rainy night, wherewith the poem concludes.

Here the reader can hardly fail to notice the elevated senti-ments, the sublime ideas and the majestic language of a high-spirited prince, tamed down by love and gallantry, but not tothe low level of an ordinary lover. His courting is an interest-


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XIV INTRODUCTION.and recalling to miud iu vivid language tLe departure of liislady-love, of whom he gives a short description. Here theattention of the poet is, however, abruptly drawn by moreserious affairs to travelling on a noble and fast-travelling she-carael, described at length and in minute details concerning hermake, form and constitution. Then taking a short review ofhis past life, he tells us of his good, position in the tribe, ot" hisadventurous travels, and of his early habits of dissipation auddrinking, which caused him to be forsaken by the tribe, whomlie, however, little cares for, being as he is endeared to all byhis kindliness to the poor and his politeness to the rich. Moral-ising then on the nnstability and frailty of human life, he re-monstrates with his reproachers against their disapproval of hisliberality aud of his dissipated life; and with his cousin againstbetraying him in the time of his need, at whose disposal he is,however, ready to place his best services when required..Here in a strain of eg^otism, he speaks of the many virtues thatmore than redeem his weak points of character, his activeand vigilant habits, his uudaauted courage, his unflinchingfortitude, his hospitable attention to strangers, and hisreadiness to serve his friends in time of need. As an instance,he tells us how, in order to entertain his guests, he once un-scrupulousl}^ ofieuded his old father by slaughtering one of hisbest camels. He then concludes the poem with a few morallessons which he has learnt from his experience of the world.

Here we see an interesting picture of the wayward and un-ruly disposition of a reckless youth of tender age, who hasnever known the superior control, either of a parent or of apreceptor. He sets out on his worldly journey without the ad-vantage of experience or support, but with a full confidence inhis poetic powers, which stand him in good stead under all cir-cumstances, win for him his desires and even gain himadmittance to the j^resence of the chieftains aud the kings ofthe time. He has a spirit too haughty to stoop to any formali-


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INTROUUCTION. XVties of society Nvliicli li(> snoeringly scorns. The spirit ofindependence is so piedominant in his character that it is evenbetrayed in liis language and diction, which often makeattempts at breaking through the bounds of conventional lawsof diction. He lacks much in gravity and sobriety. He has,however, many good traits of character to redeem his weakparts. Though on the dangerous verge of turning out acorrupt and vicious debauchee, he is luckily more than savedby a naturally philosophic turn of inind, which, together withhis keen observation of human nature, causes him to derivesuch practical and useful morals for himself as to help him toturn his vices into virtues and give him a place among the dis-tinguished people of his time.

His images are derived from domestic sights, nomadic life,and sylvan scenes, and arc well chosen to give proper forceand eifect to the pictures he portrays.

Poem III.The poet begins by complaining of the strange changes, whicli

are brought on the ruined abodes of his lady-love, sincethey were deserted and came to be inhabited by wild beasts,and which have been so complete that the poet could hardlyrecognise them except after a long and thoughtful considera-tion. In a high strain of poetic reveries his fancy sees a partyof ladies, his former acquaintances, marcb before his view,leaving him alone lamenting for their departure. He then praisesHaram and Hiirith, the two chiefs of the tribe of Muzainah, who,by their generous intercession and their magnanimously under-taking to pay the blood mulct, have brought about a perfectpeace between the tribes of 'Abs and Zubyan, after it had beendisturbed by the cowardly behaviour of Husain, son of Zamzam,who, to avenge the death of his brother, killed one of the tribeof Baui 'Abs in cold bluod. The poem then concludes with a


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XVI INTRODUCTION.

number of Hues preaching social morals of higli value in world-ly life,a peculiar feature, wliicli distinguishes the poem andplaces it conspicuously beyond the rivalry of any other poerri.

This poem is philosophical throughout in accordance withthe occasion. The poet is a sedate man of great experience,a moral preceptor of good parts, and a grave preacher of themorality he has leai'nt from his long experience of the world.A dependent of the chiefs of the tribe, he praises them fortheir good offices to the people in the restoration of peace, andinculcates on them the recognition of the high value of theirservices and their strong claims on the obedietice" and allegiancoof their subjects. Accordingly, he uses a language very graVe,sublime, exhortive and impressive, and a dictioil flowing, soft,gentle and embellished with figures of rhetoric*

The poet introduces the poem with a short description ofthe complete changes, broilght about by time on the abodes ofhis old friends which have long been deserted by human beingsand occupied by wild beasts. He then recalls to mind howhis lady-love departed with her party from the place, andhow, after removing to distant countries, she faithlessly cutoff all communication with him. Despairing now of the re-quital of his love on her part, he seeks relief from his griefs bytravelling on a good and strong she-camel, whose speed is com-pared firstly to that of a she-ass, urged by her jealous mate toa watering place in the hottest part of the year; and secondlyto that of a wild cow, who, on missing" her young, which hasbeen devoured by wolves during her absence, passes a restlessnight in the midst of a heavy I'ain in a sandy desert, only to besurprised early in the morning by houndsi many of which shekills when turning to bay during her precipitous flight. Thepoet then gives a lively description of his enjoyment of the


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llNTKODWCiloN. X^li

society of chosen friends, of liis giving food to the poor inwinter, of his defence of the tribe against raids, of his actingas a scout riding a good and fieet horse, of his enjoying mentaland moral superiority over his rivals, and of his taking sharein camel-games with a high spirit of liberality, the flesh thereof,when won, being entii'ely used in relieving tho wants of theneedy and the orphans. The poem then concludes with a pithyand magnificent description of the glories of his tribe.The poet here is an accomplished man, possessed of a great

experience of the world and society. Though true in love,he is tho last to put up with an unrequited love. He is anoble person of many virtues, among which conspicuously shinehis liberality, relieving the wants of the needy, dispensationof justice, honest dealing, freedom from envy, unrestrainedhospitality, and readiness to serve his people under any cir-cumstances, however trying,virtues wherein he considers hischief pride and glory to consist. Most of these virtues he derivesfrom his tribe, who possess them in a very high degree, though.commonly characteristic

of the Arab nation. His enjoymenfcin gambling and wine is due not to libidinous habits, butrather to a generous disposition, either to afford relief to theneedy, to make society agreeable, to patronize hopeful mer-chants, or to while away his time in the quiet society of a fewchosen friends. His courser is rather inferior to the princelysteed of Imra-ul-Qais. His knowledge of sylvan scenes andsports seems to be deep and familiar.The language is elevated and sublime throughout, and em-

bellished with beautiful images and metaphors, quite in keepingboth with the glories of the tribe celebrated therein, and withthe grave and steady mind of the old poet.

Poem V.This poem is introduced by the poet's asking his beloved to

give him a cup of rich wino to drink. He asks her to listen


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XViii INTBODirCTlON.

patientlyto a relation of his heroic achievements and to

acknowledge the claims of his position and martial prowess.He gives a detailed description of her excellent beauties andof the pain he felt at her separation. He then asks the king,'Amru-bin-Hind, who, he is quite aware, is a very powerful anddespotic ruler, to grant him a patient hearing, while he recountsin details the various glories of his tribe, Bani Taghlib, theirchivalrous deeds, and their noble services to their country.Quoting several instances to show how his tribesmen arealways ready to fight and how indifferently they disregard thethi'eats of their rivals, he cautions the king against the evilconsequences of offending his tribe, of making any rash attemptat exercising any undue authority and power over them and oftreating them with contempt, reminds him of the heroicexploits of his ancestors and of the prowess they had longevinced outhe battle-field, and says that the ancestral chivalrousspirit still continues as active as ever in his own person andin the persons of many other heroes of the tribe. The martialspirit is not confined to their men only, but it forms a rarefeature in the character of their women, who, though preventedby their feminine nature from taking any active part in war, donot fail to encourage their men by every means in their power,and even make a solemn covenant with their husbands thatthey return not from the battle-field without rich spoils andsplendid trophies. He further asks the king to always bear inmind the superior position that his tribe has long enjoyed overother tribes, and to take the greatest care not to put it on anequal footing with its rival tribe of Bakr.

This poem is a noble relic of ancient chivalrous poetry thatbreathes all through of martial independence and haughtyindignation at the king's unjust encroachment on the libertyof his tribe, and at his shewing an undue predilection forthe rival tribe of Bakr. 'I'he language is accordingly high=toned, majestic, eiinobledj very impreseive, and keeping pace


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INTRODUCTfON, XIwith the unyioldiiig spirit of the poet, who is the chieftainof a powerful tribe, and perhaps tlieir only champion, andthe advocate of their rights before the tribunal of a despoticruler. He is an ardent and passionate lover, meek enoughto yield to the powers of love, but a brave and unyieldinghero iu wars; gentle and polite in society, but stern andrough iu court debates. He is a frank and open-heartedwarrior, free from guile and malice, who openly demandshis due, freely pleads his cause, cares little for the intriguesof his rivals, and hates to gain any favour by any undue orunderhand influence. He tries to carry his object with theking by the force of his martial prowess rather than by thedint of any cogent argument.The poem has verj' few sitniles, but many images and figures,

all of which, derived as they are from martial objects, aregrand, sublime, and apt to well produce the force they armeant to give effect to.

