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consequence. They had inflicted for a long time grievous wrongs on the unyielding man; but in that night he, in his turn, had struck a heavy blow at the vindictive widow's heart, through the slaughter of her son Qastel. As a woman, she was herself sacred, having no violence to fear at his hand personally; but he openly declares his conviction that she was ever hatching plots against his safety, sleeping, when she could sleep, with all the eyes (of her spies)[1] wide open, seeking how best to pour down calamity on his devoted head.

Such is the sense in which I have come to understand the expression and the paragraph. As such I submit it, with all due reserve, to be weighed by the learned.

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The L-Poem of The Arabs, by Shanfarà.


1 (1–1).

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Get ye up, O sons of my mother, the return of your beasts from their watering; for verily I am eagerly inclined (to be off) to a set, other than you.

2 (2–2).

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For matters (to look after) have sprung up; and the night is bright with the moon. The beasts, too, and the saddles, are ready girded for expeditions.

3 (5–5).

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And I have (other) familiars besides you;—a fierce wolf. and a sleek spotted (leopard), and a long-maned hyaena.

4 (6–6).

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They are a family with whom the confided secret is not betrayed; neither is the offender thrust out for that which has happened.

5 (7–7).

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And each one (of them) is vehement in resistance, and brave; only, that I, when the first of the chased beasts present themselves, am (still) braver.

6 (8–8).

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And if hands are stretched forth towards the provisions, I am not the most hasty of them. For the greediest of a party is the most hasty.

7 (9–9).

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And that is naught but a stretch of (my) generosity, out of a kindness towards them. And the more excellent is he who confers a favour.

8 (10–10).

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And verily, there will compensate to me the loss of whom soever requites not a benefit, or is unmindful of its proximity.

9 (11–11).

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Three companions;—a dauntless heart, and a trenchant drawn sword, and a slimly-long yellow (bow)

  1. ↑ The word for "eyes," here, being in the plural, not the dual, cannot mean "her tuo natural eyes."
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