Poem VI.Here the poet is introduced to us as standing at the old and

long deserted abodes of his beloved, which for her sake hesalutes with deep reverence. He deeply regrets her beingremoved too far to be within easy reach, and feels muchdejected at the grave obstacle he finds in the way of his unionand marriage with her, consequent on her belonging to ahostile tribe. He gives her very strong assurances of beingdevotedly true to his love, which he earnestly solicits may berequited by her. He recollects how carefully she tried to evadehis notice on the occasion of her departure, but he being tooclever for her got scent of it and paid her a farewell visit.The poet then describes her numerous beauties displayed tohim on that occasion. Since her departure he has been leadingan adventurous life, keeping always in his saddle. Thoughremoved to a very distant country, he does not give up his


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XX INTROBUCTIOJT.iove in despair, but liopes to join his beloved travelling on tlieback of a fast-going and strong sbe-camel whose pace he com-pares to that of an ostrich. He then appeals to her to testifyto the many virtues and noble deeds she has witnessed, of hisboundless liberality, courteous manners and martial prowessdisplayed on the field of battle. He further solicits her toinquire regarding his exploits from those who were present onthe field of battle, and who will surely tell her, among otherdeeds, how he once triumphaatly overcame a hero of establishedreputation. He again reverts to the sorrow he feels atbroodiug over the serious obstacles in the way of his love.Complaining of the depreciation of his services by 'Amru, hegives a lively description of a trying battle well fought by him.The poem concludes with earnest wishes on his part for afavourable opportunity to avenge himself on the two sons ofZamzam, who have insulted him and have vowed to kill himfor his having killed their father.

This poem pictures a fine combination of a soldier of highmartial powers

and a passionate lover, labouring heavily underall the evils that attend an unequal match. The poet is aslave of mixed birth, being born of a slave-mother and a freeand noble father, while his lady-love belongs to a much higherand a hostile family, with whom he comes to fall in love quitesuddenly and inadvertently. He comes to realize his positiononly

when it is too late for him to recede.Disregarding all theinsurmountable difliiculties that he sees assailing his love, he pro-

ceeds on steadfastly with every earnestness, ardour and firmnessin his love, though not without now and then giving way todespair. He always depends for the gain of his object on theinfluence he hopes his uncommon valour will have on her, on atame submission to her will, and on the repeated and strongassurances of his true love. Among all the 8even Poems thispoem stands prominent for its most enthusiastic, most ardent,most pathetic, and most tender descriptions of love, which all


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INTRODUCTION. XXI

throughout breathes deep devotion and tacit obedience to thewill of his Uidy. Even in the thickest part of tho battle, whenhe is heavily borne down by tho conflict to within an inch ofhis life, slie is not absent from his imaginative mind, which,Beeino- the lustre of her teeth in the flash of the arms, svelcomesthem on that account, and loses all terror and awe. He is nota wild soldier, rushing rashly into the fight, but a consideratewarrior, possessed of good sense, well acquainted with all thetactics of war, and very sensitive regarding his honour.The language is in every part thoroughly consistent with

the subject matter ; it is very tender and pathetic where loveis descinbed, but where his warlike deeds are described, it ishigh, sonorous and forcible. The images and figures aregenerally such as are chosen from sights and scenes, usuallymet with by soldiers and adventurers, and serve well to givefull effect to the sentiments they are used to illustrate.

Poem VII.This poem is introduced by the poet's expressing regrets

atthe departure of his beloved, whose society he never grewtired of. He recollects many places where he knew her in thepassed times with many tokens of kind regard shewn by her.The many events of serious moment, which have, however, takenplace in the meanwhile, assert stronger claims on his attention,and oblige him to travel (probably to the king) on the backof a fast-going she-camel, which he compares to an ostrich^alarmed at the approach of hunters. He then tells us how histribe of Bakr are ill-treated by the rival tribe of Taghlib, whoclaim from the former compensation and amends for crimes offelony so falsely attributed to them. He then reproaches 'Amru,the author of the 5th poem, for his insinuations and lies regard-ing Bakr to the king, and for his intriguing to deprive them ofthe royal favour, and sneeringly draws his attention to the greatprowess of Bakr aa borne out by the fact that their blood never


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INTRODUCTION. XXiU

of liis own tribe before the same kiu^ 'Amru-bin-Hind, avery powerful and despotic monarch of Arabia, and influencinghim in favour of his own tribe. Hence, the contrast in thecharacter of the two rival poets, and in their language and theirdiction is equally striking and interesting. Contrary to theother frank and open-hearted warrior and straightforwardeloquent poet, we here evidently see a crafty old courtier.Wily and astute, he seeks to gain his object more by tact thanby force. Being thoroughly conscious of tho efficacy of per-suasion and exhortation, he avoids intimidating the king bythe prowess of his tribe, but wins his good graces by eulogisinghim with his efficient ruling and with his wise and prudentpolicy of government, which endears him to the people; byreminding him of the good services rendered by the tribe ofBakr and of the ties of relationship ; and by tendering promisesof loyal fealty in very conciliatory terms. Throughout thepoem a striking contrast is maintained by the poet between thecowardly and perfidious conduct of Taghlib and the heroic andloyal deeds of Bakr.The language is throughout very sublime, grand, courtly,

polished and argumentative ; and the diction is mostly indirectrather than direct. To emphasize his arguments, the poet makesfrequent use of Interrogation of Appeal ; and gently touch-ing on the several historical occurrences in a vei-y concise andpithy language, he leaves it to his rival to make a carefulinvestigation into the respective conduct of the rival tribesand to draw the issues for himself. His similes, though veryfew, are well selected to illustrate the descriptions and arenever far-fetched but always very apt and natural.

SHAIK FAIZULLABHAI,


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/LJjV'S^-^-^-JlTHE FIRST POEM.

This poem is written by Iinra-ul-Qais bin Hujr Alkandi, wholived forty years before the prophet Mohammad. And he isalsocalled Alraalik-ul-zilleol (the much-erring king), on account ofhis amorous tendencies. He fell in Inve with 'Unaizah, thedaughter of his uncle Sherhabeel, and of these two lovers thereis a tale which the poet tells in the poem.The metre of this poem is the second of the class tJjj-laJl

(or dijis.) \^Ai ^)j ^ I ^^j*-^ \i^'o (^Jtl* I v-?-i.- 1 ), which is charac-terized by the last foot ofboth the hemistiches ixj^^j^ and ^j*^)ybeing affected with the o^-^J known as u^** (the suppressionof the 5th quiescent letter). The metre runs as follows :The feet are subject to the following modifications (ol-=3) :(1) o^* freely occurs in ii^-'j*' and rarely in t^l-h-cffi^ (other

than in i^jj^ and v^-^)j as the melodious flow of the metrewould be disturbed in the latter case.

(2) *-o^ (the suppression of the 7th quiescent letter) occursin ^^^^-o, when it becomes


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The i'^ (rhyme) is afliiixi (free); of the class of sij I >>


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Some commentators iuterpnt tlie line to mean, " wliose traces have notbeen effaced on account of tiie intertlianging of the North und South windsaloiie, but fur some other causes besides."

f^y^ is r^^'^ thoufjh in the genitive case on account of '''^'Îwith iî^.,for it is t-J.^r'*^'*î-^, being of a verbal uieasiire ( lUaJI ^^jj ) nuj piopernoun ((i*) .

i\^suJ I also = a i)lace where raiu-water collects.///

-ft*i aorist apocopated by (^ from ^ for ^* ^*-^j *-**:! (*^ , is anadj. clause to * \jfi^ I .

c;** explanatory to ^^ the relative pron.

" You will see the duujr of the white deer in the courtvardaaud enclosures of it, as though they were seeds of pepper.*'

This line expresses the abandonment of the place by human beings.The second foot in the last hemistich is affected with O^*? which rarely

occurs in it. It stands thus o li" ^J =iiA* ^^ ^ in the obj. case being subj. ( j*^ ' ) after w ^ ; V^ the pred. ( ^*-)

\a the Dom. case.in/ J - / o j/ o // .3// / / / / / -//

" On the morning of separation, the day they parted it wasas if I, standiiifj uear the acacia shrubs in the gardens of thetribe, were breaking the pods of the wild colocynth."The acid juice of the colocynth causes the eye to water should it get

into it.^ '"^-^ and (Jd are in the obj. case being ^t* J^^**-* (obj. of time).Here ^î is o'-ând the sentence 'Û*^ is tyioi^^, and so ^y. is

indeclinable ( t^-*^ ) and reads with ^"^^ .

tS subj. after ^D ^^ and *-** ^^ pred. (^r^^ ) in the nom. case.

t5*^'' obj. of place {i^^^^j^).


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"Mj companions stopping their camels near me in thatplace, say, *' Do not die of grief, but bear it patiently."

o_^^j pi. of -** 'j in tlie obj. case being obj. of state ( J ^^) .iS^'" subj. to the partic. ^^*j ^^^ in the obj. case by ''.^'j U^^J^- An adj. sent, tu tr^"^ showing J ^-^ ; ( = c^i^J ^ ).j^** I in the obj. case being '*' Jj*-^^

2/ . o / / o// s/ Oj 5/n/ c /6 J.?*^ e^'o o"j'>^ ^*^j '^'^ i-^-** *. *^l^4' ^.^ ^j'Aa^ liji J" I?ui{ verily my cure is the flowing tear. But is there near

the ruined remains, a place for crying ?"^^^^ in the nom. case, being pred. (.^-J**) to the subj. *^^ after ij' cr* Expletive; it is generally used so with the subj. after ^*. The adv.

phrase ^^^ is literally custom, habit, but the meaning of the line is that his

experience with 'Unaizah resembled his experience with the two formermistresses.Here the address is to himself. This abrupt change of pronoun forms a

figure of rhetoric, called oUiJl^l Uy ,


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" Wheu they stood up, the odour of uiiisk JifTused fromthem, was as the soft breeze of the zephyr, briuging with it thesmell of the clove.''

li/c 15 in the dual form, the sub. being the two ladies mentioned iu tbepreceding line-

o^y^'i apodosis to ' -i '

/i^ in the ace. case, taking the place of the cognate obj. ^j^ under,with which it is in combination of "^^-^l .o La. &c., an adj. sent, to ^-^ '

" So the tears of my eyes flowed down ou my breast, onaccount of tlie teuderness of my love, until my tears wettedmy sword belt.'''

î '^^ in the ace case being either J '^ or /'' J^*^*.

" Behold, how many pleasant days have you sîent withthem, and especially the day at Darat-i-Juljul."

U-Jj-* ^= not the like of; i.e., above all, especially. Here ''* is expletiveand ^Ji in the gen. case being ^-'lo^'^/o to (/** ^î may also be iuthe uom. case; ^^ beingarel. pron., and ^ subj. of rel. clause being sup-S Jpressed, the sentence in full beiug (*j- J'* -^ ^ The former constructionis preferable, ^'^y. may also be in the obj. case, being^-^*^ (obj. of expla-nation) to ^"^ = LT^ thing.

" And the day on ivhich I killed my riding camel /or /borffor the maidens. Then how pleasant was their divicl.ing theriding camel's saddle, which had to be carried on their camels."


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Dardt-i-Juljul is the name of a pool, and the events which happeneil thereareas follows: During the .course of his love affair with 'Unaizah, the poetfollowed the women of his tribe down to the Darat-i-Juljul pool to obtainan interview with her. Whilst the women were hathing, he hid theirclothes, and refused to return them unless the women came out singly andasked him for them. For a long time they refused, but were at lastcompelled to do so, the last to leave the water being 'Unaizah. Thewomen then reproached him for his behaviour, and complained of hungeron account of their long fast. He, therefore, killed his ridiug camel, whichthey cooked and ate. Having, therefore, none of his own to ride on hiswav back to the encampment of the tribe, the saddle, etc., of his own camelwas divided by the women among themselves for carrying in parts on theircamels, he himself falling to the lot of 'Unaizah, with whom he insisted onriding on her camel.

(î ought to have been in the same case as ^^ in the previous line,being in co-ordination to it. It is, however, in the objective case ; for, as arule, all nouns denoting point or period of time, when followed by a sentenceas 'î-^l o^-'fi'*, are indeclinable and in the objective case. Another expla-nation offered puts it in the ace. case hy j^ ^^ ( = mention) under.

^^^'^ î Here the final ' is a substitute for t^ of the 1st person ; thesentence in full being ^'^^1 l5^^ 4=0 my wonder, come (this is thetime for yon).

*' O for wonder at its being unsaddled after that it wassaddled; and wonder for the slaughterer [i.e., the poethimself), regardless of his own interest."

Jt>xAAj (literally) = extravagant.

"Then the maidens commenced throwing her flesh (i.e., t)xeJiesh of his camel) into the kettle and her fat like the loosefringes of white twisted silk round the lean.'*Some translate the line thus : " Then the maidens remained throwing

her flesh at one another &c.


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^JJ\iJ|.h siil.j. toi-^-'= (oneofthe'*'


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"For wian^ a heautiful woman like you, o/i 'TJnaizah., I- havevisited at night and she ivas pregnant or giving suck, and Ihave diverted her thoughts from her child one year old."

cÛ/o in the gen. case, governed by Vj unders.(^'*^ and ^.J^ in the gen. case, being adj. to 0-^^ .i-î^Jci^ apodosis to Vj j its obj. "* unders.jjUj^ o^^/oÂi being ^_>*^ 1 1^-'^- .jjUj 4_^,> and dj^"^ adj. to ^J understood.(*.* ^ (_5' ' >^J^ ) j_^lf cL)j0.aJ lso = she proved refractory to me.Afll.=. one oatli ; in the ace. case being (3-^^ J^*A'a .


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tJ^^I^J Act., adj. sent, to *Ala.^ Ia jtsobj. umlcrR. Anoflior reading

JJi^"'^-' (= which was not modified with any reservation) ; pass. adj. sent.

21 ^If^ti c5'0"^ OvAxjl 0.3 ^xS' jjl_, .-. JJJ.iJlli.4 o


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tlieu put away my heart from your hearty and it will be putaway/^

i.e.. Give me my heart again.V -^ here means "he^rt." See ^Jf^ in Johnson's Persian Dietionflry.

Originally "clotlies/' hence "the body enclosed," aad tken "the heart.''tSsji-Miiii &c., pred. after ^-^ ': the subj. being the implied pron. in -^^

referring to /"^i^-^ .is^-^ apodosis to c/l, introduced by - Some read t^^^->^=you may

get rid of love.2nd pers. fem. sing,

-/j n/ o/ /-o/ o/ o/ nf/i f

*' And yonr two eyes did not flow wit-h tears, except to sti-ikeroe with your two arrows in mij broken heart, conquered bylove.'*The two arrows are of course glances from her eyes.Here the allusion is to the game of 7-~'i*-' ' . A camel (^J_>'=') was

slaughtered atwi divided into- ten portions, for which the players contendedby casting bladeless arrows, marked with portions to be won. Here, bythe two arrows are meant the two called J^^**-" and 'r*-i'^-' ', thi' formerwinning seven and. the latter three portions, and thus the two together thewhole.

^jj^yJ 2nd pers. fem. gen. sing. num. stripped of ti> under the Govern-ment of J of i-^-!:^*^ .ti'Vft'* also = cut into pieces.

'^ A.nd many a fair one, concealed behind the purdah, whosetent cannot be sought hy ofhers, have I enjoyed myself byplaying with, without hastening my departure/'"

~ -' " .J = vj governing ^'^i-? in the gen. case.He speaks of her as *'^h^ (an egg), on account of her virginity, purity of

colour, and keeping away from public view.


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C^j^y . Ac, is an ntlj. sent, to ^î-i . '^^^^^ &c., sent. a])ocl()sis to VJ -^^*^î* adj. to^-S-' .

''I passed by the sentries on wafch near licr, and a peopledesirous of killing me, if they coxdd conceal my tniirder,being uiiahh to assail me oppidy."

Another reading ^-i l^^l 'î^s =z I passe-d through doors. Also i'l>*'=Another reading cjjj'î^' = if they could give puhlicitj to.^'./^ pi. of U^:!^-*- adj. to 'j-i*^ .

" T passed by these people at a time, when the Pleiadesappeared in the heavens, as the appearance of the gems inthe spaces in the ornamented girdle, set with pearls and gems."

{j^^S.A) z= divideil. Said of a bracelet or a necklace of pearls or preciousstones, between every two of which a pearl of a different size or anothersort of gem is set.

0r*-' Ip.fin. in the obj. case being cog. ohj. ( (3^'^'* J^**^).

"Then I came to her, when she had taken off her clothes forsleep, except /it'r night garnient; and she was standing nearthe screen of the tent."


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for what you are doing, and I cannot expect that your erringhabits will ever be removed from your nature.' "

Either o^t-î may be iu the nom. case heing ' i>>-*'^^ and ^s^^ pred.unders, ; the full sentence being is^^ *--' 'c^-i+i ( = God's oath is on me) ;or it may be in the obj. case being (3 ^'*' J^*^'*S)y ^^^^ under,

^^^.-^'subj. (I*^^-*^),'^^

pred. (^^) c)l expletively used with the negative ^*.is^^ a sent., secondary obj, to (^j ' Prose order ^^ CS^^^"* '^- '-?*'' ^^) ' W ' ^^J**'i'=^ liter. = device, stratagem, trick. " Excuse" seems to be rather the

meaning here. /^ //'O/ O / f / / / ij f_ I J r, / /

" I went out with her; she walking, and drawing behind us,over our footmarks, the. skirts of an embroidered woollengarment, to erase tJie footpj'ints."/ ,. .,

Another peading is (j^'^ ' I walking. ^5'*'''

and^^s:-' a(jy_ ggnt. AiJl^ "Û^

ij>-^j'^ = (a. garment), embroidered with designs of saddles, bridles, &c.,on the skirts.

*'jj in the obj. case being /*!:* J.^*^'*, obj. of place (ci^*^ ' '^J^)-/r, I I ri / j"^ I iri/^ ^ / '^ If / /o/ /:;//

" Then when we had crossed the enclosure of the tribe, themiddle of the open plain, with its sandy undulations and sand-hills, was sought by us."

"^ L?^ ' = carried us to the side of. V for *J '*' transitive signification.Some commentators consider i^'^ '1 to be the apodosis of ^ , the j being

expletive ; others take ^5^ 'to be co-ordinate to Ô^' ; the apodosis to ^^being '^^"^ oj IJs ^ = we were merry) or the like, under. ; or the next line.

iswl-xs = courtyard, any enclosed space.'i and ^^'^^^ to ^-J^


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"^ I drew the two side-locks of her head towards me ; and sheleant towards me ; i


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u" She turns away, and shows me her smooth cheek, and is

prohibiting mefi'om caressing her with a glancing eye, like thatof a wild animal, with young, m ifAe cZcsfri! 0/ Wajrah."That is, there was a frightened ami at the same time a tender look in her

eyes.Sî^lij ^Wi îgo means ; " She intervenes with," &c., i.e., "encountersme with," &c.iys^j Is o^^'î-^j-h-^ for '^'i-' '^ ^"j'^\ , o^^>/o^-o for (J*.iiJ\^jj and A^ .

" Her curls creep upwards to the top 0/ her head, and


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1 K

the plaits are lost in the twisted {lit. doubled) hair^ and thehair falling loose."d) ijj.^^/c= Ascending. Another reading. *^ 'j3'**'*^'*' in the pass. =

twisted upwards ;^-' ' '^'^^^ pendent curls.j_Â.x/o and C>*lr"* Adj. to j*--^ under.Another readingJ^-''*^-'' &C. (the pron. ^referring to ^^*)> an adj. sent,

to p^'

*' iln(? s/i6 meets me with a slender waist, thiu as the twistedleathern nose-rein of a camel, and a shank, like the stem of apalm tree bending over jrom the tveight of its fruit."

\^jî\z=.[\^Q space between two joints of a cane or a bamboo, ls"^***^ ' A dj .to *-'^ ' nnders.

(JJ .-' I 4_5ft'' ^^^.^^ also = clear in colour like the stem of theirrigated Papyrus, bent down by saturation.

^jSi^\ adj. to (S'^J. ' under.Some take it to mean J' >'' t/^--" i-^ c'^^ ci"^.^^-" V-?'JJ'^=

clear in colour like the stem of the Papyrus growing among u ell- wateredpahn trees, bent down and sheltering it from the sun with its shade.

"In the morning, when she wakes, the particles of musk arehîng over her bed; she sleeps much in the morning anddoes not gird her waist with a working dress. '^

This line is to express the ease of her circumstances.c5.> obj. of place ( u ^" '^j^ ) z*^-' intensive agent from (*"; of common gender, being of the measure

of J.^**j and equal to t-"*^ in force. In the nom. ease, being_^*'^ toj* under., or in the gen. case, being in apposition with ^* in U-* l_^ .


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O J. / / / O/ ^O // J^> f 1' < T J-1/." Slie gives witb thin fingers^ which are not thiek, as if

they were the worms of tlie desert of Zabi, and soft as thetooth-brushes of the Ishil tree."

The Arabs stain the tips of their fingers and nails a reddish colour withHenna.

(J^^J adj. to eJ . understood.^j ^-^ I and "-^j '**'* in the noiu, case, being pred. O^^ ) after U o^.^jl


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" The follies of men are removed after their youth, but myheart is not freed from your love.'*V expletively used in the pred. after tjrV

/ nj / /n/ / f / jj 0/ / / 0/ I j//45 (_5.U*_^'C^.c*Jl iJJ(^Ji-c ^fi-'^j /. j j^y I t^jji ^waii, k_)jil I

"Behold, many a bitter contender, as it were, an adviser,rejn-oacliing me fur my love for you, who was unfailing in hisblame, I have turned him back /rom his reproaches."C^y J ^^-^ and (jt'^^-*^-!:-^ adj. to (*^^ ./J v> i>j apodosis to Vj cJ l*^*-* a verbal noun, expressing intensity.

j_^iJ^/o agent of the 8th conj. of J^-' ' for^-' '

" And many a night like a wave of the sea has let down itscurtains upon me, with all kinds of griefs, tliat it might tryme.^'

C5"^^ affected by J of J-h^*J but the /^^ is omitted on account ofmaking the rhyme. Its object is^ under.

Prose order is^-r^^^/ .

/o/ / / s /o / / /o/ o^ .. // s;/ / .oj/

"Then I said to him, {i. e., the night), when he stretched hisloins and followed it with his buttocks and removed distanthis breast."V for *iii>*3, giving a transitive signification.By breast, the early part of the night is meant ; by loins, the middle ; by

buttocks, the latter ])art.The natural order here seems to be precluded by the rhyme and the

caetre.


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^ *' ^ ^ or Sjj


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" Aud mauy a leather water-bag of the people, I have placedits strap over my shoulder, submissive, and repeatedly saddledwiOi it."

^-^"^ , &c., sent., apodosis to j ( = Vj)-jy 3 and cU^ adj. to


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/o/ / /o/ / 0/O//O// ir I so/ / I / I / /" If either of us obtains atiytliing lie makes away witli it,

and he who cultivates after the wanner of my cultivation andyour cultivation will become thin."He is now boasting of his generosity which does not allow him to keep

anything.^^^ subj. (I'i^^^ ).*3lil p,.ecl. sent, to ^'i^>.ijj.i'si and '^j-H jussive, being ^j^ and * '^^ respectively.^ij^ J iS^j^ in the ace. case beiug (3^"- J_^*5^ .

/O/ / / 0/ / Oj // J jO- / /o/ / /

''And verily I started in the early morning, when the birdswere still in their nests, on a Jwrse well-bred, long bodied,outstripping the wild beasts in his gallop."^i^-'lj , &e., adv. sent, of J^^, introduced by J^^ 'jL>. and C.-^"^ in the following lines.Or these adjs. may be in the nom. case, being pred. (^-J^) to the subj.( \


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"Of a bay colour; ^e is eucJi that he causes tlie numuali toslip off the middle of his back, as a smooth stone causes thefulling rain to slip off."

J>! , &c., adi- sent, to *^^>^ .Another reading ^^J^ JSri (intran.) = the numnab slips, &c.^j made trans, by V ( for *J >>*' ).Jj.aV|= anything alighting. Adj. qualifying j^-^ \ j^^ ^ , iJ-it-^',

and the like under.

** In spite of his thinness, he is very lively, and when theheat of his temperament boils over in him, his snorting is asthe boiling- of a kettle."

t^^= "contrary to," "in spite of."U" -^ , intensive adj. ( from u^ ^^ to boil or become excited)'.Some read V^*-' ' L?-'*= in spite of successive gallops.0^^_j^ t^l-0 pred. to (*ly*' subj. after a^-

s; /.^'^ o /o / /j '"> /)// //^ / / J ' xi / S/

'' At full gallop, at a time when the swift horses, on^ ac-count of fatigue, raised up the dust on the rough groundbeaten by their hoofs."

i. e., the other horses^ from fatigue, dragged their feet alongthe ground.

p**-* intensive adj. =: pouring forth, in his galloping.cl^^Ljl subj. ( ' '>*^^), the pred. O'*-^) being the sent. cLr>', &e.

59'' The light boy slips off his back, and he throws away the

garments of the heavy rough rider."


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22The wind, made from the speed of his gallop carries off the hat and

cloak of his rider.V ( for ^i'^*-^ ) gives trans, signification to is^ - Another reading "-^^ ' jUxJ I J^j =He causes the light boy to slip-

^ *" '' V^ery fast, like the top of a cliild, the successive working

of his two hands with the connected string, has spun it well."'^JJ'^^ a child's toy of the top species, consisting of a small piece of

skin, attached to which are two strings, joined together. On the stringsbeing pulled with the fingers the top turns round very rapidly.*j^ I , &c., an adj. sent, to ojj^ .

, ^ ss " " Si ss

'^ He has the flanks of a buck, and the legs of an ostrich, andthe gallop of a wolf, and the canter of a cub."

^J pred. [j^^) to the subjs. (''^^' ii.A rij'i ii>^- I I i I a complex adj . sent, to ^J:^-^ .

ci^ adj. to V^ under.; so also the sent. Jy^''-'. cT- (jij* diminutive of c3->* , obj. of place (o^-'l o^-l=) .V expletively used with the pred. after lj^^'


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23/o/ ^1 1/ o/ ji J // * / o/o // ^/ / :: /

"As if, when he was standing in front of the house, his backwas the stone on wJiich then grind up mush for the 'perfumingof the bride, or the stone on which theij break up the colocynthpods."

'J^ in the ace case being ^ '^ , and 'îV ' (^ '^'' obj. of place(^_y^ M-â ti>-?:-^-^--' I tl^ ^yl^= As if, on the two sides of bis loins, when he shovvs his sides, or leanson a side, there is the stone, &c.

Here*-^''^* and î^'O are in the obj. case, being subj. (f**^') aftercj 1^ , the pred. being iî^^*^ ' ^^ .

Another reading *jlr*=3 ellow and ripe colocynth; also ^'jj^ =smooth-ness or clearness.

"As if the blood of the leaders of the herd on his neckwere the juice of Henna in combed white hair."His overtaking the van of the herd indicates his holding the whole herd

nt his mercy.*'*'> in the obj. case, being subj. after \i)^ the pred. being ^y^^^ .

" Then there appeared to us a flock of wild sheep, the eweaof which were as the of Duwar in robes."


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J 'j >i name of an old Arabian idol.&A,Wi lyl^^ &c.^ adj. sent, to V-T**-iSJ^*^ in the nom. case, being pred. after lyS .* ^'^ plu. of


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25in , / I o// / / / ' ^ ' . o//o/:/ ///

" lie killed one after tlic other, a bull ;iud a cow, overtakingthem, and he did not break out into a sweat that he should bowashed."

i-^'^^- , in tlie acP. case beiiiir (3 J^*fi>c . ^eHiJ , ohj. of place ( u ^-^ '


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Or in tlio obj. casc,^ being iiml.; or in tlio uom. case, being subj. to f^'^i >co-onlinatc to S^-****; or with tlic implied word qualified I)y ^'^ in thepreceding hnc.

-//j//o/ n / ji /n/ /// n/ r,j I / j / ,

"I sat. down with my companions luaitinci for the rainbetween Zurij and 'Uzaib after regarding the lightningattentively."

{j^^.^' (pi. of V"^*' ^'^ ) in the nom. case, being co-ordinate to the implied-* . '' -

1st pers. pron. implied in cixi.*.' . l/o expleti\'e and ^s^'^ ^^ (ver. no.) = mye_ in /

observing atfcentiveh'. (^l-^l^^/oU o.*j ; interpreted also thus : ^*-? is aI J'syncopated form of the past tense '^*-i It, the cloud, the object of my earnestobservation, was far.

Another reading '^*'^ = (distance) in the obj. case being (^>i'-*'^j with/-j

^i under. It= ^5-'^'*= ^^^ '-^ '^*-/ ':! = O great tvas the distance of the object ofmy earnest observation.

" In looking for the rain, ?/'e guessed that the right of itsdownpour was over Qatan, while the left of it was upon Satarand beyond it upon Yazbul."These places are very far apart, hence the magnitude of the storm is

described.cr*d ' sub. , i:}^* is -^ pred.

a / / / /Another reading ^-^-"^ is It then = As voc guessed from the

observation of the lightning and other signs of rain, its right downpourtopped Qatan, &c.Jj "^-i is o^'^^^'o ^J;i , being


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28j'^// /o/ o/ / i J /n/j / I J /n i. jf o//

" T/ie storm commenced pouring out its waters over Kuthai^fah, overturning ujôn their faces the big trees called Kanah-bul.

cJîi ' pi. of e^^ i , lit. a chill, The upper branches of the tree is whatthe word signifies here. "J

Another reading *^-^' iJ^ c,'^ =^ from what collects at; each interval

of raining ; and also **^^ J'^ c^* = from each water-course.n < -pJ pred. after l?^'^ ' '^H adv. sent, of J ^-^ to * V'.

0/ _j / oô J I in// // / //;;/ /

" Then there passed over the hills of Qau^n from the sprayof it, that ivhich was so very violent that it caused the wildgoats to descend from every haunt in it."He describes the violence of the storm.f*-^* pi. of f*-^* ' = A gazelle or a mountain goat, whose foie-legs arewhite above tlie pastern, or of a colour different from tliat of other parts.

J./ / nj /o/Another reading of the first hemistich ^-^^r^ (Ji-'.' I (^^ id'-J:""?-? 4^^' J= "It settled it?elf on tnouiit Bus3'an at night." ^^ y.i^^^ ^ = placed

its breast, like a camel.

O 4"~^ a dipt.(o_r'^-^-*^'!:-^) for ^^.*'-^ and c> 'j but here used as a triptote( o^-xaÂj) ^ by a poetic license.

/o / !. n / ^ ^ jj, /o/. / n / njo/ -' / /o/ /

" And at Taimaa it did not leave the trunk of a date treestanding, and not a building except those strengthened byhard stones."

*'-*^J in the ace. case hem'; jh.-^^ ^ -^îj^ J^ i)j.^^jl ^ *î" Jiii,^>|V**'*-' ^^^^ ' ^^ i.e., the verb ^4"^^ (*^ is diverted from it to govern the

^* to it. '^Ji'**'^' to ^*-t '


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29

"As if Tliaboer at tlie first downfall of its rain was a greatone of tlie people, wrapped in a striped cloak, '^

sj,*--* L'" pl- of c;^-'^^ the prominent part of everything, especially thebridge of the nose, ^^.j pi. of L>J ' ^ .

0.m^jo being an adj. qnalifying_?-?i^^ should have h^en in the nom. case,but it is affected by its proximity to C! '^'^ which is in the gen. case.

Another reading >^0j u'iJ^ ' (_f* ^J^J ' c)''^ = As if Aban in the diver-sities of its showers.

"As if in tlie niorning the summit of the peak of Mujaimirby reason of the flood and the debris round it, were the whirlof a spindle."

Another reading *^-^-*-' I .

^J*^-^ obj. of time ( cJ ^"^j^ ' ^j^ ).xJ. pred. after c) i^ j Cf-!^*^ being the subj.

E /jO O 1/ / jj jf /j / /o/ o/ /81 ^=*-' I V ^f:*-' ' ci- i cfj 'i-' ' J^->^ .. ^'^ '*^ '^i^*-' ' * l^'^'^- c!^-''^

"And t]ia cloud poured out on the desert of Ghabeet itsgoodsj {i.e., rain;) and, it resembled the arrival of Yemaui mer-chant with his trunks loaded ivitk rich clothes. "The desert became bright with grass and tlowers.J^ in ace. case being (3^-* J_^*** .

** As if in the morning the small birds of the valley Jiwaa hadtaken a morning draught of old, pure, spiced wine."


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30Spiced wine is supposed to have great effect on tne conversational powers.

Tlie birds were, as it were, intoxicated with delight.h*^^ dimin. of ''^^ obj. of time, ( (^^'^Jr-' ' ^j^) .U'^' pred sent, after c^li .

83 iS^CJ)^ f^yiVi\ ^c^'^^^ A^J^^. .'. **-*= \J^j^ /"J:* a ^'-'' I cJ f^'' As if in tlie evening the wild beasts in it disowned in the

furthest parts of it, (i.e., tlie valley Jiicaa,) were the root-bulbsof the wild onion."They were covered with sand and dirt.c?'^-^ pi. of (Sij^ obj. of J ^^ .^i--*^ obj. of time { ty '^J-' ' ^^^ ) O^ii ^^ ' pred. after CJ^ .


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^.jjiUJl iJ^Ji-^^iiJlTHE SECOND POEM.

Ascribed to Tarafah, son of 'Abd-il-Bakii, from tlie tribe ofBakr-ibn-Wuil. Tarafah is his title, and his name is 'Auir-bin-ul-'Abd, and ho also was one of the poets of the days ofPaganism, and he lived after the time of Malik-ul-Zilleel, ttiowriter of the first Qasidah.

It is said about the origin of this poem tliat the poet'sbrother Ma'bad reproached him with neglecting the camelsof his father, and allowing himself to indulge in poeticalreveries. Ma'bad one day said to him tauntingly, " Can yourecover the camels by virtue of your poetry, should they everbe lost?" The poet assured him tlmt his poetry would neverfail to recover them when lost. Ma'bad, in order to try him,neglected the camels, which were carried away by some peopleof the tribe of Muzar. The poet wrote this poem, applying to'Amru, Qaboos and a chieftain of Yaman for their assistance, andthus succeeded in getting the camels back, besides a hundredhead more as a reward.

The metre of this poem is the second of 'J^^-' ' the same asthat of the first poem; the A^'^f also is the same.

/.J I,

o//

JU 1^- JL


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32Kl)olah is tlie name of his mistress.Traces refer to the marks left near a former encampment of her tribe, as

in the first poem.*-'^-=*' read with ^^ *j being yJjf^^'^j^^ , on account ot'^^''^-' and (^^.

^h^^ pred. ; J ^-1= I sul.j. ( ' '^h^).^^^' adj. sent to J ^-^ ' .In some copies the sec6nd hemistich rns thus :6>ki\ ^J}\ ^^J t J (J-^Jl'f^ o^ilia =: "Where I remained weeping arid

making others weej) till the next day o)i account of the reminiscences ofthe past.

" My comrades, stopping their camels there iiear me^ say, ' donot die of grief, but bear it bravely.' "

This is a remarkable example of ^j 'j^-^ ' or ^^j 'j*" The two poets(j^^.^^ I *_^/o I J^J,,^ &3j.jc came by a happy chance to say the same line, onlydiffering in the rhyme, independently of each other. It is said th;it Tarafahwas suspected of having misappropriated the line, and had to prove byevidences that he said the line on the very same day as Imraul-Qais, but ina difTerent place.

3 j/ / o / o / - //4 ^s^'^'H J b-y^ z ^*'' ' ^^- '> ^^' '* ^'^ ^- ^^- ^^'^ ^"^-^ ' ^"'-^ '^^'' As if the Malikiau camels, with the howdahs on the

movnina; of hei' departure iu the water-tracts of the village ofDad, were the big ships of 'Adoal, or the vessels of IbniY^raiu, wliich the sailors at times steer out of the straightcourse, and at times guide straight.''

Jj*^-" a small town on the shore of the Persian Gulf, where ships usedto be built. The poet compares the camels travelling to ships' tacking.

^j(>A. pi. of ^>A. a camel's hovvdah for the conveyance of women. In


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33

the obj. case, being subj. ((**') fter U^ , prcil. being k^ in the nom.case.The prepositional phrase J .> u;-* cA-e IâJ t J goes with ^J**^ "' "''

with t^t^^ .AaJjiXc i,j tiê gen. case, being adj. qualifying Uf*:^*^ .'40-?^" &c., adj. sent, to u^^-*.

*" - ^ ^ ''

" Their bows cleave the ripples of the sea, as the divider ofthe saud-heaps separates the dust with his hand."

(Jjlflxj agent, from ^t!^* (3rd conj.) to play the game, called J '-J:^. TliIsgame is played somewhat as follows :Some small article, such as coin or ring, is buried in a heap of sand, the

players all staking similar amounts. The heap of sand is then divided byone of tlie players, (called the î ^'^ ) into a number of smaller heapsonefor each playerthe player in whose heap the article is found wins thestakes.

This line is an instance of the defect in rhyme, called s-^îS\, or therepetition of the same rhyming word, ^^} ' used *vith the same meaningwithin 9 lines.

/ 0/ / jT J O/ O ^ /j 5 / /I/ "^ JJ^/ / n/ ^ / r,

" And in the tribe there is one like a young gazelle, withdeep-coloureJ lips, shaking the Ardk tree to obtain its fruit,but wearing double strings of pearls and emeralds."

The prose order is '^j*^ ' U^^-H! ^^J^ I ^ jj (.Ji j_j>a I ^^^J .icj^ ' , -?* ^^"^ ) and {j^ ^^ (in the ue.\t line) adj. to u '^ ^ U^î&c, adj. sent, to eJ >i ' .O Li subj . and LS^ ' (/* pred.

/nil I n I I n / J ;j // ^ in/ Ijs -> /" A doe, who has left her rjoung, mid is grazing with the


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34herd in a dense grove, eating the edges of the fruit of theArak trfee, and clothing {or covering) herself with its leaves J^

t^*L>^ &c., Jj^^ &c., and fc^i^^^ o53J. sents. to Jj^^.Jj^^ either = 'that leaves her young behind to join the herd ;' or 'that

lags behind or keeps aloof to attend her joung.'

''And she is smiling with her deep red liips, and shows teethlike a jessamine blossoming in a damp sand-hill, situated inthe midst of a plain of pure sand."

Lit. whose ( i.e., the jessamine's) sand-hill is damp.Her smiling lips are as an oasis in a sandy desert. Rather hard on the

rest of her face. The poet makes amends for a somewhat doubtful compli-ment in line 10.

iS*^ ' adj. to ''^^ under.

'j^^'*' adj. to '' '.^^=^ ' {=jessamine) under, subj. after wt^; pred. beinglijx.i ( _ JiQr tooth) under.i J-'-^"' 'j^^^ ' '_>^^ f (j'^

U__^) J,/o__,J l_^.:^ '^'*'^''= Ji7.) as if a jessamine with blossoms, whose dampsand-hill of growth is situated in the middle of pure sand, is her tooth.

9 ,*)lj A>.j ^^s:3 J^ us^f .-. ^jUJ 2) I jj-*^Jl iftjit iSia.-.''The rays cf the sun have watered her teeth all but her

gums^ which are smeared with colljrium, while she does noteat {lit. bite) anything against tlie collyrium so as to affectits colour.''

tjf, ^i' or **:!'= light, beauty, or ray. Plur. ';! ' or *^1.^ '^' in the ace. case, being (^>'*~-


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86

The wheel marks on the road causefl it to appear like a ribbed cloak.(i)^-*' in the gen. case, being adj. to ^^-^^^ in the preceding line; or

in the nom. case, being pred. \j^^) to subj. c?* under. So also ''Ji-' '^ andf'^^j in the next line.

t^jl^j adj. sent, to CJ^^'./^'^ &c., adj. sent, to V^^ Another readies ^*-' *^'~"' = whom I drove with a stick.

13 '^^.j^jf^jîSJ^'^^^^^^ ' '*'^ ci-'^-^-' ^^^^j ^^-"'^" A she-camel, strong as a male-camel, stroug-bodied, who

trots as though she \yere a female ostrich, who is avoiding amale, scanty of feathers^ and of an ashen grey colour.'

'

The female ostrich moves at her smartest pace on these occasions.*Ua..j =hard (like U'ir^J 5 a rocky tract of land); or large of cheeks

(S '^y^ adj. sent, to *?;-' '*=^; so also '^J ^, &c.i^ji^ adj. clause to *^ '^ *y jK a diptote o^/î/o^j;* for d*.sJ \ ^^j j and *^ (adj. to (^^^^

under.). So also 'Ô'^ which is, however, used as o^-ôj./c for thenecessity of the rhyme.

:z/j r> / /o/ s / s / 0//0// / s -

"She rivals the well-bred, swift-travelling camels, and sheplaces her hind feet iu the marks of the fore in the well beatea

road."1st ^î^j dir. obj.; 2nd ^^-it^j secondary obj. to "^^-i"^ ^CJ* obj. of place ( o ^-^ ' o^J= ) .

" She grazed in the spring on both the stony sides ofthe valley amongst milkless she-camels, grazing the meadows


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37of a valley whoso richest parts are watered by constant showers,and which abounds in herbage."

Jy*" irreji; pi. o ^î^ .^s*'^y (fcc, adj. sent, to tlie implied suhj. of "^^^y (Jj I jv.a. ill the ace. case by i^*^^^ , a dipt. ( o^'^.^-^ j^.^ ) being

a^^gillîj-o jjnî j.j.il adj!^. to 'i'j under., /J:-''o!'^^ to (3-5I "^^ .

îi-^ ' a dipt. ( t-J^'A-*'* î-c ) used as i^^'^^^ for the necessity of therhyme.

Ig O.J.U t-fli^ I ot.Cjj J^.a. ^ 3.J .'. j^KJ^Jj V^4' l>:i'^-o (^J I ^.ji" She turns to the voice of the caller, and guards her honour

with a tail possessed of much hair, from the fear of the attacksof a male of a red deep colour, thick of hair."V--*'* agent of the 4th conj . from v ^^ , V^*- {J.^L. (c


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38The verb 'rL/'*-' { = strikes) under.*-ai-*> obj. of place (ci^*-" o^^).'jJ-^ and ^j^'^ obj. of time (eJ ^''Jr-' ' *-,'=)

" She has two tliighs, the firm flesh in which is perfect, asif they were the two gates of a lofty palace with polishedwalls."

o'.^ subj. C'^^^'o); '' being pred. (^^^) .' 1^'^=^^ Jl^ô î5j" And s/ie Aas a firm attachment of the bones of the spine,

one within the other, the ribs joined to which are like bows,and a neck attached to it by firmly arrayed vertebrae."

Here, M under, pred. {j'i^) to is-^ and *'_/^ , the subj. (I*^^^-*).Jl^'", pi. of aJ l^* .is^^' '^ ^j'-=- an adj. sent, to is^ ; ^^J'-^ subj. cs"^'^ '^ pred.J l3:< ^^L = Lj!a^ J (rs'o =.ell fixed bones.*-'^^' pi. of (j'j'r^ the inner part of the neck. .'^Jx' &c., adj. sent, to *iy^' .5 nj , f n f ^ fo f / f jî t f n t f zi/ 121 îy^ v'^ '^^' L5'*l.;-'=' ' J * WJ'^î^J î^ ^*U/ ^jl^"As if the two lairs at the foot of a wild lote tree surround-

ed them {%. e., her ribs); and the bending of bows under astrengthened back.''The arm-pits of the camel resemble the lair of an animal in tbe roots oftbe lote tree, which her ribs from their strength resemble. The bending

of bows of course refers to the arching of her ribs.l^j uiSij sent p,.ej j^f^g,. ^^ |^j ^^ U/ , being the subj.


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39

j^ ' 111 tlio ace. case, l)cing subj, after c)'^, the adverbial phraseAj^/c c_aU '^'^ , being the jjicd.

.// / 0/0/ ij/ c// / /o/ //o //

" She has two strong elbows, very wide apart, as if, whenshe is goiug", she wore a strong water-carrier, carrying twoone-handled buckets."

The water-carrier would hold his arms rather wide to prevent the bucketstrikinc: ajjainst lus legs.

^^Ifli^As sbj , M pred.^^'^^ , &c., adj. sent, to the she-cntnel.J*^ , &c., prod. sent, to ''^ subj. in the obj. case bj- O o Another reading j*-* \^ o = as if she is made to go; or '_/^ i UJ(^ as if

they are made (o go ; or, ' are firmly twisted'. In the latter case, '' ^ &c.an adj. sent, to im^^*J"*V either = ^ mtli, or to give a trans, signification ( '>i'^>-^>-J ).

/o/ / /> -f n/'i^^f i/ //o/ ^ i //n/

''Like the bridge of the Roman, the builder of which sworethat it must be enclosed in bricks until it became strong."

h^.j (*-"' adj. sent, to ij'-^'^' .j^;i\axaJ ^ aorist, emphatic, passive with J , and liJ of emphasis ; the em-

phjrtic eJ is sometimes changed into (^li^^^'" i-**J pas. aor. with -"^ , being governed by t^'*-^ ./Oj/-/ o n I jf I / / J I / ^njr, j-^ J

^ , , ^ , , _,''Reddish of hair under the chin, strong of back, long of

stride, easy of pace (/i'f., easy going of the fore-arm.)"*'iJ^4^j according to some Commentators, = descended from a famous

stallion called V *^ , In this case


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40The several adjectives are iu the nom, case, beiug preJ. after the subj. t#*under.

K/ / / / J / / / n / /n / / n / /o// //os25 ^^'^^ i_aAa.B j^-sUl 0..^* (4J /. k^s^^\j jy^ Ja# Ia ( o.j e>^>f" Her hands are firmly twisted, as the twisting of a ?'ope

epuu upwards, and her fore-arma incline towards her as yillarsto a well propped-up roof/^The muscles of her legs resemble the twisting of rope strands, and thearm bones are like pillars supporting a roof.

t>*^, Infinitive, in the obj. case, being cognate object, [ij^-^ ijj*-^^).jjM Twisting upwards, or turning inside from outside, which is very firm

Rnd strong.

23 oÂ.^^ j_^J U^ (j.i U Ua/ t^ ,. >^jS\ î JiiJ^ O^Jo ^^^.- " " ^ - '"Inclining frequently from the road, a swift goer, a large

headed one, v/hile her withers are elevated into a raised pro-minent structure,

^_>i^ Intensive agent from f^'^ { = to incline), and would appear to meanhere that the camel from freshuess would not go straight along the road.

j^JU/o and '^^'^* adj. s to (3'^'=* under./o/ 0/ // 0/ J / / / / / '^"/jj :z' f

''As if the marks of the girths round her breast-ribs werewater-courses through a smooth rock in the midst of a roughground."

The ribs from their hardness resembled a rock.^lalii.^ Jipt. ( Or-ai^j^Ji-s) on account of S^J*^*^ '-^-" , adj. to ^'^^

under.i>j 1^^^ diptote ( '^j'^^'^jh^) on account of ^>*? ' ^û^' .

::/ / Zj J If z./ ' J I ^ I I I If28 ^"^^^ 0


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41

o'l^J 2^1. of Afl^V, a hiKton loop (or ^'^^^'i), tlic gore of a sliirt;a diptoti' o^waA/c^jjj i,eiii*^ li|^l.(jj jij l_j''fS/ze is very long in the neck, which is most erect when she

raises it^ and is like the rudder of a boat going up tho Tigris."t *' in the noiii. case being pred. j^^ to subj. t5"* under.(^< ^4-* An adj. of intensity (from O^^ to raise oneself) to i3^^ under.in the gen. case being /"V ' o ^'^-^ to ^^ ' .According to this version, (j ^^ is read in the gent, case on account of

i'i (.^ I .Some read it in the noiu. case ( = active in movement). Here both

^^ ' and i^^-fr* adj. s. to iS^ > in the nom. subj. to the pred- H* under.U^^^ &c., adj. prepos. phr. to (^^ Another reading is l?-*^A mariner.

o / = -Another reading "^ '^*'^ .

/o o/ /o /ojo // s// /in J s/ j'lj

" She has a skull like an anvil ; the two halves of it at the placeof their meeting join as upon the edge of a file."This will be clear from looking at any skull at the place where the two

halves join./sr*-^ in the nom. case, being subj. to the pred. '*' under., and so also

CJ^^ and the like words in the following lines.^(^ &c., adj. sent, to **sr*=' ; ^.Cj ^c., a sent. pred. to ^*; subj.

after i^^ .Another reading ^'li C5-*J iiitrans. = to meet ; to join.


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42

^'And a clieek like the paper of the Syrians in smoothness ;and an upper lip like leather of Yaman, the cutting of whichis not crooked.''

Tlie cutting refers to the split upper lip of a camel.Yamanian leather is very soft.

Some read '^^^" ^' i'>>> = of which the leather is not cleared of hair./ o/ /o/ o / / 0/0/ /x //o /- ^0/0/ 0/

*'And two eyes like two mirrors protecting themselves inthe caverns of the eye-bones, which are like a hard rock con'taining a pool frequented by the people."

ll'xiS^ I adj. to cJ ^-^ ^^ in the gen. case, being iu apposition (J'^0 with ^j'^ .

'' Constantly throwing away the dirt of impurities, so thatyou see them like the antimonied eyes of the mother of awild calf fearful of the hunter."

Antimony is used as an adornment to the eyes ; the wild cow's eyes aresharper to detect danger, vihen she has a calf.O 'j->^ adj. of intensity to {iX^^.^ = Throwing away from themselves.

J ^j^ in the ace. case being obj. of li) 'j^^ .(ij_y^ AA5 adj. to ^j^^. under.

i^>j3^ I iji appos. with ^j^^. under.

^ ^ ^ -ff '^ ^ '^ ^ ^ '^ ^^' And two ears true of hearing, and distinguishing the low

sounds in the time of the night journey, the quiet whisper, or


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48IwÛ , (lUvested of the u of the dual by ''^^^l to ^^) adj. to u^^Jfunder. - j

/Oj // 0/ / n / / // o/oj / //csj" Two pricked cars by wliicb you know tbo gooduess of Iier

breeding' like the ears of a wild cow alone at Ilowmali/'tjÂj &c., adj. sent, to cj'-')js^ , ijj'"* and (î^^ in the nom. case, being adj. to (*^^^ .Literally the line means, "Slit from the tip of her nose, gentle and well-bred."


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44

38 ^^^'^ c>.fl.'lt^ ^Îx) sils'O .-. culSÎ cÛ îjt J J5^3^J o.i^^j;lj" And if I wisli slie does not increase her pace, and if I wish

she hastens, fearing the plaited ?i/7i(!pof closely twisted leather. '^\S'j-^^^ and ^^*J ' , apodosis to ejl &3\s'^ ( = for the fear of), in the obj. case, being /-'J^*^^ .ijr^ adj. to tj' {whip) under.

in/ in ///. mini n / / ^ / ^ / / / / . o** .^ ^ ^ ^

''And if I wish, her head is raised, so as to be level with thepenimell of the saddle, and she strikes out with her fore-armsas the gallopping of the male ostrich."^K C* ^^^ c:^/c U aîodosis to W i I*

^* from f*^ to swim.''^ an infinitive in the ace. ease, being (S J^-*^^.

/n 1 1 / o / n n / / n/ / / I / i i ni / n //

'Î go on one like her, when my companion says to me, ^Now,surely, would that I might ransom yon from the dangers of this

joîmey and that I might be ransomed.^''His companion feels sure of his destruction, but owing to tke swiftness

and strength of his camel he escapes the dangers of his journey.t5''^'*' ajiCHlosis to ' li I

j_5 in the obj. case, being subj. after '^^'^the pred. being ^t^-*

'-*>J'^* '

and C5"^^ '/o/ / // n I ni / s / J ^ I / I t: / J nz / n / i

*' His heart grows faint fearing {oris agitated with fear), andhe thinks himself struck with a weapon, even though he is noton an ambushed path.""^^ in the obj. case, being ^ Jj*-^'0 .

Ij l^.^ Secondary obj. of J '-^ .A^^'OriRoad waylaid by enemies or infested with robbers.


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45

'* When the people say, 'Who is the valiant youth?' I thinkI am the person meant, and so I am not lazy in the time ofdanycr, iiud I do not lose my head.''

,A5tiT^ interrog., subj. to the precl- C5^*-^-'-='

apodosis to' j' .

LT^-* ' . &c., a noun sent, introduced by ly ' j obj. to "^-Li/

"I set upon her with a whip, and she quickens her paceat a time when the mirage of the burning sandy plains isshimmering."

The heat of the day does not prevent him from accomplishing his objectas quickly as possible.J is J ^^ ' J 'j J introducing the following adv. sent, of u '^ .

c:/^ n / / / n/ / z:/ j o/ ^/o f n / i / / n/ / /

*' She walks with a graceful gait, as the dancing girl walks,showing her master the skirts of her long white cottongarment.'^

t5_Hj &c., adj. sent, to ^'^^.'yJ 'i^' secondary obj. to i^j^ '45 ^_;' (^^" "^^ ^*'~:! L5^'^ U^-'j '. A*'s* clli./l JilsJ o.wJj*' And I am not a great dweller in the hills, fearing tliedemands of hospitalitij, but when the people seek help from me,

I assist them.'*V expletive \\ith the pred. after '^~' .J ^^ (or J ^^^^ , another reading) an adj. of intensity.** ^^* in the obj. case, being ^-^ J^-*^^ .Another reading '"^i:*-' = for a night's food or victuals.


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47(3^-^^ and O^'^ jussive, being ^j*" ami *'>? respectively.Here ^*->-'* tlie secondary obj. of Lf^'* "^' under.Another reading pi. of ej'/oJ.J=i^jO,i , subj. to the pred. U^^ and *-^^ .^^^} may be taken as subj. to r ij^ Or ^Jj\ &f*-, adj. sent, to *-^-i^ .

" Wide as to tlie collar of her pocket, her shin is soft to thetouch of my companions, and delicate in the bare place."

V-i-^j of common gender, adj. to *-^^ .

''When we say, 'Let us hear a song,' she addresses herselfto do so, singing to us at her ease, her head hent from modesty,while she did not raise her voice high.''

^^* I apodosis to ' >i ' o1^1*1^ ^J\c ji prepositional, adverbial phrase of J ^ ^ijj^'^ in the ace. case, being"J ^-^ J = bent, or weakly.Another reading ^> jj'^-o =as though her eye were hurt by something,

by reason of the languish of her look.C)^L"i^ also = she did not strain herself, i.e., she sang with perfect

ease.Syncopated form of ,i>'^ij^J^ .^^j aawi. to '*


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48

52 isi>j ^.j (_s.l*jiiii vj^^"* .*. Wo-^ ^^-^^ t*j>^ is ^*e-j 'ii" When she repeated her tones, you would think her voice

resembled a foster-mother's repeated lamentation over her deadoffspring."

"^^ apodosis to '>ii.VJ^ iu the ace. case, being secondary obj. to '^^^ .C-J, any young animal born in the spring.53" And my excessive drinking and my pleasures did not

cease, and my selling my goods and spending my acquired andmy inherited wealth, did not cease either,"J '^ ''*' here (*^->ci*' (complete verb ),j_y,j ]j>M,i intensive infinitive,". /. J ...*'^ij-^ and '^^^^ in the ace. case by the transitive infinitive is'^^'-

''Until my people avoided me, all of them; and I becamealone, the loneliness of the camel anointed with tar."' Tar is used to cure the mange. When an animal is suffering from thisdisease, he is naturally kept apart from the others.

o /


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40Tliof!;li his own people tnay have avoided him, be was favourably

received hy other people of all classes.(

* *

^'j^^ i^^ Sons of the dust, i.e., poor people.*'^* a dipt. iJj'^'O ji-^ on account of ^-iJ "^^ -fl-' I.


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'i>jy^ fit., .irrivinfr nt \vaU>r.

^^^ in arc. onse by the transitive infinitive j^ ."^^y an adj. sent, to "^i^ .

'' And the shortening of tlie day of rain, while the rainis pleasant


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*ti'* in the ace. case, being *' Jj*-^'-^.^j,uo an adj. to V-^^*

"J awi a generous man who quenches his f/wVs^ during hislife; if we should die to-morrow, you will know which of us isthe thirsty one."

f^.j'^ adj. pred. to the subj ^'' under.i^iji) &c., adj. sent, to j*:!^^ '


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53

*' 1 see life is a treasure, becomiug less every uight audeverything, which days and time lessen, perishe.s,"

'.V" secondary obj to cS'j ' -iVol/obj. of time(i:;^^->-"^-r^).^* a conditional relative pron . ; the relat. clause being ^*

'*' 'j j*':!i* ' c>aflij

The obj. of u^-* being 8 under.Here ^-^ having a conditional force as well, u^-'"' mid ^^H are jussive,

being -Is^ and *'_)-=>' respectively.Another reading i.A\J^* *>J Ij ^ Ij ill (_^j.5U j = ' what the days lessen

time exhausts. '

Here ^Hj^'^^ '* a clause apodosis to ^^ introduced by - ^*^:! trans-, its ohj., * under.

" By your life / sioear that Death, so long as he misses astrong man, is surely as the loosened halter, both folded eudaof which are in the hands oj the owner of the animal."

'-* here *-!i^'-'* j *Jj>waAj = go long as, during the time that,^jlsJ I Lbii. ! U = ^jW I ii^kL i S,y^ , during the time of its passing overthe youth.

(J (= surely) in ->^**J and **-' for emphasis.'^j*^ subj. to the pred. (^~'' under.


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54*-î and '^^î are jussive forms of i:^^;! nnJ i '^H respectively, being ^j*"

ami * v^ .*-îii>'*ji &c., an example of O-^*' I J '^j I = propounding of a maxinu

71 iÂAJj tr-i-cl-^J î,/o ^j^\ jî/o .-. ls;JU î ^^j \j ^^'i\J I j_jJ(4J^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ >' jussive

form of ^^ >> ' and * 'î , oft5^-^^ being ^jr^ and* '>*"

respectively./O/jOjO-'-/ //// J I I / f nl I f J J I

" He reproaches me as Qurt-ibn-Ma'bad reproached meamongst the people, and I do not know for what reason hereproaches me."^^^ t Ixj J &c., adv. sent, of J ^-^^ introduced by J ^^ '^ 'J t^"*-?î f* ^'^ sent. obj. of (sJ ^ ' ( apocopated form of '* interrogative, in the genitive case by Jj * An example of li ^j^^l digression, consisting of a complaining remark

about Qurt.Another reading '^J* ' t^^ ^j*

o

" He disappointed me of every good which I asked ; ii wasas if we had placed him in a grave of one buxned.''He might as well have asked a dead man to help him as his cousin.y.xAL j^(3j. clause to^-?:-^.jli*/,ej pred. to the subj. ^^ after c;(^ .


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on*"* ^"

adj. to ^^-^ under.AiiDtlitT rcndinj; i^^-^î^j

tt Ha blames mo foi* nothing which / could have said to him,except that I searched for tiio baggage camel of my brotherMa'bad and was not not.;limJ pred. to the subj. ls^ after u' Observe an example of ti^^^**-" ^j ^*-' . Here the two verbs ^'***Ând

Jfti I ^J t-i^JQ^ aJjâ for their object.^^*' in the obj. case, being ^^-^ âa-as.75 0>ij/i I i>J;XiU^-t t^J uI/0 /. /J| (J'j.A.j jfjO^''^^ '^0''J^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^"

I sought approach to ijoii by the common tie of relationshipând by your good fortune, Mdlikj I do present myself tohelp you when an afi'air demanding serious efforts presentsitself.'^

^^ in the gen. case governed by the j of |*-*.Observe here the oUw I, q^ the cliange from speaking about his cousin

to addressing him directly./"'') &c., a compound sent, forming f"~^-' 'v '-^'^ '^ in y^^,n pers.

pron. idiomatically used with wl j called cJ '^' '..;-'* _^j ^^K ^ &c ^ pred. sent, to the subj. is^ after u I -î and '*'*'*' ' jussive, being ^j^ aud * L)^ .Another reading ^^^,

"And if 1 am called on by yuu in any seriouii allkir, 1 will


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6be amougst the defenders of youi' honour, aud if the enemycomes to you, striving for your destruction I will strive mrepulslnij him."

l ^ ' and e;^ ' jussive, being ^j^ aud * '^^ ; so also ^i and ^^^ 'Another reading ^^^ ' uf* t/^^ ' adj. used as a noun for '^^^ I , or ^^^ I .t^J Uak.= l^.i SUs 1= defenders against it. '* referring to t5^^ ' Here '^4^ '^ goes with ^^ - , V giving a transitive signification to ^' ^i

Or ^^S'^^J may be taken to go with


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57

Anotlior rc':itlin>^^^ (a virl). iioiiii IVoui 4ith conj. ) = /""* getting mel)iuiishe(l.

/ //mil o/ / -// jj / / J s/ o / / / / / //

" For if any man but himself was my cousin, verily he hadcheered my grief, or h

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